Venn diagram Peer Review

A different type of peer conference was used today, but nevertheless, it was an effective way to get feedback. How did you like the partner selection during the song Fall for You? Identify the pros and cons of the peer review of your Venn diagram on the novel movie comparison.

Film Critique

Language arts covers a wide spectrum when you consider our reading and writing adventures. Critically reviewing films and other media productions falls in our spectrum according the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for seventh grade. On Tuesday, January 6, we will travel to the theatre to view Marley and Me. For this week’s reading dialogue journal entry, we will focus our energy on our film review. We will discuss this in class on Monday, January 5 and Tuesday, January 6.
First, you will rate the film on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being the worst and 10 being the best. You will provide rationale for your rating, which is why you feel the way you do…what supports your opinion. Using specific examples from the film make your rationale stronger.
Second, you will select 3 areas to critique while viewing the film. These areas can range from special effects to themes (life messages) to humor. The sky is wide open. The expectation is that you have 3 specific areas to hone your efforts of critical analysis of the film. You have to cleary identify each area. Explain why you selected the area and it should match your interest as a movie go-er. Rate the area using the same scale 1-10 and provide rationale remembering that specific examples from the film as well as your analysis of those examples and your area make for stronger entries. Questions, comments, post them here. You may opt to do this RDJ digitally using a word program and copy and paste it into a comment. See my example in the comments section.

All I want for Christmas

As in the theme song for today, we are thinking beyond material items.  We are looking at gifts that are timeless.  Gifts of writing fall into this timeless and priceless category.  Use this site for brainstorming ideas for gifts of writing.

It must have been old Santa Claus

Harry Connick Jr.’s song It must have been old Santa is really a narrative lyrical poem because it tells a story. As we quickly reviewed tips for proofreading spelling and updated our personal spelling lists, the main focus was our short story revisions. Thus, the theme song for today was fitting due to it’s story like nature. For fun, you should read the lyrics on the link below.
Monday Vote Results: By the students who voted yesterday, 3 separate assessments won. Test Friday on characters. It will be 2 parts. One will be a selection with multiple choice questions concerning character development, and the other part will be the student using the main character from the book he or she is reading. The student will identify the type of character and explain 3 ways the author developed the character, exactly like Monday’s blog. Students are strongly encouraged to respond to Monday’s blog multiple times reading what other students wrote and making comments as well as strengthening his or her own response. This is an interactive way to study and prepare for Friday’s assessment.

It must have been old Santa lyrics link

Share Love… Characters

Our theme song, “Share Love” by Boys II Men, reminds us of the importance of sharing our love for one another during this holiday time as well as always.  It was appropriate for our theme song because we shared information and reviewed character types and ways to develop characters during Gab Slab today.  Let’s continue reviewing….

• Pick a character from your book, identify the type (may fall into 2 or more catagories), tell us why the character fits the type (s)
• Select 3 ways the author developed the character using the list from Ways to Develop Characters found in the Writing section of your handbook, explain why it is that way
• Vote on whether you prefer 3 separate literary assessments covering Characters, Plot and Conflict, Setting and Theme or if you would just like to have one covering those items.  If we do three, you will have one each week starting this week.  If we do one, it will be on December 16.  Either way, we will study by using prompts like this one on the blog.  Make your vote clear

Good Luck!  I will try to post a comment later in the evening.

Hot N Cold Power Planning Writing Adventure

You’re hot then you’re cold…. getting into our characters!  How did you like the Power Planning Writing Adventure today?  Did starting with the characters from your novels help you understand how to make your own character come to life?  Did you find Ways to Develop Characters helpful?   Be sure to review Short Fiction Components Review from class today.  Remember, as you revise, you need to implement a narrative lead, components of the short story, and develop a strong main character.  Peer conference forms are in my room if you need assistance.  By next Friday, you should have 3 drafts: draft 1 from 10-31, draft 2 from 11-6, and draft 3 (which should have the narrative lead and so forth) by Friday 11-14.  I plan to give you the entire period on Thursday, 11-13 for in class revision time.  However, you need to work on it each school night using the steps from the main page of the blog.  Do you understand the expectations?  If not, where do you need clarification?

Main Character Questionaire

Opposites attract… our theme song included opposite characteristics of a particular couple.  Since we are focusing on character traits, I felt it was appropriate to help you get into character.  Tonight, I want you to select 3 questions from the Main Character Questionaire.  Answer them using the main character from the book you are reading… this is different than what we used in class where the character came from our own stories.  I think digging information on the main character from the book you are reading will help you realize the importance of knowing this information about your own main character from your story.   Good luck!

Short Story Structure…Come Together

Wow, we went over a lot today.  Of course, most of it, you have heard before today’s lesson.  Do you have any comments about your Gab Slab: Bad Fiction vs. Good Fiction?  Any questions about short story structure or narrative leads? 

Come together…. as our theme song indicates we need to come together with our PBS expectations, but we also need to bring our short stories together with the lessons we are learning.  I would like for you to review your short story and the short story structure checklists.  Does your story meet all of the expectations of short story structure?  If so, are there any parts you can enhance?  If so, what?  If not, what is missing?  Do you need help with implementing it into your story?  How is your lead?  What kind of lead did you use?   Can you tell?  How could you improve your lead?

Take the challenge: type your lead in the comments section and have others give you feedback.  Use one of the types of narrative leads from class.

Nightmare on My Street

Beware….bed time stories arise in Mrs. L’s core classes….  Post your ideas, questions, comments here.  Take the challenge and flesh out our class story.  Check out the contest details at the link below.

http://www.scholastic.com/bedtimestories/

You can also re-watch the trailer from this link as well.  May the force be with you!

Portfolio Process

Where are you in the portfolio process?  Do you have any questions?  Before you ask what you are required to turn in on Friday, please read the organization category closely on your rubric.