Tuesday, February 1

Bell-Ringer: Write in response to the painting prompt by Brian Kershisnik: Flight Practice with Instruction 

Brian Kershisnik: Flight Practice with Instruction

Computer Lab 223

Directions for February 1:

Read this:

Some Tips for Everyone on Memoir  for B3

Some Tips on Memoir for Everyone for B4 

 See these same directions on the wiki (perhaps with something added).  

Then

1. If you haven't written your three new leads for your memoir, and if they are not at the top of the page, complete that assignment.
2. Carefully revise and edit your memoir.  Look for suggestions from Ms. Dorsey on your page or in a comment box.  Revision and Editing Guidelines
3. If you have extra time, begin writing a fictional story. Fill out the chart before you write your story.  You may use one you have already written and paste it on your Fiction page.  You will still fill in the chart.   See the folder for fiction in the Navigator box to the right, and find your own page by first name, alphabetically arranged. 

Go to our class wiki at
http://cavewriting2011b3.pbworks.com
or
http://cavewriting2011b4.pbworks.com

Favorite Words

Start thinking about what your favorite words are.  Jacuzzi?  Blubber?  A favorite word of one of my daughters is "woozy."  It's fun to say!  And my very favorite word to feel in my mouth  as I say it is Zimbabwe.

Here are some staff favorites from dictionary .com

 prodigy,  protocol,  propaganda,  praxis,  hustle,  mantra,  conversation,  macho,  convection,  pagan,  tiara,  delirium,  cysts,  manipulation,  teeter,  meringue,  martyr,  dram,  ditto,  diplomacy,  toucan,  tweet,  trifle,  moxie,  hallucination,  myopia,  meperidine,  twittering,  mulling,  corrals 

Watch this for inspiration: Bulbous Bouffant  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uuCNAwXGaQ

Presidential Extra Credit

(5 points each)
Be the first (and maybe second and third) to tell me about this fact: 

From Brian P. Cleary

Fact You Once Learned, But Probably Forgot: Although we call President Obama the 44th President of the US, he's really only the 43rd person to hold the office. Grover Cleveland is both the 22nd and 24th Presidents because he served non-consecutive terms (with Benjamin Harrison in between).

 or Recite one of the presidential quotes at the top of the  right hand column on this blog.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Bell-Ringer: Bingo Prompt -- B3 had the Bingo Square B1, B4 has the E3  Bingo Square
2. Me-Bags
3. Samples of Memoirs -- LEADS


Computer Lab 223
Memoir -- Revision -- Write three possible leads, the revise and edit.
If time, student choice

Computer Lab 212
Go to our class wiki at
http://cavewriting2011b3.pbworks.com
or
http://cavewriting2011b4.pbworks.com

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Bell-Ringer: Picture Prompt

B3 write to this prompt:

Picture Prompt -- Magritte La Voix. . .

B4 write to this prompt:

Picture Prompt A

Me-Bags
More about Memoirs with Samples -- "Redwoods" and "Mouse Hunt"

Computer Lab 212
Go to our class wiki at
http://cavewriting2011b3.pbworks.com
or
http://cavewriting2011b4.pbworks.com

Poem if not done.
Work on Memoir -- Create a draft of the whole story (This doesn't have to be polished, but just as good as you can get it by the end of class.) By the way, if you start a story and it isn't working, begin a new one.

Composition Book -- what you should have so far

You need a composition book.  On the front of it you should write your name and class period.
You will leave it in the black crate for your class at the front of the classroom.
Inside the book, you should have the following:

Leave a page or two at the beginning blank.
Write at least 1/2 page unless otherwise specified for a particular assignment. 

Tape in your
1. Headline story on a half sheet of paper. 
2. Writing Prompt Bingo
3. Prompts for Telling About Your Own Experience handout
4. In Collecting Your Writing Territories, Consider. . . . 
 (These first four items do not have to be exactly in order.  Make sure you can easily find your Writing Prompt Bingo.)
5.  Written in the book, or taped in, you should have the half page or more your wrote in answer to bingo prompt E2 for period B3  or bingo prompt A4 for period B4

As of January 24.

6. Picture Prompt  -- Write at least 1/2 page.
B3 write to this prompt:  Picture Prompt -- Magritte La Voix. . .
B4 write to this prompt: Picture Prompt A
7. Bingo Prompt -- B3 had the Bingo Square B1, B4 has the E3  Bingo Square -- Write at least 1/2 page.

January 24, 2011

 Bell-Ringer: Bingo Prompt for class B3 Bingo is E2, and for class B4 Bingo is A4.
Me-Bags --  Present on the day you signed up for.
Sample of Memoir -- from Living Up the Street by Gary Soto

Computer Lab --
Receive passwords and user names for your class's wiki.
Follow the directions on your wiki FrontPage.
Poems -- Follow the directions on the wiki
Memoirs -- If you have extra time, begin a memoir.

Links to wikis:
 B3
http://cavewriting2011b3.pbworks.com

B4
http://cavewriting2011b4.pbworks.com

Astrophotography: Do these photos inspire you?

http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2011/01/22/133120650/atrophotography?sc=fb&cc=fp

January 20, 2011

Bell-Ringer: Picture Prompt?

Teacher will Model Me-Bag Assignment
Sign up for the Me-Bag Assignment

Fill out Bingo Card full of your own writing prompts. This and the other handouts that go with it will go into your Composition book.


B4 write to this prompt:

Picture Prompt -- Magritte La Voix. . .

Our Blog and wiki

What You Will Need for This Class

You will need a composition book, not a spiral bound notebook, but one of the cardboard covered composition books.

You'll need plenty of pens and pencils.  You're expected to come each day with your own.

You'll also need to bring loose-leaf paper.
A three-ring binder (which could be used for more than one class) will help you stay organized.

A thumb drive is very helpful for saving and transporting work from one computer to another.  The thumb drive could be used for other classes, too.

January 18, 2011

1. Bell-Ringer: Think of something interesting about you -- something you've experienced.  Briefly write about it.  Then write a headline for that story as if it were to be published in a newspaper.

2. Headlines  -- and Share  (If you were absent, see Ms. Dorsey for the assignment and materials.)

3. Disclosure document
Download a file from  Creative Writing Disclosure 2010-2011.docx
Quiz on your disclosure.

-----------------------A3 got to here

4. About the Me-Bag -----------------------A3 got to here
A3 needs to  sign-up

5. Our Blog and wiki

6.  Acrostic Poem, if time.

___________________________
Go to our class wiki at
http://cavewriting2011b3.pbworks.com
or
http://cavewriting2011b4.pbworks.com

You will be able to complete assignments on the wiki after Ms. Dorsey gives you your user name and password.  Make sure you keep your user name and password safe, and do not share them, except with your parents or guardians.

How Parents Can Help Students Improve Their Writing

Second Semester Lunch Schedule

Click on this link:  Use the back button  to get back to this blog.

Second Semester Lunch Schedule

 

New Semester

The posts above this one are for Second Semester, Term 3!

Writing Contest -- Could count for your Memoir Assignment

Do you have a favorite Judy Bloom book?  You could win prizes by writing about your experience with it.  You could also use it as your memoir for Creative Writing Class.

http://www.randomhouse.com/audio/blog/2010/11/19/judy-blume-journal-contest/

A NewsWiki by the Creative Writing Class

Want to read the latest news (and some older news) from A.F. Junior?  Go to http://cavewriting2010b1.pbworks.com/w/page/34385746/Caveman-NewsWiki-January-2011 and see what Ms. Dorsey's creative writing students have written.  They worked like real reporters -- with a very limited time to create their articles. 

Last Day to Hand in Late Work -- January 7

The last day to hand in late or revised work is January 7.  You must type in your newswiki article that day, if not before.

Notice republished 1-6-11.  See also class calendar.

Can you tell what this is?

Found at http://education.byu.edu/news/2010/12/06/

January 13, 2011

Last day of the first Semester -- Last day of our Creative Writing Class
Should we all bring treats?

January 11, 2011

Slide Show of trip to Legacy? Remind Me!
Also remind me to remind you to bring treats on the 13th!  I will, too.

January 7, 2011

Bell-Ringer:  In your composition book, write something creative based on either the seashell or the squeezy toy. (objects shown in class) 

We had a brief lesson on writing for newspapers  and other reporting.

Computer lab to work on Newspaper Articles. The articles are due by the end of the period.

January 5, 2011

Bell-Ringer:  In your composition book, write an ABC list of words and/or phrases that have to do specifically with American Fork Junior High.  For instance, for the letter C, you wouldn't write "cool," but you could write "Cotterell" or "Chess Club" or "Cavemen." 

We had a brief lesson on writing for newspapers  and other reporting.

Computer lab to work on Newspaper Articles -- Each student is creating an article for our class WikiNews. 

Caveman NewsWiki January 2011

January 3, 2011

  1. Bell-ringer: Silent Conversation

Topic:  The Christmas/New Years Vacation

Directions:
1. Pick up a sheet of lined paper from the pile provided.
2. Write at least three sentences about the topic above.  Write your name by each entry you make.
3.  Pass the paper back one.
4.  Respond with at least one sentence to what the previous student wrote.  (What would you say to that if you were having a verbal conversation?  Would you ask a question, make a connection to your own life, respond with words to describe what the student wrote?)
5.  Keeping the same paper, write at least three new sentences of your own about the topic above.
6. Pass the paper back one.
Repeat the above steps.  If you are sitting at the back of the column of seats,  after you have written pass the paper to the person at the front of your column.

[If your were absent, make up this assignment by writing one page about  the Christmas/New Years Break we just had.]

2.  Discuss creating leads for news and other newspaper-type articles.  You should include the who, what, where, when, and perhaps a why and/or a how?
     a. Ms. Dorsey gave an example
     b.  Other student example(s)
     c.  create your own example

3.  Brainstorm items you'd find in a newspaper.  We are going to create our own newspaper.
Audience:  students and others at American Fork Junior High
Purpose:  to inform and entertain

4. Students took time to consider what sort of item each would like to write.  We will be doing this on our wiki.

Assignments so far:
         Katelyn:  news item about her own experience:  "Police Beat"
         Libby:   take and report a poll about favorite electives at A.F. Junior
         Brice:   peer tutoring
         Alexia:  honor society?


Next time:  computer lab to work on our newspaper
Friday:  computer lab again

Advice on What a Story Needs -- Conflict

Here is a post from  the Utah Children's Writers Blog that might be helpful:

Story is Conflict