Thursday, 4 October, 2012

The opening writing prompt for class was, "The relationship was dying...."

Most of class was dedicated to reading and analyzing the story "In the South". Students received a graphic organizer to help each of them organize their analysis of the story in terms of the symbols and metaphors for death, decay, and dissolution.

This analysis will be continued on Monday.

Tuesday, 2 October, 2012

Class began with the following two quotes as prompts:

"It's not the tool; it's the craftsman."

"Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle that fits them all." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes

Mr. Zartler checked that students had brought at least two different writing instruments.
A new due date was given; a rough draft of the morbid fiction is due on Tuesday, 16 October.

Students received a handout on the Seven Deadly Sins & Seven Cardinal Virtues; these powerful motivators were discussed int he context of conflict in story stories (and in life).

Mr. Zartler taught a lesson in the creation of metaphors; writers created metaphors for the sins and virtues.

Writers experimented with writing tools.

Monday, 1 October 2012

In class today writers began with the prompt:
"What I've learned about writing so far is....."

After sharing, the class discussed what makes a good project. Clarity, creativity, and care are a lovely alliteration of the qualities that seemed most important.

Writers were then given the due date for their Writing Down the Bones project. The project is due on Thursday, 11 October. That means that conference period this week and next week are the best times to get some help. There were a variety of in class activities to help writers figure out the best ideas for their project including ....

The homework assignment was graded, and used to help prepare writers for their projects. Students who did not have the homework must write a summary of two chapters of Writing Down the Bones  as an alternative assignment.

HOMEWORK: For tomorrow bring in at least two different writing implements.

Back to School Night: Thursday, 27 September 2012

Jamie Zartler
Creative Writing English 7-8

Thank you for being here this evening. We should partner because we have the same goals.

To partner we need to be in communication.
Email: JZartler@pps.net works best for me. 503.916..5160 75 700 might work better for you.

I'm generally not at Grant Monday afternoons, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

I do use Edbox, and you should, too.

All this contact information  is on the school web page:
Zartler on granths.com .

This is also the place to find my syllabus for this course. The main ideas captured there are: This is an English Course; students need to read and to write. Students should learn thinking skills as well as skills that will help them learn and be productive their entire lives.

You can also find my Creative Writing Blog. The blog is vital to your student's success. The blog is primarily designed to help students track what they missed (or forgot that they didn't miss) in class. I generally ask students to "check the blog" as a first step when they have missed class. However, they may need to follow up with me for handouts or other activities. (Interestingly, some parents have found the blog a useful cure for the short lived question, "What did you do in school today?")

If you have concerns that I don't have time or that are not appropriate to address now, please contact me as soon as possible.

Again, thank you for being part of your student's education and the Grant Community.

Thursday, 27 September

Class began with the prompt: "The alarm went...."

Today we began a new habit. Before writers share their writing they tell the class if they would like positive feedback or not. After sharing their writing the writer chooses another writer or writers to get positive feedback from.

Next the writers used colored highlighters to color code the story "That Girl" according to the author's use of the Elements of Story telling. The class discussed how the aspects were used.


Homework: You should have read at least 12 sections of Writing Down the Bones by Monday. On Monday each student should have written in large letters the title of three chapters of Writing Down the Bones that they enjoyed and / or found valuable.

Additionally, every writer needs to have read the section "Beginner's Mind, Pen, and Paper". Each writer should bring in at least two different pens based on the observations and suggestions in the chapter for class on Tuesday.

Writers were told that their first full story is due Monday, 29 October. The story must have death or dying in it; death or dying can be a metaphor. This assignment is called the "Morbid Fiction" assignment.

Tuesday, 25 September

Writers: I'm sorry, the following entry got posted on the Food & Culture Blog Tuesday, instead of this one. Here is the missing entry:

Class began with writing a scene between the writer and the character for whom they wrote a diary entry for homework.

After writing, writers shared.

Next the class read the story "That Girl." We had a long discussion about issues raised by the story:  the nature of conflict in fiction; the role of stereotypes in fiction, and others. Writers who missed class should get a copy from Mr. Zartler as we will be doing a detailed analysis of the story in class on Thursday.

The last part of class was spent studying ten elements of story telling. Writers should get a handout from Mr. Zartler. As this will be a vital reference.

Monday, 24 September

In class today writers addressed  the prompt:

Who am I?

Mr. Zartler checked off and writers shared the homework assignment from Thursday.

The class discussed back writing, work writers do in order to understand their characters, and which is generally not going to go explicitly into the text.

Homework for tomorrow: After looking at your "Who am I?" writing, choose one trait to change that would make you a very different person. Spend ten minutes or more writing a diary or journal entry AS this new person.