First Nine Weeks Project Hall of Fame

Please click this link to see the 10 student papers that best demonstrated the knowledge and skills required by this project. 

Congratulations to the following students who made "Mr. Hall's Hall of Fame" by writing these outstanding narrative texts:

Tristan Pruitt
Andrea Morillon
Joshua M. Jones
Aaron Bosley
Tre'Von Chatman
Angel Reyes
Trentin Williams
Sabre Baskin
Cala Hilary
Miasija Joiner

First Nine Weeks Project Submissions

Turn in your project by copying it, pasting it in the comment below, and then clicking submit.

Make sure to include your name, block, and the date in your comment.

If you do not feel comfortable sharing your narrative with the class due to its personal content, please instead submit it via email to rhall@bhm.k12.al.us.

First Nine Weeks Project Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.3: Analyze the impact of the author's choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters are introduced and developed).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. (Include Shakespeare as well as other authors.)

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.5: Analyze how an author's choices concerning how to structure specific parts of a text (e.g., the choice of where to begin or end a story, the choice to provide a comedic or tragic resolution) contribute to its overall structure and meaning as well as its aesthetic impact.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

·         CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3.A: Engage and orient the reader by setting out a problem, situation, or observation and its significance, establishing one or multiple point(s) of view, and introducing a narrator and/or characters; create a smooth progression of experiences or events.

·         CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3.B: Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, reflection, and multiple plot lines, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.

·         CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3.C: Use a variety of techniques to sequence events so that they build on one another to create a coherent whole and build toward a particular tone and outcome (e.g., a sense of mystery, suspense, growth, or resolution).

·         CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3.D: Use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture of the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters.

·         CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3.E: Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on what is experienced, observed, or resolved over the course of the narrative.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.5: Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.

First Nine Weeks Project Model

Click here for model responses to each of the five Common Application prompts. Please use these models for instruction and inspiration for your own essays.

First Nine Weeks Project Rubric

Click here to see the rubric I will use when grading your essays. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about the rubric prior to submitting your essay.

First Nine Weeks Project Directions

For this project, you will write a narrative essay that you can submit as your personal essay when you are applying to colleges next year.

We will go over the project standards, rubric, and model in class, but they are also all available on this site for your perusal so you can understand every aspect of why and how we are doing this project and what is expected of you.

We will plan and outline our essays in class the week of September 14-18. We will decide on our essay topics and discuss how to develop them in the essay. We will outline the essay to make sure it meets the criteria set forth in the rubric. It is imperative that you use this time wisely.

We will write our essays in the computer lab the week of September 21-25 and September 28. We will proofread and revise our essays so they are perfectly polished. It is very important that you use your time wisely so you will have time to edit your essay based on peer/teacher feedback.

Here are a few more requirements.

Your narrative essay must be TRUE. You must write about a real experience.

Your narrative essay should be written in first person point of view.

You should seriously consider writing a narrative essay that follows the structure we studied in class: Exposition --> Rising Action --> Climax --> Falling Action --> Resolution

Your narrative essay should use sensory words so the reader can "see" your story.

Your narrative essay cannot be more than 650 words.

You must respond to one of the following essay prompts from the 2015-2016 Common Application:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

If you are having trouble generating ideas for your narrative essay, or if you want to read outstanding essays that have been written by others, please click this link to the materials we read and discussed in class.

All papers must be printed out and turned in to me by September 25th (A Day)/September 28th (B Day). Papers should be in Times New Roman 12 font, single-spaced, and with paragraph indents. You should put your name and your block in the header and the class name (Hall ELA 11) and your submission date in the footer.

Papers must also be submitted as comments to the Project Submission post at the top of this blog so we will have a saved electronic copy of your essay when it comes time for you to apply to college next year. Make sure to put your name at the bottom of your comment.

Your final grade on your paper will show up as "PBL Anchor Activity" in your Chalkable grades section. However, your participation during the project as well as your topic ideas, outlines, and other tasks related to the project will also be graded during "PBL Portfolio Checks" and for your overall "PBL Participation" grade.

Late papers will lose 10 points per day. If you do not submit a paper, you will fail the assignment.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should contact me directly.