What’s the ‘ECP’? It’s the English Composition Project that my Year 10 Extension English class is working on this term. For those of you from NSW, you’ll recognise the project as being a mini-English Extension II project. It’s not designed to prepare students for the HSC, it’s designed to give students the opportunity to spend time researching a concept of interest and to compose in a form of their choice. It is the ultimate opportunity for student voice and choice. I love EE2 and think it’s important that all students have the opportunity to create a unique and personal composition; not just those deemed to be ‘the most clever’.
As part of the process of the ECP, students are required to find a mentor. The role of the mentor can be as big or small as the mentor and student feel is necessary. The main purpose of having a mentor is to have someone outside of the classroom who can listen to my students’ ideas, provide feedback and read through drafts at the later stage of the project. I’ve told my students that electronic communication is preferable, unless they know the mentor personally and have sought parental approval. And this is where you, dear readers, come into the picture. I have a number of students who are at a loss as to how to locate a mentor … they have tried a few avenues but have not been successful. Networking in this way is new to my students and so I offered to use my network to see if I can locate mentors for them. Each student who wanted to use my network, needed to record the concept and form of their ECP as this will help you to identify if you can be a mentor for that student if it’s your expertise, or if you can recommend another person to be their mentor. Below is a list of the concepts and forms students would like a mentor for. If you are interested, post your name and Twitter i.d. or email below and I/they will contact you soon. The preferred communication method between mentor and student is via edmodo. (If a line has been put through it, the student has now got a mentor!)
Student 1: Expose (form); What is the point of life? (concept)
Student 2: Magazine article (form); Pop vs Rock (concept)
Student 3: Short story (form); mystery (concept)
Student 4: Critical response (form); vampire culture and its popularity (concept)
Student 5: Speech (form); Do politicians take their personal prejudices to office? (concept)
Student 6: Critical response (form); Should ‘moral crimes’ be regarded as legislation? (concept)
Student 7: Short story (form); fantasy genre (concept)
Student 8: Short story (form); teenage experiences/realism (concept)
Student 9: Blogging (form); Belieberism: fan or freak? (concept)
Student 10: Personal essay (form); emotional/mental triggers (concept)
Student 11: Poetry/Short story (form); Why do we fear? (concept)
Student 12: Blogging (form); Why are people fascinated by the art of Tim Burton? (concept)
Here’s the ECP outline:
Hi Bianca,
I’m sure you wont remember me but I attended the presentation at Davidson High for your English Extension class. I’m not sure if you want preservice teachers involved in this, but if you are I would love to help out.
The topic that I find really interesting is #12, the blog about Tim Burton. I am obsessed with Burton, I love his films and his concept drawings. I even taught a unit on Edward Scissorhands on my first prac using his MoMA exhibit as a part of my lessons.
Once again, I’m not sure if this is what you’re looking for, but I am definitely keen to help out =)
Hi Georgina!! Yep – I remember you! How exciting – yes, I would LOVE you to help out. Are you OK joining up to edmodo so you can connect with the student there? Are you on Twitter? I can send you a DM with the edmodo code.
She’s a great student too – excellent selection!
Hi! I would love to do this! I am most interested in #3 (love the mystery genre) or #4 (always intrigue by the fascination with the vampire culture). My email is rhanson@forsyth.k12.ga.us and my Twitter id is @rhanson2969. Look forward to hearing from you!
Thanks Rachel! I’ll email you the edmodo group code.
Excited you’re interested in our project
I am interested in working with student #3
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I finally made it to your blog. Edmodo is great but things are posted so fast, that if you don’t act upon it immediately or bookmark it, it’s hard to find later. All the topics are very interesting. My daughter is obsessed with Tim Burton as well. We went to see and loved the new movie Frankenweenie. You have some wonderful topics. They all have something unique and exciting, just as good writing should be.
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