Writing (Leadership Week)

 Writing

Read through chapter 17 of Percy Jackson.

1. Write this paragraph in your books.  Use your best handwriting.

I’d love to tell you I had some deep revelation on my way down, that I came to terms with my own mortality, laughed in the face of death, et cetera.

The truth? My only thought was: Aaaaggghhhhh!

The river raced toward me at the speed of a truck. Wind ripped the breath from my lungs. Steeples and skyscrapers and bridges tumbled in and out of my vision.

And then: Flaaa-boooom!

A whiteout of bubbles. I sank through the murk, sure that I was about to end up embedded in a hundred feet of mud and lost forever.

But my impact with the water hadn’t hurt. I was falling slowly now, bubbles trickling up through my fingers. I settled on the river bottom soundlessly. A catfish the size of my stepfather lurched away into the gloom. Clouds of silt and disgusting garbage—beer bottles, old shoes, plastic bags—swirled up all around me.

(Chapter Fourteen, I Become A Known Fugitive) 

In this action passage, Percy plummets from the top of The Arch in St. Louis to the river below. The writing illustrates the author’s adept use of language. 

“Et cetera” is the long form for etc.  Et cetera is a Latin expression meaning “and so forth” or “and other things.” Et meaning “and.” Cetera meaning “the rest.” The phrase is often used after a continuation of some sort of series. 

For example: We need different kinds of fruit: apples, oranges, bananas, etc.

There’s no need to include the word “and” before etc. (apples, oranges, bananas, and etc.) because the word “and” would be redundant. If translated, it would read: “applies, oranges, bananas, and and the rest.”

Also, it’s ET cetera not EX cetera. Some English speakers mispronounce it. Tsk. Tsk. 

Notice the colons ( : ) after “My only thought was” and “And then.” Aaaaggghhhh! and Flaaa-boooom! (also, note the latter is italicized) are emotional or functional noises called interjections. Other examples are: Hey! Ugh! Agh! (and Riordan’s Aaaaggghhhh! is an elongated form of Agh!). Interjections can be sentences unto themselves, and when they are used writers don’t need to follow the conventions of normal grammar, such as verb agreement.

2. Write 2 pages in your handwriting books.  If you need to catch up, spend some time each day writing so it's not overwhelming. You should have at least 30 pages done.  Remember, the next time I ask you to bring them, you should not only have the books, but they need to be filled out.   You will owe me $$$$$ if you come unprepared.

3. Follow the next 2 steps to writing your Autobiography!  I can't wait to hear your life stories!

Step 6. Proofread.

After a brief layoff, begin proofreading. Yes, you should look for grammar mistakes, but more importantly, you should identify weak moments in the narrative and come up with constructive improvements. Think about what you’d look for if reading about another person’s life, and apply it to your own autobiography.

Step 7. Write Your Next Draft.

Write a second draft based on the notes you’ve given yourself. Then, when this second draft is complete, show it to trusted friends and your parents!  Their outside eyes will give you a valuable perspective that you cannot possibly have on your own work.

 4. Gratishift!  Do it!  I will bless your lives.  Do your best to get all 3 elements done each day.  The video, the statement and the writing.

5. Study these spelling words.

according - as stated by or in. 

metallic - relating to or resembling metal or metals.

observation - the action or process of observing something or someone in order to gain information.

its/it's -   its = possessive pronoun: / it's = it is.

guards - watch over in order to protect or control.

adolescent - (of a young person) in the process of developing from a child into an adult.

surveillance - close observation, especially of a suspected spy or criminal.

perimeter - the continuous line forming the boundary of a closed geometric figure

description - a spoken or written representation or account of a person, object, or event

commemorative - acting as a memorial or mark of an event or person.

mountains - a large natural elevation of the earth's surface rising abruptly from the surrounding level

nervously - in an anxious or apprehensive manner.

advertisement - a notice or announcement in a public medium promoting a product, service, or event or publicizing a job vacancy.

past/passed - gone by in time and no longer existing./ move or cause to move in a specified direction.

submerged - descend below the surface of an area of water.

concentrate - focus one's attention or mental effort on a particular object or activity.

lemonade - a drink made from lemon juice and sweetened water.

occupy - fill or take up (a space or time).

skyscrapers - a very tall building of many stories.

revelation - a surprising and previously unknown fact, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way.

according metallic

observation its/it's

guardsadolescent

surveillanceperimeter

descriptioncommemorative

mountainsnervously

advertisementpast/passed

submergedconcentrate

lemonadeoccupy

skyscrapersrevelation

Writing (Eureka Week)

Writing

1. Read through chapter 11 of Percy Jackson.

Write this paragraph from the book in your best handwriting.

    “Zeus’s master bolt,” Chiron said, getting worked up now. The symbol of his power, from which all other lightning bolts are patterned. The first weapon made by the Cyclopes for the war against the Titans, the bolt that sheered the top off  Mount Etna and hurled Kronos from his throne; the master bolt, which packs enough power to make mortal hydrogen bombs look like firecrackers.”

    “And it’s missing?”

    “Stolen,” Chiron said.

    “By who?”

    “By whom,” Chiron corrected. Once a teacher, always a teacher. 

    “By you.” My mouth fell open.

(Chapter Nine, I Am Offered a Quest) 

Notice the dialogue.  What is different about it, than what we have learned previously?

When should you use who vs. whom?  Find out and come prepared for a little quiz!  Also, in the quiz will be review of other grammar terms we have been over.

2. You should be well on your way to writing your autobiography.  Last week there was a lot of information about it.  This week, we will just do the next few steps.

- Do Your Research.

Once you have your outline, engage in some research to help you recall contextual information from the period you are writing about. Interview friends and family members to help you remember all the details from the moments you choose to recall in your autobiography. Maybe look at pictures and ask about what happened in particular pictures. No one can remember the full history of their entire life—particularly their childhood—so learn more about yourself.  Ask questions!

- Write Your First Draft.

 After deciding what your fondest memories are, making a list of them, writing your outline, and doing your research with friends and family, then you are ready to attempt a first draft. This draft may be overly long and scattershot, but professional writers know that even the tightest final drafts may be borne of a long winded first draft.  Just write it all out!  Have fun with it.

 - Take a Break.

When your first draft is complete, take a few days off. You’ll want to read your work with the freshest possible perspective; removing yourself from the process for a few days can be helpful.

3. Keep working on your gratitude statement, video lessons and writing!  How is it going?  Can you get the 30 days in before February 20th?

4. Write 2 pages in your handwriting books.  Bring them to class.  On my count, you should be done with 28 pages.  I'll be looking for most improved handwriting so far.

5. Study these spelling Words!

skeptically - with doubt or hesitation.

plumbing - the system of pipes, tanks, fittings, and other apparatus required for the water supply, heating, and sanitation in a building.

millennia - a period of a thousand years, especially when calculated from the traditional date of the birth of Christ.

cyclopes - a member of a race of savage one-eyed giants.

hydrogen - a colorless, odorless, highly flammable gas, the chemical element of atomic number 

thousand - the number equivalent to the product of a hundred and ten; 1,000.

sensitive - (of a person's behavior) having or displaying a quick and delicate appreciation of others' feelings.

alliance - a union or association formed for mutual benefit, especially between countries or organizations.

venomous - (of animals, especially snakes, or their parts) secreting venom; capable of injecting venom by means of a bite or sting.

chaos - complete disorder and confusion.

intervenes - come between so as to prevent or alter a result or course of events.

piece/ - a portion of an object or of material, produced by cutting, tearing, or breaking the whole.

peace - freedom from disturbance; tranquility.

sense/since - one of the faculties of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch./ since- between then and now.

officially - in a formal and public way.

summoned - call people to attend (a meeting).

Olympus - In Greek mythology, Mount Olympus was the dwelling of the Olympian Gods

aluminum - the chemical element of atomic number 13, a light silvery-gray metal.

accompany - go somewhere with (someone) as a companion or escort.

skeptically plumbing

millenia cyclopes

hydrogen thousand

sensitive alliance

venomous chaos

intervenes peace/piece

sense since

officially summoned 

Olympus aluminum

accompany



 

 

Writing (History Week)

 Writing

1. Read through chapter 6 of "Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Lightning Thief." by Rick Riordan

Write this paragraph from the book in your notebooks.  Use your best handwriting.  Notice all the use of dashes.  Make sure you copy it the same way it is written here.

Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood.

If you’re reading this because you think you might be one, my advice is: close this book right now. Believe whatever lie your mom or dad told you about your birth, and try to live a normal life.

Being a half-blood is dangerous. It’s scary. Most of the time, it gets you killed in painful, nasty ways.

If you’re a normal kid, reading this because you think it’s fiction, great. Read on. I envy you for being able to believe that none of this ever happened.

But, if you recognize yourself in these pages—if you feel something stirring inside—stop reading immediately. You might be one of us. And once you know that, it’s only a matter of time before they sense it, too, and they’ll come for you.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

(Chapter One, I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher)

2. Writing an Autobiography!

Hurray!  We get to learn about your life story!

"The broad genre of autobiography stands among the most robust categories of nonfiction writing. Bestseller lists show that readers love to learn about the lives of their fellow humans, particularly those with distinguished personal stories. A biography written by its subject is known as an autobiography. As a firsthand account of the author’s own life, an autobiography offers an unmatched level of intimacy to readers of the wider biography genre."

What Is an Autobiography?

An autobiography is a non-fiction story of a person’s life, written by the subject themselves from their own point of view. Autobiographies are a sub-genre of the broader category of biographies, but a standard biography is written by someone other than its subject—most commonly a historian—whereas an autobiography is written by the subject.

Here is some more information on what an autobiography is and what it is not.

Autobiography vs. Biography

Whereas biographies are written about someone other than the writer, autobiographies take a more introspective approach. Famous biographers include Doris Kearns Goodwin, who has written about Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt, and Robert Caro, who has written about Lyndon Johnson and Robert Moses. Biographers are known for developing great expertise about their subject. By contrast, an autobiographer only needs total expertise on one subject: themselves.

Autobiography vs. Memoir

An autobiography is closely related to the nonfiction format known as a memoir, but the two forms are not identical. Most notably, an autobiography is a first person account of its author’s entire life. A memoir does not document the memoirist’s entire life story but rather a selected era or a specific multi-era journey within that author’s life. Alternatively, a memoir may concern its author’s entire life, but present it through a particular lens—perhaps highlighting the events leading up to and surrounding their professional career. As such, a memoir is comparatively focused when considered side-by-side with an autobiography.

For instance, a professional athlete may document her entire life in her autobiography, while giving special emphasis to an era she believes will grab the reader’s interest, such as the summer she competed in the Olympic Games. If that same athlete had opted for memoir writing instead, she may have focused the entire memoir around those Olympic games. Rather than function as the story of the author’s life from birth to the present, her memoir would focus on retelling the period in her life for which she is most known.

Reference:

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-an-autobiography#6-things-to-include-in-an-autobiography

OK:  Now you have learned about what an autobiography is.  Now you get to write your own.  We will follow 8 steps.  This week we will start with the first 2 steps.  I realize that you guys are young, but I know you've had some fun and interesting things happen in your lives.  Make a list your fondest memories to help you create a great story about your life.  Remember, this should be real information.

Step 1. Start by Brainstorming.

The writing process begins by compiling any and all life experiences that you suspect might be compelling to a reader. As you sort through your own memories, be sure to cover all eras of your life—from childhood to now. Include things like your earliest memory, your best Christmas/Birthday present ever, when you learned to ride a bike, your first job and the episodes in your life you are most known for. Many of these episodes won’t make it into the final draft of your paper, but for now, keep the process broad and open.

Step 2. Craft an Outline.

Begin to organize a narrative around the most compelling episodes from your brainstorm. If you pace your life’s important events throughout your paper, you’ll be able to grip your readers’ attention from beginning to end.  Your paper should be at least 3 pages.  You may make it longer if you would like.

3. Gratishift: Make sure you are doing your gratitude lesson, statement, and journal worksheet each day if you made the commitment.  Or, make the commitment now!  This is a personal choice to do this or not. However, Sister Monsivais will have a pizza and dance party for everyone that completes the 30 days.  So, if you want to be a part of the party, you will need to complete 30 days.  If you already started, keep going from where you are.  If you haven't started yet, you still can. Do your best!  If it's overwhelming, remember you don't have to fill out every line on the journaling pages, just do what you can, or just read the gratitude statement. You have until February 20th to get through the 30 days. She will have more info at class.

4. Write 2 pages in your handwriting books.  Remember, you are working to improve your handwriting in these books.

5. Practice these spelling words!

academy - a place of study or training in a special field.

dangerous - able or likely to cause harm or injury.

probation - the release of an offender from detention, subject to a period of good behavior under supervision.

dodged - avoid (someone or something) by a sudden quick movement.

revolutionary - involving or causing a complete or dramatic change.

something - a thing that is unspecified or unknown.

shriveled - wrinkled and contracted, especially due to loss of moisture or old age.

compartment - a separate section of a structure or container in which items can be kept separate from others.

appeared - come into sight; become visible or noticeable, typically without visible agent or apparent cause.

guacamole - a dish of mashed avocado mixed with chopped onion, tomatoes, chili peppers, and seasoning.

interrupted - stop the continuous progress of (an activity or process).

thunderclap - a crash of thunder.

muscular - having well-developed muscles.

deliberately - consciously and intentionally; on purpose.

dissolve - (with reference to a solid) become or cause to become incorporated into a liquid so as to form a solution.

disintegrate - break up into small parts, typically as the result of impact or decay.

vaporize - convert or be converted into vapor.

straight/strait - extending or moving uniformly in one direction only; without a curve or bend./ a narrow passage of water connecting two seas or two other large areas of water.

primitive - relating to, denoting, or preserving the character of an early stage in the evolutionary or historical development of something.

prohibition - the action of forbidding something, especially by law

academydangerous

probation dodged

revolutionary something

shriveled compartment

appeared guacamole

interrupted thunderclap

muscular
deliberately dissolve

disintegrate vaporize

straight strait

primitive prohibition