"AVID has contributed in my life [and] in all my classes." - Anabel Grajeda, 8th Grade - Mesa Verde Middle School

 
Write-Off 2004

Congratulations to the winners of the 2003
AVID Region VIII Write-Off!
 
View and download the list of our Regional Winners
 
 
View and download the list of your county's winners now!
 
 
Why is WRITING integral to the AVID Program? AVID answers the "why so much writing?" question in three ways:
Writing promotes clear thinking,
Writing promotes effective and long term learning,
Writing provides individuals and groups in a complex world with a voice and a record.
With its focus on the need for effective writing, the annual AVID Write-Off is a culminating activity for the Region VIII AVID students. It is a competition modeled on the essay selected by the CSU system for its EPT (English Placement Test) given to all entering freshmen, which places students in the appropriate English class for their first semester in college. It has been a standard for AVID students to promote effective written communication, which is essential to collegiate success. The AVID Write-Off is intended to provide the AVID students with an external validation of their ability to demonstrate high levels of written performance. This annual event begins with preparation in the fall to help students develop their writing skills for the Spring competition. Winners from each grade level per site, then county, and ultimately region, will be selected and the winners acknowledged at the May "AVID Write-Off and Senior Recognition".
     
The Theme of this year's Write-Off is:
Personal Experience Essay
 

Download the Practice Prompt here:

AVID Write-Off 2004 Practice Prompt

  
     

Click the link above to visit the Peace Corps website that has texts available to support this year's Write-Off. The Peace Corps Stories section contains nine Peace Corps texts -- around which lesson plans are organized. Representing a variety of genres (personal narratives, fiction, folktales and poetry). The texts are grouped under three themes: Heroes and Friend; Perspectives; and No Easy Answers.

Go to the Lesson Plans section of our website for examples of lessons using Voices from the Field
     
AVID Region VIII Write-Off Timeline
  October 7-9, 2003 First Coordinator Workshops
Distribution of Annual Write-Off Packet
  November 6, 12-13, 2003 Second Coordinator Workshops
AVID Coordinators/Elective teachers bring 3 samples of student practice Write-Off essays using the practice prompt, score these essays to promote understanding and application of the rubric, and review the Write-Off requirements, materials, and calendar in preparation for the competition.
  November - January Practice writing using the materials and practice prompt.
  February 10-13, 2004 Final prompts will be sent to sites. Please note that the administration of the final prompt will occur during the weeks of February 17-27.
  February 17-27, 2004 Actual administration of the final prompt at school sites. Students write the final prompt using the instructional guidelines. Score at sites and submit the site-selected essays to each County Office by no later than Tuesday, March 16, 2004.
See stipulations below**
  March 16, 2004 Submission of site-selected essays to County Office by 5:00 p.m.
  March 23-25, 2004

Third AVID Workshop:
AVID Coordinators score site-submitted essays to determine county winners.

Number of winning essays from each site: **
Once all participating students have written, each school will score the essays and bring the top three per grade level (6-12) to the Third workshop for final scoring to determine county winners. If there are more than 60 students per grade level at a site, the school is allowed to bring up to 5 essays per grade level to be scored.

County Winners will advance to the Regional Scoring committee to determine Region VIII AVID Write-Off Winners.

Number of teachers to score county winners:
The only essays to be scored will be from schools with one teacher representative for every six papers. If this ratio is not met, Region 8 staff will select the papers to be read.
  April 2004 Final Scoring by content area experts and Regional Staff.
  May 26, 2004 AVID Write-Off and Senior Awards Celebration.
     
Check out last year's Region VIII Write-Off Winners!
     
AVID 2002 Write-Off Regional Finalists
AVID 2002 Write-Off Regional Winners
     

You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF files. You may download it here

 
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Copyright ©2002 San Luis Obispo County Office of Education