For Students...

The following are links and tips to better writing, whether it be for class assignments or writing in general. Time permitting, I will also post assignments. If you need further clarification, please email me or speak to me as soon as possible. Don't be shy!

For OHMMHS Students:

• Course Syllabus for English 10
• Course Syllabus for Honors English 10
• Blank copy of your Critical Reading Journal for Sustained Silent Reading.
• SSR Novel Project
• Rubric for the SSR Novel Project
• Links to the Reading Lists. There is also a binder with these lists in the school library.
  • The California Required Reading List for Grades 9-12
  • The KHS Incoming 10th Grade Summer Reading List
  • The KHS Incoming 11th Grade Summer Reading List
  • The College Bound Reading List
• The S.A.T. Vocabulary List
• Images of The Goonies now available to use for your Goonie Mock Interviews.
• Research Paper Topics for H. English 10B--Enriching your reading experience for Night

Past Assignments:

• Propaganda Techniques
• Propaganda Project: This includes the assignment and its corresponding rubric.
• Click to see information on the R.A.F.T. Paper.
• See a sample RAFT Paper. This student sample has some errors, but the content is good.
• See the RAFT Paper Rubric.

For Upward Bound Saturday Academy Students:
Some of the class handouts are under the heading "For Writing." They should be fairly easy to download or open from your computer. If you have trouble viewing the files, let me know!!!

• Course Syllabus for English 10

RUBRICS: These rubrics are used in class.

• Homework Rubric
• General Essay Rubric
• Class Presentation Rubric
• "Grade Your Group Members" Rubric.
• Scoring Guide for the new S.A.T. Essay Section

For Writing:

Here are some sites and documents that should be useful for future writing assignments.

• Five Paragraph Essay Outline Organizer. Use this to help you organize essays in class. It offers a fairly detailed explanation of what should be included in the introductory paragraph and the concluding paragraph.
• Here are some suggested formats for the comparison/contrast essays.
• Tips for Evaluating and Revising Your Essay.
• Handout: Transitional Words and Phrases.
• Handout: Preparing Quotes and Commentary (The Double-Entry Journal). Click here to see and print out a blank DEJ page.
• Elements of a story
• Handout: Characterization
• Handout: Active Verbs to Move an Essay Along
• Common Writing Tasks (Task words explained)
• Handout: Writing in the Active Voice. This is a Microsoft Word Document, so you'll need the program to view the file correctly. However, you can also go to Purdue's Online Writing Lab and see their page on the Active and Passive Voice, which is the original source of the information in the handout.
• Handout: Tips and Strategies to Build Up Your Vocabulary.
• Handout: Commonly Mixed-Up Words. Have you ever been confused about which word to use? Is it "your" or "you're," or "there" or "their"? This handout explains the difference between a few commonly mixed-up words.

For Additional Literary Help and Background Information:

• Visit the Encyclopedia Mythica website to brush up on your world mythology.
• To view specific information on Greek Mythology, click here.
• Visit the American Transcendentalism Web for extensive information on this American literary movement.

Recommended Sites

• Bartleby.com : This site offers access to classic literature online.
• Sparknotes.com : This site offers in-depth information on the literature you read. Think of it as Cliff's Notes, but better. This doesn't mean you can read Sparknotes and fully understand the text you've been asked to read. In most cases, Sparknotes will make it easier for you to understand information presented, as well as make you think about themes and motifs you may have missed in your reading. Sparknotes are meant to enhance your reading experience, not give you a shortcut.

If you have any questions on the content presented here or on class assignments, please email me(socorroplazola@yahoo.com). Feel free to offer suggestions on content you would like to see on this site or other websites that you have found helpful. Be sure to add the url of recommended sites in your email.

Online Degree Programs

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