Novel Climaxes

We have a lot to do today. You need some tabs open:

• This blog
• Goodreads (Log in by clicking the Google symbol.). Open the pages where your book reviews are. If you haven't put your book reviews on Goodreads, do so.

The first thing you are going to do today is submit your book reviews. To do this, click on the "Independent Reading/Book Reviews" tab at the top of this page. Remember: you need the links to the pages for your book reviews, not the page for the book itself.

Over our break next week many of you will be writing the climax of your novel. This is the most exciting part of your book, the moment when your character gets (or loses) what he or she wants most. It is a moment of triumph or despair.
Here are some famous film climaxes for your enjoyment and inspiration. 

I may ask you to complete this exit slip form. It's two questions.

AOW #6

 #Read

Goal #1: Update Goodreads

• By the end of next week, you should be finishing your first book of the grading period. 
• Right now, go log into Goodreads and update your "Currently Reading" shelf. 
• Update your status to show what page you're on right now.

Goal #2: "Advice" of the Week

• This week, I have found some advice for you from other young adults who have completed NaNoWriMo before!
• Click here to view the advice. Read through it carefully.
• Pick 2-3 quotes that you find helpful for you.
• Write a paragraph or two about those pieces of advice and how they help you specifically. 

If you get this far:

Have you finished one of your independent reading novels for the six week grading period? You can begin writing your book review! Do it now while the book is fresh in your mind, and it'll be less you have to do later.

You may also continue working on your character questionnaire or your conflict questionnaire.

If you're feeling nervous about NaNoWriMo, there is also more advice from a couple authors (including Scott Westerfeld) to read at your leisure if you click here.

AOW #4

You have some work to do today. Are you ready?

1. Today is Friday. That means you get to read an Article of the Week! You will not be on Newsela today. Instead, open this article called "The 9 Ingredients of Character Development." Make a copy to annotate. In your English Journal, write one paragraph to summarize the article, and one paragraph to share you thoughts and opinions.
2. Have you filled out the form for your book reviews? The link is on the top of the page and it says "Independent Reading/Book Reviews" on it. Make sure you have submitted that form.
3. Go back into Goodreads and edit/finish your book review.
4. Catch up on your English Journal.
5. Check Powerschool. Are you missing anything?

We are collecting your group novels today so you do not have to take them to the library. If you do not have it today, you have until next Friday, October 17 to return it to the library.

Also, on Monday, you will have an assessment to show your understanding of what we have been working on in the past five weeks. If you want to know what to do to prepare, the answer is to practice looking for characterization, setting, mood, sensory details, and conflict in your own independent reading novels. If you can do that, you will be fine.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Conflict Resolution

Source

PROTIP: 

While you're reading (because there is a book out on your desk), OPEN THE BLOG.

#goodhabits

Your first set of directions:

1. Open your English Journal.
2. Log into Goodreads (by clicking the "log in with Google" button")
3. Copy and paste the book review that you wrote on Monday into Goodreads.
4. Go and find the website page that has your book review on it and don't close that tab.
5. Read until further notice.

There is a fancy form you'll need to fill out today. It is a tab at the top of the blog called "Independent Reading/Book Reviews." Take a look at it. It has helpful information, and you can begin to fill it out. You'll need the link to your book review that you wrote, which is why I wanted you to keep that page open.

You spent yesterday exploring conflict in a short story.

Today, you will work with your partner to identify conflict in your group novel.

• You should add the examples from your own group novel to the bottom of yesterday's chart. You can do this by right clicking on the table and clicking "add row."
• Try to find examples of different types of conflict in your novel.

Writing Your First Book Review

Hey everyone. I hope you had a wonderful, reading-filled weekend.

Today you're going to write your first book review. 

BUT FIRST: A QUIZ

There are two questions today. So I'll give you ten minutes instead of seven. (And you all thought I was the mean one.)

Book reviews:

Today you will work to write a book review for your group novel OR your independent reading book. 

1. Write your book review in your English Journal. DO NOT move on to step two before finishing step one.
2. Log in to your Goodreads account
3. Find your book and click "edit review." (If you can't find it, ask someone at your table. If you're still stuck ask one of the adults.)
4. Rate your book. Copy and paste your book review into the box.
5. Make sure you hit "Save."

Goodreads!

By Lauren Schroer

Happy Friday!

Today we're going to spend some time on a new website that we have not looked at in this class before. You've been reading books in groups and independently. Let's get our reading lives online.

Goal #1: Goodreads

1. Go to Goodreads.com
2. Log-in using your GOOGLE account. (Underneath the "sign up" spaces, it says, "or sign in using..." Next to this, click the little Google button!)
3. Send a friend request to Ms. Black AND Mrs. Roberts. (Hint: Look us up by our email addresses.)
4. Search for the book you are currently reading and add it to your "currently reading" shelf.
5. Search for at least TEN more books you have read and add them to your "Read" shelf. Make sure you RATE them too!

Goal #2: Looking at awesome book reviews

1. Take some time to read this book review about a book called The Alchemist.
2. In your English Journal, write about what makes this book review a good book review. What are the qualities that make it strong? What is the difference between a book review and a summary?
3. If you would like another example to learn from, check out this one about City of Thieves