Don't Quote Me On That!

We often turn to the words of others for inspiration, guidance, or even just a good laugh. These words might come from favorite pieces of literature, song lyrics, a wise family member or friend, even movies or TV. I would like you to add a quote (or two..) that means something to you or that you just like as a comment to this post. Then add that same quote as a Text Gadget in the sidebar of your own blog.

I have a couple of quotes that I like:

"What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?" (author George Eliot)

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."(author Maya Angelou)

"Love is the answer, at least to most of the questions of my heart."(musician Jack Johnson)

Your quote may be from a person you know or a person you don't. It may be funny or serious, thought-provoking or light-hearted. Just so it speaks to you. On the topic of "quotes," I'm adding a link here to a funny site that documents superfluous (extra, unnecessary) uses of quotation marks. Maybe it's only funny to me as an English teacher, but take a look: http://www.unnecessaryquotes.com/. Be on the lookout for unneeded quotation marks in your world...maybe you could send one in.

Famous First Lines...Famous Last Lines

This I Believe essays were returned last class period, and you were asked to create an editing check list..  We will begin freewriting today by looking at famous first lines just for fun.  Digging into your writer's notebook, you will be challenged to compose your freewriting today based on a famous first line of your choice and a famous last line of your choice.  This may become a part of your next writer's notebook (#3). 

Just for kicks, here's some information about two various lines...

Famous First Line:

"You better not never tell nobody but God."

This line opens the novel The Color Purple, published in 1982 by author Alice Walker, who was born in Georgia on 9 February 1944. Through letters written back and forth to one another, the novel traces the story of two poor, African-American sisters who are separated, one married off to an older, misogynistic neighbor and the other called to serve as a missionary in Africa. The main character Celie also writes letters to God because she has no one else to share her shameful secrets and her deepest feelings with.

The book was lauded by critics and was awarded both the Pulitzer Prize and the American Book Award. The NY Times deemed Walker "a lavishly gifted writer" and this, her third novel, "her most impressive." Readers responded to Walker's narrative style and identified with her female characters especially. Most agree that Walker's novel is "a poignant tale of women's struggle for equality and independence." Some of Walker's other works include In Search of Our Mother's Gardens (a non-fiction book about her life and her writing) and Meridian.  

I’m planning to read this book again.  I know I will find something to shake my head at, mumble an "amen" to, laugh about, cry about...Such a powerful work to me--I will read it many times more, I know.

Famous Last Line:

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

F.Scott Fitzgerald ended his most famous novel The Great Gatsby with these lines, considered by some to be the best closing lines of any novel ever. The novel came out back in 1925 but still shows up on collections of all-time classics and high school reading lists. Narrator Nick Carraway offers insight into the vapid society of West Egg, New York, in the 1920s, as well as the mostly empty marriage between Tom and Daisy Buchanan. The action centers on languid afternoons and extravagant parties at the mansion of Gatsby, an enigmatic millionaire.

The NY Times called The Great Gatsby "a curious book, a mystical, glamourous story of today" and one that "takes a deeper cut at life" than others before and after. Fitzgerald also wrote This Side of Paradise and The Jazz Age and is also known for his tumultuous marriage to his wife Zelda. Fitzgerald, born in 1896, lived a lavish lifestyle and died of a heart-attack at the age of 44.

I read The Great Gatsby in English class my junior year in high school. I re-read it again last summer with my English III class.

Week in Review...What's Coming Next!

Monday:  Ms. Reaves and I returned This I Believe packets for one final revision to be turned in on Wednesday.  Students were given the option of revising belief statements and papers.  We spent the class period responding to bloggers' 101 Things.  Ms. Reaves gave a presentation on The Bear Claw and the writing conference.

Wednesday:  We turned in the final This I Believe packets.  We read all of Friday's reading responses and we were assigned to comment to a minimum of 10 prior to the 2nd reading response due date.

Friday:  Ms. Reaves and I miraculously graded and returned all This I Believe packets.  We spent the class period conferencing.  You were given the challenge of reading eight introductions and revising four.  Those will be due on Tuesday at the beginning of class if you didn't turn it in today.
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The next weeks:

THE NEXT PROJECT is underway.  You will be writing a feature style autobiography in three parts (to be determined by you).  Project due dates are as follows:

1st draft of section one is due on Tuesday, September 23nd at the beginning of class for conferences.
1st draft of section two is due on Thursday, September 25th at the beginning of class for conferences.
(2nd book response is due Friday, September 26th)
1st draft of section three is due on Monday, September 29th at the beginning of class for conferences.

2nd draft conferences for the combined (all) packets are Wednesday, October 1st.
Final packet is due on Friday, October 3rd with an electronic copy to be sent to bjames@spsmail.org as well.

Yoooou Whoooo! Anybody Out There Reading Me?

For those of you who actually read this thing, there should be some kind of reward beyond the intrinsic good feeling of accomplishing what you've been asked to do.  So, what might that be? 

A day off from school?  Sorry, no can do. 

A boost to your savings account?  Sorry, the coffer is empty.

Well, then, how about a boost to your grade "account"?  Yes, that's it! How about this:  Stop by my desk before class on Friday and whisper the word "ratiocination";  if you'd like even a few more points, give me the definition!  Oh, by the way, this is a secret.  Don't tell anyone else, or the jig is up and the deal is off!

Gathering Ideas for Good Reading!

As you read through last Friday's book response posts,  you'll find a vast array of book choices and critiques.  You just may find your next book title amongst the menu of choices.  Then again, you may read posts for books you might stay away from, depending on the genres you like.

Take Chris's post, for example.  You'll see you don't have to like the book to write an interesting book critique.  Do you like romance novels?  Check out Olga's post about Of Poseidon.  Though she says the book isn't as bad as she makes it sound, she doesn't like the predictable pattern many romance novels take.

There are so many ways you could analyze your book choice.  MaKenzie focused on the author's writing style and poetry mentioned in the storyline.  You'll benefit not only by finding reading ideas but also interesting ways to analyze.  Tori analyzes character in her post about Breaking Beautiful, while Noah considers Patterson's storyline, and Sydney writes about Hopkins's style.

There are many other good responses.  Please read through all of the reading responses and make meaningful comments on those that speak to you - at least ten.  If you see a post with no comments, please respond to it so that no one is left out!

Looking ahead, don't forget that writer's notebooks (#2) are due Friday, September 19th  at the beginning of class.    Don't fall behind.  After the next Friday (the 26th), it is too late to earn credit on writer's notebook # 1. In other words, late work won't be accepted after the next Friday! 

Our next reading  response is due next Friday, September 26th.  If you have still not posted your first reading response, you must print out a copy of your post as well as uploading your post to the blog.  You have until the next Friday to earn late credit for your late post, but after then, it will be too late to redeem points for your work!

Happy writing, reading, and blogging!

Are you reading me?  Visit the September 11th blog post!  This will tell you to respond to ALL bloggers' 101 Things post! 

Writing Center Tips

Today in class, I took some time to explain what goes on at the Writing Center, the expectations of consultants, and the amount of time and effort that should go into prepping your paper for peer conferences within our class. I know some of you might like to have the information, so I have provided a link to the powerpoint on Google Documents. It is set to open in a new window.

I highly encourage that you keep what we discussed in mind when writing for Grammar and Composition. Writing and efficient communication are aspects of daily life, regardless of whether or not you plan to attend college. Being able to express your thoughts and provide support for an argument are skills that will aid you in life, as well as in your other classes.

Please take a look at the document and comment with any questions! I will do my best to answer them. :)

Getting To Know Each Other Through Blogging...And First Reading Response

This week officially marks the week we become bloggers, at least for those of us who have not blogged before.  For those of you struggling with a new medium, I want you to know I appreciate your efforts and your patience as you learn your way around. 

Building a community takes time, so I ask you to read each other's introductions (101 Things) and post thoughtful comments to all.  Yes, to all.  We shouldn't be selfish bloggers who are only interested in our own work.  The purpose of a classroom blog is based around the idea of collaborating as we use this site to share ideas, ask questions, and develop our writing, reading, and thinking.  Those of you who are already tech savvy, please help others get their blogs set up this week. 

Many of you have asked again when all this is due.  Here's the order of what's due:
        First, create your blog.
        Next, post your blog address in the comment box on my "Away We Go" post.
        When your blog is up and you have posted  on my post, help the rest of your group complete
                   these steps if they have not yet done so.  For that matter, quietly help anyone else in
                   class who still needs to get set up.
         When this is all completed, you may read quietly, gathering information for your own reading
                   response post.  This is due at the beginning of class on Friday!

Here are some links to sample reading posts you might peruse.

Still a Student: 9 Things About Your Student Teacher

Greetings 6th Block! It's been a few weeks now and I've finally learned every single one of your names (I think!). To celebrate, I've been reading through your blog posts and getting to know you a little better. I know that I've shared a little about myself, but I thought I would write just a bit about me...9 things to be exact.

1. I love to teach! Though I may not have taught any lessons in your class yet, I have been working with English III and let me tell you, teaching is so rewarding, if challenging. Try talking to high schoolers about poetry. Oh yeah...nevermind.

2. Travelling!!! I LOVE TO TRAVEL.

This picture is me in London three years ago. We were only there for ten days, give or a take one or two traveling, and it was the most brilliant thing I have ever beheld.

3. Until last summer, I had never been to St. Louis. Call me crazy, but I've lived in Missouri my entire life, and St. Louis was apparently just too far way. I went with a friend of mine and actually touched the Mississippi River. Not too shabby, eh?

4. I am a musical nut. I love musicals. You name it, I probably love it. This summer I saw Wicked in Tulsa, OK, and I've also seen Phantom of the Opera live.

5. Movies. Movies are my thing. I love literature, but I also feel like film is an excellent medium to study. A new favorite of mine is Cloud Atlas, which raises questions about life, death, and love across time and space. It is not cheesy, however, just in case you're interested.

6. I'm a gift giver. Giving people gifts makes me happy. I'm that person on Christmas who is more excited about watching people open their presents than actually opening my own!

7. I have three younger siblings. My sister is a freshman at MSU and I have two younger brothers, ages 16 and 13. They attend school at Logan-Rogersville.

8. Pins. I am an amateur pin collector, but I'm afraid to lose them, so I only use them to decorate and not actually to put on my bags or lanyard. What's the point, then? Well, I'm not quite sure.

9. I LOVE ART. I believe that anything can be considered art, from paintings to films, architecture to literature. My best friend took this picture on our second only trip to Jeff City and I think it is quite magnificent.

Thanks for reading and I hope to get to know all of you over the course of the semester. Let's learn together, shall we? :)

Upcoming Due Dates and Writing Workshop Protocols

First of all, let me say what a joy it is to work with all of you.  You are a bright group, a clever group, and it's going to be a wonderful journey for us to get to know each other through writing.  Please let me remind all of you, though, it's a privilege to participate in writing workshop, so I want to refresh you about your choices. You may quietly conference with your group about your teammates' papers, compose and revise your own paper, work on your writer's notebooks, or read your independent choice book quietly.  Sometimes when there are a number of choices, it is tempting to get side tracked.  Don't!


l.  On Friday September 5th, we will be conducting our second draft conferences. You will bring in a revised - substantially revised - copy of your narrative. I hope your group gave you some valuable input as to possible revisions you might try for your second draft. 

 

Think about the questions they asked you.  Think about revising your introduction, starting differently.  Do you spell out for your readers what it is you do or don't believe in?  How about jazzing up the description in your narrative?  Can you paint a picture with words to show your reader what you are describing, or who you are describing or where your narrative takes place?  Does the personal anecdote or story explain why you have formed your belief?

2.  When we meet on Tuesday, you will be turning in your final This I Believe writing packet.  Just to clarify, you will be placing all of your drafts in your pocketed folder with all of the notes you and your group wrote about your various drafts.  On the top, you will include a letter to me about the process of writing this paper (handout).  You will also highlight the changes you have made on your final paper.

 3.  If you haven't yet published your blog, we will take care of this on Tuesday.  Your first blog post "101 Things About Me," will be your first post.   Several of you have already published your blog, as you can see from the "blog list" on the top right of this home page.  After you have finished your first post, and as the rest of us also publish,  please read class posts and comment, making connections where you can and providing positive feedback for all .

3.  In each of our class periods, you may choose to read silently when you have finished the job at hand.  Gee, time to read in class! 

Everyone should be working on tasks related to this class.  Video games, movies, email, chit-chat, etc. are "off task."

Use your time wisely.  I know you will!