Friday, April 19, 2013

3 Century Women & Charles

We will be working on 2 stories this week: 3 Century Women & Charles

Reading skill: Motivation, characterization and purpose for reading.

Vocabulary words: cynically, incredulously, insolently, raucous, renounce, venerable, gazed, bickerd, swaggering, and deprived.

Writing: By the friday we will complete 1st and 2nd draft of our short story.

The Power of Words

Maria A. shares this video with us. 
It has a powerful msg.
Enjoy.



Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - Characters




Comment on the character provided to your group.


P.S: Gene Wilder is Willy Wonka!

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Class discussion question


1. What advice does the warden give Jimmy just before Jimmy is released from prison? How does Jimmy respond to the warden?



2. What happens to Jimmy in front of the Elmore Bank?



3. Do you think Jimmy has a good chance of changing his life immediately after his release from prison? Why, or why not? What would make it easier for Jimmy to get an honest start?



4. What reasons does Jimmy give for his new and honest life in the letter he writes to Billy. Do the reasons seem genuine? Explain.

  
5. Identify what you think is the main or central conflict in "A Retrieved Reformation." Is the main conflict between Jimmy and the prison system? Jimmy's new life and his past life? Jimmy and Ben Price? Explain.

  
6. Based on your analysis of the central conflict in the story, what is the point in which that conflict gets resolved? In other words, what finally ends the conflict? Is it when Jimmy falls in love? When Jimmy writes the letter to Billy? When Ben Price pretends not to recognize Jimmy? Why does this event resolve the conflict?


7. What do you think Jimmy's relationship with Annabel offers him that he didn't have before? If Jimmy hadn't met Annabel, how else do you think he could have found the qualities that would make him want to live an honest life? Do you think he would have found them had he not met Annabel? Explain.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Essay





Write an essay answering either one of these questions. 
Make sure you answer all the question and provide evidence from the story.


                   Essay 1  
W             What do you think Jimmy decides to do at the end of “A Retrieved Reformation”? Do you think he returns to Annabel and Mr. Adams to explain the truth about his criminal past? Does he take Annabel's rose and walk away? Write an essay telling what you predict Jimmy will do. Give reasons for your answer.



Essay 2
                   One way O. Henry keeps readers interested in Jimmy Valentine in “A Retrieved Reformation” is by creating a character with a distinct personality. He is real to readers because he makes both good and bad choices along the way. Write an essay in which you describe some of Jimmy's personal traits and the choices he makes, and explain how you think his personality traits affect those choices.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Identifying Irony






Complete the following worksheets.

Worksheet 1

Worksheet 2

Identifying Narrative Perspective

Read the following passages and determine the narrative perspective, then explain how you were able to identify the point of view.

Narrative Perspective ( P.O.V ): first-person, second-person, third person limited, third person omniscient.

Worksheet 1

Worksheet 2  (Must be completed and turned in by THURSDAY, for class discussion)

Class Activity
In a white sheet of paper make a poster illustrating the types of Narrative Perspective.

A RETRIEVED REMORMATION

O. Henry

Vocabulary- sauter, balk, genially, virtuous, compulsory, elusive, rehabilitate, eminent, unperceived, retribution

Skill
Third person point of view (omniscient and limited)
Irony (situational, verbal and dramatical)

Friday, April 12, 2013

How to Write a Character Sketch


How to Write a Character Sketch

You have created your characters, now it's time for you to tell your characters story.

Things to consider:

1. Decide how you want to portray your subject. Do you want to emphasize your subject’s personality, appearance, or character? Simply giving an individual’s accomplishments usually isn’t enough to hold a reader’s interest.

2. Write a plot diagram for your story.

3. Complete a sensory chart.

4. Write your rough draft. Don’t be too concerned with spelling, punctuation, or grammar at this stage. Leave plenty of space between the lines for corrections.

5. Read over your first draft silently and then read it aloud. Make obvious corrections. Put it aside and don’t look at it for a few hours or a day.

6. Read your first draft again, putting yourself in the role of a reader. Does it read easily? 

7. Make the corrections and changes that you see should be made. Look for one kind of error or weakness at a time. Here are the main areas in which possible errors or weaknesses might occur:

Mechanics: Check your sketch for errors in punctuation, spelling, sentence construction, and grammar.
    Consistency: Is there a logical order in terms of time, plan, importance, complexity, or step-by-step unfolding of the sketch?
      Clarity: Have you given enough details so that a reader can picture your subject clearly?
        Development: Are the main parts of the sketch put together logically? Does the material grow as the sketch develops?
          Total Effect: Do you believe your readers will see, feel, and understand what you have written about your subject? If not, add or remove details so that they will.

          8. Give the second draft to someone you respect and ask for frank comments.

          9. After the trial reader has read your sketch critically, discuss it with him or her. Make sure you understand any criticisms or suggestions.

          10. Rewrite your final draft in light of your trial reader’s critique. 

          Tuesday, April 9, 2013

          Monday, April 8, 2013

          The Scholarship Jacket


          Vocabulary: agile, dismay, falsify, despair, eavesdrop, vile, valedictorian, vengeance, muster, fidget, resign and dignity.

          Reading Skill: Inference and Point of View


          Point of View
               An automobile accident occurs. Two drivers are involved. Witnesses include four sidewalk spectators, a policeman, a man with a video camera who happened to be shooting the scene, and the pilot of a helicopter that was flying overhead. Here we have nine different points of view and, most likely, nine different descriptions of the accident.


            In short fiction, who tells the story and how it is told are critical issues for an author to decide. The tone and feel of the story, and even its meaning, can change radically depending on who is telling the story.

                Remember, someone is always between the reader and the action of the story. That someone is telling the story from his or her own point of view. This angle of vision, the point of view from which the people, events, and details of a story are viewed, is important to consider when reading a story.



          Friday, April 5, 2013

          Prepositions




          Tuesday Participation Bonus

          Sing to Prepositions!!

          Character Races

          Okay guys here is a D&D race index.

          Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 Edition Index – Races

          Choose a race and write down the race description. Then, draw your character. Include the following details:

          Race:
          Class:
          Alignment:     Good, Evil or Neutral
          Age:
          Weight:
          Eyes:
          Hair:
          Skin:
          Physical Marks:

          Once you choose your race, choose your characters class. Make sure the class is compatible with your characters race. (Information is provided in race description)

          List of classes and descriptions:

          D&D Classes

          For more information check D&D WIKI

          Wednesday, April 3, 2013

          Characters: Dynamic and Static, Round and Flat




          Identify the following characters as STATIC or DYNAMIC
          President Snow
          Frodo Baggins
          Voldemort
          Ebenezer Scrooge
          Anakin Skywalker
          Sherlock Holmes

          Complete this worksheet using the characters from "Zebra".


          Tuesday, April 2, 2013

          ZEBRA


          Vocabulary:
          grimace, intricate, disciplinarian, gaunt, jauntily, winced, chafe, contour, somber, exuberantly

          * Remember that on the test this friday we will be adding the vocabulary words from Annie Dillard´s "An American Childhood" improvise, perfunctorily, redundant, revert, righteous, simultaneously, spherical and translucent.

          Reading Skills - Characters (Methods of Characterization) and Plot

          Methods of Characterization

          Methods of characterization are how an author develops his or her characters into something memorable for the reader

          1. Direct Description: when the writer comes right out and tells you information about a character

          2. Actions: The actions of the character teaches the readers (and other characters) about the character

          3. Speech: What the character says and how they say it gives information to the reader.

          4. Thoughts: What's going on inside the character's head reveals information about the character.

          5. Reactions of Others: How other characters respond to the character.

          6. Relationships: Who the character's friends are.


          Add COMMENTS for class discussion:

          *EXPECTING LASA COMMENT ON "LAND ROVER"...


          As we read the story, answer these questions in your notebook or print the pages and answer it. Time will be provided everyday in class to answer questions. Questions will be discussed in class on thursday.

          Vietnam War