To review what I covered in class today, your homework for this weekend is to apply ALL of the short story writing lessons we covered in class this week. These include:

SHOWing your characters indirectly through dialogue, actions, feelings, thoughts, and effects on other characters
setting details
an entire plot that is full of conflict and resolution leading to a theme (the message you want your audience to know)
correct dialogue punctutation
a provoking lead
strong verbs
no to little wordiness
no ...

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Thank you all for your hard work in the library today. Please remember to bring in your printed, 2.5 spaced rough drafts to class tomorrow. We will peer and teacher conference.

The punctuating dialogue andLeads are Seeds Powerpoints that we covered in class this week should help you as you revise and edit.

Also, vocab is due tomorrow with the test on Friday. I realize the hard work that goes into writing. Keep going!

Ms. Knapp
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Actually, the fact that we were beginning the writing process for short stories today was NO rumor and NO secret! I hope that you are excited to know that you will be entering into the creative, challenging, mind-bending, and RECURSIVE process known as writing. I will give you a rubric-don't panic. I just want you to let your creative juices flow before you get tied down to requirements. Remember that tomorrow we will continue to write in the classroom, so come with an open mind and any other...

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Honors classes-Review your notes and bellringers for tomorrow's quiz on short story. I've attached the powerpoint on theme and characterizationfor you as well. Some specific items include:
the different points of view
interpreting character
interpreting theme
elements of characterization
avoiding "wordiness"
punctuating titles
conflict/suspense
fixing sentence fragments
allusion
ode
round versus flat characters
foreshadowing
foil character

Once you have finished the quiz, you will silently read a book or m...

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I hope that each of you enjoyed the beautiful poem and pictures in Myers' book Harlem. I certainly enjoyed reading it with you. Be sure to bring the "Focus on Character:  Beauty is Truth" sheets tomorrow. I will collect them in class.

Have a wonderful evening!

Ms. Knapp
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Today we discussed "Beauty is Truth" to identify actions, dialogue, private thoughts, other characters' effects, and appearance that characterize Jeanie. We'll talk more about it tomorrow while also reading the allusion in the story-Keats' poem "Ode on a Grecian Urn."  

Remember that vocabulary is due on Friday at the beginning of class, and you will take the vocab test on Friday as well. Have a good night!

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If you did not finish reading "The Most Dangerouos Game" in class today, please finish the reading the story online, and complete the conflict guide and focus on plot questions as homework for tomorrow.

Thanks!
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Study! Study! Study!

Thank you, Ms. Knapp :)
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Enjoy your long weekend, but don't forget that vocabulary  (front and back) is due on Tuesday. You will take the vocabulary test on Wednesday.
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At long last, your class got to discuss The Pearl's plot, suspense, and characters. I admired the way you communicated the unanswered questions that Steinbeck left burning in your minds.

As we move into "The Most Dangerous Game," please remember to focus on the writer's tools that Connell uses to advance the plot. If you were absent, please print out the conflict guide to complete as you read.

For those of you who chose to test tomorrow, please study your spelling words tonight. Everyone else...
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