1. Teaching Writing—as a Verb Versus writings—as a noun.

2. Sequencing Skills A balance of macro and micro skills to assess Parallel in reading, as we explore more conceptual and textual features of language. Develop a sequence that reflects an increasing rigor of reading tasks in your classroom.

3. True/False Quiz The English teacher is the student’s pen pal. Evaluating student work is the same thing as editing student work. English teachers must use all discretionary free time to grade student papers. Students read and respond to all of our comments. The more students write, the better writers they become.

4. Frequency Once a week 36 weeks in a school year rhetorical analysis; argument; synthesis Blend of impromptu and out-of-class tasks AP prompts as a minimum, not as a maximum Handout #1: Using exam prompts as a springboard

5. Generative Assignments Memoir Joan Didion’s “On Going Home” Ambiguity Definition Essay Virtue Audience of skeptics Self- designed essay Lars Eighner, Terry Tempest Williams, Judith Ortiz Cover Structural sophistication

6. The Marriage How does rhetorical analysis inform argument? How does argument inform synthesis? How does synthesis inform analysis or argument? How does the reading experience promote this creative interplay? What is the role of rhetorical invention?

7. Sample #1—The Gatekeepers by Jacques Steinberg: handout #2 Analyze Jordan Goldman’s college application essay—an introductory lesson in analysis – Skills: focus on tone, appeals (to sympathy), arrangement, parallelism Synthesize Steinberg’s examples to determine his stance on consideration of diversity in college admissions. Argue for or against the consideration of diversity in college admissions.

8. Sample #2: The Research Project: handout #3 Explanatory synthesis prompt: what factors must be considered prior to making an informed decision on_____? 2007 Rhetorical Analysis prompt—Question #2 – Understanding critical context 2004 Argument Question #2—contemporary life is marked by controversy – Understanding complexity

9. Sequencing Argument Skills PositionEvidenceConcession/refutationAssumptionsCritical context

10. Sequencing Rhetorical Analysis Skills Tone and dictionSyntax and figurative languageAppeals and audienceArrangementContext

11. Sequencing Synthesis Skills Argumentative / ExplanatoryData synthesisConceptual synthesisPersona and audience

12. Assessment guidelines Return writing within 1-2 days; 2-3 mins/paper Tailor commentary to desired skill Your commentary informs revision Develop your own editorial persona; eg., H2O; ahem!; highlighting passive voice Integrate holistic scoring on a regular basis Most writing tasks make us better writers.

13. Reporting guidelines Beginning of class; master class model Mechanism for archiving student work— manually or digitally; turnitin.com Mechanism for students’ reflection; handout #4 Models, models, models—from past and present—highlighting salient features.

14. Kinds of Feedback Semester One: More prescriptive --learning curve is greatest in 1 st 3 months Semester Two: More holistic 25%-75% rule