Lit 9 Writing Assignments

Before looking at the actual writing assignments, lets begin by identifying the Georgia Performance Standards they will address as well as the process we will use in this class.

The Standards:

ELA9W1 The student produces writing that establishes an appropriate organizational structure, sets a context and engages the reader, maintains a coherent focus throughout, and signals a satisfying closure.

ELA9W2 The student demonstrates competence in a variety of genres.

ELA9W3 The student uses research and technology to support writing.

ELA9W4 The student practices both timed and process writing and, when applicable, uses the writing process to develop, revise, and evaluate writing.

As you compose your rough drafts, you should always keep these standards in mind. They will also be instrumental in our editing process.
The Writing Process:

You will receive three grades for each of the four writing assignments you will complete:

1. Rough Draft -- have two pages of double-spaced Times New Roman 12-point text by the day it is due for editing.
2. Editing -- You will edit with one of your peers. This is a timed exercise, and it should be easy to earn a high score on this portion of your writing process.
3. Final Draft -- This will be my evaluation of your writing. You may complete more drafts to earn a higher score if you choose. Any essay scoring below an 80 will need to be revised.

Your Writing Assignments:

Writing One: Narrative Writing -- A Narrative is simply a piece of writing that describes a series of events.  Think of the people we call "narrator" in a story, play, or movie -- their job is just to explain what is going on.  For your narrative, you can choose to describe a series of events that you experienced firsthand, something that happened to someone else, or you can create a piece of fiction.

This should be a good opportunity to get your wheels turning without having to worry about evidence or other more complex elements.

Writing Two: Persuasive Writing --Persuasive writing is a form with which you are probably very familiar. It appears in newspapers and magazines, and you are likely to have already written your fair share of persuasive writing. The topics for the Georgia High School Graduation Writing Test are usually persuasive in nature.

Persuasive Writing is a piece of writing in which you try to persuade someone to agree with you or to convince them to share your opinion of something.
You may choose a political issue like immigration, upcoming elections, state graduation tests, drivers' licence policies for teanagers, or the war in Iraq to attempt to get others to share your feelings on the issue.
You may choose to argue that your favorite entertainer, athlete, team, television show or movie is the best.
You may choose to convice people that something going on today needs to be changed.
You can read some good examples of persuasive writing here, here, here, and here.
EVIDENCE is one of the most important elements of persuasive writing. If you are attempting to change someone's mind, or influence their opinion, you need to provide examples of why you feel the way you do.