What is an Omnibus?
Although the term “omnibus” has several definitions, it is defined in the Quick definitions section of Refdesk.com as an anthology of the works of a single author. I have also heard it defined as a compilation of writing by a single author. In our class, an omnibus contains a collection of writing/essays on various topics over a one month period. It is designed to allow the student to experiment with writing full essays on a variety of topics, edit and rewrite the same, and then select the best of his/her month’s writing for an individual grade. The rest of his/her essays are then graded as a whole. The student will receive two 100 point grades per month. One grade for the selected or individual omnibus and one general omnibus grade reflecting the overall quality of all of the non-selected essays taken as a whole.
Omnibus Cover Sheet PDF Format
Omnibus Cover Sheet Word Format with space to copy paste student responses
Cos/Con Grading Rubric
Omnibus Entries Due
Period 1: October 8, 2009
Period 2: October 13, 2009
Period 3: October 20, 2009
Omnibus Prompts:
1) September 16, 2009 (Pds1, 2, and 3)
Using good descriptive writing, describe the “meanest/funniest” trick ever played on you when you were a kid, or that you ever played on someone else or that you ever heard about being played on someone.
2) September 17, 2009 (Pds1, 2, and 3)
Using good descriptive writing, describe the “dumbest” thing that you ever did growing up.
3) September 22, 2009 – Byron and Buphead have just caught up with Kenney after Kenney read to their class. Assume that the author died at this particular moment, and using good descriptive writing, you finish this scene of the story. (Note: Students who have a documented absence for September 22, 2009, do not need to write on this prompt as one would have needed to have been in class to properly respond to it.)
4) September 24, 2009 - Using good descriptive “show me don’t tell me” writing, describe a time that you were a new kid at school or a time that you witnessed someone else who was a new kid at school.
5) October 6, 2009 - Using good “show me – don’t tell me” language, describe a time that you let down a friend or were let down by a friend yourself.
6) October 7, 2009 - Using good descriptive writing, describe the “best lie/tall tale” that you ever told or that was ever told to you. Make sure to describe the entire situation and remember that this is a creative writing prompt! [Note: This is an “extra credit” prompt for students in period 1. However, to obtain extra credit, students must mark EC at the top of the prompt.]
7) October 13, 2009 – Extra Credit prompt - Was Byron’s “punishment” of Larry Dunn just? Why or why not?
8) October 20, 2009 - Students in periods 1 & 2 must choose one of the following prompts, or may write on both prompts for extra credit, but must indicate which prompt was written for extra credit. Students in period 3 do not have to write on either prompt, but may write on the first listed prompt for extra credit.
9) (1) Using good “show me/don’t tell me language,” describe an embarrassing moment. (2) Using good “show me/don’t tell me language,” describe the time that you first felt accepted by the “big kids” and a part of their group.
10) Prompt - Using good show me/don’t tell me language describe a special surprise.
11) Prompt – Tuesday, October 17, 2009 - Students must choose one of the following prompts (students may choose both for extra credit; however, if a student chooses to do so, s/he must identify which prompt should be graded as extra credit): Discuss how it must feel to live in a culture where all of the “cultural icons” are depicted in a race different from your own. OR: Using good show me/don’t tell me language describe the worst present that you ever received and your response to it.
12) Prompt – Tuesday, October 17, 2009 - Prompt - Using good show me/don’t tell me language describe a family or “other” (team etc.) road trip.
