Bird by Bird and Brainstorming

Today we went over our tests from Friday. If you have yet to take the test, please see me about scheduling a time to make it up. Then we read an excerpt from Anne Lammott's Bird by Bird and answered the following questions about it. The writing gives some practical advice to creative writers that may be helpful for the stories we will be writing this week. Finally, we took some time to brainstorm for our short stories using this as a guide. Be ready to begin typing your stories in the lab on Wednesday.

Review and Test

Thursday, January 27th

I had a sub today. Today's bellwork is here.

Then we turned in the Dependent and Independent Clauses work we began on Wednesday.

In preparation for our test on Friday, we completed the Short Story Terms Crossword and we answered these questions over the short story Something That Happened.

Finally, we reviewed sentence structure with this handout.

Friday, January 28th

Today's bellwork is here. Then we took a few minutes to review before taking our short story test. If you were absent today, be sure to talk to me about a time when you can make up the test. Have a great weekend!

Performance Testing and Clauses

We spent most of today's class testing our reading level online though the Performance Series Reading Test. If you were gone, you'll probably be pulled out of a class later this semester to take this test.

Upon returning to class we began our work dependent and independent clauses, using this handout as a guide. Talk to a classmate about getting the notes. You can also check this website to help get you started.

Description and Theme

Today's bellwork is here. We then went over this powerpoint on descriptive writing. We then practiced our descriptive writing, by describing fruits. To make this up, please describe a fruit (any type will do) using writing that appeals to all five senses (sight, sound, touch, taste and smell). Please write a half of a page worth of description.

Then we moved on to talk about theme using an excerpt from The Kite Runner as a guide. Please read the short story and turn in a half sheet of paper that lists three possible themes (or lessons) from the short story. Your three themes might concern racism, friendship, bullying or something else you take from the story.

The following is a copy of the homework assigned in class today. Once you've chosen your story from East of the Web, please answer these questions about the story.

Subject/Predicate and Mood

Today we started class off with a little grammar work, specifically with subjects and predicates. It is probably review, but it may be challenging. This website can help with the work. Feel free to talk to classmates to have them help you through it. When you are finished with the handout, turn it in for points.

After the grammar work, we shifted our focus to mood. The following is a powerpoint we took some notes from. Then we read Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven. After reading the poem, we came up with a list of five possible adjectives to describe the poem's mood. Then we read Mary Schmich's Advice, Like Youth, Probably Just Wasted on the Young and came up with another list of five adjectives to describe the piece's mood. Turn in these two sets of adjectives to me if you were absent. If you are having difficulty with this, confer with a classmate.

Characterization

Sorry this is late, but on Friday we focused on characterization. Here is the morning's bellwork. You should have three bellworks to turn in for the week.

We then read a short story from The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien and discussed how the author uses objects to characterize the men in the story.

Afterwards we did some creative writing using objects. This writing does not need to be made up, but make sure you know the difference between concrete and abstract imagery as well as the principle of showing, not telling.

Plot

Today's bellwork is here. We then took a short quiz over the syllabus that need not be made up. Then we took notes (using this handout) over this powerpoint on plot. On the back of the notes sheet, you should fill out a plot diagram for your fairy tale. Then read Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell Tale Heart and fill out the final plot diagram (also on the back of the notes sheet).

Syllabus/Introductions

Today's bellwork is here. We went over the class's syllabus. Be sure to sign this, have a parent/guardian sign it and turn it in to me. We also filled out a notecard with the following information. Finally, we introduced ourselves to a classmate and then did classwide introductions of our partners. This activity cannot (and does not need to) be made up.