Karen Karbo & Poetry Workshop

Writer's read discussed and analyzed the poem "Venus's Flytrap".

Writer's got a list of Poetic devices, and worked independently on finding examples of the various devices from among poems in the poetry unit packet. Writer's also searched for A) a poem with sounds they like B) a poem or passage that reminded them of a friend C) a poem that they would like to emulate.

Writer's were encouraged to emulate the poem from C above.

To poetry writing prompts were offered.

1) List strange /wonderful/ odd things you have seen -- put them in one poem

2) List phrases that people close to you ALWAYS say. Choose one of these phrases to use as a repeated element.

Writers also worked on their memoirs.

Writers conferenced with Karen (who was here as a volunteer! Thank you Karen!!!!!!)

Karen Karbo--WITS, 5 January, 2010

Memoir are due on 1/26/2010!

Karen will be in class this Thursday the 7th and next Thursday the 14th for extra residency time!

Karen began with a review of some of the writing that you've already done:

profile: secret

meaningful childhood memory

what makes you angry

Holiday Emotion

She pointed out how each of these has a strong emotion element that energizes the topic.

Descriptive prompt

"Just the Facts" reporting vs. reflecting

Writers need to commit now to a topic.

The final memoir should

Use Sensory Description e.g. sight, taste, touch, smell, sound

Be well reported / AND be reflective

Be written from an emotional place

In class, writers were asked to list three possible topics for their memoir.

For one of these topics, each writer made a web/ cluster/ mind-map

These webs could be based on a specific story

or

These webs could be based on a theme/ or recurring event/ idea from the writers life; e.g. birthdays.

One way to make a "Gut Check" of a topic is this: "If you're not slightly embarassed, you should pick a different topic."

Monday, 4 January, 2010

Writers will be working on a poetry unit this month. The drama unit has been removed, and so has the due date for the play.

Instead

Each writer will have to turn in a poem and an evaluation of the poem on Thursday, 28 January.

WE discussed the fact that a poem is writing that is based in Rhythm, Rhyme, and Imagery.

We read a poem, and analyzed it as a class. 5th period read a Pablo Neruda poem called "Poetry".

6th and 7th period read a poem called "Power."

Writers listed abstract nouns like power, then did a freewrite based on that abstract concept.

Happy New Year!

Hopefully the Blog is back up and running smoothly; and hopefully you'll use it more!

Thursday, 3 December, 2009

6th and 7th period Writers had a different lesson than 5th. 5th period is listed below.

Writers considered the role of the restaurant reviewer. Several reviews from the packet were compared to the rubric in the Restaurant Review Packet. Writers completed the questions in the packet about why they and why people go out to eat.

The Restaurant Review is due on Thursday 17 December at the beginning of class.

In class today 5th period writers did the following:

Read and listened to a radio essay (on Npr.org) called "Raising Chorizo). This was compared to a restaurant review using the rubric in the Restaurant Review packet.

Then writers read the three reviews in the packet, and analyzed how well they met the criteria for a well written review.

The Restaurant Review is due on Thursday, 17 December at the start of class.

5th period writers received a handout on personal essay topics. This handout is available in class. the handout is pasted here:

Personal Essays for Seniors

You are to write drafts for ALL of the OSAC topics 1-4.

These drafts are due on Thursday, December 10^th.

You are to write drafts for at least two (2) of the Common Application Topics A-E.

The Common Application Topics are due Friday, December 11^th.

Even if you don’t want a scholarship; even if you are not planning on attending college or a trade school, these drafts are due.

Writing a Personal Essay is similar to writing a memoir. All good writing uses various elements of story telling.

OSAC (Oregon Scholarships)

The following are the four personal statement questions that students must submit for the OSAC scholarship application, which houses most all of our Grant scholarships and about 200 other Oregon scholarships.

Four Required Personal Statements for OSAC (1000 characters about 150 words each)

1. Explain your career aspirations and your educational plan to meet these goals.

2. Describe a challenge or obstacle you faced in the last ten years. What did you learn about yourself from this experience?

3. Describe a personal accomplishment and the strengths and skills you used to achieve it.

4. Explain how you have helped your family or made your community a better place to live. Please provide specific examples.

Common Application Essays

These essays must be at least 250 words (one typed page).

A) Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

B) Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.

C) Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.

D) Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.

E) A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.

Tuesday, 1 December 2009

Permission slips were handed out. You can download on here. Extra credit for bringing it it!

Karen Karbo taught today. Of course she reminded writers of the deadline for their memoir 26 January, 2009.

She also invited them to attend the WITS Anthology 2009 Release party at the EcoTrust building 721 NW 9th Ave from 6:30 to 8:00 Wednesday December 2nd. Extra credit is possible for attending.

The lesson focused on the importance of including not only Sight, but also Sound; Smell; Feeling (texture); and Taste in descriptive writing. Karen says that she uses this sensory checklist when her writing feels accurate but doesn't "pop".

She read a passage from A Girl Named Zippy (Page 138) as an example of good descriptive, multi-sensory writing.

Writer's were then asked to write a full page description based on a strong childhood memory of a place.

Writer's then had a chance to share; those who shard got both positive feedback and "notes" (constructive feedback).

Writers turned in their Senior quotes for yearbook.

30 November, 2009

Writers presented toasts as needed. Any writer who has not yet presented their toast, will need to do so during Wednesday conference period.

Writers wrote to the prompt: What I learned about food this Thanksgiving.

Writers worked on a written self portrait in order to come up with a senior quote due on Tuesday, 1 December.

Writers learned that they could turn their spirals in as late as 11:07 on Wednesday; fifteen (15) pages are due.

Karen Karbo is teaching on Tuesday.