Friday, January 30, 2015
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Kidblog -- Here is the link: http://kidblog.org/DorseyCreativeWriting72015S2/
Announcements and Reminders:
- Your collage (pictures, illustrations, etc.) was due last time (homework). If it is not ready, bring it as soon as you can.
- Your bio-poems were due by the end of class last time. Share them with me on Google Drive. Allow editing. If you've already sent yours, look for comments on your document.
This is combined with a poem of the day.
Read the poem and follow the directions.
Next Time: Emree T.
Who still needs to sign up?
Reading About Writing -- Gail Carson Levine
To inspire you to think of more favorite words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uuCNAwXGaQ -- 4:50
Lab 223
Kidblog -- Here is the link: http://kidblog.org/DorseyCreativeWriting72015S2/
Find your username. You may add to it. Leave your last initial and first name at the beginning.
- If you haven't yet, set up a post for your favorite words. "[Your name]'s Favorite Words"
- Finish your bio-poems if needed.
- Work on the other parts of your creativity collage collection.
Poetry Sources:
Browsing through Poetry on the Internet
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Science Fiction
an invention that doesn't yet exist
outer space
dystopia
aliens on earth
end of the world
Fantasy
You could combine any of the following:
fantastical creatures -- dragons, unicorns, . . . .
magic
a quest
knights and castles
a magical object
slipping into another world
giants or super-small humans
elves, gnomes, brownies, fairies, or other magical beings
What else?
fantastical creatures -- dragons, unicorns, . . . .
magic
a quest
knights and castles
a magical object
slipping into another world
giants or super-small humans
elves, gnomes, brownies, fairies, or other magical beings
What else?
Realistic
Romance
School Problems
Friend Problems
Family Problems
Illness or Injury
Struggle against overwhelming odds
Monday, January 26, 2015
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Kidblog -- Here is the link: http://kidblog.org/DorseyCreativeWriting72015S2/
Announcements and Reminders:
- Your collage (pictures, illustrations, etc.) is due today (homework). If it is not ready, bring it as soon as you can.
- Your bio-poems are due by the end of class. Share them with me on Google Drive. Allow editing.
Sarah A
Meghan H
Lance L
Keagen M
Hailey W
Scribble: Jordan M. -- Write the beginning of your own book.
Next Time: Ms. Dorsey
Reading About Writing
Writing Magic: Chapter 2
Prompt from Gail Carson Levine: a main character finds a diamond on a seat in his/her schoolbus,
or a main character finds a hat (that allows him/her to read people's minds) on a seat in a movie theater, or a main character finds ___________________ on a ________________ in a _________.
Poem of the Day:
http://www.poetry-archive.com/d/these_are_the_days.html
Vocabulary helps
Indian Summer: a time in autumn when the weather changed to feel like summer again
Sophistry: a reason or argument that sounds correct but is actually false
Plausible: having an appearance of truth or reason, believable
Altered: changed
 |
| THESE are the days when birds come back, A very few, a bird or two, To take a backward look. |
 |
| These are the days when skies resume The old, old sophistries of June, 5 A blue and gold mistake. Oh, fraud that cannot cheat the bee, Almost thy plausibility Induces my belief, |
| |||||||||
| Don't forget to be looking for a favorite poem to share on February 12. That is coming up SOON! |
Lab 223
1. Type up your bio-poems on Google Drive.
- Follow the format your are given for each poem.
- Words to know: Stanzas in a poem are like paragraphs in an essay.
- Revise and Edit. Make them the best you can.
- Revise for format
- Revise for word use.
- You may use the class handouts for choosing precise and vivid words.
- Edit for capitalization and punctuation and spelling.
In the Lab
- (Log into your account, open drive, open a document.)
- Share your poem with Ms. Dorsey. cdorsey@alpinedistrict.org
- Allow me to edit.
If you have extra time:
2. Kidblog -- Here is the link: http://kidblog.org/DorseyCreativeWriting72015S2/
Find your username. You may add to it. Leave your last initial and first name at the beginning.
Set up a post for your favorite words. "[Your name]'s Favorite Words"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uuCNAwXGaQ -- 4:50
If you still have extra time, begin another post -- your choice.
Friday, January 23, 2015
Hero's Journey
Notes on Archetypal Characters and Story based on a presentation by Annette Lyon:
The Writer’s Journey is a book that explains common types of characters and plots.
Archetypes
Hero – audience identification -- someone we can relate to on some level
if Malfoy were our main character, would we sympathize with him
growth, change –
action --
character flaw – biggest weakness (could be fear,
sacrifice -- (example, Harry willing to die for the greater good)
Mentor – often a wise old man or woman
(Dumbledore and Hagrid)
--Teaching
gift-giving (light-sabre) --
motivating hero – quelling fear, kick in the pants, etc
can turn out to be a villain shape-shifter
Threshold Guardian
obstacles
testing the Hero
(Dursley letters, purpose – to test the hero
Herald
issues the challenge
announce a coming change, that all is not well
provides motivation to Hero
person or object
Shape-shifter --
not what he or she appears to be (Shape)
“Real” self-revealed can force change
good or evil, can be any character
Shadow
the villain
tests the hero’s true abilities
forces Hero to rise to the challenge
often appear beautiful, elegant, or good (Shapeshifter)
Trickster
balances out the drama with a little laughter
brings things into perspective
Hero’s Journey
Ordinary World
forshadowing of special world
introduction of story quest
meeting of the hero and his or her problem (as the story progresses, the stakes get higher and higher)
Call to Adventure
herald arrives, announcing change
Hero is the one who must act
Refusal of the call
fear an other excuses
reluctant heroes vs willing heroes
more than one call
threshold guardian
Meeting with the mentor
before commitment to the adventure
gets the story moving
provides hero with training and or a helpful object
Crossing the First Threshold
shows hero’s commitment to go forward
leaving ordinary world, entering special world
threshold guardian
life will never be the same again
Test, Allies, Enemies (Bulk of story) If your character runs into an obstacle and overcomes it, he or she has to run into another obstacle close behind it. Challenges get progressively more difficult.
testing of hero indifferent situations
discovering who are allies, who are enemies
obtaining sidekicks
the rival
hero’s adjustment to New World is another test
watering holes – a scene where sitting in a gather place (Hogwart’s Express, tavern in Star Wars)
Approach to the Inmost Cave (may be about ¾ of way through)
bold vs. quiet approach
preparation and harder testing for the ordeal
illusions and Threshold Guardians
hero uses lessons already learned to overcome harder obstacles
a new Special World (example – going down where the Sorcerer’s Stone is kept)
Ordeal (where he overcomes fatal flaw – you flip the flaw upside down)
Hero must battle the Shadow (“final exam” using new knowledge)
Hero faces greatest fears
Hero willing to sacrifice and/or die
Hero appears to die (or sees death, or causes death)
Reward – Seizing the Sword
“capture” the treasure or reward
celebration (“campfire” scenes)
epiphany: Hero understands something new about self
Resurrection
The Road Back
hero heads back to ordinary world with elixer
common time for chase scenes
setbacks (villain steals back elixer, etc.
Return with the Elixir
Archetypes
Hero – audience identification -- someone we can relate to on some level
if Malfoy were our main character, would we sympathize with him
growth, change –
action --
character flaw – biggest weakness (could be fear,
sacrifice -- (example, Harry willing to die for the greater good)
Mentor – often a wise old man or woman
(Dumbledore and Hagrid)
--Teaching
gift-giving (light-sabre) --
motivating hero – quelling fear, kick in the pants, etc
can turn out to be a villain shape-shifter
Threshold Guardian
obstacles
testing the Hero
(Dursley letters, purpose – to test the hero
Herald
issues the challenge
announce a coming change, that all is not well
provides motivation to Hero
person or object
Shape-shifter --
not what he or she appears to be (Shape)
“Real” self-revealed can force change
good or evil, can be any character
Shadow
the villain
tests the hero’s true abilities
forces Hero to rise to the challenge
often appear beautiful, elegant, or good (Shapeshifter)
Trickster
balances out the drama with a little laughter
brings things into perspective
Hero’s Journey
Ordinary World
forshadowing of special world
introduction of story quest
meeting of the hero and his or her problem (as the story progresses, the stakes get higher and higher)
Call to Adventure
herald arrives, announcing change
Hero is the one who must act
Refusal of the call
fear an other excuses
reluctant heroes vs willing heroes
more than one call
threshold guardian
Meeting with the mentor
before commitment to the adventure
gets the story moving
provides hero with training and or a helpful object
Crossing the First Threshold
shows hero’s commitment to go forward
leaving ordinary world, entering special world
threshold guardian
life will never be the same again
Test, Allies, Enemies (Bulk of story) If your character runs into an obstacle and overcomes it, he or she has to run into another obstacle close behind it. Challenges get progressively more difficult.
testing of hero indifferent situations
discovering who are allies, who are enemies
obtaining sidekicks
the rival
hero’s adjustment to New World is another test
watering holes – a scene where sitting in a gather place (Hogwart’s Express, tavern in Star Wars)
Approach to the Inmost Cave (may be about ¾ of way through)
bold vs. quiet approach
preparation and harder testing for the ordeal
illusions and Threshold Guardians
hero uses lessons already learned to overcome harder obstacles
a new Special World (example – going down where the Sorcerer’s Stone is kept)
Ordeal (where he overcomes fatal flaw – you flip the flaw upside down)
Hero must battle the Shadow (“final exam” using new knowledge)
Hero faces greatest fears
Hero willing to sacrifice and/or die
Hero appears to die (or sees death, or causes death)
Reward – Seizing the Sword
“capture” the treasure or reward
celebration (“campfire” scenes)
epiphany: Hero understands something new about self
Resurrection
The Road Back
hero heads back to ordinary world with elixer
common time for chase scenes
setbacks (villain steals back elixer, etc.
Return with the Elixir
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Friday, January 23, 2015
Announcements and Reminders:
- We will be in the computer lab next Tuesday and Thursday.
- Time to type up bio poems and your other projects
- Get on Kidblog and start your blogging
- This is a great opportunity: Teen Writing Boot Camp
- Your disclosure document signature sheets with the VIP form filled out on the back is due on Friday.
1. Scribble: Samantha S.
Scribble Next time (January 27): Jordan M.
2. Finish and read "Tag" stories.
3. Poem of the Day -- and other Sample Poems
(Be watching for poems you love or could love. On February 12 we will celebrate poetry and chocolate where we will share hot chocolate (and other chocolates if you will bring them), and each student will share a poem. Your poems do not have to be memorized. Just be able to read them fluently and with feeling. You could alternately prepare a powerpoint with pictures to present your poem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hha8E2whFkk
http://cavemanenglish.blogspot.com/search?q=nothing+in+heaven
4. From Writing Magic by Gail Carson Levine -- Chapter 1
5. Time to work on bio-poems and other parts of the creativity collage.
We also looked briefly at what Kidblog looks like.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
January 21, 2015
Announcements and Reminders:
We will be in the computer lab next Tuesday and Thursday.
Time to type up bio poems and your other projects
Get on Kidblog and start your blogging
Your disclosure document signature sheets with the VIP form filled out on the back is due on Friday.
To do:
Pick up or get out your composition books.
Set them up with divisions if you have them.
Hand in your disclosure document signatures.
Today's Activities:
1. Scribble: Lance L. -- Bat-Joker
Next Time: Samantha S.
2. Writing Bio-Poems
What does "bio" mean?
Collecting images.
Scoring: October 10, 2007
Description
vivid words
Collecting images.Poem of the Day: High Flight
http://www.poetryarchive.org/glossary/imagery
http://www.poetryarchive.org/poem/seashell
http://www.poetryarchive.org/poem/supermarket-california
All of your senses!
Monday, January 19, 2015
Plot
| 2015 Semester 2 http://kidblog.org/DorseyCreativeWriting72015S2/ Plot  |
| This is a story map, or plot map, showing the basic outline of a story. It starts out with (1) exposition which introduces the characters, setting, and basic problem.  Actually many of the best stories begin with a "boom" -- beginning in the middle of the action, and then go back to give you more information about the characters and setting. The best stories also weave much of that information into the story so that you are not just getting a big chuck of "Alice was a young girl who always wore a blue dress with a white apron and wore a ribbon to hold back her long blonde hair. She lived in England on a vast estate where. . . . . . . "After the exposition comes the (2) inciting incident, something that happens to kick-off the action of the story. It causes a problem or makes an already existing problem worse. The problem is also called the CONFLICT. In a novel there will likely be more than one conflict, but usually there is one main one that the character is trying to solve. (3) COMPLICATIONS come along for the character(s). The point at which the problem (conflict) is solved is called the (4) climax. In novels, there may be several climaxes in which one problem is solved, but the character goes on to another problem. After the problem is solved, there is often a winding up of the story -- sort of the "they all lived happily ever after. . " or not. That comes in the (5) denouement and resolution. |
Great Sentence from Ashes
This time, though, the dog snapped the food up right away, then scooched forward for more. Three more pieces of jerky and the puppy squirted out from beneath the truck, grunting like a little pig and squiggling and wagging the cropped, gray pencil stub of its tail.
Ashes by Ilisa J. Black, pg. 262
Mystery
a murder
a different crime: theft, embezzlement, etc.
a motive
multiple suspects
clues
detective or amateur detective
police involvement or not
a mystery that doesn't involve a crime
someone has a secret
Friday, January 16, 2015
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Friday, January 16, 2015
1. Self-Starter: Writing Prompt
about you -- Pick one of the prompts from the list.
If you have your composition book, tape the list into the book.
(Sign up for Scribble.)
2. Hand out Creativity Collage Assignment
photographs, illustrations from magazines or the Internet, cut out words, stickers, . . . . .
We'll work on the Bio-Poem assignments next time.
See examples of the Collage --
3. Receive disclosure documents
4. What do you want to get out of the class?
Baseball:
who: players, coaches, umpires, fans, .
6. More Writing Process:
More about Creativity
about you -- Pick one of the prompts from the list.
If you have your composition book, tape the list into the book.
(Sign up for Scribble.)
2. Hand out Creativity Collage Assignment
photographs, illustrations from magazines or the Internet, cut out words, stickers, . . . . .
We'll work on the Bio-Poem assignments next time.
See examples of the Collage --
3. Receive disclosure documents
4. What do you want to get out of the class?
how to creatively write
write books and share them with each other publish -- hard copy - can order online $? personal experiences -- memoir poetry short stories fantasy adventure sci fi mystery (share book recommendations) plays, skits link together thoughts to make a book be more unique more descriptive |
5. Another way to PreWrite:
3) Asking questions: Select a subject you know about, then use the newspaper reporter's question words to generate information about that subject. Here's an example:
3) Asking questions: Select a subject you know about, then use the newspaper reporter's question words to generate information about that subject. Here's an example:
Baseball:
who: players, coaches, umpires, fans, .
. .
what: play ball! bats, balls, mound, bases, backstop, hot dogs, baseball caps, uniforms,
what: play ball! bats, balls, mound, bases, backstop, hot dogs, baseball caps, uniforms,
. . .
where: arena, field, Wrigley Field, back lot, school,
where: arena, field, Wrigley Field, back lot, school,
. . .
why: fun! money for pros, fun to watch, for the hot dogs, The All-American past time, exercise, get outside
why: fun! money for pros, fun to watch, for the hot dogs, The All-American past time, exercise, get outside
,
when: summertime, night games, day games, weekends, recess, P.E. . . .
when: summertime, night games, day games, weekends, recess, P.E. . . .
Now you pick a topic and list answers to each of the "W's"
another sport a holiday a event a . . . . . .
another sport a holiday a event a . . . . . .
 |
| This is a sample of a web for prewriting. |
To here: We did not do focused freewriting for "rain." We did not do questions. We did a web for "pain."
6. More Writing Process:
7. Your Writing Process -- in your composition book or on a lined half-sheet of paper.
More about Creativity
Teen Writing Boot Camp
If you have turned thirteen and love to write, you may be interested in this opportunity:
http://teenauthorbootcamp.com/
The conference is at UVU on Saturday, April 11, and the cost is $49 if students register before February 1. The keynote speakers this year are Jessica Day George and Brandon Sanderson.
If you need a scholarship to attend:
This is not required, nor is it related in any way to American Fork Junior High.
http://teenauthorbootcamp.com/
The conference is at UVU on Saturday, April 11, and the cost is $49 if students register before February 1. The keynote speakers this year are Jessica Day George and Brandon Sanderson.
Teens at TABC will receive six hours of writing instructions for them to use on their path to becoming an author. In addition, they get to know others their age with similar interests.
This year we will have 25 amazing presenters at the conference, including New York Times best-selling authors Brandon Sanderson(Mistborn) and Jessica Day George (Dragon Slippers). In addition, there is a First Chapter Writing Contest, open to all registered attendees. First prize is $100 for both the junior high and high school divisions. Some English teachers have found this a great way to motivate students to begin writing a novel.
If you need a scholarship to attend:
Writers Cubed and several other authors are offering 10 need-based scholarships to the conference. Deadline to apply is January 21st. Part of the application requires a letter of recommendation from an English teacher (if possible).
This is not required, nor is it related in any way to American Fork Junior High.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Creative Writing Class -- Welcome!
1. Self-Starter
On a sheet of lined paper -- write a response to the picture projected on the screen. You could write a description, a commentary, a poem, a brief story, or whatever you're moved to write based on that picture. Your response should be about a half-page or so long. Give it a title and today's date.
2014/2015 School Year -- Supplies
The Writing Process
PREWRITING is what you do to get ready to write (draft).
We use PREWRITING to
-- Gather Ideas and Details
-- Focus (narrow) the topic
-- Decide on a tentative organization for the piece
Much of PREWRITING happens before we start to draft (actually write it down), but we often go back to PREWRITING activities when we need more ideas and details, or need more focus, or decide to modify the organization.
We use PREWRITING to
-- Gather Ideas and Details
-- Focus (narrow) the topic
-- Decide on a tentative organization for the piece
Much of PREWRITING happens before we start to draft (actually write it down), but we often go back to PREWRITING activities when we need more ideas and details, or need more focus, or decide to modify the organization.
1) Freewriting: Just start writing and write for about two minutes about anything that comes into your mind. The point is to not stop writing during those two minutes. You're not writing about anything in particular, just whatever comes to mind. If your mind goes blank, just write blank, blank, or something else. This technique will sometimes free up your mind when you have writers' block, or may generate ideas you could write about.
2) Focused freewriting:
roads
Again, you are going to just write for two minutes without stopping. This time, you will focus on one of these words: roads, red, rain. Select one of those words, and write anything that comes to mind about that word during the two minutes. This can help you discover what you know about a subject, or help you think of different ways to look at it.
red
rain
3) Asking questions: Select a subject you know about, then use the newspaper reporter's question words to generate information about that subject. Here's an example:
Baseball:
who: players, coaches, umpires, fans, .
. .
what: play ball! bats, balls, mound, bases, backstop, hot dogs, baseball caps, uniforms,
what: play ball! bats, balls, mound, bases, backstop, hot dogs, baseball caps, uniforms,
. . .
where: arena, field, Wrigley Field, back lot, school,
where: arena, field, Wrigley Field, back lot, school,
. . .
why: fun! money for pros, fun to watch, for the hot dogs, The All-American past time, exercise, get outside
why: fun! money for pros, fun to watch, for the hot dogs, The All-American past time, exercise, get outside
,
when: summertime, night games, day games, weekends, recess, P.E. . . .
when: summertime, night games, day games, weekends, recess, P.E. . . .
Now you pick a topic and list answers to each of the "W's"
another sport a holiday a event a . . . . . .
another sport a holiday a event a . . . . . .
|
| This is a sample of a web for prewriting. |
To here: We did not do focused freewriting for "rain." We did not do questions. We did a web for "pain."
Creativity: Used Creative Roads
http://www.online-stopwatch.com/classroom-timers/
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