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Essentials

ESSENTIALS OF WRITING                                        

Eden Middle School/High School

Mrs. Kanick

mkanick@edencsd.org



Course Content: This course teaches the student how to develop, organize, and refine the persuasive essay in all its forms, from the stage I, single-paragraph essay to the multi-page Senior Research Paper.  The students will learn the basic elements of an effective persuasive essay, along with the different forms of persuasion (classification, compare and contrast, cause and effect).  In addition, the students will practice the writing process for every written piece: prewriting, outlining, writing of the rough draft, peer editing, revising, and publishing.  In all, the students will write eight to ten essays, culminating in an extended research paper. Furthermore, homework, quizzes and one test accompany an extensive grammar and punctuation unit. 

 

Supplies Needed: a folder, pen and pencil (for writing and editing), highlighters (three colors), and a willingness to participate actively.  

 

Grading Policy: Essays and tests are weighted equally based on 100 points each.  Quizzes and short homework assignments will be weighted less.  Each quarter is worth 40% of the final grade.  The final research paper counts as the final exam and is worth 20% of the final grade.  No student will pass the course without completing the final paper.

 

Parent Portal Grades: 

Grades will be posted to the Parent Portal as the school year’s quarters dictate.

 

Essay Writing Policy (Academic Expectations):

 

1.  Normally, the due date for an essay is a proofreading and editing day.  We will use editing teams OR partners.  ONLY IF YOUR ESSAY IS COMPLETE ON THAT DAY, and ready for proofreading, will you have the privilege of completing a rewrite.

  1. For every essay assigned, the students must submit a topic sentence or thesis for approval, write a fully labeled outline and rough draft, ACTIVELY participate in the peer-editing process, and complete a carefully edited and proofread final copy.  NO PART OF THIS PROCESS CAN BE LEFT OUT!  

Late Assignments: 

  1. There will be a penalty of TEN percent per school day for three days. 

  2. After the third day, the paper will no longer be accepted, and an automatic zero will be given.   Any work missed as a result of absence MUST be made up within three days.  This is the personal responsibility of the student.  (If you were present on the day an essay was assigned but absent on the due date, the essay will be expected on the day you return.)  If you are in attendance for any portion of the day on which an essay is due, the paper will be considered late unless it is submitted on that day.

 

Rewrites: 

  1. Rewrites are required if an assignment has not been completed according to instructions, or if it contains serious errors or omissions. 

2.   Rewrites are due on the following day (unless otherwise directed by the teacher). A   copy of the originally submitted work MUST be attached.

3.    The grade for the rewrite will be the grade merited minus TEN points. 

4.    If the rewrite is not done, an automatic 50% (if the essay is worth THAT much).

5.  Illegible or sloppy papers will be returned for an immediate rewrite, with all applicable penalties. 

6.   REWRITES ARE A PRIVILEGE, NOT A PENALTY.  They can save the student from a failing grade. Late papers or papers without approved topics and completed outlines and drafts will not be given the benefit of a rewrite.

 

Extra Credit Work: No extra credit work will be accepted unless all required work has been completed satisfactorily.

 

Make-up Policy: When absent, every effort must be made to find out what was done in class and what work is due BEFORE COMING TO CLASS.  Please check the teacher website or google classroom for assignments.  If the student is absent the day of a test or a quiz, the test must be taken within two school days of returning.

 

If a student cuts class, or is absent because of truancy, as per the student handbook: the student WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO MAKE UP ANY WORK, AND WILL RECEIVE A ZERO for anything that was due that day.

 

Behavioral Expectations:

 

  1. Report to class on time.  School policy will be followed.  The agenda will be signed two times within a month.  Each time after that the student will be assigned detention. 

  2. Students late without passbooks will be assigned detention.

  3. Treat all individuals with respect.

  4. Show respect for school and personal property.

  5. Rudeness (in the form of inattentiveness, interruptions, foul language, etc.) will not be tolerated.

  6. In the event of a substitute, follow all classroom rules and be respectful.

  7. Cell phones are NOT allowed to be used during class

 

Teacher Availability: The teacher will be available at a mutually agreed upon time. After-school time can be worked out ahead of time between the teacher and student.  Parents can reach any teacher either by school phone (992-3600) or by the email listed above.