1st Assignment: The Ode - Feedback and Scores

Generally, I was a bit disappointed with this writing assignment, but I blame some of this on myself.  By providing an example of something a former student wrote, I might have misled you into thinking that it was something to emulate.  Too many "odes" (most of them) shared the same tone and structure and "letter of apology" approach that "Dear Zzappegeuti" had, and no class has been able to match the 14th wave's creativity when I first assigned this a long time ago (probably because I didn't give them as much direction).  I simply said "make it poetic and take some risks" with your creative prose, and try not to write to something boring and mundane that is generic to everyone.

That said, I encourage you to read the criteria for each assignment I post here on the blog.  I may not mention a lot of this in class (I would like classes to be more discussion based), but I do expect you to read carefully and make sure you've thought about the guidelines. I did say I wanted you to use alliteration and repetition with some poetic description, working towards true "apostrophe" and personification. That's why I referenced Keats.

As for the scores below, if you see "Pending" next to your name, that means you will get your score once you've made the changes to your first draft on the blog.  If you don't make them, you get an 88.  If you do make the changes, the sky is the limit.  Why am I doing it like this?

•  It takes me a bit of time to read your work, and even longer to mark it up with red pen. I want to make sure my time is not wasted.
• If you don't address your mistakes, you won't improve your writing, and you may end up attending Harvard University still mixing verb tenses and writing sentences without "the" or "a" in them.  
• I realize some of you have spent little to no time abroad, so I don't think it is fair for you to get a B because of that.  If your effort to improve is earnest and displayed, I will focus mostly on content.  But I have to see the effort.  

I have left comments on all of your work, and if you want to change the content that is fine.  That goes for everyone - "Pending" or not. If I see a second draft of anything (always label it "Second Draft" and do not delete the first one), or extra writing, it will definitely count towards Participation scores and put you in a good position for a better score at the end of the year.  This is another reason why I prefer using the blogs over paper.

Again, I think you will find less generosity with grades now that you are no longer Freshman.  Try to produce quality work consistently, try to say things in class, and try to get things in on time.  I will deduct .5 per day from now on.

Charizard	9.3
Mewtwo	9.2
Blastoise	9.25
Lugia	9.0
Dragonite	9.3
Rayquaza	9.3
Zapdos	8.95
Tyranitar	9.0
Arcanine	9.1
Ho-Oh	9.0
Venusaur	8.9
Gengar	9.2
Raikou	9.2
Kyogre	9.3
Snorlax	9.0
Alakazam	9.4
Scizor	8.9