Composition 101 B

Composition 101 B is designed for the beginning writer and introduces students to the fundamentals of writing and a wide variety of genres. This class is for 7th graders and 8th graders with little or no previous writing experience.

$545.00

This class is designed for the beginning writer and introduces students to the fundamentals of writing and a wide variety of genres. Students begin the year with a review of paragraph writing, then are introduced to writing with voice. A variety of styles of writing are covered, including memoir, narrative, poetry, expository, and comparison.

Students will be able to write multi-paragraph pieces by the end of the course. The final unit of the course will include a multi-week research project. Students use a workshop approach to critique, revise, and edit one another’s work.

Composition 101 A & 101 B use the same online classroom and teach the styles of writing together with different assignment topics and expectations for each. This allows advanced students to slide from Level A to Level B in one year or spend a full year at each level.

The 101 B class includes assignments that require additional critical thinking skills or have more criteria for an assignment.

Details

Requirements

Sample Syllabus

Time Expectation:

Classes have daily assignments. Some assignments span several days to give flexibility. Assignments are intended to take approximately 1 hour per day to complete.

Class Objectives:

Increase proficiency in the basic mechanics of grammar
Develop a sense of voice
Organize ideas into a clear outline
Develop a thesis statement with help
Revise a piece based on feedback

Class Features:

Students will submit their fictional story to a contest of their choice as part of the class
Students will have daily contact with a coach who evaluates mastery and skills and peers to discuss activities and workshop writingDaily contact with a coach who evaluates mastery and skills will be provided
Students will practice in-class timed essays and fully developed and revised papers.
An online classroom will teach students time management and appropriate cyber behavior in a controlled environment.
A Parent Handbook in ebook form is included. This handbook gives you tips and suggestions for how to help/guide your child in their work. Weekly parent suggestions are also given in the classroom materials.

Required Class Materials:

Write from the Heart: A Resource Guide to Engage Writers—available in our online store
One novel of the student’s choice
Three fiction short stories of the student’s choice (resources provided)
Collection of six poems of the student’s choice (resources provided)

Monday While we are working on our fictional conferences, we will begin brainstorming for our next paper: an expository essay! There are three tasks today.

Read Chapter 4 AND Chapter 17 in the Resource Guide handbook.
Complete Application Question #1 on page 26. Post this in the folder “Thesis Statement Activity.”
Look at the Expository Assignment for your level and review the examples. Start thinking about your topic—you will need to post it by Wednesday.

Tuesday-Wednesday You have two tasks:

Make revisions on your fictional story as suggested by your coach in the last conference. Post your revised story in the Week 11 file, “Fictional Story – Ready for Editing.”
Go to the folder, “Expository Topic,” and post the following two things for your coach’s approval. ● Topic (career, hobby, sport, volunteer position) ● What it takes to do that thing well (try to come up with three)

Thursday Use the Editing Checklist, edit your partner’s paper that is posted in the Week 11 file, “Fictional Story – Ready for Editing.” Remember, you are checking for grammar. Post your corrections as a reply in your partner’s folder. Partners are listed in the “Partner Pairings” Board. Friday

Go to the Week 11 file, “Expository Topic” and check your coach’s comments. If they have NOT been approved, make sure to follow up with your coach.
Go to the topic, “Fictional Story – Ready for Editing,” and use the editing feedback from your peer to put your story in final form for grading. You are encouraged at this point to have an adult help you edit.
Post your completed story as an attachment in the file, “Fictional Story – Final Copy.” When you submit your paper, only you and the coach can see your work. You will receive your graded rubric back through this same topic, and your grade will appear in the gradebook.

Type your name and age at the top.
Embolden at least THREE dull or repetitive words you replaced by using the thesaurus. Stretch yourself to use vivid verbs!
So you will know how you are being graded, go to the Course Information Board and click on "Rubrics" and "Fictional Story.” If you want, you can score yourself and compare your scores to the ones you’ll receive from your writing coach. Please allow two weeks to receive your grade.