Weekly Writings
Week 1 (1/3-1/6)
Choose a S.M.A.R.T. resolution and write about how you plan to accomplish your goal.
Week 2 (1/9-1/13)
Watch this speech delivered by Meryl Streep at the Golden Globe awards. Write a reaction to what you saw. Do you agree or disagree with her? Explain why. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxyGmyEby40
Week 3 (1/17-1/20)
Read the following article about how fake news becomes viral. Write a response to what you read. Why is fake news widespread on the internet? How can you tell the difference between truth and fiction? https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/20/business/media/how-fake-news-spreads.html?_r=0
Week 4 (1/23-1/27)
We are sometimes shortsighted. We are often unaware of what is happening in other parts of the world. Find a news story that takes place in a country other than America. It might be interesting to research news from your parents' or grandparents' homeland. Summarize the article and write a response to what you read.
Week 5 (1/30-2/3)
Use the internet to research a story about a teenager who is making a difference in his or her community. Write about what this teenager is doing. Does this story inspire you to do something to improve your community? How can you make a difference? Be sure to cite your sources.
Week 6 (2/6-2/10)
English 9: Why do people give gifts? What do you think makes a gift valuable? Do Jim and Della make good decisions to buy each other gifts?
English 11: Write a poem in the style of Walt Whitman, substituting America with your hometown. "I Hear ________ Singing, the varied carols I hear." Be sure to use vivid imagery as you characterize your hometown in poetic form. Due Friday.
Week 7 (2/13-2/17)
English 9: You may choose your own topic this week!
English 11: Write a 12-line poem in the style of Emily Dickinson. Refer to p. 549 for a list of key elements of Dickinson's poetry.
Week 8 (2/21-2/23)
English 9: Write 5 paragraphs persuading someone to agree with your point of view on a topic. Choose a topic that you can later develop into a 3-page essay.
English 11: Do you agree or disagree with Mark Twain's assertion that humans are the "lowest animal"?
Week 9 (2/27-3/3)
English 9: Think of at least two counter arguments that someone may have about your thesis. Explain how you can address them in your essay. This assignment requires you to only write two paragraphs, one for each counter argument.
English 11: The Story of an Hour was published in 1894. Does it only represent attitudes toward marriage in the nineteenth century, or could it equally apply to attitudes about marriage today? What do you think?
Week 10 (4/3-4/7)
Forty people recently watched a Facebook livestream of the assault of a 15 year old girl. No one reported the crime to authorities. If you had seen a livestream assault, would you report it? Whose responsibility is it to report such crimes?
Week 11 (4/10-4/14)
English 9: Do you believe in "love at first sight"? Is it possible? Is it wise? What do you think?
English 11: You may choose your own topic this week!
Week 12 (4/17-4/21)
English 9: The Montagues and Capulets are noble families that don't get along. What is your opinion of feuds? Is there anything that is worth feuding over? What should happen when people disagree?
English 11: Reflect on your debate topic. Do you agree or disagree with it? What will be your main points during the debate?
Week 13 (4/25-4/28)
As we approach the final weeks of the school year, reflect upon the goals you had wished to accomplish. Are you happy with how this year has gone for you? Are there changes you still wish to make? What can you do to make this a successful school year?
Week 14 (5/1-5/5)
English 9: Why does Romeo and Juliet continue to be one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies? Even though the play is set in an early time period, how do modern teenagers connect with the characters and themes?
English 11: Write a reflection of your debate experience. What did you learn? Do you feel you did well during the debate? Did doing research change your mind on your debate topic? What did you learn from listening to your classmates' debates?
Week 15 (5/8-5/12)
English 9: This unit focuses on the journey of Odysseus, who is trying to find his way home after fighting in a war. Imagine taking a journey. Where would you go? What adventures might you have? What conflicts would you face?
English 11: Who do you think is the most admirable of characters in "The Crucible" so far? Who is the most frustrating? Explain your choices with evidence from the story.
Week 16 (5/15-5/19)
Enjoy a week without a Weekly Writing assignment. :)
Week 17 (5/22-5/26)
English 9: What is your idea of a hero? In your view, is Odysseus a hero? Explain.
English 11: What do you find frustrating about the ending of The Crucible? What is John Proctor's internal conflict? Do you agree with his decision at the end of the play? Explain.
Choose a S.M.A.R.T. resolution and write about how you plan to accomplish your goal.
Week 2 (1/9-1/13)
Watch this speech delivered by Meryl Streep at the Golden Globe awards. Write a reaction to what you saw. Do you agree or disagree with her? Explain why. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxyGmyEby40
Week 3 (1/17-1/20)
Read the following article about how fake news becomes viral. Write a response to what you read. Why is fake news widespread on the internet? How can you tell the difference between truth and fiction? https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/20/business/media/how-fake-news-spreads.html?_r=0
Week 4 (1/23-1/27)
We are sometimes shortsighted. We are often unaware of what is happening in other parts of the world. Find a news story that takes place in a country other than America. It might be interesting to research news from your parents' or grandparents' homeland. Summarize the article and write a response to what you read.
Week 5 (1/30-2/3)
Use the internet to research a story about a teenager who is making a difference in his or her community. Write about what this teenager is doing. Does this story inspire you to do something to improve your community? How can you make a difference? Be sure to cite your sources.
Week 6 (2/6-2/10)
English 9: Why do people give gifts? What do you think makes a gift valuable? Do Jim and Della make good decisions to buy each other gifts?
English 11: Write a poem in the style of Walt Whitman, substituting America with your hometown. "I Hear ________ Singing, the varied carols I hear." Be sure to use vivid imagery as you characterize your hometown in poetic form. Due Friday.
Week 7 (2/13-2/17)
English 9: You may choose your own topic this week!
English 11: Write a 12-line poem in the style of Emily Dickinson. Refer to p. 549 for a list of key elements of Dickinson's poetry.
Week 8 (2/21-2/23)
English 9: Write 5 paragraphs persuading someone to agree with your point of view on a topic. Choose a topic that you can later develop into a 3-page essay.
English 11: Do you agree or disagree with Mark Twain's assertion that humans are the "lowest animal"?
Week 9 (2/27-3/3)
English 9: Think of at least two counter arguments that someone may have about your thesis. Explain how you can address them in your essay. This assignment requires you to only write two paragraphs, one for each counter argument.
English 11: The Story of an Hour was published in 1894. Does it only represent attitudes toward marriage in the nineteenth century, or could it equally apply to attitudes about marriage today? What do you think?
Week 10 (4/3-4/7)
Forty people recently watched a Facebook livestream of the assault of a 15 year old girl. No one reported the crime to authorities. If you had seen a livestream assault, would you report it? Whose responsibility is it to report such crimes?
Week 11 (4/10-4/14)
English 9: Do you believe in "love at first sight"? Is it possible? Is it wise? What do you think?
English 11: You may choose your own topic this week!
Week 12 (4/17-4/21)
English 9: The Montagues and Capulets are noble families that don't get along. What is your opinion of feuds? Is there anything that is worth feuding over? What should happen when people disagree?
English 11: Reflect on your debate topic. Do you agree or disagree with it? What will be your main points during the debate?
Week 13 (4/25-4/28)
As we approach the final weeks of the school year, reflect upon the goals you had wished to accomplish. Are you happy with how this year has gone for you? Are there changes you still wish to make? What can you do to make this a successful school year?
Week 14 (5/1-5/5)
English 9: Why does Romeo and Juliet continue to be one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies? Even though the play is set in an early time period, how do modern teenagers connect with the characters and themes?
English 11: Write a reflection of your debate experience. What did you learn? Do you feel you did well during the debate? Did doing research change your mind on your debate topic? What did you learn from listening to your classmates' debates?
Week 15 (5/8-5/12)
English 9: This unit focuses on the journey of Odysseus, who is trying to find his way home after fighting in a war. Imagine taking a journey. Where would you go? What adventures might you have? What conflicts would you face?
English 11: Who do you think is the most admirable of characters in "The Crucible" so far? Who is the most frustrating? Explain your choices with evidence from the story.
Week 16 (5/15-5/19)
Enjoy a week without a Weekly Writing assignment. :)
Week 17 (5/22-5/26)
English 9: What is your idea of a hero? In your view, is Odysseus a hero? Explain.
English 11: What do you find frustrating about the ending of The Crucible? What is John Proctor's internal conflict? Do you agree with his decision at the end of the play? Explain.