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

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.

September 22, 2010

September 22, 2010
Revision:
Sentence Fluency -- Do you have a variety of sentence lengths and sentence beginnings?
Sentence Variety Chart.doc

Type "final"/quality draft of your memoir in the computer lab.
A quality copy of your memoir is due today -- posted on the wiki. 

September 14, 2010

Please print a copy of your memoir (whatever you've written so far -- rough draft) and bring it to school today, or (if you can't get it printed) bring your thumb drive. 

1.  Print (if needed) and continue to work on your memoir (handwriting).  
2. More examples of memoir
3. Peer Review
4. More time to write and revise. 


Schedule for memoir:
September 10 -- Type and print a draft.
September 14 peer review -- revision
September 16 -- Revise in computer lab.
September 22 -- Final revisions and editing in computer lab -- ready  to hand in.

Extra credit for a Useless Fact: The ZIP in Zip code is an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan.  Tell me this fascinating factoid and earn 3 points of extra credit.  

ZIP is an acronym, "a word formed from the initial letters or groups of letters of words in a set phrase or series of words." (Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.)

September 10, 2010

Bring your thumb-drives on September 10.



Bell-Ringer:  Select any of the prompts from your taped in list to write about in your composition book.
Examples and non-examples of memoir.

Your memoir needs a "so-what." 

Computer lab 223 for working on your memoir.  Bring your thumb-drive.  You may also email it to yourself.
Schedule for memoir:
September 10 -- Type and print a draft.
September 14 peer review -- revision
September 16 -- Revise in computer lab.
September 22 -- Final revisions and editing in computer lab -- ready  to hand in.

Extra credit for a Useless Fact: The ZIP in Zip code is an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan.  Tell me this fascinating factoid and earn 3 points of extra credit.  

ZIP is an acronym, "a word formed from the initial letters or groups of letters of words in a set phrase or series of words." (Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.)

September 20

September 20
Self-Starter: Write down three possible titles for your memoir.
1. Mini-lesson on titles.
2. Computer lab to type memoirs.
3. Revisions and editing.

Titles

“Much of a writer’s work is to
generate options
and make deliberate choices.”
--Atwell and Dorsey

Some Thoughts on Titles
-- Students often select titles that are
Labels – “When I Tried Out for The Wizard of Oz”
“My Dog”
or Clichés – “The Best Christmas Ever,”
“The Winning Goal”

-- Look for a word or phrase in your writing that
sums up your story or essay.
(and/or) Generate other ideas for the title.
• Discard it if it is too misleading.
• Discard it if it is cliché.
• Discard it if it is just a label.

-- Sometimes you can tweak a tired title to tantalize:
“Dorothy, the Wizard, and Me”
“My Life as a Dog” (I haven’t read the book or seen the movie, but it does have an intriguing title.)
“The Best Misery”
“The Losing Goal”

--Effective titles tend to be intriguing, memorable, distinct, deliberate.

-- Consider the theme of the piece when selecting a title.

--You may begin with a title or (more often) not select a title until the piece is otherwise finished and polished.

September 14

September 14
Details and Description
Self-Starter: Sweet and Sour
Students created descriptions of sweet and salty things.
If you are absent, get something sweet (a candy?) and something salty. Describe each as thoroughly as you can. Use the "Wonderful Word Banks" from Ms. Dorsey. If you have internet, you can to go her website under Creative Writing to find word banks under "Units of Study." Bring this paper to tape into your notebook.

1. A couple more examples of intriguing leads.
2. Examples of descriptive writing
3. Making a movie in your mind.
4. Writer's workshop. Add or refine description for your memoir -- the one for which you worked on leads last time.

If you enjoy the Jimmy Fincher Saga, go to ttp://www.jamesdashner.blogspot.com/. The author has done a great job with his blog.

September 10

1. In writing on the next page of your notebook (not Writing Territories), briefly summarize the story of one episode of a TV show (not a movie, and not something like American Idol that doesn't tell a story) that you've seen.
-- Walk and Talk
2. Student examples of memoir/personal narrative:
2. Professional example of writing an episode -- "Being Mean" from Living Up the Street by Gary Soto.
3. What makes a bad memoir/personal narrative?
4. Writer's Workshop
(If you haven't handed in the essay you created in computer lab last week, please do so today.)