The World Studies IDEA BOOK
![]() The Idea Book is an interdisciplinary assignment (connecting English, World History, and Chemistry) that requires students to delve deeper into ideas or global issues introduced in class. Each grading period, students will be working on a prompt from English, World History, and Chemistry, as well as a global choice prompt and a free-choice self-directed prompt. See Mrs. Webster if you need help brainstorming ideas. While students are tempted to lament the fact that they are assigned "five whole essays!!!," the truth is that a well-written Idea Book entry is 1 and a half to 2 pages long. Really, students will be averaging 1-2 pages of writing per week. Totally doable!
Idea Book Pacing
![]() Years ago, Idea Books were due in
the 5th week of each grading period. We learned from experience that make up work, end-of-unit tests, final exams (and sometimes procrastination on the part of students...gasp!) led to a very stressful end of the grading period for some. For that reason, IDEA BOOKS will always be due in the middle of the NEXT grading period. That will allow students time for re-writes before the final grades are determined, and parents will have more of a heads-up if a student has not submitted the Idea Book. For the final grading period, students will work primarily on end-of-year culminating activities (after they've submitted their 4th Idea Book Set) and they will write one culminating essay that reflects upon their growth during the school year. Idea Book Draft Checks: The Idea Book collection of writing is not so terrifying if you go home and brainstorm (maybe even draft a first response!) the first night you receive a prompt. Then, revisit the Idea Book entry a couple of days later for some serious revision. Cut out things that don't work, and expand on points that need elaboration. Make sure you have an attention-grabbing introduction and a conclusion that drives home your point. A few days later, dive back in for another revision -- sometimes, you may have even changed your mind or you might have thought of something new to add. In the last week before Idea Books are due, proofread your work. Ask someone else to proofread your work, too! If this writing process does not happen, then you're likely to fall into the deep dark pit of procrastination. We trust you to set up your own writing schedule, we really do. But we want to PROTECT you from yourself, too. So for this first semester (and maybe longer), we will be checking on your progress. Look for IDEA BOOK DRAFT CHECKS in all classes. When you are asked to bring a draft to class, that means that you have crafted a version that already meets the length requirements, but you may not be finished with revisions or proofing. A paragraph or two does not equal a draft (that's just brainstorming). |
Idea Book Prompts:
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