questions for authors

Here are the questions you'll need to ask the author of the story you just read:

1. Did you mean for your story to imitate / describe something that happened in real life, or did you want to write about a topic and create a story that caused readers to think about that topic?
2. Is your story a tragedy or a comedy?  How would it be different if you had chosen the other path?
3. Did you intend for your characters to be better than real people, worse than real people, or about the same as real people?
4. How did you come up with the plot?

september 28

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Do you think there is life on another planet? What would it look like? Would its civilization be more or less advanced than ours? Use your imagination and describe in detail.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Storytime: peer editing and ask-the-author

POST:
1. What feedback did you get on your story?  How did you feel about it? (title: MY READERS SPEAK)
2. What did you read in others' stories? How did this help you reflect on your own writing? (title: TODAY I LEARNED FROM AN AUTHOR)

this also happened

This photograph and the events that produced it are important.  We need to talk about how Americans tell stories and communicate in ways that lead to deeper understanding.

What a photo pic.twitter.com/GMSqsn3zZP

— Catherine Rampell (@crampell) September 28, 2018

this happened

Seal slaps a kayaker in the face with an octopus from r/gifs

september 27

JOURNAL TOPIC:
It has been said that, "Everything old is new again." Cultural trends such as fashion and music are often recycled; what are your new/old favorites? What styles do you wish stayed in the past?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Complete Poetics
3. Complete your story for shared readings tomorrow

september 26

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Emerson wrote, "Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly, and they will show themselves great." What do you think this means? Do you agree? Why/why not?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Résumés, personal statements & college applications
3. Your stories

september 25

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Fear is a powerful motivator. It influences advertising, politics, war and the economy. What do you fear? How/when does fear motivate or influence you?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Finish Poetics
3. Add ingredients to your story

september 24

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Some students have decided to stab themselves with sharp objects in sensitive areas (tongues, faces, belly buttons). Why? What does this symbolize to you?  What do you think they intended it to symbolize?


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Ingredients of a good story: Aristotle's Poetics

september 21

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Look around the classroom and choose a piece of furniture. Imagine that you are it! How would you see the classroom differently? Being here all day/night and on weekends, you must see some interesting things that the rest of us miss. Please share these observations with your reader.


(EARLY OUT/30 MINUTE PERIODS)

AGENDA:
1. Journal (***DON'T FORGET TO TURN YOURS IN***)
2. Mopping up the grading period
3. Preview of coming attractions/ Reminder please read Poetics and respond on your blog

our colleagues in britain

As of today, ours is the only high school British Literature course in California (that I know of) that has colleagues in Britain.  Many thanks to Professor Laura Ritchie of the University of Chichester for joining us on Skype.  If you are interested in collaborating with Laura or her students, please comment to this post (a simple "Yes!" will let us know.)  Depending on the number of students, Laura and I will figure out when and how will be best to introduce everyone so you can start conversations and invent possibilities.

september 20

JOURNAL TOPIC:
When was the last time you convinced someone that you were right and s/he was wrong? How did you do it? Describe in detail.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. This is the last day of pre-progress report independent work.  How will you use the period?

REMINDER: Literature analysis due on your blog tonight

POST: What did you learn today? (title: HERE'S WHAT I LEARNED TODAY)

NOTE: Please make sure you're ready to discuss Aristotle's Poetics on Monday - preview tomorrow

september 19

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Think of something you love to do that requires skill and practice. How would you teach someone else to do it? What information and materials would the person need? What strategies would you use? Be specific.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Continue conferences & independent work (literature analysis, Poetics, makeup work)

*** POST TO YOUR BLOG

awards

Congratulations!!

2018_09_19_10_09_48 by dpreston1441 on Scribd

september 18

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Can a person love someone or something too much?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Writer's conferences & independent literature analysis work (continued)
3. Discussion: Aristotle's Poetics and the 6 elements of tragedy

HW:
Post your notes on Aristotle to your blog (title: THE POETIC POETICS)

september 17

JOURNAL TOPIC:
What in your life would you miss most if it were gone? This may be a person, an opportunity, a possession, a pet, or even an idea-- like your freedom. Explain your answer.

AGENDA:

1. Journal

2. Writer's / progress report conferences

3. Prep for the week

HW:
You should be reading/ working on your literature analysis.  Please bring your book to class every day this week.  ***DUE FRIDAY***

september 14

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe a memorable fight scene from a book or movie. What makes this particular conflict stick out in your memory? How was it important to the story?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Collect résumés
3. Collect self-assessments & begin writer's conferencees
4. Read Aristotle's Poetics (see below #2)

HW: Finish Poetics. Make sure you know the six elements of tragedy and the defining characteristic of the tragic hero.

september 13

JOURNAL TOPIC:
In many cultures there are rituals that signify when a child becomes an adult. How can you tell in our culture? By age? Getting a driver's license? Voting? Be sure to explain your answer.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Big Questions & Literature Analysis
3. Independent work/ Writer's Conferences

HW:
1. Post your Literature Analysis to your blog (title: LITERATURE ANALYSIS: A WORK IN PROGRESS)
2. Create a page on your blog for your Big Question (title: MY BIG QUESTION) and make sure it displays properly so your readers can see it
3. Reminder: please bring your résumé to class tomorrow (Friday)

september 12

JOURNAL TOPIC:
You are the author of an advice column, and you receive the following letter: "My girlfriend (or boyfriend) is cheating on me- what should I do?" How will you reply, and why? Be sure to give reasons for your advice.

-OR-

2. Imagine Donald Trump's hair as an evil character.  Write a story in which you wake up with that hair on your head, and describe the battle of good and evil as it threatens to suck the brains right out of your head.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Résumés

HW:
First draft résumé due at beginning of class on Friday 9/14.  (NOTE: this is to be typed on paper. Handwritten copies will not be accepted.  Also: PLEASE DO NOT post your résumé anywhere online -- it contains your personal information, and you want to stay in charge of who sees it and when.)

september 11

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Which would you prefer: a minor role in a great [movie/university/team/organization] or a major role in a mediocre one? Why? Explain.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Literature analysis sign-ups HERE (due by class tomorrow 9/12)
3. Big Questions

HW:
If you've ever created a résumé or a brag sheet, please bring it tomorrow.  If you've never done this, please make a list of all the accomplishments/awards/courses/volunteer experiences/jobs/skills that have ever made you proud of yourself (or you think might impress someone else), and bring that with you tomorrow.

literature analysis #1

The time is now!  Please choose a fiction book (a.k.a. a novel) that you would like to read for your first literature analysis.  Please comment to this post with your name and the book you've chosen.  If you need some help with genres, authors, or ideas, see me -- I've got a million of 'em :).  Mahalo.

september 10

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "Lo Que Dice" by Ozomatli; "Words (Between the Lines of Age)" by Neil Young]

Adults say it to toddlers all the time: "Use your words."  What do you mean, my words?  We know that fiction authors use dialogue for the purpose of indirect characterization-- as you write the story of your life each day, how do the words you choose create an impression of who you are?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Discussion: "Canterbury Tales" research

HW:
1. Post some ideas you shared and received in today's class (title: COMPARING NOTES)
2. Bring brag sheet or résumé on Wednesday

september 7

*Being sick sucks.  Take care of your health.*

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Predict the future! What do you think our school's campus will look like in 100 years? 1000 years? Describe in detail.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Update your blog (suggested post idea, sum up what you learned in class this week. Title: THE WEEK IN REVIEW
3. Prepare for next week-- choose a book to read for your literature analysis, reflect on your big question, and bring a brag sheet or resume to class

september 6

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Your friends invite you to a fancy restaurant in San Francisco-- all expenses paid! The waiter brings you a soda, calls you "sir" or "miss" and hands you a menu. With horror you realize that every dish consists of insects in different sauces! What will you do?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Introduction to "Canterbury Tales"
3. Next steps: literature analysis & big question

HW:
1. Choose a literature analysis novel

september 5

JOURNAL TOPIC:
You know it's a good story when it makes you want to keep reading.  What is it about a good story that makes you want to turn the page (or keep scrolling down on the screen :) ?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Tone & literary techniques

september 4

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: radio silence]

What song do you sing when there's nothing on the radio? What thoughts do you think when it's quiet and you have the chance to think about whatever you want?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Checking in / blog audit
3. Reflecting on the experience of creating a satire

HW:
1. Publish a post to your blog on the experience of creating a satire (title: THE MAKING OF A SATIRE)
2. Check out at least five of your colleagues' satires and comment to their posts