Important Upcoming Dates

Reader Responses will be done in the classroom on the following dates: December 5th, 6th, and 10th

Speech Outlines - Due on December 12th

Speech Presentations - December 14th, 18th, and 19th

Reader Response Exemplar

Formal Speech Presentation Dates

You will presenting the speeches on one of the following dates: December 14th, 18th, or 19th, 2012

Be Afraid!!! Hahahahaha

Formal Speech Assignment

The Giver - Chapters 9 and 10

In today's class, (November 21st, 2012) we listened to and read chapters 9 and 10. We also split up into partners and discussed each person's favourite and least favourite rule Jonas received on page 68.

The Giver Oral Presentation Rubric

The Giver Presentation Assignment

Dear Community Member,

You have been assigned a topic from The Giver to present to the class in three to five minutes. You will be presenting these topics once we finish reading the novel. Once that date nears, I will inform you of the exact day you will be presenting. You have to answer the following question about your topic: What does the author say about your topic?

Topics:

1) Memory - Justin and Kelsea
2) Individual vs Community - Natasha, Nathan, and Cody
3) Ability to make choices - Jasmine, Natanya, and Sam
4) Pain and Pleasure - Precious and Ryan M
5) Multi-generational families - Michaela and Jonathan
6) Diversity vs Sameness - Phil, Stewart, and Kerri
7) Importance of honesty - Zach, Jermey, and Jordan

Audio for The Giver

Find it here:

http://www.holmdelschools.org/schools/satz/eng_dept/Novels/7th%20Grade/Giver,%20The/Audio%20Book/The%20Giver%20Audio%20Book.htm

The Giver

Remember, for each chapter you are responsible to complete the following:

 1) Answer the chapter questions
 2) Draw the main event on your storyboard for that chapter
 3) Fill in your concept map of The Giver.

Due Dates: Community Poster and Reading Novel Log

Your Community Poster and Reading Novel Log are both due on November 1st, 2012

Community Poster Assignment

Your task is to create an advertisement for your version of an ideal community. Students will be voting on which community they wish to live in. There will be a prize for the most popular community.

Short Story Complex Task Due Date

The due date for your short story is October 22nd, 2012. Remember, any pathetic excuses why your work is not done will result in severe consequences!!!

Comic Strip - Short Story Complex Task

Identity Shield Due Date

The Identity Shield presentation is due on October 3rd and 4th, 2012

Comic Strip Steps 5 and 6

Step 5: Create a final draft.

In each panel, word balloons should be read from left to right, top to bottom, like a regular story. Write the dialogue first and then draw the balloon to fit the words. Don't try to make the words fit into a balloon that's too big or too small.

Step 6: Print your dialogue neatly in your speech bubbles.

Now you're ready to draw your characters and setting around the balloons. Use pencil or ink. Using dark lines or shapes can make your comic more moody. Action lines can add excitement and tension. You may want to add colour.

                                     

Identity Shield Assignment.

Identity Shield Rubric

Comic Strip Due Date!

Your comic strip is due on September 19th, 2012. Please make sure you have steps 1-6 ready to hand in at the beginning of class. There will be consequences for students who fail to submit their work on time.

                                           

Friday's Class...

On Friday you will continue to work on Steps 3 and 4 for your comic strip. I will also introduce steps 5 and 6.

Comic Strip Outline

Comic Strip Project
Grade 8

Objective

Students will write a fictional story creating a conflict and resolution, applying sequential writing, using action verbs, and descriptive language, in a comic strip format with original artwork.

Directions

Step 1: Decide what your story will be about.

What’s your big idea or theme? Think about how long your comic will be and the style that fits into your theme. For example, superhero comics often use colourful, flashy art; funny comics use simple black and white line art and exaggerated expressions.

Step 2: Create an outline and a character web for your main character.

How many characters will you need? What will happen to them? What’s your setting? Start thinking about how each event will be developed in one or more frames.

Step 3: Experiment with drawing your characters.

What should your characters look like? Draw rough sketches of your character in different situations and with different expressions.

Step 4: Create a first draft layout showing every frame with rough sketches and speech bubbles.

Not all frames have to be the same size or shape. Small frames can help you create a faster pace while larger frames emphasize important scenes. You will be showing your rough draft to peers for feedback and editing. 

Comic Strip Rubric

Comic Strip Narrative Rubric

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Introduction	First paragraph has a "grabber" or catchy beginning.	First paragraph has a weak "grabber".	A catchy beginning was attempted but was confusing rather than catchy.	No attempt was made to catch the reader's attention in the first paragraph
Organization	The story is very well organized. One idea or scene follows another in a logical sequence with clear transitions.	The story is pretty well organized. One idea or scene may seem out of place. Clear transitions are used.	The story is a little hard to follow. The transitions are sometimes not clear.	Ideas and scenes seem to be randomly arranged.
Problem/Conflict	It is very easy for the reader to understand the problem the main characters face and why it is a problem.	It is fairly easy for the reader to understand the problem the main characters face and why it is a problem.	It is fairly easy for the reader to understand the problem the main characters face but it is not clear why it is a problem.	It is not clear what problem the main characters face
Solution/Resolution	The solution to the character's problem is easy to understand, and is logical. There are no loose ends.	The solution to the character's problem is easy to understand, and is somewhat logical.	The solution to the character's problem is a little hard to understand.	No solution is attempted or it is impossible to understand.

Creativity	The story contains many creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment. The author has really used his imagination.	The story contains a few creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment. The author has used his imagination.	The story contains a few creative details and/or descriptions, but they distract from the story. The author has tried to use his imagination.	There is little evidence of creativity in the story. The author does not seem to have used much imagination.
Dialogue	There is an appropriate amount of dialogue to bring the characters to life and it is always clear which character is speaking.	There is too much dialogue in this story, but it is always clear which character is speaking.	There is not quite enough dialogue in this story, but it is always clear which character is speaking.	It is not clear which character is speaking.
Spelling and Punctuation	There are no spelling or punctuation errors in the final draft. Character and place names that the author invented are spelled consistently throughout.	There is one spelling or punctuation error in the final draft.	There are 2-3 spelling and punctuation errors in the final draft.	The final draft has more than 3 spelling and punctuation errors.

Comic Strip

Remember to work on your theme/idea for your comic strip. You should also be working on your character(s) outline (personality/appearance). Next class you will work on step 3: Experimenting with drawing your character and step 4: Creating a first draft layout showing every frame with rough sketches and speech bubbles.