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Welcome to Roosevelt High School and Drake University's "Exchange Through Writing" Page.

While students enrolled in Roosevelt's Advanced Placement Language and Composition read novels and plays from the canon, the work we do with Drake students will focus on our writing. The three formal writing assignments build upon each other, starting with a definition essay and moving to a comparison essay; students will then use these two pieces to inform a final persuasive argument.

Throughout the course of the semester, Drake and Roosevelt students will be working together on these assignments to learn how an exchange of ideas about writing improves our understanding about communicating with written language. In the left column, Drake students participating in Swilky's 171 are listed; clicking on each student's name will direct you to the Roosevelt student's writing. This will serve not only as an avenue of communication, but also as an archive of student progress.

Assignment descriptions and due dates for each assignment follow:

Letter of Introduction (posted January 20)
 * Letter of Introduction **
 * **This is simply an opportunity to describe yourself and your thoughts about the upcoming semester's work. You're meeting a person for the first time, what do they need to know to get to know you? Questions to consider: **
 * What do you want your writing partner to know about you?
 * What are your interests, activities, and accomplishments?
 *  What do you hope to gain as a writer this semester?
 * What have been your biggest challenges or hurdles you've overcome as a writer?

** Personal Reflection on Topic of Inquiry ** (posted **RHS** January 27 -- **171** January 29) What are the events in life that have defined you? Describe a time in your life when your personal philosophy was challenged and your life or thinking required a change of direction. What were the forces that influenced you? What understanding of your world was changed for better or for worse? As you are selecting your topic, there should be a feeling of unfinished thought that you would like to explore further, developing your understanding of self.
 * Topic of Inquiry **

Write a narrative that ends with a question about your chosen topic of inquiry.

Rough Draft **Definition** (posted **RHS** February 3 -- **171** February 5) <span style="color: #0068ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Revision **Definition** (posted **RHS** February 10 -- **171** February 12 ) <span style="color: #0068ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Final **Definition** (posted **RHS** February 17 -- **171** February 19 )
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">Definition Paper **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">Includes Distinguishing Characteristics & Supporting Evidence, e.g., Assertiveness is standing up for your rights. A definition essay is writing that explains what a term means. When writing a definition essay, remember to tell readers what term is being defined, to present a clear and basic definition, and to use facts, examples, or anecdotes that readers will understand. Other examples: Kindness,Sense of Humor, Love, Charisma, Team Player, Optimism, Beauty, Respect, Ambitions

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">** Reflection #1 ** (posted **RHS** February 20 -- **171** February 22)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">Definition Reflection **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">These reflections are quick posts that answer the following questions:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">What was the purpose of the writing? How successfully did you meet this purpose?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">Who was your intended audience? How did you adapt your writing to appeal to this audience?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">Explain the exigence that influenced the selection of your topic.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">How does your writing draw attention to the key aspects of your message?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;"> In what ways did you create tone to reflect your persona?

<span style="color: #0068ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Rough Draft **Comparison** (posted **RHS** February 24 -- **171** February 26 ) <span style="color: #0068ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Revision **Comparison** (posted **RHS** March 2 -- **171** March 4) <span style="color: #0068ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Final **Comparison** (posted **RHS** March 9 -- **171** March 11) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">Involves analyzing both similarities and differences; e.g., two means of travel or transportation, two means of communication (e-mails, telephone calls, postal letters, telephone text messages), or two pieces of equipment. Comparison essays have a clear purpose; considers shared characteristics; fairly examines similarities, differences, or both; considers a sufficient number of significant characters and details; and makes a point.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">Comparison Essay **

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">** Reflection #2 (RHS ** March 16 -- **171**March 25)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">Comparison Reflection **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">These reflections are quick posts that answer the following questions:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">What was the purpose of the writing? How successfully did you meet this purpose?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">Who was your intended audience? How did you adapt your writing to appeal to this audience?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">Explain the exigence that influenced the selection of your topic.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">How does your writing draw attention to the key aspects of your message?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;"> In what ways did you create tone to reflect your persona?

<span style="color: #0068ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Rough Draft **Argument** (posted **RHS** April 6 -- **171** April 8) <span style="color: #0068ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Revision **Argument** (posted **RHS** April 13 -- **171** April 15) <span style="color: #0068ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Final **Argument** (posted **RHS** April 20 -- **171** April 23)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">Argument **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">Includes Reasons & Evidence: Argumentative writing is the act of forming reasons, making inductions, drawing conclusions, and applying them to the case in discussion; the operation of inferring propositions, not known or admitted as true, from facts or principles known, admitted, or proved to be true. It clearly explains the process of your reasoning from the known or assumed to the unknown. Without doing this you do not have an argument, you have only an assertion, an essay that is just your unsubstantiated opinion. Examples: Animal testing, Capital punishment, Security cameras and privacy, Homeschooling, Retirement age, The use of animals in scientific research, Government and family planning

<span style="color: #0068ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Reflection #3 (posted **RHS** April 23)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">Argument Reflection **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">These reflections are quick posts that answer the following questions:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">What was the purpose of the writing? How successfully did you meet this purpose?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">Who was your intended audience? How did you adapt your writing to appeal to this audience?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">Explain the exigence that influenced the selection of your topic.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;">How does your writing draw attention to the key aspects of your message?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 28.8px;"> In what ways did you create tone to reflect your persona?