S+Kenison,+Alicia

** E-mail: alicia.kenison@maine.edu **
 * Teacher:** Ms Kenison
 * Office:** The Blue Door
 * Office Phone:** 603-723-1479
 * Office Hours:** M-F 2:30PM to 4PM

=Summary of Unit= In this unit, we will go over all the different genres in writing. We will create an ongoing blog, as a diary to reflect on group work, add definations and decide what genre you want to write for your final paper, the coumn that will be presented in front of the editor of "G" Magazine, who hails from NYC. We will explore how to peer/self edit, organize a "well-written" paper and cite for research. Over the next 3-6 weeks we will learn how and produc products from Comic Life, graphs, Garage Band and Inspiration. We will clearly know how and when to use each genre. By the end of the unit, you will produce and perform a podcast in front of the other inspiring columnist. The column podcast is to show emotion and allow me and the editor, Ms DeVille that you have mastered a genre you chose and then you may have a chance to have a column published in "G".

=Establish Goals= Maine Learning Results English Language Arts B) Writing B1) Interconnected Elements Grade 9-diploma Students use a writing process to develop an appropriate genre, exhibiting an explicit organizational structure, perspective, and style to communicate with target audiences for specific purposes.

= = =Students will understand that=

=Essential Questions=
 * different genres can be used in different situations and how to apply each genre to each circumstance.(IE: persuasive is not a technique to use in an analytical paper and narratives are not used in research papers;
 * the best pepers have an organized structure, style and perspective for its assigned audience and how to make each paper grammar free and sufficiently edited by self and peers;
 * applying aspects to their assigned genre, such as: diction, voice and rhetorical effectss are crucial in making a good paper a great paper.


 * * Why choosing to write a certain genre over another for each specific assignment is an important task to carry out?
 * How to write in an organizational structure with the perspective, style and projected effect in order to target the specific "audience" (the magazine editor)?
 * How to effectively peer and self edit a paper to make their work the best it can be as well as how to keep an ongoing blog to track progress and new ideas? ||

= = =Students will know=

> follow a rubric, make checklist, organize data,check for grammar and mechanical errors, give positive feedback,structurally change the set-up of the paper,assure flow and organize, write for your audience, critique and keep a blog); > Personal, Autobio/Bio, Narrative, Poetry, Research, College Essays, Persuasive, Resume, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Analytical, Expository, Detailed, Article); > Secondary Source,Diction,Voice,Citing, Audience, Brainstorm, Feedback, Rubric). > = = =Students will be able to=
 * How to peer-edit and self-edit (to cite,
 * All the different genres of writing (Compare/Contrast, Argument,
 * Vocabulary used in the lessons (Genre, Rhetorical,Style, Primary Source,

self-assess their drafts to assure that they are error-free and well-organized before handing them in to be graded.
 * Demostrate and teach each genre you taught;
 * represent a specific genre clearly through the works that they created from the knowledge gained;
 * adapt each genre with a specific voice, diction, and rhetorical effects for the given audience;
 * compare and contrast the differences and similarities between sources and citing (MLA/APA) as well as which genre to use when;
 * consider the pros and cons of writing through reading peers drafts and editing while using the rubric as a guide;

**Performance Task Overview**
 * Create a column for "G" Magazine, writing a paper and presenting it as a Podcast infront of the class (inspiring columnists) and the editor of "G" Magazine, Ms DeVille.
 * Starting a blog to journal everyday's progress through the unit.
 * Making a "Good" vs "Bad" Comic Life as a group to explain the how to properly peer edit.
 * Making a graph (Venn Diagram) on plagrism and how to properly cite.
 * Make a voice over using Garage Band to explore the different ways to depict you voice for the audience of your intent.
 * Making a outline of progress using Inspiration.
 * Create a defination layout using Inspration
 * Presenting all projects to the class.
 * Praticipating in peer editing and group work continuously throughout class periods.

=Expectations=

Assignments are required to be turned in on time, even if you are sick. I have an e-mail and you have friends. If I know ahead of time abut your absence, we can make new arrangemets. Because this is high school I can't repremend you from being sick or missing class, but your work is still your responsiblity. But, if you ae sick, PLEASE stay home...we don't want you sharing your germs with your classmates or myself.

For some projects you will have an oppurtunity to redo your work for a higher grade. This oppurtunity only last for 3 days after I hand them back, so you have a deadline!

Please expect to have homework every night and aways be prepared. If you have no homework, consider yourself lucky and efficient at your work. That means that you got everything done in class.

I expect everyone to participate and make this class a fun and happy one. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. The only stupid questions ar the ones you don't ask! I am always here to help.

All assigned writting should be creative, size 12 front in Times New Roman and free of typograpical, spelling and gramatical errors. Please keep a copy of everything on a flashdrive or saved on you laptop in case I hve ay questions in my gradebook later. Afterall, you would want the grade you deserve.

=Benchmarks= Below is the point value for each assessment and your grade will be based on the percent of points earned fron the **total points of 700.**

You must be present and actively engaged in all aspects of the course. You need to be a prepared and contributing member in all the learning components of the course. Blogs will document gowth and learning. You must keep up with your blog, be prepared for every class period and make sure there is a way to get your work when you are absent. I accept everyone to speak and contibute academically at least once each period and always listen to myself and your peers. Respect breeds respect. This grade should be an eas 100 points as long as you are in class and keep up with journaling. Remember, I am the only person that can read and comment your blogs unless you publisize them. I will keep a log of class participation, so if you feel like you are falling behind, we an check the book and find a way to help you improve. Don't be scared to ask questions, because no question is a stupid question! Most of all, have fun and the learning will come natural.
 * __Attendence and Partcpation__- (100 points)**

This is a group project to depict the "good" and "bad" ways to peer edit. You will be grouped with a partner of your choosing and will last about 3 class periods.You may need to bring the project home, or at least brainstorm for homework. I expect a creative, colorful, tex-driven comic that depicts how we should and how we should not edit/judge our peers work. These projets wil be critiqued by your peers and myself. We will then discuss exactly what I want to see during peer editing sessions on the final column. Remember, creativity is the key of sparking the interest of the audience. You will have 2 full class periods to work on this before the presentation/disussion day. Even though we are not discussing with the class on these 2 days, you can always ask questions. I will moitor these days to make sure you are working diligently. Remember to blog about this project everyday so I know how your group is doing. On the opening of this lesson, I will pass out a rubric and we will discuss the expectations of the group.
 * __Comic Life__- (75 points)**

Your blogs will be your form of reflecting and journaling. You are to write at least one every class.You can choose to make them private or public. If they are public I will be the only person that can read and comment them. They will be posted on blogger.com and assure me of your participation ad gained knowledge. These blogs track vocabulary skills, how well you work with your partners, any concerns and your genre choice with an expaination of how and why you chose it. You may also add pesonal blogs if you feel the need to vent, put up lyrics or experiment with poetry, but remember I will read everything. Also remember, that you need one entry relevent to what happened in the class each day. Please check your grammar and spelling before submitting, because this is a writing course afterall!
 * __Blogging__- (90 points)**

This Venn Diagram will be done in one class period in a group of four. The group of four will be chosen by counting out to 5, so that we he 5 groups of 4. If there are peole that don't gt along, e can work it out, but remember this is only a one period assignment that will emphasize the importance of plagarism. It will answer these questions, (1) What exactly is citing? (2) How do I cite? (3) How do I know if I am cheating? and (4) Why should I not just copy and paste information? This is fun way to see what others think plagarism is. Each graph will be posted on the overhead projector and we wil discuss everyone's ideas and opinions. At the end of the class, I will clearly define plagarism before you write your own reearch paper at any given tme throughout the unit.
 * __Graph__- (20 points)**


 * __Inspiration__- (15 points) *3 will be handed in throughout this unit***
 * 1) //Definition outline//-This is to have a paper copy of your blog definations. Throughout class discussions you can add notes and get more ideas on what you want to do exacly.
 * 2) //Checklist//-This is to outline how where you want to go with your column. It should be setup in a web and be as detailed a you want it. Remember tha you do not have to add everything into the story, it's just an outline.
 * 3) //Storyboard//- This is to outline the Podcast for the presentation in front of the editor at the end of the unit.

This is the biggest part of the project. It consists of reading a part of the column that you comosed for Ms DeVille of "G" Magazine in a Garage Band setup. You are required to put relevent music ad pictures onto the podcast that will spark the intended audience.You shold flucuate your voice throughout the production and make the podcast as interesting as possible, this is a column entry.You will be doing this solo, but will always have my help to answer questions or concerns. All the blogs and all the projects work up to this presentation. It will be a 3-6 week unit and this part will take about 1 to 2 weeks because it includes a paper, an oral presentation and an experience with Garage Band. Your column plays a big role in the podcast, so make sure you are writing about something that you can sell yourself to. Once you blog what you are doing, you are committed!
 * __Podcast__- (185 points)**

This paper is what you have been working on all unit. This paper will be written in one of the genres that you defined in your blog. It will have to be 2-10 pages long. Remember that your oral presentation needs to be 5-8 minutes long, and this is basically the reading of the paper. Be prepared to talk in front of the other inspiring colunists and dior (Ms. DeVille). The Podcast will follow the column, lesson-wise and be quick summary as to why yo should be chosen. The column should be error-free and flow nicely. You should be excited about the topic so flaunt your enthusiasm.
 * __Column__- (130 points)**

Throughout the class you will have your work peer editing and commenting. You can reflect in your blogs about how you feel you did, how you liked how other edited your work, etc.W will also use aspects of the feedback sandwhich, positive feedback, feedback cards, verbal feedback and the acual pen to paper. In the actual pen to paper form, you are to find mistakes, but not correct them all. You can place special code in which your partner knows the key and have them try to correct. For example spelling mistake can be SP and change word choice can be WC. Make sure you do a throrugh job because you want your paper to be perfect in the end, just like your peers want of theirs.
 * __Peer Editing__- (20 points)**

This is the introduction to the unit and should give you a better understanding on definitions, terms and genres. You will work in teams of 5 and each have a certain job. This is the starting point as to finding a genre you like and want to base your column on. The slideshow will include definitions of all the genre along with music. The slides should include definitions from online resources as well as your groups opinions. You are to blog the process. At the end of this project, you should have a narrowed-opinion as to your pursuing genre. This should show off great group work, creativity and understanding. It will take 2-3 days and be presented to the class to spread more information that they can take in and bring to their blogs.
 * __Slideshow__- (20 points)**

This is a teacher-student conference where we will talk about everything you have done in this unit. You should bring questions, comments, and concerns. This is an inteview setup in which we will end the unit. I want to be able to discuss your blogs, gropwork, graphs, inspirations, garage band, comic life and column. I will use what you say to hep me plan for next year's classes as well as hep me come up with a grade that coincides with all the work you put into the unit.
 * __Consultation-__ (15points)**

=Grading Scale=

**A** (93 -100), **A-** (90 - 92), **B+** (87 - 89), **B** (83 - 86), **B-** (80 - 82), **C+**(77 - 79), **C** (73-76),
 * C-** (70 - 72), **D+**(67 - 69), **D** (63 - 66), **D-** (60 - 62), **F** (0 - 59).