WRITING JOURNAL
ENGLISH B WRITING JOURNAL
In English B this year you will keep a writing journal on your class website in which you will write carefully crafted paragraphs for a variety of text types. You will be required to write responses in different formats about topics we are exploring in class. It is intend also that you demonstrate you growing knowledge and awareness of the issues explored in class based on your personal reading about them. The journal writing will also provide opportunities for creative writing in preparation for your written assignment in response to a novel you have studied.
AIMS
TEXT TYPES:
PAPER 2 SECTION A:
SKILLS:
A single sentence reflection will be written after the paragraph has been returned. This reflection will comment on one specific thing that can be done to improve the paragraph.
EXAMPLE:
Rationale: I am writing this diary as if I am the protagonist to reveal her feelings when she found out the real reason her mother abandoned her.
Dear Diary
Today I found out why my mother abandoned me. I am feeling a strange mixture of guilt and elation. For all of my life, from the time I was old enough to think about my Chinese birth mother, I have blamed her for abandoning me. I have blamed her for my confused feelings about my identity and sense of loss. Now, these corrosive feelings have lifted from me like a heavy chain being unwrapped from around my heart. I now know the sacrifices my mother has made out of love and her desperate desire to save me from infanticide. Yet, this joy and knowledge of my mother's love is sometimes corroded by my sense of guilt. I know I have to cast aside this feeling of guilt and live for the present. I realize now that in many ways I am blessed. I have two loving mothers.
Reflection:
I would like to find an alternative verb to “corroded” to communicate the strong affect her guilt had had over so many years.
CHECKLIST:
Ask these questions when you have finished writing a paragraph:
In English B this year you will keep a writing journal on your class website in which you will write carefully crafted paragraphs for a variety of text types. You will be required to write responses in different formats about topics we are exploring in class. It is intend also that you demonstrate you growing knowledge and awareness of the issues explored in class based on your personal reading about them. The journal writing will also provide opportunities for creative writing in preparation for your written assignment in response to a novel you have studied.
AIMS
- To provide regular practice in writing English B text types
- To focus on range and accuracy of vocabulary use
- To focus on using a variety of sentence types accurately
- To develop organized, coherent paragraphing skills
- To develop the ability to use different formats for different text types
- To practice expressing complex ideas and insights in writing
- To develop a self-critical approach to writing
TEXT TYPES:
PAPER 2 SECTION A:
- article
- blog/diary entry
- brochure/flyer/leaflet/pamphlet/advertisement
- interview
- introduction to a debate,speech,talk, presentation
- news report
- official report
- proposal
- review
- set of instructions, guidelines
- written correspondence
- reasoned argument based on a text
- Creative responses to class novels such as : a new beginning or end, a diary entry from the point of view of a character, a new dialogue involving the protagonist and antagonist, adding a scene that further develops a main character or theme. Note all creative responses should show insight into a key aspect of the novel such as theme, character, conflict or motif.
- length: 120-150 words
- text type: name the text type
- rationale: a single sentence rationale will be written above the paragraph stating your purpose
SKILLS:
- focus on a single aspect of a topic
- start with a topic/controlling sentence
- coherence through selection of content and language choice (refer to your notes on
effective paragraphing)
A single sentence reflection will be written after the paragraph has been returned. This reflection will comment on one specific thing that can be done to improve the paragraph.
EXAMPLE:
- Length: 149 words
- Text Type: Diary Entry Based on Throw Away Daughter by Ting-Xing Ye
Rationale: I am writing this diary as if I am the protagonist to reveal her feelings when she found out the real reason her mother abandoned her.
Dear Diary
Today I found out why my mother abandoned me. I am feeling a strange mixture of guilt and elation. For all of my life, from the time I was old enough to think about my Chinese birth mother, I have blamed her for abandoning me. I have blamed her for my confused feelings about my identity and sense of loss. Now, these corrosive feelings have lifted from me like a heavy chain being unwrapped from around my heart. I now know the sacrifices my mother has made out of love and her desperate desire to save me from infanticide. Yet, this joy and knowledge of my mother's love is sometimes corroded by my sense of guilt. I know I have to cast aside this feeling of guilt and live for the present. I realize now that in many ways I am blessed. I have two loving mothers.
Reflection:
I would like to find an alternative verb to “corroded” to communicate the strong affect her guilt had had over so many years.
CHECKLIST:
Ask these questions when you have finished writing a paragraph:
- Is there a topic or controlling sentence? Should there be one?
- Does this paragraph focus on a single aspect/idea/image/emotion etc?
- Is every sentence related to the topic/controlling sentence?
- Are there links between sentences to achieve coherence? (these links can be logical , vocabulary or grammatical)
- Is the text type clear? (format)
- Does this paragraph achieve my purpose?
english_b_writing_journal.odt | |
File Size: | 14 kb |
File Type: | odt |