Twelfth Handouts

Twelfth Grade Writing Handouts

Senior Memory Book

During the semester, you will write a book, a Senior Memory Book. It will consist of your memories and thoughts from your whole life. It will be due December 1, 2011. You must turn in this book to pass this course!

The final product will be presented to me in a loose-leaf binder. Whether you need a 1½-inch or a 3-inch binder will depend upon how much you put into this memory book. Your binder will have drawings and/or pictures to decorate the outside front, back, and spine. The plastic binder with clear pockets works well for this project. You will need clear plastic sheets to insert memories; you may also use them for your chapters as well. You will need enough dividers for each of the chapters you include. These need to be decorated as well.

Binder

Clear plastic sheets to hold your memories (and pages--optional) for your final copy

Subject dividers of your choice; you may make them, etc., but they must be decorated.

Your memory book will be typed in Times New Roman or Arial with a 12-point font. Your will use 1-inch margins all the way around your paper if you insert the pages in the plastic sleeves. If you do not place chapter in sleeves, the left margin will be 1 ½ inches with 1 ¾ pages for each entry. This should not be a problem since you typed your first draft with a 1-inch margin. Each chapter will have an appropriate title. Be creative.

Times New Roman or Arial

12 point font

1-inch margins (first turn in and finals in sleeves)

Title for each chapter

Your book begins with a grade of 90.

The minimum

* 1 ½ pages per chapter on time each week complete and in good form (revised by the end of the semester). Your first turn-in for each chapter may be a first draft not a rough copy form!

* At least 2 photographs or other memorabilia per chapter (This might include family photos, pictures you drew as a child, schoolwork keepsakes you made or got at special times in your life, etc. You get the idea. At this point, you may add comments written by your parents special teachers, friends, coaches, etc., that are appropriate for the chapter you are writing. These can be very special keepsakes. There will be additional suggestions for certain chapters as you progress.

* You may send your first draft that has been cut and pasted into your email document. Be sure to use the correct font and point for each chapter you send. If you send them by email, be sure they get to me before class time on each date due. This process is especially helpful if you are not going to be in class on the date due. Your first drafts must be given to me at the beginning of class each Thursday. There is a 2-point deduction from the final grade for each late chapter the first nine weeks. The second nine weeks, the deduction is 2 points the first day late and an additional point for each day the chapter is late. An extended illness is the only criterion for the elimination of the 2-point (1-point) deduction per chapter.

Additional points will be given for the following things. You cannot receive more than 105 points once with 100 for the additional grades total.

3-page + chapters (1 point per chapter; 6 points total) ( 3 ½ pages if your chapters are not in sleeves)

Minimum of 5 pictures or other memorabilia per chapter (1 point per chapter; 6 points total)

Contribution in the hand written form signed by family member (adult), or teacher. (1 per chapter with a maximum of 3 points) These must be notes written specifically to you specifically for this purpose (not job well done, etc.).

Deductions will be made for the following in addition to the late point deduction.

Final book late (Your book is late if it is not handed in at the beginning of class.)

5 points per day

Missing chapters: 10 points per chapter

Chapters that have not been revised: 5 points per chapter

Chapters with no memorabilia: 5 points per chapter

Dividers that were not decorated: 2 each

Omission of dividers 20 points

No cover decoration 15 points (6 front, 6 back, 3 spine)

August 18, 2011, Chapter 1: "Who Am I?" (Who are you? Where do you live? Describe your town, neighborhood, rural community, your home, your bedroom, colors, decorations, special places for kids to congregate, What are your life goals? How do you expect to reach those goals? What is important to you as a person? You may think of this chapter as an introduction to you as a person. You need to spend some time reflecting and pondering.)

August 25, 2011, Chapter 2: "Before I Was, There Were…" (your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and anybody who may not be a relative but has helped to pave the way for you and your family.

*what about a family tree chart beginning with at least great-grandparents

*what about interesting stories about your grandparents or parents told to you by a relative or family friend)

September 1, 2011, Chapter 3: "Suddenly, I Became Me" (Where were you born? How was your name chosen? What were the first couple of years like? Were there any special stories about your birth or early years? What were your earliest memories during the first five years of your life? ---people, places, events, all those cute things that you did when you were tiny, that your mother tells you about)

September 8, 2011, Chapter 4: "School Bells" Write about kindergarten through third grade--first day jitters, fears, anticipation; learning to read and write; special friends, teachers; school program. What games did you play? Describe some of these games in detail. What TV shows did you watch? What movies were your favorites?

September 15, 2011, Chapter 5: More School Bells, Growing Pains, Crushes, and Being a Good Sport" Write about grades four through six. What was it like being top on the totem pole in elementary school, or how did you accept the changes that went along with a move? What about your best friends and your enemies? How had you changed physically (include braces, broken bones, etc., all those growing pains physical and emotional)? What new activities were added? Did you play sports, a musical instrument, begin a new hobby, How had your family changed? What teachers do you remember positively or negatively? What games did you play? Describe some of these games in detail. What TV shows did you watch? What movies were your favorites? This will obviously be a somewhat long chapter!

September 22, 2011, Chapter 6: "Middle School" This includes grades seven through nine. What was it like on the big hall? What were your expectations, fears, etc. Write about your successes and failures, new friends and enemies--or old ones still around. What were some of the myths you had been told? How did you change. Reflect on your life through those three years. What did you begin that you still do; what did you start and quit that you regret; what do you wish you had done differently? Who were the teachers that influenced your life--what about other students your age or the older ones? What were your in and out of school activities. Where did the kids go? What movies and TV shows did you watch? What kind of music did you listen to? Who were your favorite artists and actors? What about jobs? What about driving, first cars?

September 29, 2011, Chapter 7: "High School Years" Write about your sophomore and junior years. Write about class rings, banquets, proms, parties, jobs, teachers, friends, some major firsts in your life that you are proud of. Discuss some disappointments you had. Reflect on how you changed. What were those new ideas and values? Discuss troubles, heartaches, successes, defeats, etc. What about new cars, driving, etc.?

October 13, 20011, Chapter 8: "These Were (or Were and Are) Important" Write about your first serious romance. Write about a memorable trip you took with family or friends. (There may be one with family, one with friends, church group, class, etc.) Write about an important family member. Write about your dear friend. Write about a life changing event in your life.

October 20, 2011, Chapter 9: I Wish I Could See ________ Again" Write about a childhood friend that you have no contact with any more but would like to see again.

October 27, 2011, Chapter 10: "At Last, I'm a Senior" Write about the highlights, troubles, etc. Reflect on your senior year--sitting for senior portraits, invitations, caps and gowns, etc. What about all those lasts (summer reading, sporting events, pep rallies, etc.)? Has it been everything you expected? How have you changed from that first day on the high school hall?

November 3, 2011, Chapter 11: "Epilogue" If I could live my life over again, I Would… If you would not change anything, write about why you would not change anything. Write a thoughtful, reflective chapter.

November 10, 2011, Chapter 12: Your Class Reunion: It is the last Saturday night in May 2019: your 10-year class reunion. You have not seen many of your classmates since May 2009. How have you changed? What are you doing? Where are you? What is different that you want to convey to all your old classmates? How do you want to be different? Write about your life being a 29-year-old contributing member of society. What were your old goals and your new ones? What is your life like?

Your signature__________________________________

Parent's signature________________________________

Senior Memory Book Grading Sheet

2010-11

Name_________________________

Turn this in with each chapter. If you are not going to be in class, leave it with me the day before.

Final Date Due:

December 1, 2011, __________________________

90 + ____ - ____ = ___________ (Your starting grade is 90. All bonuses with no deductions can give you a total of 105.)

(Rough copy deductions are subtracted from the 90 as well. Be sure to have your chapters in on time.)

Binder	Clear plastic sheets	Subject dividers
Times New Roman or Arial 12 point font	1-inch margins on all sides	Title for each chapter
Original chapters behind chapter 12 labeled Index

Rough Copy on Time

-2 points per chapter per day

Date in if late:

Rough Copy correctly done

Margins, Fonts (kind and size)

- 2 points per chapter

Revised, and Good Form

1 ½ -page minimum

not revised

-5 points per chapter

3+ Page Chapter

1 point each

6-point total bonus

Two Photos Minimum

No memorabilia

- 5 points per chapter

(divider pictures, decorations, etc., not included)

5 + photos or other mementos

6 point total bonus;

1 point per chapter

not used on dividers

Hand-written and signed by adult family member, teacher, not students, etc.,

1 per chapter;

3 points

total bonus

not report cards, etc., must be hand written notes

Final Copy at the beginning of class;

5 points per day

Dates no t in:

Chapter Title

-2 per chapter

Missing revised chapters (rough copy cannot be substituted) -10 points per chapter

Chapter retyped not any revision-- -5 per chapter

Dividers not decorated

-2 each chapter

These pictures do not count toward 3 per chapter.

No dividers

- 20 points

No cover decoration

-15 points

Front -6

Back -6

Spine -3

These pictures do not count toward 3 per chapter.

Index

Final Copy

Comments:

Name____________________

Kind of Paragraph__________

Paragraph Number__________

Date_____________________

Descriptive Writing

	6	5	4	3	2	1	0
1. Response to prompt/description based on a main idea or impression clearly and completely expressed in thesis statement or topic sentence-introduced at the beginning
2. Development-clear development of the description with no irrelevant narration or explanation-rich variety of vivid detail to support main idea; all details contribute to main idea or impression; adequate support for main idea
3. Organization-good organization including an introduction and conclusion
4. Word Choice-specific, vivid, appropriate, concrete-fresh, vivid language that shows originality of the main impression
5. Details-sensory details that are appropriate, concrete
6. Sentence structure-correct, appropriate, varied no fragments, run-on's, comma splices, or over-coordinated
7. Mechanics-capitalization, punctuation, spelling, paragraphing
8. Audience-appropriate, clear/ content and language correct for the audience; held the attention of the audience
9. Usage-correct agreement, reference, etc.

Fragments______________

Run-on's_______________

Comma Splices__________

Spelling________________

Punctuation_____________

Capitalization____________

Grammar________________

Grading Scale for Rubric

	A 6's 5's
A+								A-
54	53	52	51	50	49	48	47	46.5	46
100	99	98	97	96	95	94	93	92	91

	B 5's 4's
B+								B-
45	44	43	42	41	40	39	38	37	36
90	89	88	87	86	85	84	83	82	81

	C 4's 3's
C+									C-
35.5	35	34	33	32	31	30	29	28	27.5
80	79	78	77	76	75	74	73	72	71

	D 3's 2's 1's
D+					D-
27	26	25.5	25	24	23
70	69	68	67	66	65

	F 2's 1's 0's
F
22	21	20	19	18	16	15	14	13	12	11	10
64	63	62	61	60	58	54	50	45	40	35	25

Advanced Writing Handouts