Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Thursday/Friday, October 4/5, 2018



Announcements and Reminders for Thursday/Friday, October 4/5, 2018   
  •             Picture Retakes are on October 15.
  •             Fall Break is October 18-22.
  •             Sign up for your book-of-the-month (Realistic Fiction) by October 15/16.
  •             The October Book Project is due November 2/5.
      • You will be gathering evidence from the book for possible themes expressed in the book.  You may hand this in BEFORE the due date.  Just make sure you show that you understand theme and have gathered evidence for themes you have identified in your book. 
      • A Few Titles for Contemporary Realistic Fiction in our Media Center and Class Library
      • See the Required Reading tab above for more information. 
October 18-22
Cavetime on Oct. 4 is by Request
and
for students who wish to retake the
Greek Mythology Test.



Targets for Today:

I can write a narrative (a short story that is either a memory or a fictional story) that effectively tells a sequence of events,  provides details and description, includes helpful dialogue, and is written in complete sentences with beginning capitalization and appropriate end punctuation. 


Today’s  Agenda for Thursday/Friday, October 4/5, 2018:
B-Day Birthday Catch-Up
B-Day Friday Drawings

1. Pick up your composition book.

Conventions in Sentences Investigations 

2. Copy this sentence into your composition book, and write down at least three things you notice about it:   Label it CSI #6 and add today's date.

The moon seemed to hang behind the black mountains, shy and undecided, allowing only a weak glow to show that it was there at all.
                                      -- from Deathwatch by Robb White












CSI
[That was a type of figurative language called personification -- of the moon -- speaking about it as if it were a person.]



3. Themes:  from Deathwatch  by Robb White
"To survive in a hostile environment one must rely on intellect more than  physical strength." 

The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.  -- Albert Einstein


Books like Deathwatch:



__________________

4. Writing your story:

Using the Chromebooks, go to MyAccess, open the Prompt "Cherished Memory," and type your story.  As you have time to, revise and edit.

By the end of class, you will "Submit Writing" and "Submit for Score."  
Look at the different scores that MyAccess gives you, and look at the suggestions it provides.  
You may revise and submit multiple times.  You are able to work on this at home. 



Narrative Assignment:  A Short Story
         How long?  Long enough to tell the story and no more than 3 pages long.

Your Prompt:   Cherished Memories

Significant events in a person's life become cherished memories in old age.  Write a narrative in which you describe an event that would make an interesting memory for you to tell your friends or relatives later in your life 
          [or]
Write a fictional narrative that if it really happened would be memorable.  This will be an interesting story.  

As you write, remember your story will be scored based on how well you:

·  develop a multi-paragraph response to the assigned topic that clearly communicates the purpose of your story to the audience.
·  describe the characters, setting, and conflict using meaningful sensory descriptions and details that enable the reader to visualize the experiences in your narrative.
·  organize your story in a clear and logical manner, including a beginning, middle and end.
·  use well-structured sentences and language that are appropriate for your audience.
·  edit your work to conform to the conventions of standard American English.

Use any of the tools available to you, such as the Checklist, Spellchecker, or Graphic Organizer.




If You Were Absent:


Vocabulary:
Theme:
Theme is an underlying message or the big idea of a story. This message could tell more about human nature or life in general. Many stories have more than one theme.
There are several ways a reader can piece together the story's theme. The reader can ask himself or herself these questions:
  • Do the characters learn anything throughout the story?
  • Do the characters change at all?
  • Do the characters have any beliefs about life or people in general?
  • Why do the characters act the way they do?


 Help and Enrichment 

State Core for Narrative Writing:
Writing Standard 3 
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
a.  Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.
b.  Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
c.  Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.  --
d.  Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events.
e.  Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences or events.



October Book of the Month

Select a book from this genre: 

Realistic Fiction in a Modern Setting

This includes some suggested titles.



                    Here is the list of  Books Not Allowed for the Outside Reading Assignment.


Project:  Theme

You will identify a major theme for the book, 
and support that identification with evidence from the book. 


In the Middle of the Night
This novel follows 16-year-old Denny Colbert, whose father was involved in a tragic accident that killed 22 children. He is not allowed to drive or answer the phone and his family moves so often that he is always the new kid in school. However, one afternoon, Denny disobeys his parents and answers a phone call, after which he finds himself drawn into a relationship with the mystery caller, someone who wants revenge.[1]

Rumble Fish
tells the story of Rusty-James, who resorts to fighting to feel good about himself. It also explores his relationship with his older brother, Motorcycle Boy, a former gang leader he looks up to. 

Tex
TEX follows the story of two brothers who have to take care of themselves and each other while their father is off with the rodeo. Mason  is a senior, a basketball star, dedicated and responsible. Tex  is fifteen, unsure of himself, not yet ready to focus on the problems they face. His horse, Rowdy, is the center of his world. 

That Was Then, This Is Now
Best friends become enemies when one accepts violence and crime and the other turns against that life. Bryon and Mark grow up together on the wrong side of the tracks, get into fights, and hustle pool. But Bryon changes, while Mark doesn't. 


Monday, October 1, 2018

Tuesday/Wednesday, October 2/3, 2018



Announcements and Reminders for Tuesday/Wednesday, October 2/3, 2018:
                         

Wednesday, October 3rd – National Emergency Alert
FEMA is conducting its first nationwide Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) test on Oct. 3rd at 12:18 p.m. The test parameters will be something like this – your cell phone and all cell phones around you should make unusual tones and display an alert message on your home screen. No action during the test is required on your part. Depending on your assignment, you may want to notify your students/parents ahead of time. Knowing that 96% of teenagers (13-18 years old) have mobile phones, it makes sense to warn them on what will be taking place on Wednesday. For more information, Here is FEMA's website about the upcoming test. A fact sheet page is here in English and Spanish.


Anyone need a "current events" type article for science?  Here's a Utah related one:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2018/09/news-petrified-log-utah-angiosperms-flowers-trees/


Targets for Today:

I can correctly write dialogue, and I can use it to make a story I write more effective.  


Today’s  Agenda for Tuesday/Wednesday, October 2/3, 2018:

Remember:  Don't just tell, SHOW. 
Descriptive sentence:   
  • The wind was cold. (telling sentences have linking verbs followed by an adjective)
  • The icy wind whipped across my skin, making goose bumps appear. (showing sentences use action verbs to demonstrate the adjectives from the telling sentence)


Writing Dialogue --


Conventions in Sentences Investigations 

Tape the handout into your composition book, 
and punctuate the sentences on the handout.  
Study this conversation to help you punctuate correctly:

      The phone rang, and Jerry picked it up. 
      "Hello?"
      There was a moment of silence on the other end, then "Jerry?  Is this Jerry Simmons?
       "Yes.  Who's this?"  Jerry asked.
       "Jerry. . . " The other man paused.  Jerry could hear him take a deep breath.  "Jerry, my name is Dave.  I'm your brother."
        "I don't have a brother," Jerry said, losing his patience.  "My family died years ago."
        "Not your whole family,"  Dave said. 


If you finish early, read a book or work on writing your short story.

Dialogue Punctuation Check




Today:  Using and  Punctuating Dialogue


Two Dialogues -- Texted!  
  • Nat: hey
  • Brianna: hey
  • Nat: what a crazy day
  • Brianna: lol yeah
  • Nat: sup?
  • Brianna: homework ughhhhh
  • Nat: me too
  • Brianna: booooring
  • Nat: i know lol


“What do you know about these characters from the words in this conversation? Do you care about these characters at all? What if this was a ten-page conversation—would you keep reading?”


Now, read this conversation:


  • Nat: hey
  • Brianna: hey
  • Nat: can you believe Ms. Lancer’s class today?
  • Brianna: I know, that woman lost her mind at Chondra for, like nothing
  • Nat: Yeah, I mean who cries when someone gets eraser shavings on the floor?
  • Brianna: It wasn't even a cry, it was like a...bleat...like a whale noise like AAUGHAGAGGAAAHAH plus some snot and tears
  • Nat: lol You’re so right. now you got me crying I’m laughing so hard
  • Brianna: lol me too. Uh oh my mom must be home early. the front door just opened
  • Nat: nuh uh she’s with my mom at school, I saw them when I left
  • Brianna: I hear voices. It’s not my mom. oh no
  • Nat: what? who is it?
  • Brianna: nat help it’s ;lkjawetg

  • Nat: bri? bri?? you playin? pick up your phone!! bri pick up!!!





Identify specific words and phrases that made this conversation more engaging or realistic.

In story or book dialogue, a few well-chosen words and phrases can make all the difference in keeping readers hooked.




Dialogue in a Novel or Short Story


There is one error in the following dialogue. It should be,
"I don't have a brother," Jerry said, losing his patience.  "My family died years ago."




You DO NOT want a conversations like this!  Write a conversation that will move the story forward, build tension, or teach the reader about one or more of the characters.



Create a Dialogue:  Write a scene for your story, in the form of a script, using only dialogue and scant stage directions. 

Here is an example from Spilling Ink by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter:

     "I can't; I won't!" Justine said, her hands flying up to cover her neck.
     "But think of all the advantages," the vampire said.
     "Like what?"
     "You'll live forever."
     "And watch all the people I love grow old and die?"
     "You can meet new people."
     "And suck out their blood."
     "There's another advantage too."
     "Forget it.  My mind is made up."
     "Just listen."
     "No!"
     "Your skin will look great.  You'll never get another zit."
     "Really?" Justine's hands slowly moved away from her neck. "Not even if I eat chocolate?" 


2. What are the rules for dialogue? 
a. What makes strong, effective dialogue?

Dialogue: -- Class comments today:


Advice from students in a creative writing class on using dialogue: 
For each paragraph only one person is speaking.
It may be a conversation among two or more people.
It could be a monologue.
Avoid too little, and avoid too much.
Make sure the reader knows who is speaking.
Use "said" or, if there is another BETTER word, use it.
Be careful about shouting.
End punctuation usually goes inside the quotation marks. 


b. What are the rules for dialogue? 



Ms. Dorsey's story so far: 

     "There's no brake fluid left," said my dad.
     I could almost see the wheels turning in my mom's brain.  "Oh.  What can we do?  How can we get back down those steep roads?"
     At seven years old, I thought we might have to live on that mountain. "Mama?  Daddy?"
     "It'll  be okay, Punkin," my mom reassured me.   
     But I was worried about my black puppy at home.  And we'd already eaten all of our picnic food.  What would we do? 

     The day up to that point had been a perfect family outing.  My cousin Dennis, just a year older than I was, had come along with me and my parents.  We'd driven in our practically new 1959 Ford Fairlane Sedan from our farm just south of Burley, Idaho,  through farmland and ranch land and desert to the Albion Mountains.  We'd followed a steep dirt and gravel road up the mountain, and high on the mountain had found a small gorge with a stream running through the bottom.  


If You Were Absent:

See above.  Work on your story by writing out part of the story in dialogue.  


Vocabulary:

Dialogue tags describe what people are doing while they are speaking, and how they are
saying their words.




 Help and Enrichment 

Pro Tips:
Dialogue tags describe what people are doing while they are speaking, and how they are
saying their words.  Good writers use "said" or sometimes "asked" because they disappear
as readers read, so the dialogue becomes the focus.
Sometimes writers don't even use said.  They just add a sentence to show what the speaker
is doing.
Plus, if someone is whining or whimpering, that should be clear in the dialogue, not in the tag.

from --

Memory -- Hiking Timp


It was a chilly October night, the trees were swaying in the soft quite breeze. We walked slowly but steadily up the dark trail. It had been an anxious night, staying up till 12:00 am. My Dad, brother and I were going to climb up Mount Timpanogos; one of the tallest mountains in Utah. We walked silently as dark shadows scrambled in the prickly bushes. All of us had big fluffy coats, ear warmers and too big of mittens. My brother Wade, a daring boy, told my dad he wanted to run ahead and would come back shortly. My dad was unsure, but Wade was persistent. Finally, he let Wade go ahead, telling him to be back soon. My brother being a fast runner, ran ahead and within the minute he was out of site.

My Dad and I talked for a while in the silent trying to take up time. It had been a half an hour before we started to get anxious. Wade had been gone for a long time and hadn't come back. I nervously whispered to my dad, "Where is Wade, I haven't seen him in a long time?" My dad replied, "I'm sure he is fine, lets keep on walking." Although, by the tone of his voice I could tell he was not as calm and sure as he wanted to seem. Another ten minutes had past and my Dad finally broke the silence, "I'm going to go and look for him, you're coming with me" he said. We quickened our pace from a jog to a full run. We started to yell, "Wade, Wade!" My dad stopped dead in his tracks, "Avalon, we have to stop" he said, "What, why" I replied. "It's no use we're almost at the top and we've been calling him for a while," and almost in a yell he replied, "don't you think we would have found him by now?" In pure fear, I had a feeling that I was never going to see my brother again. Oh what a pure torture would be to never see my brother again! I thought to myself. Then out of no were their was a soft voice calling to me, "dad, avi, is that you?" As soon as we had heard the voice we saw a boy come from the bend of the trail. As the boy got closer we soon realized it was my brother! "Wade!" I said, as I ran up to him tears streaming from my face. "Are you ok?!" My Dad said, "yes," Wade said calmly. "What happened?" dad said. Wade replied, "I fell asleep on this rock and woke up when I heard you yelling, why?", "I thought you were lost! " I unexpectedly yelled. "Oh sorry" Wade said, as he walked up the trail. Finally, our fears had been calmed.

We soon followed him up the trail. It was starting to get lighter, and was about 3:00 am. "I wanted to show you something," Wade whispered. We followed him until we came to the edge of the mountain side. The whole city was below us. The beautiful Utah Lake glittered in the red and yellow sunrise. "It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!" I told them;we watched for another half an hour till the sun was fully up then, we started down the mountain. We went down faster than I thought, and we arrived at the base of the mountain by 6:00 am. We walked to the car, it was a quiet car ride home because we were all dead asleep except for my Dad who was driving. When we got home we told my Mom all about the hike and what had happened to my brother Wade. By the time we had finished the story, the expression on my Mom's face would had made you think she had just watched a horror movie.

Avalon M.  10/18