Enrique's Journey (Extra Credit Opportunity)

This was the short video shown in class that you responded to in your composition books. I put it up here in case you wanted to view it again on your own.

Enrique's Journey from Donald Sinatra on Vimeo.

Here is another video you can view for extra credit. To earn the extra credit, you must post one substantial paragraph sharing your thoughts about the documentary.

Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address-March 4, 1865

Second Inaugural Address
Washington, D.C.
March 4, 1865

This is the last paragraph of Lincoln's speech:

"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."

Assignment: What theme do you think Abe Lincoln is trying to get across here? Pay attention to the date the speech was given; this will help you to infer the theme. He gave this speech before the end of the Civil War. How might this message apply to wars going on today? I am expecting one detailed paragraph in response.

Starting Personal Narratives

Looking back at your notes containing different ways to start a personal narrative, use one of the strategies to start the following personal narrative:

Topic: Write a personal narrative about something that really excited you.

Don't forget-
1. Use one of the strategies from your notes.
2. Focus in on one specific time... don't start to write a story that took place over weeks or months.
3. Start to hint at a theme (message that you are trying to get across to the reader) by the end of the paragraph.

Extra Credit Blog Entry

Go to the address below and click on John Field's narrative. He was a former slave who was interviewed in the 1930's as an old man about his experiences during slavery.

http://www.civil-war.net/narratives/slavenarratives.asp

What are some things that were important to him during slavery? After? What do you think about his experiences?

What did the typical Civil War battle look like?

Look at the images from the video below:

Civil War Reenactment from David Reid on Vimeo.

Assignment:
What did you notice? Be specific. Talk about the location, people's appearances, and the actual battle. Is this what you visualized when you think about typical Civil War battles? Explain in one paragraph.

Getting Personal in Your Personal Narrative Writing by Including Character Feelings and Reactions

Mrs. Novick is going to go over the process for posting in the blog with you. All of your writing is read by me (Mr. Barr) and given a grade. Your blog entries count as 10% of your Writing grade.

We will blog throughout the school year. I will post questions and you will share your thoughts and ideas in response in the appropriate area. When posting, please keep the following in mind:

~Please do not put your entire name. Please write your name as Jesus G. Room 302. This is posted on the internet and can be viewed by anyone. I want to ensure your safety.

~All comments go through me first. Your comment will not immediately post; I will post them. Any inappropriate comments will be deleted and will not be posted for viewing.

~Type what you are going to say in Microsoft Word first, use spell check, copy and paste it into the blog and then submit.

__________________________________________

I wrote a really short personal narrative that I’d like to share with you. It’s about when my car broke down one time in the school parking lot.

Yesterday, when I was leaving the school parking lot my car could go forward, but not backward. Then, all of a sudden, it worked! I drove out of the parking lot and down the street. Then, it made an odd noise and it stopped, right in the middle of the road. I quickly called for a tow truck.

Now. Look at this next one. It is the same story, but I added in my reactions and feelings. See if you can notice what is different about the writing of this small moment.

Yesterday, when I was leaving the school parking lot, I noticed my car was acting strangely. It could go forward, but not backward. I was worried. Then, all of a sudden, it worked! I drove out of the parking lot and down the street. What a relief! Then, it made an odd noise. Thump! It stopped, right in the middle of the road. I was so upset, I thought I might cry. “What am I going to do now?” I thought. I quickly called for a tow truck.


Assignment:

I want you to think about including character feelings and reactions in your writing. Remember that in order to get the highest score possible for a narrative, you need to have these types of character reactions and feelings. Retell a small moment paying close attention to character reactions and feelings.


Here is a student example from last year that earned full credit:
(I put her character reactions in bold)

brittany S. room 304 said...
Five years ago, I was helping my mom get ready for the Fourth of July. I was so excited that time was already here. We all knew that my uncle was really sick but we thought he was going to pull through because he was so strong and determined. I was happy that he might get better but I was also sad that he was sick and couldn't be here for the Fourth of July. I still kept my hopes up. Then as we were going to bed the hospital called and said that there was a drastic change and that he was doing better. I was so relieved. Then we all went to bed and we were just excited that he was doing better and that he might come around. Then just as we were going to bed and falling asleep we got another call from the hospital saying that he was doing really bad and that he might die tonight. After that we didn't sleep at all we just stayed up.I was so sad and was thinking of the worst. Then a couple hours later we got a call that he past. I was so sad that I started to cry, but yet I smiled because I knew that he wasn't suffering anymore. We knew that he was in a place far better than the place he was in.

* this was a small thing because we all knew that he was dying*.

Reflections on 8th Grade

Please tell the story of your favorite memory from 8th grade. Be sure to include character reactions in your story.