Sustainable Classroom Essay Prep

Starter 7- Seminar prep/review/goalsThink back to all of the topics/sources we’ve consumed in this mini-study. What idea/concept/quote/ has stood out the MOST to you or resonated the most with  you? Explain why. What idea/concept/quote has resonated the least with you, or you disagreed most with?

Tech Article Review
Use the handout to review articles in a small group and prepare for the in-class essay

Quick synthesis of seminar

• Go over questions about the essay
• Clarify understanding of how sustainability relates to classroom culture
• Any confusions about the thesis statements/main ideas?

Time to Brainstorm

• What do YOU think are the most compelling practices for creating a sustainable classroom culture that emerged from the various sources, as well as from your own experience. Write down everything that most resonates with you-- make a list or a mind map (see the whiteboard example).
• Now, go through and narrow the list down to the top 3-4 ideas.  More than 4 is probably too many to write about in your essay. 2 is probably too few, unless you can go really in-depth on those two.
• Now, link evidence to those ideas.  See the requirements below again to make sure you’ve got all your bases covered!
• Halfway through brainstorm time, we’ll pause and look at some student examples for how people are organizing their ideas (linear outlines? Tables? Visual diagrams? No CLUE?)

General Essay Requirements:

1. 750-1000 words
2. Cites evidence (parenthetically) from at least two texts and one other resource from class
3. Brings in personal experience as well as texts and outside evidence
4. Typed and spell-checked/proofread
5. Graded on the Writing Rubric

Additional Honors Requirements:

1. Cites evidence (parenthetically) from at least four texts and two other resources from class
2. Graded on the Honors Writing Rubric

In Class Essay Tips and Tricks:

1. Come in with a thesis and evidence already chosen
2. Keep an eye on time- finished and imperfect is better than unfinished with 2 perfect paragraphs
3. Focus more on argumentation and critical thinking than grammar and spelling
4. Leave yourself 10-15 minutes at the end to proofread and edit

HOMEWORK: 
Be ready for the in-class essay on Tuesday!