Sunday Morning and Afternoon Completions

Hi Everyone,

Unlike what I thought, I wasn't able to focus on this type of work after my conference. I was on information overload and wasn't fresh enough to attack your posts.

I have to say that I'm checking some of the ones I've already previewed and can see that many of you have taken my suggestions to heart and really improved upon those reflections. Thanks for listening. DON'T forget to check your spelling! I know you want to be done with all this...I do get that but it is so easy to fix; don't get lazy on me now my friends :)

I'm up early getting into things and will post throughout the day as I get them done. I must say I still can't believe you are all moving onto a new course. I hardly know anyone in my new College Comp class and I will miss each of you. Thanks for a great semester and please come and visit me if you are near my classroom.

Done:

• Grant
• Taylor S.
• Tyler V.
• Andrew
• Cassie
• Dan A.
• Tyler G.
• Samantha
• Tim S.
• Marina
• Alex S.
• Garrett

Just to be clear...make sure you have the following completed for your final portfolio:

1. Letter to the Reader: Introducing the entire collection of entries and discussing what you learned about writing in College Composition this semester. Be sure to explain using the pieces and reflections as evidence.

2. Last Revision: This is the revised copy of the paper you wanted feedback on. I would also briefly reflect on it and what you think of the finished draft and explain the choices you made in updating this draft.

3. Final Revision Request for Feedback: This is the entry where you reflect on a piece you want feedback on from me and list questions for me to address. Your draft should be attached here.

4. Conclusions: There should be an entry where you drafted several conclusions for your 7 Deadly Sins paper. Be sure to introduce what the entry is about and to reflect on each of the revised conclusions. What do you think of each one? Which one is best? What about the feedback from your peers? What did you learn about writing conclusions?

5. Introductions: There should be an entry where you drafted several introductions for your Food Paper. Be sure to introduce what the entry is about and to reflect on each of the revised introductions. What do you think of each one? Which one is best? What about the feedback from your peers? What did you learn about writing introductions?

6. How-To Paper Reflection: You need to analyze and reflect specifically on your how-to paper but you don't need to revise it.

7. 7 Deadly Sins Paper Original: You need to reflect on your original draft and attach it.

8. Revised 7 Deadly Sins Draft: You need to revise your 7 Deadly Sins paper and reflect on it.

9-10. Food Paper: There may be 1 or 2 entries on this paper depending on the status of the original draft.

I hope this helps clear up any confusion.

Ms. Basko

And the rest WILL get done today...and tomorrow!

Here they are as I go on.

• Fred
• Eric
• Taylor D
• Dan H
• TR
• Matt R

Okay...I'm getting there.

I've got a conference to go to downtown tonight and tomorrow until about 2pm.  If I'm not too tired when I get back tonight, I'll do a few more but I've got to be up early to go back to the Hyatt in the morning.

Either way, I'll work on them again tomorrow when I get back from the conference in the afternoon. So for the people getting these back tomorrow:

Dan A, Andrew, Tyler G., Grant, Taylor S., Cassie, Marina, Samantha, Alex, Tim S., Tyler V., and Garrett...

feel free to take until Monday by 5pm if you need it.

Ms. Basko

More Revisions...

So far...

• Morgan
• Tim L.

I'll keep adding as the day goes on.

Ms. B

More Feedback

Hi Everyone,

Congratulations on the last day of your last first semester of high school!

I'm so happy for you all and I'm so happy with all of your hard work this semester. I've really enjoyed meeting and working with every single one of you!

Below are the people that now have revisions from me:

Kate
Jenna
Allie
Clara
Caroline
Megan

More on the way and I'll be working on these ALL day tomorrow!

Ms. Basko

Online Portfolio Letter to the Reader

Hi Seniors,

Only two more days of classes. I'm so happy with all of the work you've done and it was great to read so much outstanding work and reflection this last two days. Here are some guidelines for your letter to the reader of your portfolio. The letter should be at the top of your blog and the goal of the Letter to the Reader is to introduce the entire collection of work to the reader.

Begin by reflection on what you have learned this semester. You might discuss what you thought of yourself as a writer when you first signed up for class and what your self-perceptions of yourself as a writer were early in the course. How have you grown as a writer? What do you think are the greatest strides you've made? How do you know this? What pieces in your portfolio show this growth and learning?

Then take time to introduce each of the blog posts you did. What is significant about each? What do you want the reader of your portfolio to notice about each entry and what you learned?

The format for the letter to the reader is friendly in tone and should actually be in the form of a letter. You can create a unique title for the entry but then the text can actually begin with "Dear Reader," and it can end with a closing of some final thoughts and your signature as you would find it in a letter.

Let me know if you have any questions. I have a sample that I will share later but I only have a hard copy of it and will need to type it in for you. If you have done portfolios before, the format for the introductory letter to the reader is often the same.

Good Luck,

Ms. Basko

I'm Eating a Frog!

Okay, I'm slacking.

I read this book on procrastinating and it says in the introduction that if you begin each day by eating a frog, it will probably be the worst thing that happens to you all day long. Then it goes onto explain that if you want to stop procrastinating, you have to do the things you don't want to do first and get them out of the way. Don't get me wrong, its not like I don't want to read all your blogs...its just that the thought of it overwhelms me.

So, today, I'm eating not just one frog but about twenty-seven of them!

As I finish giving you feedback, I'll add your name to the list below until I'm all done. Remember to read all of my comments as I'm trying to give you as many last minute pointers as I can before the final drafts are submitted.

Wish me luck. The crunchy legs aren't too bad its just the warty slimy parts that I'm not finding very appetizing! Ugh...

Feedback Done:

Jenna
Kate
Allie H.
Tim L.
Clara

Happy Friday--Work Day and Rubric

Hi Everyone,

Today I want you to continue working. In looking through some blogs today I know that many of you have not yet finished proofing your work and leaving comments for your peers.

I am grading you on your peer comments. This will be one of the last grades you earn for this semester so don't ignore this assignment.

I am going to be handing out a rubric for the portfolio in class today. Please read through it and let me know if you have any questions. I will discuss the "Letter to the Reader" with you on Monday.

I will continue working through your blogs and leaving you feedback today in class and over the weekend. I am looking at each of your entries and will leave you feedback on any of them that I think you will want to work on prior to submitting your final portfolio to me for a grade.

As we discussed this week, your portfolios will be due on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Please email me when you have finished it so that I know when you are done working on it and I will access it then.

Good luck and keep up the great work!

Ms. Basko