Fences Project; Portfolio

In the lab today: 

Choose one of the following:

• write an ode in the voice of a character from Fences. What would Troy, for example, praise about his son? What would Gabriel praise about his trumpet? What would Rose praise about Lyons or Troy?
• write an ode in your own voice for one of the characters in this play, or praise August Wilson's writing. 
• write a short scene between two of the characters in the play years later. 
• write a short scene between two of the characters that takes place during or before the action of the play. What were the scenes between the years that Wilson presents to us in this play? Write one of them.

When you have attended to the task above, you may begin working on compiling your semester portfolio. Follow the instructions below to get your portfolio ready. It is due (along with your journals) next Friday, Jan. 23.

Semester Portfolio - Final "Exam"

1. Examine your work collected in your portfolio. (You may print out anything you haven't yet printed out and place a copy in your portfolio). You may print anything out you have written in either Ms. Gamzon or my class.

2. Revise:
• Nouns: Nouns should be specific and concrete; avoid blatant abstract or vague nouns always in your writing.

 One way to make an abstract concept (like love or death or pain or sadness) concrete is by creating a metaphor or simile. (Ex. Love is a blind dove fluttering at your window)--use metaphor and simile in your writing to strengthen abstraction and turn it into concrete and specific writing! 

 If you can’t hold it in your hand, touch it, smell it, taste it, hear it, then it’s not concrete. If you can’t see it or touch it, it’s not specific.

• Verbs: Verbs should be active.

 Do not write in the passive voice – let your subject do the action.
 Avoid excessive use of the verb TO BE. Instead, use strong active verbs
 Do not shift tense. Make sure all your verbs are either in the past or present. Try not to switch between tenses.

• Modifiers: Adjectives, prepositions, adverbs, conjunctions, interjections. These parts of speech help describe your characters, settings, and plot events.

 The thing to remember about modifiers is that they are not necessary. Overusing them is a great mistake in writing! Be concise!
 Make sure your stories and poems describe the images you expect the reader to see. Don’t forget about WHERE your characters are or WHAT they are doing while they are talking or acting.
 Adverbs should be used sparingly.
 Try to avoid overusing conjunctions. This is a sure sign of a run-on sentence.

• Plot, character, setting, conflict, theme, dialogue, form: Find places in your stories and poems to expand your ideas. Complicate your plots, make them longer, more character driven, more descriptive. Use dialogue to develop your characters histories and backgrounds. Choose your words with care. Try to make a point. Remember your reader!
• Spell check and proofread your work! Reading your work out loud can help!
• It is sometimes helpful to get feedback from friends, teacher, or enemies about your writing.

Remember: this is a writing portfolio (and you have taken Grammar and Style), so you should check and correct any grammar or formatting errors in your work.

3. After you review and revise your portfolio, write a 1-3 page typed reflection essay about your progress this far in your creative writing courses.  Since you did one of these last quarter, feel free to update it. Answer the seven questions below somewhere in your reflective response. In your essay, you should:

 Talk about the work you include in your portfolio:
What pieces did you most enjoy, which were difficult for you and why? Which pieces show off your talent? What did writing these pieces help you understand in writing? 

 Talk about your strengths and weaknesses as a writer: what are you still doing well? what do you still need help or assistance with in regards to your writing?

 Talk about the reading we did and your skill at being a reader. What pieces did you most enjoy/which pieces or texts were difficult for you? Why? 

 Talk about specific writing problems you have faced (and overcome) 

 Talk about Ms. Gamzon’s and Mr. Craddock’s class – what parts did you most enjoy, which parts did you least enjoy? What might we be able to do to provide a better learning environment for you? 

NOTE: do not complain for the sake of complaining, but actively examine what you felt you did and learned in these classes in the past semester. Complain to your family and friends, not in your self-evaluation. 

 Make a goal. What would you like to work on in the next semester? 

Finally, grade yourself. What grade would you give YOURSELF as a writer this semester? Why? Defend your answer.

Use the lab today to complete this work. If you do not finish today in class, please complete next class.

HOMEWORK: None. You may work on preparing your journals and/or your portfolio.