Today’s Notes: Jan. 29, 2010

1. Today’s Notes: Jan. 29, 2010 ISAT/Writing Unit • Writing to a Timetable A. Important to time yourself when you write. B. Timetable: 1. Think about what you are going to say. 2. Outline your paper. 3. Write without stopping 4. Revise in the time you have left.

2. ISAT Writing…Time Table ISAT Writing Unit 8th Grade English

3. But it is so HARD!!! • One of the biggest issues students have when they take the ISATS is the problem of time management. • What is time management, though? • Time management is the idea that: • You are aware of the time you have. • You allow yourself enough time to finish everything you need to do. • You don’t get caught by the clock.

4. In this lesson… • We are going to break down what you, when you are taking the ISATS, need to do to make sure that YOU DON’T RUN OUT OF TIME!

5. The ISATS, a break-down! • The ISAT writing test is 45 minutes long, with a 10 minute cushion time if you need it. • You will need to plan, compose, and revise a fully developed paper in this time. • Scary!

6. However… • You CAN do this, after all, you have done it before! • The key is to break down the essay into manageable sections! • Remember…you HAVE to sit there for 55 minutes regardless! You might as well make the MOST of it… • There is NO POINT in finishing early!

7. Step one: Read the Essay Question • When the clock starts, the first thing you should do is read the question carefully. • Spend 1-3 minutes reading over it. • Read it more than once. • Highlight (circle or underline) any important words in the thesis question (what you are asked to write!) You can use these words in your paper for some bonus points! • Make sure you understand the question being asked. • Decide how you are going to attack it. • Persuasive: What is your view • Narrative: What is your story

8. Example: • Persuasive Paper: • The vampire book Twilight has become very popular with teenagers today. However, there is a growing number of religious groups that are asking schools to ban this book in their libraries. • Are you for or against the banning of the book Twilight in public schools? Why or why not? Give specific details and support your answer.

9. Do I understand the question? Let’s see…I have read the book and I know that it deals with Vampires. So religious groups are offended by it… I think the book is okay for teenagers I think it is okay…teens know it is fantasy. Also, it gets them to read, doesn’t it? • Persuasive Paper: • The vampire book Twilight has become very popular with teenagers today. However, there is a growing number of religious groups that are asking schools to ban this book in their libraries. • Are you for or against the banning of the book Twilight in public schools? Why or why not? Give specific details and support your answer.

10. Highlight words you might use in your paper…THIS IS IMPORTANT! • Persuasive Paper: • The vampire book Twilight has become very popular with teenagers today. However, there is a growing number of religious groups that are asking schools to ban this book in their libraries. • Are you for or against the banning of the book Twilight in public schools? Why or why not? Give specific details and support your answer.

11. How to attack… • You might want to make a Pro/Con chart if you are undecided on an issue. • If you have a narrative, you might want to decide to narrow your story down to one, specific event. • Example: My whole trip to Vegas…narrows down to the $1 Million Dollar Giveaway!

12. 42 Minutes to go…now what • The next step is IMPORTANT…don’t skip this.

13. Step two: Outline Your Paper • You know that blank page in the book, that first page with a cute little box and not much else? • That is the outline page…and it is a PROVEN fact that those little old ladies who grade your tests see that page. • A GOOD writer makes sure that there is some planning on that page…A BAD writer skips it. • Since we are GREAT writers, we are going to put something on that page!

14. Outlines • There are a lot of different outlines out there for you. You know…you have used a LOT of them. • You can use whatever outline works best for you. • If you don’t like doing an outline, the best outline (and the quickest) is my example on the next page. • Remember…don’t spend any more than 7 minutes on your outline!!!!!

15. Sample Outline • Introduction A. Your “Beautiful Beginning” or hook B. Thesis statement (What your opinion is or what you are going to talk about) C. Your reasons • First Point A. State your first reason, or what led to the event. B. Support C. Details! (quotes, reactions, feelings, etc…) • Second Point A. Just like II. • Third Point A. In a persuasive, this can be a third point. B. In a narrative, this is WHAT YOU LEARNED. V. Conclusion A. Good concluding sentence to start. B. Sum up your points C. Good kicker ending

16. DUDE! That is A LOT to write in 7 minutes, Ms. Deckard

17. Outline: Short and Sweet! • An outline ISN’T your whole paper. • An outline can be one or two words to help jog your memory and organize your thoughts. • It is NOT complete sentences! • They are short and sweet!

18. Sample Outline: Persuasive • Introduction A. Ever seen a kid read a long book? B. Twilight should not be banned 1. It encourages kids to read 2. made for teens 3. fantasy II. Kids read A. Long book B. teachers want us to read C. Peer pressure, but in a good way III. Made for teens A. Teenage situations B. Not a kid book IV. Fantasy A. Teens know vampires really don’t exist B. Most teens don’t get wrapped up in fantasy. C. Helps teens escape V. Conclusion A. I love Twilight B. Recap 1. kids read 2. Made for teens 3. fantasy C. Kids are reading, that is awesome!

19. Outline… • Yours doesn’t have to even be that detailed. • An outline just reminds you what you are going to write! • It is a guide that GOOD writers use!

20. Alright! 35 Minutes to go!

21. Step three: Write Your Paper • Now you are ready to begin your writing. • Make sure to follow these steps when you write: 1. Keep your paper as neat as you can. (Believe it or not, neater papers are usually scored higher…unfair but true!) 2. If you make a mistake, cross it out neatly and go on…don’t stop to erase big sections of work…just cross it out and keep going! 3. Don’t CHASE BUNNIES! Make sure you stay to your points (This is why an outline is ESSENTIAL!)

22. Bunnies… • Bunnies can be cute and fun…but DON’T CHASE THEM IN YOUR WRITING! • Bunnies can be EVIL! • They can prevent you from getting a good score!

23. More tips 4. Remember to include dialogue if at all possible (narrative!). It improves your score. 5. Remember to have a good intro and a strong conclusion…they look at this more than anything else.

24. Sample Persuasive Paper Have you ever seen a teen reading a book that was longer than 200 pages? Most of the time teen will look at a book that size and RUN! However, sometimes a big book can hook a teenager. That is the case with Twilight. However, some people have recently been calling for Twilight to be banned in public schools because it talks about vampires. Those groups need to realize that Twilight is more than that. It is an amazing book! Twilight should not be banned because the book makes kids want to read; furthermore, it is also written for teens. In addition, teenagers, regardless of what adults thing, know what fantasy is! This makes Twilight one fat book that is perfect for teens!

25. Sample…(con.) First of all, the book Twilight makes kids want to read. To take a challenging book like Twilight out of the library because someone thinks it is bad is really unfair. Teens need the challenge. My mother and teachers are always trying to get me to read, but before I found Twilight I really didn’t want to. Students who read Twilight are actually reading a huge book. It has _____ pages! By taking away a book like Twilight, these groups will be making students want to read less. Is that what they really want?

26. Sample…(con.) Furthermore, have these groups even stopped to read Twilight? This book covers a lot of teenage issues. It is not a book for children. Instead, it is a book written for teenagers. It has teenage themes, like Belle dealing with going to a new school. I don’t think that these groups need to worry about children being corrupted by reading this. The issues presented are what teens face daily. Why take away a book that will help us cope with our teenage years-just because it deals with vampires?

27. Sample…(con) Likewise, teenagers are smart. We can tell if something is fantasy. Most teenagers know that vampires really don’t exist. So, why do these groups think that they need to protect us from images we teens know aren’t real? Teenagers, for the most part, won’t get wrapped up in the fantasy. We know it isn’t real! Twilight is just a way for teenagers to escape from the “real world” for as long as we are reading. This book covers a lot of teenage issues. It is not a book for children. Instead, it is a book written for teenagers. I don’t think that these groups need to worry about children being corrupted by reading this. A group, who may not have even read the book, shouldn’t be able to tell us we can’t read it!

28. Sample…(con.) Therefore, Twilight should not be taken out of public schools. It is a challenging book that expands teens’ minds. In addition, it also is a book that deals with issues that we teens have to deal with all the time. Likewise, teens are smart, and we know that Twilight is nothing more than a fantasy. How could any group ban a book that seems so important? The groups are wrong. Don’t make the sun set on such a great book!

29. Hey! • I wrote this in 32 minutes…from scratch.

30. Time is running low! • When I say time is up, you have a cushion of 10 minutes to finish your paper… • USE IT! • Write until I say time…then use the next ten minutes to do the final step… • DON’T SKIP THE FINAL STEP!

31. Step 4: REVISE • AGAIN, DON’T SKIP THIS STEP! • Read through your paper and make sure that it says what you want. • This is your chance to find those silly goofs and last second revisions you need to make. • Erase, cross out, find a way to add in something- whatever you need to do!

32. Revised Persuasive Paper Have you ever seen a teen reading a book that was longer than 200 pages? Most of the time teen will look at a book that size and RUN! However, sometimes a big book can hook a teenager. That is the case with Twilight. However, some people have recently been calling for Twilight to be banned in public schools because it talks about vampires. Those groups need to realize that Twilight is more than that. It is an amazing book! Twilight should not be banned because the book makes kids want to read; furthermore, it is also written for teens. In addition, teenagers, regardless of what adults thing, know what fantasy is! This makes Twilight one fat book that is perfect for teens!

33. Revised sample paper…(con.) First of all, the book Twilight makes kids want to read. To take a challenging book like Twilight out of the library because someone thinks it is bad is really unfair. Teens need the challenge. My mother and teachers are always trying to get me to read, but before I found Twilight I really didn’t want to. Students who read Twilight are actually reading a huge book. It has _____ pages! By taking away a book like Twilight, these groups will be making students want to read less. Is that what they really want?

34. Revised…(con.) Furthermore, have these groups even stopped to read Twilight? This book covers a lot of teenage issues. It is not a book for children. Instead, it is a book written for teenagers. It has teenage themes, like Belle dealing with going to a new school. I don’t think that these groups need to worry about children being corrupted by reading this. The issues presented are what teens face daily. Why take away a book that will help us cope with our teenage years-just because it deals with vampires?

35. Revised…(con.) Likewise, teenagers are smart. We can tell if something is fantasy. Most teenagers know that vampires really don’t exist. So, why do these groups think that they need to protect us from images we teens know aren’t real? Teenagers, for the most part, won’t get wrapped up in the fantasy. We know it isn’t real! Twilight is just a way for teenagers to escape from the “real world” for as long as we are reading. This book covers a lot of teenage issues. It is not a book for children. Instead, it is a book written for teenagers. It has teenage themes, like Belle dealing with going to a new school. I don’t think that these groups need to worry about children being corrupted by reading this.A group, who may not have even read the book, shouldn’t be able to tell us we can’t read it!

36. Revised… Therefore, Twilight should not be taken out of public schools. It is a challenging book that expands teens’ minds and helps them deal with teen issues. Likewise, teens are smart, and we know that Twilight is nothing more than a fantasy. How could any group ban a book that seems so important? The groups are wrong. Don’t make the sun set on such a great book!

37. You see • I actually took out an entire paragraph. • ISAT graders are told NOT to grade anything that a student has crossed out. • So, don’t feel like you have to erase something, just mark it out (NEATLY). • The only time I erased was when I wanted to add back in that line…you have to be careful how you do it but it can be done!

38. Only then… …can you turn it in…

39. So… • What are the four steps to writing a successful ISAT test? • How much time should you spend on: • Reading the question? • Outlining your essay? • Writing it? • Revising it?

40. Congratulations • You are now ready to write a practice ISAT test!