Thursday, December 11, 2008

The Story of My Scar

Tell the story of how you got a scar on your body.

A "Seasonal" Online Notebook

Base your observations on seasonal events around Vancouver or wherever you live. No strict deadlines. Our next class will be on January 8, 2009, so try to make one comment before that date.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Using Your Nose

Write a memory piece where you mention at least three different smells. Include one other person (character) in the piece. The writing may come from your life, but feel free to fictionalize if you wish. Length of 150 to 200 words or so in as many paragraphs as needed. Follow all the rules of writing you've learned so far. The "nose" knows!

Online Notebook for December 4 to 11

Use the words, "bird," "regret," "mud," and "sliver" in your writing this week. Feel free to use adjectives sparingly! If you can use all the words and still make sense that would be best. Have fun and see you next week!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Introductions to Essays Selected for Publication

Please post the introductions to the essays that your group selected for publication in the Pearson Buzz. Introductions should be no more than 50 to 75 words and should give reasons for the essay's selection for publication.

Online Notebook for November 28 to December 4

This week, please comment only on weather. Write about anything that comes to mind, but please remember to consider the five senses when observing the world of weather around you!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

100 Word Place Description with NO Adjectives

Following Keith Grey's ideas, write a 100 word (strict limit, please) description of a place that uses NO adjectives of any kind. Use metaphors as Grey suggests and a have a character interacting with the environment. Good luck!

Online Notebook for November 20 to 27

This week, concentrate on describing someone using a metaphor (or simile). Make your description 50 words or fewer. Remember fresh metaphor is best!

The Caption Contest

Just for fun, we'll try writing a caption to match this week's Caption Contest from The New Yorker magazine. Be sure to check the links provided in the article on how to win for more ideas and information on writing the best caption. Have fun! Enter your caption as a comment to this post, but, if you are brave, register at The New Yorker and submit it by Sunday night for a chance to win!

Here are the three winning entries:

"I am useless until I have my morning turkey."
Submitted by Corey Lowney
Wappingers Falls, N.Y.
"I was actually hoping for a boy."
Submitted by Antonia Boyette
Los Angeles, Calif.
"I miss the cash bonuses."
Submitted by Robert Becker
Northford, Conn.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Online Notebook for November 13-20

Make this week a description of something seen or heard or felt or smelled or tasted that is part of the natural world. See you next Thursday!

In the Beginning: A Dilemma

Take your character from last week's exercise (or use a new character if you wish) and give them a dilemma (a problem). Connect it to the character's ambition or secret. Write about the same number of words, but concentrate on conflict and making a beginning to a story.

In Keith Grey's words: "Decide how you are going to start your story. Can you think of an opening scene that will help you explain the Dilemma to your reader?" Link to podcast if you'd like to view it again.

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Discovering a Story through a Character

Fiction writer Ali Smith uses this exercise to help her find a story:

"Think of a person you've noticed, but don't know—a drugstore clerk, a bus driver, a politician, a celebrity. Using the first-person, write a two page scene [200 to 300 words is plenty] that describes a moment in the life that you imagine for that person. What is he/she thinking about? What matters to him/her? What doesn't? How does his/her mind work?"

Also, use the information from Keith Gray's, Episode 2: Characters, to help you make this character as realistic as possible.

Online Notebook for November 6-13

Continue making observations for the notebook. This week, try something different: comment on a TV show you watched, a book you are reading, a newspaper article you liked/disliked. Keep it short. Last week's were fun and interesting. Try to make at least one post here this week.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

An Online "Notebook"

As Keith Gray says, "Good writers are good observers." This week, pay attention to your surroundings (see the handout for more ideas) and put your short observations here for all of us to share. You don't need to write anything long or complicated. Just tell us what you saw or read or overheard. Have fun!

Here's a link to Keith Gray's short video on Ideas and Inspiration. You can also find the information sheet here in word format if you missed Thursday's class.

Short Stories at Writeboard.com (for editing)

Here's a place where you can continue to work on the story (and soon, where everyone can make suggestions and changes to it). 

NEW: I've made changes to all the stories (first three to four paragraphs) and inserted comments inside your text (in italics) and a comment at the end as well. We'll look at how to use Writeboard.com in class this week. 

Struggling to Survive by Esther

Perfect Man by Makassia

Making Notes by Snow

A Good Beginning by Hongxin Guo

The Anniversary by Beatrice




Thursday, October 16, 2008

A Short Story (1000 to 1500 words)

Now's the time to begin work on something BIG! Don't worry if it is not perfect. Follow Snow's advice and get the story started; perhaps start with an interesting character in some difficult situation. Like Catherine said, look to life for ideas.

Try to have something here before next class. I will too!

14 Tips for Writing the Short Short Story (some pretty good advice; scroll down to read)

Anton Chekhov's Short Stories (often very short so are good models to follow)

Short Stories: 10 Tips for Novice Creative Writers

Revised Work in Progress

We've come a long way (and have a long way to go!), but I am sure that you all know more about what makes good writing already. Use this post to give us samples of work you've revised. Take it from anything we've done so far.

After your revision, provide us with some idea of what you changed, and why. Perhaps get rid of those "cursed" topic sentences or add descriptive details or remove the "telling" parts and replace them with showing?

See you on October 30!

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Your Backyard Adventures

Write about 200 to 400 words about your backyard or outdoor adventures as a child. Write in the 3rd person (he or she, not I).

Use what you know about good storytelling in your work. Make sure your settings are interesting and, perhaps, try using parts of the 8 point "arc" to tell a better story.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Writing about Lunch in a Public Setting

Write about 200 words about having lunch in a public setting. Begin by establishing the setting (and avoid the dreaded "curse" of the topic sentence). Include some dialogue and try to be humourous if you can. Remember to "name names" by identifying real world objects: think of Connie's "Lock Lock" cup. Mentioning a specific cup is better than just an ordinary cup.

Have fun!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Student Samples of Published Authors' Indirect Characterization

Here's where you can put in short (no more than 100 words, please) examples of favourite indirect characterization by an author you have read. Choose a segment that has pleasing sentence structures, outstanding description etc. Please also give a short (up to 25 words) reason for submitting it to us and identify the author's full name and the full title, also.

The Jealous Character

Put your 75-word indirect character description for "The Jealous Character" here.

The Naive Character

Put your 75-word indirect character descriptions here for "The Naive Character."

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Imitating the Great Writers (London or Shields)

Put your own setting example here that imitates the style and structure of the two examples given to you in class today. Try to write as close an imitation as you can. Describe any setting you wish in any way that works! Please complete before next class so we can admire your work . . .

Student Samples of Published Authors' Settings

Here's where you can put in short (no more than 50 words, please) examples of favourite setting writing by an author you have read. Choose a segment that has pleasing sentence structures, outstanding description etc. Please also give a short (up to 25 words) reason for submitting it to us and identify the author's full name and the full title, also.

Welcome Writers!

Here are some words from bestselling author of The Shawshank Redemption, Stephen King, to get us started:
"I'm not asking you to come reverently or unquestioningly; I'm not asking you to be politically correct or cast aside your sense of humor (please God have one). This isn't a popularity contest, it's not the moral Olympics, and it's not church. But it's writing, damn it, not washing the car or putting on eyeliner. If you can take it seriously, we can do business. If you can't or won't, it's time for you to close the book and do something else. Wash the car, maybe."—Stephen King in his book, On Writing.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

A Disgusting Setting

Here's your first opportunity to share your writing. Write a short (50 to 100 words maximum) setting that evokes a feeling of disgust. Leave out any characters for now. Also, do not use the word "disgust" or any synonym in your piece. Have fun!

Friday, June 06, 2008

Essays on What I Learned in Writing 12

Post them here for the other students to see if you wish.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Advice to Parents

What advice would you give to parents about disciplining their children? Write a short piece of approximately 300 words. Due before next class on Thursday, May 29th.

Link to Suzanne's piece at Writeboard.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

That's Interesting!

Write a short piece for the category "That's Interesting." Choose an interesting person or event in your life to write about. Please do not write about the place you visited and wrote about in last week's travel journal! Also, avoid writing about any cultural event that you wrote about in a previous assignment for this course.

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Travel Journal

Write a short article (300 to 500 words) about a place that you have visited as a traveller. As we read in Martin Li’s article, “Remember that most places you write about will already have been written about before. Your challenge is to find something new and original to say.”

Friday, May 02, 2008

Brad's Writeboard Edits

In the interest of saving some time, I have edited a few pieces to get them ready for The Pearson Buzz: The Beneficial Course: Civics Studies 11; Biology 12: Understanding the Human Body; All You Want to Know about Writing 12; Accounting 11: A Practical Choice ; My Teacher Louise

Check them to see what I've changed. Published at The Pearson Buzz: My Teacher Louise; The Beneficial Course: Civics Studies 11; Pyramid of Society.

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Introductions to English 11 and 12 Pieces

Write a brief, 75 to 100-word, introduction to the piece. Make us want to read it and make clear why we chose it. Enjoy your time with Renuka and work hard. Thanks! Work on these this week as she would be pleased to see them and help you with your composition. Have them finished for sure by May 17th so I can publish on Victoria Day weekend. Yes, I will share some pictures with you on my return.

Ruth: Victoria's piece, Friendly Canada
Natalia: Catalina's, Halloween Every Day and Josephine's two pieces and Beatrice's, Maybe He Was Right (anyone want to volunteer to help Natalia?; let her know)
Suzanne: Andrew's, Pyramid of Society
Masaru: Teresa's Do I Need to . . .
Hongxin: Mavis's piece, Keeping Speed or Braking
Ben: Aileen's piece, Lack of Respect for Cashiers

Orphans that anyone can volunteer to do:

Renee's piece Always Waiting
Lola's piece Thorn in the Butt

Friday, April 18, 2008

Links to English 11 and 12 Articles

Use the links to read their articles. They have a deadline of Tuesday April 29 at 6:00 p.m. If you can comment on the articles you like the best and explain why before my classes on Wednesday, April 30, the students would appreciate it very much!

NOTE: Natalia's piece, "How I Robbed My Landlords" is published at The Pearson Buzz. Sorry, I didn't post earlier as I note you've done another revision. We can discuss in class tomorrow.

English 11 Rants
English 11 Cultural Differences

English 12 Rants
English 12 Cultural Differences

Top Ten Tips

Put your Top Ten Tips here, please.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Edits with Simile Added

Take any one of your previous pieces and see if you can improve it by adding a simile! Don't go overboard, however. A single simile is often enough!

NEW: Published today: Suzanne's piece on L and Masaru's piece on Brad.

Simile Simile Simile

Put your sample similes here. No need to do all ten unless you are as hardworking as a RAV line tunneler trying to get ready for the Olympics!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Teacher Profiles: Edits at Writeboard

For the teacher profiles you worked on this week, make the changes you suggest before next week's class. Be sure to identify yourself when you edit so we can see who made the changes. The password is writing12 for all writeboards. Please also check pieces you didn't have time for in class if you have ideas or edits to share.

NEW: Two articles published at pbuzz.net: An Upside Down World (Masaru) and St Barnabas Church (Natalia)

"My Teacher Louise"
A Young Teacher: Renuka
A Full Grown Prairie Soul Boy: Brad
A Wonderful Teacher: Cheryl
Teachers in PALC (L)

What Makes Us Laugh?

Post your stories and anecdotes here. Short pieces are fine. Suzanne's example about her granddaughter could be done in 100 to 150 words, for example, or expanded to include some other funny things said at other times.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Introducing a Course from a Student's Point of View

Put your drafts here before our next class on March 27. Have a great vacation everyone. There are some writeboards in below posts if you wish to do some editing work on existing pieces.

NOTE: Ben's piece, "How I Saved My Party" has been published at The Pearson Buzz
LINK: Writing a Book Review (sorry Masaru for not posting this earlier!)

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Spring? Who Needs It!

Using the list of vocabulary we generated try writing about spring. One condition: write in a negative way about it! For example: "The red-breasted robins outside my window woke me up with their incessant chirping. Maybe I can find some bird poison at Home Depot!" or "The piles of cherry blossoms were slippery and made me fall and hurt my arm." Have fun!

NOTE: Natalia's piece, "An In-Between Time" has been published at The Pearson Buzz.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Teacher Profiles: Post Drafts Here

Link to Writeboard for editing suggestions. Same password as always.
Suzanne's piece on L, "Teachers in PALC"
Hongxin's piece "My Teacher Louise"
NEW: Ben's Piece "A Wonderful Teacher: Cheryl"

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

New Feature Articles

Please post here anything you are working on for The Pearson Buzz, either a new draft or a new article.

NOTE: Articles from Hongxin, Ruth, and Suzanne are published at The Pearson Buzz.

Friday, February 29, 2008

The Pearson Buzz: First Edition

Hi Everyone,

I have enough nearly completed articles to put together a first edition. If you have done edits for the articles from last week, please go to the Writeboard to do them before next week. Password is writing12. Even if not, please feel free to suggest edits.

Lessons I Have Learned (Masaru)

Between Two Cultures (Hongxin)

What a Day! (Max)

Customs and Traditions (Natalia)

My Experience about Cultural Difference (Ruth)

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Introducing the PALC; Introducing The Pearson Buzz

Please put your two introductions together in one comment to this post. Remember to check and make suggestions for the piece of student writing you were given in class today. Bring it with you next week! See you on February 28th.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Articles for The Pearson Buzz

If you wish to contribute a new article (or post one from a previous exercise; for example, your writing on your home town) please post it here before next week's class.

We'll work on revisions to prepare for our first issue in a week or two.

Experiencing Cultural Differences

Tell the story of an event in your life where a strong feeling of a cultural difference came through to you clearly. Write in about 200 to 300 words or so. Use a few short paragraphs. Include some dialogue (he said, she said). Make it possible to see and hear and experience what you did. Use the senses.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Reading "The Pearson Buzz"

Please take time to read the previous classes' writing.

Archive of articles from The Pearson Buzz

After reading, suggest two or three article ideas you would be interested in working on; you might also suggest a "special issue" idea on one theme or focus (e.g. helping immigrants to integrate in their new communities etc.)

Put your suggestions and ideas as a comment to this post. Thanks and see you on Valentine's Day!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Why I Write: Post Essays Here

Put your finished drafts here as a comment to the post. Try to get it done before Chinese New Year! See you all in two weeks.

Here are links to student essays from the 2006-2007 class:

Why I Write (first drafts)

Why I Write (revisions)

Friday, January 18, 2008

Our Home Town Stories

Post your home town story here. Try to have it posted by Tuesday night so we can all have a chance to read and review.

NEW: Brad's home town story at Writeboard. I finally did my homework and made the changes to come up with a second draft.

Friday, January 11, 2008

RAIN RAIN RAIN

Put your positive rainy writing here! Don't forget to make edits to your story of a scar in the post below. See you next week.

Writing Tutorial on Writing about the Rain
View the tutorial to see more vocabulary and a suggestion for a narrative structure for you to follow. Includes a sample of my writing.