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.