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Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Book Clubs

Lesson Recap: Characteristics of Archetypes
Today, we discussed archetypes briefly.  Here is another list of 12 Common Archetypes. Add your knowledge of archetypes to your personal skills repertoire. Always be on the look out for common archetypes in the stories you read. Think about possibly  including archetypical characteristics into one of your characters in your RF story.


Homework C/D and E/F Classes 
Book Club Reading - Focus on your secondary characters.
Membean (45mins by Friday)

Homework All Classes
  • Reminder that you need to make sure you have at least one scene (approx. 1/2 a page written for your RF story for Thursday's class. 
  • In class, we will speak about weaving setting descriptions into stories. Make sure you are clear which settings you are going to be using for your story. e.g. a scene in a school laboratory and a scene in a car park
  • G/H Class- Many of you do not have this RF file ( the first scene from last week public) so I can not grade your work. 

Going Forward: By Monday, you should have 3 scenes finished in your RF fiction story (approx. 1-2 pages). Use class time well tomorrow, you will have little H/W.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

RF Story

Pop Quiz -Use this link to take the next pop quiz. Before you start the quiz, discuss the answers to these 5 questions below with your partner. These will help you. A LOT!

Decide whether the first 5 questions are  
(A) Simple,  (B) Compound, or  (C) Complex (D) Contains an error

1. Since last Saturday, my sister has helped me with my project.
(A) Simple,  (B) Compound, or  (C) Complex (D) Contains an error

2. Math is very challenging but grammar classes are easy.
(A) Simple,  (B) Compound, or  (C) Complex (D) Contains an error

3. We learn some lessons in the classroom and others in the dorm.
(A) Simple,  (B) Compound, or  (C) Complex (D) Contains an error

4. Like all people, however, teachers make mistakes.
(A) Simple,  (B) Compound, or  (C) Complex (D) Contains an error

5. She is coming to the party, although she might be late.
(A) Simple,  (B) Compound, or  (C) Complex (D) Contains an error
This video helps you understand the differences between phrases and clauses. We will do naby classes on phrases (sentence tools). For now you just need to know when why something that 'looks like a dependent clause - e.g. After the party - is really just a phrase (sentence tool)

Use these files to drop your story for RF. I will be checking on your progress frequently to make sure you are progressing at an appropriate speed.

C/D Class Stories
E/F Class: Stories
G/H Class: Stories

Due Date for these stories: Wed 19th March - Add this to your calendars

All Classes 
H/W Finish at least one scene on you RF story by Thur

C/D and E/F
Do not forget your Membean and archetype work for tomorrow.
You will have your first book club discussion tomorrow.

The RF rubric is below- Link is also on left of blog. 
RF Rubric link 

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Book Clubs - 2nd Time Around

You will need these files for today's class

Make a copy of this file and put it into your: Using the Text Evidence lens to Close Read the Impact of Secondary Characters

C/D Book Clubs: 2nd Time
E/F Book Clubs: 2nd Time

H/W All Classes - You should have your plot mountain plan for your RF story ready for Tuesday's class. I will conference with all others on that day. If I recommended changes to your plan Thur or Fri. These changes should be ready by Tuesday.


H/W  E/F & C/D Classes
Membean - You need to have completed 45mins of Membean by Friday (30mins at home.) Membean assessment if this Friday

H/W - Due Wednesday
Research ‘archetypes’ and for Wednesday’s class. You are to bring a list of ‘3’ archetypes we have not mentioned in class and a two stories or movies that each of these archetypes appear in. e.g. below

Archetype
Story 1
Story 2
The Mentor
*
The teacher in Dead Poet’s Society
*
Yoda in Star Wars

Understanding the concept of Archetypes in a key reading skill. Make sure you watch this video to see how archetype is just one other form of symbolism:



Optional
The Hero is a much more complex archetype that it seems: Watch this just to see how a hero is formed 

Friday, February 28, 2014

Twists, Changes, and Revelations

Today,
You learned that RF stories all contain key moments in stories that signal a) a major change, b) a revelation of c) A great twist in the story. Your RF story should have at least one of these techniques included.

Important - Read the new file on the right side of the blog. - Starting in March, if you do not meet the deadline for a piece of work - you need to complete this extra work BEFORE you can resubmit for a grade. Otherwise, the grade will NOT be changed.

Mentor Scenes
RF Scenes: Enjoy Jackson's piece. Look how well he used personification
Min Jung's piece clearly captured the meanness of the character. She moved her characters around the scene perfectly.

Next Week

  • You will begin writing your final RF stories once your outlines have been approved.
  • Book Club Discussion:  Wed - During this book club you will need to examine a scene or short chapter using your 'word choice' protocol.  - You will have to feed back to the class your 'new thinking' - This will be graded!
  • Grammar: Compound-complex sentences: Big Sentence Clauses TEST coming in approx. 10 days. This old blog page contains tons of practice exercises for you to consider using over the next couple of weeks: Sentence Fluency Test Practice.
  • Membean test Fri. (40 questions) - You will need to total 50mins of practice by next Friday (25 in class)
Enjoy Timmy's RR - What were his best parts?

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Reading for Structure

Today, you learned how to use your reading for 'structure' lens. Notice how when you created you own breakdown of how you plan your evenings, the structure showed what you valued the most. (or parents what your parents valued the most!) Writers take very special care to organize the structure of their  stories in a unique way to show case what they value.

No additional H/W tonight - Check last night's post to see what you should be doing!

Enjoy Lukas's RF scene. Can you hear his strong 12 year old voice in this? Can you spot the symbolism? Can you do this Untitled

Planning Grid Assessment Criteria
You will come close to finishing your RF planning grid in Friday's class. Students who score an 'A' will have planned:

  • A series of independent scenes (approximately 3-10 - This number can vary)
  • Scenes that show a gradual rise in tension towards the climax of the story
  • The stated craft descriptor for how these scenes are written (e.g. I will use dialogue here)
  • A purpose for each of the scenes
  • A mention of  the conflict in the story (internal/external)
  • A key scene that shows the twist, revelation, of moment of change in the story
  • Name settings  (try to stick to a maximum of 3)
  • Characters (try to stick to a maximum of 3)
  • Named social issue and author's stance on this issue
  • Named literacy devices that will be included e.g. symbolism, irony, foreshadowing, repetition, figurative language 
  • Named POV for the story
    Planning Grid


Enjoy Rachel's RR - I enjoyed the way she critiqued the narrator!
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