December 3/4
This is the last day of our Short Fiction Unit. Make sure you take care of the following today:
Make sure you have completed and submitted the final draft of your short story project (submit to your period course on turnitin).
Make sure to complete any missing work for this unit (all formative assignments--those 20%ers--will become permanent zeroes at the end of the school day on Thursday).
December 1/2
Let's get into our last assignment for our short fiction unit. You will be writing a story about a couple meeting or breaking up. Make sure to follow the rules for this one. Turn this in once you have completed it.
The remainder of today's time is yours to work on any of the following: complete and submit your short story project final draft, any of your formative (20%) assignments from this class.
Remember, this week is the end of the grading period. All formative assignments will become permanent zeroes after Thursday.
November 24/25
Today is all about trying to turn your short story rough draft into your final draft. I will be showing you how to access the reviews you received from your peers--make sure to look these over and make changes to your story as necessary. Also, you should be using Draft Coach (extension on Google Docs) to find all grammar mistakes that can be corrected before submission of final draft.
Finally, when you are ready to submit your final draft, you will find that in your class period course on turnitin.com.
November 20/21
Much of today's class will be spent with your conducting peer reviews. You will need to complete two peer reviews through turnitin.com (in our Rough Draft course). Once you fully complete the two reviews, I will be notified and will be able to give you full credit for this activity.
Once you have completed your peer reviews, use the remaining time using Turntin Draft Coach to start making corrections to your rough draft.
November 18/19
First up today, a look through the Publishing Process (the standard method).
Then, it is time for a little fun with A Reasonable Story, Version 2. Make sure to place this in the class in-box when you have finished.
The remainder of the day is yours as a work session. The work session can be used for missing smaller assignments or completing your project rough draft.
November 17
Today is a work session for your Short Story Project. You are looking to have your rough draft completed and submitted to turnitin.com by the end of today--make sure you are submitting to the Rough Draft course on turnitin. If you don't have the rough draft course, you can click on the "enroll in a class" tab on your turnitin homepage. It will then ask for a class ID and enrollment key--both can be found on the last slide here.
Remember to do the following so that you can submit your story:
In your Google Doc or Slides click on "file." Click on "download." Choose PDF.
Next step: in turnitin, head to your assignment and click "open." Scroll down and then click on "browse files." On the top left of the box that opens, click on "recent." Your PDF should appear. Click on the PDF and then follow instructions to finish submission.
November 13/14
Today begins with a Blind Write Activity. Once you complete this activity, you will need to submit your "story" to turnitin.com (Blind Write Activity).
The remainder of your time today is for your to work on your Short Story Project. Remember, you need to have your rough draft completed by the end of class on Monday.
November 10/12
Before we get to our last author, let's take a look at his preferred writing style: Magical Realism. Now, that you have an idea about that, let's talk about Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
You will then have time to read his story "Light is Like Water." Remember to answer the questions as you read. We will discuss the story in class.
The remainder of today's time is yours to get caught up on missing assignments. Take a look at your StudentVUE, see what is missing, and then work on completing those items. If you are 100% caught up, you can use this time to work on your short story project.
November 6/7
Let's make sure you all know how to punctuate dialogue accurately. This will help when constructing your story, as you don't want to get marked down for errors in the dialogue.
The remainder of today's time is yours to work on your Short Fiction Project.
November 4/5
Let's get our first pass-along story. It's like a pass-along poem, but a story (bet you couldn't have figured that out without me telling you).
The remainder of today's time is yours to work on your Short Fiction Project.
November 3
It's all about getting introduced to your Short Fiction Unit Project today. You will get introduced to the requirements and given time to start brainstorming ideas. Your project is due on November 24/25.
October 30/31
Let's look at a legend of science fiction--the great Ray Bradbury. You will be reading his story "The Visitor," which is found on page 128 of the book The Illustrated Man. Remember to answer the question sheet while reading the story. After reading, we will take time to discuss the story.
Finally, you will be introduced to your next writing assignment, which is due Monday, November 3.
"The Visitor--Part 2"
Assignment:
▫You need to write a flash-fiction (100-500 words) sequel to Bradbury’s story “The Visitor.”
▫The story needs to:
Look at the events of the original and decide what happens next.
Story must remain true to the original
October 28/29
First up today, you are going to think about varying up your vocabulary with a thesaurus activity. This is similar to the one we did for rhyming--just no rhyming this time.
Up next, an introduction to our next author; Guy de Maupassant. You will then read his story "The Necklace" and work through a set of questions for the story. We will talk about the story and the questions before the end of class.
October 27
Remember, your character profile worksheet and one-page story are due today.
As for what we are focusing on today, we will be looking at creating setting. This will lead to a setting worksheet, which you will need to turn in once you finish it.
October 20/21
It's all about characters today. We begin with an extended set of notes on creating a character (characterisation).
You will then be given a two-part assignment. The first part is a Character Profile Worksheet. With this worksheet, you need to create a character to use in a story. Once you have completed the worksheet, you need to use that character in a handwritten, one-page story. You will then staple the worksheet and your story together and turn them in.
If you complete both parts of the assignment today, great--staple and turn in. If you do not finish today, that's okay, the official due date is Monday, October 27.
October 16/17
Let's take a look at our first author of this unit: Edgar Allan Poe.
You will need to read Poe's story "The Black Cat." While reading, respond to the questions on the sheet I am giving you. We will talk about the story later in class.
Depending on how long it takes to complete the Poe activity, you may get time to work on either of our two assignments from this unit you need to finish (A Reasonable Story, 2 Drabbles).
October 14/15
Let's get the Elements of Fiction notes taken care of today. We are looking at both Part I and Part II of the notes.
We will then take a look at Lengths of Fiction. This will give you an idea of word count for different types of stories. The final slide of the Lengths of Fiction will be your Drabble Assignment, which is due by the end of today's class.
October 13
Welcome to our Short Fiction Unit. Today will start with a rundown of what you can expect in this unit.
The lion's share of the day though will be taken up with your first assignment in this unit. A Reasonable Story (version 1) will need to be completed and turned in by the end of class today. I hope you have fun with it.
This is the last day of our Short Fiction Unit. Make sure you take care of the following today:
Make sure you have completed and submitted the final draft of your short story project (submit to your period course on turnitin).
Make sure to complete any missing work for this unit (all formative assignments--those 20%ers--will become permanent zeroes at the end of the school day on Thursday).
December 1/2
Let's get into our last assignment for our short fiction unit. You will be writing a story about a couple meeting or breaking up. Make sure to follow the rules for this one. Turn this in once you have completed it.
The remainder of today's time is yours to work on any of the following: complete and submit your short story project final draft, any of your formative (20%) assignments from this class.
Remember, this week is the end of the grading period. All formative assignments will become permanent zeroes after Thursday.
November 24/25
Today is all about trying to turn your short story rough draft into your final draft. I will be showing you how to access the reviews you received from your peers--make sure to look these over and make changes to your story as necessary. Also, you should be using Draft Coach (extension on Google Docs) to find all grammar mistakes that can be corrected before submission of final draft.
Finally, when you are ready to submit your final draft, you will find that in your class period course on turnitin.com.
November 20/21
Much of today's class will be spent with your conducting peer reviews. You will need to complete two peer reviews through turnitin.com (in our Rough Draft course). Once you fully complete the two reviews, I will be notified and will be able to give you full credit for this activity.
Once you have completed your peer reviews, use the remaining time using Turntin Draft Coach to start making corrections to your rough draft.
November 18/19
First up today, a look through the Publishing Process (the standard method).
Then, it is time for a little fun with A Reasonable Story, Version 2. Make sure to place this in the class in-box when you have finished.
The remainder of the day is yours as a work session. The work session can be used for missing smaller assignments or completing your project rough draft.
November 17
Today is a work session for your Short Story Project. You are looking to have your rough draft completed and submitted to turnitin.com by the end of today--make sure you are submitting to the Rough Draft course on turnitin. If you don't have the rough draft course, you can click on the "enroll in a class" tab on your turnitin homepage. It will then ask for a class ID and enrollment key--both can be found on the last slide here.
Remember to do the following so that you can submit your story:
In your Google Doc or Slides click on "file." Click on "download." Choose PDF.
Next step: in turnitin, head to your assignment and click "open." Scroll down and then click on "browse files." On the top left of the box that opens, click on "recent." Your PDF should appear. Click on the PDF and then follow instructions to finish submission.
November 13/14
Today begins with a Blind Write Activity. Once you complete this activity, you will need to submit your "story" to turnitin.com (Blind Write Activity).
The remainder of your time today is for your to work on your Short Story Project. Remember, you need to have your rough draft completed by the end of class on Monday.
November 10/12
Before we get to our last author, let's take a look at his preferred writing style: Magical Realism. Now, that you have an idea about that, let's talk about Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
You will then have time to read his story "Light is Like Water." Remember to answer the questions as you read. We will discuss the story in class.
The remainder of today's time is yours to get caught up on missing assignments. Take a look at your StudentVUE, see what is missing, and then work on completing those items. If you are 100% caught up, you can use this time to work on your short story project.
November 6/7
Let's make sure you all know how to punctuate dialogue accurately. This will help when constructing your story, as you don't want to get marked down for errors in the dialogue.
The remainder of today's time is yours to work on your Short Fiction Project.
November 4/5
Let's get our first pass-along story. It's like a pass-along poem, but a story (bet you couldn't have figured that out without me telling you).
The remainder of today's time is yours to work on your Short Fiction Project.
November 3
It's all about getting introduced to your Short Fiction Unit Project today. You will get introduced to the requirements and given time to start brainstorming ideas. Your project is due on November 24/25.
October 30/31
Let's look at a legend of science fiction--the great Ray Bradbury. You will be reading his story "The Visitor," which is found on page 128 of the book The Illustrated Man. Remember to answer the question sheet while reading the story. After reading, we will take time to discuss the story.
Finally, you will be introduced to your next writing assignment, which is due Monday, November 3.
"The Visitor--Part 2"
Assignment:
▫You need to write a flash-fiction (100-500 words) sequel to Bradbury’s story “The Visitor.”
▫The story needs to:
Look at the events of the original and decide what happens next.
Story must remain true to the original
October 28/29
First up today, you are going to think about varying up your vocabulary with a thesaurus activity. This is similar to the one we did for rhyming--just no rhyming this time.
Up next, an introduction to our next author; Guy de Maupassant. You will then read his story "The Necklace" and work through a set of questions for the story. We will talk about the story and the questions before the end of class.
October 27
Remember, your character profile worksheet and one-page story are due today.
As for what we are focusing on today, we will be looking at creating setting. This will lead to a setting worksheet, which you will need to turn in once you finish it.
October 20/21
It's all about characters today. We begin with an extended set of notes on creating a character (characterisation).
You will then be given a two-part assignment. The first part is a Character Profile Worksheet. With this worksheet, you need to create a character to use in a story. Once you have completed the worksheet, you need to use that character in a handwritten, one-page story. You will then staple the worksheet and your story together and turn them in.
If you complete both parts of the assignment today, great--staple and turn in. If you do not finish today, that's okay, the official due date is Monday, October 27.
October 16/17
Let's take a look at our first author of this unit: Edgar Allan Poe.
You will need to read Poe's story "The Black Cat." While reading, respond to the questions on the sheet I am giving you. We will talk about the story later in class.
Depending on how long it takes to complete the Poe activity, you may get time to work on either of our two assignments from this unit you need to finish (A Reasonable Story, 2 Drabbles).
October 14/15
Let's get the Elements of Fiction notes taken care of today. We are looking at both Part I and Part II of the notes.
We will then take a look at Lengths of Fiction. This will give you an idea of word count for different types of stories. The final slide of the Lengths of Fiction will be your Drabble Assignment, which is due by the end of today's class.
October 13
Welcome to our Short Fiction Unit. Today will start with a rundown of what you can expect in this unit.
The lion's share of the day though will be taken up with your first assignment in this unit. A Reasonable Story (version 1) will need to be completed and turned in by the end of class today. I hope you have fun with it.