We’ll start with Frederick Douglass and ask small groups to focus on one of these 4 areas. Be ready to make smart comments about these and refer directly to the text to show what you mean.

• persona
• anecdotes and other stories (showing vs. telling)
• kairos
• logical argumentation

Next, we’ll go on an odyssey of sentence combining. Read (if you haven’t already) the section on types of sentence combining and then take all 3 quizzes on combining.

Next, I’ll read an excerpt from David Foster Wallace and possibly have us share our own DFW-ellian sentences here.

Finally, we’ll talk a bit about the College Essay and how it differs from a Personal Essay. I might ask you to give me a sample paragraph and have us guess what quality you’re trying to demonstrate.

HW: Rough rough draft of your college essay prompt.  Be ready to bring it in next Tue.

Extra: If you’re interested in the Bennington Young Writers Award. Here are the details.

We’ll start by turning in our Criticize This papers and talking a bit about the process.

Next, we’ll be talking  a bit about writing and learning a little bit about grammar. Welcome to the 8 parts of speech. Then, we’ll take a little quiz to see how well you have it down.

Then, we’ll talk a bit about sensory details, meaning using specific examples to improve your writing (especially connected to our 5 senses). We’ll look at this site and then learn about the magic of RENNS.

Practice time! Click here to do a bit of writing.

Finally, after a break, we’ll listen to a bit of poetry and try to talk about tone.

HW: Think. Think of 3 experiences you’ve had that our strange, interesting, or positive.  No need to write. Just think. Also, be prepared for a short quiz (that counts) on the 8 parts of speech.

Extra: Conjunction Junction,’nuff said.

We’ll start off with a lesson on sentence combining as well as a little quiz (quiz 1 and quiz 2).  Activate!

Then, I’m looking at 2nd drafts of College Essays.  I’m looking to get these out the door by next Wednesday.

We’ll start by looking at the King essays and noting some of the common issues I saw.

Then, we’ll see your examples of show don’t tell.

Would you push him onto the tracks?

Next, I’ll ask you–in small groups–to pull out “Just Walk on By” and note examples of showing (vs. telling) and of some of the rhtetorical techniques used (as well as the reasons why).

Then, we’re going to talk about grammar: sentence types (here’s the file) and  sentence combining.

I hope then to show a bit of the Justice video and talk to individuals about their King papers.

HW: 2 parts–get your college application prompt ready to go for Thursday and read Frederick Douglass’s “Learning to Read and Write” (in 50 essays or here) and write a 200 word response that notes showing vs. telling and rhetorical strategies

Extra: See the Daily Show’s attack on CNN wherein they mention both abuse of statistics and slippery slope! Please see the last part at home so I don’t get in trouble.

We’ll start by reading through the all-knowing Show don’t (just) tell handout and then talking a bit.

Next, in groups take the following boring telling sentences and make them show.

1. I feel hungry.
2. The zoo was awesome.
3. She hated her big sister so much.

Then, individually, convert these boring telling sentence into showing sentences.

1. The hurricane was pretty cool.
2. The whole class was bored.
3. I drove into a clown on the road.

We’ll compare and share…

Next, we’re gonna talk grammar. Download this paper and–in small groups–try to decide which of the passages are wrong and why. One is correct. (insert evil laugh).

Finally, I’ll show you the Personal Essay assignment. We’ll be entering the My Turn Essay contest.

HW: Pre-write.  Brainstorm stories, descriptions, ideas, and details for your personal essay.