Wednesday, January 27, 2010

creative writing assignment -- january 27

Today you will be writing a How To Article and posting it on your blog.

Read the articles listed below for directions on how to write a How To. Choose your topic and begin writing! Remember it needs to be school appropriate. And remember this is Creative Writing class so you can be as creative and different as you would like to be!

http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-How-to-Article
http://www.knowledgehound.com/khhow2s/write_how_to.htm
http://forrest.apache.org/docs_0_70/howto/howto-howto.html
http://www.copyblogger.com/how-to-write-a-killer-how-post-that-gets-attention/

Have fun with this assignment!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

creative writing assignment -- nov. 30

You need to post at least one new blog post today and comment on at least three others' blogs. See you on Wednesday!

english ii -- nov. 30 assignment

Choose one of the aspects you did a small amount of research on and write about how that aspect is important in the book. How does it affect the story, characters, setting, etc.?

This essay should be typed and is due on Wednesday at the beginning of the period. If you finish early and have nothing to do, you should be reading your book club books. If you have finished your book club book, you should read another book.

Monday, November 23, 2009

examples of reviews for creative writing

Here are some examples of reviews you may want to look at before you write your own review:
The best review I've ever read
Another super-awesome, though more complicated, review

english ii in class assignment -- nov. 23

Choose one of the aspects you did a small amount of research on and write about how that aspect is important in the book. How does it affect the story, characters, setting, etc.?

Friday, November 20, 2009

english iii ib -- homework due november 24

Homework:
In addition to reading this book, you need to choose one of these discussion questions and write at least a page answering the question.

What do the colors the women wear represent?

How does this story tie to historical events and other literature?

What is the significance of the flashbacks in the book?

Why were the handmaids' names taken away?

Thursday, November 19, 2009

creative writing assignment for monday

This weekend you need to either read a book you've been wanting to read or watch a movie that you have been wanting to watch. You will be writing a review on Monday.

english ii -- homework

Writing Assignment (Homework)
Choose the archetype that you think is the most interesting in this novel. Write about that archetype how it works in the novel.
You writing should be at least a page long.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

SAT Prep -- November 16, 2009

Take some time to explore Ms. Martin's web site. Explore the financial aid section. Also, pay particular attentiont o the career section and the college sections. Find at least three colleges to apply to (write them down and hand in to the sub). Begin applying. Take screen shots and paste them in a Word document. Email the document to Ms. Arbuckle.

If you don't know how to take a screen shot, click here.

This is due before the beginning of class on Wednesday.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

wiki and blog registration

Many of you in English II and Creative Writing haven't sent me your information. Please see the previous posts for your class and send me the information I need. Thanks!

I need this ASAP! And you need to do this so you will get a grade!

english ii book clubs

We will be starting book clubs today. See our class wiki for more details!

creative writing assignment

For this assignment you will be creating a blog as a place to publish your creativity. We will use these blogs as a place to read and comment on each other's writing as well as a place to hold ourselves accountable for quality writing.

Over the course of this project you will be given several assignments as well as the opportunity to write whatever you would like.

Follow the following steps to begin:

Creating a blog


For this we will use blogger.com.

1. Create your account with blogger.com. For this you can use whatever email you already use. You don't need a gmail account, just a google account. If you don't already have an email address, you need to create one now.


2. Name your blog. This should be something interesting, easy to remember, and something that won't reveal too much about you. This is permanent and cannot be changed--it is what goes in the URL of your blog. It must be school appropriate.


3. Choose a template. You can always go back and choose a different one if you want to.


For more information on creating a blog, see this.


Registering your blog


To get credit for this assignment, you must register your blog. Please email the following information to kelly.arbuckle@springbranchisd.com:


1. Blog name/title of your blog


2. Your name as you are known in your blog


3. Your name as you are known on my roster


4. Your blog address (the URL of your blog)


Important safety information


Remember that any idiot on the internet can see your blog. Please be careful about what you post about yourself. The only person who needs to know who owns your blog is me. And that's only because I am grading you. I'm assuming everyone in the class will know whose blog is whose, and that is fine. But someone trolling the internet doesn't need to know who you are. Remember that just because they say they are someone, it doesn't mean they are telling the truth. It's just as easy for them to hide their identity as it is for you to hide yours.


Also, do not publish your email address on your blog. We know how to contact you if we need to. People on the internet don't need to know how to contact you.



Here are some safety guidelines to follow (provided by http://www.isafe.org/):



1. Password-protect your blog. Make sure that no one other than your parents know your password.



2. Do not include personal and detailed information (places you hang out, malls, etc.) in your blog.



3. Do not complete a profile or include name, address, phone number, school, zip code, email address, or screen name in your blog. This is exactly the ind of information a predator is looking for so don't provide it.



4. Do not release any personal information about anyone else you know. Doing so would be like telling a predator, "I'm not interested in speaking with you, but my best friend, ____, would be more than happy to."



5. Pretend that you are a predator. Read your writings, and see if you can pick out details that lead to revealing personal information about you. If you come across anything objectionable, change is so that it is less identifying to the unknown and potentially dangerous reader.



6. Do not include photos of yourself or others in your blog.



7. Do not leave your blog page open or your computer unattended. Someone could step in and write something as you.



8. Do not spread gossip or slander about your classmates.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Kite Runner Presentations

Here are the ideas you came up with in 5th period:


















And here is the list created by 8th period:




Remember: If you think of any more ideas and you post them here as comments, you will get extra credit.

Monday, October 5, 2009

english ii -- memoir

English II, remember that your memoir is due on Friday, October 9 for five extra points or Wednesday, October 14 for full credit.

You memoir must have all drafts attached and must be typed, double spaced, 12pt Times New Roman font.

story of a girl

I just finished reading Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr. I was surprised at how much I liked it. The main character, Deanna, is trying to live down a the gossip about her from three years ago. She goes on a mental journey that many young women go through at that age. While the writing isn't as wonderful as many other writers for this age group, the story is good and the characters are interesting.

The book was recommended to me by a student, and I thank her for introducing me to this lovely book.

B -- Recommended for grade 9+



Tuesday, September 15, 2009

english ii -- september 15

The second draft of your memoir (personal narrative) is due on Monday, September 21.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

first project: children of karatu meeting

The first Project: Children of Karatu meeting will be next Tuesday, September 8 after school in Ms. Arbuckle's room. Everyone is welcome. We look forward to seeing you and hearing your ideas!

english ii -- reminder

Sophomores,

Remember that I check your Independent Reading Log every Friday that we meet. You need to be reading for at least 15 minutes everyday, including weekends.

I will be checking your reading log this Friday.

Also remember that your SSR projects are coming up before you know it! You should be thinking about which project you are going to do this six weeks.

Enjoy your book!

~Ms. Arbuckle

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

english iii ib -- september 1 homework

“The Things I Carry” Reflexive Essay:
In your notebook write at least one page in the style of Tim O’Brien in “The Things They Carried” (Chapter 1 of The Things They Carried) in which you list and describe the things you carry.

  • This may be in first or third person, past or present tense. BUT pick one and stick with it!
  • Remember that in the chapter O’Brien does not merely list items, he also give anecdotes that reveal character and he adds unexpected items to keep reader interest and reveals character.

The first draft of this paper is due on Thursday, September 3.

You need to finish the first half of The Things The Carried by Tuesday, September 8.