February 27, 2018

Sentence Structure and MLA format

Today, we will be working on our writing using our “Powder” paragraphs. 

Please have your writing open in one tab and the course blog in another. We will go through a slideshow on sentence structure and then you will revise your writing.  

SENTENCE STRUCTURE PRESENTATION

Make a second copy of your writing. 

Triple space the writing. 

Highlight simple sentences in yellow, compound sentences, in blue, complex sentences in green, and compound-complex sentences in pink.

Your goal is to have at least one of each of the types of sentences. 

Once you have revised your writing both using my feedback and re-writing your sentences, you will set-up your writing in MLA format. 

MLA Template 

  1. Down load and upload this document.
  2. Name it MLA Template
  3. Read the document
  4. Make a new document; Save As. 
  5. Call the new document “Powder” Paragraph Assignment
  6. Delete the text
  7. Format the top of the page with your details
  8. Paste your revised “Powder” paragraph into this document.
  9. Format it according to MLA style guidelines
  10. Create a Works Cited using the following information:

Tobias Wolff

“Powder” in Between the Lines on pp. 312-315

Published by Neslson in 2001

February 25, 2018

 

READER’S NOTES. WHY DO THEM?

Textual analysis is at the heart of  English courses. We always need to ask ourselves: “How does one approach a text?” Is there, for example, a right or wrong interpretation of a text? Should we look at texts through various lenses, hunting for a deeper meaning? Is everyone entitled to his or her own interpretation of a text? 

In this course, you are learning to identify the narrative elements (plot, character, point of view, mood, tone, conflict, setting) and literary devices (symbols, metaphors, personification, flashbacks, foreshadowing) of a text. Then you are thinking about how the author uses them along with his or her style choices (diction, sentence length, dialogue) to explore various themes in the text. This information you are gathering in your READER’S NOTES. 

NARRATIVE ELEMENTS + LITERARY DEVICES + YOUR THINKING = READER’S NOTES

We have also taken notes and worked on the vocabulary for various text formats (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, mythology, and visual texts). The goal is for you to use this information when you talk or write about your books. When we use evidence from the text to support our thinking about the text, then we are ANALYZING the text. 

YOUR READER’S NOTES (your thinking + evidence from the text) = ANALYSIS

In order for you to analyze a graphic text, you need to know the elements of the form, so you can create reader’s notes and do the analysis. 

READ and work on Reader’s Notes

Conference with Ms. B re: “Powder” paragraph

Tracking Sheet

 

February 23, 2018

Author’s Style

Reader’s Notes Phase 2: Author’s Style PPT

Apply to “Powder” 

Phase 2: Author’s style with your lit book—>submit these notes to me. 

Next step: Work on concept map.