NANO BEGINS TOMORROW!/SEQUENCE & PROBLEM/SOLUTION

SENIORS: Last-minute preparations abound! Fill out that packet so you have ideas for your novel, the writing of which begins TOMORROW!!!  Your word-count goal is 20,000 words; there will be a benchmark of 5,000 words for each week.  Each benchmark will be worth 100 points; if you don't reach your benchmark, you'll get a %.  For example, if you reach 2,500 words at the end of the first week, you'll receive 50 points.  Write your novel in Google Docs, then copy and paste into the Nano box; there will be an automatic word count of what you paste.  Happy Writing!

SOPHOMORES: We covered the text structures of Problem/Solution and Sequence.  Click on this link for the directions for Problem/Solution; click on this link for the directions for Sequence.  Click on this link for the Hospital article.  Click on these links for the Green Day article; Page 1 and Page 2.

NANO PREP/TYPES OF TEXT STRUCTURE, BASEBALL PALACE:COMPARE/CONTRAST

ALL CLASSES: Due to my absence, there was no blog on Wednesday.  This blog will cover both Wednesday and today.

SENIORS: Continue working in your Nana packet: the more areas you complete, the less stress you'll have come this Saturday.

SOPHOMORES: Wednesday-- You received two handouts. The first handout, titled Five Expository Text Structures and their Associated Signal Words, is for you to keep so that you can refer back to it during this unit. The second handout didn't really have a title; it was a worksheet that gave you some practice with the five structures.  See me ASAP to get your copies of both handouts.

Thursday-- The focus was on the text structure Compare/Contrast.  Click on this link for the directions.  Click on this link for the article you should read. 

NANO STUFF/SUMMARY FORM

SENIORS: In order to get started with Nano, you need to fill out some forms. Click on this link to get started.  See me if you have any problems.

SOPHOMORES: Today's focus was on the different types of evidence.  In your notebook, titled Matching Evidence, click on this link and write the answers (also in your notebook).  Then read the article on these links; Page 1 and Page 2.  Find one example of each type of evidence in the article and write that example in your notebook right underneath your previous answers.

NANO PACKET/BIAS

SENIORS: I distributed a packet that will help you organize your ideas and your time for Nanowrimo.  Please see me ASAP for this packet.  You will be working with it all this week in preparation for your novel, the writing of which begins this Saturday!

SOPHOMORES: How do you detect bias in writing?  How do you keep bias out of your writing?  The following exercise will help you: click on this link and read the article Kids are Kids. Then, in your notebook under the title Bias, make a list of words and phrases that are emotionally charged, that make you feel that the author is trying to persuade you.  After you finish with the list, pick any 4 sequential paragraphs and rewrite them in a neutral tone.

PROSE RHYTHM/HOW DO WRITERS INTRODUCE IDEAS?

SENIORS: Click on this link for information about prose rhythm.  Then, go back into your action sequence from yesterday and rewrite parts of your story incorporating both short and long sentences; make sure that the sentence length supports the idea you're trying to get across.

SOPHOMORES: How do writers introduce ideas? With that question as your title, copy what is on this link in your notebook.  After that, you will need to come to my room during an Advisory day to complete the assignment as it has several parts and is too complicated to relate in a blog.

CONTINUATION/TEXT FEATURES & MAIN IDEA

SENIORS: Finish the assignment from yesterday and share with me; due at the end of the period.

SOPHOMORES: There were handouts that, due to their format, I was not able to create links for on this blog.  Please see me ASAP and ask for the following handouts: 1) Text Features, 2) Rattlesnake Rustlers, and 3) Main Idea.

ACTION & DIALOGUE/EXPOSITORY POWER POINT

SENIORS: I've read a lot of boring fight and sports scenes.  Look over what's written on this website, including the comments.  Do you agree or disagree with what you read?  What will you try to avoid if you write a fight/sport scene?

Next, go back to yesterday's blog and read the sections from 7 Craft Lessons titled Write a Thrilling Action Sequence and Use Dialogue to Create Conflict.  Then, click on the link to the writing exercises and follow the directions for Write a Thrilling Action Sequence and Use Dialogue to Create Conflict.  Start off with two characters talking and arguing with each other, which then escalates into an action sequence.  Write about a page and share it with me on Googledocs; title it Action.  

SOPHOMORES:  Today we start a new unit: Expository Writing.  Click on the link to this power point and take notes in your notebook on the differences between Narrative, Expository, and Persuasive writing.

7 CRAFT LESSONS: SETTING & APPEARANCE/FLASHBACKS & FINAL DRAFT

All classes: My apologies for not having a blog entry yesterday, the first day I've missed this semester.  I promise to do better.

SENIORS: Add two writing exercises to your notebook, based on the handout I gave on Monday.  See me for the handout or check out these 3 links: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3.  Read the section called Describe a Place.  In your notebook, under the title Setting, follow the exercise instructions on this link for writing a setting. Concentrate on creating significant details, and your writing should take up, roughly, a page.  Then, read the section called Develop a Character's Interior Life and, in your notebook, under the title Appearance, follow the directions on the Writing Exercises link.  Again, concentrate on using significant details, and write for, roughly, one page.

SOPHOMORES: Many of you are trying to incorporate a flashback into your story; however, some of the flashbacks that I've been reading need more development. Click on this link to review what should happen with a flashback.  Look back at Marriage is a Private Affair and The Bracelet to refresh your memory on how flashbacks were used in those stories. The rest of the class time was used to work on creating your final drafts which was due today at the end of the period.

MOTIVATION/PEER EDIT

SENIORS: What is motivation?  What motivates a character's actions in a story? Click on the following links to read a short story that has been divided up in numbered paragraphs.  Link to page 1; link to page 2; link to page 3.The entire story is written from the point of view of one character; we never see or hear the other character(s).  In between each paragraph, create the character(s) that our protagonist is responding to.  What makes him or her respond the way s/he does? Click on this link to see an example of what your work should look like.

SOPHOMORES: Today you gave and received some feedback from a peer in the class. Try to concentrate on identifying the different elements of a story that we have been talking about.  Click on the following 2 links for lists of what should be in your story.  First link; second link. Remember, this story is due Tuesday, Oct.21.  If you don't think you'll be finished with your final draft on that date by working on it just in class, then you have to work on it as homework.

Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey; it's for our WASC certification, so it's important for the school.  Thank you, and here is the link.

BATHROOMS & GOOD VILLAINS/COMMAS

SENIORS: Two assignments to go in your notebook. The first, titled Bathrooms, was a 7-minute freewrite describing different bathrooms you've experienced.  After writing, go back and circle the concrete details and underline the significant details.  If you find that you don't have any significant details, put some in.

     The second assignment, titled The Good Villain, asked you to find a good quality in a bad person.  The idea behind this assignment is to write realistic characters: everyone is not all good, nor are they all bad.  Click on this link to see the specific directions for this writing exercise. 

SOPHOMORES: We did more review work on commas; due to the format of that handout, I am not able to put it on my blog.  Please see me ASAP for a copy.  The rest of the period was devoted to working on turning the rough draft of your short story into a final draft (due Tuesday, Oct. 21).

PSAT

ALL CLASSES: The PSAT was administered today.  Seniors, keep thinking about ideas for your novel; Sophomores, continue working on the final draft of your short story (due Tuesday, Oct. 21).

SCARY TIME/COMMA SPLICES

SENIORS: More practice with concrete and significant detail.  Click on this link for the work you should put in your notebook under the title Scary Time.

Tomorrow is the PSAT for Sophomores (and some Juniors), which I have to proctor in my room.  Go straight to the Big Gym and make contact with anyone who looks like they're taking attendance.

SOPHOMORES: There was a mini-lesson on comma splices. Click on this link for practice you should put in your notebook under the title  Comma Splices. The rest of the period was dedicated to revising the rough draft of your short story.

Remember, tomorrow is the PSAT; go to your assigned testing room instead of your regular 1st period class.  The PSAT lasts from periods 1-4.

FIRST DRAFTS/ROUGH DRAFT DUE

SENIORS: In your notebook, under the title Freewrite Weekend, spend 5 minutes writing about anything that pops into your mind about this past weekend. Don't worry about spelling, punctuation, syntax,etc.--just keep the pen moving, without stopping, for 5 solid minutes. 

Also, you read an article that gave some good advice about writing a first draft. You were to annotate for every paragraph, including the text feature at the top of the page giving information about the author. Due to its format, I couldn't put the article on my blog, so get a copy from me ASAP.

SOPHOMORES: First, we reviewed MLA format. I will be taking 5 points off of work not shared with me in MLA format. Next, I showed you how to find old information on past blogs (type the keyword in the search box located in the upper left hand corner).  Lastly, you had time to finish your rough draft, due at the end of the period today.  Don't forget to highlight and identify the elements I'm looking for in the rough draft.  In case you've forgotten, here is the link to what needs to be present.  Also, when you highlight, pick ONE pastel color; I find it distracting when I read papers that have bold, multicolored highlights. 

CONCRETE AND SIGNIFICANT DETAILS/ROUGH DRAFT

SENIORS: You worked in your groups of 4 to rewrite a paragraph using significant details.  Here is the link describing the difference between concrete and significant details.  That link also has the paragraph that needs revision.  Put the revised paragraph in your notebook under the title Concrete and Significant Details.

SOPHOMORES: You had class time to work on the rough draft of your short story. Here is the link (again) for what needs to be present in the rough draft.  Besides having those elements present, you need to highlight and identify where they appear in the rough draft.  You won't need to highlight and identify dialogue because that will be obvious due to punctuation.  You might not have a clear theme yet that you can highlight; so for that, just write your theme at the bottom of the rough draft.

Also, in order to make your descriptions more vivid, I introduced the techniques of using concrete and significant details.  Here is the link for examples.  Ignore the paragraph that begins, "I was quite poor..." 

DEFINITION OF FICTION/EPIPHANY

SENIORS: First you had a focused freewrite. Here is the link to the directions.  Then, in your group of four, you read an article about the definition of fiction, discussing with your group what you agreed with and what you disagreed with.  Here is the link to the article.  We finished by making a whole class T-Chart, listing the observations of the groups.

SOPHOMORES: Today you worked with the concept of the epiphany, that time in a character's life when s/he has a sudden realization. Create a Google Doc, then follow the directions on this link and share with me. The rest of the period was devoted to working on the rough draft of your short story which is due Monday, Oct. 13.

BOOK REVIEW

All classes: Today you wrote a book review based on an Independent Reading Book that you are reading or have read.  The review needed to be three paragraphs long, based on prompts.  Here is a link to the prompts.  The book review was due at the end of the period.

SHOW UP FOR WORK/SHOW AND TELL

SENIORS: What kinds of commitments do authors need to make?  Read the article Show Up for Work and answer some questions.  I can't put the article on my blog, so get a copy from me ASAP.  However, here is a link to the questions.  Put the answers in your notebook under the title Show Up for Work.

SOPHOMORES: We went over what I expect to see in both the rough and final drafts of your short story.   Here is a link to that information.  Your rough draft is due Monday, Oct. 13. We also went over the concept of writing known as Show and Tell.  Here is a link that gives examples of the differences between showing a reader what is happening in a story and telling a reader what is happening. Also, if you don't have any ideas for a short story, here is a link to some prompts that might help.

STORY IDEAS

ALL CLASSES: We worked on creating a well of story ideas for your next big assignment.  If you are a Senior, that assignment is writing a novel for Nanowrimo; if you are a Sophomore, that assignment is writing a short story.  Ideas can come from anywhere; they can come from your experiences, your interests, your triumphs, your sadnesses--or they could come from something you learned about/from someone else. They can be based on fact or fly out of your imagination.  Most everyone will have a different starting point, so don't worry about comparing yourself to what others are doing; each of you will have your own process.
     In your notebook, under the title Your Turn (Seniors) or Ideas (Sophomores), "Write down 10 things that might possibly serve as story ideas, drawing from things that happened to you over the past week--people, emotions, thoughts, situations.  Nothing is too big or small, cosmic or microscopic.  Then, review your list and pick the idea that looks the most promising for a story.  The right idea will probably give you a buzz when you see it.  Then list several ways in which this idea might be turned into a fictional story.  Will your idea result in a brilliant story?  Maybe, maybe not.  But you'll probably discover how plentiful ideas can be." (Writing Fiction, Gotham Writers' Workshop Faculty, 12).

FINAL DRAFT/WORK REVIEW

SENIORS: Your final draft was due today at the end of Period 1.  I will be reading them over the weekend.  Start thinking about story possibilities as we will begin preparing for Nanowrimo on Monday.

SOPHOMORES: We reviewed many past assignments.  It is important to understand the techniques authors use to create interesting stories as we will begin the process of writing your own short story on Monday.  

You may still turn in missing assignments for partial credit.  Check Gradebook to see if there is anything you need to do.

Have a great weekend everyone! 

DRAFT/TILTED NAKED WEIRDO

SENIORS: Continue working on your paper, getting it into final draft form for this Friday.  Also, I passed out a flyer about Senior Ads for the Yearbook.  If you were absent or lost your copy, see me.



 SOPHOMORES: Why do we write?  That question gets answered in the article we read today titled Tilted Naked Weirdo.  Due to its format, I can't create a link for that article, so you'll need to get a copy from me; however, here is the link to the questions you need to answer (put the answers in your notebook under the title Why We Write).

FINAL DRAFT/YES-NO

SENIORS: You are now in the final push to finish your letter or statement.  The final draft is due at the end of the period this Friday.

SOPHOMORES: Today we talked about diction and tone.  Click on this link for part of the assignment which you will share with me as a new document.  Click on this link for the other part of the assignment which you will share with me as a new document. Both of these assignments are due tomorrow by 6pm.