Things I Cannot Do (Live) Without

Fiction or fact. Have fun writing this one!

New Pieces for The Pearson Buzz

The Pearson Buzz includes a number of different categories for new writing. Choose something you haven't worked on before and put your new piece here when it is ready for us to see.

Most Recent Drafts (any pieces)

Post your most recent drafts here. You may include any piece of writing you have worked on during Writing 12. I encourage you to revisit work from earlier in the term now that you've had a chance to let it "rest" awhile.

Finally, the Final Draft (for publication)

Post your pieces here when they, in your opinion, are ready for publication at The Pearson Buzz.

If your work is published, I will notify you by email! The Cubic Life by Beatrice is published today (March 21).

Edited pieces by Marc and Esther. Esther's piece will be published in this week's Buzz. Marc's needs further work.

Note that I've also put links to your profiles on The Pearson Buzz "Staff Profiles" link. I note that some of you have spelling and capitalization errors on your profiles. You may wish to check and correct these errors as the world can see them now!

"I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"

In the movie, "Network," a TV personality asks everyone to go to their windows and shout out, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!" Here's the link to the scene.

What makes you angry? Write a "rant," a kind of angry prose, about something that angers you. Make it colourful. Show, don't tell. Let your feelings out!

For an article on a subversive (New York Times use of the word) video from Chinese videographers: A Dirty Pun Tweaks China’s Online Censors

Online Journal: Crow, Elbow, Wall, Secret

Use the words--crow, elbow, wall, secret--in a short piece of writing. See you in two weeks!

Third Drafts, Final Drafts, New Drafts?

Post your work here as you make it ready for publication. After your article, please comment on anything that you wish us to comment on or make suggestions about. Also, tell us whether you believe your work is ready for a final edit and, ultimately, publication.

Other students should read drafts and then try to add a helpful idea. Post your comment here before next week's class. I'll demonstrate once someone posts a draft.

Sorry for the delay.

Pieces for Publication: Second Draft (or new first drafts)

Based on feedback from today, post a second draft of your piece. If you haven't yet done a first draft, please put it here as well.

Our Home Town

Put your draft here. Write 300 to 500 words (maximum). Remember to show the special and different things about the place. Use your imagination and the senses as much as you can!

First Drafts: Pieces for Publication

Based on our discussions today, write a first draft of an article to be published eventually at The Pearson Buzz. Post your article here. Article word count should be no more than 500 words in multiple paragraphs. 

Remember that an online article needs a strong opening. You can leave your main idea to the second or third paragraph (called the "nut graf"). Concentrate on attractive prose to draw the reader in!

Phrasal Verbs: Writing a Dialogue

Using four or five different phrasal verbs, write a dialogue between two people. Make it sound as natural as you can. Use the BBC sample given in class as a model. 

Pitch Your Ideas!

Take a look at our online newspaper, The Pearson Buzz, and read some of the stories in the various "Features" categories (see the left side navigation). After you do, come back here and "pitch" (suggest) a story idea that might interest our student readers. State which category would work or suggest a new one if you wish.

BTW, I checked our most recent articles stats and found readers from Vancouver, New Westminster and Coquitlam. We also have regular readers from Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), West Hollywood, Phnom Phen (Cambodia) and Torino (Italy) among many other cities.

Let's make this year's edition the best ever!

Online Notebook: Random Image or Word

This week, go to a favourite magazine (or check one at the supermarket cashier or friend's house) and open it at a random page. The first word or image you notice will form the original idea for your piece. Write no more than 200 words in multiple paragraphs.

Using Paired Idioms

Create a short piece of writing where you use two to three idiom pairs. Try to make their use as natural as possible. Often, such pairs are used during conversation (dialogue) for example. 

The Quietest Thing: Online Notebook for February 5 to 12

What is the quietest thing you heard this week? Note what created the sound, use metaphor or simile if you can. Do not write from memory; instead, use a direct observation of something you notice during the week before next week's class.

Shh!

I used to be _____, but now I am ________

Either write from the first person (as yourself) or from the point of view of a character (either in first person or third person).

Online Journal for January 22 to February 5

Try to make two entries between now and our next class. One entry will be on something that bothers you; another entry will be on something you love. Have a safe "semester break" and see you all in class on the 5th of February. We'll be welcoming new students so it should be fun . . .

Lisa and Eric Fall in Love ("Let Me Hug You Again")

If you like, practice showing by creating a scene where it becomes clear that Lisa and Eric have feelings for each other. How would you show it to us (without telling us too much)?

Why I Write: Short Essay

Put your short essay here. Try to have a first draft here before our first class in the new semester (February 5) so we can see it then.

Online Notebook for January 15 to 22

This week note your observations while shopping. It can be any kind--for food, for clothes, for electronics. Describe one of the shopkeepers and one of the shoppers. If something bothers you when shopping, note that too.