Happy Holidays!

This week, students were asked to bring a draft of their point of view re-write.  If students completed this assignment on time, they were able to take part in a peer edit on Monday/Tuesday.  Final copies of these assignments are due on Wednesday/Thursday.

We began watching a movie in class, to review the elements of fiction.  As we are watching, students are recording examples of the various elements, and we will review these in the new year.  Students should be prepared for a quiz on these elements early in January.  Over the break, you might want to study these elements, so that they become familiar and comfortable for you.

I hope you all have a safe and restful break.  See you in 2013!

Point of View changes EVERYTHING!

I returned students' answers to "The Veldt" elements of fiction questions, and we reviewed them together.  The level of understanding held by most students tells me that we are almost ready for a quiz... be ready for one in the new year!

Then, students were given time to work on their point of view re-write.  Remember that your new character will see things differently, feel things differently and react to things differently.  Students were asked to bring a completed draft to class next week.  A student will edit your piece and then you will submit it to me to be marked.

POV Assignment

Students were assigned a writing piece - taking either the short story "A Television Drama" or a well-known fairy tale, and rewriting it from a new point of view.  I have asked that the story be written in first person, from a minor character's perspective.  Think about how this new character would view things.  Which events would be of importance to him/her?  Which emotions would he/she feel?  What biases would he/she hold?

A draft of the re-write will be due on Monday (block 3) or Tuesday (block 6).  A peer in the class will read and give feedback on your story, before you hand it in.

Point of View

We discussed the differences between Carolee's experience with the criminal and the news report of the experience.  At the center of this discussion was the idea that point of view really affects how a story is told.

I then read aloud The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, which is a retelling of the tale, from the wolf's perspective.  We discussed how the change in point of view affects how we understand the story.

Then, students were asked to select a fairy tale and practice re-writing it from a new perspective.  These were handed in at the end of class, and we will work with these next day.

"The Veldt" Comprehension and Extension

After reviewing all of the similes from the story, and talking about how these similes enrich the narrative, students were given a mock quiz on "The Veldt."  I asked questions that tested students' ability to understand and apply the elements of fiction, as well as a couple of questions to check comprehension of the story.

The extension assignment is to create an invention that would make life easier, more efficient and/or less expensive for society.  Your invention will be presented to the class next day, and we will vote for our favourite.