This elective class focuses on strengthening students’ writing skills. Our emphasis will be on writing
expository essays, including summaries, personal essays, and researched writing. Together we will
explore the writing process and discover a process that fits your needs as a writer.
Assignments in this class will help you to improve your ability to generate, develop and organize
ideas, edit and revise, and use correct mechanics.
In class we will learn to critically evaluate our writing, classmates’ writing, and professional writing.

Writing Assignments:
• Personal Compare/Contrast Essay
• Summary-Response Essay
• Causal Analysis Essay• I-Search Essay
• Reflective Portfolio
• In-class Essays
• Writer’s Notebook

Required Materials:
- composition book for Writer's Notebook
- two-pocket folders for submitting essays with drafts
- Internet and e-mail access

Suggested Materials:
- reference guide such as Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style, Diana Hacker’s A Writer’s
Reference or other similar reference guide
- college dictionary and thesaurus

General Requirements
• PUNCTUAL ATTENDANCE is crucial in this class.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL DEADLINES WHETHER YOU ARE IN CLASS OR NOT.
It is your responsibility to return to class prepared and contact me with any questions
regarding missed work in the event of an absence.
• I will not accept late work. Essay deadlines are FIRM.
Students MUST be prepared for computer crashes and ink cartridges running dry.
BE SURE TO KNOW HOW TO USE YOUR SCHOOL EMAIL SO YOU CAN SEND WORK TO YOURSELF.
• Students will respect the rights of others and use common sense to direct their own behavior.
All rules and regulations established by FCHS are appropriate for this class and will be enforced.
• The FCHS academic honesty policy will be fully enforced. Consequences for plagiarism:
First offense: 0 on assignment; 2nd offense: Suspension, 3rd offense: F in class and suspension.

Workshops
In-class workshops are designed to allow you to learn about writing by receiving feedback
on your own writing as well as giving feedback to your fellow students. On days when a
workshop is scheduled, you must bring a complete, typed draft of your paper to class.
• PAPERS MUST BE READY AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS FOR WORKSHOP. If you are absent,
or do not come prepared to class with a complete draft, 10% will be deducted from your
final essay grade. If you are legitimately absent, you can email the paper to me at school.
Be sure to PHONE me to let me know to expect the email

Essays
• All drafts and final papers will follow MLA format. Learn to use the “header” function in Microsoft word.
Titles are required only on final drafts.

• Students will keep all papers until the end of the semester.

• Final drafts must be submitted in a two-pocket folder. Included in the folder MUST BE:
Final draft inserted on the RIGHT side of folder.
All drafts, workshop drafts (including workshop sheets), and prewriting
(not included in Writer’s Notebook) inserted on the LEFT side of folder.
• Please clearly indicate your name and period on the outside of the folder.

• Any essay turned-in without the required drafts will be returned unread.
Resubmissions with drafts will lose 10% of the grade.

Writer’s Notebook Requirements:
In your Writer’s Notebook you will keep notes, responses to reading assignments, essay reflections,
and any other work assigned. You will use it both in and out of class so it should be brought to
class daily. Your composition book needs to be divided into 3 clearly labeled sections
(Notes, Assignments, Reflection).

Grading:
Your essay grades determine the majority of your course grade. Each essay will be worth 100 or
200 points depending on effort. The remainder of your grade is based on other class assignments
(notes, reflections, homework assignments, etc).

Revision:
Revision is critical to the writing process. Over the course of the semester you will be allowed to
revise your graded essays if you are not satisfied with your performance.
(Your final paper may not be revised.) A revision requires significant effort to raise your grade.
I highly recommend scheduling a conference with me to discuss possible revisions before
revising an essay. You must decide to revise an essay within one week of receiving a graded
essay back. All revised essays must be turned in with the original graded essay and rubric.

Open Door Policy:
I welcome you to come and talk to me about any questions or concerns you have regarding class.
Teaching writing is one of my passions, and I love working with students.
I am here to help you, so please meet with me during my off hours or schedule an appointment
before or after school.

“Writing is the hardest work in the world not involving heavy lifting.” Pete Hamill, journalist

 

This policy statement serves as our contract.
By remaining in the class, you have indicated that you know,
understand, and accept these policies.