8th+Writing

We will meet as a full group** **Monday, 4th period, and Thursday, 3rd period.**
 * Week of May 11 - 15
 * Your assignment is due on Thursday by 3rd period:**
 * Select a piece of your writing from this year that you would like to put in the class book. If it is a poem or thumbnail sketch, you may include a few.
 * Revise the piece so it is as good as you can make it. If you would like more feedback from me before you revise it, bring a hard copy on Monday.
 * Email it to me by 3rd period on Thursday.
 * This will be a book exclusively for our class, and everyone will get a copy!
 * We will keep the print small, so it doesn't use too much paper.

The girls' groups will meet at their usual time, 1st period on Tuesday and Wednesday, but **the boys group will meet 3rd period on __Wednesday__**.
 * Week of May 4 - 8**
 * Monday, third period, we will meet as a full group.** We will read some poems and do some in-class writing.
 * On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will have small groups in C1.** Your day-in-the-life-of piece is due when you have your small group. It should be about 2 pages typed and full of the details you've gathered through observing and interviewing. Please print it before class begins.

We will not have small groups this week, because Tuesday, I will be in the gym all day doing adaptive sports with all the classes during their science class. I'll see you there!
 * Week of April 27 - May 1**
 * Monday, 3rd period, we'll have an all group hybrid RCG/writing class**, but you will not need to turn in your assignments until Thursday, April 30.
 * Tuesday,** either first or second period, you will interview your partner for the day in the life stories. We'll talk more about the interviews on Monday.
 * Thursday**, 3rd period, we will have all group writing. You free choice writing assignments are due, and they should be finished.

Most of you got an extension on your writing self evaluation, so you need to turn it in **Tuesday, April 21**. Don't forget the 7-liners! Here is some guidance for writing a 7-liner.
 * Week of Apr 21-24**

You should already have a good start on your **free choice writing assignment**. I will check in with each of you on **Tuesday, April 21**, so make sure you bring your work to school. The finished product is due during your small groups next week.

For the next two weeks you need to gather information about the classmate with whom you are paired. The week after that, you will write about a typical day in his/her life. This will be like the one you wrote about yourself but you will tell it from your partner's perspective. Unlike your previous one, this one can include the school day. To gather info, you should shadow your partner for a day, observe from a far, and interview him /her. Make sure to look and ask for details to make your writing vivid.
 * Looking ahead:**

Here are the pairings: Tyler - Isabel Robbie - Tomris Carly - Nate Danielle - Ben Raianna - Elizabeth O Domenica - Anna M Eden - Graham Daniel - Michael Megan - Nathan Louis - Anna F Ellen - Benjamin Chris - Elizabeth P Cameron - Priyanka Emma - Izzy Nazz - Jonathan Katharine - KT

Over spring break, be thinking of what you want your free choice writing project to be. Ideas include a fiction story, an essay, a series of poems, and developing a longer personal story. I will have individual conferences with each of you, so **be sure to have a FULLY DEVELOPED plan or else I will make one for you**! You will have two weeks to complete it, so make sure it is substantial. I will check in with you after one week to make sure that you are well underway. You do not need to write your proposal down, but I would recommend it. I would hate for you to forget your ideas and miss your chance to choose.
 * Week of Apr 13-17**

Because we have an assembly on the 13th, we can't have small groups. I will meet with you all on Monday to give you a writing self evaluation**, which will be due Friday**. Then I will start meeting with you individually. Here is some guidance for writing a 7-liner.


 * Week of Mar 30 - Apr 2**
 * Each group has the same assignment due on the day of your small group:**
 * Write a story about a meaningful experience that relates to your in class writing this week.
 * It should be at least 3 pages typed, double spaced. Feel free to make it much longer.


 * Week of Mar 23-27**
 * Each group has the same assignment due on the day of your small group:**
 * Write a story about a meaningful experience in which you lost/found someone, something or an opportunity.
 * It should be at least 2 pages typed, double spaced. Feel free to make it much longer.

Monday, 4th period: 8th grade boys
 * Small groups will meet as follows every week that has a regular music schedule. We will meet in Paul's room.**
 * For next week:** Write a story about a meaningful experience based on your in class writing from March 23.

Tuesday, 1st period: Danielle, Eden, Ellen, and Megan Wednesday, 1st period: Carly, Domenica, Emma, and Raianna

We will meet as a whole group on Monday, March 16.
 * Week of March 16-20**

Monday, 4th period: 8th grade boys meet with Tom in C2. Tuesday, 1st period: Danielle, Eden, Ellen, and Megan meet with Tom in C2. (you all can go to Paul's room together if you like) Wednesday, 1st period: Carly, Domenica, Emma, and Raianna meet with Tilly in Paul's room. Thursday, 2nd period: All Group has writing class in C2.
 * Week of Feb 9-13**

Once RCG begins the following week, we will have to decide whether to meet all together for writing on Mondays, 4th period or just meet in small groups.


 * Assignment Due in Small Groups, Jan 27/28/29**
 * Write at least 4 pages (handwritten) **OR** 3 pages (typed, double spaced, 12pt) continuing to develop and explore ideas that may lead to your story.
 * Check with me if you can't remember what you were going to write about.
 * The boy's must have a piece to turn in.


 * Assignment Due in Small Groups, Jan 20/21/22**
 * Write at least 4 pages (handwritten) **OR** 3 pages (typed, double spaced, 12pt) continuing to develop and explore ideas that may lead to your story.
 * Select some part of what you have written to share with your group and bring two **typed** copies to class.


 * Assignment Due in Small Groups, Jan 13/14/15**
 * Look over the list of story ideas and mark ones that you think are relevant to your life story.
 * Write 7 pages (handwritten) **OR** 5 pages (typed, double spaced, 12pt).
 * This writing is a way for you to reflect on your life and help you find some threads that may lead you to your story.
 * You can write it as a series of journal entries, letters to people, scenes, poems, reflections, etc.
 * This is a work in progress. You will not need to share what you write if you do not wish to, but I will look at it briefly, just to see that you have written.
 * You will have time to work on this in class on Monday, but please get started before then.

Tuesday 1st period: Danielle, Eden, Ellen, Megan Wednesday 1st period: Carly, Domenica, Emma, Raianna Thursday 3rd period: Cameron, Chris, Daniel, Louis, Robbie, Tyler
 * Small Groups:**

__Thumbnail Place Descriptions__
 * Assignment Due Monday, Dec 15**
 * Go beyond the visual into other senses.
 * Think not only about //what// you are saying, but //how// you are saying it.
 * Write at least three.
 * Each should be at least one half a page **typed.**
 * If one is naturally shorter than half a page, write a couple that add up to a half a page and count that as one of your three.


 * Assignment Due Monday, Dec 8**
 * Add to you list of favorite stories (novels, picture books, spoken tails, movies, plays, TV episodes) until you have at least 12.
 * By at least 8 of them, make notes about what makes them good stories.
 * I will do a quick visual check at the beginning of class, so make sure you actually write down your notes.


 * Assignment Due Thursday, Dec 4**
 * Bring your final story to class.


 * Assignment Due Monday, Dec 1**
 * You will have time in class to work on your story. **You should already have a good start on it.**


 * Assignment Due Tuesday, Nov 25**
 * By class time, you should have an idea of what you would like to write about for your next story. For students who just read //Persepolis//, you will write/draw a graphic story using the style of //Persepolis// as inspiration. Students who just read //To Kill A Mockingbird// will write a story from two character's perspectives. In both cases, you may choose to use a story that you have already written as a starting place. These stories do not need to be autobiographical, but they do need to be reality-based, e.i. no fantasy.


 * Assignment Due Monday, Oct 20**
 * We will workshop everyone's character sketches in class
 * Bring 3 issues/questions you have about your own piece to help guide the discussion.
 * Your issues/questions should clarify what you are trying to accomplish, where you don't feel like it is working, etc.
 * They should be written out.


 * Assignment Due Friday, Oct 17**
 * Bring to class the **rough draft** of your character sketch.
 * Your character sketch should be a short story (between 1.5 and 5 pages) that shows character through dialogue and action.
 * Choose a moment that tells about your character, the other person's (if it is not just about you), and the connection between the two of you.
 * To make your story compelling, your moment should involve some element of tension and then a move towards resolution, though you may not be sure of the resolution when you start.


 * Assignment Due Monday, Oct 13**
 * Check your FirstClass email for the assignment


 * Assignment Due Friday, Oct 3**
 * CHANGE OF ASSIGNMENT! I will send you an email with an explanation.


 * Assignment Due Monday, Sept 15**
 * Choose 1 of your memories and make it a full blown scene, writing in the **present tense**.
 * Let the child you were //then// tell the story. In other words, if you were 6 when it happened, your 6-year-old self should tell the story.
 * Bring the scene to life with dialog and details.
 * You may use one of the three you picked before, or a different one.
 * We will work on this in class on Friday, Sept 12, so it would be smart to get started before then, so you can get some feedback from me and from your classmates.
 * Your final scene should be typed (doubled spaced).
 * If it is longer than 3 pages, look for ways cut it back and make it more focused.
 * If it is shorted than a page, look for ways to expand it, or write a second one.


 * Assignment Due Friday, Sept 5**
 * Come up with 10 (or more) memories and write a phrase or sentence to remind yourself of each. Try to remember as far back as you can.
 * Choose 3 of your memories and write roughly a half a page about each.
 * Choose/find your piece of writing to share from last year.
 * Bring it all to class, (typed or hand written).