Wordsmithing

Arlene F. Marks began both writing and teaching at an early age: she loved playing school with younger neighborhood children on weekday afternoons, passing on what she had learned in school that day. Still passionate about education, she is now a multi-published author, editor, and teacher of English, literacy and writing with more than twenty years of experience in the high school classroom. Check out her website: www.thewritersnest.ca.

• About Literacy Made for AllAims and Objectives of the ProgramIntroduction to WordsmithingA. WRITING PROJECTSIntroduction/Aims and ObjectivesProject 1: Write an Advertising Campaign...in 3 different media: Video/Television, Print/Magazine, Billboard or TeeshirtReproducibles/Media:WDR 1 -- Questions Advertisers Must AskWDR 2 -- Advertising Plan SheetWDR 3 -- Sample TV Script PageWDR 4 -- Magazine Ad StrategiesWDR 5 – Proofread with a Partner Checklist: Video Ad ScriptWDR 6 -- Writing an Ad Campaign Assessment SheetProject 2: Write and Deliver a SpeechDebating Speech, Election speech, Acceptance speech, Speech for evaluation/competition Reproducibles/Media:WDR 7 -- Speech Planner SheetWDR 8 -- Speech Outline ChartWDR 9 -- Debate Assessment SheetWDR 10 -- Acceptance Speech QuestionsWDR 11 – Second Draft Questions WDR 12 -- Written Speech Assessment SheetWDR 13 -- Speech Assessment CriteriaProject 3: Write a Personal EssaySharing an experience, Sharing an opinion, Opening a window on the author's worldReproducibles/Media:WDR 14 -- Essay and Article OutlineWDR 15 – Proofread with a Partner Checklist – Personal EssayWDR 16 -- Personal Essay Assessment SheetProject 4: Write a Biographical/Personality ProfileProfile a family member, an historical figure, a fictional characterReproducibles/Media:WDR 17 --Present Situation Bio SheetWDR 18 -- Past History Bio SheetWDR 19 -- Future Goals Bio SheetWDR 20 -- How to InterviewWDR 21 -- Personality Profile PlannerWDR 22 -- Proofread with a Partner Checklist – Personality ProfileWDR 23 -- Personality Profile Assessment SheetProject 5: Write a Review...of a television show, a movie sequel or prequel, a music CD/album, a gameReproducibles/Media:WDR 24 -- Review PlannerWDR 25 – Proofread with a Partner Checklist – A ReviewWDR 26 -- Review Assessment SheetProject 6: Write a Researched Article...for submission to a magazineReproducibles/Media:WDR 27 -- Tracking Sheet -- IndividualsWDR 28 -- Letter to ParentsWDR 29 -- Student Researcher ID CardsWDR 30 -- Article PlannerWDR 31 -- Research Report SheetWDR 32 -- Proofread with a Partner Checklist – A Researched ArticleWDR 33 -- Researched Article Assessment SheetProject 7: Write Documentation...to accompany things that do not usually come with instructions for care: teenagers, families, new babies, your health....Reproducibles/Media:WDR 28 – Letter to ParentsWDR 34 -- Tracking Sheet – GroupsWDR 35 -- Documentation PlannerWDR 29 – Student Researcher ID CardsWDR 31 – Research Report SheetWDR 36 -- Documentation Assessment SheetProject 8: Write a Formal LetterCovering letter, Letter of complaint, Letter of application, , Letter of apology, thanks, congratulations, or condolencesReproducibles/Media:WDR 37 -- Formal Letter FormatWDR 38 -- Formal Letter Assessment SheetProject 9: Write a ReportBook report, Resumé, Researched report on teen behaviorReproducibles/Media:WDR 39 -- Book Report Assessment SheetWDR 40 – Resumé Assessment SheetWDR 41 -- Letter to Parents (re Survey Assignment)WDR 42 -- Information Report Assessment SheetB. STUDYING THE ESSAYIntroduction/Aims and ObjectivesPart 1: Build Your ToolkitStudents familiarize themselves with literary terminology as they describe and discuss short nonfiction at three levels of analytical complexity.Assignment 1: Define the EssayIdentifying and charting the characteristics of 5 different kinds of essays.Reproducibles/Media:SER 1 – Types of Essays Information SheetSER 2 – Types of Essays Worksheet SER 2A –Types of Essays Worksheet – exemplar filled inSER 3 – Essay Analysis WorksheetAssignment 2: Methods of Development and Thesis SupportIdentifying and classifying the steps in building an essay and appealing to the reader. Reproducibles/Media:SER 4 – Methods of Development Assignment 3: Analyze on the Technical LevelAn introduction to rhetorical devices that determine how the essay looks and sounds.Reproducibles/Media:SER 5 – A Glossary Of Rhetorical/Literary TermsSER 6 – Rhetorical Devices/Levels of Analysis SER 7 – Answering An Effectiveness Question (Technical) Assignment 4: Analyze on the Associative LevelAn introduction to rhetorical devices that compare and contrast the essay's content with the real world.Reproducibles/Media:SER 8 – Answering an Effectiveness Question (Associative)Assignment 5: Analyze on the Thematic LevelAn introduction to rhetorical devices that focus on what the reader brings to the reading of the essay.Reproducibles/Media:SER 9 – Answering an Effectiveness Question (Thematic)Assignment 6: Practice Close Reading of an EssayHow each word of an essay can contribute to its depth of meaning and its impact on the reader.Assignment 7: Practice Analyzing an EssayHow to answer effectiveness questions about examples from an essay.Reproducibles/Media:SER 10 – Levels of Analysis -- EffectivenessSummative Product: Write a Sight TestReproducibles/Media:SER 11 – Tips for Writing a Sight Test Summative Product: Answer an Effectiveness QuestionReproducibles/Media: SER 12 – Answering an Effectiveness Question Editing ChecklistSER 13 – Answering an Effectiveness Question Assessment SheetPart 2: Write a Literary Response As students practice writing three different kinds of responses to short essays they will be honing both their writing and their critical thinking skills.Assignment 1: Write a Dialectical Response to an EssayTwo columns on a sheet of paper, point form personal response to selected words or sentences.Assignment 2: Write a Personal Response to an EssayA short personal essay inspired by a work of short nonfiction.Reproducibles/Media:SER 14 – Writing a Personal ResponseSER 14A – The Writing Process (verso of SER 14)Assignment 3: Write an Analytical Response to an EssayA short essay critically examining the effectiveness of another essayist's choices.Reproducibles/Media:SER 15 – Writing an Analytical ResponseCompleting The Final Draft, All ResponsesPracticing the writing process to arrive at a finished product.Reproducibles/Media:SER 16 – Proofread with a Partner – Dialectical ResponseSER 17 – Proofread with a Partner – Personal Response SER 18 – Proofread with a Partner – Analytical ResponseSER 19 – Assessment Checklist – Dialectical ResponseSER 20 – Assessment Checklist – Personal ResponseSER 21 – Assessment Checklist – Analytical ResponsePart 3: Timed Writing PracticeStudents learn and practice techniques that will help them do their best when answering essay-response questions on English examinations.Assignment 1: Lay the FoundationsAn introduction to syntax and diction.Reproducibles/Media:SER 22– Introduction to SyntaxSER 23 – Clauses Determine Sentence PatternsSER 24 – Phrases Enhance Sentence MeaningSER 25 – Syntactical Effects SER 26 – Diction: The Art of Carefully Choosing Words Assignment 2: Practice Unpacking PromptsClosely reading a question to determine how to respond.Reproducibles/Media:SER 27 – Analyzing Tone in Literature SER 28 – How to Read a Literary Question Assignment 3: Develop a Supporting ExampleFully analyzing a selected quotation in the body of a written response.Reproducibles/Media:SER 6 – Rhetorical Devices/Levels of Analysis SER 10 – Levels Of Analysis – EffectivenessAssignment 4: Organize an Essay Length Response (DFAR)A tested and efficient template for a written response to a prompt.Assignment 5: Write a Timed Response in 40 minutes or lessA proven effective way to help students prepare for final/AP exams.Reproducibles/Media:SER 29 to 32 – Timed Writing Formative Assessment SheetsSER 33 – Tips For Success in Timed Writing ExercisesC. WORD WORKS: A SUPPLEMENTARY LIBRARY OF MATERIALIntroductionSegment 1: Words Make MusicAn introduction to LinguisticsSegment 2: Words Have HistoriesAn introduction to EtymologyReproducibles/Media:WTR 1 – You Know More German Than You ThinkWTR 1A – You Know More German Than You Think (Key)WTR 2 – The Etymologies of WordsSegment 3: Words Do Different JobsAn introduction to the Parts of SpeechReproducibles/Media:WTR 3 – Nouns WorksheetWTR 4 – Proper Nouns WorksheetWTR 5 – Verbs WorksheetSegment 4: Words Belong to FamiliesAn introduction to Roots, Prefixes and SuffixesReproducibles/Media:WTR 6 – Word Study WorksheetWTR 7 – Word Study QuizSegment 5: The Namesake ProjectA unit on the meanings of namesReproducibles/Media:WTR 8 – Names and NamingWTR 9 – Where Surnames Come FromWTR 10 – Names of NamesWTR 11 – Pick A NameWTR 12 – The Namesake Project Assignment SheetWTR 12A – So, What About You...? (verso of WTR 12)

This book is packed with teacher-tested tips and real-classroom success strategies you can start using immediately!! Arlene's classroom was always full of energy and excitement during the Literacy periods and the bulletin boards showed pride in each student's completed work.