Tuesday, 14 December

Memoir Day!

Holiday based writing prompt.

Creative Writing is based in emotion. The best writing elicits emotion in the reader. So in any drama there are two (2) sets of emotion going on. The reader's AND the writer's. The cliche, "It was a dark and stormy night" is not a weather report, it's a statement about mood. A good example is when a character in a horror movie goes back into the house to rescue their cat: they are thinking, "I've got to save my lovely kitty," the movie viewer is thinking, "Do that and die stupid!"

Prompt: 12/24 4:30 pm. You haven't gotten gifts for the people on your list yet. Everyone is going to use this as the prompt for their writing today.

There is a burning barn. Describe it from the point of view of a boy who has just lost his father. AND Describe it from the point of view of someone who has just won the lottery. (Two VERY different POVs).

Everyone will get from Karen an emotional state to use for the above prompt. You will use this emotional point of view. YOU CAN'T EVER SAY IT; you must SHOW it in your writing.

Note: Any Lord of the Flies room projects still in the room Thursday afternoon may be recycled. Claim your materials before then please.

Monday, 13 December

In class we studied I.vi. We identified irony (Duncan not realizing the doom that awaits him in Inverness.)

We considered what sort of King Duncan was, and viewed at least one video version of the play.

1st period also viewed another version and compared the portrayal of Duncan in the two. 1st period looked at I.vii and considered how how much influence Lady Macbeth has on her husband.

Friday, 10 December

Students are scheduled for a counseling lesson in Computer Lab Room #16.

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday / Thursday 8-9 December

In class students reviewed concepts of connotation, denotation, inflection and stress. Students read I.iii-I.vi.

Students learned about the concept of a "word trace;" see teacher for a handout.

Students may have worked in groups tracing the word blood in Act I. (I'm writing this ahead of time....)

Tomorrow students will be in the Computer Lab Room #16 for a counseling lesson.

Tuesday, 7 December, 2010

Homework Reminder: Act I & II of Macb_th is due for next class.

Memoir Day

First we talked about the concept:

The Suspension of Disbelief: Authority in the voice of the author helps us "let go," suspend disbelief and "go with" the story. This suspension of disbelief happens in all kinds of writing (and is famously talked about in terms of the theater).

We then read a section from the memoir A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel was shared.

We noted... sometimes sophisticated images can be "slipped in" if there are simple words express complicated or adult P.O.V. ideas. Long loopy hair that only an ungrateful man gets -- is an example of an adult perspective, but presented in a simple way that allows it to be part of a narrative from a child's perspective.

Today's prompt: "Something that has been with you over time." Anything on your bodies. Things in your environment. Anything that has been in or a part of your life over time. So, not a scene. This is different, the writing is about a topic.

Monday, 6 December

Memoir Day!

(Homework reminder: Macbeth Acts I & II should be read by Wednesday or Thursday class.)

Some general notes and reminders:

Don't use exclamation marks in memoir (different than commenting).

P.O.V. = point of view

"Nice" = a good passage

Voice: the quality of being "you" in your writing.

We discussed the idea of a "Telling Detail"

The specific words you choose to describe something reflect your feelings about it.

Old School: bright; art work everywhere

New School: dark; big; brick

Which school was licked better? Which was feared?

The new school is a foreboding place. The details you pick are those details that support the emotional feeling you are attempting to create in a piece.

It all goes back to "Show Don't Tell"

Today's Lesson is to exercise our "detail muscle"

We rely a lot on sight, especially for details. However, the other four senses (hearing; touch; Taste; Smell) are particularly powerful, in large part because they are underutilized. In the writing prompt today use all of your senses, particularly hearing, touch, taste, and smell.

In the following prompt, I want you to use all of these senses. Write about a time when you were scared. (A perfect response shows the fear, but doesn't actually have to say that you are scared.) Fill at least a whole page.

If you get stuck, remember that the sense of smell is our most evocative. Even to say, "It smelled like my old dogs bad breath," brings about a response from readers.

"On the Body": big emotions can be shown powerfully, by writing about the effects of these strong emotions on the body. E.g., love makes the breath go quicker; fear may bring a ugly taste to the mouth; joy may make our feet feel light.

Friday, 3 December

Read Act I and Act II of Macbeth for next Wednesday

Memoir Day!

3rd & 4th Periods with Karen Karbo; 5th & 7th Period with me.

Remember January 21st, 2011 1,000 word memoir due! (ABSOLUTELY NO LATE WORK!!!!)

Brainstorming -- remember, all ideas are good:

Listing things that traditionally happen to kids:

Pets; birthday parties; day care; potty trained; lose teeth; first days of school; make friends; lose friends; play dates; learn to read; 1st crush; travel; lemonade stands; T-ball; Outdoor School; sleep overs; imaginary games; hide and seek; recess; Magic School Bus; watch TV; school plays; argue with siblings; solstice; christmas; halloween; holidays; Doctor and dentist visits; shots; birthday parties; "cooties";

Choose a vivid memory (for example one of the above); write about this event as if you are THAT AGE -- try writing in present tense to reinforce the idea that you are there and you are that age.

Note how it felt to write from the child's perspective (as opposed to your current perspective).

Wednesday/ Thursday 1&2 December

In class we did a focused study of Act I scene i and scene ii.

We discussed language and meter is Shakespeare's work.

We paid special attention to the paradoxes and contradictions of the Witches in I.i.

We did a staging of I.ii. using buttons.

Mr. Zartler made a lot of the blood and gore.

See a fellow student for additional and specific notes.