Back-up copy of Monday's lesson:

Students should have a PRINTED College Application essay on their desk. Please take attendance using the printed rosters so that you can mark each student that has their draft on their desk. Remind them that their paper also must be uploaded to Turnitin.com today or they get a zero. Don’t collect the essays yet.

Students should get out their journals and write a ½ to ¾ page reflection on 1) the speed at which they had to produce this essay and what possible effects it had on their quality of communication, 2) the process they used to write this essay, and 3) how pleased or unhappy they are with the finished product. Give them 10 minutes to write.

Now have students turn the desks to make groups of 4—where they are (not moving to friend groups). They should pass the writing to the left and read the essay, then repeat until all students have read all the essays. Students should leave comments in the margins about passages that were very effective, emotionally impactful, or surprising in a good way. Students should fix spelling and simple grammar errors ON the paper. Finally, any parts that seem choppy or abrupt should be marked as AWKWARD.

BEFORE THE BELL: Each student should take a PICTURE of the comments with their phone, but turn in the physical copy to the appropriate basket for their class period. 

HOMEWORK: Read "To the Teacher" (posted on the left side) and in your journal take notes on his narrative technique--how does he draw the reader in? What does he do to keep us focused on a point? Etc.