A writing contract

WRITING CONTRACT

1. Choose a subject (person, place thing, idea)

Write one or two nouns here------------------

2. Write some feeling words about the subject here.

_________________________________________________
how does the subject make you feel, or what does it make you think,
if you feel strongly about it write the words that describe how strongly you feel.

(If you choose a subject that you have or can develop strong feelings about it makes it easier to write. If the subject is important to you you will want to express yourself clearly. Remember, the teacher reads these compositions and learns a lot about student feelings and needs through what is written.
_____________________________________________

3. Why do you feel or think the way you do about your subject?

write 4 or 5 phrases that explain the things that make you feel that

way

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.


Now you have your out line for your composition.


Look at #3 and summarize all four or five things into just a word or short phrase.

Now, fill in the blanks of this topic sentence.

It is ______________(summary of #3) about ________(subject #1) that

makes me think (or feel) ___________________(#2). (this is your

writing contract, you must stick to what is in this sentence.

That is your topic sentence. Write it for now, at the beginning of

your compostion.

Write a sentence or more about the details of each section under #3.

Finish with a conclusion, or summary.
Self evaluation in preparation for peer evaluation


Self Check: do all sentences support the topic sentence.

__can you add more detail to make your meaning more clear.

__Have you stayed in the same tense

__Have you stayed with the same point of view you started with.

__Does each reason get the discussion it needs to clearly support your

view.

__Does the summary agree with your contract sentence.

__Now check for spelling, punctuation, tense and person agreement.

__You may want to rewrite at this time if you have made many corrections, to prepare for the peer evaluation. Don't wait for your peers to point out necessary corrections, do that now.


Be sure your paper is neat and readable, even if it still contains corrections.



CLASSROOM GRADING CRITERIA

Grading: 1 point for a completed outline

l point for each componant in the composition.

As we discuss writing techniques and grammar, points will be given for

encorporating that material into your writing. As the year progresses

more points will be possible for each composiition, because more will

be expected as we work through the techniques..

Routine:

Day l: write sentence outline and topic sentence.
Rough draft of paragraph.


Day 2: peer evaluation;: in your groups read each paper, and decided if the writer has stuck to his contract in writing. Begin rewriting and rearranging sentences, check dictionary or spellmaster for spelling. Add details, take away sentences that do not fit the contract sentence. THis is cooperataive learning, not cheating.You can learn a great deal from your peers that will help you become better writers. Make your suggestions constructive and helpful.. never tear down a fellow studen't work, just make suggestions where he might want to change or add, or check grammar.

There will be writing tests where coop[erative learning is not included, and it is there you will find out how much you have learned to do on your own. Take advantage of the peer evaluation time to understand why the changes you make are needed.

Day 3; Paper due. Re write it during class time, turn in, use remaining time to read or study.

Day 4 discussion of writing componant

Day 5. papers returned, discussed. Errors from papers analysed with class or in peer groups. Examples of correct forms shared. Ideas suggested for next paper.

Some students like to remain as annonomous as possible, and can more easly express themselves in this annonominity. Other students want to be known and understood, and to have their feelings available to the teacher on a person to person level. For this reason I will give each student a number which they can put on the outside of a folded paper, and those who wish to may put their names on the paper. The points will be given for the completeness of the work, not for the name. I cannot say I will not learn to know you by your number, but with it on the outside, it lessens the possibility of bias for or against a student because of other actions, or encounters we might have.

Turning in a completed paper:
1. fold it in half from top to bottom; hold it so it opens like a book
Where the title of a book would be write your ID number and assignment number that I have given you for your point sheet.
ID number=class period + grade book number

2. Pass it to your left, and the student at the end of the
semi circle will pass it to the front, band them together and
put them on the basket on my desk

If you do not have your assignment, hand in a blank piece of paper with your ID number and assignment number on it as above. If you have a contract for make up of absence, hand that in. I don't want an excuse, you either have it or you do not.

Other than contracted make up papers, no assignments will be accepted after this collection time.




IDEA JOURNAL



Ideas for subjects will be kept in a notebook, with an entry for each day in this form:

Date:
Subject"
Feelings, thoughts
Reasons:

Your five senses are a good source of ideas,

Feel (with fingers or skin), smell, taste, hear, psychic

Any subject is ok as long as you would let your mother read it.

As your changing classes, on your way to or from school, relaxing in the evening, dreaming, playing sports, dating, doing home work.
think about things from this point of view, and record in in your journal. Do it all at once if you want, or one day at a time.

When they are collected from time to time they will be given a possible 4 points for each entry, one point for each part, up to a maximum of the number of school days since it was last collected.



































GRADING


Compositions:

1 point for contract page

3 points for topic sentence (l for each componant from contract page.

3 points for total composition sticking to the contract statement.

3 points for grammar, spelling, techniques which have been discussed in this class this year.

Multiply your total points by l0 and you have a percentage. and can determine your grade for the paper.

Each student will keep a point sheet for each grading period. This will be kept in your notebook, and you can check it against the grade book up to 2 times per grading period before or after school The point sheet will be given to you.

Sample:
_________________________________________________________________
Date Assignment # and description Date due points
__________________________________________________________________


Each student will keep all papers that receive grades throughout the entire grading period. (This is a good plan in any class in case of a mistake or disagreement in grading, you have your papers all together to present your grounds for differing.)

Points will also be given for participation in peer groups and class discussions. These are not extra credit, and will be figured in as total points possible.


Points will be awarded for cooperation and self discipline through the means of token economy: speical tickets will be given out by the teacher and returned at the end of the period with the students signature, and points compiled from them.






EVERYONE HAS THE CHANCE TO EARN AN A


No extra credit points will be given. The students have ample opporutunity to eary over "100%" or the expected grade points by doing the assigned tasks.

Absences will be made up no later than school policy permits. Since assignments are given out in advance, it would be assumed that the paper can be made up during the absence and turned in on the student's return. Tests will be given immediately on the return of the student if announced before the absence. Consideration will be given for longer than usual absences. It is a good practice to have the phone number of a classmate to call for assignments and information if you are absent.

Contract with the teacher for any make up work. Work that is not contracted for will not be accepted. It is your responsibility to make up the work, not the teachers. You make the arrangements.

Exams will be in the form of in class writing samples of writing componants.


There is no good reason for any student to make less than an A.
If you attend class, keep up with assignments, encorporate the lesson materials into your own writing, and take suggestions from your peers, you will be an A writer, and through the rest of your school, you will have the tools to write A papers.


It is a choice you make, not me. I don't give grades, I evaluate writing and record the points that you make. It is all up to you.


Student's Responsibilities


Keep track of your points on your point sheet; keep all graded papers.

Do not ask for grades from the book; they will be given out occasionally or posted.

You are responsibile for your own materials, behavior and assignments.

The better you keep that responsibility, the more choices and freedom you will have within the bounderies of my class.


You have the right to ask for reasons, explanations of my actions or discipline, aslongas you are asking to get an answer, not just to argue. I have the right to decide when you cross over that line.
Usually these discussions are best left for outside of class time, so drop by or schedule a time that we can discuss whatever concerns you might have, personal, or about class.