Independent Writing Projects: Why do them?

Students in 4-411 have worked on setting goals for themselves as writers.  They know that a writer's notebook is like a workbench! It is filled with projects, tools, and strategies that showcase them as writers!  

In order to continue working on their writing goals, students will be doing independent writing projects at home! Students have deadlines for each portion of their project to help keep them on track. However, they are responsible for setting their own goals for each day they work on their projects. Please make sure to check the deadlines for each portion of the writing projects as well as look at the guidelines below:

Independent Writing Project Guidelines

Congratulations! It is time to start your very own independent writing project! During this time, you will continue living a writerly life outside of the classroom. You will have the opportunity to choose which genre of writing you wish to explore and take through the writing cycle. Additionally, you will be working on practicing your writing goals each and every day you work on your independent writing project.

What does it take to complete an independent writing project?

o   Step 1: You must choose the genre of writing you wish to write. This may include personal narrative, realistic fiction, persuasive review, essay, or any other genre you have had experience writing before.

o   Step 2: You must think about what your goals are as a writer. Look back at your narrative writing checklist to see what specific areas you want to work on. Then think about how you will work on those goals during your independent writing project. You must show EVIDENCE of these goals each day you write.

o   Step 3: You must plan your time. Look at the deadlines you have on the attached calendar. Spend time making a plan for yourself to help you reach each deadline on time.

o   Step 4: You must take your writing through each stage of the writing cycle. How will you collect entries? Choose a seed idea and think about purpose, meaning, or lesson? Nurture that seed idea to rehearse for drafting? Draft your piece? Revise and edit your work? Publish your piece? Remember, you must show EVIDENCE of each stage of the writing cycle.

How do I keep myself on track?

·       You must hand in each part of your writing project on the date that it is due. Make sure you look at the calendar to see when your deadlines are.

·       You must keep each part of your project to be collected at the end. We will be making process booklets to show how your writing has changed over time. These booklets will also show evidence of how you have worked towards your writing goals.

How will my project be graded?

·       Did you meet all of the deadlines given?

·       Did you show evidence of taking your piece through each stage of the writing cycle?

·       Did you show evidence of working towards your writing goals each time you sat down to write?

·       Is your process booklet complete will all pieces of your project?

·       Does your project showcase your very best work as a writer?

·       Does your project show evidence of strategies you have learned in class?

·       Does your piece have the correct structure for the genre?

Planning Calendar

October
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
	22	23	24	25	26 Collecting & Seed Idea Due	27
28	29	30	31
November
				1	2 Nurturing Due	3
4	5	6	7	8	9 Draft Due	10
11	12	13	14	15	16 Revision & Editing Due	17
18	19	20	21 Published Piece & Complete Project Due

On the calendar, plan WHAT you will work on each day. Remember, you must think about HOW you will work on your writing each day as well.

Key:

C- Collecting

Ch- Choosing

N- Nurturing

R- Revising

E- Editing

P- Publishing