ATAMSBLAST DIGITAL AGENDA College Writing Marquez April 23, 2012—April 27, 2012 DO NOW: Daily Grammar Exercise (Week 3) *First 10 minutes of each class. California Standards: Writing and Oral English-Language 1.1: Demonstrate control of grammar, diction, and paragraph and sentence structure and an understanding of English language. Writing and Oral English-Language 1.3: Reflect appropriate manuscript requirements in writing. Writing Applications 2.3 a-c: Write reflective compositions. Essential Questions: “What are effective topic and supporting sentences?” “How can we develop effective introductory paragraphs by using the language used in the prompt?” LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR STUDENTS: Given: The entire class and three stations… the learner will: Continue practicing writing to the SAT essay model and will learn how to effectively address the prompt by learning how to use the prompt into their introductory paragraphs. Students will also learn how to create and include original metaphors and similes into their essays in order to avoid penalties on their SAT score. by: Completing the SAT digital handouts, writing to the SAT essay prompt, and participating in Friday’s peer editing session Assessment: SAT digital handouts, SAT Vocabulary, and SAT essay writings.

Individual Instruction: SAT Vocabulary Week 3 Vocabulary Theme: ‘Cheating’ Have it be in school, work, sports, or relationships— people tend to cheat. Some more than others. This week’s vocabulary will allow you to address those who bend the rules in a fashion befitting an English student. Don’t freak out; I will define and give eamples of all twenty words at the beginning of class. - acrimonious-elicit -admonish-ethics -clandestine-flagrant -concur-impunity -construe-inane -culprit-inexorable -distraught-paucity -duplicity-pernicious -duress-rampant -egregious-tolerate Directions: Write an original story using at least ten of the twenty vocabulary words listed above. This will be due by the end of Wednesday’s class. Direct Instruction: Tuesday, April 24 SAT: Essay Practice (40-45 minutes) Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below. We all have "authorities"—experts and specialists, from authors to doctors to politicians—who seem to dictate our lives and determine our futures. In the best of circumstances, these authorities can make us feel safe. They make our decisions for us. They look out for our interests. Or so we hope. But not everyone we consider an authority is deserving of our trust. Assignment: Do people put too much trust in the guidance of experts and authorities? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations. *Due at the end of Direct Instruction Friday, April 27 SAT: Editing for interest (Digital Handout) Your essay will be read by people—real people. Most of them are teachers who know that essays can be lively, scintillating, and a joy to read. Like any readers, they will be put off by dull writing. Therefore, one of your goals on the SAT essay is to inject life into your prose by: Using active instead of passive verbs Writing active instead of passive sentences Omitting needless words Showing instead of telling Collaborative Station: Tuesday, April 24 SAT: Practice in Writing Comparisons ( minutes) You may work with a partner or on your own. This exercise focuses on writing comparisons. On the SAT essay, you will be penalized if you use cliches. You’ll need to start the habit of writing your own original and creative similes and metaphors. Handout on SAT Prep Website titled “Practice in Writing Comparisons”. Friday, April 27 SAT Essay Peer Review (45-55 minutes) Using the rubric provided, we will edit and score the essays written by your peers. This exercise will allow us to identify what mistakes, if any, writers in Period 4 or committing and how we can improve our writing. Remember, effective writing spawns from effective writing communities and constructive criticism. Return the essay to their owner during the last five minutes of Collaborative Instruction.