Workshop & Writing

Today, to start off, please take a few minutes (no more than 10 minutes) to respond on the forum about the workshop this morning. Did you find it valuable? Did you learn anything about writing from participating in the exercises? What did you learn about your own writing? Were there any "ah-ha!" moments? Post your response to the forum.

During the rest of 7th period, please prepare one of your pieces that you've been working on for a workshop with your group 8th period.

Our next collection of short fiction is the book: Cowboys Are My Weakness by Pam Houston. We'll be reading this book quickly. The assignment is as follows:

If you want an A/A+: Read 10-11 stories in this collection and write a response/book review (details on this will follow next class).

If you want a B/B+: Read 7-9 stories in this collection and write a response/book review (details to follow)

If you want a C/C+: Read 4-6 stories including the stories: Cowboys Are My Weakness and Sometimes You Talk About Idaho. You may choose for yourself the other 2-4 stories. Write a response/book review (details to follow).

Some background info to help set the tone:

Pam Houston (author website)
Country Western Song Lyrics (yes, I suppose they ARE poems)
Cowboy Songs (Website concerning Western music and history)
Music from Western films
Cowboy Poetry (video)
Kelly Clarkson & Jason Aldean introduce a Country Singer
Kenny Chesney
Hip Hop vs. Country Music (amateur documentary)

 

During 8th period, please prepare and conduct a writing workshop. If you finish early, feel free to revise and continue working on your unfinished pieces.

HOMEWORK: Complete The Madonnas of Leningrad (if you haven't done so already); begin reading Cowboys Are My Weakness.