Monday 4/28
1. Journal: Here’s the story of the nicest thing I’ve ever done
for somebody else.
2. Wordsmith Workshop – Creative Writing to the
rescue!
a.
Wordsmith would love to put out another issue and they need some writing for it
– creative writing!
b. Choose
one of the following to finish and turn in by the end of the period:
1) 25 –
50 lines of poetry.
2) A
250 – 500 word short story.
3) A
250 – 300 word satire of anything you wish. (for the daring!)
4) A
250 – 300 word descriptive essay.
5) A
250 – 300 word monologue. (very cool)
c. Consider
using today’s journal or any other journal as a starting point. Those are great ways to have ready made
drafts you can perfect with some revision.
d. At the
end of the period, fill out a Wordsmith submission form and turn in your work.
Tuesday 4/29
1. Journal: Describe each of
the following objects or events using the sense it is paired with:
a. eating – touch b. running – hearing c.
a book – smell
d. fear – taste e. music – touch f.
the color orange - hearing
2. Writer Workshop:
Imagery, the Extreme, and Revision
a. Share some journals – look for the
unique. Do you know what we call e and f? How about d?
b. Share some observations from Friday –
find some good ones.
1) Things you hadn’t noticed or perhaps
surprised you in observing a familiar place.
2) An unusual sense you didn’t think
you could use in such an endeavor.
3) A particularly well-written or
well-captured observation.
4) A couple that use figurative
language instead of just imagery.
c. Application
and Revision Activity
1) Go back to one of your Writing from
Pictures writings – a piece that didn’t really turn out the way you wanted it
to, you don’t really consider finished, or simply don’t mind messing with.
2) Revise it with the specific purpose
of lacing it with imagery that is unique and vivid – use your memory like an
observation either before you begin or as you work through your piece. Work your vocabulary. Use some similes or just figurative language
in general. Balance the literal with
the figurative!
3) Feel free to overdo it if so
inclined. Go ahead and get sappy and overdramatic – we can reel you back in
later. Development and imagistic detail
are like a muscle – you’ve got to work it out constantly or it fades.
4) Place both versions of the piece in
your portfolio – may be checked.
3. HW: Find a favorite piece of professional writing that you feel is
particularly descriptive – bring it to class Thursday.
4. Reminders:
a.
Interviews need to be done really soon.
b.
Observations are underway – I would expect you could start your Personal
Narrative or Descriptive Essay tomorrow.
c. You
should be thinking about how you are going to put this all together.
Wednesday 4/30
1. Journal: Here’s the story
of the nicest thing anyone ever did for me.
2. Writer Workshop
a. Revise, polish older pieces. Turn in late work.
b. Begin Capturing Moments Personal Narrative or Descriptive Essay. Samples of these types of writing are
available on the Writing
Sample Library page of the site. I
strongly recommend you read them.
3. Reminders:
a.
Interviews need to be done really, really soon. Have notes checked if ready.
b.
Observations are underway – have checked if ready.
c. You
should be thinking about how you are going to put this all together.
d. Find a
favorite piece of professional writing that you feel is particularly
descriptive – bring it to class tomorrow.
Thursday 5/1
1. Journal: none
2. Published Writer Style
Workshop (graded for participation today)
a. You were asked to bring in a
professional example of a piece of writing you found particularly descriptive
and full of imagery.
b. Now, read through it carefully (a
paragraph or two only), listing each technique the author uses to create the
effects you experience in reading it. List the senses used, the figurative
language, any particularly good diction, long flowing sentences or short,
compact sentences, etc. No need to quote examples; just list the
techniques.
c. Look over the list and consider ways you
could use those same techniques in your writing. Also, consider things you do that your author
doesn’t.
d. Next, take any piece from your portfolio
– PM pieces are ideal of course – and rewrite a paragraph or two of it in the
exact same style as your author. Work
his/her techniques into it while also reducing your own technique.
e. Finally, rewrite the original author
example, this time adding your own style to his/her piece while also reducing
his/her techniques.
f. When
done, place together in your portfolio.
Finish by Monday if needed.
3. Reminders:
a. Most interviews
should be done; show me your notes as soon as they are ready.
b.
Observations are underway and probably done; show me your notes for all four as
soon as they are ready.
c. You
should probably have either your Capturing Moments Personal Narrative or
Descriptive Essay underway. This is what
we started yesterday.
d. You
should be thinking about how you are going to put this all together.
Friday 5/2
1. Journal: none
2. Writer’s Workshop
a. Draft, peer read, and revise Character Sketch.
b. Draft, peer read, and revise Capturing
Moments Personal Narrative.
c. Draft, peer read, and revise Capturing
Moments Descriptive Essay.
d. RD/RRD
of all three are due next Friday; FCs due 5/13.
3. Make sure you’ve had your interview notes and four visit observation
notes checked.
4. Have you decided how you are going to put together your scrapbook?