February 20

Today, for writing into the day, we answered questions about the purpose of workshopping.  After discussing the writing into the day, we got into small groups and made a list of do's and don't's of workshopping using "Responding - Really Responding - to Other Students' Writing," the "Revision is" handout and our past experiences with workshopping.  We made a class list of the Do's and Don't's, which is as follows:

 

Do

• Comment on specifics
• Be specific
• Balance critique
• Ask questions
• Tell the writer what he/she made you think about
• Give detailed comments
• Balance comment length - be brief but specific
• Make suggestions
• Point out clarity issues
• Explain what you understood about the paper
• Know what stage of writing the writer is in
• Comment on grammar only if it messes up clarity
• Think about the context of the paper
• Talk about specific points and give a summary of your opinions
• Back up your opinion

Don't

• Don't be mean
• Don't be nice
• Don't re-write
• Don't have grammar be the main focus
• Don't be the teacher
• Don't change the writer's method and style 

Then, we discussed the handouts about reflections.  After workshopping next class, we will answer the questions on the "Reflection for Workshop" handout on the blog.  Then, when we hand in the second draft, we will answer the "Self Assessment" questions on the blog.  After conferences (which will take place the week after Spring Break), we will answer the "Reflection for Conferences" on the blog.

 

We read a newspaper article about a 6-year-old boy who took his mother's car to go see his dad.  We picked a perspective in the article and each person wrote a narrative from that point of view.  Then, we used the following steps to workshop Megan's narrative:

1. The writer address 2-3 concerns about the work
2. The writer reads the paper aloud
3. The writer and readers discuss the paper.  The writer asks questions and pushes readers to explain criticism.

For the last five minutes, we wrote out our current inquiry questions and our weekly availability.  Megan will be using these to schedule conferences.

Homework

• Finish writing your first draft of the Exploratory Essay.  (It must be three pages.)
• Post a copy of your draft to your blog before class.
• Bring four hardcopies of your draft with you to class.