Period+1A

=Mr. Mahon Period 1 Language Arts=

We will be continuing working on our rough drafts. You should be at the point where your first draft should be done by the end of class today, or tommorow at the absolute latest. Please remember to focus on plot, setting, and characters. You want the plot to be moving forward because of the natural motivations of the characters. Also, the setting should be important to the plot--the story could not happen without it.
 * 3-26**

We will continue working on the rough drafts of our stories. As you finish, please find another member of your color group with whom you can trade papers and peer review.
 * 3-23-12**

PSSAs are over! Well, at least for a few weeks. But let's not worry about that now. Today we will continue working on our independent stories. By now, your rough draft should at least be started. Work on it until your story is done. Once it is completed, find some one else in your color group who is also finished, and exchange stories with them for peer review
 * 3-22-12**

Great job on the PSSAs! Today, you will continue working on your independent story. By now, you should have determined what you setting and characters are going to be. You should also have a good idea of what the plot is going to be. It's time to start writing. You will get into your groups, but will be working independently on your rough drafts. If you get the rough draft completed, then you are to have another person in your group read it and offer suggestions.
 * 3-16-12**

You will get in your color groups again and continue working on establishing your plot, characters, and setting. Please be sure to establish who is the protagonist and how they will change through the course of the story. Also, be certain that your setting is necessary for the plot; that it is important to the plot.
 * 3-12-12**

You will get into your color groups and begin brainstorming sessions about your story. The goal for today's class is to come up with the plot, setting, and characters. Take notes on the ideas that you come up with. You should just be beginning to formulate your story, please do not start writing until you are able to flesh out all of your ideas with your group.
 * 3-9-12**

Today we will beginning the group writing project that we talked about yesterday. Although we will be working in groups, each one of you will hand in a unique writing sample--no joint authorship. However, there will be collaboration between you and the different members of each group. This is how the groups will be divided: Realistic Fiction Fantasy Mystery History/Autobiography
 * 3-8-12**

In these groups you will aid one another through the various stages of the writing process. Obviously, we will start with Prewriting. Think about what genre group you think you should be in. Get into those groups and begin brainstorming. Simply start off by talking with the other members of the group about your ideas. **We must be sure that we are giving constructive criticism. For this reason, every suggestion you make to any other member in the group must take the form of PRAISE/SUGGESTION/PRAISE.** In other words, for every one change that you suggest, you must point out two things that you like. This should be enough for us to try and get done in one class period.

We will review the questions about "Power of the Powerless" that you answered for classwork/homework yesterday, and have a discussion about the central issue of the story.
 * 3-7-12**

You need your books today** Today we will be reading "Power of the Powerless: A Brother's Lesson," located on pg 669 in your literature book. After completing the reading together as a class, I will be asking that you independently answer the Reflect, Rethink and Relate questions (#'s 1-6 on pg. 672). These questions are to be completed in class, or for homework if there is not enough time. We will have a discussion regarding your answers the following class.
 * 3-6-12

Today we will be proofreading our letters and making final corrections. The final draft is due by the end of class today. Please print the letter and hand it in to me. If you are done and there is still time in class, you are to play Text Twist.
 * 3-5-12**

You will continue working on your letter home from Vietnam. I hope that your preliminary research is completed at this point. It's time to start working on the letter itself. Your letter should describe what life is like for the person that you researched yesterday. I must be one page long of single spaced text in size 12 font. You should use a standard letter format.
 * 3-2-12**

We will begin research on the Vietnam War today. Go to the following website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/ You are to independently study some aspect of the war that interests you. Try to find a person that was involved in the war and get an idea of what their experience was like. They could be a soldier, a nurse, a general, a member of the South Vietnam government, a member of the U.S. government, or anything else. But make your selection carefully. After researching and finding one you like, get it approved by me. Then you will begin writing a letter home to some one you know telling them about some of the experiences that you have had.
 * 3-1-12**

We will be playing Text Twist.
 * 2-29-12**

Today, we will complete our reading of "Stop the Sun." You are to answer the Analysis Questions found below.
 * 2-28-12**

We will start off by discussing what you already know about the Vietnam war. Then we will read the story "Stop the Sun" by Gary Paulsen on page 638 together as a class. After the reading, you are to answer the following: Analysis Questions 1. What do you think Terry means when he says "His father's eyes go away?" What are you imagining the father looks like when this happens? 2. How do you think you would feel if you saw your father in a similar situation as Terry's father when they went to the hardware store? 3. Why do you think about the fact that Terry's mother and father don't seem to want to let him know about his dad's problems? 4. Why do you think Terry's father is unwilling or unable to discuss what he went through in Vietnam? 5. On pg. 641, what do you think Terry's dad meant when he stated, ". . .they don't know. They weren't there.  You weren't there.  Nobody was there but me and some other dead people, and they can't talk because they couldn't stop the morning?" 6. What do you think Terry's father meant when he said "But I was dead. I'm still dead, don't you see?  I diede because I couldn't stop the sun.  I died.  Inside where I am--I died?" 7. What do you think of the solution that Terry comes up with at the end of the story? Does it seem like a reasonable, mature solution? Why?
 * 2-27-12**
 * Literature books are needed today.**

Your final draft for your myth must be completed and handed in to me by the end of class today. Once this is completed, you are to play Text Twist. Record the highest score on the white board.
 * 2-24-12**

2-23-12 After showing me your finished rough draft of your myth, you are to pair off in two's to do peer reviews. Be considerate and thorough with one another. You are to help each other locate errors in your writing, this is intended to be beneficial for the both of you, as it is designed to aid your grade.

2-22-12 You should finish your rough draft of your myth by the end of class today. These should be printed up, using the IP address on the board. I will be giving points for your completed drafts. Remember, the story is to be at least one full page of single spaced text, and no more than two pages.

2-21-12 Since we were unable to really get to work on our sloppy copies of the myths at the end of last week because of the on-demand writing, we will continue with this today.

Remember, your myth should explain why something is the way it is. In other words, it should help explain something about the world (a physical characteristic, or something about human nature). In doing this, your story should have three key features. There should be a hero, a villain that the hero must confront in some manner, and tools that are given to the hero that will aide them. Be creative, and try to write something unique.

2-16-12 Today, we will be continuing work on our myth sloppy copies. This work may be done on the laptop, but remember that you will not be sharing any documents with me on googledoc. **All handed in material must be given to me on hardcopy**.

By the end of class today, you should have a rough draft completed.

2-15-12 You will be asked to read a prompt that I will give you and then write a response. This will be handed in with any honors material that you have.

We will start today's class by reviewing some of the literary devices found in "Racing the Great Bear." Then, you will create their own myth. The myth should explain something about the world or human nature. For instance, it could explain how the Great Lakes were formed, or why people lie. Be creative, and try to come up with a unique story the could help people better understand the world around them. We will start by brainstorming and outlining the story. **By the end of class, you should be done brainstorming and have started a sloppy copy**. The final draft should end up being 400-500 words, or 1 full page of typed, double-spaced material. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ We will read the myth "Racing the Great Bear" on p. 762 This story will be read aloud in class. There will be a discussion afterwards. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 * 2-14-12**
 * Happy Valentine's Day**
 * 2-13-12**
 * You will need literature books today**