English 3B Writing Assignment Help
This page will afford you useful information on how to properly complete the writing assignments for English 3B. I know that it can be a little difficult to locate all of the guidelines and be entirely clear as to what you are required to do for each writing assignment in this course. So, I will detail each assignment below so you can be sure you are completing each one successfully.
Find the table of Contents
If you're having some trouble locating the assignments, or if they are not unlocked quite yet, you can access them by going the following:
- Go to the Orientation tab
- Click on Table of Contents
- Navigate through the units there to find the assignment in question
Required Texts
- CLICK HERE for the American Short Stories anthology if you are looking for the short stories for the class.
- The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks; make sure you obtain this book before starting class!
Assignments
Click the links below to go directly to a specific assignment's resources.
D-Writing Assignment: A Spark
For the D-Writing Assignment: A Spark, the course directions state you are to do the following:
At this point you are not married to your research topic yet. You are in the dating stages, and if things are not going well, you can look for a new topic or give this one another chance. The work you are doing in this assignment is like dating your topic. You are seeing if you like it and if there is enough substance to take this topic further.
This assignment will give you a little preview of how the project will go and give your instructor enough information to guide you toward successful discovery.
Writing Assignment Worksheet
EXAMPLE
For help with editing and revising, go to the 6+1 Trait® Writing rubric.
This means that you are to download the .pdf file worksheet here and fill it out in its entirety. You may choose any research topic that you feel will yield a lot of strong research. You will use this worksheet to complete the D--Carry the Torch Writing Assignment. Be sure you review the grading rubric above to see how this will be graded.
At this point you are not married to your research topic yet. You are in the dating stages, and if things are not going well, you can look for a new topic or give this one another chance. The work you are doing in this assignment is like dating your topic. You are seeing if you like it and if there is enough substance to take this topic further.
This assignment will give you a little preview of how the project will go and give your instructor enough information to guide you toward successful discovery.
- Complete the chart that presents your overall research question and the series of questions you will explore in relation to the main question. This chart can be found on the Writing Assignment Worksheet. Feel free to add as many additional squares as you like in the middle levels. In addition, you may want to complete more than one chart if you are considering more than one topic or more than one direction in the same topic.
Writing Assignment Worksheet
EXAMPLE
- Use the graphic organizer included as part of the Writing Assignment Worksheet to complete at least 3 source cards on your topic. Source cards will be used to create your Works Cited page and help you assess how successful your research will be. Create as many source cards as you like.
- Submit your completed writing assignment (including: the topic table, the discovery questions drill down table, and at least five source cards) to the Writing Assignment: A Spark assignment link for grading.
For help with editing and revising, go to the 6+1 Trait® Writing rubric.
This means that you are to download the .pdf file worksheet here and fill it out in its entirety. You may choose any research topic that you feel will yield a lot of strong research. You will use this worksheet to complete the D--Carry the Torch Writing Assignment. Be sure you review the grading rubric above to see how this will be graded.
D-Writing Assignment: Carry the Torch
For D-Writing Assignment: Carry the Torch, the course directions state the following:
Now that the discovery process is nearly over, it is time to share the wealth. If you are interested in your topic, then others are going to want to know what you discovered. It is your duty in this age of information to carry the torch of knowledge forward for the benefit of others. In other words, you need to present your knowledge in a way that is convincing and appealing. Two ways professional researchers present their findings include.
For insight and help with effective writing guidelines that your teacher is looking for, read the 6+1 Trait® Writing rubric.
This means you are to choose one of the presentation options above and ensure you follow all the guidelines for it. Also make sure you carefully read the rubric to see how you will be graded. This is a major, 250-point assignment, so it will require significant work, research, and revision. Plan your work accordingly!
Now that the discovery process is nearly over, it is time to share the wealth. If you are interested in your topic, then others are going to want to know what you discovered. It is your duty in this age of information to carry the torch of knowledge forward for the benefit of others. In other words, you need to present your knowledge in a way that is convincing and appealing. Two ways professional researchers present their findings include.
- Submitting a written report that is published internally (to the company that paid for the research) or in professional publications.
- Delivering the report orally at a conference of others interested in the topic. These presentations may include visual props, demonstrations, or a PowerPoint presentation.
- Selecting one of the professional presentation methods below and organizing your information into ONE of these formats:
- Written Report. Students follow these guidelines:
- Length 4-6 pages (1000-1600 words)
- MLA formatting
- Works Cited page/Parenthetical citations
- Embedded quotations
- 2-dimentional enhancements (photos, charts, graphs, illustrations, maps, etc)
- Oral Report. Students follow these guidelines:
- PowerPoint slides 10-20
- Oral presentation length 4-6 minutes
- Verbal parenthetical citations
- Works Cited page (MLA formatting)
- 2 or 3-dimentional enhancements (audio, video, photos, charts, graphs, illustrations, maps, etc)
- Adding media enhancements to make your presentation interesting.
- Using embedded quotation with MLA citations in your presentation (a minimum of 5).
- Using paraphrased and summarized information with MLA citations.
- Having a Works Cited Page that uses MLA formatting.
- Select a professional presentation method (a written report, an oral report).
- Organize your information into one of the formats.
- Add media enhancements to make your presentation interesting.
- Use embedded quotes with MLA citations in your presentation (a minimum of 5).
- Use paraphrased and summarized information with MLA citations.
- Create a Works Cited Page that uses MLA formatting.
- Present your research to your peers by submitting to the Discussion: Fuel for the Fire link.
- Offer peer review to one of your peers and receive their peer reviews.
- Revising your presentation according to the peer reviews you received.
- Editing your presentation carefully.
- Submitting your project to the Writing Assignment: Carry the Torch assignment link for grading.
For insight and help with effective writing guidelines that your teacher is looking for, read the 6+1 Trait® Writing rubric.
This means you are to choose one of the presentation options above and ensure you follow all the guidelines for it. Also make sure you carefully read the rubric to see how you will be graded. This is a major, 250-point assignment, so it will require significant work, research, and revision. Plan your work accordingly!
M-Project: Poetry in Motion
For M-Writing Assignment: Poetry in Motion, the course directions state the following:
Turn on your radio, iPod, or Zune. Check out a new band, buy a CD, or open a browser window to Pandora radio. Music is all around us. We love to listen to it, sing with it, and dance to it. Go ahead and listen to your favorite song. Chances are it has lyrics. Go online and look up those lyrics. What do they look like on the page?
You got it? Lyrics and songs are...(wait for it)...poetry.
Poetry is not just words on the page. Poetry is also meant to be a hearing experience, a feast for the ears (and mind). Now that you have written a poem and read a poem from a peer, it’s time to take your poetry to the next level. You get to make your words sing. For the following activity, use the poem you wrote for the Poetic Justice Discussion.
This means that you are to take the poem you submit for the Poetic Justice discussion and record it. Ensure you post your recording, a text copy of your poem, and your explanation paragraph to the assignment link. Also, review the rubric above to see how this assignment will be graded before submitting it.
Turn on your radio, iPod, or Zune. Check out a new band, buy a CD, or open a browser window to Pandora radio. Music is all around us. We love to listen to it, sing with it, and dance to it. Go ahead and listen to your favorite song. Chances are it has lyrics. Go online and look up those lyrics. What do they look like on the page?
You got it? Lyrics and songs are...(wait for it)...poetry.
Poetry is not just words on the page. Poetry is also meant to be a hearing experience, a feast for the ears (and mind). Now that you have written a poem and read a poem from a peer, it’s time to take your poetry to the next level. You get to make your words sing. For the following activity, use the poem you wrote for the Poetic Justice Discussion.
- Read your poem out loud into a recording device. Record it several different ways: use different tones of voice, experiment with the dynamics (getting louder and softer), play music behind your poem, or read at different tempos. Be creative.
- Find the auditory/vocal performance that best fits with the meaning of your poem. Record it in Mp3 format.
- Examine the review(s) your peer(s) provided in the Peer Review Discussion.
- Revise your poem to make it stronger, more focused, more concise. Carefully consider the structure, sound, and figurative language you have used to improve your poem.
- Listen to your “audition” recording to see what you did well and what you can improve.
- Make a “performance” recording that really shows off your poem. You can either audio or video record your performance.
- Write a paragraph or two that describes your inspiration and why you decided to perform your poem the way you did.
- To ensure success, examine the Poetry in Motion Rubric to see what your teacher is looking for before you submit your work.
- Post your recording and a text copy of your poem and your explanation paragraph to the Project: Poetry in Motion assignment link for grading.
This means that you are to take the poem you submit for the Poetic Justice discussion and record it. Ensure you post your recording, a text copy of your poem, and your explanation paragraph to the assignment link. Also, review the rubric above to see how this assignment will be graded before submitting it.
N-Project: It's All in the Details
For N-Assignment: It's All in the Details, the course directions state the following:
Writers and filmmakers carefully select the details of their stories to give the audience insight into the characters and themes of their works. The more we understand the details, the more we can understand the work, and there is no greater tool for learning this concept than to teach it.
In this assignment, you are going to turn the tables and teach the details of The Sweet Hereafter. By now you have accomplished the following:
By now you have done the following:
For insight and help with effective writing guidelines that your teacher is looking for, read the 6+1 Trait® Writing rubric.
This means that you are to carefully do each of the above, and, after receiving peer feedback on your presentation, submit it to me via the assignment link. Be certain to choose an element from the novel and relate it to the text. Ensure you read the rubric here to see how your project will be graded!
Writers and filmmakers carefully select the details of their stories to give the audience insight into the characters and themes of their works. The more we understand the details, the more we can understand the work, and there is no greater tool for learning this concept than to teach it.
In this assignment, you are going to turn the tables and teach the details of The Sweet Hereafter. By now you have accomplished the following:
By now you have done the following:
- Searched the novel you read, The Sweet Hereafter, for a detail that you know something about or that you find intriguing. Possible topics to consider: The origin of the phrase “sweet hereafter”; demolition derby; county fairs; upstate New York (near Plattsburg); personal injury law; school bus accidents; recovering from the death of a child; small town relationships/life; paraplegia; legal depositions; perjury; AIDS; alcoholism; rehabilitation; Barbie dolls; etc.
- Taken your chosen detail out of the context of the novel and research it from a particular angle (technique, history of it, superstitions, modern day meanings, other place you might experience it, importance of it, any angle you can think of). Kept track of your sources with source cards.
- Built a PowerPoint presentation (8-12 slides with audio) about your detail that teaches your peers about that detail.
- Used Preview/Present/Review organization.
- Used a hook and a clincher to attract and keep the audience.
- Used images, illustrations, photos, etc. to make your slide show interesting.
- Used audio to present the material.
- Included the audio script in the “Notes” section of the PowerPoint presentation.
- Included a “Works Consulted” page (as the last slide) that lists your sources in MLA format (this is identical to a Works Cited page, but you gather info that is all paraphrased/summarized and integrated into the report rather than cited directly).
- Related the presentation back to the author’s choice of your chosen detail, and discussed the emotional impact that the detail gives to the scene or the story.
- Examine the reviews your peers provided.
- Based on the feedback, revise your presentation to make it stronger, more focused, more exciting. Carefully consider the images, script, and text on your slides.
- Listen to your recording (without looking at the slides) to evaluate your rate, enunciation, dynamics, and expression.
- Revise/edit the text of your script for active verbs, mature vocabulary, and correct punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and spelling.
For insight and help with effective writing guidelines that your teacher is looking for, read the 6+1 Trait® Writing rubric.
- Post your PowerPoint (with the Works Consulted page as the last slide) to the Project: It's All in the Details assignment link for instructor grading.
This means that you are to carefully do each of the above, and, after receiving peer feedback on your presentation, submit it to me via the assignment link. Be certain to choose an element from the novel and relate it to the text. Ensure you read the rubric here to see how your project will be graded!
CE-Writing Assignment: Five minutes of Fame
For CE-Five Minutes of Fame Project, the course directions state the following:
Open your favorite magazine or webzine.
A. Magazine like format You may choose to present your interview in a magazine-like format. You can choose the best parts of the interview to go with photos and add commentary before and after the interview. Example:
MovieWeb
Students: This article must be 500-750 words, written in script format. Before and after the article, you must include a paragraph of commentary and analysis that will spin the interview for the audience. You must also include a photo layout (2-5 pictures) that enhances the article visually.
B. Newspaper like format You may choose a newspaper-like format and make the subject (the interviewee) the focus of the story, embedding direct quotes from the interview into the text of the article. Some examples:
The Huffington Post
Students: This article must be 300-550 words, written in paragraph form with embedded quotes. The analysis/commentary is the focus, with the interview proving your points. At least 50% of the text should be direct quotes. Include a single photo to enhance the article visually.
C. Radio talk show like format You may choose a radio talk show-like format. You can present an audio recording of the interview with a spoken introduction and conclusion. Some examples:
Musician's Radio
Students: Audio interviews should be edited to be 3-5 minutes in length. You will be expected to include your commentary/analysis in the actual interview. Your focus and spin should be evident in the question you ask, how you respond to the answers, and how you phrase the questions. You must also include an introduction and a conclusion to the interview.
Once you have selected a format, you are ready to begin "spinning" the interview story into a finished project.
When you are done, submit your article, audio, or video recording to the Project: Five Minutes of Fame link.
To ensure success, read the grading rubric.
This means that you are to conduct your own, original interview of a person in a subculture and present it in one of the formats above. Make sure you review the rubric here to see exactly how you will be graded for this assignment. Also, ensure you read through the entire unit before submitting this assignment, as it includes a lot of necessary information!
Open your favorite magazine or webzine.
- Look for all the different ways interviews are conveyed to audiences.
- Think about how the writers/editors may have decided what to keep and what to edit out.
- Think about how all the questions seem connected or in a logical order. Do you think they were asked that way?
- Look and listen carefully for the analysis and commentary of the interviewer. Do they have an agenda or a message? What is it?
A. Magazine like format You may choose to present your interview in a magazine-like format. You can choose the best parts of the interview to go with photos and add commentary before and after the interview. Example:
MovieWeb
Students: This article must be 500-750 words, written in script format. Before and after the article, you must include a paragraph of commentary and analysis that will spin the interview for the audience. You must also include a photo layout (2-5 pictures) that enhances the article visually.
B. Newspaper like format You may choose a newspaper-like format and make the subject (the interviewee) the focus of the story, embedding direct quotes from the interview into the text of the article. Some examples:
The Huffington Post
Students: This article must be 300-550 words, written in paragraph form with embedded quotes. The analysis/commentary is the focus, with the interview proving your points. At least 50% of the text should be direct quotes. Include a single photo to enhance the article visually.
C. Radio talk show like format You may choose a radio talk show-like format. You can present an audio recording of the interview with a spoken introduction and conclusion. Some examples:
Musician's Radio
Students: Audio interviews should be edited to be 3-5 minutes in length. You will be expected to include your commentary/analysis in the actual interview. Your focus and spin should be evident in the question you ask, how you respond to the answers, and how you phrase the questions. You must also include an introduction and a conclusion to the interview.
Once you have selected a format, you are ready to begin "spinning" the interview story into a finished project.
When you are done, submit your article, audio, or video recording to the Project: Five Minutes of Fame link.
To ensure success, read the grading rubric.
This means that you are to conduct your own, original interview of a person in a subculture and present it in one of the formats above. Make sure you review the rubric here to see exactly how you will be graded for this assignment. Also, ensure you read through the entire unit before submitting this assignment, as it includes a lot of necessary information!
CV- Writing Assignment: Talk the Talk
For CV-Writing Assignment: Talk the Talk, the course directions state the following:
In this writing assignment, you are going to analyze a single story through the lens of two different types of analysis; review the two types in this chart.
Types of Criticism Table
Here is what you have already accomplished: 1. You have read and annotated one of the following stories from your American Short Stories anthology according to the guiding questions of reader response and historical criticisms.
- The Lottery (135)
- A&P (259)
- Miriam (147)
- The Wooing of Ariadne (299)
- Where Have You Gone Charming Billy? (337)
- Everything Stuck to Him (349)
2. Write a one-paragraph (minimum 10 sentences) analysis of the story for each of the two types of criticism.. For each paragraph, include:
- A hook.
- A brief summary.
- An arguable thesis related to the type of criticism and the theme of the story.
- At least 2 embedded/direct quotations from the text that support your thesis with a lead in and commentary for each.
- A thesis echo.
- A clincher.
4. Post your paragraphs to the Writing Assignment: Talk the Talk assignment link for instructor grading.
To ensure success, read the Writing Assignment: Talk the Talk rubric.
For help with editing and revising, go to the 6+1 Trait ® of Writing rubric.
This means that you are to choose one of the above stories from our American Short Stories (click here) Anthology and write two paragraphs regarding it, one in Reader Response Criticism and the other in Historical Criticism. Ensure you review the rubric above to see how this will be graded.
CV-Writing Assignment: Hear me roar
For CV-Writing Assignment: Hear Me Roar, the course directions state the following:
Every person on this planet has a unique story about his or her path or journey so far. Expressive writing is all about expressing the self, but the audience is important too. You need to find a hook and a central image to hold your readers. You need to make your experience matter to the audience. In this unit we have analyzed examples of expressive writing that reached out to us with humor, emotion, and deep truths. Now it is your turn to share your story. So . . . tell us about yourself! To do:
This means that you are to choose one of the above means of expression and follow all of the guidelines to submit your work. Make sure you take a look at the rubric here to see how this assignment will be graded.
Every person on this planet has a unique story about his or her path or journey so far. Expressive writing is all about expressing the self, but the audience is important too. You need to find a hook and a central image to hold your readers. You need to make your experience matter to the audience. In this unit we have analyzed examples of expressive writing that reached out to us with humor, emotion, and deep truths. Now it is your turn to share your story. So . . . tell us about yourself! To do:
- Select a means of expression for your finished story (choose one):
- A blog (At least five 100-word entries; submit the link to your instructor and invite your classmates).
- A humorous monologue/essay (You may video or audio record this [minimum three minutes] or submit it as a 300 to 500-word essay.).
- An emotional personal narrative (Submit it as a 300 to 500-word essay.).
- A series of poems (The poems must be first person, tied together thematically, and expressing real experiences. Review the poetry unit to avoid writing poems devoid of imagery and substance.).
- A letter (Choose someone to address the letter to, your birth mother, the grandmother you never met, your future self, your future children. 300 to 700 words).
- A journal (At least three 100-word entries. Avoid the temptation to chronicle your daily life unless your daily life is wildly unique and exciting. You must have a focus.).
- Decide upon a focus, central idea, theme, message, or unifying concept that tells readers about you.
- Decide upon an organizational pattern for your story (choose one):
- Linear plot development.
- Spiral plot development.
- Parallel plot development.
- Pyramid plot development.
- Write your story (minimum 300 words).
- Revise to add description, figurative language, dialogue.
- Revise for unity.
- Edit carefully for punctuation, spelling, capitalization, grammar, and usage.
- Submit your story to the Writing Assignment: Hear Me Roar assignment link for a grade.
This means that you are to choose one of the above means of expression and follow all of the guidelines to submit your work. Make sure you take a look at the rubric here to see how this assignment will be graded.