April 8 April 12

Mondays Homework
FIRST LINES. Due Tuesday. Write down the first lines of 10 books or stories (e.g., First Line from Book by Author). Then come up with 10 first lines of your own, just from your imagination. Try to hook the reader in the first line; after reading each of these first lines, I should want to read the rest of the story. You can find books online for free at fulltextarchive.com.

Tuesdays Homework
FIRST DRAFT OF NARRATIVE. Due Wednesday. Rubric and Topics are attached. This is just the very first draft. It can be hand written. Dont worry so much about grammarjust try to get a main idea down.

Wednesdays Homework
WORK ON NARRATIVE. Second Draft Due Friday. Rubric and Topics are attached. The second draft should be 3 typed pages. A PARAGRAPH OF DESCRIPTION. Due Thursday. Read The Paragraph of Description packet. Annotate the example paragraphs for Describing a Person and Describing a Place and Describing a Thing and Mixing your Descriptions for sensory details (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) and powerful/vivid verbs. THEN write a paragraph of mixed descriptions. You can write this paragraph on something random or on something out of your narrative. I would suggest writing it on something in your narrative so that itll be less work for you in the long run.

Thursdays Homework
WORK ON NARRATIVE. Second Draft Due Friday. Rubric and Topics are attached. The second draft should be 3 typed pages. A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY. Quiz Friday. Read A Prayer for Owen Meany Chapter 8.

Fridays Homework
A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY ONLINE RESPONSE. Due Sunday at 9:00 online. Write a paragraph that analyzes John Irvings use of narrative detail, dialogue, key events, or vivid description in Chapter 8. Cite at least two pieces of evidence from the text to back up your conclusion. Respond to 2 posts of your peers by Monday. FINAL DRAFT NARRATIVE. Due Next Wednesday, April 10. Your final draft of your narrative essay is due on Wednesday, so if you want to get it done over the weekend, you can. Your final draft should include your rough draft with your peers comments and your final draft with your changes.

Narrative Essay Prompts 1. Lightbulb Moment. Think of an experience when you realized that you suddenly understood an idea, a skill, or a concept you had been struggling withit might be something related to a class that you took or a specific athletic skill you were trying to perfect. For instance, you might think about trying to understand how to identify iambic pentameter in a poem or suddenly understanding how to take a derivative in your Calculus class. Or you might consider trying to perfect your free throws and suddenly understanding how your follow-through was affecting your success. Write a narrative that tells the story of your movement toward understanding. How did you finally understand? What challenged your perceptions and gave you a new understanding? Your paper should help readers understand how you felt to struggle with the idea or skill and then to understand. 2. Childhood Event. Choose a vivid time from your childhoodyou might think of the first time that you rode a school buss, of a time when you went to the principals office, the first A you earned on a test or paper, earning money to buy something that you really wanted, and so on. Narrate the events related to the childhood memory that youve chosen so that your readers will understand why the event was important and memorable. 3. Achieving a Goal. Think of a time when you achieved a personal goalyou might have finally completed a marathon or triathlon, or you might have bettered your score on the SATs or another test, or you might have excelled at something in your job. Tell your readers about the story of how you met your goal. Be sure that your readers understand why the goal is important to you. 4. The Good and the Bad. Think about an event in your life that seemed bad but turned out to be good. Maybe you got injured and while you were waiting for your broken leg to heal, you learned a new skill. What makes the event change from bad to good may be something that you leaned as a result, something you did differently as a result, or something that happened that wouldnt have occurred otherwise. tell the story of the event that you experienced and help your readers understand how an event that seemed negative turned out to have valuable consequences. 5. Standing Up. Think of a time when you did something that took a lot of nerve, a time when you didnt follow the crowd or a time when you stood up for your beliefs. perhaps your friends were urging you to do something that you were uncomfortable with and you chose not to cave into peer pressure. Maybe you took a stance on a political issue that was important in your community. Whatever you choose, think about the details of the event and write a story that tells about what happened. your narrative should show your readers why you decided to make a stand or try something that took nerve, give specifics on the events, and share how you felt after the event. 6. Disagreeing. Think of a time when you disagreed with a decision that had been made and did something about it. The decision might have been made by someone you know personallyyour teacher announced a new policy for grading, or an older family member decides to cancel a subscription to a magazine that you like to read. You might have been responded by discussing your concerns with your principal or deans, you might have decided to get a part-time job to earn enough money to buy the magazine yourself. or the decision could have been made by someone you never metperhaps by the school board or the state legislature. Your response might have been to write a letter to the editor or your representative or to the school board. Whatever happened, your job is to write a paper that narrates the events that occurredfrom the decision that was made to your response. Be sure that your paper gives enough details that your readers understand why you disagreed with the decision and why you felt that your response was appropriate.

7. Changing Places. Every place has things that changesometimes the result of economics, sometimes because different people are involved, and sometimes for no clear reason that you know about. Think of a change to a place that you know well. Perhaps the local grocery store you grew up with was bought by a corporate chain. Perhaps the change was more personalan older sibling moves out of the house and your family changes the room into an office. Think of a specific change and narrate the events that occurred. Readers should know the details of the change, and they should know how you feel about the changes that occurred. 8. Story Option. Using one of the options above, write about the character/setting that you came up with in class last week. For instance, if I choose the Changing Places option, I would write a story about the details of a change that happened in my characters setting and how my character felt about the changes that occurred. This probably wont capture the entirety of the plot that youd imagined, but think of this as one chapter of your story that you are turning in. 9. Application Essay Option. If your college application essay or a scholarship essay asks about a personal experience, you can use that for your topic (if you okay it with me). The topic might ask you about a defining moment in your high school life, or maybe it asks you to describe a defining moment in your life. Topics like these are narrative topics and can be used. No matter which topic you picked, your story should be between 3-5 pages, typed, double-spaced with 12pt. font. It should describe a small moment in life with narrative details and dialogue. Once you have chosen a topic and decided on the key events to include in your narrative, you should write your first draft: you want to get all of your ideas down on paper. During this process, you should not worry about spelling or grammar or even if things sound great or completely make sense. When you write your second draft, you can begin to fix up whatever needs attention. While you are working on this next draft, keep in mind some of the important factors that will make your writing more vivid and engaging. Below is a list of some of the important elements you should consider as you are writing your next few drafts. First and foremost, you must always remember your audience, purpose, and tone. These are the foundations of any writing activity. Include a theme and motifs that act as thread woven throughout the narrative. Think about what message you are trying to get across and then thread that message throughout the story with repeated images and ideas in your narrative. Choose effective narrative details. These should be chosen in relation to your theme and should be used to reveal character, make actions specific, or offer explanations or reasons. Use dialogue selectively. Remember, dialogue does not necessarily reflect whole conversations. It is often used to dramatize and event or reveal characters convincingly. Enhance the reading experience through description. Vivid imagery relates specific sights, sounds, tastes feelings, and smells, allowing your reader to engage in the reading process. Establish pathos. Remember that a reader should feel a connection to the character when reading. Use powerful verbs and precise diction. Now is the time when you choose words carefully, especially since this a process essay: you will rewrite it several times. Word choice is not random or serendipitous. You must make a conscious effort when choosing the exact wording for your paper.

Rubric for Assessment of the Narrative Essay

(maximum of 15 points for each essay) Awesome Job! (3) Pretty Good (2)
Holds the readers attention, but there are some ideas that are repeated or sketchy details. The essay draws on some personal experience, yet makes the reader want more specifics. Some difficulty sensing the person behind the words. The paper almost sounds as if it is written from experience, yet some details appear invented; the writer is basically sincere.

Not Quite (1)

Tells the reader, does not show the details. There is a lack of development and building. The sequence of the story is confusing with repeated and/or unrelated details. Writer is distanced from the topic and/or reader. The writers personality sometimes disappears. The writer avoids risks and the paper is rife with clichs. The paper just barely communicates with the reader.

Unacceptable (0)
Main idea is unclear or out of focus. There is little or no development of an idea or theme. There is only a limited awareness of a purpose, and details are skimpy or nonexistent.

Ideas

Voice

Organization

Sentence Fluency

Hooks the readers attention, demonstrates insight; Strong sense of direction and clarity. Shows, does not tell, the reader what happens. The main ideas stand out; the reader learns something new. Paper sounds honest and true to the human experience and is written from the heart. It brings the topic to life and gives the reader a real sense of the time, place, and characters. It communicates the purpose, direction, and style to the reader. Sentences are logically organized to show how events unfold; all details fit where placed; flows so smoothly that the reader has no problem with understanding; strong and effective use of transitions. Variety of sentence structure and length; each sentence is a complete thought and builds on the one before. Sentence flow is pleasant and natural.

There is little or no sense of a person behind the words. The writer appears indifferent to the topic and fails to communicate with the reader.

Almost all details told in logical order with a beginning, middle, and end. The reader rarely feels lost; transitions fit where they are placed. Controlled and varied sentence structure and length. There arent many run-ons; good grasp of sentence flow.

Some sense of order and direction; transitions are weak. The main idea needs more development

No clear sense of order; no transitions or they are used incorrectly; the paper is mostly off topic; main ideas lack development

MECHANICS
Spelling, punctuation, capitalization

Almost all errors in the rough draft are corrected. The final paper is error free in grammar, format, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. Nothing to distract or confuse the reader.

Moderate editing/proof-reading needed; few errors in grammar, format, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. Minor errors in verb tenses, yet does not confuse the reader.

Simple and/or awkward sentences are everywhere; there are some fragments and run-ons; its difficult to tell where sentences begin and end; writer struggles with sentence flow. Some errors in grammar, format, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. Paper reads like a rough draft and there is some reader confusion.

Weak and repetitive sentences put the reader to sleep; short, choppy sentences; too many fragments and run-ons; the reader often has to pause and figure out whats going on. Frequent errors in grammar, format, punctuation and spelling; thorough editing/proofreading needed. The paper is difficult to understand.

Introduction/Conclusion _______ Main Points _______ Organization _______ Style _______ Mechanics _______ Total Points ______ = grade of ______

Grade Equivalent (15 points maximum): A = 13 - 15 points B = 10 - 12 points C = 7 - 9 points D = 4 - 6 points F= 0-3