Fri 3/27--Author Talk/Presentation

Homework Due This Friday 3/27:

Author Talk/Presentation (about 1 page—typed and double spaced)

Assignment: You, the author of your stories, will be reflecting on your insights into your writing. Be prepared to share these with the class on Friday 3/27. Bring the questions as well.

1. What inspired you to write these stories? What were some of your influences (books, other writers, things in life)? Refresh us first on what your stories were about.
2. Most writing has a theme (overall message or meaning). Themes are not just one word like “violence” but a statement like “violence begets violence” or “all is fair in love and war”. What were some of your themes in your stories?
3. What have you learned about your writing process during this short story project?
4. What is your revision/editing process?
5. What part of the creative process came easy for you? What was hard?
6. What do you feel confident about in your writing? (Find at least one thing and explain it!)

Tue 3/24--Per. 5 & 6 Forgotten Memories Chapter 2

Forgotten Memories--Chapter 2 Questions

1. How does the relationship between father and son make you feel?
2. How does their relationship between the father and mother make you feel?
3. Is the father’s anger justified or fair? Why or why not.
4. Do you think the son’s decision to put layers of clothes is fair? Why or why not.

Journal—Write about a time when you got in trouble and had to wait for your punishment. Describe the situation and how you felt.

Wed 3/25--Per. 5 & 6 Forgotten Memories Chapter 3

Forgotten Memories—Chapter 3

Part I—Reflection

What did you like about the chapter?
What did you not understand?
What do you think is going to happen in the next chapter?

Part II--Write five important facts/events from Chapter 3

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Part III--Write a One Paragraph Summary of Chapter 3

Do not rewrite the original piece.
Keep your summary short.
Use your own wording.
Refer to the central and main ideas of the original piece.
Read with who, what, when, where, why and how questions in mind.
Do not put in your opinion of the issue or topic discussed in the original piece.

Per. 5 & 6 Forgotten Memories Chapter 1

Forgotten Memories Chapter 1 Questions

Intro
1. Describe the cover of the book.
2. Who is this book dedicated to or written for?
3. Why did Art Rodriguez write this book?

Chapter 1
4. Whose Point of View is this story told from?
5. What is Art’s relationship with his mother?
6. What is a flashback? Where does the story have a flashback?
7. Describe Art’s parent’s relationship with each other.
8. What is the father like?
9. What does Art want to do (his motivation)?
10. What is Art’s relationship with his father?

Journal (1/2 page)—Describe your own relationship with your mother and your father.

Tue 3/24--Reading Plays

Reading Stage Plays

(Don't forget Author Talk homework...from last post)

Part I—Journal

Journal—Write down 10 Things that really interest you (ie: listening to your ipod). Then write down how each interest could be turned into a conflict or dilemma for a stage play (not a movie!). Make sure you do this for each interest no matter how challenging.

Part II-Reading Stage Plays

Read 3 Ten Minute Plays—You may choose from any of the websites below. Try to find plays that interest you as models for your own writing.

http://www.hitplays.com/default.aspx?pg=sl&stc=TMP&cl=Ten+Minute+Plays (the Previews show the entire script)

http://theatrehistory.com/plays/10minute.html

http://www.10-minute-plays.com/

http://www.geocities.com/pocolocoplayers/free.html

For each play you read write down the answers to these questions. You will have 3 sets of answers.
1. What is the setting?
2. What is the theme?
3. What is the mood?
4. Describe an important character.
5. What is the plot?
6. What is the major conflict?
7. How does it end or resolve?

Note: You will need to download Celtx onto your home computer soon—a free, good program to help you format your stageplay and screenplay.
http://www.celtx.com/

***Check out this list of plays/musicals made into movies:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_stage_plays_or_musicals

Write down three you might want to watch and why.

Mon 3/22--Playwriting 101 Online Assignment

Quarter 4—Plays & Screenplays (Per. 3 & 4)

For the Play Unit, you and a partner will be writing a short dilemma play that would be appropriate for other students (maybe drama students) to act out. Hopefully some of these will be acted out in class or on stage at AHS. For today, start looking at the basics of playwriting.

We will continue sharing your short stories when I get well & return!

Part I—Playwriting 101

On a Word Document, answer the following questions about plays using this link: http://www.playwriting101.com/

Chapter 1
1. Write down the most common types of plays (4).

Chapter 4
2. Take notes on the Top Ten List for Story Development (just write down the essence of each tip).

Chapter 10
3. Look at how to write a setting and then try writing a setting in that format.

Chapter 12
4. Try writing a some play dialogue using the format shown.

Click here: Dialogue Pages Format
5. Write about 1 page of a “pretend” play using this format.

After you write a play, you will be writing a screenplay.
Read this article about Five Reasons why writing plays helps you become a better screenwriter.
6. Write down the Five Reasons why writing plays helps you become a better screenwriter.

7. Go to this link and pick another article that interests you about playwriting.
Write down five things that you learned.

Homework Due This Thurs 3/26:

Author Talk (about 1 page—typed and double spaced)—Per. 3 ONLY

Assignment: You, the author of your stories, will be reflecting on your insights into your writing. Be prepared to share these with the class on Thurs block 3/26.

1. What inspired you to write these stories? What were some of your influences (books, other writers, things in life)? Refresh us first on what your stories were about.

2. Most writing has a theme (overall message or meaning). Themes are not just one word like “violence” but a statement like “violence begets violence” or “all is fair in love and war”. What were some of your themes in your stories?

3. What have you learned about your writing process during this short story project?

4. What is your revision/editing process?

5. What part of the creative process came easy for you? What was hard?

6. What do you feel confident about in your writing? (Find at least one thing and explain it!)

Book Talk on Monday 3/16

Book Talk on Monday 3/16

1. Brief overview of your self-selected book.
2. Talk about an interesting character.
3. Talk about an interesting scene or conflict.
4. Tell us whether you recommend the book or not.

Friday Packet 3/20

Friday Packet--all typed, double spaced

• Dialogue/Conversations from Others
• Dialogue/Conversations from You
• Online Dialogue Questions from Tuesday
• Life List (from Tuesday)

NEW DATE! Short Story Project due March 19th--Thurs

Short Story Project

5+ Written Pages-typed and double spaced

REVISED DUE DATE!
Due & Presented on

Thursday March 19th

(1/2 credit if late)

(Written part should be typed, 12 pt. font, double spaced & publication quality. Any artwork should be professional and good quality--see me if you want to do artistic lettering for any stories.)

You will be presenting these to class--you must have the entire project but you will only present a selection of it (you may also turn your project into a PowerPoint).

Project Ideas:

• Graphic Novel/Story (5+ written double spaced pages total & graphics--will be quite a bit longer with illustrations)

• Comic Book (5+ written double space pages total & graphics--will be longer with illustrations)

• 1-3 Short Stories (5+ written double spaced pages). You may also add art/photos/illustrations as extras.

• Children’s Book/Story (5+ written double spaced pages total & illustrations)

• Memoirs –fiction or non-fiction (5+ written double spaced pages). Illustrations/photos are extras.

• Fictional Diary or Journal (5+ written double spaced pages)

• Portfolio Pieces--a mix of genres: stories, graphic comic, memoir, etc. (5+written double spaced pages)--you may use any of the stories written in class: fractured fairytales, comics, memoir writings, flash fiction, etc.)

• 4 Chapters of a Novel –typed & double spaced--more than 5 pages

See me if you have another idea (stories linked to photographs/art, stories linked with music, digital stories, etc.)!

The Six +1 Traits of Effective Writing

1. Ideas
Powerful use of details, examples and experiences to develop and enrich ideas and themes.

2. Organization
Organization gives the writing direction and helps the reader move through the ideas in a purposeful and engaging way.

3. Voice
The voice is the feeling and conviction of the individual writer coming through the words. The voice should be authentic and truthful.

4. Word Choice
Word choice is the use of rich, precise language including sensory details, figurative language and strong imagery that moves and enlightens the reader.

5. Sentence Fluency
Sentence fluency is the rhythm and flow of the language, the sound of word patterns, the way in which the writing plays to the ear—not just the eye. You should always read your work out loud to hear the sentence fluency.

6. Conventions
Conventions are the mechanical correctness of the piece—spelling, grammar and usage, paragraphing, use of capitals, and punctuation.

+1 Presentation
The form and layout of the text should fit the assignment and be professional. All writing is typed and artwork is professional and good quality.

TAOW--Tues Online Dialogue Assignment 2/10

Part I--Google Book Search—Writing Dialogue by Tom Chiarella
Read Chapter 1 of this book (starts on page 3)—Listening, Jotting and Crowding

For each of the sections write a brief response/reflection about what you learned:
· Jabber
· Scribbling in the Notebook
· Listening: Tuning in and Tuning out
· Jotting
· Crowding
· Stealing from Home

Homework: Do Exercise #1 on page 16—Writing What You Say—about 1 page typed

(**For fun try a little Guerrilla Dialogue by asking or saying unusual things and recording people’s reactions--keep it appropriate!)

Part II—Life List--20+ things
Look at John Goddard’s Life List and write your own list. Feel free to use his categories or make up your own (Explore, Visit, Accomplish, etc.)

Friday Packet 3/13 (three items) due (ALL TYPED!):

· Homework Exercise #1--Writing What You Say

· Dialogue from Five Places--Writing What Others Say from Five Different Places (can include home and school)—about 1 page (from last week)

· Life List of 20+ items

5th & 6th Period English

Online Essay Practice

Type your answers on a Microsoft Word document.

Part I—Review Supporting Details--Go to the link: Supporting Details and write down the answers to the questions. Try to Listen to the Audio.

Part II—Take notes on how to write a conclusion. Click here.
· Write down 3 things conclusions should have.
· Write down the 5 ways to achieve this.

Part III—Complete Sentences, Fragments, Run-ons/Comma Splices
Writing complete sentences (not fragments) and not writing run-ons is VERY important in your writing.
· What 3 things does a sentence have to have in order to be complete? Click here.
· When is a sentence a fragment? Click Here. Can you have a sentence that has a subject and verb and still is a fragment? Give an example.
· Give examples of a run-on sentence. Give examples of a comma splice. Click Here.

Part IV—Take the Quiz by hitting the button Play the Game (for fragments and run-ons) AND write the correct answer down on your Microsoft Word doc!

Are you finished with Hooks? Cause and Effect Research? Final Draft of Luis Valdez letter?
See my school webpage for Hooks/Cause and Effect Research

HS Poetry Contest--due March 13th

The Santa Cruz County High School Poetry Contest: An opportunity to be published, honored and win cash prizes!

Also you could receive extra credit for class.

Due March 13th or March 12th if you want me to mail the poems.

2+ pages of a story/memoir-typed--due March 5th--Thurs Block

Homework:

Due Thurs Block March 5th

(½ credit if late)

2+ written pages of a story—typed, double-spaced
Ready for another Writing Workshop: Peer Response

It can be memoir (non-fiction), memoir-like fiction or fiction

Include:
Hook at the beginning—grab the reader’s interest
Conflict, drama or dramatic event
Sensory Details