Wednesday

 TEST - DO WELL!

Tuesday

 Work on PERSONAL NARRATIVES and study for tomorrow's test!

Monday

 Today - I'm going to hand back graded material. We are going to review for Wednesday.

Watch the following video, look at the Personal Narrative Rubric and discuss it, and finally begin to make notes for your Personal Narrative.

1st Draft will be due on 10/4.  Next Monday.

Personal Narrative

      A Personal Narrative is a form of writing in which the writer relates an event, incident, or experience in his or her own life. It is usually focused on one idea.  The events of a personal narrative are most often presented in chronological order, the order in which they actually occurred in time. The personal narrative incorporates vivid descriptive details as well as the thoughts, feelings, and reactions of the writer. 

           

Remember the first paragraph, just like an essay, should have a grabber or an attention getting statement and it can set up your reason for writing—it could contain a controlling idea and can also state a list of topics that you will discuss in your essay (these are not bad things to practice and you should look at the student examples).   It should follow a plot with an exposition, inciting event and a resolution. 

            Some things you can discuss:

1)    Who are you and where are you from?  What is your family like?   What do your parents or relatives do? 

2)    Tell me something was important in your life (example: describe winning a race, or attending your sister’s marriage, etc.)

3)    Tell a story about your past (maybe this past summer—such as your job)?

4)    Overcoming some problem or situation (example: I had a girl in the Marshall

Islands write about battling anorexia).

5)    Take an experience from your life, an experience that taught you something about life (either about suffering, about healing, about people, about yourself) –Think about F. Scott Fitzgerald’s statement: “What most people are ashamed of usually makes a good story.” 

I’m looking for passion, excitement, description, dialogue, and your voice coming out and calling the reader to pay attention because what you have to say is important! 

Please use details, imagery and if possible figurative language (metaphors, similes, personification, etc.)  If you don’t know these terms do not worry, we will cover them in class during the year.  Before you begin writing I’d like you to begin by pre-writing and thinking about organization.  Never just start writing without jotting down ideas or writing out some sort of map or outline. 

The purpose of this assignment is for you to start to format letters/ideas for you to use as a senior when you apply to colleges and for scholarships.  It will also give you valuable writing practice for writing is a skill that needs constant practice and developing.    

Requirements:  Your narrative needs to be at least 3 pages long (it can be double-spaced).  There is no maximum length.  You will be graded on a rubric broken into ideas, organization, voice, word choice (usage), sentence fluidity (structure), and conventions. 

Grade:  This assignment will be worth 150 points.

Unit Learning goal: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the structure of fiction by breaking down the essential building blocks (literary elements) of short stories by plot, dialogue, imagery, character development, figurative language (metaphor, symbolism, irony), point of view, connecting these blocks to the overall meaning (or theme) of the text, and final writing a personal narrative using some of these devices. 

 

 Scale/Rubric relating to learning goal:

4 – The student can analyze the elements of a short story come up with a valid theme (or themes) of a text and relate this theme to other texts and/or movies and real world situations.  The student is able to write a personal narrative using these elements to create a text with a realistic theme that relates to the student’s life.

3 – The student can analyze elements of a short story and come up with a valid theme for a text.  The student is able to write a personal narrative using some of these elements to create a text with a valid theme that relates to the student’s life.

2 – With some direction/help from the teacher the student can analyze the elements of a short story and come up with a theme for a text.  With some direction/help from the teacher the student is able to write a personal narrative using some of these elements to create a text with a valid theme that relates to the student’s life.

1 – Even with help from the teacher the student is unable to analyze elements of a short story and come up with a theme for a text.  Even with help from the teacher the student in unable to write a personal narrative using some of these elements to create a text with a valid theme that relates to the student’s life.

Personal Narrative Rubric

	4	3	2	1
Ideas: Introduction to the topic.  Engaging and orienting the read by setting out a problem or a situation.  This should include a controlling idea or suggested theme. (W2a, W3a)	Topic – controlling idea or theme is clear, and engaging.  There is a problem or conflict in the personal narrative.  The controlling idea links all sections of the narrative.  The presentation is near poetic in effect.	Topic – controlling idea or theme is clear and engaging.	Topic – controlling idea or theme is not clear, or the introduction is not engaging.  There might be no conflict or problem or the intro. is wordy and /or rambles without getting to the point.	The introduction is hard to read or to understand as far as it relates to a central idea or theme.
Details: Use of narrative techniques such as dialogue, descriptions, concrete details.  This could include figurative language (metaphor, similes, symbols, personification), use of allusions, irony, and/or effective dialect. (W2b, W3b, W3c, W3d)	Details are effective and add depth to the narrative.  The use of strategies such as figurative language relate back to the controlling idea or theme.  Use of many techniques or strategies.	Details are effective and concrete.  Use of many techniques or strategies.	The narrative could use more details to develop the setting, problem or the readers understanding of the storyline.	No specific details.  Narrative is a collection of generalizations.
Organization: Use of transitions to idea with idea, sequencing of events or plot strategies, the presentation of ideas in a logical format.  (W2c, W2f, W3b, W3c, W3e)	The sequence of events and/or use of transitions to connect ideas and adds to the text’s meaning or is innovative.  Techniques such as flashback, foreshadowing, use of parallelism, and sentence organization (loose and/or periodic structures) might be used.	The sequence of events and/or use of transitions is effective.	Narrative is either missing transitions or the sequence of events are out of order, illogical, or confusing as presented.	Narrative lacks structure or organization.
Word Choice/Syntax: Use of precise language, interesting word choice, SAT vocabulary and varied syntax (w2d, w2e, L3)	Impressive and effective vocabulary.  Effective and engaging syntax.  Use of high-level vocabulary and many types of sentences and sentence lengths for effect.	Precise and effective language/vocabulary.  Varied syntax.	Overuse of “to be” verbs or repetitious language.  Syntax is not varied much.	No variation in syntax.  Word choice is simplistic.
Conventions/Spelling (L1, L2)	No noticeable grammar errors	1-3 noticeable errors, but errors do not distract from the readability of the narrative.	3 or more noticeable errors, or an error or errors that distract from the readability of the narrative.	Narrative is plagued with grammar errors and is hard to read

Friday

 Today we are going to discuss Coretta Scott King and look at some sentences:

https://www.thoughtco.com/periodic-sentence-grammar-and-prose-style-1691607

Review Guide for UNIT I

1)   For the following stories be able to outline the plot:

“Harrison Bergeron”

“The Pedestrian”

“There Will Come Soft Rains”

“The Lottery”

“The Possibility of Evil”

“Everyday Use”

2)   For the following stories be able to list the protagonist, the antagonist, the type of conflict and briefly discuss what the conflict involves”

Harrison Bergeron”

“The Pedestrian”

“There Will Come Soft Rains”

“The Lottery”

“The Possibility of Evil”

“Everyday Use”

3)   For all the stories list point of view.   If the point of view is 1^st person, discuss who is telling the story.   If the point of view is 3^rd Limit, discuss the point of view the story follows.

4)   For each story pick out and be able to discuss a symbol.

5)   For “There Will Come Soft Rains” be about to pick out three allusions and discuss how the allusions reinforce the main idea of the story.

6)   Be able to pick out an irony for each story and discuss the meaning of the irony. 

7)   For all stories be able to list the dynamic and static characters, and discuss how the dynamic characters change.

8)   For each story be able to list and discuss the theme.

9)   List the setting for every story.

10)                  Be able to compare, using details, various stories to each other by using theme, characters or figurative language.

11)                  Discuss who the following characters are and why they are important to the text:

Harrison Bergeron

Leonard Mead

Maggie

Hakim-a-barber

Wangero (or Dee Dee)

Mama

George Bergeron

Hazel Bergeron

Diana Moon Glampers

The House

The Dog

Miss Adela Strangeworth

Mr. Lewis

Dave Harris

Linda Stewart

12) For any story be able to summarize the events of the story.  

https://thejohnfox.com/2021/08/65-long-sentences-in-literature/

Thursday

Today, we are going to write sentences with vocabulary words and read "Tolerance" by E. M. Forster on page 484, and discuss your personal narratives. Next week - TEST on UNIT and working on personal narratives. We will also discuss Coretta Scott King.

 

Personal Narrative

      A Personal Narrative is a form of writing in which the writer relates an event, incident, or experience in his or her own life. It is usually focused on one idea.  The events of a personal narrative are most often presented in chronological order, the order in which they actually occurred in time. The personal narrative incorporates vivid descriptive details as well as the thoughts, feelings, and reactions of the writer. 

           

Remember the first paragraph, just like an essay, should have a grabber or an attention getting statement and it can set up your reason for writing—it could contain a controlling idea and can also state a list of topics that you will discuss in your essay (these are not bad things to practice and you should look at the student examples).   It should follow a plot with an exposition, inciting event and a resolution. 

            Some things you can discuss:

1)    Who are you and where are you from?  What is your family like?   What do your parents or relatives do? 

2)    Tell me something was important in your life (example: describe winning a race, or attending your sister’s marriage, etc.)

3)    Tell a story about your past (maybe this past summer—such as your job)?

4)    Overcoming some problem or situation (example: I had a girl in the Marshall

Islands write about battling anorexia).

5)    Take an experience from your life, an experience that taught you something about life (either about suffering, about healing, about people, about yourself) –Think about F. Scott Fitzgerald’s statement: “What most people are ashamed of usually makes a good story.” 

I’m looking for passion, excitement, description, dialogue, and your voice coming out and calling the reader to pay attention because what you have to say is important! 

Please use details, imagery and if possible figurative language (metaphors, similes, personification, etc.)  If you don’t know these terms do not worry, we will cover them in class during the year.  Before you begin writing I’d like you to begin by pre-writing and thinking about organization.  Never just start writing without jotting down ideas or writing out some sort of map or outline. 

The purpose of this assignment is for you to start to format letters/ideas for you to use as a senior when you apply to colleges and for scholarships.  It will also give you valuable writing practice for writing is a skill that needs constant practice and developing.    

Requirements:  Your narrative needs to be at least 3 pages long (it can be double-spaced).  There is no maximum length.  You will be graded on a rubric broken into ideas, organization, voice, word choice (usage), sentence fluidity (structure), and conventions. 

Grade:  This assignment will be worth 150 points.

Unit Learning goal: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the structure of fiction by breaking down the essential building blocks (literary elements) of short stories by plot, dialogue, imagery, character development, figurative language (metaphor, symbolism, irony), point of view, connecting these blocks to the overall meaning (or theme) of the text, and final writing a personal narrative using some of these devices. 

 

 Scale/Rubric relating to learning goal:

4 – The student can analyze the elements of a short story come up with a valid theme (or themes) of a text and relate this theme to other texts and/or movies and real world situations.  The student is able to write a personal narrative using these elements to create a text with a realistic theme that relates to the student’s life.

3 – The student can analyze elements of a short story and come up with a valid theme for a text.  The student is able to write a personal narrative using some of these elements to create a text with a valid theme that relates to the student’s life.

2 – With some direction/help from the teacher the student can analyze the elements of a short story and come up with a theme for a text.  With some direction/help from the teacher the student is able to write a personal narrative using some of these elements to create a text with a valid theme that relates to the student’s life.

1 – Even with help from the teacher the student is unable to analyze elements of a short story and come up with a theme for a text.  Even with help from the teacher the student in unable to write a personal narrative using some of these elements to create a text with a valid theme that relates to the student’s life.

Personal Narrative Rubric

	4	3	2	1
Ideas: Introduction to the topic.  Engaging and orienting the read by setting out a problem or a situation.  This should include a controlling idea or suggested theme. (W2a, W3a)	Topic – controlling idea or theme is clear, and engaging.  There is a problem or conflict in the personal narrative.  The controlling idea links all sections of the narrative.  The presentation is near poetic in effect.	Topic – controlling idea or theme is clear and engaging.	Topic – controlling idea or theme is not clear, or the introduction is not engaging.  There might be no conflict or problem or the intro. is wordy and /or rambles without getting to the point.	The introduction is hard to read or to understand as far as it relates to a central idea or theme.
Details: Use of narrative techniques such as dialogue, descriptions, concrete details.  This could include figurative language (metaphor, similes, symbols, personification), use of allusions, irony, and/or effective dialect. (W2b, W3b, W3c, W3d)	Details are effective and add depth to the narrative.  The use of strategies such as figurative language relate back to the controlling idea or theme.  Use of many techniques or strategies.	Details are effective and concrete.  Use of many techniques or strategies.	The narrative could use more details to develop the setting, problem or the readers understanding of the storyline.	No specific details.  Narrative is a collection of generalizations.
Organization: Use of transitions to idea with idea, sequencing of events or plot strategies, the presentation of ideas in a logical format.  (W2c, W2f, W3b, W3c, W3e)	The sequence of events and/or use of transitions to connect ideas and adds to the text’s meaning or is innovative.  Techniques such as flashback, foreshadowing, use of parallelism, and sentence organization (loose and/or periodic structures) might be used.	The sequence of events and/or use of transitions is effective.	Narrative is either missing transitions or the sequence of events are out of order, illogical, or confusing as presented.	Narrative lacks structure or organization.
Word Choice/Syntax: Use of precise language, interesting word choice, SAT vocabulary and varied syntax (w2d, w2e, L3)	Impressive and effective vocabulary.  Effective and engaging syntax.  Use of high-level vocabulary and many types of sentences and sentence lengths for effect.	Precise and effective language/vocabulary.  Varied syntax.	Overuse of “to be” verbs or repetitious language.  Syntax is not varied much.	No variation in syntax.  Word choice is simplistic.
Conventions/Spelling (L1, L2)	No noticeable grammar errors	1-3 noticeable errors, but errors do not distract from the readability of the narrative.	3 or more noticeable errors, or an error or errors that distract from the readability of the narrative.	Narrative is plagued with grammar errors and is hard to read

 

In-Class  QUIZ:

Write an Essay comparing “The Possibility of Evil”, “The Lottery”, and “Everyday Use” either by theme, character, symbolism, or irony.

	4	3	2	1
Thesis Statement	Clear and defendable thesis, hook and order of development connect with thesis	Defendable thesis, hook present	Thesis statement attempted, but might be clunky, wordy, or unclear	No thesis
Evidence	2 pieces of evidence for each point; evidence is analyzed and makes connections between the evidence and the thesis	Two pieces of evidence for each point; some analysis is made between the evidence and thesis but it might be taken out of context, misinterpreted or oversimplified	Evidence form at least two sources.  No analysis is made between the evidence and the thesis.	Body paragraphs either simply restates the thesis or the evidence is unclear or unrelated to the prompt; or less than two sources are provided.
Sophistication of Writing	Effective paragraph structures, high level vocabulary, vivid writing, varied sentence structures and effective rhetorical choices	Some high level vocabulary and some variety of sentence structures.  Some effective rhetorical strategies.	Essay use same words over and over again.  Sentences are wordy and/or clunky.	Student makes sweeping generalizations or comparisons that are oversimplified.  Very little variety in word choice and sentence structure.
Grammar/Conventions	1-2 small mistakes that do not impair reading	3-5 small mistakes that do not impair reading	Many mistakes; and/or reading impaired by mistakes made	Writing is plagued with errors

 

Tuesday

Today, we will read a nonfiction memoir (or section of a memoir) on the Montgomery Boycott.  Remember, your unit goal is to write a personal narrative using elements of fiction that you have learned from the short story unit.  Think about how Coretta Scott King uses literary elements in her story.  Also, think about how you would compare this story to "Everyday Use".

Turn to page 968.

Questions: 1-4, 7 and 8 on page 978. 


Tomorrow you will have the following in-class quiz:

Write an Essay comparing “The Possibility of Evil”, “The Lottery”, and “Everyday Use” either by theme, character, symbolism, or irony.

 

New Vocabulary

1) Palliate
2) Confiscate
3) Inundate
4) Deprecate
5) Exonerate
6) Capitulate
7) Svelte
8) Diurnal
9) Canopy
10) Patrimony

Unit Learning goal: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the structure of fiction by breaking down the essential building blocks (literary elements) of short stories by plot, dialogue, imagery, character development, figurative language (metaphor, symbolism, irony), point of view, connecting these blocks to the overall meaning (or theme) of the text, and final writing a personal narrative using some of these devices. 

 Scale/Rubric relating to learning goal:
4 – The student can analyze the elements of a short story come up with a valid theme (or themes) of a text and relate this theme to other texts and/or movies and real world situations.  The student is able to write a personal narrative using these elements to create a text with a realistic theme that relates to the student’s life.

3 – The student can analyze elements of a short story and come up with a valid theme for a text.  The student is able to write a personal narrative using some of these elements to create a text with a valid theme that relates to the student’s life.

2 – With some direction/help from the teacher the student can analyze the elements of a short story and come up with a theme for a text.  With some direction/help from the teacher the student is able to write a personal narrative using some of these elements to create a text with a valid theme that relates to the student’s life.

1 – Even with help from the teacher the student is unable to analyze elements of a short story and come up with a theme for a text.  Even with help from the teacher the student in unable to write a personal narrative using some of these elements to create a text with a valid theme that relates to the student’s life.

Friday

 After the quiz work on outlining the following:

 

1)    In an essay with a thesis statement (or a controlling idea) compare “Everyday Use” to “The Lottery” and either “The Possibility of Evil”, “There Will Come Soft Rains” or “Harrison Bergeron” (so three stories) by either characters, symbols, allusions or themes. Make sure you use specific examples from the text to back up your thesis.

Thursday

 Today, we are going to look at the video on "Everyday Use", finish Short Story Outlines, and study for the vocabulary test tomorrow.

Wednesday

 Today we are going to review vocabulary, look at a video about "Everyday Use" and finally fill out short story outlines.

Good luck!

Tuesday

Today we are going to go over your sentences and then finish reading "Everyday Use".

HW: Study for vocabulary and do questions (1-4, 6 and 9) on page 61.

 

 

Everyday Use

 Today we are going to look at a "Syntax Primer" and then begin reading "Everyday Use". First we need to write sentences for the words of the day "Voluble" and "Wizened" 

"Everyday Use" is a story written by Alice Walker (author of The Color Purple). Themes: How is a person related to their culture?   Here is a lecture, a movie and audio version of the story.    HW: Write a cumulative sentence, a periodic sentence, a compound sentence, a compound- complex sentence.

FRIDAY

 Today we are going to practice vocabulary words and write sentences with Rudimentary and Savoring.  Discuss your essays, and discuss the story - "The Lottery".  You will fill out short story outlines and finally on your blogs make a list of comparisons with "The Possibility of Evil".  Things you should think about - 1) Symbols (Roses, Names, Black Box, places); Characters (Miss Strangeworth, Tessie Hutchinson); Themes - traditions, the meaning of home, appearance vs reality.

 

The Lottery

 Today we are going to write sentences with Commiserate and Indomitable.  Discuss your essays/quizzes, and read the story - "The Lottery".

"The Lottery" was Shirley Jackson's masterpiece.  It is a story about a small town and it's annual lottery.

Themes include: Mob psychology, scapegoats, traditions and culture. 

 

 http://web1.nbed.nb.ca/sites/ASD-S/1820/J%20Johnston/The_Lottery_with_questions_Shirley_Jackson.pdf

 

 

Wednesday

 Today we are going to write sentences for DOCTRINE and HERITAGE, discuss the ending of the story "The Possibility of Evil", fill out short story outlines and make some outline notes for the following homework quiz:

 QUIZ

1)    In an essay with a thesis statement (or a controlling idea) compare either “Harrison Bergeron” or “There Will Come Soft Rains” to “The Possibility of Evil” by either characters, symbols, allusions or themes. Make sure you use specific examples from the text to back up your thesis.

 

Grading:

 

Thesis – 10 pts

Examples from text – 15 pts

Grammar – 5 pts

 

NOTE HERE IS THE RUBRIC:

 

4- Student can write a thesis connecting "Harrison Bergeron", "There Will Come Soft Rains" and "The Pedestrian" by either theme, character, symbol and back up his or her position with at least two pieces of evidence (for each point) and analyze the evidence, making connections between the evidence and the thesis.

 

3 -  Student can write a thesis connecting "Harrison Bergeron", "There Will Come Soft Rains" and "The Pedestrian" by either theme, character, symbol and back up his or her position with at least two pieces of evidence (for each point), some analysis or connection is made between evidence and thesis but it might be taken out of context, misinterpreted, or oversimplified.  

2 - Student can write a thesis statement connecting "Harrison Bergeron" and either "There Will Come Soft Rain" or "The Pedestrian".  Evidence from at least two sources is used but little connection or no analysis is made between the evidence and the thesis.

1- Thesis statement is attempted.  Body paragraphs either simply restates the thesis or the evidence is unclear or unrelated to the prompt; or less than two sources are provided.