August 24, 2010August 24, 2010

Procedures:Procedures:

1.1. Take your seat.Take your seat.

2.2. Take out your portfolio folder and a pen, Take out your portfolio folder and a pen, pencil, or marker.pencil, or marker.

3.3. Read the “Writing Portfolio Requirements” Read the “Writing Portfolio Requirements” handout (5 minutes) and place handout in handout (5 minutes) and place handout in folder.folder.

Portfolio Piece #1Portfolio Piece #1

A A reflective compositionreflective composition. The reflective composition . The reflective composition uses personal experiences as a basis for reflection on uses personal experiences as a basis for reflection on some aspect of life; draws abstract comparisons some aspect of life; draws abstract comparisons between specific incidents and abstract concepts; between specific incidents and abstract concepts; maintains a balance between describing incidents and maintains a balance between describing incidents and relating them to more general, abstracts ideas that relating them to more general, abstracts ideas that illustrate personal beliefs; and moves from specific illustrate personal beliefs; and moves from specific examples to generalizations about life. examples to generalizations about life.

Quickwrite #2 Quickwrite #2 5 minutes5 minutes

You will be reading an excerpt of a reflective You will be reading an excerpt of a reflective composition by Mark Twain called “Life on composition by Mark Twain called “Life on the Mississippi”. In this excerpt, Twain recalls the Mississippi”. In this excerpt, Twain recalls how his view of the Mississippi River changed how his view of the Mississippi River changed as he became a riverboat pilot. Have you ever as he became a riverboat pilot. Have you ever experienced a change of heart as you learned experienced a change of heart as you learned more about a person, an activity, a place, or a more about a person, an activity, a place, or a subject? Explain. What were your initial subject? Explain. What were your initial feelings? How did your feelings change as you feelings? How did your feelings change as you became more knowledgeable? became more knowledgeable?

Pre-reading VocabularyPre-reading Vocabulary

Objectives: Students will skim the text to identify the Objectives: Students will skim the text to identify the passage’s vocabulary words (14 total). In their passage’s vocabulary words (14 total). In their notebooks, students will write the word, its meaning, notebooks, students will write the word, its meaning, and the sentence in which each word appears. and the sentence in which each word appears.

ExampleExample: : facultiesfaculties (p.670) = abilities (p.670) = abilities

If I had really known what I was about to require of If I had really known what I was about to require of my my facultiesfaculties, I should not have had the courage to , I should not have had the courage to begin. begin.

Quickwrite #3 (5 Minutes) Describe the mood/tone conveyed in Quickwrite #3 (5 Minutes) Describe the mood/tone conveyed in in this image.in this image.

Connecting what you’ll be reading to Connecting what you’ll be reading to what you’ll be writing…..what you’ll be writing…..

““Life on the Mississippi” is a memoir, another Life on the Mississippi” is a memoir, another word for a word for a reflective compositionreflective composition..

Mark Twain does a good job of following the Mark Twain does a good job of following the 6 traits of writing. His IDEAS, WORD 6 traits of writing. His IDEAS, WORD CHOICE, and VOICE are especially well CHOICE, and VOICE are especially well done. Twain writes from personal experience, done. Twain writes from personal experience, and he uses vivid words to help readers and he uses vivid words to help readers visualize. visualize.

Active Reading ChartActive Reading Chart Objective: As they read, students will record the details and comparisons Objective: As they read, students will record the details and comparisons

that help you clearly visualize Twain’s experiences on the Mississippi.that help you clearly visualize Twain’s experiences on the Mississippi.

DETAILSDETAILS

Make a list of Make a list of five five details details that help you visualize as that help you visualize as you read the story. Write the you read the story. Write the page number after each page number after each detail.detail.

Example: “A broad expanse of the Example: “A broad expanse of the river was turned to blood; in the river was turned to blood; in the middle distance, the red hue middle distance, the red hue brightened into gold…..” (p. 674)brightened into gold…..” (p. 674)

COMPARISONSCOMPARISONS

Make a list of Make a list of three three comparisons (e.g. similes comparisons (e.g. similes and metaphors) as you read and metaphors) as you read the story. Write or the story. Write or underlineunderline what was being compared. what was being compared. Include the page number.Include the page number.

Example: “….and high above the Example: “….and high above the forest wall a clean-stemmed dead forest wall a clean-stemmed dead tree waved a single leafy tree waved a single leafy boughbough that glowed like a that glowed like a flameflame in the in the unobstructed splendor that was unobstructed splendor that was flowing from the sun” (p.674)flowing from the sun” (p.674)

Directions for readingDirections for reading

You may read individually or with a partner. You may read individually or with a partner. The point of The point of partner readingpartner reading is to help one another is to help one another comprehend comprehend

the textthe text. If you feel that you may need assistance in . If you feel that you may need assistance in understanding the text, then you may choose a partner with understanding the text, then you may choose a partner with which to read. which to read.

If you choose to partner read, follow these directionsIf you choose to partner read, follow these directions::1.1. Choose what parts each person will read aloud (low voices). Choose what parts each person will read aloud (low voices). 2.2. When you are not reading, follow along with your eyes and When you are not reading, follow along with your eyes and

mind. Don’t daydream or get off task!mind. Don’t daydream or get off task!3.3. Pause at times to add items to the chart. Remember, you Pause at times to add items to the chart. Remember, you

need 5 details and 3 comparisons. need 5 details and 3 comparisons.

September 1, 2010September 1, 2010Warm-Up: Difficult wordsWarm-Up: Difficult words

As you read Mark Twain’s “Life on the Mississippi,” As you read Mark Twain’s “Life on the Mississippi,” there were probably several words that you found there were probably several words that you found challenging (other than the 14 vocabulary words). challenging (other than the 14 vocabulary words). Choose 2 words that you didn’t know in the reading. Choose 2 words that you didn’t know in the reading. In your notebook, write:In your notebook, write:

the word,the word, what you what you thinkthink it may mean (based on context clues), it may mean (based on context clues), and finally, the real definition (You’ll need to look it and finally, the real definition (You’ll need to look it

up in a dictionary). up in a dictionary).

Post-reading questionsPost-reading questionsObjective: When they have finished reading “Life on the Mississippi,” Objective: When they have finished reading “Life on the Mississippi,”

students will answer the following questions in their notebooks.students will answer the following questions in their notebooks.

1. What 1. What diddid you get out of the reading: a) What did you you get out of the reading: a) What did you understand, and b) What did you understand, and b) What did you noticenotice about about Twain’s memoir (his writing style, word choice, Twain’s memoir (his writing style, word choice, ideas, voice, etc.)?ideas, voice, etc.)?

2. What questions do you still have? What parts of the 2. What questions do you still have? What parts of the composition did you composition did you notnot understand? understand?

3. On what page does Twain’s description of the river 3. On what page does Twain’s description of the river change as the story progresses? (Look back at the change as the story progresses? (Look back at the reading) Why does his description change?reading) Why does his description change?

4. On page 675, Twain writes, “No, the romance and 4. On page 675, Twain writes, “No, the romance and beauty were all gone from the river.” Why has Twain beauty were all gone from the river.” Why has Twain lost this aesthetic point of view of the Mississippi? lost this aesthetic point of view of the Mississippi?

Post-reading questionsPost-reading questionscontinued….continued….

A A reflective compositionreflective composition. The reflective composition uses . The reflective composition uses personal personal experiences as a basis for reflectionexperiences as a basis for reflection on some aspect of life; on some aspect of life; draws abstract draws abstract comparisonscomparisons between specific incidents and abstract concepts; maintains a between specific incidents and abstract concepts; maintains a balance between describing incidents and balance between describing incidents and relating them to more general, relating them to more general, abstracts ideas that illustrate personal beliefs; and moves from specific abstracts ideas that illustrate personal beliefs; and moves from specific examples to generalizations about life.examples to generalizations about life.

5. What 5. What personal experiencespersonal experiences does Twain reflect on? does Twain reflect on? 6. Star (*) one abstract comparison in your Active Reading Chart 6. Star (*) one abstract comparison in your Active Reading Chart

that you liked best. that you liked best. 7. For this last part, reread page 675, beginning at, “No, the 7. For this last part, reread page 675, beginning at, “No, the

romance and beauty were all gone from the river.” What romance and beauty were all gone from the river.” What specific example does Twain use in the end of the excerpt? specific example does Twain use in the end of the excerpt? What personal belief / generalization about life is Twain What personal belief / generalization about life is Twain relating?relating?

Post-reading questionsPost-reading questionscontinued…. continued….

Analysis of Twain’s Writing: Ideas, Word Choice, and VoiceAnalysis of Twain’s Writing: Ideas, Word Choice, and Voice

Turn back at your “6 traits notes”. Turn back at your “6 traits notes”. We will assess how good a job Twain did at We will assess how good a job Twain did at

addressing these traits of writing: Ideas, Word addressing these traits of writing: Ideas, Word Choice, and Voice.Choice, and Voice.

Ideas & ContentIdeas & Content

A writer should:A writer should:~ ~ Narrow the topic to something specificNarrow the topic to something specific

~ Use a fresh, original perspective ~ Use a fresh, original perspective

~ When possible, write from experience~ When possible, write from experience

~ Use important, interesting details~ Use important, interesting details

(not just common knowledge)(not just common knowledge)

Word ChoiceWord Choice

A writer should:A writer should:~ Use words that create a mental picture for the reader~ Use words that create a mental picture for the reader~ Use powerful action verbs (vivid verbs)~ Use powerful action verbs (vivid verbs)

8. Give examples of 8. Give examples of twotwo good action verbs used by Twain. good action verbs used by Twain.~ Use specific nouns and adjectives~ Use specific nouns and adjectives

9. Gives examples of 9. Gives examples of twotwo good nouns and good nouns and twotwo good adjectives that good adjectives that Twain uses.Twain uses.

~ Use language that is natural and not overdone~ Use language that is natural and not overdone10. Give 10. Give oneone example of a piece of “natural” dialogue that Twain example of a piece of “natural” dialogue that Twain uses.uses.

~ Be concise (tighten sentences)~ Be concise (tighten sentences)11. Give one example of a short, tight sentence that Twain uses that 11. Give one example of a short, tight sentence that Twain uses that is effective.is effective.

~ Use words correctly ~ Use words correctly ~ Avoid repetition, slang, and clichés ~ Avoid repetition, slang, and clichés

Voice Voice

A writer should:A writer should:~ Write honestly and from the heart~ Write honestly and from the heart

~ Interact with the reader~ Interact with the reader

* without using YOU (unless genre permits)* without using YOU (unless genre permits)

~ Use language that brings the topic to life~ Use language that brings the topic to life

~ Care about topic~ Care about topic

~ Use expression to voice personality ~ Use expression to voice personality

12. After reading, describe Twain’s personality. Use an 12. After reading, describe Twain’s personality. Use an example from the text to support your description.example from the text to support your description.

Extra CreditExtra CreditIf you finish your questions If you finish your questions

early……early……Read Mark Twain’s epigrams on page 678 and perform Read Mark Twain’s epigrams on page 678 and perform the following activities for extra credit. The amount of the following activities for extra credit. The amount of extra credit you earn depends on the accuracy and depth extra credit you earn depends on the accuracy and depth of your answers.of your answers.

1.1. Based on reading the epigrams provided, provide a Based on reading the epigrams provided, provide a definition of an epigram.definition of an epigram.

2.2. Twain is known for using comic exaggeration in his Twain is known for using comic exaggeration in his writing. Explain Twain’s use of comic exaggeration in writing. Explain Twain’s use of comic exaggeration in twotwo of his epigrams. of his epigrams.

3.3. Choose your favorite epigram on page 678 and copy it in Choose your favorite epigram on page 678 and copy it in your notebook. Why is it your favorite?your notebook. Why is it your favorite?