Writing Portfolio

The writing portfolio that we have been generating in class is due December 2nd! It will be here before you know it. Be sure that you have the following pieces in your portfolio:

1. Snapshot #1 (a look at a moment in time with one person that you know well)
2. Scary Experience
3. Snapshot #2 (a second moment in time with the same person from #1)
4. Thoughtshot (how has this person influenced you? how do you feel/think about them?)
5. Childhood Experience (told from present tense, as though you are that child)
6. Childhood Experience (same experience, from past tense)
7. Tinted Snapshot (describe a place you know well through one of the following filters--you just won ten million dollars or you just accidentally killed your best friend)
8. Tinted Thoughtshot (develop a character with a problem and write the thoughtshot tinted through that situation)
9. Emotional Filter (describe room 108 through a filter of any emotion)
10. Exploded Moment (write about a moment from your life that seemed to last forever, but actually did not--extend the moment)
11. Snapshot #3 (this was based on a picture we viewed in class--if you are missing it, you will have to come see me AFTER SCHOOL)
12. Build a Scene (from the Elizabeth I activity)
13. Poem with Two Voices (this will accompany the Sir Phillip Sidney poems)
14. Sonnet

These pieces have to be typed and presented in a report folder on the 2nd. Please choose one piece to read aloud to the class. This portfolio will count as two major grades!!!

What are you reading now?

We are halfway through the second nine weeks and you should be finished at least one of your AR books. By this point, you should have read at leat 3 books, preferably more. Which one has been your favorite?

Think of the one that you have enjoyed the most. You will present this book to class in December. For right now, talk about it here. Why did you like it? Who would you recommend it to? Why did you pick it up?

I recently tried reading She Said Yes by Misty Bernall. This book looks at the life of one of the students who died at Columbine High School. When asked by the killers if she believed in God, she said yes. Its fascinating that she took to ultimate stand for her faith, yet died for it. I wasn't able to finish this book, though. I didn't hold my interest (although I know several others who have read and been unable to put it down.)

I also read Breaking Point. This book takes a close look at the things we do to be accepted. Great book...insane twist at the end.

DON'T FORGET YOUR STEMS TEST NEXT WEDNESDAY!

Here is an example of a handout used for the presentations. I will get you are hard copy of this in class Thursday. Questions? 

Tentative Due Dates for Expert Groups

November 10 -- Last day for research in class

November 14 -- King Henry VII and Anne Bolyn

November 16 -- Queen Elizabethh and Astrophel and Stella

November 18 -- Edmund Spenser and Pastoral Poetry

November 22 -- Shakespeare, the Poet and Music in Shakespeare Plays

Expert Groups

As you work with your expert group, visit the following websites for help!

Henry VIII and Anne Bolyn
Tudor History.org
Anne Bolyn

Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth I

Astrophel and Stella
The Sonnet Sequence
Encarta

Shakespeare, The Poet
Shakespeare, A Poet for this Earth
Biography

Pastoral Poetry
Encarta Information

Edmund Spenser
The Edmund Spenser Homepage
Wikipedia Bio

Music in Shakespeare's Plays
Shakespeare on Stage
His Musical Purpose

Remember to document your sources carefully! See the instructions for the handout layout!

Creative Writing

What do you think of the writing we've been doing in class the last few days? Different from your research writing, that's for sure!

MLA Style Documentation

You will be using MLA style documentation for your research paper. The following links will help you with your paper.

A Research Guide For Students

Creating In-Text Citations Using MLA Style

Purdue University Writing Lab

The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing

Post any additional questions you may have in this forum.

AR Books

The end of the nine weeks is Monday the 17th. Be sure you have read your two novels and taken two AR tests. These will count as major test grades.

Use this forum to discuss what you have been reading!

Research Paper

How are the papers coming? Questions?