Communication

ASSIGNMENT 1: Stealing First Base

Learning Target (Curricular Competencies):

  • Access information for diverse purposes and from a variety of sources to inform writing
  • Transform ideas and information to create original texts
  • Use acknowledgements and citations to recognize intellectual property rights

Task:

Writers, even professional writers, are not adverse to "stealing" or using lines that come from other sources. Usually a writer acknowledges these sources when they read or publish their work. Interesting things happen when we "lift" words from a source other than our own brain or imagination. Surprising new vocabulary, insights, or ideas can happen in our work.

So -- head to the library or online. Choose six different books or songs or pieces of poetry and lift a word or phrase from each of those sources. It works well to choose a series of book titles or to find random lines that speak to you.  Be creative in your selections.  Demonstrate your ability to use other sources to inspire your own creativity and create original work.

Now, having stolen to first base, make that piece of work your own. Rearrange the words or lines, add your own words, create a piece that was inspired by others, but written by you. (with a little help from your friends...)

IMPORTANT

Be sure to acknowledge your sources in MLA format. Read the handout on MLA CITATION in Class Handouts at the top of the course.

There are also a number of online sites that will generate your citations for you!! Try citationmachine.

You will need 6 citations.

Assessment:  Below you will find the exemplary criteria used to assess the assignment.  

Learning Target: (Exemplary 6/6): Exemplary comprehension of the task and clear accomplishment of the objective.  Student accesses information from diverse sources to transform ideas and information to create original text.  Student accurately uses acknowledgements and citations to recognize intellectual property rights by citing sources using correct formatting.

Written Expression:  (Exemplary (6/6):  Sentence structure and vocabulary are varied, skillfully written, and carefully chosen.  Work has been proofread and there are few or no errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.  Content contributes to the central idea and makes insightful connections with logical organization.

Submission:

Use the "2.1 Stealing First Base - Citation" link on the main page of this section of the course to upload your assignment to your teacher for marking.