Equation of Me.

Express yourself as an identity equation. Use coefficients to stress what's most important to you — and rank them in descending order. Use at least 5 descriptors, then end with a future career choice.

Descriptors can be nouns, adjectives, or verbs — I'm not picky here because I want students to freely express themselves. If you're collaborating with an ELA teacher, decide together what's most appropriate.

Do the equation yourself first. It's a way to model the project AND to share something about yourself with the class.

Why is each descriptor important to you? Write a body paragraph for each one. There's no length limit — an average paragraph is about 5 sentences. Be thorough so I can understand who you are.

Add an introduction and a conclusion. Look at the example on the course webpage.

Do the essay yourself before assigning it. You'll anticipate every question students will have, and you'll have a real model to show — not a generic example.

This is also where you set the norm for drafts. Have students do multiple drafts with peer critiques before turning in. Have them include the drafts with the final project so they can see their own growth.

After the first round, save 2–3 exemplary projects as models for future years.

Before turning in, make sure you've done all of the following:

• Typed all the parts
• Included your full name, period, class, and date
• Included the project guideline handout and rubric as the last page

See the example on the course webpage.

This is your first project of the year, so model every part. Show students exactly what excellence looks like. You'll be amazed at the higher quality you get — and you won't have to hand projects back to revise nearly as often.