Tuesday, 14 January, 2013

HOMEWORK:
A complete rough draft of a piece of fiction, or creative non-fiction (possibly humorous) is due on Thursday. 

In class writers wrote to the prompt: "My father doesn't know...."

After sharing the class finished discussing "Chiasmus".

Next students read the piece "Writing About What Haunts Us."

After reading the piece writers wrote a personal response addressing their personal reaction as well as insight into writing that the piece offers.

Writers discussed the piece first in small groups, then we discussed as a whole class.

Monday, 14 January

Reminder: Rough drafts of a semester final project are due on Thursday.

The prompt for beginning class was, "I think I am adopted...."

Writers shared something they had written recently.

Then we read and analyzed the short story "Chiasmus" by Fan Li.

Thursday, 10 January, 2013

Class began with a discussion of the Dave Barry essay "How I Write." From the essay and from other discussions in class we generated a list of kinds of humor:
deprecation; self-deprecation; absurd; close focus / magnification ; exaggeration; taboo; sarcasm iron; melodrama; mis-matching; parody; irony; satire.

The writing prompt for the day was, "That's not funny...."

The class then viewed and analyzed  this comedy routine featuring some famous contemporary comics.

We then viewed a clip of the great comedians Bud Abbot and Lou Costello doing the piece as they did it generations ago.

Next we examined some of the satire of The Onion.

Man Has Alarming Level Of Pride In Institution That Left Him $50,000 In Debt, Inadequately Prepared For Job Market

and a piece based on a very sensitive contemporary issue. Gorilla Sales Skyrocket

Tuesday, 8 January, 2013

Writers began with the prompt: "It was the worst fight ever."

The class then discussed the homework from yesterday, and the story ideas that writers had.

Homework: Read Dave Barry's "How I Write." Write an brief analysis saying whether or not you think the piece is funny, and why or why not.

Monday, 7 January 2013

The opening prompt today was: "Family is...."

Class discussed the story "Garage Sales People".

During discussions today we generated these questions:

A) What makes a story true? and What makes fiction true?

B) What's more important the family you are born with or the family you choose?

C) What kind of stuff is valuable? and What kind of stuff is not valuable?

For homework writers are to write at least one paragraph for each of two of three of the sets of questions. Then, after rereading these paragraphs identify conflicts or other ideas to identify five different possible stories. Bring this to class tomorrow.

College / scholarship personal essays were returned with grades and general comments.

Thursday, 3 January, 2013

Class began with a prompt:

First writers made a column labeled "Who Am I?" Then they created a parallel chart labeled "Who Will  I Be?" This two column chart was the prompt.

Next class did a back writing exercise. Writers randomly choose a picture of a person; first they wrote "Who is this person," then they wrote "Who this person will be." This exercise was repeated with another random photo / character.

Writers are to choose another photo and follow the same process for another character as homework.

Writers received a copy of "Garage Sale People" by Oregon writer Juan Armando Epple, a Chilean immigrant. All writers should have read the story by Monday.

Today's writing prompt was:
"What's new" or "What's new?" or What's new: or What's old: ....

After sharing the prompt, Mr. Zartler reminded writers that their college essays were due before break.

Then he assigned the last major project for 2nd semester. Writers will have to turn in a finished piece of creative fiction or creative non-fiction on January 24. A rough draft of this piece is due January 17th.

Next Mr. Zartler introduced the thesis. All students are responsible for a thesis in Grant English classes. In Creative Writing these research papers are modeled on feature magazine articles. Feature magazines are magazines like National Geographic; Smithsonian, Bon Appetit, Popular Science; Popular Mechanics, etc.

Mr. Zartler promised students that if they followed his procedures for researching and writing their thesis that they would pass. We will begin the thesis in early February.

HOMEWORK: Everyone is to bring one feature magazine to class on Tuesday, January 8th.

HOMEWORK: A list of 20 things that you want to know.