Saturday, April 18, 2009

April 23/24 Computer Lab

April 23/24 Computer Lab -- Heroes Assignment

We'll be in a computer lab again on April 23/24 to write an essay on MYAccess. This will be about heroes. We'll use the MYAccess prompt about "Character Traits." Notice that I have modified the prompt from the way it is presented on MYAccess.

Character Traits

Character traits in fictional or real people may have positive or negative effects on the people around them.

Select a person, real or fictional, who possesses character traits that influence others in a positive way. This is someone who could be considered a hero. You may write about a real person (someone you know or know quite a bit about, or one of the real people from Ice Story, or about one of the fictional characters from the class novels we have read this year. You could use a character from The Giver, Words By Heart, The Outsiders, or Stand Tall. Don't use characters from other novels or other books -- only from the ones we've read as a class.

Write an essay in which you describe this person's character traits and provide examples of how these traits affect other people. If you wish to, you may try writing about the character traits you find in several of these characters or people and how these are the traits of a hero.


--- Use the words "positive influence" and/or "positively influence," and the words "character trait(s)."

Your score will be based on how well you:

  • develop a multi-paragraph response to the assigned topic that clearly communicates your controlling idea to the audience.
  • support your controlling idea with meaningful examples, reasons, and information based upon your research or readings.
  • organize your essay in a clear and logical manner, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
  • use well-structured sentences and language that are appropriate for your audience.
  • edit your work to conform to the conventions of standard American English.
  • Use any of the tools available to you, such as the Checklist, Spellchecker, or Graphic Organizer.

    You will have unlimited opportunities to revise until about May 20th.