WRITING Assignments:

* Go to  the WRITE SOURCE web link at Sidebar on my wikispace.  (Great ideas & helpful hints.)

Write  a  narrative about your holiday break (at least two pages handwritten).

Write an expository essay on the importance of learning Mathematics.

Write:      reading summaries 

                 interactive bookmarks with main idea, characters, setting 

                 literature maps in preparation for Book Projects

Write      a persuasive essay to your teachers asking for a week without homework.

Weekly writing assignments will be given in class relating to curriculum topics as appropriate.

FOR EACH ASSIGNMENT:  (USUALLY)

Brainstorm and write a plan.

Write and edit your rough draft...peer editing works well here.

Be ready to present your final draft the following week. 

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** 

Research Skills  and Reference Materials 

- Remember to use a dictionary and/or thesaurus for definitions and synonyms or antonyms to use in your writing. 

- Dictionary entries will have the correct spelling of the word, the origin of the word, the pronunciation of the word, its part of speech and any other forms of the word.

- A thesaurus will give you  synonyms of the word with meanings that are similar; a thesaurus also gives you antonyms or opposite meanings of the word.

- An encyclopedia gives you a brief explanation of the topic you are researching and, if it is an online encyclopedia, often has links to cross-reference related topics.

- Another good place for finding information is the World Wide Web or Internet, but you should always use the internet with adult supervision.

- Whether you are using the internet or any other reference materials, ALWAYS paraphrase what you read.  Write the information in your own words, so that you will not be accused of plagiarism, which is copying someone else's words and not giving them credit. 

*************************************************************************************************************************************************