Friday, December 19
1. Portfolio Due
2. Dead Poets Society
2. Dead Poets Society
Wednesday, December 17
1. Collect/Share Credo and Personification Poem
2. Dead Poets Society
3. Portfolio Work Time
HW: Portfolio and Self Analysis due Friday
2. Dead Poets Society
3. Portfolio Work Time
HW: Portfolio and Self Analysis due Friday
Monday, December 15
Portfolio Work Time
HW: Portfolio & Self Analysis due Friday
HW: Portfolio & Self Analysis due Friday
Thursday, December 11
1. Personification Poem
2. Sample Portfolios
3. Read/Conferences
4. Portfolio Work Time
2. Sample Portfolios
3. Read/Conferences
4. Portfolio Work Time
Tuesday, December 9
1. Personification Poems
2. Portfolio Work Time
HW: Personification Attempt and Credo Attempt Due Mon.
2. Portfolio Work Time
HW: Personification Attempt and Credo Attempt Due Mon.
Friday, December 5
1. Line Breaks in Poetry
2. Dead Poets' Society
2. Dead Poets' Society
Wednesday, December 3
1. Discuss Portfolio (see email for requirements)
2. "Shooting the Rat" assignment
HW: Finish "Shooting the Rat" assignment
2. "Shooting the Rat" assignment
HW: Finish "Shooting the Rat" assignment
Monday, December 1
1. Drama Practice
2. Drama Performances
3. Collect Drama final piece
4. Credo
5. Reading Time/Conference Sign Up
HW: Finish Credo Attempt
2. Drama Performances
3. Collect Drama final piece
4. Credo
5. Reading Time/Conference Sign Up
HW: Finish Credo Attempt
Monday, November 24
1. Satirical Skit Example (watch this Schoolhouse Rock video FIRST for context; then view this Saturday Night Live clip
2. Paper Pass Back
3. Drama Final Piece Requirements
4. Work Time: Drama Final Piece (can be completed with your group)
HW: Drama Final Piece Due Monday, Dec. 1
2. Paper Pass Back
3. Drama Final Piece Requirements
4. Work Time: Drama Final Piece (can be completed with your group)
HW: Drama Final Piece Due Monday, Dec. 1
Thursday, November 20
1. “Unusual Requests” freewrite
2. Satire handout
3. Work onThree Character Dialogue w/Subtext (started last class) and Satire/Absurdity (on the back of the three character dialogue paper).
4. Let students know that they should have rough drafts of each completed for Monday’s class.
2. Satire handout
3. Work onThree Character Dialogue w/Subtext (started last class) and Satire/Absurdity (on the back of the three character dialogue paper).
4. Let students know that they should have rough drafts of each completed for Monday’s class.
Tuesday, November 18
1. Freewrite: One Minute Dialogue
2. Subtext
3. Three Character Dialogue with Subtext
2. Subtext
3. Three Character Dialogue with Subtext
Friday, November 14
1. Polishing and submitting "Ripped from the Headlines" piece
2. Drama Tools
3. Drama Practice Exercise
4. Read/Conference Time
2. Drama Tools
3. Drama Practice Exercise
4. Read/Conference Time
Wednesday, November 12
1. "Little Things" by Raymond Carver
2. The Role of an Editor
3. Peer Edit/Workshop "Ripped from the Headlines"
HW: Due next class:
1. Two Articles
2. Timeline
3. Rough Draft with Edits
4. Final Piece
2. The Role of an Editor
3. Peer Edit/Workshop "Ripped from the Headlines"
HW: Due next class:
1. Two Articles
2. Timeline
3. Rough Draft with Edits
4. Final Piece
Monday, November 10
1. Read "June 7, 1968"
2. Letter Writing Campaign: Writing a Letter of Thanks to a Serviceman
3. Work Time for Horror Story/Poem
2. Letter Writing Campaign: Writing a Letter of Thanks to a Serviceman
3. Work Time for Horror Story/Poem
Thursday, November 6
1. Field trip info for Creative Writing Day (see me for permission slip if you are interested)
2. Work Time: Ripped from the Headlines
HW: Articles, Timeline, and Initial Draft of Story/Poem
2. Work Time: Ripped from the Headlines
HW: Articles, Timeline, and Initial Draft of Story/Poem
Tuesday, November 4
1. Finish What Lies Beneath
2. Suspense and What Lies Beneath
3. Ripped from the Headlines assignment
HW: Articles due next class (for Ripped from the Headlines assignment)
2. Suspense and What Lies Beneath
3. Ripped from the Headlines assignment
HW: Articles due next class (for Ripped from the Headlines assignment)
Friday, October 31
1. Collect Short Story
2. What Lies Beneath and mystery/suspense
2. What Lies Beneath and mystery/suspense
Wednesday, October 29
1. Short Story Work Time
2. What Lies Beneath and mystery/suspense
HW: Short story due Friday
2. What Lies Beneath and mystery/suspense
HW: Short story due Friday
Friday, October 24
Wednesday, October 22
Monday, October 20
1. Freewrite #14: 6 Word Story
2. Read/Conferences/Work Time
3. Lab for Work Time
HW: Four Line Story; all missing work due by Friday
2. Read/Conferences/Work Time
3. Lab for Work Time
HW: Four Line Story; all missing work due by Friday
Thursday, October 16
Tuesday, October 14
1. Character Sketch Work Time
2. Read/Conferences
HW: Attempts #4-7 due Thurs. (includes character sketches); Read and sign up for conferences
2. Read/Conferences
HW: Attempts #4-7 due Thurs. (includes character sketches); Read and sign up for conferences
Thursday, October 9
1. Analyzing Direct/Indirect Characterization in Gone Girl
2. Reading Time/Conference Sign Up
3. Character Sketch
HW: Finish Character Sketch; Read and sign up for conferences
2. Reading Time/Conference Sign Up
3. Character Sketch
HW: Finish Character Sketch; Read and sign up for conferences
Tuesday, October 7
1. Freewrite #13: Dynamic Language. Revise the following sentence. Show, not tell, using vivid verbs, adjectives, and imagery. Sentence: The old woman was sitting sadly in her state of melancholy.
2. Perspective and Character in Forrest Gump
3. Direct vs Indirect Characterization
4. Gone Girl Excerpt
5. Examining Characters in Gone Girl (Direct & Indirect Characterization)
HW: Read and Schedule Reading Conferences
2. Perspective and Character in Forrest Gump
3. Direct vs Indirect Characterization
4. Gone Girl Excerpt
5. Examining Characters in Gone Girl (Direct & Indirect Characterization)
HW: Read and Schedule Reading Conferences
Friday, October 3
1. Freewrite #12: Dynamic Language. Revise the following sentence. Show, not tell, using vivid verbs, adjectives, and imagery. Sentence: Your school is cool.
2. First Lines: Choose one and start writing (20 min)
3. Direct and Indirect Characterization
4. Examining Character in Forrest Gump
HW: TV Character Analysis
2. First Lines: Choose one and start writing (20 min)
3. Direct and Indirect Characterization
4. Examining Character in Forrest Gump
HW: TV Character Analysis
Wednesday, October 1
1. Freewrite #11: Dynamic Language. Revise the following sentence. Show, not tell, using vivid verbs, adjectives, and imagery. Sentence: He makes her feel loved.
2. Paper Pass Back
3. Work Time/Reading/College Essay Conferences
HW: Finished attempt due Friday: Buddha Narrative, Dialogue, or Before, During, After
2. Paper Pass Back
3. Work Time/Reading/College Essay Conferences
HW: Finished attempt due Friday: Buddha Narrative, Dialogue, or Before, During, After
Monday, September 29
1. We were working on dialogue last class, and now students need to compose their own dialogue with the following requirements: a complete scene that REVEALS (show, not tell) character, setting, and conflict; follows proper dialogue formatting/rules; content is primarily dialogue. They may work with a partner. If they want to use what they wrote in class last time, that is fine, but they need to continue/expand it and make sure it is formatted correctly. A few groups had pretty detailed dialogues last time that may not require too much work. Most pairs, however, need much more than
2. Pass out pictures randomly to students.
3. As a class, read the instructions for the “before, during, and after” and read the samples provided.
4. Using the picture as their inspiration, students should create their own “before, during, and after.” They may complete this with a partner if they’d like.
Homework: Attempts of Dialogue and Before, During, After
2. Pass out pictures randomly to students.
3. As a class, read the instructions for the “before, during, and after” and read the samples provided.
4. Using the picture as their inspiration, students should create their own “before, during, and after.” They may complete this with a partner if they’d like.
Homework: Attempts of Dialogue and Before, During, After
Wednesday, September 24
1. Freewrite #10: Examining Dialogue
2. Brainstorming Character
3. Dialogue Exchange (practicing dialogue)
4. Dialogue Rules/Formatting
2. Brainstorming Character
3. Dialogue Exchange (practicing dialogue)
4. Dialogue Rules/Formatting
Monday, September 22
1. Freewrite #9: Reading Reflection
2. Collect College Essay
3. Brainstorming Character and Conflict
4. Buddha Narrative
HW: Finish Buddha Narrative Attempt
2. Collect College Essay
3. Brainstorming Character and Conflict
4. Buddha Narrative
HW: Finish Buddha Narrative Attempt
Thursday, September 18
1. Newspaper Blackout Poem
2. Reading Time
3. Typing the college essay
HW: Final Piece #2: The College Essay due Monday
2. Reading Time
3. Typing the college essay
HW: Final Piece #2: The College Essay due Monday
Tuesday, September 16
1. Freewrite #8: Why College X?
2. More Sample Essays
3. Peer Editing College Essays
4. Typing the College Essay
2. More Sample Essays
3. Peer Editing College Essays
4. Typing the College Essay
Friday, September 12
1. Book Talk/Book Conference Requirements
2. Book Talks by Arlington Heights Librarians
3. Checking out books in RMHS Library
HW: Bring your book to class every day; Completed draft of college essay due Tues.
2. Book Talks by Arlington Heights Librarians
3. Checking out books in RMHS Library
HW: Bring your book to class every day; Completed draft of college essay due Tues.
Wednesday, September 10
1. Partner Discussion of College Essay Prompts ("Speed Dating")
2. The Common App Questions
3. College Essay Writing Time
HW: Completed Draft of College Essay due Tues.
2. The Common App Questions
3. College Essay Writing Time
HW: Completed Draft of College Essay due Tues.
Monday, September 8
1. Collect Final Piece, editing sheet, and drafts of all three attempts
2. Freewrite #7: The Superhero and Anti-Application Essays
3. Examining student models of college essays
2. Freewrite #7: The Superhero and Anti-Application Essays
3. Examining student models of college essays
Thursday, September 4
1. Freewrite #6: Revising Bad Comparisons
2. Peer Edit for Final Piece
3. Lab Time to Type Final Piece
HW: Final piece plus editing sheet and drafts of all 3 attempts (If You're Not, I Am/You Are, Ernesto) due Monday
2. Peer Edit for Final Piece
3. Lab Time to Type Final Piece
HW: Final piece plus editing sheet and drafts of all 3 attempts (If You're Not, I Am/You Are, Ernesto) due Monday
Tuesday, September 2
1. Freewrite #5: Strong Verbs
2. "The Secret Life of Ernesto"
3. Attempt #3: Using "The Secret Life of Ernesto" as a model, create your own Ernesto poem using your notes from observing a stranger (Please do not use the person's real name).
HW: Finish Attempt #3 and bring all three of your attempts to class on Thursday.
2. "The Secret Life of Ernesto"
3. Attempt #3: Using "The Secret Life of Ernesto" as a model, create your own Ernesto poem using your notes from observing a stranger (Please do not use the person's real name).
HW: Finish Attempt #3 and bring all three of your attempts to class on Thursday.
Thursday, August 28
1. Freewrite #4
2. Senses Activity--Hearing (see me for handout)
3. Museum Walk--looking at other students' poems
HW: Focused Observation of a Stranger
2. Senses Activity--Hearing (see me for handout)
3. Museum Walk--looking at other students' poems
HW: Focused Observation of a Stranger
Tuesday, August 26
1. Freewrite #3 (Metaphor)
2. Group Share of Attempt #1: If You're Not
3. Fresh Comparisons WS
4. I Am/You Are samples
HW: Attempt #2: I am/You are
--Write a poem in which you compare yourself to someone else using the "I am, you are" format
--use metaphors and descriptive language
2. Group Share of Attempt #1: If You're Not
3. Fresh Comparisons WS
4. I Am/You Are samples
HW: Attempt #2: I am/You are
--Write a poem in which you compare yourself to someone else using the "I am, you are" format
--use metaphors and descriptive language
Friday, August 22, 2014
1. Freewrite #2
2. What is Poetry?
3. Showing vs Telling
4. If You're Not from the Prairie by David Bouchard
5. Attempt #1: If You're Not
If You're Not Stanzas
If You're Not Sample
HW: Attempt #1 due Tuesday
2. What is Poetry?
3. Showing vs Telling
4. If You're Not from the Prairie by David Bouchard
5. Attempt #1: If You're Not
If You're Not Stanzas
If You're Not Sample
HW: Attempt #1 due Tuesday
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
1. Index Card Info
2. Syllabus
3. Freewrite #1
4. Introductions
HW: Get syllabus signed
2. Syllabus
3. Freewrite #1
4. Introductions
HW: Get syllabus signed