Final NaNoWriMo Preparations

NaNoWriMo begins tomorrow!

We have a lot to do to make sure we are prepared for that. Ready?

1. We have a guest speaker coming in for a few minutes to talk to our class. Please be respectful and attentive.
2. This morning, you received a new document in your "Shared With Me" folder in Google Drive. It is the document you will be writing your novel in, titled "period#, your name - NaNoWriMo Novel" (4, Black Alyssa - NaNoWriMo Novel). Make sure you check it and hit "Add to My Drive" so it is in your folder. You DO NOT need to make a new copy. This document IS your copy. (Notice how it already has your name on it?)
3. Have I told you I'm writing a novel, too? I'm just as nervous as you are, don't worry. Here is a link to my novel. You will also find that link in the sidebar under "Useful Links." You can look at it at any time.
4. A Progress Check
5. Catch-Up - What do you need to do to prepare for tomorrow? Character Questionnaire? Plot Outline? "Practice" Openings?
6. For your Halloween enjoyment:

Source

Source

Dialogue

In a stunning turn of events, we will be reading at the bell!

Today we're going to spend some time talking about dialogue.

 Here's what we'll be doing today. I'll explain more as we move forward.

1. An educational video
2. A bit of writing (you'll need your English Journal open)
3. A bit of reading
4. A bit of discussion
5. Revision

If you were absent: 

• Start with the reading, click on the link and read the two pages. Use it to learn about how authors write dialogue.
• Today's assignment was to write a conversation between two characters in your English Journal. Use the picture above for inspiration. When you write a conversation, there should be dialogue, meaning your characters need to speak. 
• TIPS! Whenever a new character starts speaking, start a new paragraph (check your own novels to see how this works). Also, the periods/question marks/commas/exclamations points ALWAYS go inside the quotation marks.

Plot Planning, Day 2

So you have a word count goal.

You also have a protagonist, an antagonist, and your conflict.

Now you get to

outline your plot!

Woo! 

1. Copy and paste this document into your English Journal if you did not do it yesterday.
2. Begin outlining your plot by following the directions.
3. When it asks for paragraphs, you should be writing paragraphs.
4. If you need to review any part of plot from what you should have read for homework, here is a link to the NaNoWriMo Handbook

Writing Descriptive Settings

Source: Galleyhip

Books out.

You need 3 tabs open:

• The blog
• Your English Journal in Google Drive
• Socrative (room #504326)

Source: Galleryhip

Today we're going to practice some writing. You've been brainstorming a lot about your characters and the world they live in, as well as the conflicts they might face. Now it's time to think about the specific spaces where they spend a lot of their time.

Here is our agenda:

1. Read about Larry's apartment. I'll show you this in a minute. 
2. Practice writing a setting for your novel in your English Journal. 
3. Paste your example into Socrative and look at what your peers wrote. 

Homework: After reading some of your peers examples, spend some time tonight improving your own description. How can you add more sensory details? You do not have to rewrite it, just revise. Also, double check your homophones: they're/their/there or which/witch or others like it.

Summarize It!

Make sure you have your books out; we'll be reading.

Today we have four goals. Because we always have goals.

• Create an English Journal in Google Drive.
• Join Newsela.com.
• Read and summarize an article that you will read on Newsela.
• Join Remind. The directions are on your desk.

Creating an English Journal

1. Create a new document in Google Docs.
2. Name it with your period# Full Name English Journal (i.e. 4 Alyssa Black (English Journal)
3. Share it with Ms. Black using her gmail address

Join Newsela

1. Go to Newsela
2. Sign in by clicking "Sign in with Google" (this will make your life so much easier).
3. Use class code NIIJN when it asks.

Read and Summarize the article on Newsela

1. Find the article that has been assigned to you. It's called "Americans flushing much more water than they think."
2. Take the quiz that you will find at the end of the article.
3. Write a summary of the article in your new English Journal. Make sure you label it with today's date.

There is a piece of paper at your tables with directions on how to join Remind. 
Remind allows us to send you important information via text or email.

1. Get your phone out.
2. Follow the directions on the paper.