Summer Reading Essay Blog Comment Criteria

I would like your summer reading essay comments to answer the following five questions:

I - Describe your personal reaction to the story. How do you feel after reading it? What do you remember? What images do you see? What concepts or ideas are in your head? What did the story make you think about?

II - Did the conversation between the two characters seem authentic? What details, specifically, made the characters seem real and natural? If the character's dialogue was not believable, what is one thing the author could have done to make it better?

III. What was your favorite part of the story? Pick a line that you liked, copy and paste it into the comment box, put quotes around it, and explain what it was about it that stood out to you.

IV - Find one thing about the essay that you found distracting or problematic. This could be anything from improper use of dialogue, misused words (your vs. you're, it's vs. its, their vs. there), run-on sentences, sentence fragments, subject/verb agreement, simple word usage, boring verbs, etc.

Everyone's essay can be improved in some way. Help each other become stronger writers by identifying something that could be done better.

V - What is one piece of advice that the author might consider for future writing assignments? This should be phrased constructively (try doing ------- next time, consider --------) or inquisitively (what do you think would happen if you -------------?)

Comments should be five paragraphs (about 25 informative, well-written sentences). Your comments should appear below the story you are responding to. When asked to choose an identity, use your Google Account ID. Comments not posted according to these instructions will not be eligible for credit, and will be deleted.

I would like you to respond to three essays.

Comments should be posted by the start of school on Tuesday, Sept. 15th.

* Please have a text document or e-mail message containing a copy of your comments ready to open at the start of class on Wednesday, Sept. 16th, as I will check them then. Your classmates and I thank you for your valuable feedback.

Three comments = a "check"

Two comments = a "check minus"
One or no comments = zero credit

For general information about posting blog comments, please click here.

* If you plan to make any revisions to your summer reading essay, your revisions should be posted to your blog by the start of school on Wednesday, Sept. 16th. *

The Old Man and the Sea Essay Assignment

Click here for a PDF copy of The Old Man and the Sea essay instructions.

Each class will have four days to work on the essay. It is expected you will need to work on it outside of class in order to create a product you can feel proud of.

Due dates are as follows:

TH, 3/26 - D & F write draft

FRI 3/27 - B write draft, D & F finish draft

MON 3/30 - B finish draft, F post to blog @ start of class, make comments

TUES 3/31 - B & D post to blog @ start of class, make comments; F make final edits

TH 4/2 - B & D make final edits

By Friday 4/3, you should have posted the final version of your essay to your blog, along with a picture or image and a creative title.

Macbeth Essay Comment Instructions

I would like your Macbeth essay comments to answer the following four questions. Write three to four sentences for each question.

I - What is this essay's thesis? Is it clear and concise? Is it focused? Does it engage you? Why or why not?

II - Of all the examples and quotations contained in this essay, which is the strongest? Why? What made it stand out above the others?

III - What is one thing this essay does well? It could be its organization, word choice, writing style, choice of quotations, introduction, conclusion, etc. In addition to mentioning what the author does well, copy and paste an example of what you thought was particularly effective. Be sure to put the example in quotations.

IV - What is one piece of advice that the author might consider when making his/her final revisions? Your suggestion could be about integrating vocabulary, citing quotes, polishing the thesis and introduction, ending with a strong conclusion, etc.

Your comments should appear below the story you are responding to. When asked to choose an identity, use your Google/Blogger ID. Comments not posted according to these instructions should be deleted.

* You can either print your comments or consolidate them into a Microsoft Word document, which you may show me on screen in class tomorrow, as I will check them then. Your classmates and I thank you for your valuable feedback.

Two comments = a "check"

Three comments = a "check plus"

Macbeth Essay Assignment

Choose one of the following topic choices and explore it in a 600-800 word essay. Set up your essay with an introduction that contains a focusing idea (thesis statement) that speaks to the theme choice you are responding to. Include at least three specific examples, points, or arguments that you explain in detail and support with cited evidence from Macbeth in the body paragraphs of your essay. You will want to finish with a thoughtful conclusion that ties your essay together.

You will have two days to write a draft, one day to make revisions, one day to upload the essays to your class blogs and begin comments, one day to make changes based on the comments, and one last day for any final edits you need to make to ensure your essays are as good as they can be before I begin reading and grading them.

Macbeth themed topic choices – Pick one:

I. Things aren’t always what they seem
II. Blind ambition leads to one’s downfall
III. Power corrupts
IV. Superstition affects human behavior

These themes are found in Macbeth, but perhaps more importantly (and interestingly, depending on your perspective), they can be found in present-day society and our lives. One might consider them truisms, as these maxims seem to have stood the test of time.

Essay formatting: 1) 600-800 words, 2) single-spaced, with one space between paragraphs, 3) Georgia size 12 font, 4) organized into paragraphs of roughly four to eight sentences.

Essay criteria checklist:

______ Your essay’s introduction contains a focusing idea (thesis statement) that takes a stance on the theme you are responding to, and the conclusion is thoughtful and ties your essay together.

______ There are at least three correctly cited and clearly explained examples from Macbeth that serve as evidence and analysis for your chosen theme: Introduce the line you’re going to cite with a sentence or two. “Put the lines of verse in quotes like this. In parentheses, put the act, scene, and line numbers, in that order, followed by a period” (5.3.21-22). Then, be sure you’ve explained the significance of the passage in two or three sentences.

______ Your writing is enticing, engaging, and uses specific, appropriate language to get your points across.

______ Your paper is free of grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

Your essay will be graded according to the SHHS School Writing Rubric.

Late essays will not be accepted without penalty (10 points per day). After three days, your essay will not be accepted for credit. You’re responsible for saving and keeping track of all your work, including notes, drafts, and electronic files. Save your work often and in multiple locations, as you will only be submitting an electronic copy via your blog. I am available to help while you’re writing your essay. Please let me know how I may best assist you.

Essay schedule:
FRI, 3/13 – Begin draft
TUES, 3/17 – Finish draft by end of class
WED, 3/18 – Bring completed draft to class, make revisions with peer editing sheet
TH, 3/19 – Post to blog, begin making comments
MON, 3/23 – Three comments due at start of class, read comments, make changes
TUES, 3/24 – Make last edits, final essay posted to blog by end of period

Short Story Comment Criteria

I would like your short story comments to answer the following six questions:

I - What was the conflict of story? Was it internal or external? How was it resolved? How invested were you in the resolution of the conflict? What could have made the story more dramatic?

II - Good stories have main characters who change over time. How does the protagonist or antagonist change over the course of the story? What is his or her great insight, epiphany, or development? How is this change important to the story? How would the story be different if the character didn't change?

III. What was your favorite part of the story? Did it occur in the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, or resolution? Pick a line that you liked, copy and paste it into the comment box, put quotes around it, and explain what it was about it that stood out to you.

IV - Overall, what is this tale's best quality? It could be its characters, the conflict, the resolution, the description of the setting, the story arc, use of dialogue, etc. Use specific details and references to the story to fully explain yourself.

V - What is the story's theme? What seeds does the author plant that allow the theme to grow and bloom by the end of the story?

VI - What is the main thing the author needs to revise before Mr. B-G grades this story? Take a look at the assignment sheet and the grading criteria to pick something specific that should help your classmate make a meaningful improvement.

In total, each story comment should be about three to four paragraphs (12 to 16 well-written, informative sentences). Your comments should appear below the story you are responding to. When asked to choose an identity, use your Google/Blogger ID. Comments not posted according to these instructions should be deleted.

I would like you to respond to a minimum of two short stories per class (6 total).

* You can either print your comments or consolidate them into a Microsoft Word document, which you may show me on screen in class on Thursday, Feb. 5th (Friday, Feb. 6th for D), as I will check them then. Your classmates and I thank you for your valuable feedback.

Less than three comments = zero credit
Three to five comments = a "check minus"

Six comments = a "check"

Click here for a copy of the short story assignment sheet. The school-wide writing rubric which I will be using to grade your story can be accessed by clicking on this link. For general information about posting blog comments, please click here.

Siddhartha Comes to America Short Story Comment Questions

I would like your Siddhartha Comes to America short story comments to answer the following four questions:

I - Which part of the story - quiet ascetic or sensory indulgent - did you think was most well done? What, specifically, did you like? Summarize your thoughts in two to three sentences, then copy and paste a passage in quotations that you liked best. Explain your selection in one or two sentences.

II - Which part of the story - quiet ascetic or sensory indulgent - did you think the author could have done better? Pick at least two specific things you feel could be improved (description, use of dialogue, references to the text, greater explanation, proofreading for errors, etc). Offer two specific solutions to help the writer. Then, copy and paste a passage in quotations that you feel needs the most work. Offer the writer a specific idea on how to improve it.... or, rewrite it and paste it below in quotations.

III - Identify one of the two textual references to the book Siddhartha found in each section of the story. If it seems to fit naturally in the piece, write down what the writer did that made it "flow." If it seems out of place, offer a suggestion to help better integrate it into the work.

IV. - Take a look at the essay's introduction. Do the first few sentences grab your attention and make you want to keep reading? If so, mention specifically what you liked. If not, offer an idea or two about what the writer could do to make the beginning more captivating and engaging.

Comments should be four paragraphs (about 4 to 6 well-written sentences per question). Your comments should appear below the story you are responding to. When asked to choose an identity, use your Google/Blogger ID.

Comments not posted according to these instructions should be deleted.

I would like each of you to respond to three essays.

* Please copy and paste your comments into a Word document that I can check on your computer at the start of class on Friday, Jan. 23rd. Your classmates and I thank you for your valuable feedback.

Three comments = a "check plus"
Two comments = a "check"
One comment = a "check minus"
No comments = zero credit

For general information about posting blog comments, see this link. As a reminder, I will be using the SHHS writing rubric to evaluate your essay. Click here to view the rubric.

College Essay Comment Instructions

I would like your college essay comments to answer the following five questions:

I - Describe your personal reaction to the story. How do you feel after reading it? What do you remember? What images do you see? What concepts or ideas are in your head? What did you learn about the author?

II - Was the title creative and unique? Did the lead grab your attention? Did the ending successfully "wrap up" the essay's ideas and leave you with something thoughtful to think about?

III. What was your favorite part of the story? Pick a line that you liked, copy and paste it into the comment box, put quotes around it, and explain what it was about it that stood out to you.

IV - Find one thing about the essay that you found distracting or problematic. This could be anything from improper use of dialogue, misused words (your vs. you're, it's vs. its, their vs. there), run-on sentences, sentence fragments, subject/verb agreement, simple word usage, boring verbs, etc.

Everyone's essay can be improved in some way. Help each other become stronger writers by identifying something that could be done better.

V - What is one piece of advice that the author might use to make his or her final revisions by Thursday, Nov. 6? This should be phrased constructively (try doing ------- , consider --------) or inquisitively (what do you think would happen if you -------------?)

Comments should be five paragraphs (3 to 5 well-written sentences per question). Your comments should appear below the story you are responding to. When asked to choose an identity, use your Google/Blogger ID.

Comments not posted according to these instructions should be deleted.

I would like each of you to respond to three essays.

* Please copy and paste your comments into a Word document that I can check on on your computer on Monday, Nov. 3rd. Your classmates and I thank you for your valuable feedback.

Three comments = a "check"
Two comments = a "check minus"
One or no comments = zero credit

For general information about posting blog comments, please click here.

College Essay Prompts for World Literature

The personal essay helps colleges become acquainted with you as a person and student, apart from courses, grades, test scores, and other objective data. It will also demonstrate your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself.

I. Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

II. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.

III. Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.

IV. Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.

V. A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.

VI. Topic of your choice.

Suggested length is 400-700 words.

Checklist for success:

_______ Catchy, unique title; intriguing, engaging lead; ending that wraps up the essay and leaves the writer something to think about

_______ Information and details, including specific, lively, & engaging language

_______ Tight focus on one idea, topic, or concept

_______ Personal meaning and relevance

_______ Sentence fluency, variety, and voice.

I will be using the SHHS writing rubric to evaluate your essay. Click here to view the rubric.

Value Essay Component Checklist

As a reminder, make sure your essay meets the following criteria checklist:

_____ Unique and creative title that relates to the objects and/or what you value

_____ Introduction that makes a statement or raises the question about the concept of values, what is valuable, or how value is determined

_____ Rich description utilizing present tense action that shows the first object/priceless moment

_____ Rich description utilizing present tense action that shows the second object/priceless moment

_____ A section where the author compares, contrasts, and explains how the objects are similar and different and how and why they are valuable to the author

_____ A concluding section where the author thoughtfully considers and states how he or she defines value and what he or she finds truly valuable

_____ Overall length of 700-900 words

To view an electronic copy of the rubric I will be using, click here.

The "Finding and Fixing Common Writing Errors" handout I mentioned in class today can be downloaded by clicking this link.

Value Essay Comment Instructions

I would like your Value Essay comments to answer the following four questions:

I - What does the author seem to be saying about what is valuable, and what he or she most strongly values?

II - Which of the two objects/priceless moments described in this essay did you find were most vividly and clearly described? Reference one specific part, anecdote, scene, or description that you thought was well done. You may even cite a particularly well-written sentence by throwing quotes around it and cutting and pasting it into your comment.

III - In general, what is one of this essay's overall strengths? It could be its organization, word choice, writing style, introduction, conclusion, etc. Cite specific examples to be as helpful to the writer as possible.

IV - What is one piece of advice or suggestion for revision that the author might consider making before Mr. B-G reads and grades this essay? This should be phrased constructively (try doing ------- , consider --------) or inquisitively (what do you think would happen if you -------------?)

Comments should be about four paragraphs (4 to 6 well-written, informative sentences for each question) per comment. Your comments should appear below the story you are responding to. Use your Google/Blogger identity to sign your comment. Comments not posted according to these instructions should be deleted.

I would like you to respond to one essay per class (3 total). Those of you looking to boost your homework average may respond to two essays per class for additional credit (6 total).

* Please also copy and paste your comments into an e-mail or Microsoft Word document that I can check on Friday, Oct. 15th at the start of class. Your classmates and I thank you for your valuable feedback.

Three comments = a "check"
Six comments = a "check plus"

For general information about posting blog comments, please click here.

First blogging steps

The following is intended as a guide for teachers looking to blog with students.

I - Go to Blogger.com and have each student sign up for a blog. They should use their e-mail address as the username. They'll then create a password. Have students write this info down on a notecard.

II - The blog URL should have some uniformity. For example, my students URLs will contain their first name and the class section (NateEnglish9B). The blog title should have the students' first names followed by something creative (Mr. B-G's Bodacious English Blog).

III - Have students e-mail the URLs to you (bgvocab at yahoo dot com).

IV - Create a link list with all students' blogs

V - Have students create similar link lists on their blogs

VI - The next step is personalizing the blog. Students can fill out their profiles (without any identifying info), change their templates, and add gadgets.

VII - As students begin posting writing, you need to make sure they have identical blog post categories. The first piece of writing students will be posting is a compare/contrast assignment I call the Value Essay. They will label the post that contains their Value Essay "Value Essay." That way, when I go to view their blog to read their essay, I can go to the categories section and easily find it.

VIII - The next label students will use is "Book Reviews." As they finish their quarterly reading books, they will write reviews and post them to their blogs. The book review requirements can be found here.

How to create a blog

This video provides quick and easy steps for setting up a Blogger blog.