Writing Contests

Writing Contest: The Utah League of Cities and Towns is sponsoring the "Why I Like My Community" essay contest.  It is open to students in fourth and seventh grades.  There are cash prizes.  If you think you may be interested, ask me for more information and an entry form. Or try downloading this PDF: www.uen.org/utah/downloads/essay_contest.pdf

Check the poster just inside the classroom door for another writing contest. 



The 2011 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are now accepting submissions! Go to this site to register. 
www.artandwriting.org 

September 30, 2010

Bell-Ringer: Pick up your composition book.
Write a response to the painting on the overhead -- a poem? short story?  description? commentary? ?

About writing short stories:  What makes a good or bad story?

Computer lab 223: Type a short story.

September 28, 2010

Writing Fiction
1.  Bell-Ringer:
a. Responding to a painting
b. Begin listing all the books (novels/chapter books) you've read -- in your composition book.  Label it with today's date. 

Problems in Fiction/Conflict
What are problems we have seen in fiction?

"The successful writer of fiction creates a world, one so complete, plausible, and seamless that readers slip into its rhythms and feel as if they live in the text."   

". . . most published novels and short stories are about two things: a particular person or group of people, and the particular problems that one or more of them are facing."  -- Nancy Atwell p. 21 in Lessons That Change Writers

problem, difficulty, challenge, conflict

2.  In your composition book create a list of "Problems in Published Fiction"

"What about a chocolate factory that makes fantastic and marvelous things -- with a crazy man running it?"
   -- note Roald Dahl wrote to himself about a "what if" idea for a story.

3. Read part of a short story, looking for conflict
4. Time to work on writing a short story.
Next time we will spend some time in the computer lab, typing short stories. 


Conflict in Published Literature:

Eragon – hiding the dragon

Fablehaven I and II  --  some of the magical creatures are trying to take over

39 Clues – family conflict – trying to find the treasure

Maximum Ride –  the kids are trying to stay free from the scientists

Lightning Thief – Zeus vs bolt thief

Percy Jackson – free someone from an ogre

Inkheart – where you want to be – story people caught in reality and real people caught in a book

Among the Hidden – family trying to protect their child from population  police

The Host – aliens vs. humans

Princess of the Midnight Ball – curse –

Sun and Moon and Ice and Snow – wanting to stay home, but being taken away

Gathering Blue – village – girl alone – they won’t let her live in the village

Twilight – Bella vs. James

Fever – fever killing people

The Tale of Desparo – saving the Princess

Tail of Emily Windsnap – getting her dad back

Goose Girl – she is betrayed, has to get crown back

The Golden Compass – cutting away the children's "souls"

Fearless Fourteen – guy stole 9 million dollars – police trying to get money back

Uglies – whether or not to be turned into pretty – whether or not to betray

Diary of a Wimpy Kid – problems with brother, with school, embarrassing

Just Ella – she doesn’t like the prince!

Spiderwick – goblins  vs. humans

Heartbeat -

September 24, 2010

QuickWrite:  Picture Prompt C


Weather permitting we'll go outside.
Activities:
1. Circles -- small groups --
2. Human Cameras (Three pictures each.)  -- pairs -- stop each time to record the shot.

3.Computer lab -- Wiki -- Write on your page in the Outside folder.
Log In.
Find the folder labeled "Outside" and open it.
Find your name and open that page.
Click on edit and type your best piece from our outdoors experience.
Don't forget to save and log out.

Reflections Contest

2010- 2011 PTA Reflections Contest

Entries Due October 20th by 4:00 p.m.

“Together We Can . . .”

Click Here for Entry Forms and More Information

Our Class Wiki

Go to http://cavewriting2010b1.pbworks.com

1. Log in using the user name and password you have been given.  Do not lose them, and do not share them with any other students. I suggest taping the paper strip into you planner or copying the user name and password, then destroying the paper strip. 
2. In the "Navigator" box at the right, click on the file folder for "Memoir."
3. Find your name, alphabetically by first name.  
4. Click on your name to open your page.
5. Find the tab at the upper left marked "Edit" and click on it. 
6. You may now edit your page.  For September 22, 1010, you will copy your finished memoir and paste it on the page. 
7. Fix any formatting problems (font size, etc.).
8. Don't forget to click on "Save" at the bottom left. (Otherwise you will lose your work.)
9. To get back to the main page, click on the "Wiki" tab at the top.
10. Log out by clicking on "log out" at the upper right.

 Important!

• Please do not edit anyone else's page.  Make sure you are in edit mode only when you are on your own page. You will see your own name at the top when you are on your own page.
• You may make comments in the comment box for another student's page.  Keep the comments polite, helpful, and friendly.  

Remember these rules for wiki use:

-- Use ONLY first name or first name/last initial.

--Please post only APPROPRIATE comments.

--NEVER give out personal information on the web.

-- Don't giver your username and password to anyone else.  Don't lose them!

--DON'T delete someone else's info.

                    --- Thanks to Mrs. K's School Is Cool Wiki

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.