Key Vocabulary; Pictures That Storm - Section 2

This afternoon, let's take a look at SECTION 2 (41-58) of the collection "Pictures That Storm Inside My Head."

Let's start with "Beware This Poem" by Ishmael Reed, pp. 57-58

As we read this section, collect words, phrases, subjects, or ideas from the poems you hear and write them down on the word spill page. You may use this technique later when brainstorming an idea for a poem of your own.

Brainstorming is the FIRST STEP in the WRITING PROCESS.

Some Key Vocabulary to remember:

Theme: the main topic (idea) or subject of discourse in a written work or speech.

• There are typically 4 major themes in literature: Life, Death, Nature, Love. Each of these themes can be defined more specifically. For more themes, look here.

Connotation: the idea or feeling that a word creates or invokes in addition to its literal meaning.

Speaker: the persona or character writing the poem--this is not usually the writer. The writer is the REAL person writing the piece, but an author may use a PERSONA or mask, who is a fictional speaker from whose POV we receive information.

Setting: The location, time, season or weather patterns in a poem, play, or story.

Class/Homework: Work on MODULE 0 and the assignments for those lessons on our E-learning site.

Pictures That Storm Inside My Head - Part One & Module 0

Please review the "poetry reading strategies" handout at your desk. Keep this paper for easy access in you folder. The other side of this handout you will need for the reading assignment today. 

Let's begin today's class by reading some poetry. After you sign out the book Pictures That Storm Inside My Head, get into small reading groups of 2-4. Taking turns, read part one: "Pictures That Storm Inside My Head" (pg. 28-39) out loud with your group members. After reading the section, complete the poetry analysis handouts together, then turn in your work at the end of class today for credit. 

You may continue working on the assignments and material on the E-Learning site. 

HOMEWORK/CLASSWORK: Please complete Module 0 on the eLearning site by next week (Tuesday). Complete all the assignments and quizzes in Module 0 by 9/17/13.

Elearning, The Writing Process, & Introduction to Poetry

Today, please log onto our elearning log site and begin working on the assignments and material in MODULE 0. When you complete one exercise or lesson, go on to the next lesson in the module. You will be able to work at your own pace for much of this class.

ELearning log in site.

During period 8, let's stop to read some poetry. After you sign out the book Pictures That Storm Inside My Head, get into small reading groups of 2-4. Taking turns, read part one: "Pictures That Storm Inside My Head" (pg. 28-39) out loud. After reading the section, complete the poetry analysis handout together, then turn in your work at the end of class today for credit.

You may continue working on the assignments and material on the E-Learning site. Due dates for module 0 will be discussed soon.

HOMEWORK: None. Please bring your books back with you to class on Monday. We will be using them.

Welcome!: Class of 2016

Welcome back, class of 2016. Glad to see you! I hope all of you had a productive, safe, and enjoyable summer. Well, gosh, let's get back to work!

First a few housekeeping things. You can find our course criteria sheet on my teacher website (check link to the right).

Please check this blog each class period for agendas, deadlines, educational information, advice, and a whole lot of links to enhance your education. All you have to do is read and click. The more you take advantage of this tool, the easier it will be to help you improve and craft your writing. There's good advice here, you just have to pay attention.

If you're absent or missed something in class, please check the blog to get caught up. As stated above, each new class period includes a new post. If you have a question about an assignment and are too embarrassed to speak to me in public (or you have a question that you think you will forget to ask), feel free to use the comment section.

New on our link page is a link to our E-Learning Craft of Writing course. You will be expected to use the site to submit your writing, take quizzes, and move through the course on your own pace.

Today, after updating our passwords, logging in, and going over the finer points of the course criteria, we will get started writing. We'll start by reading Mary Oliver's advice to writers.

Portfolios & Last Class

Please prepare and complete your portfolios this morning. Everything missing should be turned in by the end of class today. Please save any files on a jumpdrive or by emailing yourself that you want to keep as our computers will be wiped this summer. Any personal files kept on the computers will be removed.

Have a nice summer and good luck on your finals!

If you have completed your work, here are a few gaming sites to enjoy:

Gamehouse
Addicting Games
Free Online Games

Portfolio & Reflection

After screening the completed films, please complete the following tasks today:

1. Take the film project survey (this should only take you a few minutes to complete)
2. Look through your portfolio. Remove any hand-written and homework assignments from it. Gather your fiction together, gather your poetry together, and gather your script drafts together.
3. If you have it, take out and read your letter to "The Enemies of the Writing Process" (see post:  )
4. Reflect on your progress as a writer this year. In a 2-4 page reflection (double spaced) reflect on what you did well, what you need more work or help on, and your overall growth that you feel you made this year. You may reference your English and Journalism classes as well. If you participated in any extra curricular activities, reflect on these as well (particularly how they helped or hindered your progress as a writer).

Your portfolio (with reflection) is due as your FINAL EXAM on Monday, June 10.

Film Project Due!

Please continue to work on your film project. It is due by the end of class today. Please allow 10 minutes or so at the end of class to render your film (this takes a bit of time!)

When you complete your film, please upload it to Youtube and send me the address link. You will also need to save your MP4 file on my jumpdrive for storage.

HOMEWORK: None. Congratulations on making a film!