Writing with Skill 1 (2023-24)
Class
Candace Rydell
Writing with Skill Level 1 will meet Mondays from 9-9:50 am in Room 304
2023-2024 school year: August 7, 2023-May 13, 2024
We will be studying all aspects of becoming a competent writer across the curriculum: history, science, and literature will be examined and practiced.
Please prepare a 3-ring binder before our first class:
6 tabs: Narrations, Outlines, Topoi, Copia, Literary Criticism, Reference
There should also be a section for notebook paper
Please bring to class each week with your text, pencils and erasers, Post-it notes, and highlighters.
Looking forward to reading your writing!
This class focuses on fundamentals of writing composition. Writing with Skill Level 1 utilizes a classical approach to writing composition. Coursework begins with narrative summaries and moves to outlining, utilizing research resources, summarizing and then combinations of learned forms. Students gain confidence and clarity in their writing skills by exploring various types of chronological narratives across the curriculum. Learners become adept at critically assessing and writing on topics including history, science, and literature. Students will be provided feedback via instructor, writing rubrics, and peer interaction in lieu of letter grades, unless parents request grades in advance. **Although students at this age prefer independence, this course requires parent interaction and support for maximum success.
Text: Writing with Skill student workbook Level 1
Author: Susan Wise Bauer
ISBN: 10:1933339535 or 13:978-193333953-5
Recommended: Instructor Text
ISBN: 10:1933339527 or ISBN 13:978-1933339528
Materials: Text, Binder & tab dividers, word processing capabilities on home study days
August
7. Week 1: Narrative Summaries
14. Week 2: One-Level Outlines, Chronological Narrative of a Past Event
21. Week 3: Using Thesaurus, Narration, Outlining
28. Week 4: Chronological Narrative of a Past Event
September
4. Week 5: Labor Day: No Class
11. Week 6: Chronological Narrative of a Scientific Discovery
18. Week 7: Chronological Narrative of a Past Event
25. Week 8: Chronological Narrative of a Scientific Discovery
October
2. Week 9: Description of a Place
9. Week 10: Description of a Place
16. Week 11: Description of a Place
23. Week 12: Combining Chronological Narrative of a Past Event and Description of a Place
30. Week 13: Scientific Description
November.
6. Week 14: Scientific Description
13. Week 15: Scientific Description
January
8. Week 16: Combining Chronological Narrative of a Scientific Discovery & Scientific Description
15. Week 17: Description of a Person
22. Week 18: Description of a Person
29. Week 19: Using a Metaphor to Organize a Character Description
February
5. Week 20: Biographical Sketch
12. Week 21: Biographical Sketch (Weeks 19-20)
19. Week 22: Sequence: Natural Process (Weeks 21-22)
26. Week 23: Sequence: Natural Process (Weeks 21-22)
March
4. Week 24:Hero/Villain, Protagonist/Antagonist
11. Spring Break 3/11-15
22. Week 25: Hero/Villain, Protagonist/Antagonist
29. Week 26:Supporting Characters
April
1. Week 27: Idea Stories
8. Week 28: Two-Level Outlining
15. Week 29: Documentation
22. Week 30:Writing from Notes: Biographical Sketch, Description of a Person
29. Week 31:Writing from Notes: Sequence: Natural Process, Scientific Description
May
6. Week 32: Writing from Notes: Biographical Sketch, Description of a Person
13. Week 33: (Last Day)
Here is the class outline:
1. Week 1August 7-13, 2023 |
2. Week 2August 14-20, 2023 |
3. Week 3August 21-27, 2023 |
4. Week 4August 28-September 3 Complete Week 4 in textbook |
5. Week 5
Sep 4
September 4-10 Labor Day Holiday: No Class Complete Week 5 in text. Open rubric as you are working. Submit Smallpox essay in MYE. |
6. Week 6September 11-17, 2023 Complete Week 6 in text. Open rubric and complete Titanic essay. Submit in MYE. |
7. Week 7
Sep 18
Complete Week 7 in text. Open rubric and complete Kepler/Brahe essay. Submit in MYE. |
8. Week 8
Sep 25
Complete Week 8 in text. Open rubric and complete castle essay. Submit in MYE. |
9. Week 9
Oct 2
October 2-8 Complete Week 9 in text. Write different perspectives of a place (inside, around, above or moving through). Open rubric to use as you are writing. Bring to class to peer edit. Submit in MYE AFTER class. |
10. Week 11
Oct 16
Complete Week 11 in text. Read directions carefully and open rubric to help as you work. Submit Tsar Ivan/St.Basil's Cathedral essay in MYE. |
11. Week 12
Oct 23
Complete Week 12 in text. Open rubric as you are working. Follow directions carefully to compose Doyle narration. Submit in MYE. |
12. Week 13
Oct 30
Complete Week 13 in text. Open rubric as you are working. Submit porquoi narration in MYE. Bring volcano essay (Day 4) to class to share. This is a continuation of the essay you wrote on Day 4 of last week but did not submit. Again, bring volcano essay to class. Submit "Why the Sea is Salt" essay on MYE. |
13. Week 14
Nov 6
Complete Week 14 in text. Open rubric as you are working. Complete Baron Munchausen essay. Submit in MYE. Bring board game to play in class next week. |
14. Week 15
Nov 13
Nov 13-Jan 7 Complete Week 15 in text. File in notebook. Nothing to submit. Bring a board game to play in class. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! See you back in class on January 8. Nothing to submit this week. |
15. Week 16
Jan 8
Complete Week 16 in text Submit essay in MYE |
16. Week 17
Jan 15
Complete Week 17 in text Submit essay in MYE |
17. Week 18
Jan 22
Complete Week 18 in text Submit Henry VIII essay in MYE Please be sure to include your metaphor! |
18. Week 19
Jan 29
Complete Week 19 in text Submit Daniel Boone essay in MYE Open rubric as you are writing. |
19. Week 20February 5-15, 2023 Complete Week 20 in text Submit biographical sketch in MYE Open rubric as you are working |
20. Week 21
Feb 12
Complete Week 21 in text Submit essay describing the natural process of the death of a star in MYE. |
21. Week 22
Feb 19
Complete Natural Process Sequence Essay began in class. SUBMIT in MYE. Use attached rubric. There is instruction for Day 3 in text to complete the Intro, Scientific Knowledge, Repetition, & Physical Description sections of this essay. YOU WILL ONLY SUBMIT THE 1st ESSAY THIS WEEK. Parents can offer feedback on Day 3 additional paragraphs. Complete the rest of the daily assignments in workbook but do not submit anything except for 1st essay about octopus life cycle. You're all doing great work and improving so much! |
22. Week 23
Feb 26
Complete Lesson 23 in text Compose Rikki-Tikki-Tavi essay and submit in MYE |
23. Week 24
Mar 4
Complete Lesson 24 in text Compose essay for "The Necklace" Submit in MYE. No class next week (Spring Break). See you back in class March 18 |
24. Week 25
Mar 18
Complete Lesson 25 in text Compose "Anne of Green Gables" essay Submit in MYE |
25. Week 26
Mar 25
Complete Lesson 26 in text Compose "The Bowmen" essay Submit in MYE |
26. Week 27April 5-12, 2023 Complete outlining exercises for text Lesson 27 File in binder Nothing to submit to MYE this week |
27. Week 28April 13-19, 2023 Complete text lesson 28 File in binder Nothing to submit this week |
28. WWS: Week 29: Chronological Narrative (Caesar)
Apr 15
Complete lesson 29 in text ONLY submit Chronological Narrative essay portion in MYE. Write the Description of a Person (Caesar) & Description of a Place (Ravenna). Bring these two to class next week. |
29. Week 30
Apr 22
Complete text lesson 30 Submit digestion essay in MYE |