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State Writing Standards

Our class writing skills come from the Michigan Common Core State Standards. This year, we will be developing the following composition skills:
  • maintaining a sharp, focused thesis,
  • appropriately and skillfully incorporating relevant examples and support,
  • sustaining a logical organization
  • writing with command of stylistic aspects of composition (structure, diction, and voice),
  • using a variety of electronic and published sources to support assertions,
  • skillfully incorporating appropriate and scholarly sources,
  • seeking out reliable primary sources and conducting interviews/investigations in responsible manner,
  • applying an understanding of MLA conventions through correct use of parenthetical citations and a works cited page, and
  • successfully integrating quotations from outside sources.

Writer's Notebook
We begin class many days with a daily writing exercise. Students will keep a writer's notebook in which we brainstorm and draft our compositions.  Once you've gathered a variety of writing inspirations in your notebook, try the following ideas:
  1. Reread to dig out the best material.
  2. Experiment with new kinds of writing.
  3. Try to write something beautiful but don't expect all your writing to be great. Give yourself permission to write badly!
  4. Write about personal things--fears, nightmares, or dreams--that contain strong feelings.
  5. Write about writing.​

Where Can Students Publish?
Whether it's poetry, short stories, blogs, or news writing, check out some of these resources for writers:​

BOOKS:
  • Writing Toward Home: Tales and Lessons to Find Your Way by Georgia Heard is a beautiful reflection on the writing life and the process of finding home and voice in one's writing. Each chapter ends with a prompt to get you writing.
  • The Writing Life is Annie Dillard's reflection on the life and power of the writer. Known for her nature writing (notably Pilgrim at Tinker Creek), Annie Dillard's insights into writing are poignant and meaningful.
  • Poemcrazy by Susan G. Wooldridge is a wonderful resource for poetry writers, filled with reflections on writing and writing ideas for your own poetry.
  • The Market Guide for Young Writers, a book written by Kathy Henderson, includes market and contest listings as well as a section profiling nine published writers between the ages of 9 and 18. Also included are a glossary ("Words Writers Use"), an encouraging chapter on getting started, and a list of "Answers to Questions Young Writers Ask Most."
  • The Teachers and Writers Handbook of Poetic Forms is edited by Ron Padgett and is not only a wonderful resource regarding the various forms of poetry, but can also be used as a way to broaden your own writing style. Use it as a handbook of ideas.
  • The Norton Anthology of Poetry has been in print for many years and the latest is the fifth edition. Although this is an expensive text to buy brand new, there are many, many used bookstores that sell older, used editions. You can easily find this resource for under $10, and it is a must have for any poetry lover.

 WRITING PUBLICATIONS AND COMPETITIONS:
  • Teen Ink is an excellent publication sponsored by the Young Authors program. It is a web and print publication written by and about teens from all over the United States. You can submit essays, reviews, short stories, poetry, and artwork online.
  • The River of Words Project sponsors an annual, international, environmental poetry and art contest for children and teens. The contest's grand prize winners, students ages 5-19, receive a trip to Washington, D.C., where they are honored at an awards ceremony and public reading at the Library of Congress. Entry forms and complete rules can be found on their website.
  • Next Step Magazine is an online magazine for teens which sponsors an essay writing contest about the teen experience.
  • The Scholastic Art and Writing Contest, sponsored by Scholastic Publishers is open to students in grades 7-12. Contest information and entry forms can be found on the Scholastic website.​
  • Winning Writers is both a writing resource and a listing of writing contests. This site offers many helpful writing suggestions and interesting articles .
Click HERE to see the full collection 
of spaces that publish student writers.