9/29/15 – Quick write

1. 9/29/15 – Quick write • After I graduate high school, I plan on ___________. This is the best choice for me because _________. Others who care about me might envision my path leading me to ___________ because __________. • Do this on a fresh piece of paper, you will be turning it in.

2. Your qualities • Think about your chosen path (what you mentioned in the quick write). • Now list THREE qualities that you possess which will support you in your chosen path. • You have three minutes.

3. Mind mapping • Create a mind map for each of the three qualities you listed, brainstorming other career paths that are connected to them. You have 5 minutes.

4. New qualities • Now list three qualities that you hope to develop over the next 5 years. • Do these qualities support your chosen path? Why or why not?

5. Personal narrative • In first-person narrative form, write about an event that you have experienced in the past that leads you to believe that you will be successful in your chosen path. • What happened? • What qualities did you exhibit? • What were you thinking in the moment? • At the end, add a few lines of reflection. • If the event happened again, would you react the same way? • Why do you think you reacted the way you did? • How did the event impact who you are today?

6. 9/30/15 • Please turn in your Personal Narrative assignment into the Period 0 box. • We will gave a guest speaker to begin the class. Please be prepared to listen attentively.

7. Personal narrative speech • To further find your narrative voice, you will perform a 3-5 minute speech in front of the class. • Your speech will make a statement about YOU through the telling of a story. • When writing your speech, you must consider your audience: who are you speaking to, and what must you do to get them interested and keep them entertained? • The speeches will be performed on Friday and Monday. I will randomly select the speakers, so be prepared on both days.

8. Speech outline • As you write your outline, consider the following: • Structure your speech like a story: set the scene, describe characters and conflict, build tension, then solve it and end with a bang. • You are speaking to a specific audience (your classmates). • Use of humor is fine as long as it doesn’t pull the audience away from the importance of your story or cause them to lose focus. • Use formal, appropriate language. • Invoke the senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, smell.

9. The power of introverts • As you watch and listen to the TED Talk, make note of what methods Susan Cain uses to get her point across. • How does she get/keep the audience’s attention? • How does she structure her speech? • What worked? What didn’t?

10. 10/7/15 – quick write • What do you know about personal statements or college application/scholarship essays? Do you know anyone who has written one in the past? What do you think is the significance of these essays?

11. Uc personal statement • Two prompts, 1,000 words total (the short answer needs to be at least 250 words) • Start early • Brainstorm topics • Write persuasively • Use “I” statements (it is all about you after all!) • Proofread and edit • Solicit feedback

12. The world you come from • Come up with three individual words that describe the “world” you come from. • They can be adjectives, items, qualities, people (anything that you connect to your “world”). • When your done, choose one word and add it to the “world” on the board. If your aim is to be silly, please save it for another time. • Be ready to discuss/explain the word you added.

13. Personal statement examples • Read the first example essay, “Give Goth a Chance.” • As you read, make note of your response (you may write on the paper!) • Did the author meet all the requirements? • What are its strengths? • What are its weaknesses? • What techniques were affective? • Be ready to discuss.

14. Personal statements • Read the second example essay, “Harmony Through Chaos.” • As you read, make note of your response (you may write on the paper!) • Did the author meet all the requirements? • What are its strengths? • What are its weaknesses? • What techniques were affective? • Be ready to discuss.

15. Personal statements • Read the third example essay, “The Bitter and the Sweet.” • As you read, make note of your response (you may write on the paper!) • Did the author meet all the requirements? • What are its strengths? • What are its weaknesses? • What techniques were affective? • Be ready to discuss.

16. Personal statements • Read the fourth example essay, “An Identity.” • As you read, make note of your response (you may write on the paper!) • Did the author meet all the requirements? • What are its strengths? • What are its weaknesses? • What techniques were affective? • Be ready to discuss.

17. Rank the statements • In your groups, rank the four personal statements, with 1 being the best and 4 being the worst. • For each statement, write a one-sentence explanation for your ranking. • You will turn this in (one per table group). • Be ready to share your rankings and explanations.

18. College application deadlines • UC: Opens November 1, closes November 30. • CSU:Opens October 1, closes November 30 (some colleges accept applications later; do your research and be sure!) • Private schools: Deadlines vary, so visit the college’s website to find out!

19. brainstorm • If you are applying to a UC, begin brainstorming your personal statement. Which prompt will you use more words on? What will your topic be? • If you are using the Common App, decide which prompt you want to address and begin brainstorming your topic. • If you are applying to CSU schools or community college, research an essay topic for a scholarship. • Regardless of your intentions for next year, every student is required to write a personal statement.

20. homework • The first draft of your personal statement is due next Wednesday, October 13. • The final draft is due Monday, October 19. • Students with unexcused absences on either of these days will have the assignment marked late. • If you are going to be absent either day, you must email me your personal statement before class starts.

21. 10/14/15 - trivia • What is the birth name of Mark Twain, author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? • Tell me the answer before the bell rings to receive 1 point of extra credit. • Please have your personal statement rough drafts out to be stamped.

22. 10/14/15 – quick discussion • What has been your experience with peer edits? Do you find them helpful? Why or why not? If not, what could you do to make the experience helpful? • You do not have to write this; just discuss in your group. • Please have your Personal Statement rough draft out to be stamped.

23. Peer edit • Remember, the peer edit is designed to help make your and your partners essays BETTER! • Give feedback where feedback is due; don’t worry about hurting feelings. • First read the essay through without making any comments or edits; just read for comprehension. • Then read it again and make any edits or comments. • Then complete the peer edit sheet thoroughly. You will be graded on how much effort you put into the editing.

24. Peer edit • When you’re done, return the essay to your partner. • Discuss any comments/edits you made. • Talk to the author about what worked, what could be done even better, any ideas you have. • The rough draft and peer edit will be turned in with the final draft on Monday, October 19th.

25. 10/15/15 - trivia • This morning, Obama is set to announce that he will halt the withdrawal of troops from this country. • Tell me before the bell rings to receive 1 point of extra credit.

26. Next novel? • Frankenstein by Mary Shelley • Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad • Lord of the Flies by William Golding • 1984 by George Orwell • Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen • Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse • The Stranger by Albert Camus • Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe