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=Welcome to Liberty High School's Creative Writing Wiki!=

05/13/2011
Use these websites in order to create your found (forced?) poem:

Serendipitous Oxymoron = **Title**

Daily Journal Writing Prompt = **Theme**

The Brainstormer = **Three things you must include**

Serendipitous Verbs = **Three verbs you must include**

Assignments for 05/05/2011
As far as I know..... this is the LAST TIME they will take me away from you babies! Make sure you write down your names and computer numbers on a sheet of paper for Ms. Smith!!! First, please remember that we have a performance on Monday. That will go as scheduled. See the performance date page if you have any questions. If you did not finish all of the career research assignment from Tuesday, then please finish that today, and turn it in to the sub.

Most of today I want you to work on your portfolio on Bookemon. Just to get you moving in the right direction, I would like for you to look at these websites and try writing a new poem that you may or may not use in your portfolio. Be sure to turn a copy of this new poem in to the sub.

Diamante Poem Instant poetry forms These are a little forced and trite; HOWEVER, it is fine if you choose to do any of the options on the left. It might turn into something great!

I would REALLY like you to try your hand at this activity: media type="custom" key="9310292" Behave, work hard, and I'll see you Monday in the room for performances! <3 :-}

Assignments for 04/14/2011
Sorry, I am not with you today babies. I KNOW it is a performance day. We are going to reschedule today's performance to the Monday after break, 4/25. ZM and CS remember that you HAVE to read on those days to fix your grade for the third nine weeks. IF you are interested, you may find ONE partner and read your performance piece to them to get some practice. If you are hearing a piece today, you need to give your person some feedback on what would help their piece. Please, be sure to check with your classmates and include everyone so that all students can get a chance to do this if they want. I am going to assign TWO activities to you today. You WILL receive a grade for these, so be responsible and do what I ask.

Firstly, I want you to begin creating your Final Exam Writing Portfolio. Go to the Portfolio page here on the wiki. First, I want you to go look at the Digital book I have started, so you can get an idea of what I want. Then I want you to follow the link to bookemon and open your account. I want you to begin creating your book today. There are more directions on the portfolio page of the wiki that explain exactly what you need to get done today to receive your grade.

Secondly, I want you to begin your Writing Career Research project. To do this, you need to go to the Career Research Project page here on the wiki. There are more directions on that page that explain what you need to accomplish today for a class grade. We will discuss due dates and other stuff for this project after the break.

I love you all, so behave and get this done. What I have accomplished in the last 24 hours has proven to me that I **//__AM__//** good enough. That means you are good enough as well, and I will go hard core on your butts if you don't get these two things done.

Assignments for 04/12/2011
We are beginning two large projects today that will carry us through the rest of the school year. One is your final Creative Writing portfolio and the other is your Writing Career Research project. I will be adding links and additional information to this page as we work. <3

Assignments for 4/7/2011
Hello babies, I am at BSTC all day for a Curriculum committee meeting. Sorry. I've got a few things for you to do, plus you will probably have some time to work on your piece for next Thursday's performance (Mandatory Prose with the theme of Dreams/Nightmares). You can workin pairs for this first activity, but please do the last one on your own.

1. Make a list of books, movies, plays, tv shows, etc. that all have the theme "A new person arrives who doesn't fit in." 2. Read the "Plucky Guppy" article and answers these questions on the same sheet of paper where you did your list for number 1. 3. Use your children's books to come up with a list of themes that are very common and you can see repeated across time in others stories, across genres (someone please explain "genre" to the freshman <3). With each theme you create you need to list the original children's story that made you choose the theme and __at least__ **TWO** other stories, movies, etc. that fit the theme. Please circle or otherwise mark the theme you have chosen to use for the next activity. 4. Choose one of your themes for our final activity. You will need to write a proposal for a new television show (cartoon, etc.) that follows the theme you have chosen. You will need to answer the following questions.
 * a. What is the plot of “Ugly Betty”?
 * b. How is this show different from other shows that appear on the ABC network this year?
 * c. Why isn’t America Ferrara like other television actresses?
 * d. What challenges does Betty’s character face?
 * e. About what aspect of Betty is the reviewer most critical? Why?
 * f. How did the idea for this show originate?
 * g. Why are different characters on the show drawn to Betty?
 * -What is the title of this program?
 * -What is the genre of this program?
 * -What is the setting?
 * -Who are the main characters? What do they do, look like, etc.?
 * -Who are the protagonists?
 * -Who are the antagonists?
 * -What are the challenges each character must overcome?
 * -How do they overcome these challenges?
 * -How will the theme or storyline appear in each episode of this program?
 * -Who might comprise this program’s audience?

LAST CLASS you each made eight cards (problem, character, theme, tone). They are divided by type. Someone should scramble (shuffle, fluff, or otherwise mix up) the stacks (keep them by question type but mix up the order of the cards __//within//__ the question type). Each of you needs to draw one card from each stack. You can have ONE DO OVER (yes, ONLY ONE), where you can put the card you chose back and choose another one. (I suggest you draw all four, //then// decide if you need a do over). You will use these four cards to create a piece of micro- (300-500) or flash-(<1000) fiction. If you have time, begin writing, or wait and write over the weekend, but either way, have me a story by next Tuesday.

Above all, behave and know that I will be here (barring all unforseen events) all week next week. <3

Assignments for 4/1/2011
Once again I'm sorry I'm not with you today; I have a sick kid again. The two of you who were supposed to read today will read NEXT CLASS! I'm sorry this keeps getting moved.

Firstly, you will spend this nine weeks working on a portfolio of your writing. Your completed portfolio will be half of your exam grade (presenting it on exam day will be the other half). You need to pick a theme for your portfolio. Don't get too specific, that will make it difficult for you to fill the entire portfolio. Begin working on this today. You will need to have your theme decided by next class so we can begin writing and compiling your work. If you need some ideas, ask the seniors who did proverbs booklets last week; they can give you some ideas. The synonym book is on my back rolly table if you want to look in it to help you. If you complete the other two writing assignments for today, you can start brainstorming, writing, or collecting works for use in your portfolio.

Secondly, our next performance date is coming up. It is mandatory prose, and the theme is "Dreams/Nightmares". Your dream stars are laying on my back table. On your star should be 10 words. I would like for you to write something //not related to your actual dream// using these 10 words. Write a poem, or write a piece of short prose about something using these 10 words. This may or may not be something you will use on performance day. Hang on to this when you are done. I will look at them next week.

Thirdly, I would like for you to go to Pongo and do an activity of your choice. (remember the iPods as well as the MacBook will go to the Pongo website) There are several left that we have not done. Take a look at them and pick one that is interesting to you. BE SURE to read the Teen Poem that is featured on the page __//before//__ you write your own. Remember, the template is a starting point. Maybe you will use it to begin with, then change the format once you edit. Or perhaps, you have an idea of how to manipulate it to your needs as soon as you see it. Either way, this needs to be your second piece of completed writing that you produce today.

Please behave and KEEP THE NOISE LEVEL TO A DULL ROAR! Remember, Ms. Hasan has a class next door. I expect you to be more than "good enough" today! :) Please have this work completed when we meet on Tuesday. I have to be out again next Thursday due to training, so Tuesday will be our only day toether next week and I want it to be useful! <3

Assignments for 3/16/2011
Sorry, I am not with you today dears. Your first set of interview notes were supposed to be due today. Those of you that have these... You are awesome. Those of you that do not have these..... (fill in our class saying here). I am hearing some great things from you, other teachers, and parents about these interviews. I'm excited to see the writing that comes out of these. Please conduct your second interview and have TWO SETS of interview notes on Friday. I would like to go over these with you so that you can begin your writing. Remember, your rough draft is due next week.

I have some activities for you to complete today. Go to the Activities page and complete both of these. The first one has a dab of writing involved. The second one leads to writing activities down the road. Please complete Activity 2 seriously, and think of ideas to make it better, because we will be doing it again.

Check out the Pongo page to make sure you have done all the ones I've assigned. Ask your classmates, read old assignments, anything to make sure you are caught up. The nine weeks is //almost// over. Some of you still have yucky grades. If you were supposed to read today to make up for not reading last class, then be prepared to read on Friday.

Please be very good. You are an awesome class, and I trust you will do what I have asked. Leave me notes if you have questions. I am here in spirit. If you want a fun activity to complete for the day (WHILE YOU DO EVERYTHING ELSE I HAVE ASKED YOU TO DO), then take turns pretending to be me and stand up every time there is one of those awkward or really funny moments and say what you think I would say if I were there. (KEEP IT CLEAN AND DON'T BE HURTFUL!!! Some of you are **__not__** the master of sarcasm like I am.) If you do this, then someone please keep track of what is said so I can laugh at my own expense when I come back.

Assignments for 3/10/2011
Firstly, all of you were supposed to join our wiki, but only three of you have. (And ZACHARY you were supposed to use your gaggle account and a responsible username, TRY AGAIN) Make sure you use your Gaggle email account, and send a request to join the wiki. You will be expected to create a page in a few weeks, and you cannot do that if you aren't a member. SIGH.....

Secondly, please remember you are supposed to turn in your proposal for who you are going to interview for the Listen to a Life contest. This is a simple paragraph telling me whom the person is, how you know them, and why you think interviewing them is going to make your project great. If you give these to Mrs. Schatz, she will paper clip them all together and place them in my box.

Thirdly, I would like you to complete an activity on the Legacy Project website: called Create Your Life Statement. I expect you to read the information on the page about what is included in a Life Statement and how it should be constructed. I **__//DO NOT//__** expect you to use the form on the page and submit your Life Statement to the website. If you want to look at the Life Statement Library, that is fine; however, there are only three in there, and they are all for people over 50 (but that is NOT OLD). This is NOT something you will complete today if you are putting thought into it. I expect you to give me a rough draft on Monday (YES.... that is our next performance date. I expect you to do the life statement for homework AND be prepared to read on Monday).

Fourthly, please make sure you have done all the Pongo's that I have assigned. If you need to make one up, do so now and give to Mrs. Schatz to put in my box. Lastly, go to The Legacy Project webpage. On the left hand menu, choose "Activities and Guides". Choose "Activities" under //All Activities and Guides//. Here you will see a long list of activities. I expect you to look through the ones under the __WRITING__ category. Choose one that you would like to do. Write your name on a piece of paper, underneathe write the name of the activity. Continue to browse through the activities (Drawing/Coloring/Games might be fun!) and pick out some others you might like to try with our class. I've not looked at all of them, so take some social responsibility for your class and pick us out some fun things to do! :)

Behave, be quiet, work while you are in here, and don't embarass me. I should be done with training before the bell rings, and I will //of course// join you in the library as soon as I can. <3 Smith

Assignments for 3/8/2011
Don't forget our next performance date is NEXT MONDAY!!! Our theme is "Fortunes" and once again, it is mandatory prose.

Today you will reserach a writing contest I am going to __require__ you to enter. Go to the website The Legacy Project "Listen to a Life" Contest, and listen to my directions. You will get a handout to be working on, and as soon as I have reliable internet and a dab of time there will be a dedicated page to the contest on the right. <3 you creative writing kids! You're awesome!

Assignments for 3/3/2011
If you missed the last performance date (for whatever reason) today is your __last__ day to make that up. One of the things I will be doing while you work today, is getting everything updated in the grade book, and I can let you know if you are missing any work. Ashleigh, please see me about your //Collage// submission.

Firstly today I want you to go to Merlyn's Pen on the links page. On the top menu, click "You Read" and "Enter the Library". The title of the work I want you to read is "The Key". It is a poem, with the topic "Search for Meaning". I have questions I want you to answer about this poem.

Secondly today you will go to Pongo and complete the activity for "Things I'd Like to Understand". I want you to read the poem that was already written by a teen, then call me over so we can discuss some things before you actually write. This needs to be printed and turned in to me when you are done. Remember to keep our current theme of "Fortunes" in mind.

Thirdly today you need to request to join our wiki so you can create your very own page! Fun Stuff!!! Be sure to use your GAGGLE email account to sign up.

Lastly, I would like you to go back to Merly's Pen. I want you to go back to the library and search through these teen writings by TOPIC. Make a list of the available topics that you think might relate to our current theme of "Fortunes". Then find a piece written by a high school student (preferrably in the same grade as you) and print it out. Write one paragraph telling me how this is related to "Fortunes" and what you think about the piece. Why did you choose it? What makes it great?

Assignments for 2/17/2011
Don't forget your submission for //Collage// is due today. This is your last opportunity to submit your work, and you MUST do so for a class grade in Creative Writing. I would also like to see your most recent work on your sestina. I will be looking at these individually while you work on the rest of your assignments for the day. If you have any of the past due work that we discussed last class, please make sure you have given that to me. 4th week interims come out next week!!!

Firstly, you will go to the Links page here on our wiki. One person in the group needs to choose either etherpad or typewithme.com and begin a new document. They will need to invite the other member of the group to the document. You will use your Gaggle email accounts to send invitation messages. BE SURE YOU INVITE ME AS WELL! Once you are both on the same document, you may open your envelope to see your assignment. Both etherpad and typewithme.com have a chat option in the bottom right corner. You may use this to discuss your project; however, you will only be graded on the text that appears in the document. I really don't want to HEAR anything during this assignment, because I want you to focus on dialogue on the page. Once you feel your written dialogue is complete, you need to get side by side and read the dialogue; however, you read each //other's// parts. To do this successfully, you need to read your partner's assignment before you read. You __might__ be surprised. :)

As always, if you have any questions, let me know......

When it is time to move on, you will need to access Writing Activities page at Pongo and complete the "You Don't Know Me" and "Masks and Colors" activities. There are directions on the page for each activity. Be sure to click and read the poem that inspired the activity. When you are done, I would like for you to print your activity sheet. We will also play around with you sending them to me via email; however, be sure to print for now until we have everything figured out. These activities will help you create the drafts of two poems. However, I want you to use the ideas you get from the poems to develop your prose assignment for our next performance date with the theme of "The Masks We Wear".

If you complete all of this with time remaining, see me about your sestina and if there is time, you can begin working on your submission proposal (this is our next big assignment).

HAPPY WRITING! Smithy