1. Just to Make Sure You’ve Got It! 1.My favorite song on Adele’s album 25 is When We Were Young. 2.Some students in ballet class will have roles in Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy from the Nutcracker Suite. 3.Our group is studying Walter de la Mare’s poem The Listeners. 4.One of my favorite episodes of Star Trek was called The Trouble with Tribbles. 5.In the history book Across the Centuries, there’s a chapter called Colonial Americans - - How They Lived.

2. Just to Make Sure You’ve Got It! 1.My favorite song on Adele’s album 25 is “When We Were Young.” 2.Some students in ballet class will have roles in “Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy” from the Nutcracker Suite. 3.Our group is studying Walter de la Mare’s poem “The Listeners.” 4.One of my favorite episodes of Star Trek was called “The Trouble with Tribbles.” 5.In the history book Across the Centuries, there’s a chapter called “Colonial Americans - - How They Lived.”

3. time to become the teacher! Sp. = spelling mistake = capitalization needed = close gap circle with VT = verb tense FS = fragment sentence R = run-on Awk. = Awkward wording ¶ = new paragraph  = indent TS = missing topic sentence WE = weak example WA = weak analysis = ( )

4. Why did you get this score? Justify your grade on the back of your paper. Be sure to use wording from the rubric in your answers. *Pull specific examples from your essay to support your point.*

6. Read the following quotation. Sometimes changing your behavior is the only way to make up for a past mistake. Think carefully about this statement. Write an essay explaining how actions can be more powerful than words. Be sure to — clearly state your thesis organize and develop your ideas effectively choose your words carefully edit your writing for grammar, mechanics, and spelling Right actions for the future are the best apologies for wrong ones in the past. —Tryon Edwards

7. Words are often not enough to effectively communicate an individual’s intentions; only actions can reveal a person’s true character. In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, Odysseus’ words alone would not have been enough to convince his kingdom, his son, or even his wife that he was home after 20 years lost at sea. Instead of using rhetoric, Odysseus proves his identity with action – stringing his bow and shooting an arrow through 12 axe handles. Anyone can claim to be a certain way, but actions reveal whether a person’s words have merit. Odysseus’ actions are what allow him to claim his rightful spot as the king of Ithaca; simple words would have actually put him in danger of the suitors. People believe what they see, not always what they hear. Actions provide the credibility and follow through that words simply cannot.

8. If words are not backed up with action, they are meaningless; words only have power if they are reinforced with deeds. In the 1950s, the United States and Russia were in a battle of words over the dominance of outer space. Though the U.S. talked a big game in the so-called “Space Race,” the Soviets were actually the first ones to launch the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, into orbit. Convincing speeches by NASA experts were not enough to bring the U.S. to intergalactic victory. In fact, no great discoveries or life- changing innovations have ever been created through words alone. If bold claims and fancy words are not reinforced with action, not only do those words lose meaning, but the person (or country in this case) also loses credibility. Words are powerful, but only when they are used in conjunction with initiative and action.

9. Words are easy to manipulate and stretch, while actions always tell the truth. My mom always asks me to clean my room, and even though I always say, “yes, ma’am,” I don’t often follow through with my promise. Last weekend my mom got frustrated and said, “Stop telling me you will do what I ask if you aren’t really going to do it!” My words weren’t matching my actions, and that hypocrisy was negatively affecting my relationship with my mom. I ended up cleaning my room shortly after this encounter because I wanted my actions to reflect my verbal commitment to her. It’s easy to promise something, but a true sign of maturity is when you can keep those promises. My lack of action was reflecting a sad truth – I was a liar. Since I did not want my lies to define my character, I acted on my initial promise to clean my room. Actions reveal our true intentions, and as a result, they are a reflection on each of us.

10. Individual Writing Conferences Complete the half sheet detailing what you would like to discuss during your conference. Please don’t give general feedback – “I need help!”

11. learning from the masters Read the provided essays that each scored an 8 last year. Choose 3 of the essays to examine in-depth. Explain WHY these essays are so strong on your handout.