Dear Parents/Guardians,
Since we’ve been back from Christmas break, we have been discussing and working on essays for the “Do the Write Thing” essay challenge. This is a state and national contest that focuses on reducing violence in schools and communities and emphasizes students’ input and personal stories. I think this is a good experience for students to think and write about an important issue while also submitting their writing to a contest. A bright yellow parent consent form was sent home with each student, and if you haven’t seen one yet, you should be shortly! Thank you for all your support!
-Mrs. Lee
Official Guidelines:
· Students will write non-fiction essays between 600 – 1000 words in length.
· Personal experience should be highlighted. Each entry must be the work product of only one student.
· Student essays must address the following three questions:
1. How has violence affected my life?
2. What are the causes of violence affecting young people?
3. What can I do about preventing violence, especially among youths?
· Entries must be typed in black ink on 8-1/2” x 11” paper. Only one side of the paper may be used and the pages should be numbered. Use a paper clip, do not staple.
· Entries must have a consent statement signed by the participating student and a parent or guardian.
· No personal information (name, address, phone number, email, etc.) should appear in your essay.
· Editing for content, grammar, or spelling by someone other than the student is not permitted.
· Entries must be submitted with THREE copies of the essay, paper-clipped to the PARENT CONSENT FORM.
Some Guidelines from Mrs. Lee:
ü Remember to focus on the aspect of “voice” in this essay. Ask yourself:
o Does my writing show my personality?
o Does it have a different sound than everyone else’s?
o Have I communicated feelings and emotions?
o Have I told a personal story or two?
o Can the reader tell that I’m being honest and sincere?
o Have I used interesting language?
ü Make sure that you do not write out the three (3) main questions and then provide answers separately. Try to have the answers woven into your writing.
ü It is often helpful to include quotes or statistics to back up your “main idea.” We discussed many of these in class; write them down and use them!
ü Hint, hint… Mrs. Lee still wants you to make sure that you do a spelling and grammar check on the computer at least two (2x) times before you hand it in!
Rough Drafts are to be started in class and finished @ home: Mon. 1/10 (A-day) & Tues. 1/11 (B-day)
In-class computer lab time: Wed. 1/12 (A-day) & Thurs. 1/13 (B-day)
Final Drafts (3 copies) & Parent Consent Form (signed) DUE:
Before 1st bell on Friday, January 14 (so I can get everyone’s in the mail!)
Some ideas for essay organization:
1st Paragraph: Define violence. What does it look/sound like? How does it affect people? What are the results of violence? Perhaps you can use a quote from a famous person.
2nd Paragraph: How has violence affected your life? Use a personal experience and describe your feelings and emotions. The experience can be one of a friend, relative, school mate…even a story from the news that had an effect on you.
3rd Paragraph: What are the causes of violence, especially among young people?
4th Paragraph: How can you prevent violence, especially among young people? Think yourself, personally. How can your actions- past, present, future- help reduce violence?
5th Paragraph: Conclusion. Restate what violence does. Restate how it affects us all. Can you use another quote? What did you learn while you were writing this?
