Tuesday, September 10, 2019

"Who's Writing This" & Baseline Non-fiction Draft Due!

Today, let's start with a couple short motivational videos, then we'll return to our homework assignment(s) for today. As you watch the two videos below, please take notes in your journal on anything you think is important. We'll check to see what the class thought right after viewing.
Today, during period 3, please complete (or revise) your draft "Who's Writing This" if you didn't complete it as homework as requested. Then, when you are satisfied with your draft, please upload a copy of it to our Google Classroom.

Throughout the period, please complete both drafts. If you finish early, you may write anything you'd like in your journal (or complete Ms. Gamzon's work from yesterday, or complete your homework for me (the poetry draft(s))...see below). You may, if you like, also try a second or third non-fiction essay from the prompts provided to you in Google Classroom if you finish before we read our work out loud to the class.

Complete a draft of the Baseline Non-Fiction assignment that is also on the Google Classroom. We will be sharing and reading our own work out loud to the class. Once you submit your two pieces, choose 1 to read out loud to the class. This assignment is for practice, but also participation credit.

Period 4ish:

Let's share 1 of the 2 essay drafts you wrote. Performance Reminder: Good speakers:
  • Make eye contact
  • Speak clearly and loudly
  • Use gestures
  • Have energy
  • Change tone
  • Perform with sincerity
Class: do your best to be supportive of each speaker. At the very least, be courteous. Selfish and self-centered people lose friends. You don't have to be a jerk. Keep an open mind. Listen. Learn. Appreciate art.

HOMEWORK: If you finish before the majority of the class is finished writing the drafts of the two non-fiction pieces ("Who's Writing This" & The Baseline Non-Fiction draft), please read the poems in the packet handout and then move on to writing your own baseline poem draft.

POEM TASK #1: Start with an exercise:

A poem is...

In your journal write what a poem is in a poetic way. Use specific nouns and active verbs to get at the "feeling" or "meaning" or "sense of" poetry and what it means to YOU. Try using figurative language or metaphors or similes. Take a few minutes and write your draft in your journal. You might start your poem with the line: "A poem is..."

For example: "Poetry is..." by Emilio Villa

Literally, or denotatively, a poem is a piece of writing, often having figurative language and lines, that suggest rhythm and a visual image. We use figurative language when our writing goes beyond the "actual meanings of words (denotation) so that the reader gains new insights into the objects or subjects" in our draft.

Poems should utilize imagery (an appeal to the senses by using a metaphor, simile, assonance/consonance, alliteration, symbol, personification, onomatopoeia, specific nouns/active verbs, figurative language); poems do not need to rhyme. They should create a specific picture or image in the mind of the reader or listener. Usually, there is a turning point or volta near the end of the poem (or the last line)--usually to surprise the reader. 

All poem drafts should have a meaning, a theme. There are 4 themes found in poems (sometimes more than one of these 4 themes is found in a single poem!)

Poems are always about:
  • Human life
  • Death 
  • Nature
  • Love
POEM TASK #2: In your journal make a list of subject matter that you might write a poem about. Get a good list going. Then select one of your ideas and turn it into a poem draft. Complete your poem draft as homework (along with the "A Poem Is..." poem draft above.) Type up BOTH drafts and prepare to print them out next class (on Friday).

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY: The Rochester Fringe Festival opened yesterday. Take a catalog and go see a performance this week (the festival runs through next Saturday, Sept. 21--take a friend or family member with you because it's more fun to see a show with someone!) My own original play "The Fighting Girl's Guide to Politics" is opening this weekend on Saturday and Sunday at the School of the Arts during the Fringe. Ms. Gamzon is directing an original play written by one of her friends and colleagues called "Colma". Ms. Accorso also has a play that she wrote in the Fringe. Go see our work, or go see any other show. 

HOW TO GET EXTRA CREDIT: Write up a short summary of the show you saw. Then, comment on the performance. What did you learn about PERFORMING (acting, directing, viewing, etc.) from watching the show. What did you (or your friends) think of the show? Turn in your "review" and gain extra participation credit for this marking period. You may repeat this option as many times as you like. Go see 30 plays, get 30 points of extra credit! Etc.

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