Welcome to our Class Blog

This site will serve as a place for our class to post a variety of writing assignments that we will partake in during this school year. I believe that writing is a fundamental skill for all students to excel at, and just as when you are performing a musical piece, a dance, or a play in front of an audience, when you write for an audience it sharpens your performance. There is something about knowing that people are watching, listening, or in our case reading what you have to say that motivates you to think more carefully about what you want to say and as importantly how you say it.

I want you to be creative in your writing, try new techniques and styles, don’t be afraid to voice strong opinions about issues when you have them, but always be able to back up your assertions with hard evidence. You should also not be afraid to stay neutral on topics when you don’t have a strong opinion, or when you can see both sides of an issue and are on the fence. Above all, be true to yourself in your writing, develop your own voice and your own unique style, be concise and stay focused on your task at hand. Most importantly, write often and write well, like with any skill the more you practice it well, the better you will become at it. Read good writing and try to emulate what you think works, taking the best of what you experience and synthesizing it to create your own style.

I look forward to reading your columns and pieces, and to seeing how you progress over the school year, and for those of you who are 9th graders and continue on at ASA, over the next two years. Tell your friends and family to read your writing and leave comments, and I encourage you to read each other’s work and to offer comments, praise, and constructive criticism, as all of this will only help to make you a better writer, a better communicator, and ultimately a more well-rounded human being and engaged citizen of the world. Happy writing!

Sincerely,
Mr. Nicholas