The following will be graded! do your best! Get out a pen and a piece of paper, follow expected format, entitled …

What is Learning?

Without speaking, answer the questions that follow with a Yes or No and one sentence that proves (gives examples) your answer or explains … why? Read the questions carefully, Paradoxically, they are simple and complex at the same time.

1 What is our purpose in this room? Is it learning and demonstration of learning ? Yes or No? Why?

2 Students attend school, to learn skills and knowledge that will be useful to them in the future? Yes or No? Why?

3 A student unwilling to learn is not a real student? Yes or No? Proof?

4 Is learning taking instructions and incorporating them into previously known ideas, skills and knowledge? Yes or No? Proof?

5 Is it understood that basic skills must be mastered before more advanced skills can be undertaken? Yes or No? Why?

6 Is reading and following explicit and clearly stated instructions difficult? Yes or No? Proof?

7 Can a student expect to learn difficult skills if they fail to master concrete and simple tasks? Yes or No? Proof?

8 Can a student expect to learn roots or possessives or how to write a paper (and the like) which are variable without knowing standard procedurals? (Routine expected activities) Yes or No? Why?

9 What is proof of learning? (Continued)

Is learning, an explicitly explained skill – of one step – or a series of steps – difficult to master? Yes or No? Why?

The final questions are open ended. please answer them in a couple of complete (Well thought out ) sentences.

How is the real test of knowledge and skills (whether a person has actually learned and retained a skill, procedure or technique) proved.

List three ways a writing student proves learning of new skills !

Good! Count up your answers. How many Yes How many no

Now the reason for all of the Rhetorical questions. Take notes from this point forward

too many students with quality minds are demonstrating a effort, concentration and a lack of learning.

If learning is the first step to a future where there is much expected from a person. Should each person prove they are in fact actually Learning? How do you know that you are learning? What proof do you offer yourself?

Would you say that People who have learned a task or skill, should not have to be re-taught to do that skill or task repeatedly? Would you say that People who have mastered a skill are ready to move on to the next needed skill?

At the beginning of the semester, everyone was instructed the following tasks. Do you do these tasks properly … each time they are required?

Place Name Date period and title properly on every paper Do not write in the margins Do not write on two sides of paper Do not use a pencil Don’t turn in torn paper or with spiral edges Has readable handwriting No use of the word You No use of the term A Lot No use of the word Very No use of the word also

By the way – are you aware that Mr. Fowler allows all students to take work home everyday to correct these kind of deficiencies before work is due on his desk? no excuses, no whining

For those who have learned, please regard this as little reminder. For those who have refused or failed to learn (for that requires effort and concentration), welcome to The Day of Reckoning.

From this point until the end of the year. Students will demonstrate that they Learn and can follow explicit instructions.

Any Papers having procedural problems will have a –FIX – procedural issue notice attached. no other instructions will be provided. If you are confused, read the style guide given to you when you entered the class.

To resubmit a paper students must correct the errors on a wholly new edition of the work and staple it to the front of the old incorrect work.

On the top of the new paper, students must attach another sheet of paper in the correct format. On this sheet the student will correct one item at a time -- listing all errors of the original paper and what was done to correct the error in the revised work.

The first error I made was not respecting margins. I wrote in the right hand margins of the paper and on the bottom two lines of the paper. I do not write in the margins of the new paper. The second error I made was in the use of the word “you”. I changed the point of view with the word you, and I know that this is against the writing rules in this class. I do not use the word you in the revised paper unless it is in a direct quotation from a source. The third error I made was in not skipping a line after the Title at the top of the page. I skipped a line on the revised paper. sample corrected paper

These are the explicit instructions, Mr. Fowler will not correct work that has procedural errors. Students must fix the errors. Mr. Fowler allows students the opportunity to fix work without penalty.

Prove you are learning with every paper to do. Do it right the first time, save the aggravation of having to do it again and again. No excuses, no whining! Just glorious learning! Blessed are the learners for they shall rule the world!

It seems to Mr. Fowler that most students have one job these days, becoming the best person possible. This means learning! Real learning, not the appearance of pseudo learning So, are you learning? Yes or No? Prove it … On your Yes / no paper -- List five substantive things you have learned in this class this year. When finished turn the work into the Red Basket!

This is available for viewing on Mr. Fowler’s Website The End