CHAT Writing 2 Class Notes–Week 3 (1/25)

 Greetings!

We had a fun, fast-paced class today where we accomplished a lot and I think we all left feeling energized and encouraged.

We started out with our Quick Write and students had a choice of prompts to write about:

• What is a favorite childhood memory?

• What is one of the best days of your life?

• What was a highlight of your week?

They shared some interesting stories!

After that, we dove into a Grammar lesson about compound and complex sentences.  The point of these lessons is part of our larger goal this semester:  the comma!  We are studying where the commas should go in different scenarios–in this case when using subordinating conjunctions.  To that end, we watched part of a short video and worked through some examples together.  Students should complete and correct their worksheets and hand them in next week.

Next, we switched gears to the Writing portion of our class where we talked about the Mystery Podcast scripts.  Students had some time to Peer Review a classmate’s script using the Peer Review sheet.  If they didn’t finish in class, they should have a friend or family member complete it at home.  Once they get feedback from me, they are clear to begin recording their Final Drafts.

In Literature, we had a short check-in about the Sherlock mysteries we have read so far.  There are mixed opinions on Mr. Holmes’ character, but we can all agree that he is a very interesting person!  We watched a clip from “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” (Jerem Brett).  Some students thought the actor portrayed him well and some were not very impressed! Instead of answering response questions, students are assigned to think deeply about Sherlock’s character using a worksheet I handed around.  It will be a springboard for some writing and is due next week.  Our Sherlock study will conclude with the last two stories that are assigned for next week.

Homework 

Complex Sentences and Commas

The Complex Sentence 1,2,3

Mystery Podcast Peer Review Sheet

Mystery Podcast Script Rough Draft (if not done already)

Read “The Final Problem” & “Adventure of the Empty House”

Characterization of Sherlock Holmes

Links for this Week

Comma Story video

“The Adventure of the Speckled Band”

Audio version of “The Final Problem”

Audio version of “The Adventure of the Empty House”

Writing 2 Class Notes–Week 2 (January 18)

 Today’s class absolutely flew by!  I think it must have been because we were having fun?  At least I can speak for myself.  Here’s a recap with some links.

We started our day with a Quick Write as usual.  Students could choose from a list of prompts I had gathered from some of my previous classes:

• What are some of your pet peeves?

• What do you do that really annoys other people?

• What is the grossest thing you've ever eaten?

• What is the best and worst part of your house?

After that, we did a Q & A in the Writing section of our class about our upcoming writing project–Mystery Story Podcast.  The Pre-Write was due today and we shared topic ideas and aspects that are exciting about the project and things that seem daunting.  There were comments that this type of writing is more challenging in some ways–fitting our ideas into this prescribed format–but also these constraints can be helpful.  Some students are way out of their comfort zones, while some are looking forward to seeing their ideas come to life.  We discussed how to add music and how to produce cover art for their podcasts.  They had some great ideas and I am looking forward to their progress. The Rough Drafts of the scripts are due next week (1/25). Bring a hard copy to class for peer review.

Literature

We switched gears to discuss the first two stories from our Sherlock Holmes study.  We read aloud the first few pages from “The Red-Headed League” to discuss some of Sherlock’s remarkable abilities and characteristics.  They had some insightful comments!  For next week, they are to read two of the most famous stories “Adventures of the Speckled Band” and “The Engineer’s Thumb” and answer the four questions.  

Grammar

They have been assigned three worksheets on coordinating conjunctions and some finer points of where the comma belongs.  They are to complete and correct those worksheets for next week.

Homework

Mystery Podcast Script Rough Draft–Bring a hard copy to class for Peer Review!

“...Speckled Band” & “The Engineer’s Thumb” PDF and audio stories & Four Questions

Commas and Coordinating Conjunctions

Is It a Compound Question?

Writing Compound Sentences

Links for this Week

Putting Together Podcast slideshow

Class Blog

Writing 1 Class Notes–Week 1 (January 11)

Hello Dear Students,

It was good to be back together again in the new year!  The sun was even shining, which matched the shining faces I saw 🙂

We started the day out with a Quick Write.  They had a choice to either write about National Kiss A Ginger Day (yes, that’s a real day!) and National Tea Day.

Though I forgot to bring copies of the Syllabus, Homework Checklist and Late Homework Dates information sheets, I assigned them to make sure they’ve signed up for Spring Semester of Writing 2 and take a look at those documents.  They will be instrumental in helping them stay organized.  They are linked below and I will bring hard copies next week.

For Literature, we kicked off the class by introducing our new book:  Six Great Sherlock Holmes Stories by Arthur Conon Doyle.  Some students had seen a TV show or movie based on the stories–and some had read a few stories themselves.  We had a  discussion on what images come to mind when you think of “Sherlock Holmes” and what elements make a good detective story.   Some students were surprised to hear that Sherlock Holmes never actually said, “Elementary, my dear Watson.”  He merely said “Elementary!”  I hope students will thrill at meeting this calculating and intense sleuth themselves.  We read a few pages of the first story aloud and they are to finish reading “Scandal in Bohemia” & “The Red-Headed League” this week and answer 4 questions from the Study Guide.

We went from reading mystery stories, to writing them with our first Writing assignment this year–a mystery writing with a twist.  It’s a podcast! I am excited about this writing project because not only do students get a chance to write a mystery story, they get to build on their skills from the previous semester from the Advertisement project to produce a podcast of their own.  My hope is that they will be inspired to launch out and do a podcast on a subject of their choosing someday soon.  Our world needs their voices!  

Today, we spent some time walking through how to structure their work.  We found that a typical mystery/true crime podcast follows a fairly predictable routine–which will make their job that much easier.  We broke those steps down and discussed different ways they could make it happen. After that, we sampled the first few minutes of such a podcast called “Up and Vanished.”  Students listened to the story and took notes on clues and locations and we noted the rhythm/structure of the podcast.  The Prewrite for this project is due next week.

Lastly, for Grammar, I introduced the comma unit we will be studying this year. We discussed compound sentences and got started on the three worksheets they will need to complete this week.  Don’t forget to correct your work and mark it!

Enjoy your weekend!

Blessings, 

Mrs. G

Homework & Links for This Week

Syllabus

Homework Checklist

Homework & Late Dates

Characteristics of a Detective Story

Read Ch. “Scandal in Bohemia” & “Red-Headed League” 

Study Guide Questions

About Essay 1:  Mystery Podcast

Mystery Podcast Prewrite

“Up and Vanished” Podcast (Mentor Text)*

FANBOYS

Compound Sentences and Commas

Sentence Structures:  Simple and Compound Sentences

Writing 2 Class Blog

*Though the “Up and Vanished” podcast is a good source as a Mentor Text for this project, I am only recommending Episode 1 of Season 1.  It can be intense for more sensitive students and I noticed a few swears in later episodes of Season 1.  For those reasons, please be warned if you proceed to listen farther than what we heard in class.