Happy Finals

Schedule
Test 1  8:10-9:40
Break
Test 2   10:15-11:45

Block Day, December 8 & 9 ~ First Semester Coming to a Close

Please take this teacher survey for Bridgette

West's 6th period, here's a teacher survey for the lovely Mrs. West
(WEST CLASS! Please scroll to the bottom for West's agenda)

Study Guide for Semester 1 Final

 (100 pts.)

• 50 pts. - Roots (matching)
• 20 pts. - Grammar (multiple choice)
• 15 pts. - Short story terms
• 15 pts. - SAT vocab.

Grammar Review

1. Fragments - For a group of words to be a sentence, you need a subject, a verb and a complete thought. (Independent Clause) If you are missing one of these, then you have a fragment.

😢 Example: Although my spoken Spanish is not very good. I can read the language with ease.

• Although my spoken ........... is a fragment. It does not form a complete thought.

😌 Example: Although my spoken Spanish is not very good, I can read the language with ease.

      2. Run-ons - Independent clauses that have not been joined correctly.

 😢 Example: Social media is a means of communication for most teenagers it almost seems like they have forgotten how to communicate one on one.

• This an example of a fused sentence. No punctuation and no conjunction. Yikes!

😢 Example: Social media is a means of communication for most teenagers, it almost seems like they have forgotten how to communicate one on one. 

• This is an example of a comma splice. Two independent clauses joined by a comma without a conjunction.

😌 Example: Social media is a means of communication for most teenagers, for it almost seems like they have forgotten how to communicate one on one. 

• Use a comma and a conjunction.
• There are (3) other options: 

1. Use a semicolon after teenagers
2. Make to separate sentences. A period after teenagers, capitalize it
3. Restructure: Because social media...... , it almost.........

_______________________Please take notes for the following:____________________________

       3.  Subject-verb Agreement - 

•  Make the verb agree with its subject, not with words that come in between. Knock out prepositions!
• Make subjects joined withe and plural.
• With subjects joined with or or nor (either or neither....nor) make the verb agree with the part of the subject closer to the verb.
• Treat most indefinite pronouns as singular.
• Treat collective nouns as singular.

       4. Pronoun-antecedent Agreement

• Replace the plural pronoun with he or she is (or his or her).
• Make the antecedent plural.
• Rewrite the sentence so that no problem with agreement exists.

Thank you Olivia G. You are the dank meme winner today!

West's Class

Peer Editing

• Three rounds of proof readers (Save your partner! The grade comes from errors per page.)
• Check for paragraph flow, good characterization, correct dialogue and general lesson of the story.
• Get 15 points for this process. EC to papers turned in before I leave on Friday.

Review 

• Read through grammar at top of this page.
• Record at least three review questions/answers for our review game on Monday.

Advent Activity

• Click here

Wednesday, December 7 ~ Finishing Touches on Short Stories

 

Reminder

• Short Story due on Block. 
• Any stories turned in late (other than excused absences) will receive a 50%.
• Short stories must be printed on good old fashioned white printer paper.
• MLA format is an absolute must.  
• Fourth period begins at 8:10 tomorrow morning. 

Today

• Short stories - please have one of your classmates proofread your story.

FYI: Study guide for the final will be available to you on Block Day. Don't be absent!
 





WEST's Class - See Agenda Here:
First...a few check points for your story.

1. What point of view are you using to tell your story? (first or third person)
2. What time tense are you using? (Most stories sound pretty well when told in past tense... Whatever time tense you chose, stick to it!)
3. Have you covered each of the plot steps in your story?
4. Is there a clear message in your story? 

EQ: How do I correctly write a dialogue?

WHAT ABOUT DIALOGUE?

      "Hi Tony," said Katy.

      "Hey," Tony answered.

      "What's wrong?" Katy asked.

      "Nothing," Tony said.

      "Really? You don't act like nothing's wrong."

       
Pretty tiresome dialogue, right?

Instead of writing a dialogue like the one above, a writer could condense the scene:

       "Hi Tony."

Tony looked down at his shoe, dug in his toe, and pushed around a pile of dust.

       "Hey," he replied.

Katy could tell something was wrong.

Formatting Tips
Rule 1. The first thing to remember is that punctuation goes inside quotations.
    "I can't believe you just did that!"
Rule 2.  Dialogue tags (the he/she said of the quotation) SHOULD BE USED SPARINGLY. The dialogue and narration should be used to show the emotion or action stated in the tag. One of the most important rules of writing fiction is: show, don't tell.

DON'T DO TOO MUCH OF THIS:
"But I don't want to go to sleep yet," he whined.

TRY THIS INSTEAD:
He stood in the doorway with his hands balled into little fists at his sides. His red, tear-rimmed eyes glared up at his mother. "But I don't want to go to sleep yet."
*A good writer will describe the scene in a way that conjures the image of a whining little boy.

Rule 3.  Paragraphs are very important to the flow and comprehension of the dialogue. Remember to start a new paragraph each time the speaker changes within the dialogue. This helps the reader know when someone new is speaking (and who it is).


HW: Rough Draft Bring a digital copy of your story tomorrow for peer editing. Credit will be given for completed rough drafts (2-5 pages, double spaced). EC is available if you turn in your final draft hard copy before we leave on Friday this week.

All stories due as hard copy final drafts on Monday at the latest.

Tuesday, December 6 - Roots Quiz

 

Reminders

• Short story due on Block
• Journal 18 due Friday
• Fourth period begins at 8:10 on Thursday.

Today

• Roots Quiz
• Short story collaboration 

 

Monday, December 5 ~ Short Story

FYI: No chapel today. Thursday we will have PA Chapel.
Please note: Fourth period begins at 8:10 on Thursday. 

Chapel Survey 

Reminders

• Roots Quiz tomorrow

• Short story due on Block

• Journal 18 due on Friday

Today

• Checking in on short stories
• Work on short story
• ....or Journal 18 - The Gift of the Magi

Block Day, December 1 & 2 ~ Let's Talk About Our Short Stories

Roots

• macr, macer - lean
• magn - great
• mega - great

FYI: 

• Roots Quiz on Tuesday, December 6
• Short story due on Block

Prompt: Write a mighty tale of nobility, courage, and grace.  Your story must....

• be full of adventure,
• teach something noble, 
• In general, your work will be descriptive.  Please read this overview of the basics from Purdue University on descriptive writing. 

Format

• Typed MLA (12 point, Times New Roman, proper margins, etc.)
•  
• All prose must be double spaced and punctuated according to modern MLA usage. 

Requirements

• Two or more pages (double spaced, at least 850 words)
• Less than 2,100 words (fewer than five pages)
• Your story must include all the steps of Plot.
• Example Contest Winner from Bookshop Santa Cruz: "Among the Trees" by Breanna Eddy 

Due Dates

• Your short story is due Block Day, December 8 & 9.
• 5 extra credit points if you turn it in on Wednesday!

Your Grade

• If you are short of the minimum, you will earn no more than a D. When completed, the story should be free of typos and grammatical and spelling errors. In general, 2 errors or fewer on any page =A-, 3-5 errors on any page=B-, and 6 or more errors on any page =C- or lower. Failing to adhere to the themes or neglecting to meet any of the other standards on this handout will result in a significantly lower grade. Fragments and run-On sentences are major deductions.
• You may not include pieces written for other classes (past, present, or future) or for other assignments in this class. You will fail this assignment if you do so.

Start it early, and write something you are proud of.  Work to make it wise in its theme, rich in its descriptive imagery, and clever in its execution. Consider all the tools of the writing craft that we have examined in other stories. 

How can I get started? 

• Is there a lesson or theme you want to aim for?
• Identify a protagonist; think of people you actually know.  Change them up a wee bit. 
• Identify an antagonist (character, internal conflict, natural force, or other combination). 
• Use the STEAL chart to brainstorm character traits.
• Consider how you will generate tension between the protagonist and the antagonist? 
• Share ideas.

In Class Today: You will have 30 minutes to clean up your journals (15,16,17) if you need to. They are due by 3:30 Friday afternoon. For those of you who are all caught up, move on to Journal 18 - The Gift of the Magi.

Short Story #4 - The Gift of the Magi

EQ: What is irony? 

Words to know:

• parsimony - extreme unwillingness to spend money
• mendicancy - beggar
• appertaining - belonging to 
• depreciate - to lessen the price or value
• meretricious - superficially attractive
• prudence - exercising good sense; careful 
• patent - official
• scrutiny - careful examination
• inconsequential - not important    

 Journal 18 - The Gift of the Magi - Critical Thinking Questions

1. What are the instances of irony in the story?

2. What is the significance with the number 3 in the story?

3. Several passages in the story reveal subtle clues about Jim. Identify three passages that reveal something about Jim's character and explain their significance.

4.Why does the author use the allusions of King Solomon and The of Queen Sheba?

5. How would the story change if it was told from Jim's POV?

6. Who is the protagonist? Who is the antagonist?  

7. Is there foreshadowing in this story? Give an example.

8. Does the story end in the way you expect? Explain.    


HW for West's Class: Complete the journal for The Gift of the Magi and complete a STEAL chart as a brainstorm for the main character of your own story. This will be worth 10 points on Monday.