Keeping Up With Writing

Dear Students,

Hope you are all doing well.  Stay healthy and strong!

I've posted a new assignment on Google classroom where you can upload your essays for your portfolio.  It's titled Free Writing Fiction.

Also, be sure to post any assignments you have written before school was cancelled. A few of you have posted there, but many of you have not turned in  your work on time.  Check Google classroom for an assignment called FREE WRITING/CONTEMPORARY WRITERS.


You can post several stories or just use one Google doc to post all that you have been writing over the past 2 weeks. I will try to respond to your posts on Google classroom, and we can stay in touch about your writing.  We'll also be trying to have a Zoom meeting very soon.

Two more weeks (or more)!  Use this opportunity to do some reading and writing among other things.  You can keep journal entries of your experience with this interruption in the normal way of things.  It will be a historical record of a difficult time in our lives.  I highly recommend journaling as a way to record your feelings and insights during this time.  The journal entries can also be part of your portfolio.  

Please continue to check this blog for new resources.   

Here's a website with some tips and ideas:
https://authority.pub/short-story-ideas/

Writers and Books also has some interesting resources for you!

Stay well---hope to hear from you soon... miss you!

Last Creative Nonfiction Assignment for Marking Period Q3

AGENDA:

Dear Juniors,

I hope all of you are doing well.  Keep checking the blog and Google Classroom!  Thank you to those of you who told me you could not access the Great Courses lecture without the pay wall.  Fortunately, I can access it since I bought the subscription, and I'm now stuck at home missing you.  I hope it will keep me occupied, and I'm looking into to Zoom to keep us connected.

On another note:
Congratulations to our SOKOL winners:
Raeona Hampton, 2nd Poetry
Jenna Le, 2nd Prose
and our own Madison Sutherland, 3rd prose---YAY!
Some of you might receive finalist notes, too!

Work on your academics and keep reading, but you need to do one more assignment to get you through Q3:

Here is the last assignment for the Creative Nonfiction unit for this marking period,:

Write a magazine article for a specific magazine that you choose.  Follow the guidelines for the magazine.  I suggest that you keep your article to 1,000 words (4 pages).

Here are some valuable resources to read:


https://www.theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/types-of-feature-articles-to-write-for-magazines/

https://www.theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/10-ways-to-write-better-articles-for-magazines/

https://www.freelancewriting.com/magazine-writing/how-to-write-a-magazine-article/

https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Magazine-Article

PLEASE POST ON BLOG SO I KNOW YOU ARE STAYING CURRENT and FOR CREDIT (10/10) because I know you're reading this:

Post on the blog your magazine article project.

For example, just post:  I am going to write an article on __________ for __________ magazine.


Go to Google Classroom to post your finished magazine article.  I will have a new assignment
posted there and can give you feedback and credit for your work on this.

I miss you so much!

Creative Nonfiction Lecture

AGENDA:

AGENDA:

Dear CW Juniors,

I know this is a difficult time for you--for all of us. Please know that you are important to me and that I want you to stay healthy and be healthy for others. I love you, and know that your good grades will continue for this interrupted school year.
.
Don't stress and don't worry! Work on your academics, too!

I will try to provide you with videos and other opportunities for online learning. CHECK THE CLASS BLOG! I will be posting information and resources on that.

In the meantime, continue with your writing and reading assignments.

And congratulations to Turon Parker for getting a national Silver Medal for his poetry!

Stay strong and healthy! You are wonderful young writers, the next generation who will make significant changes in our world! (OK---a bit schmaltzy, but true!). Communicate with me, please. I, too, am homebound and need your company. Use the marcy.gamzon@rcsdk12.org email!

THANKS!


CHECK OUT THIS LECTURE ON CREATIVE NON-FICTION.


https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/writing-creative-nonfiction?lec=5

Post a response here.

Peer Workshop

AGENDA:

In groups of 3-4, share one of your essays with peers.

1. Form a small workshop group--3-4 people

2. Go over handouts and decide how you will run your workshop

3. Make copies of essays (Sedaris or Nature) or share on Google docs

4. Will you read the essays aloud or silently?  Will everybody read each other's essays?

5. Be sure to fill out a workshop editing sheet with strong, constructive comments

Thoreau/Nature Essays

AGENDA:

Read Henry David Thoreau excerpt (15 minutes).  Focus on second paragraph and the conclusion:

http://professorverspoor.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/46965606/walden.pdf

https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/walden/section2/

Post a response to the essay on the blog.  Do you agree with what Thoreau wrote about how to live one's life?


Carl Sagan: excerpt from "A Pale Blue Dot"
https://www.planetary.org/explore/space-topics/earth/pale-blue-dot.html



Work on nature essays:  First draft due at end of 2nd period!

Nature Essays

AGENDA:

Plenty of time to write!  DUE DATE: Nature essays, Tuesday, March 10, at end of period 2!!!!!

READING:  Barry Lopez  "The Raven"

http://www.readwriteteach.xyz/uploads/2/2/9/4/22944492/the_raven.pdf

https://granta.com/invitation/

40 Best Essays of all time

AGENDA:

Check out this website and its writing tips:

https://rafalreyzer.com/40-best-essays-of-all-time/

Read E. B. White's "Once More to the Lake"

Work on Nature Essay