Week at a glance April 4 - 8, 2011

Curriculum focus: generates ideas from personal experience, prior knowledge, observation applying appropriate strategies (11.7.1.1), selects a topic and relevant details for form, purpose, and audience (11.7.1.2), organizes and plans a written piece and develops a thesis statement in response to a prompt (11.7.1.3b), edits and polishes final revision to improve fluency and clarity (11.7.1.7), composes and meets the needs of the audience when creating persuasive writing (11.7.2.1c), builds a focused argument in the persuasive mode that uses logical thinking and appeals to reason, authority, and/or emotion using persuasive techniques (11.7.3.1c), the arguments opposing the writer's position are anticipated and effectively refuted (11.7.3.1g)--these are the primary indicators we are covering. We are also covering a broad range of other local indicators that, if all were listed, would be our entire writing curriculum.

The Local Writing Assessment

Although the state of KS does not require us to complete a writing assessment every year, WRHS's English 11 teachers are dedicated to tracking our students' progress and checking our own teaching practices. The Local Writing Assessment is a persuasive essay test developed by the English 11 team given during years when we are not required to do the KS Writing Assessment. The test is an in-class essay, meaning that students will not have any homework and will not be able to take materials home. Each day has a prescribed purpose. As long as students are focused, using their time wisely, and working through the writing process, we expect each student to pass without worry.

• Mon: LWA - Select a topic and begin the brainstorming process.
• Tues: LWA - Use the shaping packet to help shape the essay.
• Wed: LWA - Use the shaping packet to create a rough draft.
• Thurs: LWA - Meet in the IMC Lab C. Type the rough draft.
• Fri: LWA - Revise and edit the draft. LWA Final Draft and all materials due by the end of the hour.