Writer's Notebook

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Your writer's Notebook is a tool for you to focus your thoughts and ideas.  It will serve as a foundation and first draft for papers.  It will be a place to test new writing styles. You will also be able to use it as a creative outlet, by freely playing with words and their power. 

Rules for a Writer's Notebook

  1. Date each entry.
  2. Write the writing prompt.
  3. Write freely.
  4. Write regularly.
  5. Reflect on your work. 

Sample Writing Prompts

  • If you could literally jump into the pages of any book you've ever read and actually experience the story firsthand, which book would you choose?
  • Got a story about an annual tradition that your family started years ago?
  • What is one particular event that many people love to attend that you personally think is utterly boring, if not downright dreadful.

Writing Prompts

Due September 14, 2011
    - September 7th:
            - Write for 10 minutes telling me about a parent.
    - September 8th:
            - Write for 10 minutes: What is one event that many people think is utterly boring, in not downright dreadful?
    - September 9th:
            - Write for 10 minutes: When your wearing it, what type of clothing makes you feel the most like the real you?
    -September 12th:
            - Write for 10 minutes: If you could have 24/7 access to any expert in the world, whom would you want to be able to call whenever you needed an
            answer?
            - Write a Simile or Metaphor (2 sentences): Make a comparison between your notebook and something clever.  Start your first sent with "My
            writer's notebook is . . ." or "My writer's notebook is like/as . . ."  The second sentence should explain what you mean by your comparison.
            - Take Home Prompt (1 page): Got a story about doing something extraordinarily special for your birthday?
    - September 13th:
            - Write for 10 minutes: If you were given $500 and unlimited, free limousine service for 24hrs, where would you ask your driver to take you?

Writer's Notebook Rubric

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Every student's writer's notebook will be due on Wednesdays.  This day, students must hand in their notebook with the completed writing prompts inside of it.  Any assigned notebook creativity is also due on this day. On Wednesdays, students may be asked to share their favorite entry.  Each entry will be assessed by me using the following rubric. 16 possible points may be earned for each entry written that week.  The student's grade will be an average of the total points earned from the total possible points.

Score: 4
Outstanding

Flexibility & Fluency

Writer uses a variety of
strategies and topics.
Mature handling of
language is present. It is
obvious writing has been
made a priority.

Thoughtfulness

Entries are thoughtful
and reflective. Writer
always attempts deeper
thinking through writing.
It is apparent that
student has given close
thought to word choice,
sentence structure, etc.
and has looked entries
with an editor’s eye.

Frequency

100 percent
of the required
entries have been
completed.

Creativity

All creativity assignments are completed in unique, applicable, and thoughtful ways.

Score: 3
Wow

Flexibility & Fluency

Writer uses strategies
from class and shows
topic variety.

Thoughtfulness

Entries tend to be
thoughtful. Writer
usually attempts deeper
thinking. Writer has reread
and revised.

Frequency

80 percent of the required entries are completed

Creativity

Most creativity assignments are completed in unique, applicable, and thoughtful ways.

Score: 2
Fair

Flexibility & Fluency

Topics and strategies
may vary. Writer is
making an attempt to
include strategies.

Thoughtfulness

Some reflective thinking
is present. Entries
merely recall or list
events. There has been
an attempt to re-read &
revise.

Frequency

70-79 percent of the entries are
completed

Creativity

Some creativity assignments are completed in unique, applicable, and thoughtful ways.

Score: 1
Needs Significant Improvement

Flexibility & Fluency

Entries are
underdeveloped.
Little variety in writing
strategies & topics.
Little attempt is made to
include strategies.

Thoughtfulness

Entries typically do not
demonstrate reflective
thinking. Sometimes
writer has re-read entries
with an editor’s eye.

Frequency

60-69 percent of the entries are
completed

Creativity

Some creativity assignments are completed in unique, applicable, and thoughtful ways.