Happy Monday!

Agenda

DO NOW: Is the rough draft of your story complete? Please spend a few minutes putting the finishing touches on it!

Period 3

1. Pass back work/grammar discussion!
2. Peer Editing: Please use the worksheet provided. Add comments to your peer's story.
3. Polished final copy is due Wednesday!

Period 4

1. We are going to begin our children's literature unit!
2. Please read the information below.
3. We will then pick up The Witches By Roald Dahl.

Children's Literature

Answer the following questions in your notebooks:

What is children's literature?

What are the characteristics of children's literature?

Why study it on the high school level?

Please read all of the information on this page:

http://www.englishliteraturenotes.com/Childrens_Literature/What_is_Childrens_Literature.html

Roald Dahl
Dahl was a very interesting man. He was a novelist, short story writer, poet, fighter pilot and screenwriter.
Some of his notable works include James and the Giant Peach. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Witches, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Twits, Georgia's Marvellous Medicine, and The BFG. Read more about Dahl at http://www.roalddahl.com/.



Some information on The Witches
Roald Dahl’s imaginative stories capture the attention of elementary students. In his book, The Witches, Roald Dahl takes children an adventure they will love. Like most of Roald Dahl's stories, the characters are richly described and have unusual traits. In this story the grandmother smokes big, black cigars and the kitchen staff spits in cranky customers food before serving it. These and other little details make the book a fun read aloud choice. (brighthubeducation.com)

Scholastic Art and Writing

Third Period

The deadline for Scholastic Art and Writing is fast approaching! Our region's deadline is January 4th. With the winter break coming fast, we do not have many school days to get this together. There are 27 categories, and the creative writing department will pay the entry fee for those interested in entering this contest. Aren't you excited? I sure am! 

 

Please spend 1st period looking over the contest guidelines and deciding if and what you plan to submit. You can also register online today.

 

Categories

http://www.artandwriting.org/the-awards/how-to-submit/categories

 

 

How to Submit

http://www.artandwriting.org/the-awards/how-to-submit

 

 

 

Fourth Period

• Spend some time working on your stories. 
• We will peer edit formally on Monday, but if you want to have a peer look over your work today and get informal feedback, that is fine! 

Homework: Finish your rough draft! Stories should be 5-8 pages. Plan to peer edit and finish a final copy early next week.

Happy MP3!

Good Morning!

I cannot believe it is already MP3! I would like to wrap up discussion on The First Part Last and continue to work on our stories today.

Agenda

Period 3

1. Check in
2. Group discussion on The First Part Last
3. Small group discussion in The First Part Last

Period 4

1. Discuss how stories are coming along/set guidelines
2. How many pages have you written so far?
3. Writing time
4. Peer editing (if ready)

Homework: Work on stories? We will discuss this in class. Stay tuned :)

The First Part Last Discussion Questions
(You should have questions 1-3 discussed/answered)

1. How did Bobby’s parents respond to the news of Nia’s pregnancy (pg. 12)? How did Nia’s parents respond to this (pg. 20)? How would your parents respond to this same announcement?

2. Look at how Bobby’s friends react (pg. 37-40). How would your friends react?

3. What does Bobby mean by saying, “I walk to my room…look around my room and miss me” (pg. 35)?

4. How does Bobby feel about Feather? Would this be different if Nia were awake? (pg 81)

5. What do you think about everyone’s reaction to Bobby and Nia’s decision to put their baby up for adoption?

6. Do you agree with the way Bobby’s parents support (or don’t support) him and Feather?

7. Imagine your room at home. What things would you have to change if you became a full-time parent? What everyday things would you have to do differently?

8. Where do you see these characters five, ten years from now?

Fiction Writing

Agenda

Hand in homework (paragraph about part III)

Check in/give feedback about writing assignment

Work on writing assignment

Discussion/Reading time


Homework: Finish The First Part Last and write a reaction to the novel. Make sure you show that you have read the book!

Reminder: The marking period ends today. If you are concerned about your grade, or would like to meet for any reason, please set up a time with me.

Have a great weekend!

Part II of The First Part Last

Good Morning!

You should have read through Part II of The First Part Last. I would like to spend part of class reading and discussing today, so that we can finish the book by the end of the week (Monday at the latest.)

HW: Read all of Part III of your novels and write a one paragraph summary/reaction in order to prove that you completed the task.

Some Discussion Questions
Feel free to come up with your own as well! Take notes.

1. Describe the main characters—their personality traits, motivations, inner qualities. Why do they do what they do? Are their actions justified? Do you admire or disapprove of them? Do they remind you of people you know?

2. Is the plot engaging—does the story interest you? Is this a plot-driven book: a fast-paced page-turner? Or does the story unfold slowly with a focus on character development? Were you surprised by the
plot's complications? Or did you find it predictable, even formulaic?

3. Talk about the book's structure. Is it a continuous story...or interlocking short stories? Does the time-line more forward chronologically...or back and forth between past and present? Does the author use a single viewpoint or shifting viewpoints? Why might the author have chosen to tell the story the way he or she did—and what difference does it make in the way you read or understand it?

4. What main ideas—themes—does the author explore? Don't forget to talk about the title, often a clue to a novel's theme.

Writing Assignment
On Monday, we started to design a character for our next story. Please choose one of the following options for your writing:

1. Study the spare, lyrical writing of Angela Johnson and try to write a story with a similar quality and the same economy of words.

2. Angela Johnson used the ideas of Then and Now to alternate between different times in The First Part Last. Write your own unique short story using this style.

Please do not worry about length or a deadline for this story yet. I would like you to get started without worrying about these elements yet.

Character Profile Questions to Consider

Basic Statistics 
Name:
Age:
Nationality:
Socioeconomic Level as a child:
Socioeconomic Level as an adult:
Hometown:
Current Residence:
Occupation:
Income:
Talents/Skills:
Salary:
Birth order:
Siblings (describe relationship):
Spouse (describe relationship):
Children (describe relationship):
Grandparents (describe relationship):
Grandchildren (describe relationship):
Significant Others (describe relationship):
Relationship skills:


Physical Characteristics: 

Height:
Weight:
Race:
Eye Color:
Hair Color:
Glasses or contact lenses?
Skin color:
Shape of Face:
Distinguishing features:
How does he/she dress?
Mannerisms:
Habits: (smoking, drinking etc.)
Health:
Hobbies:
Favorite Sayings:
Speech patterns:
Disabilities:
Style (Elegant, shabby etc.):
Greatest flaw:
Best quality:


Intellectual/Mental/Personality Attributes and Attitudes 

Educational Background:
Intelligence Level:
Any Mental Illnesses?
Learning Experiences:
Character's short-term goals in life:
Character's long-term goals in life:
How does Character see himself/herself?
How does Character believe he/she is perceived by others?
How self-confident is the character?
Does the character seem ruled by emotion or logic or some combination thereof?
What would most embarass this character?


Emotional Characteristics


Strengths/Weaknesses:
Introvert or Extrovert?
How does the character deal with anger?
With sadness?
With conflict?
With change?
With loss?
What does the character want out of life?
What would the character like to change in his/her life?
What motivates this character?
What frightens this character?
What makes this character happy?
Is the character judgmental of others?
Is the character generous or stingy?
Is the character generally polite or rude?


Spiritual Characteristics

Does the character believe in God?
What are the character's spiritual beliefs?
Is religion or spirituality a part of this character's life?
If so, what role does it play?


Additional Notes on This Character:

The First Part Last Reading/Discussion

Good Morning-

It seemed many of you struggled on the quiz on Friday. Please make sure you are studying and and asking questions. One topic that seemed unclear was on finding the subject in an imperative sentence. Here is a quick review of the four types of sentences:

Types of Sentences

1. Declarative - A declarative sentence makes a statement. A declarative sentence ends with a period.
Example: The house will be built on a hill.
2. Interrogative - An interrogative sentence asks a question. An interrogative sentence ends with a question mark.
Example: How did you find the card?
3. Exclamatory - An exclamatory sentence shows strong feeling. An exclamatory sentence ends with an exclamation mark.
Example: The monster is attacking!
4. Imperative - An imperative sentence gives a command.
Example: Cheryl, try the other door.
***Sometimes the subject of an imperative sentence (you) is understood.***
Example: Look in the closet. (You, look in the closet.)

Identify the type of sentences in your notebooks. The first two have been done for you.

1. Why do you believe that? interrogative

2. I want to know why you believe that. declarative (This is not a question.)

3. Please accept my apology.

4. Your face is frightening the baby!

5. My shoe is on fire!

6. When did you first notice that your shoe was on fire?

7. My doctor told me to take these vitamins.

8. Ask Doris for the recipe.

9. Did you solve the puzzle yet?

10. Ann, hand me your coat.

11. It’s hard to believe that this paper is made from wood.

12. There are more apples in the refrigerator.

13. We’re on the wrong planet!

14. Will Patricia pause to place poached pickles on Paula’s pretty plate?

15. I would send her a gift if I were you.

16. Send her a nice gift.

Once you have finished your grammar review, please read up to page 40 of The First Part Last and discuss the questions below. This shouldn't take you long because you should have read up to page 33 for homework!

The First Part Last 

Discussion Questions (answer in your notebooks please!)

1. How did Bobby’s parents respond to the news of Nia’s pregnancy (pg. 12)? How did Nia’s parents respond to this (pg. 20)? How would your parents respond to this same announcement?

 

2. Look at how Bobby’s friends react (pg. 37-40). How would your friends react?

 

3. What does Bobby mean by saying, “I walk to my room…look around my room and miss me” (pg. 35)?

Homework:

• Read through page 61 of The First Part Last.
• Subjects in Imperative Sentences Review

Best video ever...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqdBZZToCpw