Mapping Out Short Story

Short Story Unit & Reading Log: Week 7

Wow... I can't believe we have gotten this far with our unit, and this far into our school year already! Over all, I have learned that there are many different components to a short story like character and setting. Within those components there are also sub topics that I never knew about. Having Prezis on the board and class discussion have been helpful to learn these components as well. Even though my block gets out of hand a little, I was able to look at the board and get notes while people where talking so that was helpful.

My favorite was the one about Harrison. It was crazy and weird and very enjoyable to read. As I kept on reading more and more stories, I was able to understand the stories more and more as well! Through out my learning experience with short stories, I feel like I have learned how to write my own. I'm very excited to write my own and make it as unique as the others!

Reading Log ~ Week 7:
Reading & Annotating A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings ~ 36 minutes
In Class Reading (Hate List By: Jennifer Brown) ~ 13 minutes
Reading & Annotating Dry September ~ 43 minutes
Reading Hate List By: Jennifer Brown ~ 28 minutes

Comments:
Ellie's Blog ~ Short Story Plot
Nina's Post ~ Short Stories

Character Before Sleep

I'm so happy I am in bed. I feel like I haven't been to bed this early since freshman year in high school. Boy do I miss high school. I miss the teachers who were understanding, and I was able to talk to. I miss my old friends and my parents paying for almost everything. Wait...what am I talking about? I hated high school, there was so much drama. People would be ticked off over anything. I'm so glad to be moved out of my house and living in my own apartment. College is great! There are new friends, cute guys, more events, and much more. I was waiting for four years till this moment, and now I'm actually living it in.

College is weird though. Sure I love it a lot, but I feel like something is different about this college. The people I feel like know me, and everything about me and my past. Why did the Smoothie King worker ask how I'm doing with my parents divorce... I don't know her. I've never even seen her. What about the weird, but very attractive baseball player Dylan. He's number 32, such cute number, but I don't know him. Yet he came and talked to me about how to become better in English. Sure I'm a terrible english student, but I haven't asked anyone to help me or find me help. Maybe this is just a great college, that cares about you as a student. It might not be such a bad thing. I mean they were tryin to help me, right? What about that physco teacher that has the cracked glasses. Every corner I turn, I see him in my peripheral vision. He has to be up to something and so do the others. I need to tell Brittany about this. I guess I'll do that tomorrow, she could help me right? Ugh, I hope so cause this college is weird.

Reading Response & Reading Log: Week 6

As I have mentioned before in my reading log I am reading Hate List, and I still am. Hate List is about a boyfriend and girlfriend who create a book called the Hate List. Within this book, they included anything or person that they hated. One day the boyfriend, Nick decided to shot everyone on the Hate List in order at school. Valerie, the girlfriend, didn't realize this until he was going in order.

This book is very interesting especially because a school shooting happened somewhat recently. I love reading and figuring out details about this instance as the book continues forward. Everyone who as read it says it just gets better, so I'm exited to keep reading on.

 Even though I am enjoying to book, I do not like how it jumps around. It will go from the day that Nick was shooting, to Valerie being in the hospital, then back to current day school life. It is sometimes hard for me to understand what period of time each new chapter is during, so I'm reading much slower than I usually do, but I don't want to give up. I'm taking my peers advice and continuing forward because as they said it just gets better, so I can't wait.



Reading Log: Week 6
Reading & Annotating Harrison Bergeron ~ 37 minutes
In Class Reading (Hate List By: Jennifer Brown) ~ 10 minutes
Reading & Annotating To Da-duh, in Memoriam ~ 33 minutes
In Class Reading (Hate List By: Jennifer Brown) ~ 10 minutes
Reading & Annotating A & P ~ 31 minutes

Total: 121 minutes

Comments:
Parker's Blog: Writing in the voice of my character
Maddie's Blog: Short story characters thoughts

eBook & Reading Log: Week 5

After the presentation we had about ebooks, I am excited to make one of our own. The examples Dr. D showed us in class we so cool. Even though they were different, each had details that caught my eye. I am a little nervous of it being public, but at the same time I'm excited. I will be able to read my fellows classmates pieces that I would not have the chance to read and they can also read mine as well.

Before publishing the ebook our class would need to think of a great title that catches the eye of the reader. We also would need a vivd title page that does the same job. I think it would be neat to have a copy right page like the examples did because it looks official which is always cool. We also should include a table of contents page that make our book organized. It would also be great if there are media like pictures and videos that would appeal to our readers.

Besides creating and preparing the ebook, I need to prepare my piece as well. I'm thankful that I don't need to change any names because I already as my sister for permission. I do want to double check my spelling and punctuation before publishing it, and adding a picture of one of the letters as well. Overall, I don't think I need much changes.I can't wait for the book to be put together and up and running. I am curious how it is going to look and turn out. Guess I will just have to wait and see!


Reading Log: Week 5
Working on 2nd Draft ~ 57 minutes
Working on Final ~ 33 minutes
Editing ~ 18 minutes
Reading Hate List By: Jennifer Brown ~ 15 minutes

Total: 123 minutes

Comments:
William's Blog : Reading Response 5
Kaylin's Blog : E-Book And Things

Peer Reading: Literacy Narrative

"We are going to be peer editing today." I heard this sentence come out of my teacher's mouth. As Dr. D said that I knew there would be good and bad things. The good thing was I was going to be able to read my fellow classmates papers, see how I could improve, and help other people improve. The bad thing was, sometimes people are just careless, and say good paper. They don't give you any real feedback in order to make your paper better. Keeping that in mind, I knew I didn't want to be one of those people.

As the papers began to be passed around, people were looking to see who has theres. The first paper I received was Clark's. It was a vivid story about one of his past teachers in lower school. This teacher gave him a large point value essay that he was not wanting to do. Clark decided to push through it, and afterwards realized that this teacher pushed him to become a better writer. The story was very relatable because many of teachers have the same effect on me. Clark had great ideas though out the paper as well. When I fished reading and adding suggestions to Clark's, Dr. D handed me another paper to read. This paper belong to one of my good friends, Ellie. I knew I couldn't wait to read it.

As I finished reading the first paragraph, the bell rang to go the next class. Ellie told me I could keep it, finish reading and then hand it back to her later. I was excited because I knew what her paper was about, but I didn't know the details. Ellie's paper was about her Spring Break experience. In order to go she and two friends needed to persuade Ellie's father or his girlfriend to take them to her condo. They all decided to write a letter and it worked. As I was reading this paper, I realized that it was vivid as well. Some of the scenes I could imagine in my head. It was like I was watching a movie. She also included great dialog that as a reader is always interesting to read. I finished Ellie's, made comments, and handed it back to her before lunch. I couldn't wait to read mine because I never had a chance to after class.

During tutorial, I finally had a chance to read my comments. As I opened my paper I was a little upset. I didn't receive a lot of comments which is good because people thought my writing was good, but its hard to edit off of no comments. Although I was a little upset, I didn't really mind. I was able to read two great papers that day, which made everything all better.

Reading Log: Week 4

Working in Tutorial(Rough Draft) ~ 35 minutes
Working on Rough Draft ~ 28 minutes
Last Minute Rough Draft Changes ~ 11 minutes
Hate List By: Jennifer Brown ~ 26 minutes
225 Magazine : 13 minutes
Hate List By: Jennifer Brown ~ 17 minutes

Total: 130 minutes

Comments:
Rory's Blog ~ Dialog
Ernie's Blog ~ The Talk of Liars

Travel Troubles

          It's a late Friday night, and the sky is dark as ink. Claire and her mother are on their way to the beach for Fall Break. They are on a road that is surrounded by trees. and has no signs or lights.

         "Mom, when are we gonna be there?" Claire whines.

          "Soon," her mother responds.

          "How much longer?"

          "Not much."

          "When can we eat?"

          "The next stop we see."

          "Is everyone else already there?"

          "I don't know my phone is dead."

          "Do you have a charger to charge it?"

          "In my bag, yes."

          "Do you want me to get it for you?"

          "No thank you."

          "Are we lost? Do I need to look up directions? Do you want me to call someone? Maybe dad could help us, think so?"

          As Claire went on and on, so did the drive. A little while later, she was passed out in the passenger seat, no more questions to be ask. In a few hours, the sun would rise and it would be morning. Will they make it in time? Will they make it to the beach? Will they be lost forever?

Literacy Narrative

Even though I just recently turn in my rough draft, I enjoyed writing this assignment. I personally like it because my topic that I chose occurred in the past. This allows me to think about my past, how things have changed, and how things haven't change. I also am enjoying that it is personal. It's easier for me to write because its about me.

So, far I have yet to hit major bumps along the road. I often have trouble repeating myself wither it is thoughts or words, it will happening a handful of times throughout my work. I also don't have that many questions. Although I missed Friday for the pep rally, Im not able to answer on what advice I'd like from my classmates. 

I'm looking forward to continuing on this paper, because it is one of the few that I am enjoying. I actually found a letter that I wrote her tester when packing up my house, so it was fun to read over it. Maybe pieces of it will appear in my final draft. Who knows?

Reading Log: Week 3

In Class Reading ~ 12 minutes (Two Way Street By: Lauren Barnholdt)

Annotate The Norton Field Guide ~ 44 minutes

In Class Reading ~ 10 minutes (Hate List By: Jennifer Brown)

In Class Reading ~ 14 minutes (Hate List By: Jennifer Brown)

Hate List By: Jennifer Brown ~ 47 minutes

Comments:
Kaylin's Post ~ 5 Natural Household Ingredients To Get Ride of a Sunburn
Carson's Post ~ Free Writing 3