Beginnings

Hello Class!
It's time to start thinking of how you are going to begin your novel.

1) Read about the different ways that you can begin a novel in your NaNoWriMo Student Workbook on page 51.
2) Instead of completing the activity in your workbook (we've been having some technical issues with the workbooks) I have created an identical document in Google Drive. So, open your Google Drive and go into the shared folder (English 1, 2 (View Only)). There, you will find a document entitled "Beginnings." 
3) Open the document, make a copy and rename it (period lastname Beginnings);
3) Complete the assignment and share it with me (jdavenportplhs@gmail.com).

Signing up for NaNoWriMo!!!

Happy Tuesday!
Today we are going to set up our accounts for NaNoWriMo. Please follow the steps below to do that:

1.  Determine a word count goal for your novel by clicking HERE to view teacher recommendations.
2. Then, visit the NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program page by clicking HERE.
3. Select "Sign In"  in the upper right corner.
4. VERY IMPORTANT - For your User Name, please use your period, last name and first name initial. For example, if I was a student in period 1, my user name would be 1davenportj.
5. Complete the rest of the sign up info - make sure you select the correct grade level (high school) and Young Writer (not Educator) for the account type.
•  Please make sure to WRITE DOWN your log-in and password info. I will NOT have access to this information and will NOT be able to help you if you forget them.
6. Once you account has been created - go to "Edit Novel Info" and enter your word count goal. You can also enter other information about your novel.
7. On the left hand menu, you should see "Virtual Classroom," and below that "Join a Classroom." Select "Join a Classroom," and then search for "Ms. D's Wordbusters."  When it shows up in the bottom window select it and click "Join."
8. Finally, feel free to browse the website and enter in your own personal info under "Edit Author Info."

Homework Reminder

Hi Class,
Just wanted to remind you of a few things: 
1) If you are behind on the pre-writing assignments, please complete them ASAP. See the previous post for details - there were five assignments due as of last Friday.
2) If you did NOT finish the dialogue assignment in class today - please complete that tonight for homework. Remember to share it with me when you are done (jdavenportplhs@gmail.com).
3) Your first book review for your independent reading books is due on Friday! See the sample book review and the assignment directions in the English 1, 2 (View Only) folder in your Google drive.

Happy Monday!

Catching Up

OK Guys,
We've had a lot to do this week. All of the following assignments SHOULD be completed:
1) Character Questionnaire: shared in Google Drive
2) Creating Conflict: also shared in Google Drive
3) Plot Map: pg. 28 in your NaNoWriMo Student Workbook or see me for a hard copy
4) Settings that Reinforce Characters :pg. 30 - 33 in your NaNoWriMo Student Workbook; Read the introduction and example on pg. 30 then scroll down to pg. 32. You only need to create settings for your protagonist, antagonist and at least one supporting character. The formatting of the workbook is messed up for this section, so you will probably want to just hand-write it in your notebook.


If any of these assignments are NOT completed - please work on them during class today and complete the Reviewing Plot assignment (below) for homework. Yes, HOMEWORK! You MUST have these assignments completed before you can move on!!!

If you have completed all of the above assignments, follow the directions below: 
1) Go into your Google Drive
2) Open the folder that I shared with you entitled, "English 1, 2 (View Only)
3) Open the document titled "Plot"
4) Copy and paste the contents of the document into a new Google Doc (Create - document);
5) Rename this new document: period yourlastname Plot
6) Read the directions and complete the assignment. You will want to use your plot outline to help you complete this assignment.
7) Once completed, share with me (jdavenportplhs@gmail.com).

The Plot assignment is due on MONDAY - if you do not finish it in class it it HOMEWORK this weekend.

Have a fun weekend!

Outlining Your Plot

Hey Guys,

Remember when we discussed good/bad novels? Everyone agreed that a good novel usually has an exciting plot (or story).  Today we are going to talk about how to outline the plots of your novels.

• We will start by reading a section of the NaNoWriMo Student Workbook entitled, "Outlining Your Plot." 
• Click on the link above, and save the document onto your desktop or into your "My Documents" folder. 
• Once it is saved, you should be able to type directly into the document. DO NOT upload the document into Google Drive yet.  We will be using this workbook for a number of assignments.
• Please read pages 19 - 23 in your NaNoWriMo Workbook.Stop when you finish the section on Rising Action
• Before you start outlining the plot of your novel - we are going to practice by outlining the plots to your class novels. Please wait for instructions from Ms. Davenport.

HOMEWORK - Begin mapping the plot of your own novel, focusing for now on the set-up, inciting incident and rising action. Complete these sections of the plot map on pg. 28 of your Student Workbook.

Reminders for the Weekend

Hey Guys,
A couple if reminders for the weekend.
1) Remember that redo's for the Short Answer portion of your Unit Test are due on Tuesday!!! I'm generously giving you one more day. Your welcome : )
2) If you did not complete your Article of the Week summary/reflection in class - it is due on Monday - NO EXCUSES!
3) I am hoping that many of you still have your class novels - if so, please bring them to class on Monday.

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!!

Creating Conflict

Hey All,
Please complete the following tasks in class today.

1) Finish your Character Questionnaires. After you are done the questionnaire in Word, you should save the information THEN drag/drop the file into your Google Drive. After you have moved the file into Google Drive, make sure to share the document with me (jdavenportplhs@gmail.com).

2) Once you are finished with your Character Questionnaire, you will be moving on to create the main conflict in your novel. Please take the following steps to do that:

• Take out your English notebook and review your class notes on conflict.
• Open your Google Drive and go into the folder I shared with you, "English 1, 2 (View Only)."
• In that folder, you will find a document entitled "Creating_Conflict."
• To type directly on the form, you must go to “file,” then “download.” A copy should open in Microsoft Word. 
• Save the Word document as: period lastname conflict
• Once the document has been saved onto your desktop you should be able to type directly onto the form. 
• Complete the questions about the conflict in your novel.
• When you are done, hit "SAVE." Only then should you drag the file into your Google Drive and share the document with me. (jdavenportplhs@gmail.com)

Both of these tasks need to be completed by Friday.  We will NOT be working on the computers in class tomorrow as we will be reading the Article of the Week.  SO, whatever you do not finish in class today, is HOMEWORK.