Good News! I.R. Book DUE!

I know you finished it awhile ago, but just so ya know.....the project is due Jan 6th.

I.R. Project Link (it's on the blog to the left)

Have a great break!!!

Sample Extended Essay Title Page

Click here for a sample

Prezzi and Educreations Tutorials

How to create a great Prezzi

Educreations Tutorial

Reading Response Using Elements of Fiction 1-3

While reading today, consider the impact of the first three fiction elements form the handout given to you at the start of the Munro Unit.

These elements are unique to this genre. Fully explore what the depth of these elements mean for a piece...it's not just that POV is first person and the impact is "seeing what the narrator sees."

This handout gets the level of analysis expected in both IB and college and helps you craft a more precise, meaningful commentary about the genre and the impact.

:)

Complete one of the areas of study and submit by the end of class for a potential of full credit.

Reading Response Handout

Elements of Fiction handout...you have this but I agree...life happens...

Munro Post Assessment Due Dec 6th

Munro post assessment: you will need your pre-assessment

T-Day Break Reading Homework

You should have read through chapter 6 in The Great Gatsby when you come to class on Monday, December 2. Quiz, perhaps?

....of course there will be a quiz on Monday!!! If we have school on Monday then it means someone didn't snow dance and so "all shall be punish'ed."*


*the original version of Shakespeare's Prince Escalus' speech in Romeo and Juliet as passed down through my family:
Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things;
Some shall be pardon'd, and some punish'ed:
For never was a story of more woe
Than this of school days and no snow.

T-Day Break Reading Homework

You should have read through chapter 6 in The Great Gatsby when you come to class on Monday, December 2. Quiz, perhaps?

Guest Speaker tomorrow!

Poet Laureate Kathleen Flenniken is visiting our class tomorrow. :)


Please read this brief bio about her and come to class with two questions read to ask her.

Three Day Weekend! Yee-haw!

For Tuesday: 
1. Read story #4 and have six questions ready for discussion in class. Remember to keep questions open for many interpretations and be sure to have something to say about your own question so you can join in when necessary/appropriate...

2. Complete the online discussion by adding at least six more responses. 

3. Take the "quiz"!! You need to finish it by Friday, November 15. The Elements of Fiction packet is your resource. 


On Tuesday: We will be having a graded, full class discussion. If you struggle with when to jump in or what to say: think about how to over come that and....who in class can help you. 

Example, for the past two years, I have had discussion buddies of 3 to 4 "open" the class discussion with prepared ideas to a pre-determined question and friendly support ready for one another. This works better than perhaps during a classroom discussion lull to shout out your (former) best friend's name and then ask an obscure question you don't even have an idea about.

Resources for Alice Munro

In doing my own research I came across some helpful links. Again, I don't post or share links that wouldn't be helpful for what you will be asked to do. I won't waste your time....promise. Have fun and let me know which link you liked and which one made you laugh (because I laughed during one of them). ;)  

1. This one shows an annotation of one of her stories. It was neat to see someone identifying areas of interaction/connection (writer's craft) and what they thought about it.  *Click on the red dots for the ideas.....
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/the-genius-of-alice-munro/article13193415/

2. This next one is about her style and how much of a genius she is and why. I found some extremely helpful ideas that gave me a better platform to view her writing-- I could then "see" some of techniques that she's known for. This begins talking about "Carried Away"....
http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/11/01/specials/munro-secrets.html

3. Finally, this last one focuses on the art and style of short story as a genre through Munro's writing. This article, as well, delves into "Carried Away" as the author discusses the art of short story.
http://www.eclectica.org/v2n5/keegan_munro.html

The Week of November 4-8 :)

Monday: Time in class to read stories 1, 2, and 3

Homework for the Week: Edmodo Discussions--Daily! 

Tuesday: Time in class to read stories 1, 2, and 3

Wednesday: Reading Day! 

Thursday: Time in class to read stories 1, 2, and 3

Friday: Munro Pre-Assessment In-Class Write

Tuesday: Start Presentation

*Wednesday Reading Day
*Today: Using the handout you've been working with: create an insightful presentation about why your writer writes and what that means for "appreciation of writer's choices" while you read. Include 3 Costa's Questions that were particularly challenging and insightful towards the writer's aesthetic-- look at second definition: what is your writer's aesthetic and how is that helpful towards the "appreciation of writer's choices?

What will you need to accomplish today and Thursday to present a polished, stellar piece on Friday? Plan it out and stick to it!

Use the rubric to give additional insight into what to include and delve into for a stellar score.

Notice:
Ideas: Demonstrates strong knowledge of the writer’s aesthetic (look up if you don't know this word). Effectively uses quotes from the interview to support ideas. An articulate, open-minded presentation of the writer. 

Multimedia: All images, sounds, and programs enhance the ideas and allow for an expression of ideas. There are no technical difficulties.  -not all presentations are enhanced by powerpoint and not all images are insightful (how does a picture of Morrison add insight or intellectual depth? It doesn't.)

Presentation of Ideas: All group members speak clearly with strong and convincing voice and purpose. Presentation is seamless and clearly planned and practiced (how can you make sure this is a high score? What does this look like to achieve? If your group is going to practice it together-- when does the presentation need to be completed?).  
     -whom ever is present that day is presenting, regardless. It would be an act of kindness to give everyone access to the presentation so they don't have to recall the ideas on their own. Also, include everyone in all ideas so the one or two people left to present don't misrepresent the group.

Conventions: spell and grammar check both spoken and written- use elevated academic voice (not casual speak)
 

Powerpoint for Say, Mean, Matter and the Costa's Three Levels of Thinking Handout!

Powerpoint


Costa

Monday and Tuesday! Recap and Moving Forward

We are going over this powerpoint to review and push forward HOW to explicate and WHY it matters.

Please take notes and explore as we go.

This is one of those activities that you get out of this what you put into it-- remember the IB Learner Profile: be open, aware, profound and meaningful.  :)

Wednesday is a reading day: bring your novel to read.

Wednesday and Thursday

Now that we've completed the writer's workshop....it is time to plan the re-write.

Thursday Rules:
1. Take the class period and plan. Slow down and consider what types of changes you need to make and how to go about making that type of change throughout the essay.
2. Resist the urge to work within the original essay today. The result tends to be to make superficial changes.
3. Remember, use the paragraph structure so it works for you, but that doesn't mean to ignore all the work that occurs within a paragraph...or within two paragraphs.
4. Use the materials available to you: provided in class
5. Do NOT start completely over and do something TOTALLY different. You may drop a paragraph if needed (maybe it repeats in topic) and add a new one to better address a different craft....

Friday Rules:
1. Write your essay.
2. Show what you've learned about commentary for both content and while you write.
3. Turn in on Edmodo. Attach it through your backpack. Do NOT copy and paste. ATTACH.

Thank you,
      Street Shines   :)

Writing Workshop on Nikki Giovanni

You will have two days to give feedback. Pace yourselves with that in mind.
Five minutes to really look at the essay through different filters?
     Thesis: impact or "so what" supported by craft (or is craft elsewhere?)
     Organization: development and transitions
     Word Choice: how effective and precise are the words
     Are examples precise? Worked into the sentence or a stand alone?
    Overall effectiveness? It doesn't have to be written to a formula to "work"

Write the Commentary!

Feel free to use the packet about writing commentary to help focus and remind you of the goals we are striving for.

Write the commentary.

Last five minutes of the class period today-- print.  :)

Brainstorm for Commentary

1. Select a poem from the poetry packet that no one else in your group is writing about. Write a commentary for that poem.

2. You have two days to write: what is your process to write complexly?
Today and tomorrow you need to plan and write.
     Your paper needs to be printed 5 minutes before the end of class tomorrow.
     *Honor code: don't work on it at home....trust the process of writer's circle to work.
   
Monday we will be going through writer's workshop- TRUST THE PROCESS- stop scrambling and let the ugly writing appear. This has been a HIGHLY successful process for those who do use and trust the process.

A more comprehensive definition of metaphor...

A metaphor is a whole lot more than a comparison of two unlike things without using like or as. 

Here's what they have to say at the Purdue OWL. 

And did you know that chicks dig metaphors? 

A call for photos!

We are looking for your single-subject evocative photos for this blog! 

Extra-credit? 

Nah, but you do get a photo credit and the publication! :) 

Email submissions to: lizshine.osd@gmail.com along with your name/teacher. 

How to be creative.

In class, Monday 10/7--Wednesday 10/9

Step 1: In a group of 3-4 peers (already chosen), explicate the rest of the poems in the Giovanni packet. Remember to look up words and allusions you don’t know and to follow the steps in the Fool-Proof Guide. Remember that you want to explore each step in depth, not write down one or two responses and move on.

One reason why it's good to read books.

“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, or who had ever been alive.” 
― James Baldwin

Autumn Sunset

Parent Night Survey!

Please click on the class period your student is in and complete the survey. Thank you for your time. :)

Period 2: Street
Period 3: Shine
Period 6: Shine

Explication of Poem

For Thursday and Friday, we will be explicating the Stardate poem by Nikki Giovanni.

Following the Fool Proof Guide on the powerpoint will go into your notes or onto your poetry packet.

Giovanni: Three Poetry Prompts

Click here. 

Short Story Assignment due next Friday, September 20

Write a short story on a theme you are currently interested in. You story will be scored on the Narrative Writing Rubric. 

Here's a link to the model we read for you in class.

Happy Writing! :)

Edmodo Assignment!! Due Monday...the 9th...

1. Edmodo.com
If you already have an account, log in and add the group code: tgmeie for StreetShine12IB

If you don't already have an account...

2. Make an account after clicking "I'm a Student". Use a username that is YOUR NAME and password you know and love. Write it down in 3 places. remember where those 3 places are.
3. On the left hand side, there should be a "Join" option for StreetShine12IB. Type in code: tgmeie

For EVERYONE:
4. Complete activity, titled, EDMODO ASSIGNMENT by Monday midnight.