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
Cos/Con Grading Rubric
Omnibus Entries Due
Period 1: December 1, 2008
Period 2: December 1, 2008
Omnibus Prompts:
(1) September 17, 2008 (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 23, 2008 (Pds1, 2, and 3)
Using good descriptive writing, describe the “dumbest” thing that you ever did growing up.
(3) Septemberr 24, 2008 (Pds1, 2, and 3)
Byron and Buphead have just caught up with Kenney after Kenney read to their class; using good descriptive writing, describe what will happen next.
(4) September 29, 2008 (Pds1, 2, and 3)
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 1, 2008 (Pds1, 2, and 3)
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 8 and 9, 2008 – Periods 1, 2, and 3 Was Byron’s “punishment” of Larry Dunn just? Why or why not?
(7) October 22, 2008 – Periods 1 and 2
Describe a time that you felt like especially close to some member of your family.
For extra credit, respond to the following:
What's going on with Byron? How can someone who can torture human kids all day long feel sorry for a "stupid little grayish brown" bird?
For your Extra Credit Journal entry, make sure to mark the same "EC" or "Extra Credit."
(8) November 19, 2008
Using good “show me – don’t tell me language” describe a surprise.
(9) November 20, 2008
Using good descriptive writing, describe a family (or other group) road trip.
(10) Periods 1&2 – November 25, 2008
Write a Jane Shaffer 5 paragraph essay format (I SERC U) persuasive essay on the following prompt. To support your thesis, use concrete details from the story and our classroom comments/discussion about the historical time period in which this story is set. Prompt: Was Dad acting responsible on this road trip?
