Thursday, June 10, 2010

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Blog Posts, Reading Circle, Portfolio

Today, spend the first 10 minutes of class posting a blog entry on your blog regarding the reading you have been doing with your chosen book. What do you think so far? How far have you read? What have you learned about writing through reading the novel? What questions do you have? Etc.

Then, gather with your reading group and chat about the book. Each reader should discuss the book. Create a survey with your group members. Find out how many people enjoy the book (write the number down), how many dislike the book or are having trouble understanding or relating to the book, and answer any questions that group members may have. Discuss for about 15 minutes. Then: go back to your portfolio preparation.

The portfolio is due on Friday.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Final Portfolio

There are two (2) parts to your final portfolio.
A. A 4-6 page, double-spaced, typed self evaluation essay
B. A variety of your best work chosen from all your CW classes

Your final portfolio will count for both 9th grade creative writing classes and will be reviewed by Mr. Craddock & Ms. Gamzon. It will constitute 25% of your final grade.

Part A. Self Evaluation Essay

Part B. Portfolio

Select work that you created this year in Ms. Gamzon or Mr. Craddock’s classes. All work should be copies of original work. No journals will be accepted. Follow the guideline below.

Table of contents. Your table of contents should order your portfolio into the following parts:
a. Poetry
b. Fiction
c. Non-fiction
d. Scripts
e. Special projects

Poetry. Choose 6-8 of your best poems. Select work that shows your understanding and growth in the field of poetry. Each poem’s title should be listed on the table of contents.

Fiction. Choose 4-5 of your best fiction pieces. Select work that shows your understanding and growth in the field of fiction. Each fiction piece’s title should be listed on the table of contents.

Non-fiction. Choose 2-3 of your best non-fiction pieces. Select work that shows your understanding and growth in the field of non-fiction. Each non-fiction piece’s title should be listed on the table of contents.

Scripts: Choose 2-3 of your best scripts. Select work that shows your understanding and growth in the field of script writing. Each script’s title should be listed on the table of contents.

Special Projects: Choose 3-4 of your special projects (newsletter, slideshow*, brochure, literary magazine, web design, blog, etc.) which show your growth and creative ability. Each project should be listed on the table of contents. If you have been working on a project not assigned in class, you may include this work in your special projects. (Example: I am working on a novel, and I haven’t told my teachers or I have written a musical, etc.) Please do NOT print your special project, unless you already have an extra copy. Instead, please talk about these projects in your reflection.

Self Reflection Non Fiction - Creative Essay:

During the entire freshman year, we have thrown quite a bit of information, projects, and assignments your way. We did not do this to be cruel, but to see how you react to pressure, deadlines, writing & reading skills, and so that you had the opportunity to grow as a writer and a student. It is true that the most important qualification for writers is that they write. Apart from this, reading is also the most important way to improve your writing at this stage. These introductory courses are designed to get you to know yourself as a student and writer a little better. Part of this is the need to self-reflect. Examine the writing rubrics and the material in your portfolio. Reflect on your work this year.

Reflective piece: 4-6 pages, double-spaced. Write about how you’ve grown as a writer this year, what has been easy/hard for you, what areas you feel you need more work in; reflect on your progress as a writer, a reader, and as a student. Write about each selected piece you have chosen to include in your portfolio (per genre): why did you include these pieces in your portfolio? How does the piece show your growth and development as a writer in this particular genre? What did you learn about yourself concerning writing from this assignment or project? Discuss the writing process you used to create the work, where you got your ideas, what you learned about the form or genre of the work as you wrote and revised it, what you learned about yourself as a writer, etc. Discuss special projects and reading that had an impact on you. What did you learn about writing and about yourself through these assignments this year?

Rubric

_____ Table of Contents 10 points
_____ Reflective Essay (4-6 pages) 30 points
_____ Poetry (5-7 poems) 10 points
_____ Fiction (3-4 short stories) 10 points
_____ Non Fiction (1-2 creative essays) 10 points
_____ Special Projects (1-2 special projects) 10 points
_____ Grammar (Work is clean, copy-edited, free of errors) 10 points
Penalty: (-1/2 point for each grammar error. Up to -10 points)
_____ Portfolio turned in complete and on time 10 points

Penalties:
• Late portfolios (-10 points per day late)
• Handwritten work (-1 for each handwritten page)
• Grammar errors (see above)

The final portfolio is due Friday, June 11

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Quiz, Blog, & Last Book Choice

Today, after I answer any specific questions about the memoirs you read, we will take a quiz on the books. Please answer the essay portion of the test on your blog.

Before the test, you will be picking up one of four books:

All books have similar archetypal plots dealing with character growth and "self discovery" (the name of our course). You may choose from:

Cantora by Sylvia Lopez-Medina (Romance)
The Color Purple by Alice Walker (Realism)
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein (fantasy)
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula LeGuin (fantasy)

After you complete your test, please begin reading your chosen book. Please bring your book with you next class as we will be reading outside with it (weather permitting).

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