October 12-13: Essay Edition

We will be completing the final essay for our short story unit this week. This is work that must be made up in class, so if you are absent, please come see me!

October 9: Book Share Edition

Today we all took a little bit of time to share something about the book that we are reading for independent reading. For those that didn't get a chance to share, we will be doing this periodically a few students at a time.

October 5-8

During these classes we read "The Flowers" by Alice Walker.

• Carefully consider the character of Myop in this story.
• Try to see things from her point of view. What would it be like to be in her situation.

Following a close reading of "The Flowers," write a 5 paragraph essay describing the character of Myop in the story. Make sure to cite evidence from the text, develop your arguments, and follow a logical flow of information.

October 1,2009

Today we did a bunch of homecoming stuff, so if you were absent you don't have to make anything up!!!!

September 29,2009

Watching the princes bride
-character sheets
-setting sheets

September 23, 2009: character addition

Character
-through actions
-through words
-throught thoughts
-description
-location
Character Part II
-flat:
-round:multifaceted
-stock

9/21/09

Find the definition of theme in a dictionary or online.
Read "Tortise and the Hare"
Write the subject of the story, what the story is about.
Create a list of 5 possible themes.
Read "Powder" in our textbook, page 687.
Write the subject of the story.
Create a list of 2 possible themes with evidence from the text for each.

9/17/09: The Third Draft Edition

Starting today we will begin individual reading to be completed both in and outside of class. For individual reading you will need to completely read 3 books between now and the end of the semester. Two of the books must come from the 9-12 Reading List. The other book may be any book that you choose, but must be approved by Mr. Shellabarger.

9/14/09: The Unprepared Edtion

I have to admit that I'm a little bit worried when %80 of my students show up without their homework. To be honest guys, this means that you will get much more homework in the future. Call it punishment, call it opportunity, call it practice.

You should have your first two drafts of your memoir complete. The first draft is mainly intended to get your thoughts onto paper. For the second draft we look closely at showing vs. telling. Third draft will start tomorrow.

9/11/09: Patriot Day Edition

On the anniversary of a day when so many died, I will be away saying goodbye to one more as we lay my good friend Dmitri to rest. Mr. Dalton will be covering for me and I'm sure you'll find that he's a much better teacher than I.

Bellwork: Read the poem "Names" by Billy Collins. This poem was written by the National Poet Laurette on the one year anniversary of September 11th. It is a poem that I found so powerful that I started a poem of the week project, which amazingly enough continued until at least April of this year at Weber State University. In your journal write about September 11th for about 5 minutes.

Show, Don't Tell: After you watch the video below, complete the worksheet and turn it into the box. When you start your second draft of your memoir, look closely at all of "be" verbs and consider whether or not you should replace them with more active sentences.