Autobiographical Writing Instructions

Happy…Tuesday…
Turn in syllabus * Supplies DUE TOMORROW *Tomorrow: MEET IN
CLASSROOM bring BBB
Follow these instructions:
 Computer
 I Drive
 Buffa
 Autobio CFA
◦ Follow directions to take “Autobio Incident CFA” – do your best 
◦ * For Question 12* Download file, right click on page and hit “rotate clockwise.”
 After Test:
◦ Letter to Mrs. Zig! – Due tomorrow
◦ Letter must include:
 Date
 Greeting
 One paragraph introducing yourself with info about you 4-6 sentences
 One paragraph discussion your reading and writing skills (strengths,
weaknesses, likes, dislikes, etc.) 4-6 sentencews
 One paragraph discussing your future. What are your post high school and
career goals? What are your dreams and hopes for the future? 4-6
sentences
 A closing
 A space to sign your name before you type your name
◦ Print and sign letter, then work on other homework quietly

Happy Monday!
 Turn in syllabus
 Turn in “3 Things” Notecard
 Binder Check
Follow these instructions:
 Computer
 I Drive
 Buffa
 CAII Quia Instructions
 Take “Autobio Incident CFA” – do your best 
 After Test:
◦ Finish “Letter to Miss Buffa” DUE TOMORROW!
◦ Work on other homework quietly

Your first writing assignment
 Write me a letter about: (1 paragraph – 4-6
sentences – on each of the following)
1. Explain who you are to me. What kind of a person
are you? What do you like or not like? What sort of
“footprint” or impact do you want to leave behind
after you leave high school?
2. What path (college? vocational?) are you headed on
and how prepared or unprepared are you? Do you
know what you want to do when you “grow up?”
3. Who do you think you will be in three years? Where
do you think you’ll be? What do you hope to achieve
between now and then?
Use letter format (today’s date, Dear Miss Buffa, a
thoughtful letter, and a closing including Sincerely,
and your name)

Happy Monday!
Please have out the following:
• Big blue book
• Signed syllabus – turn in
• 3 Things Notecard – turn in
• Something to write with
• Notebook and/or paper
TODAY:
• Turn in “3 Things” Notecard
• Intro Autobiography Unit
• Is it an autobiography?
• “Fish Cheeks” by Aunt Amy Tan

Autobiographical
Writing
What is narrative writing?

RECALL or PREDICT
1. What is the definition and/or
characteristics of an “autobiography?”
characteristics of a “narrative?”
characteristics of a “memoir?”

Characteristics of a
narrative
1. A true (non-fiction)
account from one
narrator, written in
first-person P.O.V.

narrative
2. Must be in-depth
look at ONE specific
incident or a series of
related incidents.

narrative
3. IT IS WRITTEN IN
PAST TENSE. The piece
is always reflective –
looking back to the past
and recounting SPECIFIC
DETAILS of what
happened.

narrative
4. THEME. A new
understanding or
insight is gained; a
lesson is learned, re-
learned, or reinforced.

narrative
5. Conversational
voice…the reader of
the memoir feels
spoken to.

narrative
6. Includes an
appropriate
establishment of tone
(attitude of the
author)

Voice and Tone
Voice =
PERSONALITY STYLE
TONE = ATTITUDE
…is a writer’s unique use
of language that allows
a reader to “hear” a
human personality in
his/her writing.
 Sentence structure
 Diction (word choice)
 Imagery
 Use of characters and
dialogue
…is the attitude a writer
takes toward a subject.
Details that help to create
a tone that might be:
 Playful
 Serious
 Bitter
 Angry
Tone reflects the feeling of
the AUTHOR. While
identifying tone, think of
an ADJECTIVE describing
an EMOTION.

Make a T-Chart:
Is the following a memoir?
Reasons it could be: Reasons it can’t be:
 List at least 2-3  List at least 2-3

“Radioactive” Imagine Dragon
I'm waking up to ash and dust
I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust
I'm breathing in the chemicals
I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse
Whoa
I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my systems blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive
I raise my flags, don my clothes
It's a revolution, I suppose
We're painted red to fit right in
Whoa
I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse
Whoa
All systems go, sun hasn't died
Deep in my bones, straight from inside

“Mean” Taylor Swift
You, with your words like knives
And swords and weapons that you use against me
You have knocked me off my feet again
Got me feeling like I'm nothing
You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard
Calling me out when I'm wounded
You picking on the weaker man
You can take me down with just one single blow
But you don't know, what you don't know...
Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
Why you gotta be so mean?
You, with your switching sides
And your wildfire lies and your humiliation
You have pointed out my flaws again
As if I don't already see them
I walk with my head down
Trying to block you out 'cause I'll never impress
you
I just wanna feel okay again
I bet you got pushed around
Somebody made you cold
But the cycle ends right now
'Cause you can't lead me down that road
And you don't know, what you don't know...
Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
Why you gotta be so mean?
And I can see you years from now in a bar
Talking over a football game
With that same big loud opinion
But nobody's listening
Washed up and ranting about the same old bitte
things
Drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing
But all you are is mean

Journal #1 (on separate sheet, to
be turned in please )
 Briefly describe your family at home.
Who lives there, how/why are they
important to you?
 What is something about your family you
are proud of? Explain.
 What is something about your family that
may sometimes cause you
embarrassment? Explain.

“Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan pg 184
1. Point of View:
2. Specific Incident:
3. Is it reflective? (explain how we know):
4. Theme:
1. Remember, themes cannot be cliché or have
character names in them!
5. Describe the narrator’s voice (use
examples from the text):
6. Describe the narrator’s tone (use

It’s…Tuesday…
• Big blue book
• “Fish Cheeks” Homework from last night
• Something to write with
• Notebook and/or paper
TODAY:
• Recap Narrative Characteristics
• “Fish Cheeks” by Aunt Amy Tan
• “Getting a Job” by Aunt Maya
Angelou due tomorrow
• Your own song analysis…due
Wednesday

Recap: Narrative
 What are the six characteristics of a
narrative?

Is it a narrative?
 Is usually written in first-person POV and
is non-fiction.
 Must be in-depth look at ONE specific
incident.
 The piece is always written in past tense
and reflective –looking back to the past
and recounting SPECIFIC DETAILS of what
happened.
 THEME. A new understanding or insight is
gained; a lesson is learned, re-learned, or
reinforced.
 Has clear, conversational voice.
 Has an appropriate establishment of tone.

Journal #1
Reflect on a time where you felt like you were
treated unfairly.
 Explain the incident. What happened? Who
treated you unfairly? Why?
 What was your attitude and reaction to this
mistreatment? Describe the way it made you
feel in detail.
 How did you resolve this conflict? Would you
have done it differently if you could do it over
again?

“Getting a Job” by Aunt Maya pg 411
1. Point of View:
2. Specific Incident:
3. Is it reflective? (explain how we know):
4. Theme:
1. Remember, themes cannot be cliché or have
character names in them!
5. Describe the narrator’s voice (use
6. Describe the narrator’s tone (use

Is it a narrative? Homework
 Find an appropriate (for school…must have
appropriate language and content please!)
story, song lyrics, or a poem to evaluate the
characteristics of a narrative.
 Print out the story, lyrics, or poem (I must
have this, so I can understand your
evaluation!)
 On your given sheet of paper, fill in the T-
Chart (like we did Monday) explaining why it
could or could not be a narrative.
 BE SPECIFIC and use examples from the
story, song, or poem on your t-chart.
 Due Thursday at the beginning of the hour 

Happy Thursday 
 Homework from last night: choose your own
song/story/poem for narrative characteristic
analysis
 Big Blue Book
 Something to write with
 Paper
 
TONIGHT: Study characteristics of a narrative!
Be able to define and give examples of each!

Journal #2
Think about your personal experiences with love
and relationships.
 Define what love is in your own words. Do you
think your definition of love is the same or
similar to others’? Why or why not?
 When you think about past relationships you
have been in, or ones your friends have been in,
what tone or attitude comes to mind?
 According to your experiences and those you
know around you, how do you think a healthy
relationship works? What are the qualities
essential for a relationship to work out?

Defining “Love”
Think about your personal experiences with
love and relationships.
 Use your scissors and construction paper to
make a heart.
 On the front: Define what love is in your
own words. Use a marker so it can be read!
 On the back: Write your name.
 On the back: Respond to this: Do you think
your definition of love is the same or similar
to others’? Why or why not?

 Narrator: How do we know?
 Specific Incident:
 Reflective: How do we know?
 Theme:
 Voice:
 Tone:
“From Love and Marriage”
by Uncle Bill Cosby pg 357

Tonight’s Homework!
 Finish “From Love and Marriage” and fill out the
characteristic chart for the story.
 STUDY the characteristics (and their definitions of a
narrative!
 Is written in first-person POV.
 Has 1st person pronouns (I, me, my, we, us, etc.)
 Must be in-depth look at ONE specific incident.
Is about ONE incident or a series of related incidents.
 The piece is always written in past tense and reflective..
Past tense verbs will be present, or the narrating is reflecting.
 THEME. A new understanding or insight is gained; a lesson is
learned, re-learned, or reinforced.
Life lesson. Universal statement. Not cliché.
 Has clear, conversational voice.
Voice is the personality of the writer. It is expressed as a
characteristic trait.
 Has an appropriate establishment of tone.
Tone is the attitude of the author. It is expressed as an
adjective and emotion.

Happy FRIDAY!
 Big Blue Book (for later, not on desk)
 (you will need one sheet of paper for
later)
 Homework from last night on “Love and
Marriage”
 EVERYTHING else cleared off of your desk
 

QUIZ: Narrative Characteristics

Letter to a Teacher due Monday!
Must have the following:
 Date
 Salutation w/proper punctuation
 Well, thought-out paragraphs about
a) reintroducing yourself, what you’re doing now, what
subject, class and year they taught you. What you
remember from your time with them.
b) how the teacher impacted you positively…BE SPECIFIC.
Explain specific incidents where he/she went out of
his/her way to help you. Include information from your
brainstorm sheet!
c) a thank you to the teacher for his/her positive influence
on your life and why you’ll always remember/be grateful
for this teacher.
 Closing w/proper punctuation
 Your actual signature (in pen)

Sample Letter Format
August 23, 2013
Dear Mr. Name,
First paragraph – reintroducing yourself
Second paragraph – specific reasons why
he/she impacted you so much.
Third paragraph – final thank you.
Sincerely,
Signature
Printed First and Last Name
*TRY TO MAKE THE LETTER AT LEAST ONE PAGE
HAND-WRITTEN. REMEMBER TO BE SPECIFIC AND
ELABORATE ON YOUR THANK YOU!

Addressing your Envelope
Upper Left-hand corner write (neatly!):
Your Name (first and last)
Liberty North High School
1000 NE 104th St.
Liberty, MO 64068
In the middle of the envelope, write (neatly):
Mr./Mrs. First Name Last Name
School they currently teach at and/or address

You don’t have to write this down,
but you do need to make sure you
know this…
“The Teacher Who Changed My Life” pg. 484
 Narrator:
 Reflective? How do we know?:
 Voice:
 Tone:
 Theme:

Happy Monday!
 Letter to a teacher – turn in now please
 ½ sheet of paper
 
YOU WILL NEED YOUR BIG BLUE BOOK,
BUT PLEASE SET IT ON THE FLOOR UNTIL
OTHERWISE INSTRUCTED TO DO SO 

“The Teacher Who Changed My Life” pg. 484
 Narrator:
 Reflective? How do we know?:
 Voice:
 Tone:
 Theme:
 You cannot use your book, so you will not
need quotes, but you do need SPECIFIC
DETAILS from the story to support each
characteristic 

ANALYZING THE 6
CHARACTERISTICS OF AN
AUTOBIO…
As a group, you will recap the autobiography
stories we read in class. As you are looking
back at these stories, decide as a group your
favorite portrayal of each characteristic and
why that author did it well or not-as-well as
others.
Remember to:
 BE SPECIFIC
 USE CORRECT PUNCTUATION
 REFER TO YOUR NOTES
 RESPECT TIME…PRESENTATIONS DUE
TOMORROW.

The Good and The Bad
Stories to choose from:
 “Fish Cheeks” (Tan 184)
 “Getting a Job” (Angelou 412)
 “From Love and Marriage” (Cosby 357)
 “The Teacher That Changed My Life” (Gage 484)
Characteristics to Analyze: make sure you are
using ample evidence (via quotes AND examples)
to prove your opinion!
1. Use of First Person
2. Use of Specific Incident
3. Use of Reflection Techniques
4. Use of Voice
5. Use of Tone
6. Overall Theme

1st Hour Groups
1. Joe, Matt, Emma, Emily
2. Lauren, Ian, Celeste, Madi
3. Cailey, Shane, Baileigh, Brooklyn
4. Mattea, Kammi, Allie D., Payton
5. Alynah, Lily, Maggie, Ali G.
6. Britney, Alyssa, Kelsey, Lindsey

3rd Hour Groups
1. Chris, Nathan, Colton, Nic
2. Brook, Sarah Y, Danielle, Sage, Stevie
3. SP, Taylor, Caleb, Jacob
4. Christa, Rachel, Claire, Ashlyn
5. Hannah, Abby, Annie, Maddy
6. Kala, Lily, Kaylee, Kenzie, Grace
7. Devon, Alex, Dillon, Brett

It’s…Tuesday…
 Big blue book
(TODAY IS THE LAST DAY YOU NEED
YOUR BIG BLUE BOOK FOR AWHILE )
 Presentation materials from yesterday (be
ready to present!)

For Your Presentation
SPEAKING:
 Presentation must be organized. ALL members
must have a speaking part. Speak clearly, make
eye contact (don’t just read from your sheet).
LISTENING:
 Audience member is practicing ACTIVE
LISTENING: not on phone or working on other
homework, not making disruptions, taking notes
as others present.
ANALYSIS: SPECIFIC comparisons, contrasts,
and analysis of characteristics are made. Several
works are quoted and cited, connections and
contrasts are made.
Be prepared to turn in your presentation sheet
immediately after your presentation 

PURPOSE
What was the purpose of this group work and
presentation?
 Revisit the 6 characteristics
 Evaluate the 6 characteristics: yes, they are
all there, but how well are they portrayed
 Recognize the 6 characteristics in your own
writing, and figure out how to better the use
of the characteristics YOU use!
 Soon, we will be writing our own autobio
papers, and we want to write them WELL.
 YOU WILL BE EVALUATED ON THE 6
CHARACTERISTICS 

AUTOBIO PROJECT
Now that you have read what I wanted you to
read, you get to pick an autobiography of your
choice!
As you read your memoir of your choice, you will
do the following:
 Read a memoir novel of your choice
 Keep a detailed journal about the memoir over
the following:
◦ Narration and Dialogue
◦ Reflection over a specific incident
◦ Voice
◦ Tone
◦ Theme
 Present your memoir analysis to the class

Schedule
 Wednesday, 8/28: Meet in LMC. Book Pass. Practice writing memoirs.
 Thursday, 8/29: Meet in LMC. Check out Book. Begin Reading. YOU MUST
HAVE YOUR BOOK BY THURSDAY 
 Friday, 8/30: Meet in Classroom. Discuss project in detail. Continue reading
and begin Journal #1.
 Tuesday, 9/3: Meet in Classroom. Notes on Dialogue. HW: Journal #2.
 Wednesday, 9/4: Meet in LMC. Practice with Dialogue. HW: Journal #3.
 Thursday, 9/5: Meet in LMC. Do you know Dialogue? Introduce Paper and
begin brainstorming. HW: Journal #4.
 Friday, 9/6: Meet in LMC. Continue Rough Draft. HW: Journal #5.
 Monday, 9/9: Meet in classroom. RD of Autobio Essay is Due. HW:
Finalize Presentation.
 Tuesday, 9/10: Meet in classroom: ALL PRESENTATIONS DUE. HW:
Finalize Rough Draft.
 Wednesday, 9/11: Meet in classroom: continue presentations. HW: Finalize
Rough Draft.
 Thursday, 9/12: Meet in classroom: continue/finish presentations. HW:
Finalize Rough Draft.
 Friday, 9/13: Meet in classroom. Finalized Rough Draft Due.
Turnitin.com. Last day to work on paper.
 Monday, 9/14: Paper due at 8:00 AM.

Revise: Letter to a Teacher
Review your “Letter to a Teacher”
 Look through Ms. Zig’s edits.
 Rewrite NEATLY, changing what Ms. Zig
corrected.
 Re-turn in to Ms. Zig with corrections and
envelopes.
◦ Left Hand Corner: Your first and last name,
then your address or the school’s address
underneath
◦ Middle of Page: Mr. First and Last Name, then
their address or school underneath.
 FINAL DUE: FRIDAY, 8/30. Please turn in
with envelope AND Rough Draft 
 MAKE SURE TO GET ADDRESS by then!

Happy FRIDAY!
 Your autobio novel
 The autobio schedule (given to you Tuesday)
 Notebook and/or sheets of paper
 Letter to a teacher – Please turn in now
◦ Envelope
◦ Rough Draft
◦ Final Draft

Autobio Memoir Journals
Purpose:
 To help you keep track of the characteristics you read and the
quotes you come across as you are reading.
Format:
 You have 5 Journals to write. You can write them in any order, but
you must have the following for each journal:
◦ The Date
◦ A label with its # and its content (Theme, Voice, etc.)
◦ AT LEAST THREE QUOTES for each journal entry, correctly cited
with page number.
◦ ½ a page written analysis over the characteristic it falls under.
◦ YOU WILL TURN THESE IN WITH YOUR PRESENTATION 
Presentation: due Tuesday, 9/10
 Intro with brief synopsis of the author and novel
 Overview of each of the 6 characteristics WITH quotes (an overview
of what you wrote for each journal entry)
 Some kind of prop or visual

Practice Writing the Characteristics of a Memoir
Label your sheet #1:
 Free-write about your greatest success or
biggest achievement.
◦ Focus on one incident, and describe it in
detail.
◦ Tell the details from your personal
reflection and Point of View.
◦ What did you learn from this
experience?
◦ Choose one you feel comfortable sharing
with someone else.
◦ 

Practice Writing the Characteristics of a Memoir
Read your partner’s #1. Evaluate:
 Point of View:
◦ Circle 10pronouns used. Star if written in 1st person: “I,” “me,”
“my,” “us,” “we,” etc.
 Focusing on ONE incident:
◦ At the bottom of the page, write a one sentence summary of
what the author is writing about. Put a happy face if it focuses
on one incident. Put a sad face if it is not focused, and explain
why.
 Reflection:
◦ Underline 20 verbs. Put stars next to the verbs in past tense.
Circle any that are not and need to be.
 Voice:
◦ At the top of the paper, write “PERSONALITY” and list 3
personality traits you “got” from reading the paper.
 Tone:
◦ On the left hand side of the margin on the paper, write
“ATTITUDE = EMOTION + ADJECTIVE.” Then, write any attitude
you felt from the author. Is one consistent throughout? Does the
tone change? Explain underneath your “tone equation.”
 THEME:
◦ Highlight or circle ANY evidence from the paper that portrays
THEME. Then, at the end of the paper, write what YOU BELIEVE
the lesson learned is.

Have a good, EXTRA-DAY weekend
Over the weekend…
 Read your novel
 Begin journal writing.
◦ The Date
◦ A label with its # and its content (Theme,
Voice, etc.)
◦ AT LEAST THREE QUOTES for each journal
entry, correctly cited with page number.
◦ ½ a page written analysis over the
characteristic it falls under.
◦ YOU WILL TURN THESE IN WITH YOUR
PRESENTATION 
 REMEMBER…ALL PRESENTATIONS ARE DUE
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10.

“A Life Lesson”
 Narrator:
 Reflective? How do we know?”:
 Theme:
 Voice:
 Tone:

THEME Checklist
Theme:
 a life lesson or moral of the story.
 should be stated in a complete sentence.
 should not be cliché.
 should not have any character names in it.
 should be a lesson YOU learned, but also more general so it comments
on a universal message about human nature.

MLA Paper Format
Student Name
Teacher Name
Class Name
Due Date
Joe Schmo
Ms. Zicarelli
Advanced Communication Arts II
20 September 2012
• Upper Left Hand Corner of the Paper
• NOT a header

Paper Format
 After MLA format, enter once.
 Type your Titled, Centered
 Enter once for paper
 All papers should be double spaced, 11-12 pt
font, Times New Roman, Arial, and Calibri are
only acceptable fonts
 Insert Last name and Page Number on the upper
right hand corner of every page.
◦ Insert. Header. Page #. Type last name before page
number.
◦ Example
 Zicarelli1

Example
Schmo 1
Joe Schmo
Mrs. Zicarelli
Advanced Communication Arts II
20 Septemeber 2012
Title of My Paper
The first paragraph of my paper starts here; it is
wonderful and double-spaced and is going to get an “A” for
sure! Ms. Zig is going to love it and think I’m smart!

And now…
 Now that you have your paper set
up…being your rough draft!
 Use your time wisely…the rough draft is
due Wednesday!
 You MAY listen to music as your work
(quietly) BUT you must be working!
 YOU CANNOT check email or play games.
RESPECT TIME and work on your paper!
 

Happy Thursday! 
 Please have out your completed
Brainstorm Sheet from Friday.
 Please clear your work area of everything
else.
 REMEMBER: Respect property: do not
have any food or drink by the computers
per LMC rules!

TODAY: 9/6
 SRI Test
◦ Go to the icon that says “Computer” on your desktop
◦ Double click on the “I” Drive
◦ Find the folder that says “Buffa”
◦ Open up “SRI Test Instructions 2012” Document
◦ Read and follow instructions
 After SRI Test
◦ REMAIN QUIET!!! Others are testing!
◦ Review Rubric/Requirements
◦ Continue typing rough draft (due TOMORROW AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE HOUR)
◦ If done early, have a partner SILENTLY look over your rough
draft to edit for errors. Make this rough draft AS PERFECT as
possible.
 Due tomorrow:
◦ COMPLETE rough draft, stapled together, with 2 peer edits
due AT THE END OF THE HOUR.
 Meet on left side of LMC tomorrow

Today – 9/6
 Review Rubric/Requirements
 Continue typing rough draft (due TOMORROW AT
THE BEGINNING OF THE HOUR)
 If done early, have a partner quietly look over
your rough draft to edit for errors. Make this
rough draft AS PERFECT as possible.
RESPECT TIME: What you don’t get done before
tomorrow will be HOMEWORK.
Tomorrow: Meet on the right side of the LMC. We
will NOT have computers tomorrow, so please print
out BEFORE class or COME EARLY to print your
paper. It is due at the beginning of the hour.

TODAY: 9/7
 Autobio Project
 IF you have not taken…the SRI Test
◦ Go to the icon that says “Computer” on your desktop
◦ Double click on the “I” Drive
◦ Find the folder that says “Buffa”
◦ Open up “SRI Test Instructions 2012” Document
◦ Read and follow instructions
 After SRI Test
◦ REMAIN QUIET!!! Others are testing!
◦ Continue typing rough draft (due AT THE END OF THE HOUR)
◦ Have at least two people peer edit your paper. Have them
make edits and sign the bottom of the paper.
◦ Make any changes and submit to me a CLEAN rough draft.
 Due when the bell rings:
◦ COMPLETE rough draft, stapled together, with 5 peer edits
due AT THE END OF THE HOUR (20 points)
 Meet on right side of the LMC on Monday

Autobio Project!
Monday:
 Meet in LMC. Book Pass.
Tuesday:
 Meet in LMC. Check out book. Journal #1.
Wednesday:
 Journal #1 due (turn in later). Read and write Journal #2.
Thursday:
 Discuss Presentation. Read and Write Journal #3.
Conference w/ Ms. Zig over Rough Draft.
Friday:
 Read and Write Journal #4. Conference w/ Ms. Zig over
Rough Draft.
HOMEWORK OVER WEEKEND:
 Finish book and all journals.
 Finalize/prepare for Presentation.
 ALL JOURNALS AND PRESENTATIONS DUE MONDAY.

Happy Thursday!
 A sheet of paper
 Journals #1 and #2
 Your autobio book
Today:
 Conference with Ms. Zig about paper
 Discuss Presentation and Rubric
 Read
 Journal #3
 PROJECT DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE HOUR,
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17! NO EXCEPTIONS!

Happy Friday!
 A sheet of paper
 Journals #1, #2, and #3
 Your autobio book
Today:
 Thank you to Mrs. King and Mrs. Kellermeyer
 Conference with Ms. Zig about paper
 Read
 Journal #4
 PROJECT DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE HOUR,
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17! NO EXCEPTIONS!

Happy Presentation Day!
 Rubric with Journals stapled to back
 Something to write with and the rest of your DESKS
CLEARED 
Today:
 Listening Points*IF YOU ARE ABSENT, YOU WILL STILL BE EXPECTED TO FILL OUT
YOUR SHEET. PLEASE GET NOTES FROM SOMEONE IN CLASS!*
 Presentations!!!
Tonight:
 HOMEWORK: work on paper. Please bring a revised,
clean version to class on Friday (meet in LMC).
 MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AN ELECTRONIC COPY FOR
FRIDAY (email it, bring a flash drive, etc.).

Rubric
 Speaking and Listening Points
◦ 5 4 3 2 1 Active Listening Skills: Listener took
notes, paid attention, and did not serve as a
distraction during others’ presentations
◦ *IF YOU ARE ABSENT, YOU WILL STILL BE
EXPECTED TO FILL OUT YOUR SHEET.
PLEASE GET NOTES FROM SOMEONE IN
CLASS!*
◦ 5 4 3 2 1 Speaking Skills and Preparation:
Presenter was prepared by being organized and
spoke audibly and clearly for the audience to hear.
Eye contact was made!

Happy Friday!
 A clean, revised version of your paper!
Today:
 Turnitin.com
 Rubric and Rough Draft “talk”
 Peer Edit Paper
MONDAY: MEET IN LMC. FINAL PAPER DUE AT
THE BEGINNING OF THE HOUR.

Turnitin.com
 You will receive a zero if your paper
is not submitted to turnitin.com.
 5th Hour
◦ CLASS ID: 5570930
◦ Password: 5eagles
LOGIN INFO: WRITE THIS DOWN SO
YOU DON’T FORGET IT!
◦ User name:
email@student.liberty.k12.mo.us
◦ Password: first initial, middle initial,
last initial, lunch code (for some, it is 1
and then the lunch code)
◦ Autobio Essay– submit.

Decoding Ms. Zig’s Advice
Intro and Engaging the Reader
 Title
 First Line
Voice and Tone
 SHOW not TELL
Conclusion and Theme
 Abrupt Endings
Formatting and Formal Writing
 Numbers under Ten, spell out
 THINGS should not appear in your paper,
ever.
 All right is two words (I promise, it is).
 Dialogue (REVIEW YOUR NOTES!)

Happy Monday!
 Rubric
 Rough Drafted (graded by Ms. Zig)
You have 5 minutes…
 Resubmit final draft to turnitin.com
 Turn in paper, stapled together, in this order:
◦ Rubric on top
◦ Clean, final draft
◦ Graded by Ms. Zig rough draft

Today’s Tasks
(TOMORROW: Meet in Classroom)
1. Narrative POST CFA – due at the end of the hour
1. Do your best. THIS COUNTS!
 Computer
 I Drive - Buffa
 Autobio CFA
◦ Follow directions to take “Autobio Incident CFA” – do your best 
◦ * For Question 12* Download file, right click on page and hit “rotate
clockwise.”
2. Science Fiction PRE CFA – due at the end of the hour
1. Do your best. I want to know what you know!
 Computer
 I Drive - Buffa
 Sci Fi CFA
◦ Follow directions to take “Sci Fi CFA” – do your best 
3. Explore Science Fiction – due tomorrow
1. Research author Ray Bradbury. Find at least 5 interesting facts
about him and cite where you got your info from on the front of your
notecard.
2. Research Science Fiction as a genre of literature in general. Find at
least 5 interesting facts about Sci-Fi in literature and cite where you
got them on the back of your notecard.

Peer Edit Round Robin
Editor #1
 Write your name. Read the Essay.
 Evaluate THEME. After reading the essay,
write what you think the theme is at the
bottom of the first page. If the theme is
unclear, write “theme is unclear.”
DONE EARLY? Go back through essay for…
 Dialogue errors
 Grammar/punctuation errors
 Any suggestions on improving paper

Peer Edit Round Robin
Editor #2
 Write your name. Read the Essay.
 Evaluate VOICE (personality). On the last page,
write “Voice” and list qualities about the person
you get from reading the story. If you feel like
more voice should be used, write it.
 Evaluate TONE (attitude). On the last page,
write “Tone” and list any adjectives of emotions
you believe the author feels as you read the
essay. If you feel unsure about the tone, or that
more should be used, write it.
DONE EARLY? Go back through essay for…
 Dialogue errors
 Grammar/punctuation errors
 Any suggestions on improving paper

Once you get your paper back…
 Read through your peer comments.
 Ask them or me questions about how to
fix your paper.
 Fix any errors.
 Read through your essay over and over
again until you think it is PERFECT.
 On one side of your rubric, grade yourself
HONESTLY.
 Make any final corrections.
 FINAL DUE MONDAY!

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