October 1 - Conventions
WARM-UP:
Using your 6+1 Rubric, read the essay below entitled "The Hill." Individually (or with a partner), decide which of the 6+1 traits is the strongest in the essay and decide which trait is the weakest. You may choose Ideas, Organization, Voice, Sentence Fluency, or Word Choice.
Type your answer on your iPad. Both responses (strongest and weakest) must be explained in at least TWO sentences and you must provide a direct quote (an entire sentence or phrase) to support your opinion. Be ready to discuss your answer with the class!
Using your 6+1 Rubric, read the essay below entitled "The Hill." Individually (or with a partner), decide which of the 6+1 traits is the strongest in the essay and decide which trait is the weakest. You may choose Ideas, Organization, Voice, Sentence Fluency, or Word Choice.
Type your answer on your iPad. Both responses (strongest and weakest) must be explained in at least TWO sentences and you must provide a direct quote (an entire sentence or phrase) to support your opinion. Be ready to discuss your answer with the class!
Warm-Up Essay: "The Hill"
There is an old hill on my Grandma's property. The hill is grown over with grass, dead stinging nettles, and skunk cabbage. There is an old grown over rickety bridge that you have to jump off of to get safely to the ground because blackberries block the way. After the bridge, you have to walk through matted, dead grass. Then you get to an old cedar tree. You cut through the small trail around the cedar tree to get to the road-like flat, slanty path to the field. you sneak through the long dead grass. Finally, you reach the fence. Be careful not to let the big white dog see you looking at the horses! (He thinks he owns and is guard of the fence and things on both sides of it.) For a better view, go to the funny-shaped tree. It works as a good lookout, and a safe place where the neighbor dogs can't get you, no matter how hard they jump. From the tree you can see a lot: my Uncle's horses, the Nooksack and Breckenridge creeks, the place where they creeks met together, the trail, two bridges, the neighbor's house, Mr. L's cows, and many trees and fields. When you are done looking around (and when the coast is clear of the big white dog), you can jump down and head for the trail that my mom made and used when she was little. I'm not sure how it is possible that the trail is still there, but I think coyotes, deer, possum, skunk, rabbits, mice, and snakes use it and keep it there. Be careful when you go down because if you are behind someone pesky, pushed-aside branches will slap you in the face. When you get to the waterside, sit down and listen to the rushing, slurping sound of water, the birds chirping, and watch for animals. If you stay still and quiet the animals will relax, come out of hiding, and the birds will start chirping. Walk back to the big cedar tree, wander eastward, up the bushy hill, and you will find yourself in the cemetery. If you don't want to go there, go west and take a swim in the icy water (if you don't freeze), and when you are really cold, dry off. If you want, catch a couple of crawdads. Then go home, fry your crawdads, eat them, and think about your day on the hill. |