Monthly Archive for January, 2008

Commenting on Historical Fiction

Published on January 29, 2008 in Historical Fiction. 0 Comments

Today you are going to begin to write comments. First we will look at some comments on this post on Ms. Edinger’s blog and make a list of characteristics of good comments.

Here they are:

  • good comments agree or disagree with ideas
  • good topics generate good comments
  • good comments generate a real conversation
  • good comments ask questions that make people want to read and think more

Next get your laptop and go read the blog posts of others who read the same book you did and write some really smashing comments!

Questions to ask yourself as you read their posts:

  • did you learn something new?
  • do you agree?
  • do you disagree?
  • if you find something that is interesting, can you explain why?
  • is there something that you don’t quite understand? do you need more details?
  • what can you add? what can you suggest? can you make other connections? (try not to repeat their ideas)

What to remember when commenting:

  • check for audience (security) and proofread your comment (spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and sense)
  • ask yourself the questions above
  • be respectful: politely express different opinions
  • respond to the ideas, not the person
  • be sure you are in the right blog
  • write as if you are speaking to the individual in person–do not use IM speak

Be Sure…

Published on January 28, 2008 in General. 0 Comments

to read the comments for your posts. Ms. Nickles and I have been commenting on all published posts. Sometimes we have questions and suggestions for you so be sure to read them!

Your Historical Fiction Book Post

Published on January 22, 2008 in Historical Fiction. 0 Comments

So, you’ve finished your book. Bravo! Now you are going to collect information and then use it to write a great post showing us just how the book you read is a good example of historical fiction.

First of all, I will model for you how to collect the information with a book called Amistad Rising. (Here’s what we did last year.) Then I will show you an example of a rough draft last year’s class helped me write about that book. My hope is that should give you enough to do this with your own book. So here are the steps:

1. Look in your book for good examples of historical research and literary devices and mark those places with post-its.

2. Choose the best ones and write them on your worksheet (3 for each)

3. Get a laptop and in MS Word, write a rough draft paragraph explaining why your book is a good example of historical fiction.

4. Revise your paragraph.

5. Check for spelling, capitalization, sense, punctuation, grammar, security, and audience.

6. Have an adult check your paragraph.

7. Post it on your blog.

Your Second Post

Published on January 15, 2008 in Oral History. 0 Comments

Congratulations on finishing your first post! Be sure to check for comments; Ms. Nickels wrote one on every finished post. (See if you can figure out without asking a teacher where your comments are.)

Now for your second post. I would like you to write a good paragraph describing your immigration oral history book. Eventually people from all over the world will read these, but for now it will just be the others in our class. Be sure to read your book over before starting your post (and you might want to see how the kids last year did it).

Next week we will show you how to put the images from your book (the cover and two pages used at our Oral History Celebration) into this post.

Some Cinderella Motifs

Published on January 8, 2008 in Cinderella. 0 Comments

We’ve noticed the following motifs in three of the many  Cinderella stories we’ve read and viewed:

Mistreated person (often by mean stepfamily)
Fella in Cinderfella, Harry in Harry Potter, and Lily in Davenport’s Ashpet.

deadline
This often is midnight.

change in status
Fella goes from rich to servant to royal, Harry goes from middle class to servant (pratically) to “The Boy Who Lived,” and Lily goes from comfortable to servant to soldier’s wife.

identity “slipper” test
Fella’s is a loafer, Harry’s is the prophesy, and Lily’s is a shoe (and looks).

assistance
Fella’s is a fairy godfather; Harry’s are Ron, Hermione, and Dumbledore; and Lily’s is Dark Sally.

event(s)
Fella’s is the princess’s party, Harry’s are too many to list, and Lily’s is the dance.

enemies
Fellas are his stepbrothers, Harry’s are too many to list (but most of all Voldemort), and Lily’s is Thelma

Analyzing Moss Gown

Published on January 8, 2008 in Cinderella. 0 Comments

After listening to me read aloud Moss Gown (retold by William Hooks), a different Cinderella from most you read, we did the following analysis.

Cinderella Character – Candace/Moss Gown

Physical Traits:

youngest daughter, red hair, beautiful

Personality Traits:

loves her father, kind, doesn’t judge, caring esp. towards father, gentle, hardworking

Other Significant Characters

father, sisters Retha & Grenadine, Grise Grise woman/witch woman w/ green eyes, Young Master, First Cook

Setting

long ago in the Old South, plantation, tidewater of South Carolina

Initial Situation

father asks daughters who loves him most, will give land to that daughter, Moss Gown says she “loves him as much as meat loves salt,”  she is banished & sisters get the land, after leaving Moss Gown sleeps in moss bed and a witch woman gives her a moss gown which she wears, during day gown is rags, gets work in another fancy house

Special Event – 3 frolics/balls
Main character can’t go — why?

has no dress to wear

Main character gets to go to event — how?

special chant calls Grise Grise woman who helps with gown

Event and what happens there

Moss Gown meets Young Master and he falls in love with her

Main character leaves event suddenly — why?

has to leave before the morning star shines or gown will be moss & rags again

Loses something –what?

does not lose anything (someone says a girl in rags left)

Rest of family returns from event(s) — what is that like?

servants discuss the lovely girl at the ball

Identity Test

Young Master sees Moss Gown and watches gown change & still loves her

With father, Moss Gown serves saltless food and says as much as meat loves salt – gives him salt & he recognizes her & is sorry for his treatment of her

Resolution

marriage of Candace/Moss Gown & Young Master, daughters spent all their money,  Candace reunited with her father

Your Very First Blog Post!

Published on January 7, 2008 in Blog Posts. 0 Comments

Now that you have some basic information about blogging, you are going to write a post of your own.

Your job is to first study one of last year’s student blogs. ( You will be assigned one randomly.) Some of the things you might want to consider are:

What did they write about?

What can you learn about blogging from this person’s blog?

What did they use besides words?

How often did they write?

What sort of comments did they get?

What is one of your favorite posts and why?

What did you learn from this person’s blog that will help you when you do your own?

After studying this blog, your job is to write a good paragraph (or more, if you like) describing this blog and telling what you learned from it. It should have that a good topic sentence, at least three additional sentences, and a great concluding sentence. Then you should check for punctuation , sense, capitals, and spelling (and also use the spell check). Don’t forget to preview it!

Here are your blog assignments: