Tips for the Test

1. Take a deep breath and trust your intelligence. You’ve been persuading people to do what you want them to do your whole life.

2. Take another deep breath and choose the proposal that you think will give you the most juice.

3. You have 5 – 10 minutes for planning. Scribble. List. Write fast. List every reason you can think of that would support your proposal.

• If you have some strong negatives against the other proposal, scribble those too. Make sure that you label it clearly so you don’t mix the two lists up.
  
  
• Don’t waste time on the negatives of your proposal; you’re going to ignore them.
  
  
• Don’t waste time writing out whole sentences. Just words.
  
  
• Don't waste time worrying about good ideas/bad ideas. You can sort that out in the next stage. In this first jotting, every idea is a good idea.
  

4. So you speeded up for your scribbling. Now slow down again and concentrate on a clear organization. Either choose the three most compelling reasons from your list, or create some grouping of your reasons to come up with a strong three.

• You don’t have three strong reasons? Try analyzing one and figuring out a way to split it into two. For example, a reason is that kids will learn computer skills. So maybe you could have them learn computer skills for school in one paragraph and computer skills for the workplace in another.
  
  
• You have more than three good reasons? Is there a way to combine some of them? For example, you’ve listed “leadership” and “self-esteem.” Your topic sentence can state “the program will help young people build their character,” and now you have a two-part paragraph organized around leadership and self-esteem, with “character” wrapping it back up at the end.
  
  
• Remember that you're inventing this world. You're advocating for a community center? It's yours. Do you want exercise classes for seniors? leadership training for teens? intergenerational hockey games? Invent them. An author has authority over his or her world.
  
  
• A good place to put your organized outline is on the back of the first page so you can refer to it. Write the basis for deciding at the top with a big fat circle around it to keep you focused. Then list the reasons that you've decided on.
  
  
  

It’s your call in terms of how much detail will help you in the outline. It’s the three clear reasons that are essential, and the other important thing is not taking more than ten minutes on it.

• If you feel like you're starting to freeze up during your planning, first breathe. Then you might try going ahead and writing your introduction -- you know what it's going to say -- just to get yourself writing. Then come back to brainstorming with your brain ready to go again. Scribble away.
  

5. Now you’re home free. You’ve done the hard work up front, and you’ve got plenty of time left.

• just a few minutes for the intro
  
  
• a juicy 15 minutes each for your body paragraphs
  
  
• just a few minutes for the conclusion
  
  
• and if you have time left over, you can proofread.

6. If you make mistakes, don’t stress about crossing them out neatly. It’s ok. It will show them that you’re thinking about what you’re doing and that you cared enough to fix something. Caring is good ;-).

7. If any of the proctors make distracting noise, ask them what their name is and tell me. I’ll raise cain.

8. Celebrate! You’re done!!!

Assignment for Tuesday 12/9

Hi all,
Email me for the final practice prompts.

Assignment for Tuesday 11/25

You have a choice among five prompts. I'm trying a new strategy for getting them to you. Send an email message to me in my writing class account, and you'll get an automatic message back containing the prompts. The formatting will be a little bit messed up, but it should work. For that message, use this account --

• pettersenwriting@gmail.com

Let me know if it doesn't work.

Requirements

We're bearing down here because we have only four more classes before the test. Here are the requirements:

• Have your essay emailed to me by 6:00 Sunday evening (or before).
  
• Outline or bubble map before writing. You must submit your outline on Tuesday. The essay doesn't count without it.
  
• I'll send your essay back with revision suggestions.
  
• Have your revised version back to me by 6:00 Monday evening. If you know you won't have time on Monday, get your draft to me earlier, and I'll have my suggestions back to you earlier as well.

Also --

• Email me now for a sample essay that I wrote.
• Outline it and bring your outline with you on Tuesday.

For that message, use this account --

• nlpettersen@gmail.com

If you don't hear back from me, assume that you've spelled my name wrong and try again!

People who do not meet requirements for the next four classes will not be allowed to take the test. They will either receive a grade of Repeat or and Incomplete, depending on how much work they have done so far.

Sample Essays

People asked for sample essays, so I'm posting a link. Look at the top of the LINKS list on the right of this page, and you'll see Sample Essays.

The second link is an on-line tutorial for the test. You can check it out & see if it's helpful. I'd suggest skipping down to the links marked "Planning Your Response" and "Writing Your Response."

I'll also start writing more samples for you. ;-)

See the post below for Thursday's assignment.

Assignment for Thursday 11/20

We brainstormed the following prompt for Thursday:

Your college has received a grant to improve the health of QCC students. Two proposals have been made. One is to make the entire campus a smoke-free area. The other is to expand the programs available through the health center. Write a letter to your school president advocating for one of the proposals.

I cautioned the class that most of the essays being written now would probably get a 6. Body paragraphs need MORE DEVELOPMENT.

Assignment for Tuesday 11/18

We did some important work on brainstorming, so plan on staying five or ten minutes after class to talk with me about it.

This is the new prompt:

Your college has devoted a fund of money to improving the safety of its students. Two proposals have been made. One is to install metal detectors in the entrance of each building. The other is to build a student parking lot close to the school buildings so students do not have to walk to their cars in the dark. Write to the college president advocating for the proposal that you believe would most improve the safety of you and your fellow students.

It's time to get serious about readiness for the test, so I've started marking people absent if they show up without an essay. So don't let that happen to you!

Assignment for Thursday 11/13

We analyzed an excellent sample letter written by a student and learned a lot from it, so be sure to ask me for it in class.

We also began brainstorming in actual test bluebook booklets. I'll show you on Thursday the format that we used.

IMPORTANT: If for any reason you are going to miss class Thursday, it is essential that you email me ahead of time about test sign-up dates.

Email me for the prompt for Thursday's essay.

Assignment for Tuesday 12/11

We did some grammar work and started a new prompt:

Your school has received a grant that provides money for improving the educational level of all students. Two proposals have been made. One is to hire more teachers in order to create smaller classes. The other is to develop a tutoring program in which more advanced students are trained to work with students in need of help. Write a letter to your school principal in which you argue for one of the proposals.

I assigned a new requirement for the body paragraphs. This will help you make your paragraphs more juicy:

• Topic sentence that simply states your first, second, or third reason
• 2 or 3 sentences in which you describe "What is the problem?" What's wrong? Why is this program needed?
• 3 - 4 sentences explaining why this reason will address or solve that problem
• more general sentence wrapping up the paragraph

If you'll follow that format for each body paragraph, you'll find that you have more juice. No, you aren't describing the same problem in each paragraph. In each case, the problem will be tied to the reason being discussed in that paragraph.

Email me if you have questions! Do not come to class without a typed completed essay. Extra credit for emailing it to me ahead of time.

A Great Writing Invitation

Check out the Transition Dialogue link on the right. It's an opportunity to speak publically about your concerns.

Assignment for Thursday 11/6

We have a new president!!!!!!!

I gave out a new prompt but I think it would be hard to do a good job on it without the discussion we had in class, so for Thursday, go back to the essay that was assigned for Tuesday and --

• find two things to improve, and
  
• write a paragraph reflection on what you changed and why.

I'll give you a little extra make-up for over the weekend. See you Thursday.

Assignment for Tuesday 11/4

Yes, we do have class on Tuesday! GO VOTE and come to class.

Here's the new prompt:
Your community has received a fund of money to be spent on improving the quality of life for all citizens. Two proposals have been made. One is to build a stadium with a stage for theater, music, and dance. The other is to create an exercise trail through the park. Write a letter to your city councilman urging him or her to vote for the proposal of your choice.

One thing we talked about in class:

• This is your world that you are inventing. You can create specifications like the exercise trail has a variety for exercises, some difficult ones for athletes, some accessible for children, some that could be done by seniors or people with disabilities . . . In other words, this is your world. Take it over.

We also talked about several types of arguments that could be used for a variety of prompts, for example --

• bringing diverse groups of people together. Remember, we live in Queens -- many national groups, many languages. You can always argue that people hang out with their own people so much that they are not getting to know each other, and public events can bring people together.
• reducing stress.
• health.
  
• improving the economy of the neighborhood. Any time you have an activity that gets people out, you have an opportunity to increase the numbers of people patronizing local businesses, which brings in more taxes that can be spent on improving the neighborhood, which brings in more business . . . .

If you're confident with organizing your body paragraphs, experiment with a counterargument. If not, stick to the positive arguments till you get good at them.

We analyzed two sample essays in class. Email me for them.

Assignment for Thursday 10/30

We worked on revising two sample letters. You can ask me for the handouts in class Thursday. We brainstormed a new prompt:

Your school has decided to devote a sum of money to increasing student retention. Two proposals have been made: One is to create student jobs in which any student who wants an on-campus job will be hired and trained. The other is to increase the number of hybrid courses in which the student has to physically attend class only one day per week and completes the second day’s work in on-line assignments and discussion groups. Write a letter to the president of the school in which you urge him to support one of these two proposals.

 

Note: A hybrid class is a combination between a traditional face-to-face class and an on-line distance education class. You come to class once a week; you do your work on-line once a week. The face-to-face classes can be smaller because half the students are working at home.

 

Follow the two suggestions below to take it to the next level.

 

Taking it to the next level:

1.  There is research that suggests that a key factor in student retention is students’ feeling of connection to the campus, both to faculty and to other students. Find a way to use that information to support your argument.

 

2.  Find a way to use the counterargument structure. Here are some starters.

 

The proposal to ______________ might seem like a good way to ______________. However,

 

Although the proposal to ________________ would (do something good), it would actually ______________.

 

Despite the benefits of the proposal to ___________, it would benefit a smaller number of students than the proposal to ____________,

Assignment for Tuesday 10/28

There will be no class Thursday of this week because I will be out of town.

The new assignment will be posted by noon tomorrow (Wednesday). Several of you have asked about my kitty. Thank goodness, she's recovering!

Assignment for Tuesday 10/21

We did extensive brainstorming in preparation for an ACT-style essay based on the following prompt: 

Your borough has received a large donation to improve the quality of life for area residents. Two proposals have been made. One proposal is to extend the subway system to reach more areas of the borough. The other proposal is to widen the major roads so that there are fewer traffic jams. Only one proposal can be put into effect. The borough president has announced that the final decision will be based on which proposal will most improve the quality of life for area residents. Write a letter to the borough president explaining how your choice will most improve the quality of life for area residents.

So the assignment for Tuesday is to write a letter based on that prompt. The letter needs to have an introduction, one or two well-developed paragraphs, and a conclusion. 

Email me for --

• two internet articles with supporting information for the essay.
  
• a sample student essay that we analyzed in class.

Assignment for Thursday 10/16

The schedule is crazy. There are no classes Thursday, and next Tuesday follows a Monday schedule, so I will not meet with you till Thursday 10/16. That's three days, so I'm giving a three-part assignment. Because the assignments are based on handouts, you'll need to email me so I can send them as attachments.

Do not come to class without having taken responsibility for contacting me and doing the work. Absence is not an excuse. 

Assignment for Tuesday 10/7

Organizing Ideas in Writing: Paragraph Unity

In class, we looked at strategies for organizing ideas, specifically 2-part and 3-part paragraph structure. You can email me for that handout or get it from me in class Tuesday.

Neighborhood Interview Essay

We gave feedback on the neighborhood interview essays that people had written. Specifically, we looked at strategies for creating "fatter juicier" paragraphs. Bring your essay on Tuesday, and we'll work with that.

Since the assignment was to develop revisions that we started in class, there's no new assignment for you. Simply come prepared with your typed essay on Tuesday.

Do come prepared.  Fair Warning: I am going to start marking people absent if they come to class without their assignment. Being a warm body in the classroom doesn't count. Doing the work counts.

Assignment for Thursday, 10/2 (NO CLASS ON TUESDAY 9/30!)

Neighborhood Interview Project

We are starting to get into a neighborhood project in preparation for the neighborhood prompt on the ACT. The assignment for Thursday is to act as a sociological researcher and interview three people who live in your neighborhood.

 In the posting just below this one, I’ve listed the many interview questions that the class came up with. 

On Thursday, you should bring with you --

• at least 2 full pages of interview notes (these can be handwritten)
• your typed report on your interviews

In your report --

Introduce your three people and give the reader an overview of the project

For each person, select three points that were --

• most important to them, and/or
• most interesting to you.

Report the information that each of  your people gave on those three points.

Conclude: What do the interviews tell us about the neighborhood?

See below for the interview questions brainstormed by the class. Feel free to add your own questions on topics that especially interest you or your interviewees.

Email me if you have questions! Absence is not an excuse for not doing assignments. Credit for assignments will be reduced by 25% for each day that they are late. 

Journal Topics

You can use this time to get caught up on your journal. I have posted a whole collection of suggestions in case you are having trouble getting started. At the top of this webpage, look to the right under Labels. The third link down is suggestions for journal topics. I will continue to add to this list.

Interview topics for Thursday 10/2

We brainstormed lots of interview questions. You don’t need ask them all! You would drive your interviewees crazy! But these questions will give you something to choose from and get you started.

 ·      how long lived in neighborhood           

·      occupation                       

·      demographics (ethnic groups, age groups, gender break-down . . .)

·      why you moved there

·      kids in school there?

·      quality of schools

·      opinion –

·      like the neighborhood?

·      safe?

·      taxes

·      real estate values

·      rules

·      cleanliness

·      noise

·      comparison with other neighborhoods

·      how it has changed

·      transportation/commute

·      local government

·      who

·      like/dislike

·      attractions/entertainment

·      churches, temples, mosques . . .

·      restaurants

·      quality of life

 You can go into detail on any of the subjects that you or your interviewees are interested in. Feel free to add questions of your own.

NO CLASS NEXT TUESDAY!!!

In honor of the Jewish holidays, there will be no classes next week on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. 

See postings below for assignments and journal topics.

Assignment for Thursday, 9/25, and thinking ahead

For Thursday, 9/25

Neighborhoods – Data Collection:

If you haven’t already done so, collect and bring in at least three neighborhood newspapers.

We’re going to start doing some thinking about neighborhoods. Bring in three items that represent something about your neighborhood.

Get caught up on your journal writing. I’m posting some topics on my blog if you need some ideas to get you going.

 

Thinking Ahead:  For Thursday, 10/2

Neighborhoods – Developing a Framework:

Imagine that someone from very far away has come to your neighborhood. You are their host. This visitor is a very curious person who wants to learn about this place. Imagine giving them a tour of your neighborhood. To what three places would you take this visitor?

Write a paragraph about each of the three places that you would take this visitor to. Each of your three paragraphs should have two parts:

o      Describe the item or place that you should show this person.

o      Analyze – why is that thing or place important enough to include in your top three choices?

 

Type. In order to really say something, you should have approximately a page (or more ;-). 

• Bring in your first draft and a revised version with corrections.
  
• Bring two copies of your final draft.
• Be sure to save a computer copy of each assignment. It will help you later!! 

Journal Topic Suggestions

I'm trying to come up with a lot of options to help you get moving in your journal. Keep checking in; I'll keep adding things.

Some people are doing great in their journals, but others are having trouble getting started, so I'm starting to post suggestions.         

• For this Thursday, aim to have at least 10 pages.
  
• However, if you have been stuck and are just getting started, try for 6. I'll help you get caught up. 

HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS:

TV & Internet

Watch Dancing with the Stars. Describe the dances. Evaluate them -- what score would you give them & why? Evaluate the judges. Do you agree or disagree with them?

Watch your favorite TV program or a movie. Describe the action as it happens. Evaluate the acting & the photography. 

Watch your favorite sport and describe the action. Put yourself in the shoes of a sports writer. What would a reporter say about this game?

Track down YouTubes of your favorite singer, dancer, actor, athlete. Again, describe as objectively as you can; then give your objective response.

Politics

Choose an issue or candidate to follow in the news. Follow a two-step structure: 

• Report the information that you have found. Evaluate the information: How reliable is it? How objective is your source?
  
• Discuss your subjective response to the information that you have found?

Women's Issues

I found a great PBS website entitled Women, Power, and Politics. It a number of topics, videos, and even a poll that you can vote in:

•   http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html (here's the poll)
•   http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/437/index.html (the larger website)

You as Researcher

Be a people watcher. Go someplace where there is a lot of human action. Write down what you see. You can reflect on it, or just stick to observations. We'll actually be doing some of this later as an assignment, but you can get started now if you would like.

Interview people about their lives: We'll brainstorm in class about questions that you could ask.

Write a family history. Choose a family member (or members) and tell their story. You can do some interviewing for this if you'd like.

Thinking Back

What do you miss -- or not miss -- the most about high school? 

Think about people who have been important influences on your life. Who are they? What did they do that mattered to you? What are their priorities and commitment?

GETTING PERSONAL

Write a letter to someone who did you wrong. Tell them what you think!! (You don't need to send it!)

Write a letter to someone who has contributed to your life in important ways. Describe their contribution and tell them what kind of difference it has made to you.

Be aware: If you want to write about personal topics, I don't need to read them!! I just want to see that you are scribbling the pages. You can show it to me from four feet away. If I see the pages filled with ink, they will count.

ACT Prep

Start thinking ahead to the ACT school-based topics. What needs were met, or not, in your high school: 

• Physical (health & safety)
• Relationship (friendship and belonging)
• Growth (free choices: intellectual, creative, spiritual, altruistic)

Assignment for Tuesday 9/23

Be sure to bring in 3 neighborhood newspapers. We will be analyzing them in class.

People who had already written their "texting" letter: 

1) Revise your letter based on the feedback that you received.

2) Write a reflection on 

• what you learned from your classmates
• what you changed in your revision and why

Note: Proofreading for grammar is not revision. Revision involves rethinking and reorganizing your ideas.

People who had not already written their "texting" letter:

Complete the letter for Tuesday.

Make sure that you have --

1)  an introduction that clearly states your thesis

2) 2 or 3 body paragraphs, each one --

•  containing a topic sentence that gives ONE reason for supporting your thesis
  
• developing that reason and not wandering to any other topic

3) a conclusion that sums up the argument and lets the reader know that you are wrapping up 

Write a paragraph reflection stating -- 

• what was easiest about writing the letter
• what was hardest
• what you learned

Assignment for Tuesday, September 16

1. Based on the analysis that you did in class, make three or more revisions to your original letter. Options:

-       clarify your thesis

-       create a more interesting introduction

-       clarify your topic sentences

-       add elaboration to a body paragraph

-       get rid of irrelevant information in a body paragraph

-       create a two-part or three-part structure in a body paragraph

-       revise your conclusion to include brief mention of the points you have made

-       add an action request to your conclusion

 

2. Write two paragraphs reflecting on your writing process.

-       first paragraph: reflect on what was easy and what gave you difficulty in writing this letter 

-       second paragraph: describe the revisions that you made

a.     what changes did you make?

b.     why did you make each one?

Submit –

-       your original draft

-       your revised version with your revisions highlighted

-       your typed two-paragraph reflection

 

Double space! Put your name at the top!

 

Thinking Ahead:  Neighborhood Newspapers for 9/23

Every neighborhood has some kind of local newspapers. You can find free ones in public places like laudromats. There are inexpensive ones in your local convenience stores. For Thursday, 9/23, you need to bring in three of these newspapers. Even though they are not due yet, it will be easier if you go ahead and get started now.

Assignment for Thursday 9/4

Our group writing project on Thursday will be based on a New York Times article, "Another Ali Enters the Ring." There are four writing options at the end. You can use them to fill up some of your 5 journal pages for this week.

Getting Started on Your Own Blog

First you need to set up a free Google account. 

Next, go to the blogspot starter page. You'll use your Google user name and password to sign in. Follow their set-up instructions:

• Give it a title.
• Give it an internet address. Click on the Check Availability link to make sure no one has already taken that name. Create a new one if it was already taken.
• Copy the weird verification letters into the box.
• Go to the next page and choose a design template. You can revise the colors and design to suit you later.

Your blog is set up! You can go ahead and experiment with posting now, or you can wait till we work on it together in class.

Comment on Comments

Over the course of the semester, you will be responsible for commenting on at least 12 postings on my blog and commenting on at least 12 of your classmates' postings. You will be responsible for printing them up to submit with your portfolio.

This is not texting! Make sure that you proofread for spelling and punctuation. You are presenting yourself to your classmates. Put on your best shoes!

Poem for Thursday 9/4

This is a Shel Silverstein poem.

You can add a comment to the poem: Have you ever done this?

Or you can write your own version:

You Took Away All the Oceans

Osip Mandelstam, who lived from 1891-1938, was sent to a Soviet concentration camp for his political views. His health broken, he died there. Three years before his death, he wrote,

You took away all the oceans and all the room.

You gave me my shoe-size with bars around it.

Where did it get you? Nowhere.

You left me my lips, and they shape words, even in silence.

You can create your own poem using the structure of Mandelstam's poem and post it as a comment.