02.07.2011WRITER’S WORKSHOP

English II CP | Mr. Smith

Warm-up

In your opinion, what is “good” writing? How would you describe it? What does it look like or sound like?

Vocab List 02

Vocab List 02

1. candid – honest; blunt; direct Brenda was candid when she told Jeff she never really

liked him.2. discernment – insight; ability to see things clearly

Police detectives have excellent discernment that helps them solve crimes.

3. disdain – contempt; scorn Most girls that Jeff tries to hit on tell him no because

they have disdain for him.4. abstract – theoretical; lacking substance

Freedom and justice are abstract ideas; you can’t see or touch them.

Vocab List 02

5. temperate – moderate; restrained The weather in North Carolina is generally temperate –

not too hot, not too cold.6. enigma – mystery; riddle

The Sunday crossword puzzle can be so difficult it seems like an enigma.

7. inevitable – unavoidable; bound to happen If you don’t do your homework, it is inevitable that you’ll

earn a poor grade.8. eccentric – not conventional; odd; irregular

The eccentric man would only eat foods that were white.

Vocab List 02

9. provincial – limited in outlook to one’s own small experience; narrow

The provincial young man from the country didn’t understand the ways of the big city.

10. futile – hopeless; without effect Some scientists believe that it’s futile to attempt

time travel.

[ Mini-lesson ]

NC Writing Rubric (FOSS)

Features of quality writing

Focus Organization Support Style

Focus

The writer establishes a main point that is clear. Can be stated either at beginning or end Can be implied

The writer sticks to the main point throughout the composition.

Organization

Composition has a clear and strong sense of beginning, middle, and end.

The ideas in the composition progress logically (within the entire composition and within the individual paragraphs). General to specific Abstract to concrete Chronological (order based on time)

Support

Author provides clear concrete details and commentary.

Support must be sufficient and relevant. Sufficient = there are enough details to support the

main idea Relevant = the details used clearly relate to the main

idea

Style

Writing is fluent (i.e. it “flows”). The author demonstrates strong word choice (e.g.

no good, thing, very, etc). The author uses a variety of strong sentences (e.g.

simple statements, complex sentences, questions, fragments).

Conventions & Mechanics

Don’t forget that your writing should also have correction conventions and mechanics (i.e. spelling, punctuation, and grammar).

So what?

As you write, keep these criteria in mind. As you revise and edit, check that your writing

meets these criteria. As you conference with others, check that their

writing meets these criteria.

Protected Writing Time

Agenda

Definition Essay Prewriting (Brainstorming, Shaping the Essay) Drafting

Author Share

Be proud of your work!

One idea One detail One sentence One paragraph Whole essay

Homework

For tomorrow:

Meaningful sentences