EPOWs - Things You Should Know

•	EPOW does not stand for English Prisoner of War.  It stands for English Piece of Writing and sometimes Extra Piece of Writing.  
•	Each 8th grader is required to hand in an EPOW every Monday.  This means that unless there is a holiday and we don't have school that Monday, an EPOW is due.  
•	Once in a blue moon your teacher or substitute teacher may forget to tell you to write down EPOW as your HW assignment on Friday.  Your EPOW will still be expected on Monday.  Do yourself a favor and write EPOW on every Friday of your assignment book now so you won't forget.
•	Spelling counts.   Use a dictionary, ask your parents or use a computer spell checker.  However, remember that spell chequers can mess ewe up and ewe could end up with a papier with pour spelling.
•	Grammar counts.  I ain't gonna give no homies 100 percent on theys EPOW if they gonna write like dis sentence hurr.  Use proper grammar.  Use slang where appropriate but try not to make a habit of using it in your EPOW.
•	Your EPOW should be at least one page long.  It may be longer if you want it to be or if it makes sense for it to be.  Do not stop writing a journal entry or a part of a story simply because you have fulfilled the one page requirement.  Do not skip lines.  Do not write one big word that takes up the entire page.
•	Your EPOW must be in cursive unless you type it.  Typed EPOWs are preferred but not required. 

What shall you write?
A 1 page journal entry (not in your journal but on a piece of paper)
A short story (fiction or nonfiction)
A chapter book (each EPOW could be a different chapter for your book)
Poetry
A response to Literature (explain your thoughts and feelings about what you are reading)
A book recommendation
An article for The Buzzz (Middle School Newsletter).  It cannot be one that Mrs. Wuttke has already required you to write (no double dipping!)
A play (each EPOW could be a scene)
A comedy or drama sketch
A response to a writing prompt (Writing prompts can be found at http://www.geocities.com/mscognato/writingprompts.html)