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onlain games like csFebruary 23, 2005
Daily Writing Topic
In composition class, part of students' graded work is based on their writing on a given topic every day. Actually, they have a choice of two topics. On another website I use with my classes, I post a Daily Writing Topic and a Daily Quotation. Students are to pick one of the two and write about it. It's somewhat like a journal, but with a given topic every day. There is no expectation about the approach to the topic, style of writing, or length. These writings are not graded for originality, organization, proof reading, or any of the usual criteria. Basically, they are graded as done or not done. However, students also are being graded on the total amount of typing they do over the semester (kept track of in number of words), so they know there is no reason to keep their Daily Topic Choice writing short if the topic is working well for them. It is understood that some topics will work better for some students than others, so over the course of the semester there should be a least some topics that allow a more extended effort on occassion. This assignment should help students become better writers for at least 2 reasons: a) to become a better writer, you have to practice almost daily, just like an athelete or pianist. You should try to write something every day, and b) you need to write in a variety of ways. Writers who always write in the same manner about the same kind of topic may get in a rut. This assignment encourages at least some variety and trying out different things.
Posted by dwillia at February 23, 2005 11:57 PM
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