Every Rose Has Its Thorns

"Every Rose Has It's Thorn"

Performed by Poison

From Open Up and Say ...Ahh! (1988)

This song is a good example for students of how even a person who is rich or powerful has problems.  It is an easy way to relate to adolescents who struggle with many issues daily.  Think about how this song might relate to Panchito in The Circuit?  Write a paragraph comparing "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" to The Circuit.  Use text evidence to support your response. 

Expectations:

• include details from text evidence
• 6-10 complete sentences
• correct capitalization & punctuation
• stay on topic

The Circuit--Post Reading #2

Pick a character from The Circuit and describe him/her in a paragraph.  Be sure to describe how he or she changed, what he or she thought, how he or she felt, what he or she did, where he or she went, and include character traits.

Expectations:

• 6-10 complete sentences
• correct capitalization & punctuation
• stay on topic
• include details

The Circuit--Post Reading

Now that you have finished reading The Circuit, put your journalism hat on.  What are the small life dramas you see in The Circuit?  Make a list of 3-6 small life dramas and include sensory details.  Title your blog "The Circuit--Small Life Dramas".

The Circuit--During Reading

What do you think it would be like to be a Mexican American migrant farm worker?  What would be pros and cons to having this job?  Include details in your explanation.

Expectations:

• 6-10 complete sentences
• correct capitalization and punctuation
• stay on topic
• include details

The Circuit--Pre Reading

Have you ever changed schools or moved to a different neighborhood?  What was difficult?  Explain.  If you haven't changed schools or moved to a different neighborhood, explain how you imagine it would be difficult.

Expectations:

• 6-10 complete sentences
• correct capitalization and punctuation
• stay on topic
• include details

No Guitar Blues---Post Read

Now that you have finished reading No Guitar Blues, put your journalism hat on.  What are the small life dramas you see in No Guitar Blues?  Make a list of 3-6 small life dramas and include sensory details.

No Guitar Blues--During Reading

1.  Add to your Every Day Small Life Dramas blog entry from 10/10/14.  Add today's date and jot down 3-5 small life dramas you witnessed in the past 24 hours.

Ex:  10/15/14

• Gaitlin excited about no milk left at the Gunn house because it meant he could have fried eggs instead of the same old cereal
• Mr. Duffy got new shoes
• Blood Red moon over Hayward
• Mrs. Gunn finishes the WhistleStop half-marathon in under 2 hours beating her sister to the finish once again!

2. Start a new blog entry titled "Right and Wrong".  Where is the line between right and wrong?  When is it no longer okay to do something?

Is it okay to help a lost pet find its owner?  

Is it okay to get reward money for helping return the pet to its owner?

Is it okay to not be truthful about where you found the pet?

Is it okay to work together to complete your homework?

Is it okay if you answer some of the questions and your study buddy answers other questions and you just share answers?
Is it okay if you give your friend the last couple answers on a worksheet to help him get done in time for class?

No Guitar Blues---Pre-Read

Did you ever want something so bad that you would do almost anything to get it?
Whether yes or no is the answer, explain the situation and the outcome.

Expectations:

• 6-10 complete sentences
• correct capitalization and punctuation
• stay on topic
• include details

I am a Journalist

Journalists observe, jot down story ideas, and then write newscasts.  Start a new blog entry titled: Every Day Small Life Dramas.  Jot down 3-5 small life dramas you witnessed in the past 24 hours. 

Think for a moment about everything you already know about techniques writers use to make their writing more interesting to the reader.  For example, you know that story writers often use dialogue to show characters' traits and emotions.  So do journalists.  Writers also add details using their 5 senses.  Good writers incorporate sensory details to make their writing more vivid. 

Look back at your blog entry from Wednesday.  Revise your entry with dialogue or sensory details to make it more interesting to the reader.  Can you capture the excitement of the SuperBowl setting in your Newscast by including sensory details?  Can you make connections with the reader by adding dialogue?  Give it a try.

When done pick a friend or neighbor's blog to read and comment on their use of dialogue or sensory details.

Newscast

Look over the Super Bowl story ideas you jotted down yesterday.  Pick one you would like to expand into a newscast, and begin writing your first draft of the event.Remember what we know about starting newscasts and writing in general:

• answer the 5 w's in your 1st sentence or two

• add a lead/hook, just a tiny bit of drama, to make it newsworthy and get readers interested 

• use a journalistic tone--concise, 3rd person, dramatic but truthful

When done, pick a friend or neighbor's blog to read and comment on their 5 w's, hook, and journalistic tone.

View the comments below to see examples of other newscast beginnings.

Small Life Dramas

Journalists notice small life dramas and try to capture the who, what, when, where, and why of those dramas to turn them into newscasts.  They especially like to look for dramas that no one notices.  Journalists observe, jot down story ideas, and then write newscasts.

Be a journalist and jot down story ideas from your observations during yesterday's Super Bowl.

Develop Your Power of Observation

Journalists are among the most-read writers in the world.  Believe it or not, you are a journalist, too, as Blog writers are a type of journalist.
Journalists notice small life dramas and try to capture the who, what, when, where, and why of those dramas so they can turn them into newscasts.
Think of something you did this past week at school or at home and write a narrative (story) about it answering the 5 w's.

Share your blog entry with a friend or neighbor, have him/her check that you have answered all 5 w's, and then leave a comment about the 5 w's or about how well you met blog expectations. 

Are you, you?

Yesterday you read a poem about twins who were switched at birth and forever confused with each other.  If that ever happened to you...."What would you do, if you were me, To prove that you were you?"

Expectations:

• 6-10 complete sentences
• correct capitalization
• stay on topic
• include details