Please add the rubric to the end of your informative essay.  Copy and paste.

Click here for Informative Essay rubric

Proofreading

1.  Quietly read your paper aloud and listen to flow.  You may notice something that doesn't sound quite right (repetition or otherwise).  If so, fix it!

2.  Copy your paper and paste it into a Word document.  Do a spelling and grammar check to make sure that Google Docs didn't miss anything.  If you make changes, make sure to recopy your paper out of Word and paste it back into Google Docs.

3.  Do a "command f" search for ".  " to make sure you have two spaces after all periods and also check for other ending punctuation.

4.  Do a “command f” search for these words to see if you use them too frequently:

                        -then

                        -and

                        -next

5.  Do a “command f” search for these words, and if you find them, reword your sentence so that it does not contain the word.

                        -you, your, you’re

                        -I, me, my, mine

6.  Print your paper to the MS_TOSHIBA_LMC

7.  Do you have a CREATIVE title at the top of your paper?  It should be something that tells me what to expect in your paper and makes me want to read more.  Just “Fly Fishing Equipment” is boring.

8.  Underline your transition words (because, however, if, when, first, another, etc.).  Do you have solid transitions from one sentence to the next and one paragraph to the next?  These should come either at the end of a paragraph or as part of your topic sentence.  Remember, find a way to link your body paragraphs together.

9.  Count the number of sentences in each paragraph and write the numbers in the left margin.  Do you have 4-5 sentences in your introduction and conclusion, and do you have 7-10 sentences in each body paragraph?

10.  Circle the first word of each sentence.  Do you have more than two sentences that start with the same word in one paragraph?  Do all of your paragraphs start with same word?  If so, make changes.

11.  Count the number of words in each of your sentences.  Write the numbers in the right margin.  Do you have enough variety?  If not, either split some longer sentences into shorter ones or combine shorter ones into longer ones.

12.  Make sure to spell out all numbers ten and under.  Also words like "percent" should be spelled out.  Unsure?  Ask for help!

13.  Make changes to your electronic document based on steps 7-12. (keep your proofread copy to turn in with final draft)

INFORMATIVE ESSAY

For this assignment, you will be researching an outdoor activity and constructing an essay.  The purpose of this essay is to inform your peers about your chosen topic in a way that builds on or expands what they might already know.

The requirements for this essay are as follows:

1.)  A minimum of 5 paragraphs including:

a.)  An introductory paragraph of 4-5 sentences with

-an attention getter (one of the five methods discussed in class)

-a thesis statement which specifies the main ideas of your essay.

b.)  A minimum of three well-developed informative paragraphs of 5-10 sentences each.

c.)  A concluding paragraph of 4-5 sentences incorporating the three necessary elements:

-a restatement of the main idea

-a summary of the important points

-a closing thought

2.)  A Works Cited page with at least three different sources cited correctly.  Of the three

-at least one traditional source (book, encyclopedia, magazine, newspaper, or other reference book).

-at least one reliable internet source.

3.)  Completion of the attached brainstorming, outline, rough draft, and peer editing sheets as evidence of the writing process.

4.)  A final draft demonstrating complete understanding of the write traits ideas, sentence fluency, organization, and conventions.  See rubric in packet for specifics.

Informative Essay Calendar

March/April

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
24	25 Introduce essay Homework Have topic chosen by tomorrow	26 Brainstorm focused questions and support for essay Homework Have pages 2 and 3 of packet completed for tomorrow	27 Library and computer research	28 Library and computer research
31 Last day for library and computer research	1 Outlining on pages 6 and 7 of packet Homework Have outline completed by tomorrow	2 Rough Draft writing Homework Complete rough draft for tomorrow	3 Begin typing draft	4 Finish typing draft and proofread Homework Proofreading list done by Monday
7 Holocaust Speaker	8 Peer editing	9 PAPER DUE Make final changes and share with Mr. Haas	10	11

Pictures for Narrative Essay

 

 

 

Happy New Year

Here it is 2014!  

Prior to Winter Break we finished up the Sentence Structure Unit.  Students will be given their post-tests results to compare them to the pretest they took in September.  Many students made great gains.  We will continue to review these skills throughout the remainder of the year.

 Possessive Nouns
The following site teaches how to form possessive nouns.  It provides practice with the rules.


http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=WCN1601

Welcome to a new school year.  I always find it exciting to start the year, and this year is no exception.  I look forward to working with both students and parents.  We will be doing a lot of reading and writing this year. 

Please know that I am here to help.  Do not hesitate to ask.

I will use this blog to keep you informed of what is happening in class.  Please check it.  Subscribe by email so you will be made aware of when I have made updates.

I am excited to meet and work with all of you.

Mr. Haas