2 Pages of School Stories due Thur 2/26

Due this Thursday Block 2/26 (Per. 3 only) 2 pages of your “school stories” written as non-fiction or fiction—typed and double spaced. Ready for Peer Edit Workshop.

Friday Packet 2/27

2/27--Friday Packet (4 items):
· Memoir Online Work from Monday (typed)
· Memoir Online Work from Tuesday (typed)
· Show Not Tell (typed)
· Smoke Signals Reading Log/Movie Questions (not typed)

If you turned some of these things in already, we will add them to your packet on Friday.

Memoir Writing Cont. Tues 2/24

Part I—Tips for Improving Your Memoir Writing

Read this article and answer the questions:

1. What does framing your memoir mean?
2. What does it mean to keep it relevant?
3. How are details important?
4. Why is dialogue important?
5. What can you do with the order? What do you have to be careful not to do?

Part II--Your Life Inventory for Story Ideas

(1 1/2- 2 pages—This is a BIG writing assignment—take your time and write as detailed as possible.)

Setting (time and place) & Mood

1. Describe a few settings that were important parts of your life (ex: childhood homes, school, vacation spots) or make a list.
2. Write down a memory where setting (time or place) was important.
3. Describe either a setting that has a strong positive feeling (mood) or a negative feeling (mood).

Plot

4. Try to summarize the “story” of your life from birth to now.
5. Identify what motivates you (ex: staying healthy, getting into a good college, finding a good job, enjoying life etc.) or tell a story of when you were searching/looking for something.

Conflict

6. Describe some of your conflicts (human vs. human, human vs. nature, human vs. self, etc.) or write a story about one or more conflicts in your life.

Theme

7. Describe a time when there was a possible message or meaning behind an experience that you had.

Characters

8. Describe or write a story about a protagonist (main character/hero) in your life? (Could be you.)
9. Describe or tell a story about an antagonist (enemy) in your life.
10. Describe some very interesting characters from your life.
11. Write about yourself from someone else’s eyes.

Tone

12. Write about your life using at least two different tones: angry, happy, bored, scared, demanding, sarcastic, cruel, etc.

Resolution

13. Write about a time when something was resolved or had a distinct conclusion (ex: like winning a game, finding new love after a long search, etc.)

Part III-Reflection (1/2 page)

Sherman Alexie used his own life experiences to tell his fictional stories. Reflect on your own life and the story potential.

1. Are your own life stories interesting to you? Explain.
2. Are you interested in writing real stories about yourself and the people you know or do you prefer fictionalizing your stories? Explain.
3. Do you feel you’ve had enough life experiences to use for stories? Explain.
4. Did you discover or rediscover any stories about yourself today? Explain.

EXTRA CREDIT

Interesting Personality Test (free and pretty quick to do—links to detailed personality type, career matches, etc.)—Click here for Personality Test Link.

For credit, write down your type and a brief summary of the type.

**Homework: Due on Thursday Block (Per. 3 only) 2 pages of your “school stories” written as non-fiction or fiction—typed and double spaced. Ready for Peer Edit Workshop.

Memoir Lesson Online Monday 2/23

This will be collected/graded! Turn in at end of period--Ms. Crutchfield be out for district meetings today and tomorrow! Use your time wisely & please respect the computer lab.

Part I—What is a Memoir?

Read the article on memoirs and answer the questions:


1. What is the origin of the word memoir?
2. Write down the definition of memoir (the 2nd definition according to the site InkSpell).
3. How are memoirs focused?
4. How are memoirs similar to fiction?
5. Describe the relationship between truth and memoir.

Part II—Read two interesting memoir excerpts or previews and for each memoir answer the questions that can be found below the memoir list:

List of online memoirs from Google Books (search Google Book Search if the links are broken!):

Angela’s Ashes or Teacher Man by Frank McCourt
Running with Scissors or Dry by Augusten Burroughs
Night Studio by Philip Guston (about an artist)
Falling Through the Earth by Danielle Trussoni
Not a Happy Camper by Mindy Schneider
Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia by Marya Hornbacher
Without You: A Memoir of Loss, Love and the Musical Rent by Anthony Rapp
Committed: A Rabble-rouser’s memoir by Dan Matthews
Public Bookshelf Memoirs

Questions for each memoir (read at least 2):

1. Does the memoir hook you into the story? Why or why not?
2. Describe the voice and tone (attitude) of the narrator in the memoir.
3. How is the setting introduced in the memoir? Is it important to the story?
4. Are there any conflicts or complications revealed? Explain.
5. Is there any dialogue? What does it reveal?
6. What do you think the theme (overall meaning or message) might be in this writing?
7. Is this writing meaningful? Explain why or why not.
8. Does this sound true? Explain.
9. What elements did you find interesting about this memoir? Was there anything you could use for your own writing? Explain.

Part III—Write down a six word memoir (see link below for examples) and then try submitting it for possible publication:

Six word memoir submissions
Warning: Some inappropriate language on the website.

**Homework: Due on Thursday Block (Per. 3 only)
2 pages of your “school stories” written as non-fiction or fiction—typed and double spaced. Ready for Peer Edit Workshop.

Per. 5 & 6-ONLY- Zoot Suit Lesson Online

Online Zoot Suit Lesson for Per. 5 & 6 English Class Only (Put answers on binder paper or Microsoft Word Document and turn in!)

On your own, finish reading the play from Scene 7-9!

If you forgot your book, use this online link.

Part I--Questions for Act 2 Scene 9—Return to the Barrio

1.What has happened to Henry at the beginning of this scene?
2. Who else has come home?
3. What does El Pachuco say about happy endings?
4. What decision does Henry have to make concerning Alice and Della?
5. What terrible experience did Rudy have?
6. In your opinion, why does Henry’s life have so many different endings?
7. Write a different ending for Henry’s life.

Part II--Facts about Latinos and the Prison System

Click here to read the facts about Latinos in prison and answer the questions.

1. In 2000, Latinos made up 13% of the U.S. population. What was the percentage of Latinos in prison?
2. What does it mean when it says that Latinos have a 1 out of 6 chance of being put into prison?
3. What are many of the Latinos in prison for?
4. Which group has the most 5 years sentences? Which group has the least amount of 5 year sentences?
5. What does this information tell you about Latinos and the prison system? How does this relate to Henry and the boy’s experience?

Part III--Letter to Luis Valdez

Start writing a letter to Luis Valdez. Perhaps we could give him some of these letters when he comes to AHS on March 5th.

Dear Mr. Valdez,

Include the following in your letter (don’t forget paragraphs and indenting):
· A little information about you and why you read Zoot Suit.

· What you learned about the Sleepy Lagoon Murder and Henry & The Zoot Suit Riots.

· How you felt about the play and reading the play, the characters, the story and the message.

· Any questions you might have for him or just thanking him for writing this play.

Sincerely,

How to Show Not Tell-Due Tuesday 2/17

How to Show not Tell

When we write, we want to Show what is happening through the use of details, description, rich language and dialogue instead of just simply Telling the story. Showing is exciting and gets us into the action while Telling is flat and uninteresting. Below is an example of how to Show not Tell in your writing.

Telling
My Mother
My mother was a caring person, but she was also a person who had many problems, so she didn’t pay as much attention to me as I wanted her to. She stare in front of her a lot of worrying about things I was too young to understand, but it made me feel sad and even a little bit rejected. I guess every kid needs to believe she is the center of her mother’s universe.

Showing
My Mother
“Mama, listen, Mama, listen to me, I want to tell you something…” I stood right in front of my mother pulling at her hand, but she only sat there, staring straight ahead at the wall. I wanted her to turn her head and look at me, so I would know without a doubt that she was listening to me alone, not to some other voice inside, a voice louder than mine, more insistent than mine. I put my hand underneath her chin to turn her head to me. I remember the soft, warm skin, and I remember the pull of her chin away from me, until she finally turned her head. I remembered my joy as I felt her turn---and I remember panic as her eyes, unfocused, looked past me. “What is it, child?” she asked sounding tired, but I could not remember what it was I wanted to tell her.

Assignment

1. Write a brief paragraph about an experience in your life and just tell the story without details(ex: My sister was lying on the couch and wouldn’t let me have the remote control…)
2. Then write the paragraph over with dialogue & concrete and sensory details like the story above. (ex: It was Sunday morning, when I found my sister Julie curled up in a blanket on the couch like a caterpillar in a cocoon. I said, “Give me the remote!” And she scrunched up her face and spat, “No way, Bozo…”)

Friday Packet due Friday 2/13

HW: Friday Packet due Friday 2/13



Friday Packet
· Short Story Unit Notes (this isn't working so go back to my school webpage to see the PowerPoint)
· Character Development exercises (Also not working so go back to my school webpage to see the PowerPoint) & Character Profile (See below)
· Graphic Novel Online Notes + include a comic strip you created online or by hand (See Friday 2/6 Blog)

Character Profile (Human or Non-Human)

Name: ____________Height: _______ Age: _________
Birthplace:
Physical description:
Style of dress:
Speech (include voice, accent, style of speech, slang, signature phrases or words):
Race/nationality:
Family:
Relationship with parents:
Memories about childhood:
Religion: _____________________ Marital status: _____________
Overall health:
Educational background: (street smart? Formal? Does he/she read?):
Occupation:
Where does the character live now? Describe home (emotional atmosphere as well as physical)
Interests/Hobbies/Activities:___________________Pets:______________
Enemies:
Basic nature:
Personality traits (shy, outgoing, domineering, doormat, honest, kind, sense of humor):
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Fears:
Proud of:
Ashamed of:
Outlook on life (optimistic, pessimistic, cynic, idealist):
Ambitions:
Politics:
Sees himself/herself as:
Seen by others as:
Will be remembered for:

Thursday 2/12--Shakespeare San Francisco

We will be seeing Shakespeare San Francisco's Romeo and Juliet in the AHS PAC on Thursday during Per. 3. Here's a link to their website.

You will be creating a small play in about four weeks, so keep this in mind while you are watching the performance.

Friday 2/6--Graphic Novels & Comics

Graphic Novels & Comics

Part I-- Read this article and answer the questions.

· What is a graphic novel?
· How is a graphic novel different from a comic strip?
· What age levels do graphic novels appeal to?
· What is manga? How do manga characters generally look?


Part II-- Read 2 Graphic Novel/Comics online and answer the questions for each one.
For each graphic novel answer these questions:

— 1) Describe the setting (time and place).
— 2) Describe the main characters.
— 3) What is the general storyline or plot?
— 4) What are some of the main conflicts?
— 5) How does it end/resolution? (YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO THE END!)
— 6) What is the general message or meaning (theme) of this story? (This should be written as a statement like “love conquers all”.)
— 7) What interesting elements do you notice in this story--ie: narration and speech bubbles, comic-like grahics, modernized story, hand lettering, use of color or black and white, etc.

List of Online Graphic Novels/Comics:

1. Salamander Dream is the whimsical story of a girl and her salamander spirit friend. The print version of the novel was named one of the best comics released in 2005 by Publisher’s Weekly. A beautiful little tale! (School Only: Teacher must log you on!)

2. 1984 in graphic form.

3. NYC2123 is a graphic novel designed for the Sony Playstation Portable, though it can easily be viewed as an image slideshow on any PC. It’s a B&W cyberpunk story, set on a post-apocalyptic earth. There are currently 6 issues available for download.

4. Crossing Midnight Vol. 1: Cut Here is a fantasy meets Asian horror story of two twins born under strange circumstances. It’s set in present day Nagasaki, Japan, and is bound to please fans of J-Horror. (School Only: Teacher must log you on!)

5. Indefensible Positions is a modern day story where magic and myths are real. (School Only: Teacher must log you on!)

Part III—Try some of the comic generators below and create at least 2 comic strips. It’s worth checking each one out first! Send one of your comic strips to the teacher!

http://www.bitstrips.com/ (School only: Teacher needs to log on for you )
http://pixton.com/ (sign in for free)
http://www.toondoo.com/ (School only: Teacher needs to log on for you )
http://makebeliefscomix.com/

You can also make your own comic strips by hand creating a template like this:

Or getting a comic template from here PDF handout.

When finished with all three parts--go back and read some graphic novels you passed up or grab a graphic novel from the library offerings to read until the end of class. You could also start planning your short story project due on March 12th--see previous post on log.

NO GAMING or other off-task behavior.