Writing for high school...lost

[Holly IN]

Long time ago there was a thread that had a breakdown of what SWB writing was according to her audio cd and book (WTM).

 

I am trying to plan out writing for my senior son but I am getting confused and went here to find that thread.

 

I am in the Rhetoric part of the book.

 

It said to writing a one page summary for all great books read. However in another section there are literary writing projects.

 

Here is what I have written so far:

 

Pg 492 in book contexts section:

One page summary (#3).

 

then on page 493 compositions section:

#2 write about the text (can be in form of book report, evaluation, argumentive essay or anaylsis of book)

 

Then pg 502 Wrtiing projects

Research paper but only mentioned 9th and 10th graders. What about 11th and 12 th graders??

 

I thought there were persuasive papers they had to write as well.

 

Sorry I am confused but I can't find my notes or the thread that I know I posted long time ago.

 

This is using the 3rd edition Blue WTM book.

 

another question:

 

Literary anaylsis: Could you give me an example exactly how this assignment is supposed to go? I tell my son this and he is having a "duh what is that moment?" We even went to SWB Literary Analysis workshop in cincy. He said he understands it better but not sure what to write about. Had this problem back in spring. Now I want him to write several papers this year.

 

HELP!!

 

Thanks

Holly (who is doing a lot of planning this weekend)

[Holly IN]

Ok I finally found one thing I was looking for. It is in the main website under workshops/handouts. She has it broken down there.

 

However it doesn't explain the summary....does this stop in high school?

 

Also can you give me an example of what a persuasive paper is like in lit, history or science?

 

Still need help on lit anyl.

 

Thanks!

 

Holly

[Holly IN]

Help?

[Colleen in NS]

Long time ago there was a thread that had a breakdown of what SWB writing was according to her audio cd and book (WTM).

 

I am trying to plan out writing for my senior son but I am getting confused and went here to find that thread.

 

I am in the Rhetoric part of the book.

 

It said to writing a one page summary for all great books read. However in another section there are literary writing projects.

 

Here is what I have written so far:

 

Pg 492 in book contexts section:

One page summary (#3).

 

This isn't a summary of the book - it's a summary of the context info.. It's meant to be done before reading the GB. You are summarizing the context information (author info., events going on in author's lifetime, etc.), so that the book will make more sense. It's not meant to be formally written.

 

then on page 493 compositions section:

#2 write about the text (can be in form of book report, evaluation, argumentive essay or anaylsis of book)

 

This is done after reading the book. It can be done in several forms. It helps student to process the book.

 

Then pg 502 Wrtiing projects

Research paper but only mentioned 9th and 10th graders. What about 11th and 12 th graders??

 

Read to the end of that paragraph on p. 502 - it tells you that the 9th and 10th grade research papers will prepare the student for the 11th and 12th grade Specialist projects (which trace the *history* of something, which explains to me why, on p. 502, the Specialist projects are referred to) described in ch. 33. I finally figured this out just a few weeks ago. :D

 

And just to confuse you further (or maybe help :D) - after I figured the above out, I realized that the science section of WTM recommends doing research papers on science topics for all four years. It also refers you back to pp. 502-506 for info. on writing research papers. I suppose doing the 9th and 10th grade research projects followed by Specialist projects in 11 and 12, and doing science research papers all four years is the ultimate in high school history and science study. But I'm also thinking that you can mesh it all together, and do the "practice" research papers on historical OR scientific topics for 9th and 10th, and then do either/or (or any of the other Specialist project suggestions) for the Specialist projects in 11th and 12th.

 

I hope that's not overwhelming - your questions caught my eye because I was just sorting all this out in June/July. It helps me to see the Big Idea, so that I can intelligently pare it down to the individual needs.

 

I thought there were persuasive papers they had to write as well.

 

If you listen to the audio for high school writing, you will see that persuasive papers can be done for lit., history, or science. She recommends these being done a few times per week.

 

Sorry I am confused but I can't find my notes or the thread that I know I posted long time ago.

 

This is using the 3rd edition Blue WTM book.

 

another question:

 

Literary anaylsis: Could you give me an example exactly how this assignment is supposed to go? I tell my son this and he is having a "duh what is that moment?" We even went to SWB Literary Analysis workshop in cincy. He said he understands it better but not sure what to write about. Had this problem back in spring. Now I want him to write several papers this year.

 

The lit. analysis audio gives examples of questions you can ask of the GB. But I have to say, Writing With Skill helped me better understand the basic gist of literary analysis...I can't be much help at the moment with high school level lit. anal.

 

ETA: Now my mind is perking, trying to make the connection between the WWS explanations of how to identify the protag./antag./conflict/how to write about those in a composition, and the prompt questions given in the audio....

Edited August 13, 2012 by Colleen in NS