Agenda, February 1

Unit Three: Developing Believable Characters

• Late: Grammar Exercise 1-6
• Due Friday: Freewrites 13-25

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can write an epic sentence.
• I can show.
• I can personify an object.

Agenda:

1. PW #34: 20 Actions (finished - finally)
2. PW #35: Obituary for an object
3. PW #36: Showing character

Agenda, January 31

Unit Three: Developing Believable Characters

• Due Today: Grammar Exercise 1-6
• Due Friday: Freewrites 13-26

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can write an epic sentence.
• I can show.

Agenda:

1. PW #34: 20 Actions (continued)
2. Grammar Exercise 6: The Epic Sentence
3. PW #34: 20 Actions (finished)

Agenda, January 30

Unit Three: Developing Believable Characters

• Due Wednesday: Grammar Exercise 1-6
• Due Friday: Freewrites 13-27 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can use parentheses properly.
• I can show.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #24: "Nobody ever told me ..." OR Write from the point of your evil twin.
2. Grammar Exercise 5: Parentheses. Be sure to start with a capital and end with a period. Try not to get too fancy.
3. PW #33: Show, Don't Tell
4. PW #34: 20 Actions

Agenda, January 29

Unit Three: Developing Believable Characters

• Due Wednesday: Grammar Exercise 1-6
• Due Friday: Freewrites 13-27 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can analyze how a fiction writer communicates character.
• I can use a dash properly.
• I can invent details for my own character.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #23: "I wish I wouldn't have ..." OR Write from the point of view of a pirate.
2. Grammar Exercise 4: Dashes. Be sure to start with a capital and end with a period. Try not to get too fancy.
3. PW #32: "The Wounded," by Alexis Smith

Agenda, January 25

Unit Three: Developing Believable Characters   
Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can analyze how a poet communicates character.
• I can use a semi-colon properly.
• I can sell an idea.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #22: "I thought I could get away with ..." OR Write from the point of view of a small child.
2. Grammar Exercise 3: Semi-colons. Be sure to start with a capital and end with a period. Try not to get too fancy.
3. A little more-y "Cory."
4. Snake Oil

Agenda, January 23

Unit Three: Developing Believable Characters 
 
Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can analyze how a poet communicates character.
• I can write a correctly punctuated compound sentence.
• I can share my work with my classmates.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #21: "Thy say ..." OR Describe a person you don't like (gently, please, and no names)
2. Grammar Exercise 2: Compound sentences. Be sure to start with a capital and end with a period. Try not to get too fancy.
3. "Richard Cory," by Simon and Garfunkel
4. Sharing Time

Agenda, January 23

Unit Three: Developing Believable Characters 

• Late: Two poems or at least two pages of fiction, staples in this order: yellow cover sheet, final draft, rough drafts.
• Late: Select your favorite line from your work and print it on a single sheet of paper, as large as will fit on a single page.
• If you want to take your leaves, grab them off the wall after class today. 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can use a character to start a story.
• I can write a correctly punctuated simple sentence.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #20: "The first [or last] time I ..." OR Describe an intriguing stranger.
2. Grammar Exercise 1: Simple sentences. Be sure to start with a capital and end with a period. Try not to get too fancy.
3. PW #31: Character first story starter

Agenda, January 22

Unit Three: Developing Believable Characters 

• Late: Two poems or at least two pages of fiction, staples in this order: yellow cover sheet, final draft, rough drafts.
• Late: Select your favorite line from your work and print it on a single sheet of paper, as large as will fit on a single page.
• If you want to take your leaves, grab them off the wall after class today. 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can invent personal details about an imaginary person.
• I can write a correctly punctuated compound sentence.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #19: "She is the type of person who ..." OR Describe your best friend (try not to use the phrase "always there for me ...").
2. Character Questionnaire
3. Grammar Exercise 1: Compound Sentences

Agenda, January 19

Unit Two - Structure: Beginnings, Endings, Middles, and Placing Your Work on the Page 

• Due at the end of class today: Two poems or at least two pages of fiction, staples in this order: yellow cover sheet, final draft, rough drafts.

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can type like the wind.

Agenda:

1. Type like the wind
2. When you are done, select your favorite line from your work and print it on a single sheet of paper, as large as will fit on a single page.

Agenda, January 18

Unit Two - Structure: Beginnings, Endings, Middles, and Placing Your Work on the Page 

• Late: Rough draft of two week packet.
• Late: Pre-writes 12-26
• Coming Friday: Laptops for typing final drafts. 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use figurative language to create a mood.
• I can write an interesting or surprising title.
• I can work with a classmate to make good writing better.

Agenda:

1. Pre-write #27: Figurative Language and Mood: Alliteration (or assonance/consonance), Personification, and Allusion
2. Pre-write #28: 10 Good Titles
3. Unit 2 Writing Goals
4. Work time

Agenda, January 17

Unit Two - Structure: Beginnings, Endings, Middles, and Placing Your Work on the Page 

• Late: Rough draft of two week packet.
• Due at the end of class: Pre-writes 12-26
• Coming Friday: Laptops for typing final drafts. 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use figurative language to create a mood.
• I can write with active verbs.
• I can work with a classmate to make good writing better.

Agenda:

1. Pre-write #25: Figurative Language and Mood: simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia
2. Pre-write #26: Shades of meaning: run, beautiful, cold
3. Unit 2 Writing Goals
4. Work time

Agenda, January 16

Unit Two - Structure: Beginnings, Endings, Middles, and Placing Your Work on the Page 

• Due Now: Rough draft of two week packet. This should be based on one of your freewrites or pre-writes, but it should be a complete document of its own, separate from your freewrites or pre-writes.
• Due Tomorrow: Pre-writes 12-23
• Coming Friday: Laptops for typing final drafts. 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can write with active verbs.
• I can work with a classmate to make good writing better.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #18: What happened next?
2. Pre-write #24: Not to be
3. And in the end ...
4. Unit 2 Writing Goals
5. Work time

Agenda, January 12

Unit Two - Structure: Beginnings, Endings, Middles, and Placing Your Work on the Page 

• Due Tuesday at the beginning of class: Rough draft of two week packet. This should be based on one of your freewrites or pre-writes, but it should be a complete document of its own, separate from your freewrites or pre-writes.
• Due Wednesday: Pre-writes 12-23

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can write a poem from multiple perspectives.
• I can use independent work time effectively.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #17: "Looking up at the mountain ..." OR Write from the point of view of an animal.
2. Pre-write #23: Poem for two voices
3. Work time

Agenda, January 11

Unit Two - Structure: Beginnings, Endings, Middles, and Placing Your Work on the Page 

• Due Monday at the beginning of class: Rough draft of two week packet. 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can use a formula to build a story.
• I can use independent work time effectively.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #16: "This time, I won't ..." OR Start with one of your killer first lines.
2. Pre-write #22: 3-part plots
3. What can I use for my final draft?
4. Work time

Agenda, January 10

Unit Two - Structure: Beginnings, Endings, Middles, and Placing Your Work on the Page 

• Late: Freewrites 6-12 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can recognize good writing.
• I can see the world from multiple perspectives.
• I can share my writing with my class mates.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #15: "The sound of laughter ..." OR Start with one of your killer first lines.
2. "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird," by Wallace Stevens
3. Pre-write #21: Thirteen Ways of Looking
4. Read aloud

A Note from Mr. Barringer

I've got a financial planner/business person coming after school on Thursday to talk about an all-expenses paid weekend retreat for Juniors or Seniors who are interested in learning more about business and marketing. The meeting will be after school on Thursday in my room, B205. Here's a few more details:

• Enterprise Academy is run the Rotary Club of Portland. Link is here:http://rotarypdx.org/programs/youth-programs/enterprise-academy
• The retreat is the first weekend in March from after school Friday (3/2/18) through Sunday evening (3/4/18).
• It's an overnight retreat at Camp Kuratli in Boring, and all expenses (food, room, etc) are completely paid for by the Rotary Club
• They will prominent business people in Oregon, and participate in training exercises and a competitive team activity related to developing and marketing a product.
• If they want to know more, have them come to B205 after school on Thursday.

Agenda, January 9

Unit Two - Structure: Beginnings, Endings, Middles, and Placing Your Work on the Page 

• Late: Freewrites 6-12 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can see the world from multiple perspectives.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #14: "The sky was unusually [dark] ..." OR Develop one of your "What if?" scenarios.
2. Pre-write #19: Killer First Lines, Part 2
3. Pre-write #20: Shifting POV

Agenda, January 8

Unit Two - Structure: Beginnings, Endings, Middles, and Placing Your Work on the Page 

• Late: Freewrites 6-12 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can write a killer first line.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #13: What if?
2. Pre-write #17: Killer First Lines
3. Pre-write #18: "I See You," by They Might Be Giants

Agenda, January 5

Unit Two - Structure: Beginnings, Endings, Middles, and Placing Your Work on the Page 

• Late: Pre-writes 1 - 11
• Late: Your book 
• Due Now: Freewrites 6-12 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can connect an strong opening to a strong close.
• I can share my writing with my classmates.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #11: "It was getting too late ..." OR Develop your Mamet Story Starter
2. Pre-write #16: First Line / Last Line
3. Pre-write #17: "I See You," by They Might Be Giants

Agenda, January 4

Unit Two - Structure: Beginnings, Endings, Middles, and Placing Your Work on the Page 

• Late: Pre-writes 1 - 11
• Late: Your book 
• Due Tomorrow: Freewrites 6-12 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can use line breaks to create specific effects.
• I use a scaffold to create a structure.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #11: "In my opinion ..." OR Write about a great/terrible gift.
2. Pre-write #14: Lining Poems
3. Pre-write #15: Mamet Story Structure
4. Pre-write #16: "I See You," by They Might Be Giants

Agenda, January 3

Unit Two - Structure: Beginnings, Endings, Middles, and Placing Your Work on the Page 

• Late: Pre-writes 1 - 11
• Late: Your book 
• Due Friday: Freewrites 6-12 

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can identify elements of visual poetry.
• I can use a visual as an inspiration for a piece of writing.

Agenda:

1. Freewrite #10: "Since I last saw ..." OR Write about snow.
2. Pre-write #12: Visual Poetry
3. Pre-write #13: Give yourself a hand
4. Pre-write #14: "I See You," by They Might Be Giants