Throughout the week, we've worked to better understand characters by analyzing the ways in which a narrative's protagonist will grow. In O'Henry's "A Retrieved Reformation," readers witnessed Jimmy Valentine undergo a transformation from a safe-cracking criminal to a hero. Such a journey is rarely made without a goal in mind. For characters, motivations inspire as the plot moves forward. As a result, a character's behavior will change. Jimmy Valentine transforms into a new man, even changing his name to Ralph Spencer, after meeting and falling in love with Annabel Adams. Such a transformation falls under the characteristics of a dynamic character; such characters will experience a drastic change in their personality, behavior, and mentality. In fact, the characters introduced at the start of the plot will reach a "point of no return" that forever alters them. This is the destiny of the dynamic character, though. Their path shapes the individual through a complete metamorphosis, resulting in a character who is stronger and wiser thanks to the adversithey've experienced and overcome.
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Appendix
As each period is responsible for completing a scrapbook, students must follow the separate deadlines set by their class editors:
Period 3/4: Editor: Julie Donovan: Character Pages: All materials due by 11/19/13 (Tuesday) Appendix Pages: All materials due by 11/19/13 (Tuesday) Videos, Van Goghs, and Virtuosos: All materials due by 11/19/13 (Tuesday) Period 4/5: Editor: Blake Altman: Character Pages: All materials due by 11/19/13 (Tuesday) Appendix Pages: All materials due by 11/18/13 (Monday) Videos, Van Goghs, and Virtuosos: All materials due by 11/19/13 (Tuesday) Period 6/7: Editor: Jacob Smithula: All materials due 11/20/13 (Wednesday) or earlier *All text needs to be uniform and titles must be bold. Period 7/8: Editor: Mackenzie Blair: Character Pages: All pictures should be Clipart (not drawn), accurate, and clear.
Appendix Pages: All pages will be edited by 11/20/13 (Wednesday), then returned for students to correct and type by 11/21/13 (Thursday).
Since the beginning of the school year, the Language Arts classes have dived into Lois Duncan's YA suspense novel, Summer of Fear. Protagonist Rachel Bryant has struggled to convince her family of the suspicious feelings she possesses about her cousin, Julia Grant. Although victim to tragedy, the death of her parents, Julia doesn't portray the lost and mourning orphan.
According to Rachel, Julia is a witch. From the untimely death of Rachel's dog, Trickle, to Professor Jarvis's stroke, Rachel has compiled a case against her strange and awkward cousin; however, the family doesn't believe Rachel. Instead, they defend Julia and leave Rachel feeling isolated, confused, and hurt. What is our protagonist to do? Despite all the odds, Rachel commits to her beliefs and plunges ahead. She researches superstitions, covens, the "mind force," and the Ozarks region to discover any clue to help her expose Julia's true nature. Julia isn't blind to these attempts, and Rachel may pay a greater cost for spoiling the reputation Julia so carefully created. In Lois Duncan's popular novel, Rachel must find the courage and fortitude to save her family from Julia's manipulations or risk her world falling apart. Summer of Fear's flashback qualities and first-person point of view narration keeps readers at the edge of their seat as they root for Rachel to uncover the truth. As we enter a new nine week period, students will be required to fill-out their agenda books for each and every assignment due date, test date, and project deadline.
At the end of the semester, Ms. Hutira will check each student's agenda (during class) to ensure that all assessments have been documented accordingly. Students will earn a point for each due date listed under the appropriate date. The objective for this new participation procedure is to ensure that students are developing organizational traits that will promote punctuality and accounta For those interested in applying as an "Editor" for one of the four classroom scrapbooks, please remember to write and submit your qualifications paragraph to Ms Hutira by Tuesday, November 12, 2013.
In your paragraph, be sure to include the qualities you possess that distinguish your leadership, organization, and artistic skills. Editors will be notified during SSP on Wednesday, November 13, 2013, to begin work with their assigned class period. Remember, you can still be an editor for a class period even if you are a member of a different period. For instance, a student in period 3/4 can act as editor for period 7/8. Should you have any questions which need answering over the long weekend, please leave a comment. I will be checking in to answer you. With the surveys completed and in-class votes counted, I'm happy to announce the new additions to our classroom library. Although students only expected one choice for series and another for stand-alone novel, Christmas has come early: Ms. Hutira found a coupon. Students can eagerly await six of the eight nominees' arrival next week. Likewise, our points (and the unexpected coupon find) allowed us to receive a copy of The Fault in Our Stars, Ender's Game, Origins, and Pulse. But, wait...I promised more. The final book of the Divergent series, Allegiant, will make it's home on the bookshelves of room 209 in the coming week as well. A thank-you shout0ut to everyone who purchased books. You're need to read has been the contributing factor in allowing us to have these rewards. I look forward to seeing your noses buried in your books. As we embark on a new nine week period, students have been presented with the opportunity to take part in a yearly tradition in the literature/creative writing field. Each November, writers from around the nation sign-up for NaNoWriMo. This challenge encourages the writing of a 50,000 word novel during the month of November.
Although seemingly impossible, experienced and newbie writers make the challenge possible by writing each and every day to craft a story of their choosing. For students (even relatives) wishing to still take part in this year's event, you may sign-up (with permission) at http://nanowrimo.org/. Best of luck to those of great daring and fortitude! |
Ms. HutiraThe following blog allows students and parents to recap the class's unit lessons. Archives
January 2020
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