English II Tips

1. Sample work – breaking down revision into parts.
2. Peer Review: Sample Questions.  Instead of working in groups, it might be better for students to work on these individually.  An important question to ask before they've received the comment sheet but after they have read two student essays is "Given what you've read, what would you like to revise in your own essay?"  This fosters a metacognitive approach to writing, helping them see the qualities that help an essay work -- and those that don't -- and to begin internalizing them.
3. Quizzes/writing in class
1. We've both discovered this is the only way to ensure students will read the material.  One way of getting around the grading burden, is to walk around the room, checking what students have written, and then letting them grade their own papers.  
2. To prompt discussion, try asking students to freewrite on a topic at the beginning of class: that can be the basis of initial discussion.
4. Performance in class
1. Since most drama (Shaw, as always, being the exception) was written to be performed, try having selected students act out or complete a staged reading of  portions of a play.  This allows them to experience the challenges and joys of bringing words to life and allows others to experience being an audience.
5. Group work (might have to scroll down a bit)
1. To keep students on task, have students address specific questions, and have them respond in writing.  Consider reinforcing the basic conventions that we take for granted when writing about literature: 1) introduce quote; 2) insert quote; 3) explain how the quote proves point