what is your most memorable summer experience? where did it take place? what does this experience...

What is your most memorable summer experience? Where did it take place? What does this experience mean to you?

Describe your summer in at least five sentences.

Writing Journal #1 Date

If you could describe yourself with one word, what would that word be? Why did you choose this word?

Describe your reasoning in at least five sentences.


What does 9/11/01 mean to you? What significance does this date hold?


What do you want to be when you grow up? What are your plans for the future?

Describe your plans in at least five sentences.


What does the following quote mean to you?

"A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit."

-Richard Bach



"Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go."

-E. L. Doctorow


Think back to the beginning of the “Caught-Ya” story. William Waggish thought that Felicia Fey dressed oddly and different than most people.

Are there any traits that you believe make you different than other people? What are these traits?

Describe these traits in at least five sentences.


If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Why?

(5 sentence min.)



“Words, once they are printed, have a life of their own.”

-Carol Burnett


Spill on: Friday

Spilling #10 Date

Describe the perfect best friend.

What qualities would they have? What qualities would you not want them to have?

Writing Journal #11Date

Spill on: DMS’ cafeteria lunch

Spilling #12 Date

If you could wish for anything imaginable, what would it be?

(cannot wish for more wishes)


Think of a goal for the second term of your eighth grade year.

What is that goal? Why did you select that goal?

How will you go about achieving it?


What do you know about the Holocaust?


Based on completing the KWL chart previously in class, what do you now know about the Holocaust?

Describe the background knowledge you built on the Holocaust in approximately three sentences.


Please give your interpretation of the following quote:

“There are those who have, but don’t want;Those who don’t have, but want;And those in the middle, happy either way.”

-8th grader at DMS


Spill on: Social media’s link to drama

Spill #18 Date

Spill on: Fast food restaurants

Spill #19 Date


“If you always tell the truth, you never have to rely on your memory”

-Source unknown



“Challenges are stepping stones or stumbling blocks. It all depends on how you see them.”

-Source Unknown


What is one thing that you are proud of yourself for?

Grades? Honor roll? Athletics? Positive attitude? Positive behavior?



“What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.”

~ Samuel Johnson


Topic: Relationships

Spill #24 Date

Topic: What is “hater”?

Spill #25 Date


“Kind words cost nothing, but are worth much more!”

-Source unknown



“Do not follow the path. Go where there is no path and leave a trail.”

-Source unknown



“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going

to get.”

-Forest Gump


Spill: Civil Rights Movement

(Hint: Civil Rights is what MLK Jr. fought for).

Spill #29 Date

Do you believe that racism still exists today? Defend your answer.


Spill: dream car


What is your dream job and why? (5 sent min.)


What is your favorite movie? Describe why you enjoy this movie. Would you recommend it to others?



“You can’t climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets.”

-Source Unknown



“There’s never a wrong time to do the right thing.”

-Source Unknown


Spill: Describe your dream house.

Spill #36 Date

Have you ever been really upset with your best friend? If so, what did they do? How did it make you feel?


If you could create a school day schedule, what would it be like? Please give a description of the activity and time (you may use a list).

Ex) 10:00—School starts


When it comes to test taking, whether Smarter Balance, MAP, or a classroom test, do you consider yourself a calm or nervous test-taker? What helps to keep you calm, or what makes you nervous?


Spring Smarter Balance testing begins in two weeks. To prepare, list 3 test tips or strategies that will help to make your testing more successful.

First, list the three tips. Then, explain how to complete each, and how they are helpful during testing.


Describe your ideal teacher.

Spill #41 Date

If you were given $10 to spend on anything, what would you buy? $100? $1000? $10,000$100,000? $1 million?

Set up your paper like this—$10—$100—$1000—$10,000—$100,000—$1,000,000—


If you could create a class at Delmar High School, what class would you create? What would be the focus of the class? What materials would you use? What kind of assignments would you have?

Ex) Fashion Design, Cosmetology, Home Ec



“Accept nothing less than your absolute best!”

-Source Unknown


How do you plan on spending your spring break?

Spill #45 Date

Describe your spring break.


With ¾ of the school year complete, which class has proven to be your favorite this year? Why?


Give your interpretation of the following quote:

“Your life is like a porcelain piece, you must be careful with it.”

-Justin DeMusz


If tomorrow, and only tomorrow, you could be any age you wanted, what age would it be and why?


Think back on the past several months of your eighth grade year, report cards, etc. Is there anything that you would change? Any decisions that you would rethink? Why or why not?


Topic: Middle school

Spill #51 Date

Topic: Pet-peeves

Spill #52 Date

Topic: The perfect 8th-grade graduation

Spill #53 Date

With summer break just around the corner, describe your dream summer vacation.


What are your views on leaving the middle school and entering high school? Are you nervous? Excited? Looking forward to anything? Expecting to miss something?


Topic: Your best day ever

Spill #56 Date

Topic: Favorite breakfast foods

Spill #57 Date

What do you know about the Holocaust?

If nothing, what does the stem “caust” mean? What can you then infer about the meaning of “Holocaust?”

Holocaust Journal Date

For your journal today, think about every area of your life that you appreciate—family, friends, meals, home, free education, etc. Describe what you are thankful for, and why you are thankful for those things. What would you say to people who think that they have nothing to be thankful for?

2 paragraph minimum

Thanksgiving Journal Date

What is one word that you would use to describe Martin Luther King Jr. based on what you know about the work he did for the Civil Rights Movement? Explain.


What is your favorite genre to read and why? Non-fiction? Mystery? Graphic Novels? Historical fiction?


What is your impression of the eighth grade after three quarters of the year?

What do you like so far? What do you dislike?

Don’t forget to tell why you feel the way you do.


Describe your spring break.


Describe a test-taking tip or strategy that can be used to help you be successful on state or classroom tests.


We are almost finished reading our first class novel. What have you thought about the novel (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas)? Have you enjoyed reading it? Disliked it? Explain.


What have you thought about the movie so far?


If you were Bruno, would you have told Father about Shmuel? Would you have convinced Father to let you be friends with him? Why or why not?


What is your opinion of Valentine’s Day? Why do you feel this way?


Please summarize the following test tips. You may want to describe what they mean, how to use them effectively, and how they may benefit you when taking the DCAS.

1. Don’t skip the title.2. Look at the text. What genre is it?3. Read the questions and directions HUCC

style.

DCAS Test Tips Review

How do you feel about the upcoming DCAS tests? Do you feel as though your Reading and Math classes have prepared you for the questions? Do you have any anxiety?


How do you feel about your performance on the recent DCAS tests—Reading and/or Math?

Are you happy with your results? Do you wish you had tried harder?


What are your plans for spring break?


If you watched the Superbowl last night, describe your favorite moments. Any highlights from the game or commercials? Where did you watch the game?

If you did not watch the game, describe how you spent your Sunday evening.

Writing Journal #17

what is your most memorable summer experience? where did it take place? what does this experience...

Documents

doctorow writing journal

wishes writing journal

journal warmup

dmswriting journal

source unknownwriting

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richard bachwriting

following quote