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Assignment 5; Draft 3

Introduction
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Letter of Introduction
Assignment 3
Assignment 4
Assignment 5
Conclusion

*   Introduction  *  Draft 1    *    Draft 2    *   Final   *

  The American Journey:

A Sequence of Writing Assignments

 

 

 

 

Cassandra Shott

Dr. Hall

Eng 110 – Section 72

Draft 3

May 9, 2005

Table of Contents

Introduction. 1

English-Language Arts Standards. 3

Theoretical Rationale. 7

Overview.. 8

Assignment Sequence. 10

Travel Journal 10

Topic and Setting. 12

WebQuest 15

Annotated Source List 16

Creative Essay. 18

Hypertext Map. 21

Published Hypertext Document 25

Works Cited. 27

Peer Review 1. 27

Peer Review 2. 27

Changes I Made. 28

Dr. Hall’s Feedback. 29

Changes I Made Part 2. 50

 

 

Introduction

            My class is an eighth grade combined Language Arts and Social Studies class in a small, semi-rural town in Riverside County. My students are a diverse group, consisting of 11 Caucasian students, 14 Mexican-American students and four African-American students. Five of these students are English Language Learners, but the number of bilingual students is even higher.  About half of the class receives free or reduced lunches, so we are a fairly average classroom in Southern California. Our school does provide us with great technological resources, however. All of our classrooms include wireless Internet service and we average about 3 students per computer.

            My class has been studying the idea of American journeys all year in both history and language arts. We have learned about the founding of the United States, immigration, westward expansion, the Trail of Tears and the Underground Railroad. All of these topics deal heavily with the idea of a great, life-changing journey. We have been working on several genres of writing as well. My students have written small research papers, argumentative pieces, poetry, and literature responses. They have not had much experience within my classroom writing narrative texts, but they have done it often in previous years. Their research methods need a lot of help, and I have been struggling to get them deeply involved in any research project. We are now nearing the end of the school year and they will be moving on to high school. This will be a major change for them, but I feel that an exciting project that they can become personally involved in will be beneficial to their growth as students and give them a deeper understanding of themselves as people. Many of us have been travelers ourselves, and we need only look around to find others who have embarked upon great journeys. The students may interview others to gain more knowledge of traveling. My students have also been reading many books based on historical journeys, which could be used to gain insight on how it feels to travel. My students may not have all had the opportunity to go on great journeys far from their homes, but many of the same feelings can exist when encountering any new situation. They are about to move from eighth grade to high school, which carries with it feelings of upheaval and is a major transition in the lives of all students. I will discuss with the students these alternate travels, travels that do not necessarily include movement across space. I think that the students in my class have a lot to say about this topic and it is a good jumping off point for research and narrative.

Throughout the year we have read many primary source documents from American history, written by people who were on journeys. My students have found these interesting, but I do not feel that they have a deep understanding for what people went through in our history. Having rote knowledge of American history is not enough for me; I wish that my students gain the understanding that comes with putting yourself in the shoes of another. I also believe that my students would benefit from having a larger audience for their work. They are getting older and have grown tired of just seeing the teacher’s comments across the top of their paper. I would like them to experience publishing their work for a larger audience. My goal for my students is for them to gain a deep understanding for the people who built America. I also want them to compose a creative work of fiction that will be published and appreciated by a larger audience than just me and their classmates. I hope that they will develop a passion for writing, and understand how they can use research, reflection and creativity to craft a wonderful work of writing.

English-Language Arts Standards

This lesson is aimed at achieving the following California State Standards:

  • Written and Oral Language 1.0 – Students will write and speak with a command of standard English conventions appropriate to this grade level.
  • Reading 3.4 – Analyze the relevance of the setting (e.g. , place, time, customs) to the mood, tone and meaning of the piece.
  • Writing 1.2 – Establish coherence within and among paragraphs through effective transitions, parallel structures and writing techniques.
  • Writing 1.4 – Plan and conduct multiple-step information searches by using computer networks and modems.
  • Writing 1.6 – Revise writing for word choice, appropriate organizations, consistent point of view, and transitions between paragraphs, passages, and ideas.
  • Writing 2.0 – Students will write narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive essays of at least 500-700 words in length.
  • Writing 2.1 – Write biographies, autobiographies, short stories or narratives.
    • A. Relate a clear, coherent incident, event or situation by using well-chosen details.
    • B. Reveal the significance of, or the writer’s attitude about, the subject.
    • C. Employ narrative and descriptive strategies (e.g. relevant dialogue, specific action, physical description, comparison or contrast of characters)

            There are many standards that are addressed in this sequence of writing assignments. All of the assignments will be held to standard grammatical and written language conventions. This is defined as an eighth grade standard in the written and oral language section number 1.0. It is important that my eighth grade students be able to use correct grammar, sentence structure, and spelling conventions. They will soon be moving on to high school and will fall behind if they are unable to communicate clearly in the written form. I will hold all of my students to these standards. We have been studying writing conventions all year long and although it is not the primary focus of this assignment sequence, my students will be reminded that their final products must meet these standards for the conventions of writing.

Reading standard 3.4 states that students will analyze the relevance of the setting to the mood, tone, and meaning of the text. For assignment two my students will be writing a brief summary of the topic and setting that they wish to write about. We will then have small group discussion of these topics and settings to help the students work on their ideas and analyze new ways of approaching their topic and the way that their setting will affect their piece. I believe that this standard applies to writing as well as reading. Reflective readers who can understand the importance of setting are more able to become writers who can use setting as a way of more effectively communicating to other readers.

Most importantly my assignment sequence highlights many of the eighth grade writing standards. First is the ability to establish coherence within and among paragraphs through affective transitions, parallel structures, and other writing techniques (Writing, 1.2). We will discuss this when working on our essays, but it will become more important during the hypertext portion of this sequence. Hypertext is a nonlinear writing style and transitions are very important to the readability of the piece. Rather then making one paragraph flow straight into the next, the reader can choose various paths from within a paragraph. These links have to flow well in within the paragraph and when a reader moves to the next page, the connection between the two must be made with transition. The hypertext map assignment focuses heavily on creating solid transitions that help the piece to flow. The rewriting of the essay in hypertext will also serve as a revision period for my students. They will have to look at their piece in a new light because it will be constructed in a new format. This revision ties to writing standard 1.6, which states that students will revise writing for word choice, appropriate organization, consistent point of view, and transitions between paragraphs, passages, and ideas. We will spend time peer reviewing papers and discussing changes that can be made or areas where more detail or information is needed. We have been working on peer reviews throughout the year in our classroom. I will provide the students with some sample review questions to address in addition to any suggestions that they may have for the writer. I want my students to be able to review each others papers globally first, before beginning to look for smaller grammatical or spelling errors.

Research is another important section of this assignment sequence. Writing standard 1.4 states that students will plan and conduct multiple-step information searches by using computer networks and modems, the Internet is a vital piece of my assignment sequence. The students will be using it both as a resource and as an audience. We will begin with a WebQuest project and then branch out into our own inquiry. I will require an annotated source list, encouraging students to organize the information that they find online and use the most important parts. The Internet is vast and finding relevant information can be disorienting, an annotated source list will help my students to organize what they have found and use it to their advantage.

            Finally my students will be composing a 700 word essay, which is writing standard 2.0. This essay will be based on the above standards as well as meeting standard 2.1, where students will write biographies, autobiographies, short stories, or narratives. My students have been introduced to these different genres, through modeled writing and examples of the writing of others. In this particular assignment sequence we will be focusing on the narrative or more specifically the personal narrative. Writing standard 2.1 also makes several other points, which will be a part of the assignments requirements and important in the assessment of my students work. These include well-chosen details, revealing the writer’s attitude, and employing descriptive strategies. Following these hallmarks, my students will explore themselves and the importance of the American journey.

Theoretical Rationale

            The best tasks for learning are those that are active and meaningful. This assignment sequence is both of these things. John Mahyer points out that “without [] an active role in their learning experiences in school, [students] will never be able to continue to be active, self-motivated learners after they leave school” (p. 287). What a student does or does not do after school is the true judge of the success of an education itself. I want my students to be independent and intrinsically motivated learners. I believe that this assignment sequence encourages active learning because students are keeping personal journals, choosing their own topics, and planning their research. We will also be discussing our papers in small groups and making multiple revisions for different formats. Discussion in the classroom is vital to learning. Hillocks goes in depth about the importance of “the need for active discussion of ideas and language, for continuing dialogue about meanings, especially in class rooms” (7). Incorporating in class discussion of ideas is a very simple way to encourage active learning.

The ability to move forward in creating a personal narrative is very useful in one’s life. We use narrative to explain, share our feelings, and relate experiences. It is a primary format for daily communication. The usefulness of learning such a genre cannot be underestimated. I want my students to be able to put personal feelings into their project, but combine their personal feelings with research into the lives of other people. The assignment sequence that I will outline in the pages to follow is also profoundly meaningful to the writer/learner. The paper is not merely going to be created in order to turn in to the teacher. Instead I have expanded the audience out beyond the walls of the classroom, giving my students the chance to become web published authors in their own right.

Overview

Your main writing task for these next eight weeks will be to create a narrative with a researched historical setting for eventual publishing on the World Wide Web.

For this assignment you will do the following:

v     Research a period of American history which is interesting to you.

v     Reflect on journeys that you have experienced

v     Use both personal experience and research to develop a creative essay.

o       The purpose for this essay is to investigate people of various time periods in US history and to share your feelings about change and travel.

o       The audience of this essay will be our class, the rest of the school district, and eventually others on the World Wide Web who may be interested in reading students works.

v     Use hypertext to publish your narrative on the World Wide Web.

There are several purposes for this project:

v     You will gain in-depth knowledge about a period of American history and the experiences of those who lived then.

v     You will reflect upon your own experiences as a traveler and gain deeper understanding of the people in our nation’s history who have undergone great journeys.

v     You will gain more knowledge about researching on the Internet.

v     You will compose a work of creative fiction using researched details.

v     You will experience writing and publishing for a larger audience (ie. The World Wide Web).

I have divided this project into a series of steps so that we can work through it together. Each step will be an assignment in itself, all leading up to a completed hypertext page that you can share on the World Wide Web. I have included an assignment description for each of the steps so that the progression is clear and successful. The assignments are as follows:

1)      Travel Journal – In this journal you will reflect on travel experiences of your own as well as those of other’s that you have either heard or read about.

2)      Topic and Setting – You will write a short summary of your topic and the setting of your story. We will then discuss these topics and settings in small discussion groups.

3)      WebQuest – You will practice using an Internet search engine in preparation for doing more in depth research for this project.

4)      Annotated Source List – A list of your sources with short summaries and personal comments on each source.

5)      Creative Essay – A 700 word creative narrative about a journey from American history.

6)      Hypertext Map – The paper you wrote in assignment 4 will be broken up and mapped to prepare for publishing your hypertext.  

7)      Published Hypertext Document – A multiple page hypertext document which includes various links within the pages that helps your audience to share your journey with you.

Assignment Sequence

Relationship to Course Content Objectives

            During the eight weeks of this unit you will be keeping a journal of your personal experiences with both journeys in your personal life and reflections on journeys we have read about in class. This journal will be shared between you and me, and will serve as a record of ideas and inspiration. Reflection is an important part of this writing process and your journal will become a way to remember your ideas and show how your thinking has changed over time.

Your Interest in and Understanding of the Topic

            Your travel journal is a place to sort out your experiences, reflections, and story ideas for this project. It will be with you throughout the entire process and you should use it as a way of keeping track of your thoughts and progress. I will also be reading through these journals and can help you in places where you seem stuck or make note of wonderful observations and reflections. The entries in your journal can track your research and should contain reflections on readings both in class and out. Even conversations you have had with others can find a place in this journal. You may draw pictures, cut and paste photos or anything else that is helpful to you as a writer for ideas and inspiration.

Purpose

            This journal will be kept so that you can gather information and plan your final hypertext project. It will also be a way of communicating privately with me so that I give you help when it is needed. The journal should help you to sort out your thoughts and keep your project organized. Finally, your travel journal will help to keep your entire project moving forward toward your final hypertext.

Audience

            The travel journal will be primarily for you, but also so that I can follow your processes of researching and writing a creative essay. You can use the journal to collect your own thoughts as well as to communicate with me throughout the project. I will be reading these journals and answering questions or giving assistance where needed. It will be a two-way communication for us over the course of this project. You may choose to share your journals with ours to get a sense of how people will react to your piece and to get input from your peers. I want you to keep in mind that your eventual audience will be made of both your peers and interested adults. You may have to consider this because I want you to use language that people outside of your age group would understand. This journal is a starting place and a personal document, but you must keep in mind where you are going to end up with this project.

Conventions and Genre or Form

            You will use a spiral bound notebook to keep your journal in. It will be handwritten, but your writing must be neat and legible. You will also write down the dates of all entries. Your entries can be brief, but must be detailed and show deep thought and reflection.

Sources of Information

            Information for your journal will mostly come from your own experiences and feelings. Passages from books, primary sources, and class discussions can be great sources of information and inspiration as well. All resources that you find interesting or useful need to be documented with bibliographic information.

Assessment

            I will be collecting your journals every two weeks throughout this unit. I expect you to keep writing in this journal throughout the entire project. At the end of this unit I will be collecting the entire journal and points will be awarded based on how often you wrote and the quality of your reflections.

Relationship to Course Content Objectives

            Choosing a topic can be the biggest obstacle to overcome in writing an essay. This assignment will give you a chance to explore your ideas with your classmates and me. Through exploring your ideas with each other you ideas for your piece will become more concrete in your mind. Setting plays a major part in writing and it is important to put time into creating your setting.

Your Interest in and Understanding of the Topic

            It is important to consider how your setting will affect the mood and tone of your piece. Discussing this with classmates may bring out angles that you had not thought of and will help you to think through the topic of your piece. It is important to discuss ideas for writing in order to see how audiences will react to your finished piece. Discussion can also help you to solidify your idea in your mind before beginning to write. The written portion of this assignment will serve as a launching point for discussion; it should by no means become the ceiling for discussion.

Purpose

The topic and setting paper will serve as a way to get your ideas down on paper and for you to receive some input back on them. The small group discussion should stimulate some good conversation about a wide variety of topics which people have chosen to write about. You may decide during the discussion to amend your topic or setting, and this is fine.

Audience

            The audience for this short paper will primarily be your classmates, but I will also collect it and look over what you have selected. You will be discussing these topics within a small group and making changes as you see fit. This paper is not a contract; you may make changes in your setting and topic. Changes are a natural part of the writing process. I want you to talk over your ideas with your classmates and receive input on your essay.

Conventions and Genre or Form

            This will be typed, double-spaced, and in 12 point font. Please bring two copies so that you can make notes for yourself on one and hand in the other to me. This should be no longer than a page, but no shorter than two paragraphs.

Sources of Information

            Drawing from what you have learned in class this year and your own personal experiences form a rough summary of your topic and setting idea. You do not need any deep research here, just your own mind and background knowledge.

Assessment

            Both the written summary and your participation in our small group discussion will be important in your grade for this assignment. I will expect you to come prepared to small group discussion, with a complete summary of your topic and setting on paper. This topic and setting paper will be collected by me and I will be meeting with each of you to discuss your topic. I also expect that you will be an active participant in your small group, making suggestions to others and helping each other to solidify for ideas for topic and setting.

Relationship to Course Content Objectives

            We will be doing a lot of work for this project on the Internet, both research and publishing. It is important to know where to look and what to look for. There are so many search engines available on the Internet, which one should we try first? The Internet is a powerful tool for writing if used correctly.

You Interest in and Understanding of the Topic

            Learning to use the Internet as a powerful research tool will be important to you throughout high school and on into college. The web is a vast expanse however, and navigating it can be quite a challenge. The Internet ceases to be useful if you do not know how to find what you are looking for.

Purpose

            The purpose of this assignment will be to learn how to effectively use web search engines such as Google and Internet encyclopedias such as Wikipedia.  We can use search engines more effectively if we learn to use search strings, this can narrow down the results that we get when searching and saves a lot of time.

Audience

            The audience for this assignment will be myself of course and also your fellow classmates as you will be working together in small groups to complete this assignment. The more that we can discover as a class about the various time periods of American history and the more methods for searching online that we can share, the better that our whole class will do on the final assignment in this sequence.

Conventions and Genre or Form

            More information and details for this WebQuest are to be found at https://cassandrashott.tripod.com/webquest/.

Sources of Information

            The sources for this assignment are going to be www.Google.com and www.wikipedia.org. You can feel free to spread out to other resources on the Internet as well, but Google is usually powerful enough to handle most inquiries.

Assessment

            This assignment will be graded based on the depth and quality of your web searches. There is more information and a rubric to be found on my WebQuest site, you must follow the link above for more details.

Relationship to Course Content Objectives

            Research is important for all writers. Planning and organizing research makes writing much easier and more enjoyable. An annotated source list includes a short summary of each of your research sources, including details that are important to your essay. The annotated source list that you will create can be shared with other people interested in the same topic or time period to create a larger network of information for all of us.

Your Interest in and Understanding of the Topic

            Your annotated resource list will be your chance to summarize and organize your resources. By writing the annotations you will gain a larger understanding for the research you have collected and understand which parts are most important to your final project.

Purpose

             The purpose of this assignment is to help you organize your sources and to share the resources around the classroom. The sharing of resources is important in community of authors. It is important that you organize your resources in one place and that you are able to pull the most important information from them. An annotated resource list can help you to achieve these goals and move forward in the writing process.

Audience

            The audience for this assignment will be people who are interested in learning more about the period of American history that you have selected. Rather then having to begin their research from scratch, I want your resource list to serve as a launching point. Make sure that you describe the sources with enough detail that someone with little knowledge of the topic would be able to determine if the source was interesting and useful to them.

Conventions and Genre or Form

            Your list must be typed, double-spaced and in 12 point font. You will include a minimum of five sources. For each source include a complete citation. Then write a paragraph summarizing the source and explaining how the source in useful to you and your topic. The finished document should be about 2-3 pages long.

Sources of Information

            We will be visiting the library and searching online for resources. Articles, speeches, journals, and many other resources are available on the Internet to enrich your understanding of the time period you are interested in writing about.

Assessment

            Your resource list will be graded based on the number of sources that you have included and the completeness of your summaries. You resources must be relevant to your topic and you must show me how you will be using them to write your paper.

Relationship to Course Content Objectives

            Writing a creative essay is a great way to write for pleasure. It will allow you to reflect on what we have learned about American history this year, people who packed up their lives and left on life-changing journeys. We have learned about many different journeys in American history and this essay will give you a chance to put this information to a creative use. You will be incorporating both your reflections from your journal and the information from your research to develop a creative narrative of your own.

Your Interest in and Understanding of the Topic

            Writing creatively is a great way of reflecting on books you have read and topics that you have studied. To walk in another person’s shoes is a powerful way to learn about our history and has much longer lasting effects that merely reading about another’s experience. We have all had experiences where we went through a change or embarked upon a journey. We can relate to those who moved thousands of miles, even though we may have only moved to the next city.

Purpose

            This essay has several purposes.

ü      This creative essay will serve as the basis for the hypertext that you will later create. Many people find it easier to create a hypertext if they have first written it down in a linear way.

ü      This creative essay will be a way of sharing your feelings and reflections with a much larger audience.

ü      This essay will help you to gain an appreciation of the people in American history that we have been studying.

Audience

            Your creative essay will be shared with your classmates and later, a larger audience on the World Wide Web. It should also be of meaning to you as the author, a reflection of your feelings and experiences.

Conventions and Genre or Form

            This will be typed, double-spaced and in 12 point font. The essay should be at least 700 word sin length, or about 4 pages. This will be a creative endeavor, so it is up to you to decide the format for your essay. Do not copy from any of your sources, they are meant to give you an understanding of the time period, not to provide you with your whole piece. This assignment will consist of several drafts, so be prepared to share your first draft with your classmates.

Sources of Information

            You will use your sources from your annotated source list. You can also use conversations, interviews and most importantly, your own brain! You do not need text references, just a general feeling and understand of the time period and details that show your research and knowledge.

Assessment

            Spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure will all be important in your final essay. You will also be graded on how well you incorporate historical details into you story and on the depth of reflection that your writing shows. I want you to adhere to the conventions that I have listed above and I want to see that you have put time and effort into crafting your essay. You must have your first draft prepared for peer revision in class and make the appropriate revisions for a final draft. I will give you feedback on this essay that you can use in crafting your final, published hypertext document.

Peer Review Guide

            The following questions will serve as a guideline for your review of a peer’s paper. You are required to address these questions at a minimum, but they are not meant to be the only questions asked. If you have other suggestions for the writer, please include them in the peer review so that we can all grow as writers.

  1. Does the writer make a good use of details? Do they include descriptions of the time period and events that are convincing and draw you in as a reader?
  2. Are the characters of the story believable? Do you care about their lives and what will happen to them?
  3. Does the writer share their feelings with the reader? Do you feel like you have gained an insight into the writer?
  4. What do you think is the writer’s theme? Their purpose?
  5. Any additional specific suggestions or questions that you may have for the writer.

Relationship to Course Content Objectives

            The hypertext map is a way of taking your linear narrative that you composed during assignment 4 and breaking it up in preparation for developing your hypertext. It is important to consider which sections can stand by themselves and what the most affective transitions are between pages. Breaking down an essay into its various parts can often help us to revise and see our writing in a new light.

Your Interest in and Understanding of the Topic

            Working with hypertext can be disorienting at first. Creating a map can help you to sort through the process and make you take a deeper look at your writing. You will highlight important sections and phrases. These will become links and move the reader to connected sections of your hypertext. Transitions are very important, so you will need to pay close attention to them.

Purpose

            The hypertext map is an organizational tool for creating your hypertext document.

Audience

            The audience for this hypertext map is primarily you. It will also serve as a way of communicating to me as the teacher about your progress and understanding of the assignment. These maps may be shared with classmates for input, but it is not required. They are an organizer for you as a writer, so that you do not get lost while working on the final hypertext version of your essay.

Conventions and Genre or Form

            This can be done in a variety of ways, but should include a map or diagram and a separated essay. The links in each section should be clearly marked and all pages must have a short heading. Also include a list of the headings and how many pages your document will have. Any text should be typed rather than hand written.

Sources of Information

            This will be based on your creative essay. I will also provide the class with examples of hypertext maps.

Assessment

            You hypertext map will be graded based on the quality of your transitions, your choices on page breaks and the quality of your completed document map. There are several organizational strategies that you may use, but they all must be neat, legible, and useful to you in the planning of your final hypertext document. I will be discussing these maps with each of you so that both you and I understand the direction in which your document in heading.

Examples

hierarchy.jpg

mixed.jpg

radial.jpg

Relationship to Course Content Objectives

            Your final hypertext document will be published on the World Wide Web to share with friends, family, and the much larger audience out on the Web. This web audience will include the rest of the students in our school, people who are interested in seeing student work through the district’s website, and several local middle schools that will be contacting about sharing our writing with. You will not just be creating a story that moves from start to finish, but rather a hypertext document that can be interacted with. You may include pictures, links to other pages and various multimedia. It is even possible to receive feedback on your hypertext creation from the readers on the Web.

Your Interest in and Understanding of the Topic

            Your final project for this unit is to design a hypertext based on the creative essay that you wrote for assignment 4. You will share this hypertext on the World Wide Web.  Publishing a written work for yourself and for praise is a highly rewarding experience and hope that you have enjoyed this process.

Purpose

            The purpose of creating a hypertext version of your creative essay is twofold:

ü      To create an interactive journey for your readers

ü      To share your work with a much larger audience

Audience

            The audience for this final hypertext is virtually unlimited! We will be posting our creations on the World Wide Web for everyone to see. We will be sharing them with other students, teachers, our families, and friends.

Conventions and Genre or Form

            You will construct your final hypertext by using StorySpace in the computer lab. It should include some media elements, either pictures or sounds. The final document will be published on the school district’s web site to share with the world.

Sources of Information

            This assignment is based on your creative essay and hypertext map. You will also be using the Internet and library to find possible pictures and other media for your final hypertext document.

Assessment

            Your hypertext document will be graded based on ease of navigation, creativity and use of a theme. Flashy graphics and music are not as important as working links and a believable atmosphere. I want to see that you have considering the tone and setting of your piece when adding colors and images. Your hypertext needs to illustrate interactivity with the text, letting readers share your journey with you.

Examples

            I have created a sample hypertext document here: cassandrashott.tripod.com .

            There are also many hypertext documents available on the internet if you would like to search around. This website : https://www.angelfire.com/mi/patter/pms.html contains a lot of hypertexts works by students in your age group. They are good examples of this hypertext project.

Works Cited

Hillocks, George, Jr. Teaching Writing as Reflective Practice. New York: Teacher’s

College P, 1995.

Mayher, John S. Uncommon Sense. Portsmouth, NH: Boyton/Cook Publishers, 1990.

Peer Review 1

First off, let me just say that
                                    you have wonderful paper. I love reviewing your stuff, because it always is so interesting to me. You are going to be a great
                                    teacher. Thanks, by the way for your great review. I am taking all of your suggestions under consideration.
 
Context: Great! You clearly give a great background and layout of the
                                    course thus far. You gave the students backgrounds, but when I was reading the assignments, I didn't see how it was completely
                                    relevant to the assignment descriptions. Maybe I missed something. Just a thought.
 
ELA standards:
Personal opinion, but I prefer these in bullet
                                    form. Good job on correlating each assignment with a standard.
 
Theoretical Rational: I feel that this is your best portion of the
                                    paper. good idea of allowing the students to become web published authors.
 
Assignment descriptions. I love your table of contents. The assignments
                                    were both interesting and with good detail. 
good job, Cassie. Like I said, I love reviewing your papers.  :-)
April Brown
 

Peer Review 2

You write so well. You have a great paper.

 

1. Context:

    You have given wonderful information on previous learning that has brought you to this next step.

There is confusion for me about the learning objectives. These might be listed at the end of your intro., but I am not sure.

 

2. State Standards:

    On most lesson plans these are listed. I like your explanations but it does get somewhat confusing. Suggestion: You might give the standard, then write under it how you are going to meet it.

 

3. Theoretical Rationale: 

    You have a great understanding of your theory and how you will put it into practice.

 

4. Assignment Description:

    You have great descriptions of your assignments. It would be difficult to suggest any changes.

 

I am always interested in what you have to say. You have written a very good paper.

Kim 

Changes I Made

            Due to popular demand I included a list of the standards that my assignment sequence was developed for. It seems that many people liked the quick reference of a list format. I did, however, keep my section on the standards as well, because I like the explanation that it gives. I feel that I did include learning objectives, even though Kin commented that she couldn’t see them. I added a couple more sentences in this section to clarify my objectives and how they relate to this particular theme and assignment sequence. My students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and I feel that the idea of the American Journey is a powerful one for them and they have a lot to say on the topic. This initial interest is important for maintain this interest in the project over the long run. My learning objectives are to give them a real world purpose for writing (being published) and to have them write quality, reflective and researched based narratives or short stories. This is how the assignments are relevant to my students and their background.

Dr. Hall’s Feedback

 

The hypertext element
                                    has GREAT potential.  Keep thinking about how you will SCAFFOLD each step along
                                    the way . . . 

[PC1] 

 

The American Journey:

A Sequence of Writing Assignments

 

 

 

 

Cassandra Shott

Dr. Hall

Eng 110 – Section 72

Draft 2

March 30, 2005

Table of Contents

Introduction. Error! Bookmark not defined.

English-Language Arts Standards. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Theoretical Rationale. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Overview.. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Assignment Sequence. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Travel Journal Error! Bookmark not defined.

Topic and Setting. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Annotated Source List Error! Bookmark not defined.

Creative Essay. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Hypertext Map. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Published Hypertext Document Error! Bookmark not defined.

Works Cited. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Peer Review 1. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Peer Review 2. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Changes I Made. Error! Bookmark not defined.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

            My class is an eighth grade combined Language Arts and Social Studies class in a small, semi-rural town in Riverside County. My students are a diverse group, consisting of 11 Caucasian students, 14 Mexican-American students and four African-American students. Five of these students are English Language Learners, but the number of bilingual students is even higher.  About half of the class receive[PC2]  free or reduced lunches, so we are a fairly average classroom in Southern California. Our school does provide us with great technological resources, however. All of our classrooms include wireless Internet service and we average about 3 students per computer.

            My class has been studying the idea of American journeys all year in both history and language arts. We have learned about the founding of the United States, immigration, westward expansion, the Trail of Tears and the Underground Railroad. All of these topics deal heavily with the idea of a great, life-changing journey. We have been working on several genres of writing as well. My students have written small research papers, argumentative pieces, poetry, and literature responses. They have not had much experience within my classroom writing narrative texts, but they have done it often in previous years. Their research methods need a lot of help, and I have been struggling to get them deeply involved in any research project. We are now nearing the end of the school year and they will be moving on to high school. This will be a major change for them, but I feel that an exciting project that they can become personally involved in will be beneficial to their growth as students and give them a deeper understanding of themselves as people. All of us have been travelers at times, whether it was moving to the next town over or traveling to a new country. [PC3] I think that the students in my class have a lot to say about this topic and it is a good jumping off point for research and narrative.

Throughout the year we have read many primary source documents from American history, written by people who were on journeys. My students have found these interesting, but I do not feel that they have a deep understanding for what people went through in our history. Having rote knowledge of American history is not enough for me; I wish that my students gain the understanding that comes with putting yourself in the shoes of another. I also believe that my students would benefit from having a larger audience for their work. They are getting older and have grown tired of just seeing the teacher’s comments across the top of their paper. I would like them to experience publishing their work for a larger audience[PC4] . My goal for my students is for them to gain a deep understanding for the people who built America. I also want them to compose a creative work of fiction that will be published and appreciated by a larger audience than just me and their classmates. I hope that they will develop a passion for writing, and understand how they can use research, reflection and creativity to craft a wonderful work of writing.

English-Language Arts Standards

This lesson is aimed at achieving the following California State Standards:

  • Written and Oral Language 1.0 – Students will write and speak with a command of standard English conventions appropriate to this grade level.
  • Reading 3.4 – Analyze the relevance of the setting (e.g. , place, time, customs) to the mood, tone and meaning of the piece.
  • Writing 1.2 – Establish coherence within and among paragraphs through effective transitions, parallel structures and writing techniques.
  • Writing 1.4 – Plan and conduct multiple-step information searches by using computer networks and modems.
  • Writing 1.6 – Revise writing for word choice, appropriate organizations, consistent point of view, and transitions between paragraphs, passages, and ideas.
  • Writing 2.0 – Students will write narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive essays of at least 500-700 words in length.
  • Writing 2.1 – Write biographies, autobiographies, short stories or narratives.
    • A. Relate a clear, coherent incident, event or situation by using well-chosen details.
    • B. Reveal the significance of, or the writer’s attitude about, the subject.
    • C. Employ narrative and descriptive strategies (e.g. relevant dialogue, specific action, physical description, comparison or contrast of characters)

            There are many standards that are addressed in this sequence of writing assignments. All of the assignments will be held to standard grammatical and written language conventions. This is defined as an eighth grade standard in the written and oral language section number 1.0. It is important that my eighth grade students be able to use correct grammar, sentence structure, and spelling conventions. T[PC5] hey will soon be moving on to high school and will fall behind if they are unable to communicate clearly in the written form. I will hold all of my students to these standards.

Reading standard 3.4 states that students will analyze the relevance of the setting to the mood, tone, and meaning of the text. For assignment two[PC6]  my students will be writing a brief summary of the topic and setting that they wish to write about. We will then have small group discussion of these topics and settings to help the students work on their ideas and analyze new ways of approaching their topic and the way that their setting will affect their piece[PC7] . I believe that this standard applies to writing as well as reading. Reflective readers who can understand the importance of setting are more able to become writers who can use setting as a way of more effectively communicating to other readers.

Most importantly my assignment sequence highlights many of the eighth grade writing standards. First is the ability to establish coherence within and among paragraphs through affective transitions, parallel structures, and other writing techniques (Writing, 1.2). We will discuss this when working on our essays, but it will become more important during the hypertext portion[PC8]  of this sequence. Hypertext is a nonlinear writing style and transitions are very important to the readability of the piece. Rather then making one paragraph flow straight into the next, the reader can choose various paths from within a paragraph. These links have to flow well in within the paragraph and when a reader moves to the next page, the connection between the two must be made with transition. The hypertext map assignment focuses heavily on creating solid transitions that help the piece to flow. The rewriting of the essay in hypertext will also serve as a revision period for my students. They will have to look at their piece in a new light because it will be constructed in a new format. This revision ties to writing standard 1.6, which states that students will revise writing for word choice, appropriate organization, consistent point of view, and transitions between paragraphs, passages, and ideas. We will spend time peer reviewing papers[PC9]  and discussing changes that can be made or areas where more detail or information is needed.

Research is another important section of this assignment sequence. Writing standard 1.4 states that students will plan and conduct multiple-step information searches by using computer networks and modems, the Internet is a vital piece of my assignment sequence. The students will be using it both as a resource and as an audience. I will require an annotated source list[PC10] , encouraging students to organize the information that they find online and use the most important parts. The Internet is vast and finding relevant information can be disorienting, an annotated source list will help my students to organize what they have found and use it to their advantage.

            Finally my students will be composing a 700 word essay, which is writing standard 2.0. This essay will be based on the above standards as well as meeting standard 2.1, where students will write biographies, autobiographies, short stories, or narratives. [PC11] Writing standard 2.1 also makes several other points, which will be a part of the assignments requirements and important in the assessment of my students work. These include well-chosen details, revealing the writer’s attitude, and employing descriptive strategies. Following these hallmarks, my students will explore themselves and the importance of the American journey.

Theoretical Rationale

            The best tasks for learning are those that are active and meaningful. This assignment sequence is both of these things. John Mahyer points out that “without [] an active role in their learning experiences in school, [students] will never be able to continue to be active, self-motivated learners after they leave school” (p. 287). What a student does or does not do after school is the true judge of the success of an education itself. I want my students to be independent and intrinsically motivated learners. I believe that this assignment sequence encourages active learning because students are keeping personal journals, choosing their own topics, and planning their research. We will also be discussing our papers in small groups and making multiple revisions for different formats. Discussion in the classroom is vital to learning. Hillocks goes in depth about the importance of “the need for active discussion of ideas and language, for continuing dialogue about meanings, especially in class rooms” (p. 7). Incorporating in class discussion of ideas is a very simple way to encourage active learning.

The ability to move forward in creating a creative or personal narrative[PC12]  is very useful in one’s life. We use narrative to explain, share our feelings, and relate experiences. It is a primary format for daily communication. The usefulness of learning such a genre cannot be underestimated. The assignment sequence that I will outline in the pages to follow is also profoundly meaningful to the writer/learner. The paper is not merely going to be created in order to turn in to the teacher. Instead I have expanded the audience out beyond the walls of the classroom, giving my students the chance to become web published authors in their own right.

Overview

Your main writing task for these next eight weeks will be to create a narrative with a researched historical setting for eventual publishing on the World Wide Web.

For this assignment you will do the following:

v     Research a period of American history which is interesting to you.

v     Reflect on journeys that you have experienced

v     Use both personal experience and research to develop a creative essay[PC13] .

v     Use hypertext to publish your narrative on the World Wide Web.

There are several purposes for this project:

v     You will gain in-depth knowledge about a period of American history and the experiences of those who lived then.

v     You will reflect upon your own experiences as a traveler and gain deeper understanding of the people in our nation’s history who have undergone great journeys.

v     You will compose a work of creative fiction using researched details.

v     You will experience writing and publishing for a larger audience (ie. The World Wide Web).[PC14] 

I have divided this project into a series of steps so that we can work through it together. Each step will be an assignment in itself, all leading up to a completed hypertext page that you can share on the World Wide Web. I have included an assignment description for each of the steps so that the progression is clear and successful. The assignments are as follows:

1)      Travel Journal – In this journal you will reflect on travel experiences of your own as well as those of other’s that you have either heard or read about.

2)      Topic and Setting – You will write a short summary of your topic and the setting of your story. We will then discuss these topics and settings in small discussion groups.

3)      Annotated Source List – A list of your sources with short summaries and personal comments on each source.

4)      Creative Essay – A 700 word creative narrative about a journey from American history.

5)      Hypertext Map – The paper you wrote in assignment 4 will be broken up and mapped to prepare for publishing your hypertext.  

6)      Published Hypertext Document – A multiple page hypertext document which includes various links within the pages that helps your audience to share your journey with you.

Assignment Sequence

Travel Journal

Relationship to Course Content Objectives

            During the eight weeks of this unit you will be keeping a journal of your personal experiences with both journeys in your personal life and reflections on journeys we have read about in class. This journal will be shared between you and me, and will serve as a record of ideas and inspiration. Reflection is an important part of this writing process and your journal will become a way to remember your ideas and show how your thinking has changed over time.

Your Interest in and Understanding of the Topic

            Your travel journal is a place to sort out your experiences, reflections, and story ideas for this project. It will be with you throughout the entire process and you should use it as a way of keeping track of your thoughts and progress. I will also be reading through these journals and can help you in places where you seem stuck or make note of wonderful observations and reflections. The entries in your journal can track your research and should contain reflections on readings both in class and out. Even conversations you have had with others can find a place in this journal. You may draw pictures, cut and paste photos or anything else that is helpful to you as a writer for ideas and inspiration.

Purpose

            This journal will be kept so that you can gather information and plan your final hypertext project. It will also be a way of communicating privately with me so that I give you help when it is needed. The journal should help you to sort out your thoughts and keep your project organized. Finally, your travel journal will help to keep your entire project moving forward toward your final hypertext.

Audience

            The travel journal will be primarily for you, but also so that I can follow your processes of researching and writing a creative essay.[PC15]  You can use the journal to collect your own thoughts as well as to communicate with me throughout the project. I will be reading these journals and answering questions or giving assistance where needed. It will be a two-way communication for us over the course of this project.

Conventions and Genre or Form

            You will use a spiral bound notebook to keep your journal in. It will be handwritten, but your writing must be neat and legible. You will also write down the dates of all entries. Your entries can be brief, but must be detailed and show deep thought and reflection.

Sources of Information

            Information for your journal will mostly come from your own experiences and feelings. Passages from books, primary sources, and class discussions can be great sources of information and inspiration as well. All resources that you find interesting or useful need to be documented with bibliographic information.

Assessment

            I will be collecting your journals every two weeks throughout this unit. I expect you to keep writing in this journal throughout the entire project. At the end of this unit I will be collecting the entire journal and points will be awarded based on how often you wrote and the quality of your reflections.

Topic and Setting

Relationship to Course Content Objectives

            Choosing a topic can be the biggest obstacle to overcome in writing an essay. This assignment will give you a chance to explore your ideas with your classmates and me. Through exploring your ideas with each other you ideas for your piece will become more concrete in your mind. Setting plays a major part in writing and it is important to put time into creating your setting.

Your Interest in and Understanding of the Topic

            It is important to consider how your setting will affect the mood and tone of your piece. Discussing this with classmates may bring out angles that you had not thought of and will help you to think through the topic of your piece. It is important to discuss ideas for writing in order to see how audiences will react to your finished piece. Discussion can also help you to solidify your idea in your mind before beginning to write. The written portion of this assignment will serve as a launching point for discussion,[PC16]  it should by know[PC17]  means become the ceiling for discussion.

Purpose

The topic and setting paper will serve as a way to get your ideas down on paper and for you to receive some input back on them. The small group discussion should stimulate some good conversation about a wide variety of topics which people have chosen to write about. You may decide during the discussion to amend your topic or setting, and this is fine.

Audience

            The audience for this short paper will primarily be your classmates, but I will also collect it and look over what you have selected. You will be discussing these topics within a small group and making changes as you see fit. This paper is not a contract; you may make changes in your setting and topic. Changes are a natural part of the writing process. I want you to talk over your ideas with your classmates and receive input on your essay.

Conventions and Genre or Form

            This will be typed, double-spaced, and in 12 point font. Please bring two copies so that you can make notes for yourself on one and hand in the other to me. This should be no longer than a page, but no shorter than two paragraphs.

Sources of Information

            Drawing from what you have learned in class this year and your own personal experiences form a rough summary of your topic and setting idea. You do not need any deep research here, just your own mind and background knowledge.

Assessment

            Both the written summary and your participation in our small group discussion will be important in your grade for this assignment. I will expect you to come prepared to small group discussion, with a complete summary of your topic and setting on paper. This topic and setting paper will be collected by me and I will be meeting with each of you to discuss your topic. I also expect that you will be an active participant in your small group, making suggestions to others and helping each other to solidify for ideas for topic and setting.

Annotated Source List

Relationship to Course Content Objectives

            Research is important for all writers. Planning and organizing research makes writing much easier and more enjoyable. An annotated source list includes a short summary of each of your research sources, including details that are important to your essay. The annotated source list that you will create can be shared with other people interested in the same topic or time period to create a larger network of information for all of us.

Your Interest in and Understanding of the Topic

            Your annotated resource list will be your chance to summarize and organize your resources. By writing the annotations you will gain a larger understanding for the research you have collected and understand which parts are most important to your final project.

Purpose

             The purpose of this assignment is to help you organize your sources and to share the resources around the classroom. The sharing of resources is important in community of authors. It is important that you organize your resources in one place and that you are able to pull the most important information from them. An annotated resource list can help you to achieve these goals and move forward in the writing process.

Audience

            The audience for this assignment will be people who are interested in learning more about the period of American history that you have selected. Rather then having to begin their research from scratch, I want your resource list to serve as a launching point. Make sure that you describe the sources with enough detail that someone with little knowledge of the topic would be able to determine if the source was interesting and useful to them.

Conventions and Genre or Form

            Your list must be typed, double-spaced and in 12 point font. You will include a minimum of five sources. For each source include a complete citation. Then write a paragraph summarizing the source and explaining how the source in useful to you and your topic. The finished document should be about 2-3 pages long.

Sources of Information

            We will be visiting the library and searching online for resources. Articles, speeches, journals, and many other resources are available on the Internet to enrich your understanding of the time period you are interested in writing about.

Assessment

            Your resource list will be graded based on the number of sources that you have included and the completeness of your summaries. You resources must be relevant to your topic and you must show me how you will be using them to write your paper.

Creative Essay[PC18] 

Relationship to Course Content Objectives

            Writing a creative essay is a great way to write for pleasure. It will allow you to reflect on what we have learned about American history this year, people who packed up their lives and left on life-changing journeys. We have learned about many different journeys in American history and this essay will give you a chance to put this information to a creative use. You will be incorporating both your reflections from your journal and the information from your research to develop a creative narrative of your own.

Your Interest in and Understanding of the Topic

            Writing creatively is a great way of reflecting on books you have read and topics that you have studied. To walk in another person’s shoes is a powerful way to learn about our history and has much longer lasting effects that merely reading about another’s experience. We have all had experiences where we went through a change or embarked upon a journey. We can relate to those who moved thousands of miles, even though we may have only moved to the next city.

Purpose

            This essay has several purposes.

ü      This creative essay will serve as the basis for the hypertext that you will later create. Many people find it easier to create a hypertext if they have first written it down in a linear way.

ü      This creative essay will be a way of sharing your feelings and reflections with a much larger audience.

ü      This essay will help you to gain an appreciation of the people in American history that we have been studying.

Audience

            Your creative essay will be shared with your classmates and later, a larger audience on the World Wide Web. It should also be of meaning to you as the author, a reflection of your feelings and experiences.

Conventions and Genre or Form

            This will be typed, double-spaced and in 12 point font. The essay should be at least 700 word sin length, or about 4 pages. This will be a creative endeavor, so it is up to you to decide the format for your essay. Do not copy from any of your sources, they are meant to give you an understanding of the time period, not to provide you with your whole piece. This assignment will consist of two drafts[PC19] , so be prepared to share your first draft with your classmates.

Sources of Information

            You will use your sources from your annotated source list. You can also use conversations, interviews and most importantly, your own brain! You do not need text references, just a general feeling and understand of the time period and details that show your research and knowledge.

Assessment

            Spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure will all be important in your final essay. You will also be graded on how well you incorporate historical details into you story and on the depth of reflection that your writing shows. I want you to adhere to the conventions that I have listed above and I want to see that you have put time and effort into crafting your essay. You must have your first draft prepared for peer revision in class and make the appropriate revisions for a final draft. I will give you feedback on this essay that you can use in crafting your final, published hypertext document.

Hypertext Map[PC20] 

Relationship to Course Content Objectives

            The hypertext map is a way of taking your linear narrative that you composed during assignment 4 and breaking it up in preparation for developing your hypertext. It is important to consider which sections can stand by themselves and what the most affective transitions are between pages. Breaking down an essay into its various parts can often help us to revise and see our writing in a new light.

Your Interest in and Understanding of the Topic

            Working with hypertext can be disorienting at first. Creating a map can help you to sort through the process and make you take a deeper look at your writing. You will highlight important sections and phrases. These will become links and move the reader to connected sections of your hypertext. Transitions are very important, so you will need to pay close attention to them.

Purpose

            The hypertext map is an organizational tool for creating your hypertext document.

Audience

            The audience for this hypertext map is primarily you. It will also serve as a way of communicating to me as the teacher about your progress and understanding of the assignment. These maps may be shared with classmates for input, but it is not required. They are an organizer for you as a writer, so that you do not get lost while working on the final hypertext version of your essay.

Conventions and Genre or Form

            This can be done in a variety of ways, but should include a map or diagram and a separated essay. The links in each section should be clearly marked and all pages must have a short heading. Also include a list of the headings and how many pages your document will have. Any text should be typed rather than hand written.

Sources of Information

            This will be based on your creative essay. I will also provide the class with examples of hypertext maps.

Assessment

            You hypertext map will be graded based on the quality of your transitions, your choices on page breaks and the quality of your completed document map. There are several organizational strategies that you may use, but they all must be neat, legible, and useful to you in the planning of your final hypertext document. I will be discussing these maps with each of you so that both you and I understand the direction in which your document in heading.

Published Hypertext Document

Relationship to Course Content Objectives

            Your final hypertext document will be published on the World Wide Web to share with friends, family, and the much larger audience[PC21]  out on the Web. You will not just be creating a story that moves from start to finish, but rather a hypertext document that can be interacted with. You may include pictures, links to other pages and various multimedia. It is even possible to receive feedback on your hypertext creation from the readers on the Web.

Your Interest in and Understanding of the Topic

            Your final project for this unit is to design a hypertext based on the creative essay that you wrote for assignment 4. You will share this hypertext on the World Wide Web.  Publishing a written work for yourself and for praise is a highly rewarding experience and hope that you have enjoyed this process.

Purpose

            The purpose of creating a hypertext version of your creative essay is twofold:

ü      To create an interactive journey for your readers

ü      To share your work with a much larger audience

Audience

            The audience for this final hypertext is virtually unlimited! We will be posting our creations on the World Wide Web for everyone to see. We will be sharing them with other students, teachers, our families, and friends.

Conventions and Genre or Form

            You will construct your final hypertext by using StorySpace in the computer lab. It should include some media elements, either pictures or sounds. The final document will be published on the school district’s web site to share with the world.

Sources of Information

            This assignment is based on your creative essay and hypertext map. You will also be using the Internet and library to find possible pictures and other media for your final hypertext document.

Assessment

            Your hypertext document will be graded based on ease of navigation, creativity and use of a theme. Flashy graphics and music are not as important as working links and a believable atmosphere. I want to see that you have considering the tone and setting of your piece when adding colors and images. Your hypertext needs to illustrate interactivity with the text, letting readers share your journey with you.

Works Cited

Hillocks, George, Jr. Teaching Writing as Reflective Practice. New York: Teacher’s

College P, 1995.

Mayher, John S. Uncommon Sense. Portsmouth, NH: Boyton/Cook Publishers, 1990.

Changes I Made Part 2

 

            I added quite a few things throughout the paper, mostly where you pointed out areas that were unclear. The major revisions that I made were to add examples of both the Hypertext Map and the finished Hypertext document. I created some examples of what they would look like and provided a link to a hypertext that I created myself for another class this semester. I would not normally use this example because it is not the most appropriate thing for children, but it gives you an idea of what I would be doing. I would create a new hypertext more along the lines of the assignment, but I want to leave the one I have up until the end of the semester because the professor is still looking at it. Plus, I’m pretty happy about it and still sending it to my friends. Another major revision that I made was to add in another entire assignment called WebQuest. I was searching online for some ways to teach Internet research strategies and stumbled over the idea of a WebQuest. They are gaining popularity among teachers in colleges and even many elementary school and high schools are beginning to use them. I was able to find some great information and examples of them, so I thought that it would be fun to create my own. I think that it will provide great scaffolding for my imaginary class and provide them with the skills that they will need to utilize the Internet in their future endeavors.

 


 [PC1]

 

(Just a reading guide for me.)

 

Outline

 

Context

English-Language Arts Standards

Theoretical Rationale

Assignment Descriptions -

 

1)       Relation to course content objectives

2)       Student’s interest

3)       Purpose

4)       Audience

5)       Genre & form

6)       Sources

7)       Assessment

 

 [PC2]Careful proofreading & editing for Draft 3.

 [PC3]Those of us who have traveled and moved about may have difficulty imagining that many of our students have NOT.  Some have never traveled outside the town or city in which they were born.

 

An assignment that asks students to focus on their travels, then, may be problematic particularly because it may highlight social class differences, marking poor and working class families who may not have the resources to travel and move about as other classmates do.

 

What might you do to modify your assignment sequence to address this potential problem?

 [PC4]Great idea.

 [PC5]Will this be your FIRST order of concern?

 

How will you TEACH them the rules and conventions you want them to know?

 

Where will CONTENT fit in?

 [PC6]Did I miss assignment one?

 [PC7]Great for brainstorming.

 [PC8]Interesting.

 [PC9]You’ll want to consider HOW you will TEACH them to do this effectively.

 [PC10]Consider HOW students will learn to hunt and gather relevant sources.  What kinds of research will they use, and HOW?  And HOW will you TEACH them to engage in this sort of inquiry?

 [PC11]Will they choose among these?  Or do just one?  Again, how you will TEACH the genre(s)?  Will they study models, for example?

 [PC12]This, or the genres you list above?  How do they differ?

 [PC13]What will be the PURPOSE and AUDIENCE—in the sense of WHAT DO YOU WANT STUDENTS TO DO IN WRITING—AND WHY—AND FOR WHOM?

 [PC14]Will they need scaffolding to help them LEARN to work in this online setting?

 [PC15]Will students need to consider in the early stages who they’ll be addressing their hypertext essay to online?  What real audiences can you imagine?

 [PC16]Careful of the run-on sentences.

 [PC17]??

 [PC18]Here, some examples or models of this kind of hypertext writing will be essential.

 [PC19]What if students need more?

 [PC20]Useful for planning.  Will they see examples of how these work online?

 [PC21]Maybe for some wider school audience, or for a paired class at another school somewhere else, maybe far away?

Cassandra Shott ENG 110, Spring 2005

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