Agenda, October 31

Due Tomorrow: Bring your book.
Due Monday, 11/14: Freewrites 25 - ?, Pre-writes 29 - ?
Due Tuesday, 11/15: Two week packet, focus on dialogue.
Due Friday, 11/18: Memorized poem / Poetry Out Loud Competition

1. Freewrite #26: Talk your way out of trouble.
2. Pre-write #30: Believable dialogue
3. Objectives and Tactics
4. Pre-write #31: Dialogue in poetry

Today's Goal: I can understand the rules for punctuating dialogue. I can explain how poets use and punctuate dialogue.
Unit goal: I can use properly punctuated dialogue to create characters and move a plot forward.

Agenda, October 27

Due Now: Bring a book 
Collected YESTERDAY: Freewrites 18 - 24 and Pre-writes 17 - 28
Due Friday: Two poems or two double-spaced pages of fiction, all typed

1. Reading Time. Find examples of good showing.
2. Freewrite #25: Write about a Halloween party with a mysterious visitor.
3. Pre-write #29: Show, don't tell. Revise each of the following three sentences, focusing on action and physical details: He/she gave up; He/she tried very hard; He/she was a troublemaker.
4. Drafting Time. You need a peer conference and a teacher conference before the end of class Thursday.

Today's Goal: I can identify the qualities of a well-crafted character. I can use feedback from my peers and teacher to improve my writing.
Unit Goal: I can create rich, detailed, believable characters.

Agenda, October 26

Due Tomorrow: Bring a book
Due TODAY: Freewrites 18 - 24 and Pre-writes 17 - 28
Due Friday: Two poems or two double-spaced pages of fiction, all typed

1. Coming Attractions
2. Freewrite #24: Write about an unfortunate accident (involving a pumpkin).
3. Pre-write #28: Show, don't tell. Revise each of the following three sentences, focusing on action and physical details: He / She is a great person; We are in love; She was angry.
4. Drafting Time. You need a peer conference and a teacher conference before the end of class Thursday.

Today's Goal: I can identify the qualities of a well-crafted character. I can use feedback from my peers and teacher to improve my writing.
Unit Goal: I can create rich, detailed, believable characters.

Agenda, October 25

Due Now: Bring a book
Due Thursday: Freewrites 18 - ? and Pre-writes 17 - ?
Due Friday: Two poems or two double-spaced pages of fiction, all typed

1. Reading time. Look for good examples of showing.
2. Pre-write #26: Show, don't tell. Revise each of the following three sentences, focusing on action and physical details: He was scared; The old man got irritated; She was happy.
3. Pre-write #27: Lining Poems
4. Drafting Time. You need a peer conference and a teacher conference before the end of class Thursday.

Today's Goal: I can identify the qualities of a well-crafted character. I can make deliberate decisions about line breaks. I can finish my draft for my two week project.
Unit Goal: I can create rich, detailed, believable characters.

Agenda, October 24

Due Tomorrow: Bring a book
Due Thursday: Freewrites 18 - ? and Pre-writes 17 - ?
Due Friday: Two poems or two double-spaced pages of fiction, all typed

1. Freewrite #23: Take your main character for a drive. Describe the car. Or the driving style. Or the destination. Or all of the above.
2. Pre-write #25: Show, don't tell.
3. "Galahad," by Josh Ritter
4. Drafting Time. You need a peer conference and a teacher conference before the end of class Thursday.

Today's Goal: I can identify the qualities of a well-crafted character. I can begin my draft for my two week project.
Unit Goal: I can create rich, detailed, believable characters.

Agenda, October 21

Due Yesterday: Reading Response #4
Due October 27: Freewrites 18 - ? and Pre-writes 17 - ?
Due October 28: Two poems or two double-spaced pages of fiction, all typed

1. Freewrite #22: Write a story that involves broken glass.
2. Pre-write #23: Three poems about character
3. Pre-write #24: The story machine: Write a story about the character on card one that ends with the action on card two.
4. Drafting Time

Today's Goal: I can identify the qualities of a well-crafted character. I can begin my draft for my two week project.
Unit Goal: I can create rich, detailed, believable characters.

Agenda, October 20

Due Now: Personal Reading Book
Due October 27: Freewrites 18 - ? and Pre-writes 17 - ?
Due October 28: Two poems or two double-spaced pages of fiction, all typed

1. Reading time. As you read, jot down details about the main character in your book. Consider how she looks, acts, and speaks. If you're not finding details about your main character, capture details about your minor characters.
2. Reading Response #4: 10 character details
3. Freewrite #21: Pick another What if?
4. Pre-write #21: 20 Questions, continued
5. Pre-write #22: Setting from character. Describe the home / possessions / clothing of the following three people: an (un)successful artist, a college freshman about to drop out, a fugitive from the law 
6. Pre-write #23: The story machine: Write a story about the character on card one that ends with the action on card two.

Today's Goal: I can identify the qualities of a well-crafted character. I can generate ideas for my next story or poem.
Unit Goal: I can create rich, detailed, believable characters.

Reality 2.0

Here's the link to the National Geographic story we were talking about in period 4 yesterday. What if, indeed.


http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/big-idea/14/augmented-reality

Agenda, October 19

Due Tomorrow: Personal Reading Book
Due October 27: Freewrites 18 - ? and Pre-writes 17 - ?
Due October 28: Two poems or two double-spaced pages of fiction, all typed

1. Pre-Write #20: What if?
2. Freewrite #20: Pick a good "What if?" and write about it.
3. The Story Machine, Part 1: Write a job description or personality description on one card and an interesting action on the other - don't be too bland or too weird. Put your initials on each card.
4. Pre-write #21: 20 Questions

Today's Goal: I can identify the qualities of a well-crafted character. I can generate ideas for my next story or poem.
Unit Goal: I can create rich, detailed, believable characters.

Agenda, October 18

Due Now: Personal Reading Book
Due October 27: Freewrites 18 - ? and Pre-writes 17 - ?
Due October 28: Two poems or two double-spaced pages of fiction, all typed

1. Reading time. As you read, jot down details about the main character in your book. Consider how she looks, acts, and speaks. If you're not finding details about your main character, capture details about your minor characters.
2. Freewrite #19: Write about two people who never should have met / or how opposites attract.
3. Pre-write #19:  The first time I/he/she ... I/he/she was with … in (or at) … at (time of day/season)
4. Pre-write #20: 20 Questions

Today's Goal: I can identify the qualities of a well-crafted character. I can generate ideas for my next story or poem.
Unit Goal: I can create rich, detailed, believable characters.

Agenda, October 17

Due Tomorrow: Personal Reading Book
Due October 27: Freewrites 18 - ? and Pre-writes 17 - ?
Due October 28: Two poems or two double-spaced pages of fiction, all typed

1. Wrapping up the Statewide Assessment
2. Thanks from Write Around Portland
3. Freewrite #18: Tell me about someone you know well. Put him or her into action.
4. Pre-write #17: 6 notes
5. Pre-write #18: _______ is the type of person who
6. Pre-write #19: 20 questions

Today's Goal: I can identify the qualities of a well-crafted character. I can generate ideas for my next story or poem.
Unit Goal: I can create rich, detailed, believable characters.

Agenda, October 13

Due Now: Personal reading book. When you're done with your final draft, read to your heart's content.
Due at the end of class: Writing Work Sample

1. What does "Lit Mag" mean?
2. How to Revise: spell check, word choice, tense, planner
3. Drafting time

Agenda, October 12

Due Tomorrow: Bring personal reading book
Due Tomorrow at end of class: Finished Writing Work Sample

1. Do we need to draft today?
2. What's another way to say?

Agenda, October 11

1. It is happening now.
2. It happened then.
3. Drafting time: When you are done drafting / done with your draft, feel free to read.

The most important thing you can do today is create an environment where students who need to pass the State Writing Assessment can concentrate.

Agenda, October 10

Due Last Week: Freewrites 11 - 17, Pre-writes 7 - 16
Due Last Week: Two week packet, typed, fiction is double spaced.

1. Seating Chart. Whee ...
2. Comma Splices
3. Semi-colons
4. C7
5. Brainstorming / Drafting Time

Agenda, October 6

Due Now: Bring your personal book
Due at the end of class: Freewrites 11 - 17, Pre-writes 7 - 16
Due Friday, 10/7: Two week packet, typed, fiction is double spaced.


0) A glimpse to the future
1) Reading time: pay attention to section / chapter closings
2) Reading Response #3: What makes a good ending?
3) Pre-write #16: Not to Be - Revise the following three sentences without any forms of the verb "to be" - is, am, are, was, were, be, been, being, plus any contractions.

• Sometimes it is necessary to use weak verbs.
• We were feeling pretty content.
• She's got her act together. 

4) Freewrite #17: What have you learned in this class so far?
5) Work time

Today's goal: I can use peer review and teacher feedback to improve the quality of my writing.
Unit Goal: I can write using inventive structures, with a satisfying beginning, middle, and ending.   

Agenda, October 5

Due Tomorrow: Bring your personal book
Due Tomorrow, 10/6: Freewrites 11 - 17, Pre-writes 7 - 16
Due Friday, 10/7: Two week packet, typed, fiction is double spaced.
1) Have we talked about NaNoWriMo in here?
2) Freewrite #16: Write about a character who breaks a rule.
3) Pre-write #15: Not to Be: Revise the three following sentences without any forms of the verb "to be" - is, am, are, was, were, be, been, being, plus contractions.

• It was awfully cold.
• There are too many kids in the halls.
• He's very athletic.

4) Work time. You need a teacher conference before the end of the day on Thursday.

Today's goal: I can use peer review and teacher feedback to improve the quality of my writing.
Unit Goal: I can write using inventive structures, with a satisfying beginning, middle, and ending.  

Agenda, October 4

Due Now: Bring your personal book
Due Thursday, 10/6: Freewrites 11 - ?, Pre-writes 7 - ?
Due Friday, 10/7: Two week packet, typed, fiction is double spaced. 

1. Reading thyme
2. Pre-write #14: Lining Poems
3. Pre-write #13: A Rose For Emily, by William Faulkner
4. Work time. You need a teacher conference by Thursday at the end of school.

Today's goal: I can finish my first draft of my two-week project. I can use peer review and teacher feedback to improve the quality of my writing.
Unit Goal: I can write using inventive structures, with a satisfying beginning, middle, and ending.

Agenda, October 3

Due Tomorrow: Bring your personal book
Due Thursday, 10/6: Freewrites 11 - ?, Pre-writes 7 - ?
Due Friday, 10/7: Two week packet, typed, fiction is double spaced. 

1. Freewrite #15: Mythunderstanding
2. Pre-write #13: A Rose For Emily, by William Faulkner
3. Pre-write #14: What happens next?
4. How to Peer Review
5. Work time. You need a teacher conference by Thursday at the end of school.

Today's goal: I can finish my first draft of my two-week project. I can use peer review and teacher feedback to improve the quality of my writing.
Unit Goal: I can write using inventive structures, with a satisfying beginning, middle, and ending.