Last Day!

Please make sure that you have saved any computer files on your network file. Administration usually wipes your files over the summer or the first weeks of September. If you want to save anything, please do so today.

Any interactive fiction you may have completed, please send this file to me so I can calculate extra credit. Any missing work must be turned in today!

Please chat with each other, sign year books, enjoy a few snacks, and feel free to play a few card games. Relax! And good luck with your finals! See you in September!

Documentary Projects Over Due! Interactive Fiction

Please continue working on your interactive fiction projects. See post below for details.

If you have made films this year and would like to submit them to the Rochester Teen Film Festival, please open this link and submit TODAY! (Tuesday, June 10) is the deadline! Here's the application link.

Please return any books you still have to the library!

HOMEWORK: None.

Writing Computer Role Playing Games

Choose your own adventure books began to arrive in the late 1970's (particularly from Bantam Books) to entice younger readers. The role-playing industry was just getting started. For more history on fantasy role playing games, check here. More information about Choose Your Own Adventure books can be found here.

Before you create one, it's a good idea to read what these games are like to get the hang of it. If you haven't yet tried one, please do. You can usually get clues and hints by typing "help" in the text box.

Most CYOA books took place in exotic locations, in fantasy worlds, outer space, or somewhere appropriate for the genre in question. Popular genres are usually fantasy, science fiction, horror, adventure, and similar styles, but any literary genre can be used. For a list of genre options, check here.

Once you've settled on a genre, you should start your story by creating a setting and a starting situation. Remember that you are writing in 2nd Person POV (so use the pronoun 'you') for full effect.

The hardest part (apart from organizing, planning, and writing your story) is learning the software. You can choose either twine or quest software. Both are linked below. Instructions are found online or as copied handouts given to you in class.

Twine
Quest Program (a little more advanced than twine)

You may work with one other writer for your text based story. Students who create a story and turn in the URL or game draft will gain extra credit. If this is over your head, spend your time reading the sample CYOA texts (see links below) or the games.

• Storygames
• Journey Under the Sea by R.A. Montgomery (requires free login info)
• Interactive Fiction
• More for some summer reading...

Text Adventures: Writing for Video Games

Take a look at these text-based games. Our last assignment will be creating one. Before I show you how to do this, please play with any of the games on this website:

Text Based Games

Portfolios Due!

Please complete your portfolios today in the lab. These portfolios count for both Ms. Gamzon and Mr. Craddock's final "exam".

If you finish early, please make sure you have completed your documentary projects. Upload your file to Youtube and send me your URL in the comment section of this blog post.

HOMEWORK: None.

Portfolio Project

Please continue to work on your reflective essays and complete your writing portfolios. See below for details.

Check out our completed documentaries!

Cameron
Avana

HOMEWORK: None.

Final Portfolio Project

Check out our completed documentaries!

Janelys
Reyenne
Olivia
Jasmina
Jahde
Cameron

After viewing some of our documentary projects, please return to the lab to continue working on your portfolios. Instructions are as follows:

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 (see details below)

Part B. Portfolio

Select work that you created this year in Ms. Gamzon and/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 1-3 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 (documentary, newsletter, brochure, literary magazine, online blog, etc.) that 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 write 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 of your development and education. 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 below 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. Which books you read were of high interest and what did you learn about writing from reading them? What did you learn about writing and about yourself through these assignments and courses this year?

Rubric

_____ Table of Contents 10 points
_____ Reflective Essay (4-6 pages) 30 points
_____ Poetry (6-8 poems) 10 points
_____ Fiction (4-5 short stories) 10 points
_____ Non Fiction (2-3 creative essays) 10 points
_____ Scripts (1-3 scripts) 10 points
_____ Special Projects (3-4 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: bonus 10 points

Penalties:
• Late portfolios (-10 points per day late)
• Handwritten work (-1 for each handwritten page)
• Grammar errors (see above) & missing required components of your portfolio

Documentary Projects & Blog Post Due!

• Please complete your documentary projects. When you have completed your film, please EXPORT your file to your desktop/network file. Then, upload your film to Youtube.com (you will need an email account to do this) and send me the URL as a comment to this post. Complete this in class today. 
• Also, if you have not yet done so, please write a review of Chew On This on your blog. In your review, you should hook the reader's attention, detail the major points, chapters, or information presented in the book, and evaluate the book by describing your reaction to the book. How has the book changed you? What issues are important or relevant in the book? How does the writing draw you in and make you want to read more? What criticisms or complaints do you have? Use TEXTUAL EVIDENCE from the book to support your opinions.
• If you finish early, feel free to check out the internet and/or begin working on your portfolio. You may write or read anything you'd like to write or read as well.

HOMEWORK: None.

Documentary Project: Last Day!

• Please complete your documentary projects. You should plan to have these completed by the time you return from Memorial Day break. 
• Please write a review of Chew On This on your blog. In your review, you should hook the reader's attention, detail the major points, chapters, or information presented in the book, and evaluate the book by describing your reaction to the book. How has the book changed you? What issues are important or relevant in the book? How does the writing draw you in and make you want to read more? What criticisms or complaints do you have? Use TEXTUAL EVIDENCE from the book to support your opinions. Your review is due by May 27.

If you finish your project or assignment early, you are free to write anything you'd like: poetry, fiction, non-fiction, a script, etc.

HOMEWORK: None.

Documentary Project; Day 5

• Please continue to complete your documentary projects. You should plan to have these completed by the time you return from Memorial Day break. 
• If you have finished Chew on This (see previous post's homework), you may write a review of the book on your blog. In your review, you should hook the reader's attention, detail the major points, chapters, or information presented in the book, and evaluate the book by describing your reaction to the book. How has the book changed you? What issues are important or relevant in the book? How does the writing draw you in and make you want to read more? What criticisms or complaints do you have? Use TEXTUAL EVIDENCE from the book to support your opinions. Your review is due by May 27.

If you finish your project or assignment early, you are free to write anything you'd like: poetry, fiction, non-fiction, a script, etc.

HOMEWORK: None. You should have completed Chew on This. Be prepared to write about the book next class on your blog if you did not do this during class today.

Documentary Project: Day 4

Please complete the following steps today in the lab:

1. Upload your film footage. If you don't have film footage by now, you should aim to bring some by Monday's class! While you're waiting you can create your end credits and beginning titles. Get workin!

2. Continue pulling stock footage from the internet: jpgs or picture files that correspond or go with your subject. Use these images to help underscore main ideas and points in your film.

3. If you filmed any footage, please upload your MP4 file to iMovie. If you are using a camera that does not save your video footage as an MP4 file, you will need to covert it.

Uploading film footage:

iMovie only recognizes MP4 files. Which means if your camera or recording device does not use this format, you will need to convert the file to an MP4. To do that, use this online converter. It's free and simple, but does require an extra step. Once you convert the file, save it to your own desktop folder for your film project(s).

Online Converter

Keep Vid: This program will allow you to convert online movie files into mp4's that you can use.

If you need to sign out a camera (you can always use your own equipment (phones, cameras, etc.), see me or Ms. Gamzon to do this. Cameras can be picked up at the END of the day (end of 9th period) in room 239. Please return cameras BEFORE school on the following day (whether or not you used the camera).

Please Note: ALL CAMERAS MUST BE TURNED IN TO MS. GAMZON OR MR. CRADDOCK THE FOLLOWING DAY! We have several classes borrowing this equipment. You are entirely responsible for keeping the equipment in good condition. If you break a camera, you've bought it and your parents will have to replace the camera. This has never happened (and I don't expect it to). Guard this equipment and treat it nicely!

4. Once you upload your footage, you can begin to edit it. Use your time in the lab to work on your film projects! 

5. If you have nothing left to work on today, please read chapter 8-9 ("Your Way" and "Afterward") of Chew on This. This should complete the book! If you are behind in reading, please catch up. 

HOMEWORK: Continue contacting people to interview or plan to shoot your footage. Each day bring in some footage you shot so you can begin editing it. Complete Chew on This.