Today we wrote with a universal prompt and took our writing in different directions. Then we discussed our characters profiles with our partners. Lastly, we started planning our character's story using a story triangle.
Today we played around with the same sentence, but using a different voice to say the sentence. We specifically talked about word choice. For HW over break, students need to work on polishing up two stories they have already written. They will add dialogue, work on sensory details and descriptive language, and generally improving their stories. These will be turned in for a grade when we return from Fall Break.
Today we read the short story Eleven by Sandra Cisneros and annotated it through a writers' lens. We noticed the author's voice and we will use that short story as our mentor.
Today we shared our Harris Burdick stories and offered our peers our critiques. We also had a focused mini-lesson on how to write with a sense of time and place. For HW this week students need to write TWO short stories focusing on two different times and places (See below). They should select one of the following time and places combo:
1. School cafeteria during lunch in the 2000
2. Beach in the 1950s
3. Airport at 2:00 a.m. 2026
4. Theme park summer 1990
5. Small town snowstorm 1930s
6. Football game in the 1970s
Then they need to consider the objects, sounds, music, food, clothing, transportation, language (slang, etc), technology, etc. They should NOT explicit state the date and place of the story. The conflict of the story is that a teenager is trying to get home. Other than that, story decisions are up to them!
Today we wrote some goals and things we hope to do in the class! Then we read The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, and practiced writing critical questions about the pictures.
For HW: Make a list of as many "What if?" Questions in your notebook (What if the faucet poured out chocolate milk instead of water?) and select one of the Stories from the Mysteries of Harris Burdick and write the story (one page--either front only or front and back)