NJASK Rubric

	3 70-79	4 80-84	5 85-92	6 93-100
Content and Organization ·         Hook ·         Effective conclusion ·         Content is focused ·         Details are provided for persuasive, textual, or narrative evidence ·        paragraphing	o    missing hook o    missing conclusion o    lacks transitions o    off-topic, too much unnecessary information o    paragraphs are disorganized or mushed together o    missing topic sentences for paragraphs o    details lack specificity and clarity o    not backed up o    you are left wondering “What? Who? How? How do you know?”	o    has hook o    opening and closing present o    single focus o    transitions evident o    paragraphs are easy to follow o    paragraphs may lack an intro or concluding sentence o    uneven development of background info and specific details—you are left wondering “What? Who? How? How do you know?”	o    strong opening and closing o    interesting hook o    unified paragraphs o    topic and concluding sentences for each paragraph o    logical progression o    transitions evident o    compositional risks (figurative language, high level punctuation) o    answers all the questions a reader may have	o    high-level hook o    distinct focus o    well-developed paragraphs with topic and concluding sentences o    compositional risks effective o    details effective, vivid, important to topic o    goes above and beyond what the reader may question by providing deep insight
Usage ·         Tense ·         Pronouns ·         Word choice	o    Patterns of errors evident o    Adjectives, verbs, and nouns are simple and repeated	o    Errors that do not interfere o    Adjectives, verbs, and nouns are varied and interesting	o    Few errors o    Adjectives, verbs, and nouns are specific, high-level, and vivid	o    Very few, if any errors o    Adjectives, verbs, and nouns are specific, high-level, and vivid
Sentence Construction ·         Variety of sentence types ·         Correct usage of subject and predicate ·        Sentences start with variety	o    Sentences start off the same way many times o    Repetitiveness o    Numerous errors o    Sentence fragments/incomplete sentences	o    Some repeated sentence types o    A few incomplete sentences	o    Variety of sentence types o    Few errors in sentence structure o    Easy to read	o    Very few, if any errors, o    Complex o    Compound-complex o    Compound o    Simple sentences used o    Exciting to read o    Easy to read
Mechanics ·         Spelling ·         Capitalization ·         Punctuating dialogue ·        Punctuation	o    Patterns of errors o    Same words used incorrectly repeatedly	o    No pattern evident o    Errors do not interfere	o    Few errors	o    Few, if any, errors

Reminder: Essay Revisions due tomorrow

Revising Your Returned Essay

Decoding the comments:

·         An “x” at the beginning of a line means that there is an error.  If there are two “x’s,” then there are two errors (and so on).

·         Questions are written throughout the lines and in the margins.  These questions are designed to help you improve the quality of a sentence, idea, or paragraph.

Making revisions:

·         Highlight (or underline) any changes you make in your essay.

·         The highlights will reflect the efforts you made to revise and improve the quality of your paper.

Grade:

·         Depending on the quality of your revisions, you will see an improvement in your grade.

·         Use the rubric on the back of your cover sheet.

Due:

·         You have three days to make improvements to your paper.

·         Staple the new version (highlighted or underlined changes!) to your other drafts.

"Temple Grandin" Sources

Vocabulary anyone?

"All the rowboats in the paintings
They keep trying to row away
And the captains’ worried faces
Stay contorted and staring at the waves
They’ll keep hanging in their gold frames
For forever, forever and a day
All the rowboats in the oil paintings
They keep trying to row away, row away"

Ah ha!  See?  I told you that our vocabulary words will appear in your real life.  Did you ever listen closely to lyrics of songs?

I heard this week's vocab word (contorted) in a Regina Spektor song called "All the Rowboats."

If you ever come across our vocabulary words in real life (songs, books, magazines, etc), show me and I'll award you a bonus point to add to an assignment. 

Quarterly Dates for All Classes

Math – 10/25

World Language

• Oral Speaking- 10/25/26
• Listening - 10/29         
• Reading/writing – 10/30

Science -   11/2

Language Arts – 11/5

Social Studies – 11/6

Vocabulary Week 2

Ch. 3-6 Vocabulary

Due: FRIDAY (Writing Grade)

Label each of the words below with the letter that summarizes your knowledge of the word:

·        S= stranger

·        A= acquaintance

·        F= friend

Reprehensible       Scuttle          Receptive                Entranced                Raptly           Quiver

Reverently      Vicious      Cower               Sluggish         Aloof       Console            Apprehension

Scorn     Contort                 Mottled            Avert            Crestfallen         Retort               Bewilder

Vocabulary Activities: Use 10 words properly in one of the following poetry activities.   You may use rhyme or free verse.  Write in stanzas.

1.     Write an “Ode to an Old Dog” that Candy could read as he buries his old dog and remembers the life they had together.  Provide details from chapter two.

2.    Write a poem about a conflict in the novel.  Consider using Curley and Lennie, Curley’s wife and Curley, or George and Lennie.

3.    Write a poem about the failure or success of Lennie and George’s future dream farm.

Week 1 Vocabulary

Week 1 Vocabulary: Due Monday, 10/15/12 (Writing Grade)

Each week we will study a variety of words that appear in our text.  Some you will be clear on, others you’ll have vague awareness of, and others will be completely new.  In the end, you’ll put together your knowledge of our novels and the new vocabulary words.

This week, we will cover words from the first three chapters.

Words:  Categorize each of these according to the titles below.

Skeptically         Shuffled          Scowled        Mollified                       Pugnacious                Gingerly

Derogatory       Complacent                imperious       juncture           lumber                        morosely         yammer

dabble             whimper          scoff                reluctant

Strangers “I have no idea what this word means.”	Acquaintances “I’ve heard this word but couldn’t use it in a sentence.”	Friends “I use this word and read it regularly.”

Writing Activities:  Choose one activity to complete.  Use 10 words properly in your writing. 

1.      Pretend that you went to school with George and/or Lennie.  Write a short story about an experience with them.

2.      George faces many struggles as he cares for Lennie and struggles to survive the desolation and depression of the Dust Bowl.  Write two letters: one from George requesting advice, the other a response issuing advice about his problem.

3.      Write a creative historical account of life in the Dust Bowl as a migrant farmer/field worker headed towards California during the 1930’s.

Vocabulary Writing Requirements

Vocabulary Words	·         ____Used correctly ·         ____Proper endings ·         ____Makes sense given the definition ·         ____Uses required number
Figurative Language (at least two)	·         ____Simile ·         ____Metaphor ·         ____Personification ·         ____Alliteration ·         ____hook
Sentences (complete)	·         ____Simple ·         ____Compound ·         ____Complex ·         ____Proper ·         ____Sentences begin with variety
Spelling and Punctuation	·         ____Pet Peeves correctly used ·         ____Character names ·         ____Properly punctuated and generally correctly spelled words
Novel/Activity Elements	·         ____Correctly characterizes novel protagonists and antagonists ·         ____Maintains conflict and setting elements in common with the novel ·         ____Similar themes to novel ·         ____Dialogue (accurate dialect is appreciated)