Agenda, April 30

Unit Two: Structure - Beginnings, middles, endings (not necessarily in that order), and the way words look on the page

• Late: Pre-writes 10 - 24
• Due Now: Rough draft for Packet 2. This needs to be a document separate from your freewrites or pre-writes.
• The last day to turn in late work will be Thursday, May 3rd.

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can develop an idea into a draft.
• I can work with my peers to make good writing better.

Agenda:

1. FW #22: "He forgot the flowers, [but] ..." OR Tell a story that involves an explosion.
2. PW #25: Exploding the Moment
3. Peer and Teacher Conference Time

Agenda, April 27

Unit Two: Structure - Beginnings, middles, endings (not necessarily in that order), and the way words look on the page

• Due at the end of class: Pre-writes 10 - 24
• Due Monday: Rough draft for Packet 2. This needs to be a document separate from your freewrites or pre-writes.
• The last day to turn in late work will be Thursday, May 3rd.

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can use active verbs.
• I can develop an idea into a draft.

Agenda:

1. FW #21: "If it were up to me ..." OR Tell a story that involves a (real or metaphorical) roller coaster.
2. PW #24: Not to be
3. Visual Poetry
4. Drafting Time

Agenda, April 26

Unit Two: Structure - Beginnings, middles, endings (not necessarily in that order), and the way words look on the page

• Tomorrow is drafting day. Drafts will be do Monday.
• Due Friday: Pre-writes 10 - ?

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can connect a killer first line to a powerful close.

Agenda:

1. FW #20: Develop one of your killer first lines.
2. Visual Poetry
3. PW #23: Shifting Points of View

Agenda, April 25

Unit Two: Structure - Beginnings, middles, endings (not necessarily in that order), and the way words look on the page

• Due Friday: Pre-writes 10 - ?

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a question to generate ideas
• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can connect a killer first line to a powerful close.

Agenda:

1. 5 more minutes with PW #20: First Word / Last Word
2. PW #21: What if?
3. FW #19: What if?
4. PW #22: First Line / Last Line

Agenda, April 24

Unit Two: Structure - Beginnings, middles, endings (not necessarily in that order), and the way words look on the page

• Late: Freewrites 4 - 16

Today's Learning Targets: 

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

Agenda:

1. FW #18: "When I move ..." OR Tell a story about someone who is trapped.
2. PW #19: Killer First Lines
3. PW #20: First Word / Last Word

Agenda, April 23

Unit Two: Structure - Beginnings, middles, endings (not necessarily in that order), and the way words look on the page

• Late: Freewrites 4 - 16

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can look at a single subject from a variety of perspectives.
• I can build a piece of writing around cool words.

Agenda:

1. FW #17: "Tell me ..." OR Tell a story about a broken promise.
2. PW #18: "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird"
3. PW #19: First Word / Last Word

How to Make Up Exquisite Corpse

1) Get your absence excused.
2) Gather four friends. They can be friends who also need to make up the assignment, friends who have already done it, or friends who aren't even in this class.
3) Each of you needs a sheet of binder paper.
4) Each of you starts with a two-minute freewrite. Here are the prompts: "The morning was cold and foggy ..." OR "The earth began to shake ..." You can write the opposite, but you need to stick to one of the two prompts.
5) After two minutes, finish the line you are working on. That doesn't mean finish the thought or the sentence: you should write until it's time to move to the next line.
6) Fold your paper so that only the last line of your writing is visible.
7) Pass you paper clockwise. The writer next to you will continue your story using only that last line as a clue to what's going on.
8) Write three or four more lines. Fold the paper so only the last line is showing. Pass clockwise.
9) Repeat this until your paper returns to you. Add three more lines so you're the first and last writer.

Agenda, April 20

Unit Two: Structure - Beginnings, middles, endings (not necessarily in that order), and the way words look on the page

• Due Now: Freewrites 4 - 16

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can have fun with my classmates.

Agenda:

1. FW #16: "For the last time ..." OR Tell a story about skipping school.
2. Exquisite Corpse
3. "When god lets my body be ..."

Agenda, April 19

Unit Two: Structure - Beginnings, middles, endings (not necessarily in that order), and the way words look on the page

• Due Friday: Freewrites 4 - ?

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can use a structure to generate ideas.
• I can mess with structure.
• I can use white space and line breaks to add emphasis and meaning to my writing.

Agenda:

1. FW #15: "With a fierce cry ..." OR Tell a story about a gift.
2. PW #16: Mamet Story Starter
3. PW #17: 8 Ways to Mess With Structure
4. PW #18: Prose into poetry

Agenda, April 18

Unit Two: Structure - Beginnings, middles, endings (not necessarily in that order), and the way words look on the page

• Due Friday: Freewrites 4 - ?

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can use white space and line breaks to add emphasis and meaning to my writing.

Agenda:

1. FW #14: "I hate to admit it, but ..." OR Tell a story that involves a [real or metaphorical] wall.
2. PW #15: Lining Poems
3. PW #16: Prose to Poetry

Agenda, April 17

Unit Two: Structure - Beginnings, middles, endings (not necessarily in that order), and the way words look on the page

• Due Friday: Freewrites 4 - ?

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can use repetition to intrigue and surprise my reader.

Agenda:

1. FW #13: "He finally stopped ..." OR Develop one of the plots in PW #13.
2. A few moments with The Man in Black
3. PW #14: Repetition

Agenda, April 16

Unit Two: Structure - Beginnings, middles, endings (not necessarily in that order), and the way words look on the page

• 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.

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can listen actively and provide useful feedback.
• I can share my writing with my peers.

Agenda:

1. FW #12: "The sound of laughter ..." OR Tell a story about a rescue.
2. Save the Cat, Part 1
3. PW #13: Save the Cat

Agenda, April 13

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

Today's Learning Targets: 

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can listen actively and provide useful feedback.
• I can share my writing with my peers.

Agenda:

1. FW #11: "After [three weeks] ..." OR Tell a story about someone who is unlucky.
2. Writer's Workshop
3. Small Group Sharing

Agenda, April 12

• 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.
• Due at the end of class today: 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.

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, April 11

Unit One: Figurative Language, Word Choice, Mood, and Setting   Due Dates:

• Late: Rough draft of two poems OR two pages of fiction. This needs to be separate from your freewrites and pre-writes.
• Coming Tomorrow: Laptops for final drafts 

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can use accurate, precise, and interesting words.
• I can work with my peers to make good writing better.

Agenda:

1. FW #10: "I feel peaceful when ..." OR Tell a story about an accident.
2. Pre-write #12: Shades of Meaning
3. Drafting / Conferencing Time

Agenda, April 10

Unit One: Figurative Language, Word Choice, Mood, and Setting   Due Dates:

• Late: Pre-writes 1 - 9
• Due Now: Rough draft of two poems OR two pages of fiction. This needs to be separate from your freewrites and pre-writes.
• Coming Thursday: Laptops for final drafts 

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can use sensory details to create a setting.
• I can develop an idea into a draft.
• I can work with my peers to make good writing better.

Agenda:

1. FW #9: "When we ran out of water ..." OR Tell a story about showing up late.
2. Pre-write #11: The Dominant Sense
3. Drafting / Conferencing Time

Agenda, April 9

Unit One: Figurative Language, Word Choice, Mood, and Setting   Due Dates:

• Late: Pre-writes 1 - 9
• Due Now: Rough draft of two poems OR two pages of fiction. This needs to be separate from your freewrites and pre-writes. 

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can show.
• I can develop an idea into a draft.
• I can work with my peers to make good writing better.

Agenda:

1. FW #8: "She was rushing to the ..." OR Tell a story about an embarrassing moment.
2. Pre-write #10: Show, don't tell
3. Drafting / Conferencing Time

Agenda, April 6

Unit One: Figurative Language, Word Choice, Mood, and Setting   Due Dates:

• Due at the end of class today: Pre-writes 1 - 9
• Due at the beginning class on Monday: Rough draft of two poems OR two pages of fiction. This needs to be separate from your freewrites and pre-writes. 

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can use show my appreciation for simple objects.
• I can develop an idea into a draft.

Agenda:

1. FW #7: "My favorite time of day ..." OR Tell a story that involves an animal.
2. Pre-write #9: Odes
3. Drafting Time

Agenda, April 5

Unit One: Figurative Language, Word Choice, Mood, and Setting   Due Dates:

• Due Friday: Pre-writes 1 - ?

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can use figurative language to create a mood.
• I can notice sensory details.

Agenda:

1. FW #6: "[He said] he wasn't afraid ..." OR Tell a story about someone who wanted something too much.
2. Pre-write #8: It's the end of the world ...
3. Pre-write #9: The Dominant Sense

Agenda, April 4

Unit One: Figurative Language, Word Choice, Mood, and Setting   Due Dates:

• Due Friday: Pre-writes 1 - ?
• Late: Freewrites 1-3
• Late: Ekphrastic Writing 

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can use figurative language to create a mood.
• I can notice sensory details.
• I can "notice" sensory details to create setting.

Agenda:

1. FW #5: "A shot rang out ... " OR Tell a story about a person who made a large sacrifice.
2. Pre-write #6: Cliche busting
3. Pre-write #7: Fortune Cookie Prompts

Agenda, April 3

Unit One: Figurative Language, Word Choice, Mood, and Setting   Due Dates:

• Late: Freewrites 1-3
• Late: Ekphrastic Writing 

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can use figurative language to create a mood.
• I can notice sensory details.
• I can "notice" sensory details to create setting.

Agenda:

1. 10 minutes to leave OR
2. Bonus Freewrite: "Hidden in the corner ... " OR Tell a story about running [away].
3. Share a leaf.
4. Pre-write #4: "Noticing, pt. 1"
5. "Thunderstorm in Dorset, Vermont"
6. Pre-write #5: Noticing the weather

Agenda, April 2

Unit One: Figurative Language, Word Choice, Mood, and Setting   Due Dates:

• Late: Freewrites 1-3
• Late: Ekphrastic Writing 

Today's Learning Targets:

• I can use a freewrite to generate ideas.
• I can use figurative language to create a mood.

Agenda:

1. Somebody ask me about the Oregon Writers' Festival
2. Freewrite #4: "She needed to stop... " OR Tell a story about a bad break.
3. Read to a stranger
4. PW #3: Feeling moody
5. Time to leave