3-21/4-1 2008: Poetry in Persia

Lesson:
We created our own Ghazal. Here are the basic rules:

Had 5 to 15 couplets (2 lined verses)
The number of couplets is always odd (5, 7,9, etc)
No enjambment between couplets
Has lines of equal length
Follows the rhyme scheme: AA BA CA DA, etc
Ends with a signature couplet that contains the poet’s name or nickname.


HMWK:
Finish Perseplois
Finish Ghazal
Photo Essay due next class

3-17/18 2008 3 Cups of Tea final discussion

Lesson:
We turned in our thank you letters and final book assignment for 3 Cups of Tea.
We completed a final in-class graded discussion. If absent, please complete the final discussion on the assignments page.

HMWK: None

3-13/14 Thank you and finish the book

Lesson:
We collected final drafts of interviews. You should staple your final draft in this order:
Final
Rough Draft
2nd interview notes
1st interview notes

We wrote a thank you letter to the person you interviewed.

HMWK:
Finish book (pgs 297-331)
Final 3 cups discussion sheet (see assignments page for acopy)
Thank you letter with stamped/ addressed envelope due next class

3-11/12 2008 Fine tuning

Lesson:
Today we worked on fine tuning our rough drafts. See below for some tips for your final draft. You must show revisions for your final draft.
Weak verbs drive weak sentences
Get rid of:

be being is am are was were

Use brushstrokes…
Paint with participles
• The player dribbled through the defense to make the winning basket.

• Slicing and dicing, the player dribbled through the defense to make the winning basket.

Paint with absolutes (a two-word combination--a noun and an ing or ed ending verb.

• The surfer braved the cold water.

• Lips trembling, knees knocking, the surfer braved the cold water.

Paint with appositives (a noun that adds a second meaning to the preceding noun).

• John surprisingly voted for the Republican candidate.

• John, a democrat, surprisingly voted for the Republican candidate.

Paint with adjectives shifted out of order

• The sleek, long red automobile was beautiful.

• The red automobile, sleek and long, was beautiful.

Practice
_____________, I drove my car to the beach.
_____________, I drove my car to the beach
_____________, I drove my car to the beach

I drove my car,_____________, to the beach.
I drove my car, _____________, to the beach.
I drove my car, _____________, to the beach.

I drove my car to the beach, _____________.
I drove my car to the beach, _____________.
I drove my car to the beach, _____________.


HMWK:
Final Draft
Read to page 297 for extra credit

3-6/10 2008 Trick up yo' writing, fool!

Lesson:
We wrote and revised. It was rad.

If absent, write a one page writing piece about a scar you or someone else has.

HMWK:
Rough Draft of interview literary non-fiction
Read 100 "missing pages" for extra credit

3-4/5 Writing literary nonfiction continued!

Lesson:
We had a book quiz.
Homework was checked off.
We discussed Three Cups of Tea
We reviewed the lessons from last class.
Literary nonfiction
We read three examples of stories more the size you will be creating. If absent pick these up from class next time and complete an observation sheet.


Homework
Read pages 154-183

EXTRA CREDIT (and to make this less of a shameful reading experience): Begin reading pages 183-297

Second interview needs to be completed by next class and you must bring in proof and typed notes

2-29/30 2008 Literary Non-fiction

Lesson:
We took a YIRTB quiz
We looked at different samples of literary non-fiction.
If you were absent, see me next class to get a sample of this and to write a response.

HMWK:
Answer the questions from your first interview
15-25 new questions for the second interview
Read pgs 125-153