Magister Yeats
Item List
WW1.01
Introductions
Where are we starting as writers?
BELL WORK
Using the paper on your desk, write a paragraph introducing yourself to the class and to the teacher.
WE WILL
Read through the syllabus.
YOU WILL
Discuss what you hope to get out of the course.
Turn in your paragraph before you leave.
IF YOU FINISH EARLY
Share out paragraphs to the class.
WW1.02
Writing Rules!
What makes for "good writing"?
BELL WORK
Journal: What are three of your favorite pieces of writing/writers? (Think beyond books and stories--what about TV shows, movies, radio, podcasts, music, etc)? What are some of the things about that writing that speaks to you? What are your favorite quotes/lines from their writing?
WE WILL
Discuss as a class aspects of grammar to check what we already know.
Class discussion to create our list of writing rules.
YOU WILL
Copy our list of writing rules into your journal.
Return to your bell work prompt. How do these fit the standards of good writing?
IF YOU FINISH EARLY
Creative Prompt: You are asked to give a prepared speech about the school's phone policy. What would you say?
WW1.03
The Sentence
Does it matter what types we use?
BELL WORK
Journal: Write a 10-sentence description on your choice of topic (Optional prompt: A rainstorm).
WE WILL
Explore how sentence types can change the aesthetics of a paragraph.
Review the types of sentences found in writing.
YOU WILL
Rewrite your original 10-sentence description by changing each sentence to a different type.
IF YOU FINISH EARLY
In your journal, reflect on your writing style. Is there a type of sentence you use more often? Is there one you'd like to try and use more in your writing?
WW1.04
Parts of Speech
What roles do they play in writing?
BELL WORK
Journal: Our first free-write (7 minutes)!
WE WILL
Discuss what parts of speech we already know.
Go through a list of the parts of speech.
Discuss the adverb controversy.
YOU WILL
Analyze yesterday's second paragraph for the parts of speech you use. Revise your paragraph so it has at least one of each type of word in it. If it already has one of each type, move on to the activity below.
IF YOU FINISH EARLY
Watch this TED ED video (4:27) exploring the variety of verb tenses in English. Using this list of tenses, try using a few you normally do not use in daily writing.
WW1.05
The Comma
The greatest or worst punctuation mark?
BELL WORK
Journal: When are you supposed to use commas? What are comma splices and run-ons?
WE WILL
Discuss what comma usages you already know.
Go through a brief list of comma usages.
YOU WILL
Watch this Ted-Ed (3:25) about the Oxford comma debate.
Correct the practice stories by inserting commas.
Analyze the paragraph from 1.4. Can you find any comma errors? Fix them!
IF YOU FINISH EARLY
Watch this Ted-Ed (5:43) about the origins of new words.
WW1.06
Advanced Punctuation
What do we do with semicolons, dashes, and other weird pieces of punctuation?
BELL WORK
Watch this Half as Interesting video (5:39) about the consequences of grammar and punctuation in law.
WE WILL
Look at examples of advanced punctuation.
YOU WILL
Write a new paragraph showing off your advanced punctuation skills (and get the excitement out of your system!)
IF YOU FINISH EARLY
Grab a random book and see if you can find examples of this advanced punctuation in practice. If you do, copy that sentence down into your journal. If not, reflect in your journal about why these are hard to find.
WW1.07
Prewrite with Free Write
How do we produce ideas for writing?
BELL WORK
Journal: What do you do to generate ideas for writing for class or for fun? Make a list!
WE WILL
Discuss the importance of prewriting.
Read a mentor text about nurturing our ideas.
YOU WILL
Engage in a 5-minute free write.
Use looping to explore different ideas in writing.
IF YOU FINISH EARLY
Read and discuss this brief blog post about why prewriting is important to good writing.
WW1.08
Cluster Mapping
How can we explore ideas with prewriting?
BELL WORK
Journal: 5-minute free write.
WE WILL
Describe the layout of a cluster map.
Create a class cluster map about a topic (Optional prompt: Autumn).
YOU WILL
Make your own cluster map in your journal (Optional prompt: My Favorite Memories).
IF YOU FINISH EARLY
Read this NYT article about why journaling is good for your writing and your mental health.
WW1.09
Tonal Shifts
How does an author's perspective and choices change a work?
BELL WORK
Use one of the images in this NYT image to inspire your free write today!
WE WILL
Discuss the difference between the author's tone and the work's mood.
Example works of how tone and mood can shift on the same topic: Trailer 1 vs Trailer 2 vs Trailer 3.
YOU WILL
Go back to your prewriting today and write two different versions:
Rewrite with a different tone.
Rewrite with a different mood.
IF YOU FINISH EARLY
Reflect on how tone and mood impact your favorite narratives.
WW1.10
Choose Your Own Prewriting Activities
Explore ways to help you write!
BELL WORK
Journal: 5-minute free-write.
WE WILL
Discuss the use of writing prompts and quotes.
YOU WILL
Select three out of this list of 60 writing prompts to do a prewrite. (Optional prompt selection: 3, 5, 12)
Bring your notebook up for a notebook check.
IF YOU FINISH EARLY
Look through the prompts and write down some in your journal to save for later in the course.