Plot

Thursday, March 12, 2015

2015 Semester 2 -- Kidblog Link 
http://kidblog.org/DorseyCreativeWriting72015S2/

Announcements and Reminders:  This Friday is the last day to hand in late or revised work for Term 3. 
The term ends on Friday, March 20.

Reminder of assignments that are due: On your Kidblog write a very short story.   We will use a plot map, work on creating  great characters and clear settings, using a variety of sentences, using figurative language, and choosing exact words.   Tell your story in what would equal one to two single-spaced pages.   Publish it even if you are not finished.

If you haven't yet written a limerick on Google Drive, do that as soon as you can.  Make sure you follow the pattern provided.   Limericks 2015.doc

Scribble: Bridger F.

Write about your favorite color and how it makes you feel.



Next time:  Meghan H.

What to do with numbers --

• Be consistent. 
• I tend to go with the Chicago Style Manual:
• Write out in words numbers one through ninety-nine, or . . . better yet. . . . 
• Write out numbers that you can write using one or two words.  If it takes three or more,  use the numerals.
• Always write out in words a number that begins a sentence.  If that is too awkward, move the number to the middle or end of the sentence. 
• Hyphenate compound numbers twenty-one through ninety-nine and written-out fractions. 
• With four or more digits, use commas.

http://www.grammarbook.com/numbers/numbers.asp

Figurative Language
A definition of figurative language is when you describe something by comparing it with something else. 

https://kidskonnect.com/language/figurative-language/

Metaphor -- The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

• Use striking language!
• Use exact language!  (specific instead of general)
• lively verbs
• precise nouns
• accurate modifiers
• Use natural language!
• Make it sound authentic.
• Use beautiful language!

Lab -- We spent about a half an hour in lab 223.

Check your choice of words, and add -- if it will help your story -- effective figurative language.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

2015 Semester 2 -- Kidblog Link 
http://kidblog.org/DorseyCreativeWriting72015S2/


Announcements and Reminders:  This Friday is the last day to hand in late or revised work for Term 3. 
The term ends on Friday, March 20.












Scribble:  Ellie P.  -- Picture Prompt  

Next time: Bridger F. 


Just in case:

Number 1-12 spin:  http://www.classtools.net/random-name-picker/47_FXHRJG

Conventions/Editing:  

Using commas to separate a noun of direct address from the rest of the sentence.  

Reminder of Plot:

More on Characters:

Take Notes Ms. Dorsey's notes on Archetypal Characters based on a 

presentation by Annette Lyon (local author and good friend of 

James Dashner - Maze Runner): 

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 (Snape?)
“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

______________________________________

Take notes on a podcast, looking a these characters in a different way.

http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/8-%C2%BD-character-archetypes-writing/

You can listen to the audio at the end of the page.  Begin at minute 1:55.   This is about 10 minutes long.

Be prepared to identify 4 or 5 characters from a well-known story,  book, movie, or television show.

1. Protagonist
2. Antagonist
3. Sidekick
4. Skeptic
5. Guardian (Mentor)
6. Contagonist
7. Reason
8. Emotion

     8 1/2. Love Interest

Want to learn more?  

http://literarydevices.net/archetype/

Here is another way of looking at archetypes through TV characters: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ArchetypalCharacter

To find Ms. Lyon's books, click on this link.

Computer Lab 223?   Hand in your sentence variety graphs. 

Thursday, March 5, 2015

2015 Semester 2
http://kidblog.org/DorseyCreativeWriting72015S2/


Today:

Scribble:  Sarah A.   Kid Snippets:  "Cooking Show -- Cookies"

Next time:  Ellie P.

Number 1-12 spin:  http://www.classtools.net/random-name-picker/47_FXHRJG

Conventions/Editing: 

Today:  Punctuating Dialogue
Create a Dialogue:  Write a scene in which one character is trying to convince another character to do something he or she doesn't want to do, using only dialogue. 

Here is an example from Spilling Ink by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter:

     "I can't; I won't!" Justine said, her hands flying up to cover her neck.
     "But think of all the advantages," the vampire said.
     "Like what?"
     "You'll live forever."
     "And watch all the people I love grow old and die?"
     "You can meet new people."
     "And suck out their blood."
     "There's another advantage too."
     "Forget it.  My mind is made up."
     "Just listen."
     "No!"
     "Your skin will look great.  You'll never get another zit."
     "Really?" Justine's hands slowly moved away from her neck. "Not even if I eat chocolate?" 



2. What are the rules for dialogue? 
a. What makes strong, effective dialogue?

Dialogue: -- Class comments today:

For each paragraph only one person is speaking. It must be a conversation among two or more people. Could be a monologue. Avoid too little, and avoid too much. Make sure the reader knows who is speaking. Use "said" or, if there is another BETTER word, use it. Be careful about shouting. End punctuation usually goes inside the quotation marks.

b. What are the rules for dialogue? 

Punctuating Conversation I

Punctuating Conversation II

Checking Punctuating Dialogue

dialogue check.docx

Computer Lab 223 -- after this -- 

Revising: 

In the computer lab, go back and correct any problems with punctuation in your own dialogue. 

Then, in the computer lab -- 

Sentence Variety:  Fill out this sheet for your own short story on Kidblog.
 Checking for Effective Sentence Variety.docx

Sample for Checking for Effective Sentence Variety.docx
The sample uses   Chapter 1 of The Maze Runner by James Dashner

See the preview.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

2015 Semester 2
http://kidblog.org/DorseyCreativeWriting72015S2/


Today:

1. Scribble: Ms. D.

Next time: Sarah A. 


Ms. Dorsey's Scribble -- This is an extensive one!

Limerick is a city in Ireland.  It is also a short form of poetry.  In honor of St. Patrick's Day we are going to write limericks.   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-rN3DGMCsE



 Here is a famous limerick by Edward Lear:

Limerick There was an Old Man with a beard, Who said, 'It is just as I feared! Two Owls and a Hen, Four Larks and a Wren, Have all built their nests in my beard!'

And more

Limericks by Edward Lear:

• There was a Young Lady of Ryde
• There was a Young Lady whose Bonnet
• There was an Old Man in a Boat
• There was an Old Man in a Tree
• There was an Old Man of Kilkenny
• There was an Old Man of Marseilles
• There was an Old Man of Quebec
• There was an Old Man who Supposed
• There was an Old Man with a Beard
• There was an Old Man with a Flute

From Students in 2010:  Limericks

Your Assignment:

Limericks 2015.doc



2. In the computer lab, type up your best limerick on Google Drive.  Share it with Ms. Dorsey.
3. In the computer lab, finish up a solid draft of your short story on your Kidblog.
         Watch your verb tense.  Decide on past or present tense, then stick with the one you choose.

Friday, February 27, 2015

Announcements:  Extra credit is available for students who behave very well indeed for Mr. Nielsen.

Today:   

1. Scribble:   Zealan

Next time:  Ms. Dorsey

If there is not a scribble for today, choose  one of the prompts from the list of prompts 

you taped into your composition book.  (There are extra lists in the Creative Writing Handouts box.)

Share -- Student Volunteers, if any.

__________________________________________

2. Picture Prompts and/or story starts:

Hand out the packets with the prompts 

and the Sharing Procedures.

Ue the  appointment schedule in your composition books.

A Bevy of Prompts PLUS SOME STORY STARTERS.

• Today you are going to experience a variety of prompts.  
• Use the prompts you did not use last time you had a sub.
• The substitute will give you five to ten minutes to work on each.  
• You may complete the prompts in any order.  
• Each person may be writing to a different prompt each time. 
• Do as much as you can in the time allotted for each, then be willing to move on to the next one.  Keep working on one until you are instructed by the substitute to move one. 
• Write each new prompt on the next page of your notebook.  
• See the sharing procedures for how you will share after writing each prompt.  

You will do as many as you have time for.

Contest: Editorial Writing

Entries are due March 9.   You need to be thirteen or older to enter.

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/04/our-second-annual-student-editorial-contest-write-about-an-issue-that-matters-to-you/