Positive

Negative

I went to camp

Only child

I was born

Got braces

My bar mitzvah

Im short

Got tempurpedic pillow

I broke my nose

Michigan State won the 100th rose bowl

I got stung by a bee

Paragraphs:
I went to camp: When I was seven years old I always wanted to be like my brother. When I
heard that my brother goes to camp, I wanted to go to camp. He went to North Star camp for 4
years as a camper and 3 as a counselor. That year I asked my parents to go to camp, so I went
and toured camp and I loved it so the next year I got on the bus to camp and it turned into my
second home and I love it. I just finished my sixth summer there.
I was Born: My Parents had My older siblings (twins) in 1996. After that they wanted one more
baby for about 4 years and than lost hope. A few months later my mom was surprised to find out
that she was pregnant. After nine months my mother went into labor, and I was born 9 pounds
15 ounces and I entered the world.
My Bar Mitzvah: In the Jewish religion when a boy or girl turns 13 they lead a service that
includes reading torah and special prayers. After the service many have a party and are then
considered an adult in the religion. For my bar Mitzvah I practiced hebrew for almost a full year,
I made many speeches on the meaning of my torah portion, and I endlessly studied. Finally the
day of my Bar Mitzvah I read it all and I was very excited to release the stress from my body and
I had an amazing time.
I got a tempurpedic pillow: This is not very significant in my life but if I really think about it, it
impacts my life. Before my pillow I had very terrible pillows and it took forever to fall asleep and
I would be tired the next day. Now, I have an amazing pillow and I fall asleep easily and I feel
refreshed and energetic each day. That helps me be happy and fun throughout the weeks.
Michigan state won the rose bowl: Something important about me is I am the biggest Spartan
fan in the world. My dad is an alumni and now my siblings both attend the school. My favorite
thing in the world is Michigan State University. I follow football very closely and in 2013-21014
the new playoff system started. I wanted to make it but was disappointed until I learned that

we were competing in the 100th Rose Bowl. I stayed up all night and went crazy when we
defeated Stanford and it was one of the happiest moments I can remember.
Only Child: Technically I am not an only child and I have a brother and a sister. But they both
attended Michigan State last year for the first time and I felt like an only child which to me is
even worse because you know you have siblings but you cant see them every day. Growing up
my siblings were always there to comfort me, entertain me, and overall be a good relative and
friend. Without them I get bored around the house and I get very frustrated when I want to do
something, but I have no one to do it with.
I got braces: Last November I got braces. Lets just say I am not a fan of braces and every other
thing they put in your mouth to make your teeth more appealing. I do understand that later in
life I will be glad I got them, but while I have them they just plain stink, They are hard to eat with,
they get really gross when you eat, and also they look like they are; metal squares, on your
mouth. I do not enjoy the process and theyre one of the more annoying things in my life.
Im Short: I am 5 feet tall in eighth grade. That is a lot less than the average size, and there are
some advantages, but first hand experience makes you outway the positives with negatives. Ll
and I feel like Im really good but one of the worst things ever is when my new coach looks at
you and judges me by my size. Every year the first few games I get little playing time because of
my size, and than I have to work my way from the bottom to working as hard as I can until my
coach finally realizes that I can play even if Im short. For me the physical aspect of being short
is not the worst, the worst is being automatically judged as incapable because of my height.
I broke my nose: I used to play travel baseball (but stopped to go to camp for eight weeks.) and
I played centerfield and occasionally pitched. One cold day I was in center, and my coach called
me in to pitch. So I got on the pitcher's mound and pitched. I pitched very well. At one point
there was a guy on third. When you are the pitcher and there is someone on third and you throw
a wild pitch, you cover home plate. I did exactly that and the person on third stole home and
was safe before the catcher retrieved the ball. The catcher did not know that because he turned
around and through the ball as I was about to turn and walk back and then he hit me square in
the nose. Immediately I fell to the ground holding my nose in pain and I later knew it was broken
and I sat the rest of the game. There is still a bump in my nose from 2013.
I was stung by a bee. When I was about five I loved playing outside with my dad. One day we
were playing a game and sitting in some beach chairs when I clapped my hands and I didnt
realize that I hit a bee and it stung me in my palm. For me at the time, it was the most traumatic
thing ever. I refused to go outside for almost a week and I was so paranoid that I would never
even clap in fear that I would be stung again. I guess it kind of worked because I have never
been stung again (knock on wood).

W.8.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or

events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and
well-structured event sequences:

Not Yet Meeting

Approaching
Standard

Meeting Standard

Exceeding Standard

Struggled to
orient the reader.
Struggled to use
dialogue or
description to
develop
experiences,
events or
characters. Used
transitions to
manage the
sequence of
events. Struggled
to convey
experiences and
events. Did not
provide a
conclusion.

Oriented the
reader by
establishing a
context and
introducing a
narrator and/or
characters. Used
dialogue,
description, and
pacing to develop
experiences,
events, and/or
characters. Used a
variety of
transitions shift
from one time
frame or setting to
another. Used
descriptions and
sensory words to
convey
experiences or
events. Provided a
conclusion that
somewhat follows
from the events.

Engaged and
oriented the reader
by establishing a
context and point of
view and introducing
a narrator and/or
characters. Used
dialogue, pacing,
description, and
reflection to develop
experiences, events,
and/or characters.
Used a variety of
transitions and
phrases to shift from
one time frame or
setting to another
and show the
relationships
between experiences
and events. Used
descriptions and
sensory words to
convey experiences,
action, or events.
Provided a
conclusion that
follows from the
events.

Engaged and oriented

the reader by setting
out a problem,
situation, or
observation,
establishing one or
multiple point(s) of
view, and introducing
a narrator and/or
characters. Used
dialogue, pacing,
description, reflection,
and multiple plotlines
to develop
experiences, events,
and/or characters.
Used a variety of
transitions and
phrases to build upon
each experience and
create a coherent
whole. Used
descriptions and
sensory words to
convey experiences,
action, or events.
Provided a conclusion
that follows from and
reflects on the events.

W.8.4: Produce writing where the development, organization, and

style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience:
Not Yet Meeting

Approaching
Standard

Meeting
Standard

Exceeding
Standard

Struggled to
produce writing
where the
development,
organization, or
style was
appropriate to task,
purpose, or
audience.

Produced writing
where the
development,
organization, or style
was somewhat
appropriate to task,
purpose, or
audience.

Produced writing
where the
development,
organization, and
style are
appropriate to
task, purpose, and
audience.

Produced writing
where the
development,
organization, and
style are best suited
to task, purpose, and
audience.