How do you revise your short story?
Read your short story to yourself. Ask yourself if the opening of the story made you want to read on.
Make up two or three different attention grabbing lines. Substitute each one for your original opening. Reread your story and pick the best one. Ask a friend what they think if you have trouble choosing.
Read your story again and look for action words and descriptive words denoting action. Sprinkle your story with some descriptive action words, e.g. slithered, meandered, sauntered.
Check for dialogue. Do you have people talking in at least four places of your story? Make sure you use words like murmured, cried out, mumbled, whined rather than "said."
If you need help with any revisions, see me.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Working on the 8th Grade Expo Model
How do you present your work on the 8th Grade Expo Model?
*I'd just like to say that if you can successfully present your work in this model, you will get an "A" for the 4th marking period.*
1st You have to highlight the name of the document to make a copy to work on. After you highlight, click on File and choose "save as a new presentation." Click CANCEL to make the copy.
2nd Rename your presentation.
3rd When you want to put your blog in the Expo, you go to your blog, press the Apple, Shift, and #4 keys at the same time. Hold down the click and drag to highlight and create a picture.The picture will be named Picture 1 and will be on your desktop.
4th Go back to the Expo Model and click on "new slide." Then click on "insert image." It will take you to browse and you will go to desktop and find Picture 1 and click.
5th You can edit anything on the model copy and put things in your own words.
See me if you have any questions.
*I'd just like to say that if you can successfully present your work in this model, you will get an "A" for the 4th marking period.*
1st You have to highlight the name of the document to make a copy to work on. After you highlight, click on File and choose "save as a new presentation." Click CANCEL to make the copy.
2nd Rename your presentation.
3rd When you want to put your blog in the Expo, you go to your blog, press the Apple, Shift, and #4 keys at the same time. Hold down the click and drag to highlight and create a picture.The picture will be named Picture 1 and will be on your desktop.
4th Go back to the Expo Model and click on "new slide." Then click on "insert image." It will take you to browse and you will go to desktop and find Picture 1 and click.
5th You can edit anything on the model copy and put things in your own words.
See me if you have any questions.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Writing Excellent Short Stories
How do you resolve the conflict of your short story in a meaningful and believable way?
A conflict is a problem or disagreement between two or more people. Most short stories have a conflict. Solving the problem has to be done in a believable way. You can't find a million dollars in a bag on the street!
Conflict can also be within yourself. You can feel a certain way about someone or yourself and need to change that feeling.
How you change that feeling is how you resolve the conflict. It's sometimes a very good thing to write about feelings because you can actually look at them and decide whether or not these feelings are doing you any good. Sometimes feelings can eat away at you and make you sick.
I hope to see some good, logical conflict resolutions. If you have any questions, feel free to talk to me.
A conflict is a problem or disagreement between two or more people. Most short stories have a conflict. Solving the problem has to be done in a believable way. You can't find a million dollars in a bag on the street!
Conflict can also be within yourself. You can feel a certain way about someone or yourself and need to change that feeling.
How you change that feeling is how you resolve the conflict. It's sometimes a very good thing to write about feelings because you can actually look at them and decide whether or not these feelings are doing you any good. Sometimes feelings can eat away at you and make you sick.
I hope to see some good, logical conflict resolutions. If you have any questions, feel free to talk to me.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Writing Excellent Short Stories
How do you craft a captivating and pivotal climax to your story?
After you have developed characters, you have worked on the story line or the plot.
Something has to happen to cause a problem. Then the problem has to be solved and quickly because this is a short story.
The solution or climax of the story should be clever, with the reader being surprised by what is happening.
Students can make up a few different endings and then decide which one is the most interesting.
Read your short stories to each other and get different opinions about which ending is the best.
After you have developed characters, you have worked on the story line or the plot.
Something has to happen to cause a problem. Then the problem has to be solved and quickly because this is a short story.
The solution or climax of the story should be clever, with the reader being surprised by what is happening.
Students can make up a few different endings and then decide which one is the most interesting.
Read your short stories to each other and get different opinions about which ending is the best.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Writing Excellent Short Stories
How do we sketch a character in depth?
A character can either be a protagonist or an antagonist. The main character is usually the good guy, but he doesn't have to be.
You develop the character by using adjectives to describe him/her. Use descriptive words to talk about appearance, personality, culture, nationality.
You can develop a character by his/her actions. Use action words to describe how he/she interacts with others, how she/he moves, plays, or works.
Use dialogue to show how the character feels by how he talks to others.
You can complete a separate character profile and refer to it as you're developing the plot.
See me if you need any help.
A character can either be a protagonist or an antagonist. The main character is usually the good guy, but he doesn't have to be.
You develop the character by using adjectives to describe him/her. Use descriptive words to talk about appearance, personality, culture, nationality.
You can develop a character by his/her actions. Use action words to describe how he/she interacts with others, how she/he moves, plays, or works.
Use dialogue to show how the character feels by how he talks to others.
You can complete a separate character profile and refer to it as you're developing the plot.
See me if you need any help.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Writing Excellent Short Stories
How do we build suspense in the rising action of our short story?
Every story has a plot that has to be developed. The characters go through some kind of problem. The characters have to be developed so you feel some kind of sympathy for them.
The problem has to be developed, so you're worried for the character/s and then by some twist of fate, the problem is worsened or resolved.
You have to use words that make the reader want to read on to see what's going to happen next. You can let the reader see only a little bit at a time. That's the rising action. Make sure you use strong words that describe the senses. For example, sweaty palms would be indicative of nervousness.
Write and revise. A good writer has at least three drafts before he/she is satisfied with his/her piece of writing. Then it goes to an editor who looks it over and revises it again. So don't be surprised if you're asked to write and rewrite your story.You're getting a true writer's experience.
Every story has a plot that has to be developed. The characters go through some kind of problem. The characters have to be developed so you feel some kind of sympathy for them.
The problem has to be developed, so you're worried for the character/s and then by some twist of fate, the problem is worsened or resolved.
You have to use words that make the reader want to read on to see what's going to happen next. You can let the reader see only a little bit at a time. That's the rising action. Make sure you use strong words that describe the senses. For example, sweaty palms would be indicative of nervousness.
Write and revise. A good writer has at least three drafts before he/she is satisfied with his/her piece of writing. Then it goes to an editor who looks it over and revises it again. So don't be surprised if you're asked to write and rewrite your story.You're getting a true writer's experience.
Friday, April 11, 2008
An Excellent Short Story
What are the five writing elements that constitute an excellent short story?
Structure/ Plot Arc - The story follows a clear story arc including organized exposition, conflict/ rising action, climax, and resolution.
Focus/Conflict and Character - The story centers around a clear protagonist who faces a clear central conflict.
Voice/Narrator - There is a single narrator that maintains a consistent Point of View.
Elaboration/Development - The characters are well developed through physical description, actions, and dialogue.
Conventions - The story generally uses active voice, appropriate tense, and correct dialogue grammar. Punctuation and spelling are also correct.
Structure/ Plot Arc - The story follows a clear story arc including organized exposition, conflict/ rising action, climax, and resolution.
Focus/Conflict and Character - The story centers around a clear protagonist who faces a clear central conflict.
Voice/Narrator - There is a single narrator that maintains a consistent Point of View.
Elaboration/Development - The characters are well developed through physical description, actions, and dialogue.
Conventions - The story generally uses active voice, appropriate tense, and correct dialogue grammar. Punctuation and spelling are also correct.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Writing Short Stories
How do you write a short story?
First, You have to brainstorm. Think of an event in your life or someone else's life that left a strong impression on you. Think about the circumstances, the setting, the feelings that were felt, the conflict, the resolution if any. If you felt strongly about this event, then you have the makings of a short story.
Second, Make an outline. You have to have a Setting, Characters, Dialogue, a Plot, a Conflict, a Rising Action that has Suspense, a Climax, and a Resolution. These eight parts of the short story are the skeleton of the story. They don't have to be written all at once, but you need to use them like a road map, so you know where you're going.
Third, Fill in the outline with words and phrases that you'll use to describe the different parts. Use words that paint an image. Use action words. As you work on different parts, use transition words to link the parts together.
Fourth, Relax! You tell stories all the time. I know you can make up a good one.
See me if you need help or don't understand the different parts of the story.
First, You have to brainstorm. Think of an event in your life or someone else's life that left a strong impression on you. Think about the circumstances, the setting, the feelings that were felt, the conflict, the resolution if any. If you felt strongly about this event, then you have the makings of a short story.
Second, Make an outline. You have to have a Setting, Characters, Dialogue, a Plot, a Conflict, a Rising Action that has Suspense, a Climax, and a Resolution. These eight parts of the short story are the skeleton of the story. They don't have to be written all at once, but you need to use them like a road map, so you know where you're going.
Third, Fill in the outline with words and phrases that you'll use to describe the different parts. Use words that paint an image. Use action words. As you work on different parts, use transition words to link the parts together.
Fourth, Relax! You tell stories all the time. I know you can make up a good one.
See me if you need help or don't understand the different parts of the story.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Comparison of Films to Books
How do you compare a film to the written book?
Review the blog entries on the book "Speak."
Go over the setting, the characters, the plot, the conflict, the resolution, and the outcome. Remember the symbolism and themes.
After watching the film "Speak" write down five similarities and any differences that you noticed.
Blog which literary form you liked better - the book or the film. Why did you prefer one over the other? I'd like at least a paragraph or two for you response.
Review the blog entries on the book "Speak."
Go over the setting, the characters, the plot, the conflict, the resolution, and the outcome. Remember the symbolism and themes.
After watching the film "Speak" write down five similarities and any differences that you noticed.
Blog which literary form you liked better - the book or the film. Why did you prefer one over the other? I'd like at least a paragraph or two for you response.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Speak pp.186 - 198
How do you identify the central conflict of the story?
Melinda has had inner conflicts and a physical conflict with one particular character. In the final pages of the book, she deals with both.
Wordsmiths: Define these words and write them in sentences. How does any of these words describe the central conflict of the story? retain, devious, dormancy, allegedly, loathsome.
Character Hunters: How does Melinda deal with the pain and memories she has experienced? See p.188. Why is Melinda happy when she hears what happened at the prom?
Historian: How does Andy's memory of that August night differ from Melinda's. Why is he so angry at her?
Deep Thinker: How does the ending fit in with how Melinda feels about herself at the end of the book?
Memorable Quote: " A small, clean part of me waits to warm and burst through the surface. That is the seed I will care for."
Melinda has had inner conflicts and a physical conflict with one particular character. In the final pages of the book, she deals with both.
Wordsmiths: Define these words and write them in sentences. How does any of these words describe the central conflict of the story? retain, devious, dormancy, allegedly, loathsome.
Character Hunters: How does Melinda deal with the pain and memories she has experienced? See p.188. Why is Melinda happy when she hears what happened at the prom?
Historian: How does Andy's memory of that August night differ from Melinda's. Why is he so angry at her?
Deep Thinker: How does the ending fit in with how Melinda feels about herself at the end of the book?
Memorable Quote: " A small, clean part of me waits to warm and burst through the surface. That is the seed I will care for."
Friday, April 4, 2008
Speak pp.172 -186
How do authors use repetition (repeating language, actions, setting)?
Wordsmiths: Define these words and use them in sentences relating to the characters. symbolism, maladjusted, indentured, pervert, detonate.
What words/language does Melinda repeat first in her head, and then on a piece of paper written to Rachel?
Character Hunters: Why does Melinda repeat the remark Ivy made about Andy Evans on p.174?
Historian: Why does Heather come over to Melinda's house even though Heather told her they couldn't be friends anymore?
Deep Thinker: Why does Ivy want to show Melinda the stall in the bathroom? How does this repetition of language corroborate (look it up) our feelings toward Andy Evans?
Memorable Quote: " I didn't call the cops to break up the party, I called them because some guy raped me. Under the trees. I didn't know what to do."
Wordsmiths: Define these words and use them in sentences relating to the characters. symbolism, maladjusted, indentured, pervert, detonate.
What words/language does Melinda repeat first in her head, and then on a piece of paper written to Rachel?
Character Hunters: Why does Melinda repeat the remark Ivy made about Andy Evans on p.174?
Historian: Why does Heather come over to Melinda's house even though Heather told her they couldn't be friends anymore?
Deep Thinker: Why does Ivy want to show Melinda the stall in the bathroom? How does this repetition of language corroborate (look it up) our feelings toward Andy Evans?
Memorable Quote: " I didn't call the cops to break up the party, I called them because some guy raped me. Under the trees. I didn't know what to do."
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Speak pp.155-172
How do authors use imagery to express themes?
An author uses imagery to help us see pictures, but images can also appeal to our senses of hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Imagery unlocks storehouses of memory and stirs our imagination. Their images will make us say "Oh yes, I see what you mean."
Wordsmiths: Define these words: incrimination, decomposing, delinquency, ambivalent, coaxes. What imagery does the author use to show fear on pp. 160 and 161?
Character Hunter: What imagery does the author use to show that Melinda is finally coming to terms with her fear and guilt? See p.166
Historian: Why is Melinda more afraid of Andy when he comes into the Art room than in any previous chapters?
Deep Thinker: What are the different images that show that Melinda is ambivalent about speaking out? Why is she still afraid to speak out?
Memorable Quote: "Flashes of lightning, children crying. Caught in an avalanche, pinned by worry, squirming under the weight of doubt, guilt. Fear"
An author uses imagery to help us see pictures, but images can also appeal to our senses of hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Imagery unlocks storehouses of memory and stirs our imagination. Their images will make us say "Oh yes, I see what you mean."
Wordsmiths: Define these words: incrimination, decomposing, delinquency, ambivalent, coaxes. What imagery does the author use to show fear on pp. 160 and 161?
Character Hunter: What imagery does the author use to show that Melinda is finally coming to terms with her fear and guilt? See p.166
Historian: Why is Melinda more afraid of Andy when he comes into the Art room than in any previous chapters?
Deep Thinker: What are the different images that show that Melinda is ambivalent about speaking out? Why is she still afraid to speak out?
Memorable Quote: "Flashes of lightning, children crying. Caught in an avalanche, pinned by worry, squirming under the weight of doubt, guilt. Fear"
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Speak pp.141 -155
How do authors use symbols to express themes?
A theme is the main idea of the story, the discovery about life that we take away from it. Sometimes what a character has learned can be stated as the theme.
Wordsmiths: Define these words and see if they can be used to describe or be used as symbols: exterminators, tenacious, dominant, suffragettes, blight.
Character Hunters: Why is Ivy being nicer to Melinda? Why does Melinda feel she needs to follow Rachel around?
Historians: Melinda talks to herself about the phases she went through - name them and describe them. How is she changing?
DeepThinker: What could be a symbol in these chapters? How do they express a theme?
Memorable Quote: "Before the suffragettes came along, women were treated like dogs."
A theme is the main idea of the story, the discovery about life that we take away from it. Sometimes what a character has learned can be stated as the theme.
Wordsmiths: Define these words and see if they can be used to describe or be used as symbols: exterminators, tenacious, dominant, suffragettes, blight.
Character Hunters: Why is Ivy being nicer to Melinda? Why does Melinda feel she needs to follow Rachel around?
Historians: Melinda talks to herself about the phases she went through - name them and describe them. How is she changing?
DeepThinker: What could be a symbol in these chapters? How do they express a theme?
Memorable Quote: "Before the suffragettes came along, women were treated like dogs."
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Speak pp.125 - 137
How do we track the plot of a story?
Wordsmiths: Define these words: germination, aggressive, asphyxiated, wistful, deranged. Use these words in sentences that explain what happened to Melinda that night in August.
Character Hunters: How does Melinda describe Andy Evans when she first meets him in August? How is this description different from how she describes him now?
Now that you know what happened to Melinda in August, how does this change your perception of her?
Historians: Where was the party in August held and by whom was it given? What did Melinda say about the cheerleaders earlier in the book?
Deep Thinker: Why didn't Melinda say anything to the police that August night?
Memorable Quote: "I thought that was a little rude, but my tongue was thick with beer and I couldn't figure out how to tell him to slowdown."
Wordsmiths: Define these words: germination, aggressive, asphyxiated, wistful, deranged. Use these words in sentences that explain what happened to Melinda that night in August.
Character Hunters: How does Melinda describe Andy Evans when she first meets him in August? How is this description different from how she describes him now?
Now that you know what happened to Melinda in August, how does this change your perception of her?
Historians: Where was the party in August held and by whom was it given? What did Melinda say about the cheerleaders earlier in the book?
Deep Thinker: Why didn't Melinda say anything to the police that August night?
Memorable Quote: "I thought that was a little rude, but my tongue was thick with beer and I couldn't figure out how to tell him to slowdown."
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