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We corrected vocabulary, unit 1 in class. From now on, come to class with the work done. Sometimes I’ll collect and grade it, other times we just go over it.

Revise your descriptive essay for Monday. It must be typed. Bring your essay and Short Takes to class on Monday.

Your Short Takes written work about the readings are based on the following point system:

• 5 pts each for 3 Essays/journals (300 words)
• 5 points each for 3 sets of questions over the essays

Can any of you videographers shoot video at the 9/14 JM vs. Park City football game? Pat T will be there, but we need one more camera person. Halftime is Bulldog Boogie, so we need to get all of that we can too.

Here are some other stories on the horizon:

• Also this Saturday and Sunday there’s the PCA workshops at Judge. If anybody will be there we could use some footage or photos.
• The field will continue to shape up in the next few days. If you’ve got a free, grab a camera and document the installation of the field.
• The next construction will be on the grotto which is behind the white house to the north of the building.  Somebody should write about that.
• The new dance teacher is choreographing something at RDT.  Ask Ms. Sawaya for details.
• There will be lots of alumni around on September 29.  We could get some great interviews if someone is willing to do it.

Tomorrow is September 15; that’s the day where I’ll update your grades on PowerSchool. It’s probably a good idea to remind you that your assignments for all four stories are due tomorrow ( Sandwich, Deep Cold, Bridge, El Hoyo). Also be prepared to read your best essay so far tomorrow out loud to the whole class.

Homework: Do vocabulary unit 1 for tomorrow.

The first couple of weeks have been an interesting time as everyone has been exploring the different media.  Now it’s time to talk about expectations. Here’s what you need to do each week if you want to get an A:

• one assignment.  This is a video feature package, an audio story, a photo essay that’s accompanied by a text story that identifies the key people and facts.
• one tutorial unit from the Adobe series.

On 9/14 we’ll also begin the trend story sequence.  Click here for a description of the trend story.  First step is due Monday, 9/18.

Thanks to today’s readers. We were treated to four essays about special places: Austria, The Creek, Happy Place, and Snowboarding.

Tonight’s homework: read “El Hoyo.” Answer questions 1-3 in Organization and Ideas, then essay #1 on page 36 (the essay should be approximately 300 words).

Today in class we told our stories to each other. Then I read from my journal and showed an example of a multimedia autobiographical story I put together this summer. After that students wrote recalling remembered feelings and thoughts and exploring present perspectives on the subject of their autobiographical essay.

For homework for Thursday’s class, bring a piece of memorabilia (p. 49), Defining Your Purpose for Your Readers (p. 50), and Formulating a Thesis Statement (p. 51).

For Friday, do pages 51-53. Write a draft for Monday, 9/18 (using pp. 54 & 55 as your guide).

Friday I wrote about getting organized. Well, today was the day where it paid to be organized. Students had a number of things due. The interview of a well-read person was due; students should also have brought a copy of that book to class. The work over the story “The Bridge” was due. And you were supposed to bring your vocabulary book to class.

Since today was the 5-year anniversary of 9/11 we wrote about what we were doing five years ago and what that day means to us now. Then we recorded a sentence or two from our essays. Click here to hear it. Unfortunately we didn’t have enough time to talk about what we wrote since we had shortened periods today.

Bring all three books with you tomorrow: the vocabulary book, the recommended reading book, and Short Takes (with your assignment).

Today in class we wrote about where we were five years ago today and what the events of 9/11 mean to us now.  Then we recorded excerpts from our essays.  Click here to hear it. Unfortunately due to shortened periods, only one of the classes got around to recording.

Tonight do the writing activities from pages 47 & 48 (Stop after you’ve done the Sketching the Story activity).

Are you organized? If not, now’s the time to start.

For homework this weekend, read the short essay on pp. 29 & 30 in Short Takes. Answer all five questions in BOTH Organization and Ideas AND Technique and Style. Then write about 300 words in response to Journal #2 or Essay #1 OR #2 on page 31. Keep all the work from Short Takes in your binder. I collect them all at once every week or so.

Sorry we didn’t get to the vocabulary books today as promised. Bring your vocabulary books to class on Monday, 9/11.

Now you’ll begin the process to write an essay of your own. First read pages 42-43 carefully because it has a lot of good advice and examples from the three readings we’ve done so far. Then follow the writing activities on pages 45 & 46 (look up the online examples referenced on the bottom of page 46 and top of page 47). When you come to class on Monday, you’ll be ready for the next step: Choosing an Event.