Expository Reading & Writing ERWC

ERWC Reading Stamina Format/Structured vs. Non-Format 1. Weekly /Unit Goals --Active Reading Reading Stamina Annotating --Writing (authentic writing assignments) Format/Structured vs. Non-Format Joining the conversation 2. Strategies --Help us achieve reading & writing goals Reading examples: Making predictions, thinking about the audience, determining purpose Writing examples: summary, analyzing, annotating

What students can not do… Only 1/3 of students are prepared for the two most frequently assigned writing tasks: Analyzing information or arguments Synthesizing information from several sources **Therefore, this will be our focus! Wendy Connelly Expository Reading and Writing

Expository Reading and Writing Debunking the Myths 1. This is bone head English. 2. Students were placed in this class because they failed a 15 question test. 3. You’re in this class because your past teachers didn’t do their job. 4. There is an easy waiver process to get out of the class. 1.Expository Reading and Writing is an A-G college prep. class. It is designed to help students prepare for the rigorous reading and writing demands they will face in college. 2. The EAP test included an essay, 15 additional questions to the STAR test and other questions pulled from the STAR test itself. The questions were used to determine whether or not the student was prepared for college level English. -The Expository Reading and Writing class was designed for students to be able to use their Senior Year preparing for their college experience. 3. Discuss: High School /College Disconnect -Every teacher you’ve had at Amador has done their job teaching you well, and we have the STAR scores to show that. Currently, there are some discrepencies between what college professors expect you to be able to do and what the State Standards mandate that we teach to you. 4. Our district has put a lot of money to into this program to make sure that our students not only get into college, but are also prepared to succeed in college. Unless you are not going to college at all, you will stay in this class—otherwise you may try to transfer to Technical English. Wendy Connelly Expository Reading and Writing

Debunking the Myths, cont. 5. This is a boring class. 6. You don’t have to worry about Reading & Writing in college unless you are an English major. 5. This a great class that studies modern, interesting issues that plague our world today. We use these topics to help teach you how to read, write and respond the way that your college professors will expect. 6. The EAP test and the college professor expectations that this program was founded on have been taken from professors from all the different disciplines—including Math, Science, Social Studies, Business, etc. Wendy Connelly Expository Reading and Writing

Why Expository Reading & Writing?? Expository Reading and Writing Wendy Connelly Expository Reading and Writing

Writing and Reading Connection Writing Reading must go hand in hand! Wendy Connelly Expository Reading and Writing

Step #1: Prereading Activities Getting Ready to Read Introducing Key Concepts Surveying the Text Making Predictions & Asking Questions Introducing Key Vocabulary Engage in intellectual discussions (74%) Wendy Connelly Expository Reading and Writing

Step #2:Reading & Rereading Activities First Reading Looking at Language Rereading the Text Analyzing Stylistic Choices Consider the Structure of the Text Ask Provocative Questions (74%) Wendy Connelly Expository Reading and Writing

Step #3: Postreading Activities Summarizing & Responding Thinking Critically Connecting Reading to Writing Negotiating Voices Generate hypotheses (72%) & Exhibit respect for others viewpoints (71% Wendy Connelly Expository Reading and Writing

How do we teach students to “Actively Read” Wendy Connelly Expository Reading and Writing

Collegiate Writing Expectations Amount of Writing: Quarter classes 2 short 1000-1500 word essays OR one short essay and one long research paper A midterm exam with short answer essay questions and a longer final exam with longer questions Semester Courses Two midterm exams Final exam Long analytical, research paper of at least 8 pages These are the expectations in a typical freshman college class.

Our Students will…

…learn to write according to collegiate expectations This class will teach students to write in a college English, science, history, math or business class.

…learn to take a systematic approach to vocabulary ~Learning to understand words by using context, --as opposed to passing over word and missing the meaning of the sentence. **We won’t be memorizing vocabulary

Focus We will read current event articles that contain content designed to stimulate students—ie. Global warming, steroids in sports, juvenile justice, politics of food, etc. The goal is to prepare students for the reading and writing demands of their college professors

What is Expository Reading & Writing?? ~Unit Plans -arranged by subject ~Reading Expectations ~A New Way to Read ~Writing Expectations ~Grading: 25% Language Development /Participation, 50% Writing, 25% Reading (including Indep. Reading) ~The course is divided up into units, according to topic. Reading Expectations: this is a new type of reading for most of you. You will be expected to read our articles and books two-three times. You will also be learning how to properly annotate what you read. Writing Expectations: We won’t be writing descriptive or narrative essays, but rather we will be learning how to properly RESPOND to what you are reading. Reading these articles and books will be different than reading the fiction you read in the past. You will learn to engage in a ‘discussion’ with what you are reading.

Attendance Policy ~Essays and Major Assignments ~Daily/short-term assignments ~FIELDTRIPS, PARTIAL DAY ABSENCES ~Make-up work

Parent Involvement ~Critical to students success ~New Thinking vs Old Thinking **Writing Conferences

Web Page http://tinyurl.com/FlemingERWC5 Class Documents Calendar & Assignments (Absences & Make-up work) Standards Students will be asked occasionally to print out materials from the website for class.

Communication Sign-in Sheets : Class Email Updates Email: hfleming@pleasantonusd.net Phone: (925) 461-6600 Conferences: Before school : 7:30am-8:00am Tues, Thurs. After school: 3:00-4:00 Fridays By appointment Please note: I am able to respond more quickly to email than to voice messages.