Semester II Final

8th Grade Language Arts Semester II Final

Expository Essay
Instructions: Using the skills you have learned throughout this semester, plan, write and proofread and expository essay in response to the prompt below.

Prompt:

Writing Situation: Over the course of the past school year, everyone in this school has changed some way or another. Change, it has been said, is the only constant.

Directions for Writing: Think of how you have changed physically, mentally, and socially over this past school year. Consider things like your studies, your relationships, your life. Using these details, write to explain to Mr. Chase what the biggest changes have been and how they will affect your path in life.

To Receive Full Credit You Must:

• Complete a planning sheet for this essay.
• Properly formatted, edited essay.*

*If you have forgotten how to properly format a typed essay, you can find the guidelines saved under Teacherdrop, Chase, Your Class Period in the file names “Essay Formatting Guidelines.”

When you have finished, save your essay as follows. Also, print a copy of your essay to the printer in Rm. 115.

To save, name your essay with your last name and the words “Final Essay.” For example, my essay would be saved as “Chase Final Essay.”

Save the file as Teacherdrop, Chase, Your Class Period, Final Essay

Bayou Letter Addresses

Pick one of the agencies below to write your letter to. Click on the name of the organization so you can find their address.

Environmental Protection Agency

Southwest Florida Water Management District

Sarasota City Commission

Formal Letters

Welcome! Here are the notes for today. They are due by the end of class period today.

What to Say:

• Be formal and courteous.
• Make your point briefly and clearly.
• Include all the information the person will need.

Correct Form:

1. Heading: Contains your address and the date. Pay careful attention to capitalization and punctuation.
2. Inside Address: This address is the same address that you will use on the envelope. It appears at the left-hand margin. Include the name and title, if you know it, of the person to whom you are writing. Follow the same punctuation and capitalization rules that you use for the heading. You may use standard abbreviations.
3. Greeting: Skip a line or leave space between the inside address and the greeting. Use a colon (:) after the greeting. If you do not know the name of a person to write to, use Dear Sir or Madam:, or use the company's name after Dear.
4. Body: Write your message. Indent each paragraph unless you are using block style.
5. Closing: Skip a line or leave space before the closing and line it up with the heading. Use a formal closing such as Yours truly, or Sincerely yours. Capitalize only the first word of the closing.
6. Signature: Write your full name under the closing. Then print or type it under the signature.