Grade-Level Writing

Instructions and rubric for the essay we wrote in class.

We recently completed an essay in class using the topic of the importance of a loving community in a person's life. Since we are reading The Outsiders, we could easily make a connection with the novel about community and cite textual evidence in the essays. We started the discussion by defining community, followed by answering some critical thinking questions that students answered in groups. Individual students drew pictures of their own communities in their interactive notebooks. 

Next we brainstormed and wrote a collective thesis statement that informed our topic sentences for the remaining paragraphs in our essay.

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Below are the standards we are meeting by writing this essay.

English Language Arts standards for Writing in 8th grade- 

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.2

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.2.A
Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information into broader categories; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.2.B
Develop the topic with relevant, well-chosen facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.2.C
Use appropriate and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.2.D
Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.2.E
Establish and maintain a formal style.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.2.F
Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented.

English Language Arts standards for Language in 8th grade-

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.8.2
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.8.2.A
Use punctuation (comma, ellipsis, dash) to indicate a pause or break.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.8.2.B
Use an ellipsis to indicate an omission.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.8.2.C
Spell correctly.

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The students completed their own rubrics before turning in their essays. I made notes in addition to theirs. That page should be taped into the interactive notebook with a reflection included (Assignment #26). Take a look to make sure it's there. 

HERE ARE SOME GREAT ESSAYS WRITTEN BY 

THIS YEAR'S STUDENTS

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GUEST BLOGGER- Movie Review

Gravity

I have recently watched the movie called Gravity. Gravity is a movie about a team in space.There are two main characters throughout the movie. There is Sandra Bullock who plays Dr. Ryan Stone, a medical engineer on her first mission in space. The other main character is veteran commander astronaut Matt Kowalsky played by George Clooney. The movie is about how Dr. Ryan and Commander Kowalsky are on a space walk that goes horribly wrong. There was some space satellite debris that came and hit the team while on a space walk. The two end up getting separated from the team and lose communication with N.A.S.A. They have to find a way to either get back or find a way to find another space station. So throughout the movie they go through many challenges in solving their problems. I think that my peers will like this movie because it is very interesting and talks a lot about space and N.A.S.A. The movie is also really suspenseful and has some twists and turns. The movie is not boring, even if it seems that way. So in conclusion, I think this movie is good for anyone to watch and everyone will enjoy it.

-Caleb P.  

Two Truths and a Lie

1. When I was about 6 or 7 years old, I went to visit my grandma and grandpa up in Yreka. I spent the week up there but we had to leave early due to my grandpa closing his garage on my head and splitting my head open in 2 different places. I then had to get my head super glued back together.

2. When I was 9, I got a drone for christmas. When I went outside to fly it for the second or third time, I hit my sister in the face and she had to go the the hospital. Then I had to pay all my christmas money because of the hospital bills and the 4 stitches she had to get.

3. My mom went to Mexico in 2015 with a few friends, and she had fun. Then one day in Mexico, she went to the beach and it was low tide. All of a sudden, a huge wave came in and took her under. The same was true with a bunch of other people. Lifeguards and other people near by went in the water and saved the people who were taken out from the waves. My mom broke a few bones and almost died.

Evan M.