Monday: 5/9
You will complete a brief reading quiz over the third reading selection from Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried. We'll discuss the reading selection, focusing on "The Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong." Then you'll work with a peer to complete a Lesson Fifteen Vocabulary Review Exercise. Finally, I'll distribute your second memoir writing minilesson - on punctuating dialogue. We'll go over the rules together and you'll complete an exercise to demonstrate your understanding.
Tuesday: 5/10
Today we'll read and discuss a superbly written slice of memoir by Maya Angelou. We'll read as writers, making note of the master carpentry in the piece.
Wednesday: 5/11
You will work with a peer to complete a Lesson Sixteen Vocabulary Review Exercise. We'll revisit your words together. Then we'll discuss dialogue as a means of characterization, and we'll discuss some things you should consider in relation to the inclusion of dialogue in your memoir. Finally, you'll work in class to compose a slice of dialogue that may find its way in to your final writing piece.
Thursday: 5/12
You'll complete a brief reading quiz, and we'll take some time to discuss the evolution of O'Brien's concepts of truth and storytelling. Then you'll have some time in class to begin reading another example of artfully crafted memoir by David Sedaris. This piece is very different from Angelou's writing. You will be required to finish reading Sedaris's piece for class discussion tomorrow.
Friday: 5/13
You will begin by completing the Lesson 15 - 16 vocabulary test. Then we'll discuss Sedaris's writing, reading as writers and making note of effective technique and style. Ideally, we'll have time to engage in a time-line activity as a way of fishing for potential writing topics.
