1. Read 2 Write 1st 9 Weeks
SEVENTH GRADE

2. Read 2 Write Homework Assignment
The following information will be on on the class webpage (and eventually TEAMS) for you to refer back to as you work.
GOAL – To write regularly, and to consistently answering questions about a self-selected text using focus and organization. DUE – Tuesday of each week.
Choose a book of any kind to read, and each week you will use the “HOW TO WRITE/FORMAT YOUR INFORMATIVE ESSAY RESPONSE:” document.
Select 1 topic and its attached 3 questions to answer.
Each question should become a R.A.C.E. paragraph in your writing.

3. How do I do this?
THE ASSIGNMENT: You will create a book analysis of the portion of the book you have read, and you will turn this in once a week. You will do this by answering three discussion type questions in RACE format.
You will not read an entire book every week, instead you are writing about what you have read. It might be one chapter, ten chapters, half the book, or the whole book. The point of this assignment is to read in order to write. HOWEVER, I must see evidence that you are progressing in your reading each week. You CANNOT write about the same part of the book over and over.
You are expected to create one full page of writing a week, using proper formatting, non- negotiables, and answering the question fully using the RACE method.
SELECT ONE TOPIC WITH THE THREE QUESTIONS UNDER IT FOR EACH WEEK - Choose a novel that tells a story and then write a one-page informative/explanatory response. Be sure that you support any claim/answer you have with appropriate evidence from the text.

4. A good schedule to follow:
Look at/Select a prompt and keep in mind what it is asking you as you read.
Monday through Thursday - Read the book you’ve chosen for 20 minutes every day throughout the school week thinking about the answer to your questions you’ve selected.
Friday - Write the response to the prompt on Friday.
Be ready to turn in your paper by Monday. This will greatly reduce stress on this assignment. No stressing to get it done Monday night. You can turn it in as soon as your done.

5. How will you grade this?
Grammar and spelling errors are not going to affect your grade unless they make your writing impossible to understand.  Highlighter will be used to help you identify your mistakes. 
The 5 items that you will be graded on are below:
1. Three complete RACE paragraphs (are all 4 parts present?) 2. About a novel you are currently reading (stay on topic) 3. The question is fully answered
4. Uses Non-Negotiable Writing Tech –
Indent all paragraphs
Capital letters begin a sentence
Punctuation ends a sentence. 
All paragraphs are a minimum of 3 sentences
Major grammar rules are followed
5. Evidence cited and elaboration/explanation is included.
4 - includes all 5 items includes only 3-4 of these items but always includes the full page includes 2 items and may be three quarters of the page.  includes 0-1 items and/or be less than half a page. 

6. HOW TO WRITE/FORMAT YOUR INFORMATIVE ESSAY RESPONSE:
REMEMBER TO:
Write in complete sentences, use paragraph format, and use proper grammar and writing.
Title your paper – “Informative Response.”
Make sure that you head your paper correctly in the upper righthand corner, including:
your name
my name
the date the class period
Make sure that you explain each answer in detail using evidence from the text in R.A.C.E. format.
At the end of your paper copy the question you selected to answer.

7. HOW TO WRITE/FORMAT YOUR INFORMATIVE ESSAY RESPONSE:
QUESTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM FOR YOUR INFORMATIVE ESSAY RESPONSE
1. CONNECTIONS BOOK-TO-SELF:
So far what do you think is the best part of the book and why?
What character can you relate to the most? Is this your favorite character? Why?
In what ways are you like any of the characters?
2. CONNECTIONS BOOK-TO-WORLD: Are there connections between the real world and the books story?
How about any connections between the real world and the characters?
Do you see connections between the real world and the books settings?
3. CONNECTIONS BOOK-TO-OTHER PEOPLE
Who do you think should read this book? Why?
Do any of the characters remind you of friends, family members, or classmates? .
Do any characters remind you of other characters on television?

8. HOW TO WRITE/FORMAT YOUR INFORMATIVE ESSAY RESPONSE:
QUESTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM FOR YOUR INFORMATIVE ESSAY RESPONSE
4. WORDS:
What are some words you do not know or questions you have?
What context clues in the story helped you better understand the words you did not know?
What is the most important word in the book? Explain in detail with text to support.
5. PLOT:
Does the plot follow the plot diagram in the way you expected it to? Explain using the plot diagram and vocabulary.
What part of the plot seems the most believable?
What part of the plot seems the most unbelievable?
6. THE AUTHOR:
What is the author’s purpose?
How did you identify the author’s purpose (What clues did she/he give you to help you figure it out?)
If you were the author, what would you change? Why?

9. HOW TO WRITE/FORMAT YOUR INFORMATIVE ESSAY RESPONSE:
QUESTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM FOR YOUR INFORMATIVE ESSAY RESPONSE 7. SETTING: What is the most vivid scene in the book so far? Why is it important for the author to create vivid scenes for the reader? What makes the description of setting turn from just a bunch of words into a world you can imagine? 8. CHARACTER: Who is the most important character? Why do you say this is the most important character? What do you notice about characters, setting, and point of view and how they all interact to create a story? 9. THEME: What did you learn from the story? How have you changed after reading this book? Was that the intention of the author? Has the book helped you in any way?

10. WATCH THE FOLLOWING VIDEOS TO HELP YOU IN THE AREAS YOU ARE CONFUSED:
Copy and paste the link into your browser. WINNING THE RACE - BODY PARAGRAPHS USING R.A.C.E. STRATEGY – BODY PARAGRAPHS TOPIC SENTENCES