Wednesday, 14 April

Tomorrow writers are to have five (5) assignments to turn in.

Lunachicks Prompt: a draft of a story or poem based on an everyday happening or object

Facebook / Social Media prompt:

A) a Facebook/ MySpace profile of a fictional character

B) a story in which social media plays a role

Ghazal: a poem in this ancient persian format that teaches about the thesis

Moment of Realization Prompt: a story based in a "moment of realization"

2 April, 2010

Writers turned in a draft and a final outline this week (final outline was due today).

Here you can get a copy of the handout on outlining.

Rough drafts of the thesis are due next Thursday, April 8 at the start of class.

Writers also have to submit one piece of creative writing to the Grant Literary Magazine next week. Writers should email their piece as an attachment (Word documents please) to"

grantlitmag@yahoo.com Each writer should put their name and period in the subject line of the email.

19 March, 2010

Writers have a "Drafting Portfolio" activity today.

The activities are based on readings about bad behavior on Facebook. Copies available in class.

1) Create a social networking "profile" for a character. This is a form of back writing.

2) Begin a story based in or around social networking e.g. Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc.

NOTES from the board: Here is a link on how to use your note cards to create an outline and figure out what sections your thesis will have.

Due Date changes.

The model section was due yesterday, Thursday, 18 March.

NEW DUE DATE for the Outline is Thursday, 1 April (instead of Tuesday, 30 March). On Tuesday 30 March, we will be in the library doing research. You will need 50-75 notes to create your outline from.

Have a good Spring Break.

Friday, March 12th

Lunachicks assignment.

Writers read the lyrics and listened to the songs "The Day Squid's Gerbil Died" and "Spork" by the Lunachicks.

These two pieces about everyday objects and occurrences were used as prompts. The writers response must be kept and turned as as part of a drafting portfolio due Thursday, April 15th.

March 2010

SENIOR THESIS SENIOR THESIS SENIOR THESIS

Writers are working on their senior theses. The instructions including timelines are available here.

It is important that writer work a little bit everyday on this project.

Over the course of the next few weeks, there will also be a few smaller assignments. These will help writers when we return to other, smaller assignments later this semester.

February 22, 2009 Children's Book Unit

Children’s Book Submission Guidlines

Due: Monday, March 1^st

Manuscript – text only. See Details below.

Cover Letter – see details below.

The Story:

The story should be directed at a specific age level;

The story should be designed to be read to children or to be read by children

The story should have a utility to adults and / or teach children something valued by adults.

The Manuscripts:

You should turn in three (3) copies of the manuscript. Be sure to attend to the specific details of what information is included with each copy of the manuscript. The three versions listed below are required in order to successfully submit your work to Mr. Zartler for a grade, and to the Advanced Art Class for consideration for illustration. See Mr. Zartler if you do not wish to submit your work for illustration.

1) A complete version of the manuscript with your full name, date, period, on a cover page. Including your email address and or phone number is optional. The title of your story MUST be on this cover page. A cover page is an additional page included ON TOP of the manuscript. Attach a cover letter that INCLUDES your name to the top of this copy.

2) A complete version of the manuscript with your full name, date, period on a cover page. Including your email address and or phone number is optional but recommend. The title of your story MUST be on this cover page. (This copy is just like the copy listed above.) Attach a cover letter that INCLUDES your name at the top of this copy.

3) A complete version of the manuscript with a cover page that include ONLY the title of your story. (No name, or other identifying information should be in this version of the manuscript.) Attach a cover letter that DOES NOT include a name at the top of this copy.

Using a paper clip attach copy #2 and #3 together.

Show suggested page breaks in your text as follows:

And then Peter cried.

//

And cried.

//

The end.

This shows three pages of text.

Cover Letter:

The cover letter is a “pitch.” It is designed to help “sell” your childrens’ book. Your cover letter should include a brief description of the target audience for your book; it should describe the lesson or utility that your book has.

The cover letter is also a way to communicate to your artist what you imagine your book should look like. You can suggest the kinds of illustrations, tone, or mood you hope the illustrations will add to or emphasize for the book.

A signed cover letter goes with manuscript copy #1 and #2; an unsigned cover letter goes with manuscript copy #3.

Tuesday and Thursday, 2,4 February

Children's Book Unit

On Tuesday writers got back work from 1st semester. Memoirs will be delivered by Karen Karbo next week.

Writers filled out evaluations for Writers in the Schools.

Writers wrote about children.

Thursday writers were to bring a book for children into class.

Class began with classic children's music, and Good Night Moon.

Writers wrote about a memory of reading to someone or of being read to. Writers shared. Then writers made a list of the attributes and qualities of children.

We then had milk and cookies and read to each other.

Writers should bring their favorite children's books to class on Friday. They should find a child to read to by Monday (if possible).

Some classes began analyzing the attributes of writing for children.