Weekly Agenda: November 2–6, 2009

Tuesday, November 3
Vocabulary Quiz
Review purposes of personal narrative
Read excerpt from Black Boy (pp.655-659)
Discuss the social background, purpose, and intended audience
“Where I’m From” Poem
- brainstorm, draft, share
HW: Respond to post-reading questions #1, 3, & 4


Thursday, November 5
Introduce Six Traits Writing Rubric
- explain, discuss
- model scoring on part of a student narrative
- students practice scoring an anonymous student narrative
- self-evaluate journal entry (from 10/30) or “Where I’m From” poem
HW: None

Weekly Agenda: November 2–6, 2009

Tuesday, November 3
Introduction to Conventions of Science Fiction
Read and discuss “By the Waters of Babylon”
- purpose and message?
- use of conventions?
- setting & vivid, sensory description
HW: Read “There Will Be Soft Rains” and write a half page explaining how and
where this story employs science fiction conventions

Thursday, November 5
Discuss homework reading and story conventions
Read and discuss “The Nine Billion Names of God”
- plot, characters and setting?
- science fiction conventions?
- purpose, theme or message?
Journal Prompt: In all the examples of science fiction we have read, the course of human (and sometimes the universe’s) history is shifted because people have somehow tampered with science or technology. Brainstorm types of technology or forms of science that strike you as potentially destructive if abused. Then select one from your list and cluster out some ideas until you have a rough idea of a plot. Finally, write a 1 or 2 page scene (NOT whole story) that depicts the moment a) right before something goes terribly and irrevocably wrong; b) the moment when the characters or human race realize something has just gone disastrously wrong; or c) long after the turning point in human history, from the point of view of whoever or whatever remains.
HW: Complete journal assignment for Monday, 11/9

Weekly Agenda: October 26 – 30, 2009

Monday, October 26
In-class:
Unit One Exam
Brief introduction to next unit (Personal Narrative & the Writing Workshop)
- autobiography, memoir, and message
- the writing workshop process
HW: None!

Wednesday, October 28
In-class:
New vocabulary
Read “from Angela’s Ashes”
- read/discuss “Build Background” (p.243)
- Read story (pp.245-254)
- Answer post-reading questions #1 – 4 (independent work)
HW: None, unless you did not complete today’s class work, in which case it’s HW

Friday, October 30
In-class:
Debrief Unit One Exam
Discuss Angela’s Ashes excerpt
- the story of a boy
- audience, purpose and message
Brainstorming:

1. List any and all events that come to mind as narrative worthy (i.e. they not only are compelling in themselves, but also provide rich opportunities for making some kind of argument, comment, or observation about larger issues)
2. Circle two events that strike you as most interesting or insightful
3. Using clustering, generate ideas and associations for each idea, taking at least 5 minutes on each
4. Journal: Choose one o your clustered events and write one page outlining a synopsis. Include your thoughts on how this event might serve as a starting place for a commentary, either explicitly or implicitly

HW: None!

Weekly Agenda: October 26 – 30, 2009

Monday, October 26
In-class:
Short Story #1 DUE TODAY (assemble and turn in all parts, stapled)
Discuss “The Fall of the House of Usher” (handout) and homework responses
- outline plot and characters; identify key gothic horror conventions
Small group rotation story (use the conventions of gothic horror!)
HW: none

Wednesday, October 28
In-class:
Read “The Monkey’s Paw”
- identify gothic horror conventions at work
- answer post-reading questions
In-class Journal prompt:

1. Read aloud the excerpt from “Colour Out of Space” (handout)
2. Many horror stories are told by supposed witnesses of the story’s events who have themselves lived to tell the tale (like in “The Fall of the House of Usher” and the excerpt from Lovecraft’s “The Colour Out of Space”). For the rest of this period, write the tale you imagine Ammi to have told the narrator, explaining the devastated heath near Arkham and the eerie atmosphere that remains. Remember, whatever tale he told convinces the narrator that he must never return to that part of the world.
3. Think about characters, setting, plot, and sensory details while writing

HW: None, unless you still need to finish today’s in-class writing

Friday, October 30
In-class:
Share results of Wednesday’s in-class prompt
- trade with a partner
- volunteers share with the class
Writing dialogue
- lesson
- practice
- Journal prompt: A group of five friends have gathered with a medium to perform a séance. At least one of these friends has recently lost someone close to them. Unbeknownst to everyone, another friend is responsible for that person’s death. Write 2 pages of dialogue that provide characterization, advance the plot, and allow for description of setting and atmosphere.

HW: None, unless you need to complete the in-class writing

Weekly Agenda: October 19-22, 2009

Monday, October 19
Writing Workshop Day
- Introduce process
- Group workshop
- Independent revision time
HW: Work on short story revision (final draft due Monday, 10/26)

Wednesday, October 21
In-class:
Introduction to genre fiction
Overviews of:
- gothic/horror
- science fiction
- fantasy
- mystery
Elements of gothic/horror writing
Read “The Fall of the House of Usher” (handout)
-complete post-reading questions (handout) → discuss
HW: Complete revised short story (DUE Monday, 10/26)

Weekly Agenda: October 19-22

Monday, October 19
In-class:
Vocabulary quiz
Discuss “Two Kinds” and homework questions (#3, 4 & 6)
- What is the “American Dream”? Does it exist?
Unit One test review
- Jeopardy
- Trivia Bowl
HW: Review for Unit Exam (Monday, 10/26)

Wednesday, October 21
In-class:
Unit Review (grammar)
Battle of the Books presentation (40 minutes)
HW: Review for Unit Exam on Monday, 10/26

Weekly Agenda: October 12-16, 2009

Tuesday, October 13
In-class fiction writing time
HW: Finish first draft and bring 3 copies to class on 10/15

Thursday, October 15
In-class:
Trade fiction stories with peer reviewers
Begin peer review of each story received
HW: Complete the review of all peer stories; offer constructive feedback, praise, and criticism. Be prepared to discuss them thoroughly on Monday.

Weekly Agenda: October 12-16, 2009

Tuesday, October 13
In-class:
Discuss “Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy?”
- plot
- characters
- questions
New Vocabulary
Grammar Lesson: Helping Verbs (WC pp.583-587)
- lesson
- group practice (overhead)
- partner practice (identifying linking, action and helping verbs)
- independent practice (Exercise A, p.587)
HW: none

Thursday, October 15
In-class:
Grammar Review: Types of Verbs (Exercise B, p. 587-588)
Read “Two Kinds”
- plot, setting, & character
- maintain Reader’s Notebook
- small groups answer post-reading questions # 2,3 & 6
- Discussion: Impressions of America (think-pair-share)
HW: Review vocabulary for quiz on Monday

New Weekly Vocabulary
prodigy
indignity
reproach
lament
ream
reverie
devastate
fiasco
betrayal
discordant

Weekly Agenda: October 5-8, 2009

Tuesday, October 6
Story setting DUE
Read aloud and discuss “Videotape”

• selective use of description
• plot structure
• Answer post-reading questions to turn in (handout)

Review guidelines for developing plot:

• Keep length in mind (1-page synopsis, 4-page story)
• Depth over breadth
• Dynamic character development over complex plot development

In-class work time: Begin plot synopsis for unit story
HW: Complete plot synopsis for unit story (due Thursday, 10/8)

Thursday, October 8
Introduce the mini-writing workshop (procedure, forms, etc.)
Peer Feedback:
- Trade unit story plot synopsis with two partners of your choice
- Complete synopsis feedback forms, then discuss
In-class revision time & optional teacher conferencing (for additional feedback
and assistance with plot development)
HW: Fine-tune synopsis and begin work on first draft of unit story

Weekly Agenda: October 5-8, 2009

Tuesday, October 6
Homework debrief

• Partners share
• Volunteers share with class
• Turn in to basket

Introduce class portfolios – fill out portfolio sheet
Lecture (take notes): Types of Characters

• flat vs. round
• static vs. dynamic

Begin reading “Marigolds” (pp.75-84) aloud
- Focus:

• Setting – where and when?
• Setting details and imagery - locate
• How the setting affects the plot and character development

HW: Finish reading “Marigolds”; answer “Think Critically” questions #2-5

Thursday, October 8
Discuss homework questions
Grammar Work: Types of Verbs (WC, pp. 583-585)
• Verb Types:

• Action Verbs
• Linking Verbs

• Group practice
• Independent practice, p. 584-585, Exercise A
Begin reading, “Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy?” (pp.63-70)
o Build Background (p.62)
o Focus: Types of characters
o Characterization Analysis: Paul Berlin
HW: Finish reading “Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy?”; answer “Think
Critically” questions #4-6