Grade 8 Dance Party!

Have fun at your 8th grade dance celebration tonight my friends!!! You've earned it 

Anyone who would like to attend (but didn't purchase a ticket) can pay $8 at the door as long as you bring your SDMS student ID. 

Writing Reminders

Essay Test

Sometime over your 4-year career as a high school English student, a teacher is going to give you what is called an "essay test." We are going to practice strategies for essay tests using Lord of the Rings as a text.

The Lord of the Rings- The Fellowship of the Ring 

Choose 2 of the following Essay Prompts, and write a 1/1.5 page response for each question.

1. Discuss the evolution of Frodo Baggins as a character.

2. What is the significance of Gollum having been a hobbit prior to acquiring the ring? How can greed and envy "transform" someone?

3. How do you explain Sam's determination to stay with Frodo no matter what?

4. Explain the relationship between Aragorn and Boromir.

5. Why is Aragorn a reluctant hero?

6. Discuss the "Everyman" archetype present in the story.

7. What does the ring symbolize?


Requirements:
-Responses should be typed in Google Docs
-Remember to include and introduction and a conclusion
-Double space your writing
-Use evidence from text to support your answers (you won't have direct quotes, because we are using the film as a text.... but you can still be specific about explaining examples from the movie).
-Don't forget to provide your original analysis (thinking) for each example

Ways to annotate...

Day 4: Visual Element and Reflective Paragraph

The visual element for the Alternative Ending Project is going to be an image or a drawing that represents the overall theme or message you want readers to take away from your piece.

Visual Element Example: (May be a hand-drawn picture OR a collection of 5-6 images from the internet, BUT YOU MUST CITE WHERE YOU GOT THEM FROM IN A WORKS CITED PAGE)

You will also be turning in a reflective paragraph that explains:

• Which text you chose for your alternative ending
• What you identified the author's original voice to be 
• How you continued to use the author's original voice throughout your alternative ending
• Which literary devices/craft moves you used and what they reveal
• Finally, what visual element did you choose and the theme it represents

Reflective Paragraph Example: 

Final Draft of Alternative Ending to "Lamb to the Slaughter" Example:

* As you are revising your final drafts, have the original text out and make sure you are staying true to the author's format and style

Don't forget:
FINAL PROJECTS (including a final draft, visual element, and reflective paragraph) are due on:

Monday, April 25th (A/B/C/D)

Tuesday, April 26th (E)

*****You must print out everything on your own time and bring them to turn in at the beginning of class. No exceptions!!!!!!!!!!

Day 3: Peer Editing and Revising

Peer editing and revising is a great way to improve the overall quality of your work. Having a fresh pair of eyes to look over your writing might find some, you may have a fresh pair of eyes read through and make helpful suggestions to improve the overall quality of your work.

Helpful Hints for Peer Editing and Revising:

• Make sure you read through the piece one time before going through and making any changes
• Don't change the author's words for them, mark suggestions for changes you would add in a different color pen or font
• Look out for spelling and grammar mistakes
• Underline any areas that seem unclear or disorganized
• Jot down any questions you have in the margin
• Ask more than one person to read through your writing

You can also self-assess your work and make revisions on your own.

Helpful Hints for Self Editing and Revising:

• Re-read! Re-read! Re-read!
• Correct any spelling or grammar mistakes
• Make sure that it follows a logical order
• Make sure that main ideas are clear and understandable

Don't forget: When in doubt, ask for help! Grab a friend and begin the peer editing and revising process!

Day 2: Rough Draft

Remember, in your rough drafts you must continue to incorporate the author's original voice and use three (3) literary devices/craft moves in your writing.

Example Rough Draft:

Helpful Hint: Select literary devices/craft moves you see used throughout the original text. That will help you when continuing with the author's original voice in your alternative endings.

Click here for Alternative Ending Project Directions and Requirements

Rough Drafts are due by the beginning of class on:

Wednesday, April 20th (A/B)

Thursday, April 21st (C/D/E)

Day 1 of Alternative Ending Project: Brainstorm and Outline

Day 1: Brainstorm ideas and start thinking about the direction you want your alternative ending to go in, then create a detailed outline. Think about some ways you can continue to use the author's original voice throughout your ending, or how you might incorporate different literary devices/craft moves. Play around with your ideas and see what works and what doesn't!

You may structure your outline any way that works for you, but here are some examples of what an outline can look like in case you're stuck: 

Forgot which different literary devices/craft moves we've been learning about this year? Fear not! Use the list below for some ideas:

Character Analysis Tips and Tricks

Character Analysis: Evaluating a character's traits, role, and conflicts he/she experiences within a text. 

There are multiple ways to approach character analysis; here are a few examples: 

S.T.E.A.L. Characterization 

Analyze a Character's Inside/Internal Traits

Character Development Tracker

Don't forget to ALWAYS include textual evidence to support your claims!

Literary Analysis Evidence Tracker

Using a Literary Analysis Evidence Tracker helps us organize and analyze different literary devices and evidence within any text. 

This is what a Literary Analysis Evidence Tracker looks like:

Here is an example of how to track and analyze a literary device in a text:

Symbolism

Irony

Authors use irony to get their audiences to stop and think about what was said or what has occurred within a text.

To view notes on Irony, click here.

Elements of Suspense

Authors use very similar techniques from producers and directors to create a sense of suspense in literature, 

To view notes on Elements of Suspense, click here.

Narrator Reliability

To view the notes on Narrator Reliability, click here.

Point of View helps us determine who is telling the story.

 We can also use a F.A.S.T. Characterization Chart for the Narrator in "The Tell Tale Heart" to help us determine whether he is reliable or not.

Visualizing Characterization!

Students created a visual interpretation (Character Map) of a character from one of the texts they read in their reading groups to demonstrate their understanding of characterization.

Here is an example of Mary Maloney from "Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl

Here are some examples of students and their incredible work!

Character Development

Remember: Round/Dynamic characters are the ones that change throughout a text. 

First, we need to think about what kinds of events might change a person

Here are some examples of what students came up with: 

Then we can track exactly how a character changes from beginning to end.

Here's an example of showing the character development of Mary Maloney from "Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl

Character Traits and Character Types

Character Traits:

Character Types: 

F.A.S.T. Characterization:

Literary Analysis Tips and Tricks: Double Entry Journals

Create a Double Entry Journal when reading a text to help with literary analysis!

Characterization -- Dialogue

Characterization is another important literary device that helps us understand the overall message or theme of a text.

Dialogue is an aspect of Characterization that is often overlooked, but is in fact a very useful tool that can reinforce what we learn about a character. 

To view the notes on Characterization and Dialogue, click here.

Identifying Perspective

Perspective is another literary device we can use to help us understand the overall message of a text.

These two versions of Aloe Blacc's "The Man" demonstrate how easily perspective can change and affect our understanding of a text.

We can use tone, mood, and perspective to shape the theme and help us understand the meaning of a text.