2015 – 2016 CSB Trimester 3 Agenda

Click the appropriate navigation option to view this week's agenda. CSBer's looking to be organized and more efficient might find it useful to bookmark this page in your preferred browser.



Week 1

March 7, 2016

Inservice Day – No school

March 8, 2016

Quote of the Day:
Look, I’m far from military material. Undisciplined, hate authority, my ethics—perverted. But there is one military tenant I can and do get behind every time I sit down to write, and you probably know it already: ‘Embrace the suck.’... – Matt Sumell

  1. Warm Up: http://www.creative-writing-now.com/found-poem.html
  2. Walkabout
    • You need a pencil and paper
    • Instructions to follow

March 9, 2016

Quote of the Day:
If you write one story, it may be bad; if you write a hundred, you have the odds in your favor. – Edgar Rice Burroughs

  1. Warm Up: You are renting a room in someone’s house as you transition to living in a new city. The owner tells you that basement is absolutely, 100% off limits. You don’t bat an eye at this request, until you start hearing noises from the basement at night. After several weeks of this, you sneak downstairs... (pick up the story from here)
  2. Finalize Crater Found Poem
  3. Government Assistance
  4. The Rose that Grew from Concrete
  5. in just

March 10, 2016

Quote of the Day:
"I haven’t found any particular thing to be a consistently reliable source of inspiration. If there’s any consistency, it’s that it’s always something different." – Colin Winnette

  1. Warm Up: In an essay published in the New Yorker in 2011, Jhumpa Lahiri wrote, "Being a writer means taking the leap from listening to saying, 'Listen to me.'" Jot down a list of several personal beliefs, contemporary topics, or ideas that you feel an especially strong need to express volubly—from the personal to the political, the spectacular to the mundane, the all-encompassing to the minute. Write a personal essay about one of these issues, reflecting on how you arrived at your opinions by first discussing the idea with other people and listening to what they had to say, and then making your own, more specific conclusions. Provide anecdotes from conversations, events, situations, or words you have read or overheard. Make sure that your unique personality and voice are showcased in what you've decided is worthy of being shouted from the rooftops.
  2. Let's Get Serious Poem #1: Voice from the Rooftop

March 11, 2016

  1. Government Assistance
  2. http://writersrelief.com/blog/2013/03/5-tips-for-editing-poems-down-to-size/
  3. http://www.powerpoetry.org/actions/7-tips-editing-poetry
  4. Let's Get Serious Poem #1: Voice from the Rooftop

Week 2

March 14, 2016

Quote of the Day:
“The first draft of anything is shit.” – Ernest Hemingway

  1. Warm Up: This week, choose a pair of shoes that you own or have owned that has significance to you. Perhaps it's the first pair of dress shoes that you purchased, the well-worn sneakers that you wear over and over again, or a pair of shoes that you've never worn but can't bear to toss out. Write a poem about your connection to these shoes, describing them in detail and thinking about the specific qualities that drew you to them in the first place. What do they say about your personality? Where have they accompanied you already, and where might they take you in the future?
  2. Eavesdropping on the World
    • In Writers Recommend, Camille Rankine shares that her ideas and inspiration come from “eavesdropping on the world.” Today, collect phrases from overheard conversations, the radio, TV, or magazine articles. When you have a quiet moment, read over your notes and pick one quote that especially sparks your imaginative impulses. Write a poem that uses the found quote as a first line. Explore your immediate reactions and emotions, and allow those feelings to develop the tone of the lines that follow.

March 15, 2016

Quote of the Day:
“Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” Anton Chekov

  1. Warm Up: If you could go any where in the world, with anyone for one week during spring break, where would go, why would you go, who would you take, and why would you take him/her?
  2. Let's get serious #2: Eavesdropping on the World –
    • Using your notes from yesterday, create a poem based on your "eavesdropping"
    • Minimum 16 lines
    • In Writers Recommend, Camille Rankine shares that her ideas and inspiration come from “eavesdropping on the world.” Today, collect phrases from overheard conversations, the radio, TV, or magazine articles. When you have a quiet moment, read over your notes and pick one quote that especially sparks your imaginative impulses. Write a poem that uses the found quote as a first line. Explore your immediate reactions and emotions, and allow those feelings to develop the tone of the lines that follow.

March 16, 2016

Parent/Teacher Conferences – No school

March 17, 2016

Parent/Teacher Conferences – No school

March 18, 2016

Parent/Teacher Conferences – No school

Spring Break

March 21 – 25, 2016

Week 3

March 28, 2016

Quote of the Day:
“We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.” – Kurt Vonnegut

  1. Warm Up: Pandora's Box – In the story of Pandora’s box in Greek mythology, Pandora, the first human woman created by the gods, opens the lid of a container, thereby allowing all of the evils stored inside to escape out into the world. In contemporary colloquial usage, to “open a Pandora’s box” refers to an action that seems small or harmless but ultimately proves to have disastrous consequences. Write a poem that starts with a seemingly innocent action, which then unexpectedly unleashes a dramatic chain of events.
  2. Complete Final Drafts of the following Poems
    • Let's Get Serious Poem #1: Voice from the Rooftop
    • Let's Get Serious Poem #2: Eavesdropping on the World
    • See formatting and submission instructions below
  3. The Untapped Collection
    • The Untapped Collection represents the untapped potential of rising BIS writers.
    • Follow this format:
      1. Text must be left aligned – not centered
      2. Title of poem at the top
      3. Your name underneath the title – no space between the title and your name
      4. Insert a space after your name then start the poem
    • Check for spelling mistakes
    • Print a copy, review with a partner, then Sinks
    • After final approval from Sinks, email digital copy to jeremy.sinks@district6.org

March 29, 2016

  1. Lost – Let's get serious #3: to be completed in class
    • The feeling of loss can be one of the most powerful emotions we experience in life. Think of something you have lost – it can be a favorite toy or stuffed animal from childhood, a grandparent, parent, sibling, or other influential person in your life, an idea or value, innocence, friendship, love, reality, etc. Write a poem that encapsulates the feeling of your loss and the struggle in coping with that loss – how were you able to move on? Or not?
    • HERE'S THE KICKER – you CANNOT use the following words: loss, lost, or lose in your poem
    • Must be 16 lines minimum
  2. The Haiku

March 30, 2016

  1. Warm Up: Naomi Shihab Nye
  2. Lost – Let's get serious #3: to be completed in class
    • The feeling of loss can be one of the most powerful emotions we experience in life. Think of something you have lost – it can be a favorite toy or stuffed animal from childhood, a grandparent, parent, sibling, or other influential person in your life, an idea or value, innocence, friendship, love, reality, etc. Write a poem that encapsulates the feeling of your loss and the struggle in coping with that loss – how were you able to move on? Or not?
    • HERE'S THE KICKER – you CANNOT use the following words: loss, lost, or lose in your poem
    • Must be 16 lines minimum

March 31, 2016

  1. In the Lab
    1. Let's Get Serious Poem #1: Voice from the Rooftop
    2. Let's Get Serious Poem #2: Eavesdropping on the World
    3. Let's get serious #3: Lost
    4. 3 Haiku Poems:
      • Focus: Spring
      • Focus: Oregon
      • Focus: Travel
  2. The Untapped Collection
    • The Untapped Collection represents the untapped potential of rising BIS writers.
    • Follow this format:
      1. Text must be left aligned – not centered
      2. Title of poem at the top
      3. Your name underneath the title – no space between the title and your name
      4. Insert a space after your name then start the poem
    • Check for spelling mistakes
    • Print a copy, review with a partner, then Sinks
    • After final approval from Sinks, email digital copy to jeremy.sinks@district6.org

April 1, 2016

  1. In the Lab
    1. Let's Get Serious Poem #1: Voice from the Rooftop
    2. Let's Get Serious Poem #2: Eavesdropping on the World
    3. Let's get serious #3: Lost
    4. 3 Haiku Poems:
      • Focus: Spring
      • Focus: Oregon
      • Focus: Travel
  2. The Untapped Collection
    • The Untapped Collection represents the untapped potential of rising BIS writers.
    • Follow this format:
      1. Text must be left aligned – not centered
      2. Title of poem at the top
      3. Your name underneath the title – no space between the title and your name
      4. Insert a space after your name then start the poem
    • Check for spelling mistakes
    • Print a copy, review with a partner, then Sinks
    • After final approval from Sinks, email digital copy to jeremy.sinks@district6.org

Week 4

April 4, 2016

  1. Warm Up: Write a poem about cloning someone who is recently deceased. Think of various attributes of the overall cloning process such as personality differences, health problems, controversy, and the comparisons of the deceased to the new clone.
  2. You Can't Go Home Again – Let's get serious #4: to be completed in class
    • The popular saying “you can’t go home again” refers to the difficulty of matching a confrontation of one’s childhood and home as an adult with the version that exists in nostalgia-tinged memories. Which home(s) do you recall in your earliest memories? Write a poem in which you "return" to a home (could be your childhood home or the home of relative or a good friend) from your early childhood. Describe a specific memory etched into your brain as it relates to the home and it's surroundings. Pay attention to your senses, your feelings, and how things have changed – both the physical space and yourself. What have you learned by visiting this place?
    • Must be 16 lines minimum
  3. Stranger: – Let's get serious #4 Alternative Prompt Option
    • “Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself,” said author Mohsin Hamid in a 2012 interview. Think about a stranger with whom you recently crossed paths. It could be the person who bagged your groceries, stood in front of you in line at the post office, or simply walked by you on the street. What type of situation can you imagine this stranger experiencing? Which emotions or feelings would you project onto this stranger? Write a poem about this imagined event from the stranger's perspective. Concentrate on digging deeply into our own private observations and personal history to capture what sensations might be echoed in another person’s experience.

April 5, 2016

  1. Warm Up: Matthew Zapruder, poetry editor for the New York Times Magazine, says of Eileen Myles’s poem “Summer:” “Its drifting, elusive movement defines and also conjures the feeling of experiencing summer itself.” This week, make a short list of adjectives and phrases that signify to you the feeling of experiencing summer. Then write a poem that mimics the motions, rhythms, or sensations of the season. Be sure to include personal impressions or events that make your observations unique.
  2. l(a
  3. Because I Could Not Stop for Death
  4. Wilfred Owen
  5. My Papas Waltz
  6. Richard Cory

April 6, 2016

  1. On the Hunt: – Let's get serious #5
    • Richard Wilbur says about inspiration, "A poem comes looking for me rather than I hunting after it." Quickly make a list of the first five things that pop into your head, "looking" for you. It may be a striking image, a phrase, or a memory of someone from your past that has resurfaced unexpectedly. Use one of the items on your list as a source of inspiration and write a poem examining why this subject occupies your mind. As you write, continue to hunt for some clarity.
    • 16 lines minimum

April 7, 2016

April 8, 2016

Week 5

April 11, 2016

April 12, 2016

April 13, 2016

  1. A Commissioned Piece

April 14, 2016

  1. In the lab

April 15, 2016

  1. In the lab

Week 6

April 18, 2016

  1. List of "Let's Get Serious" Poems
    • Let's Get Serious Poem #1: "Voice from the Rooftop"
    • Let's Get Serious Poem #2: "Eavesdropping on the World"
    • Let's get serious #3: "Lost"
    • 3 Haiku Poems:
      • Focus: Spring
      • Focus: Oregon
      • Focus: Travel
    • Let's get serious #4: (option 1) "You Can't Go Home Again" (option 2) "Empathy"
    • Let's get serious #5: "On the Hunt"
    • Let's get serious #6: "The Myth of the Outlaw"
  2. Conference, revise, email poems (list above)

April 19, 2016

  1. Warm Up: Poem in Your Pocket
    • In preparation for Poem in Your Pocket Day, (Thursday, the 21st) find a short poem that you are especially drawn to and carry it with you, taking time to reread and reflect upon it. If you need help finding one, try the Academy of American Poets or Poets House websites.
    • Email Sinks a copy of your poem and a short explanation of why you chose it
    • Print a copy of the poem – if need be, copy >paste in a Word doc then print
    • Yes, you must carry your poem in your pocket on Thursday
  2. Sharing is caring...

April 20, 2016

  1. Warm Up: Write a fictional news story based on this headline: "Elvis Clones Take Over the World" (15 min)
  2. Adama (58 min)

April 21, 2016

  1. Warm Up: Use this cliche anywhere in a poem: "the raw end of a deal" (15 min)
  2. Adama – finish
    • Write a poem in response to the documentary – if you need a push, write about "profiling."
    • Turn in at the end of the period

April 22, 2016

  1. Warm Up: Use all of the following in a poem: "a culture of solitude," "faithful blue sky," and "where we still discover." (15 min)
  2. Pearl was Here
    • Write a poem about escaping your parents

Week 7

April 25, 2016

  1. Warm Up: If you could be any animal in the world, what would it be? Explain why.
  2. Recap Last Week
  3. "Upcycling" Poem Discussion and brainstorm

April 26, 2016

  1. If you haven’t heard of it already, a “promposal” is a request for a date to high school prom through a dramatic gesture often involving witty puns and surprise declarations of affection in public, all recorded on camera and shared widely on social media. Write a scene in which a secondary character carries out an elaborate “promposal.” Is it angst-ridden and cringe-worthy, or humorously slapstick? Does the success or failure of the act offer foreshadowing for the atmosphere of the entire story?
  2. Email Sinks your Poems if you don't be failing this class!
    • I can send about 6-7 students to the library
  3. Pets and Humans
    • Write a poem from the perspective of one of your pets. What do you imagine they want to say to you if they could talk? You might consider writing a poem about a moment when your pet misbehaved, or the first time you took the pet home, or perhaps a memorable trip your pet took with you.

April 27, 2016

  1. Email Sinks your Poems if you don't be failing this class!
  2. Pets and Humans
    • Write a poem from the perspective of one of your pets. What do you imagine they want to say to you if they could talk? You might consider writing a poem about a moment when your pet misbehaved, or the first time you took the pet home, or perhaps a memorable trip your pet took with you.

April 28, 2016

April 29, 2016

Week 8

May 2, 2016

  1. Object/Form Poem

May 3, 2016

  1. Object/Form Poem

May 4, 2016

  1. Object/Form Poem

May 5, 2016

  1. Object/Form Poem

May 6, 2016

  1. Bisapalooza

Week 9

May 9, 2016

  1. Object/Form Poem Due tomorrow

May 10, 2016

  1. Object/Form Poem Due Today! Share out!

May 11, 2016

  1. Creative Non-Fiction
    • Option 1
      • Many people were overjoyed to learn several weeks ago that Inky, an octopus at the National Aquarium of New Zealand, had escaped from his tank, wiggling through a drainpipe in the floor that eventually led him out into the ocean. NPR reporter Scott Simon commented, “it's hard not to note that Inky chose to bolt from surroundings in which he was safe, secure, and hand fed, for the dangers of an open sea that teems sharks, seals, and whales that might eat him. Inky chose liberty over security.” Write a personal essay about a time when you chose freedom, whether via a daring escape or by bravely walking away, from a lifestyle you weren’t satisfied with that may have seemed like a safer, more stable route. Were there risky obstacles to overcome? What are your thoughts about your decision in hindsight?
    • Option 2
      • Industry is one of the greatest factors contributing to the unique character of a place. Deep coal mines and narrow hollers made much of Appalachia feel like an isolated labyrinth. Western Pennsylvania’s steel mills, with their raging blast furnaces and endless soot, created a real-life inferno. The logging industry turned the Pacific Northwest into a land ruled by mist, danger, and falling giants. What industries have shaped the people and landscape of your home? In an essay, explore the philosophical implications an industry can have on towns and the character and psyche of its inhabitants.
    • Option 3
      • Several years ago, after searching for more than two decades, Navy archaeologist Steve Schwartz and his team found what is likely the San Nicolas Island cave, which had been inhabited by the Native American woman who inspired the popular 1960 novel by Scott O’Dell, Island of the Blue Dolphins. Choose a favorite book that is inspired by, or references, factual events and write an essay about what draws you to the topic. Include any further historical digging—whether at an archaeological site or in a library—that you might find particularly engaging. What is it about the specific subject matter that resonates with your personal interests or your own life experiences?
    • Option 4
      • In an essay published in the New Yorker in 2011, Jhumpa Lahiri wrote, "Being a writer means taking the leap from listening to saying, 'Listen to me.'" Jot down a list of several personal beliefs, contemporary topics, or ideas that you feel an especially strong need to express volubly—from the personal to the political, the spectacular to the mundane, the all-encompassing to the minute. Write a personal essay about one of these issues, reflecting on how you arrived at your opinions by first discussing the idea with other people and listening to what they had to say, and then making your own, more specific conclusions. Provide anecdotes from conversations, events, situations, or words you have read or overheard. Make sure that your unique personality and voice are showcased in what you've decided is worthy of being shouted from the rooftops.
    • Option 5
      • What was your worst subject in school? Write an essay about that subject and why you found it so difficult. Does the experience still influence the way you process information? Have you developed a passion for what you once couldn’t crack? Use this prompt to study your own approaches to learning, and how your mind and personality may have changed over time.

May 12, 2016

  1. Creative Non-Fiction
    • Option 1
      • Many people were overjoyed to learn several weeks ago that Inky, an octopus at the National Aquarium of New Zealand, had escaped from his tank, wiggling through a drainpipe in the floor that eventually led him out into the ocean. NPR reporter Scott Simon commented, “it's hard not to note that Inky chose to bolt from surroundings in which he was safe, secure, and hand fed, for the dangers of an open sea that teems sharks, seals, and whales that might eat him. Inky chose liberty over security.” Write a personal essay about a time when you chose freedom, whether via a daring escape or by bravely walking away, from a lifestyle you weren’t satisfied with that may have seemed like a safer, more stable route. Were there risky obstacles to overcome? What are your thoughts about your decision in hindsight?
    • Option 2
      • Industry is one of the greatest factors contributing to the unique character of a place. Deep coal mines and narrow hollers made much of Appalachia feel like an isolated labyrinth. Western Pennsylvania’s steel mills, with their raging blast furnaces and endless soot, created a real-life inferno. The logging industry turned the Pacific Northwest into a land ruled by mist, danger, and falling giants. What industries have shaped the people and landscape of your home? In an essay, explore the philosophical implications an industry can have on towns and the character and psyche of its inhabitants.
    • Option 3
      • Several years ago, after searching for more than two decades, Navy archaeologist Steve Schwartz and his team found what is likely the San Nicolas Island cave, which had been inhabited by the Native American woman who inspired the popular 1960 novel by Scott O’Dell, Island of the Blue Dolphins. Choose a favorite book that is inspired by, or references, factual events and write an essay about what draws you to the topic. Include any further historical digging—whether at an archaeological site or in a library—that you might find particularly engaging. What is it about the specific subject matter that resonates with your personal interests or your own life experiences?
    • Option 4
      • In an essay published in the New Yorker in 2011, Jhumpa Lahiri wrote, "Being a writer means taking the leap from listening to saying, 'Listen to me.'" Jot down a list of several personal beliefs, contemporary topics, or ideas that you feel an especially strong need to express volubly—from the personal to the political, the spectacular to the mundane, the all-encompassing to the minute. Write a personal essay about one of these issues, reflecting on how you arrived at your opinions by first discussing the idea with other people and listening to what they had to say, and then making your own, more specific conclusions. Provide anecdotes from conversations, events, situations, or words you have read or overheard. Make sure that your unique personality and voice are showcased in what you've decided is worthy of being shouted from the rooftops.
    • Option 5
      • What was your worst subject in school? Write an essay about that subject and why you found it so difficult. Does the experience still influence the way you process information? Have you developed a passion for what you once couldn’t crack? Use this prompt to study your own approaches to learning, and how your mind and personality may have changed over time.

May 13, 2016

  1. Creative Non-Fiction
    • Option 1
      • Many people were overjoyed to learn several weeks ago that Inky, an octopus at the National Aquarium of New Zealand, had escaped from his tank, wiggling through a drainpipe in the floor that eventually led him out into the ocean. NPR reporter Scott Simon commented, “it's hard not to note that Inky chose to bolt from surroundings in which he was safe, secure, and hand fed, for the dangers of an open sea that teems sharks, seals, and whales that might eat him. Inky chose liberty over security.” Write a personal essay about a time when you chose freedom, whether via a daring escape or by bravely walking away, from a lifestyle you weren’t satisfied with that may have seemed like a safer, more stable route. Were there risky obstacles to overcome? What are your thoughts about your decision in hindsight?
    • Option 2
      • Industry is one of the greatest factors contributing to the unique character of a place. Deep coal mines and narrow hollers made much of Appalachia feel like an isolated labyrinth. Western Pennsylvania’s steel mills, with their raging blast furnaces and endless soot, created a real-life inferno. The logging industry turned the Pacific Northwest into a land ruled by mist, danger, and falling giants. What industries have shaped the people and landscape of your home? In an essay, explore the philosophical implications an industry can have on towns and the character and psyche of its inhabitants.
    • Option 3
      • Several years ago, after searching for more than two decades, Navy archaeologist Steve Schwartz and his team found what is likely the San Nicolas Island cave, which had been inhabited by the Native American woman who inspired the popular 1960 novel by Scott O’Dell, Island of the Blue Dolphins. Choose a favorite book that is inspired by, or references, factual events and write an essay about what draws you to the topic. Include any further historical digging—whether at an archaeological site or in a library—that you might find particularly engaging. What is it about the specific subject matter that resonates with your personal interests or your own life experiences?
    • Option 4
      • In an essay published in the New Yorker in 2011, Jhumpa Lahiri wrote, "Being a writer means taking the leap from listening to saying, 'Listen to me.'" Jot down a list of several personal beliefs, contemporary topics, or ideas that you feel an especially strong need to express volubly—from the personal to the political, the spectacular to the mundane, the all-encompassing to the minute. Write a personal essay about one of these issues, reflecting on how you arrived at your opinions by first discussing the idea with other people and listening to what they had to say, and then making your own, more specific conclusions. Provide anecdotes from conversations, events, situations, or words you have read or overheard. Make sure that your unique personality and voice are showcased in what you've decided is worthy of being shouted from the rooftops.
    • Option 5
      • What was your worst subject in school? Write an essay about that subject and why you found it so difficult. Does the experience still influence the way you process information? Have you developed a passion for what you once couldn’t crack? Use this prompt to study your own approaches to learning, and how your mind and personality may have changed over time.

Week 10

May 16, 2016

  1. Creative Non-Fiction – in the lab – final draft print
    • Option 1
      • Many people were overjoyed to learn several weeks ago that Inky, an octopus at the National Aquarium of New Zealand, had escaped from his tank, wiggling through a drainpipe in the floor that eventually led him out into the ocean. NPR reporter Scott Simon commented, “it's hard not to note that Inky chose to bolt from surroundings in which he was safe, secure, and hand fed, for the dangers of an open sea that teems sharks, seals, and whales that might eat him. Inky chose liberty over security.” Write a personal essay about a time when you chose freedom, whether via a daring escape or by bravely walking away, from a lifestyle you weren’t satisfied with that may have seemed like a safer, more stable route. Were there risky obstacles to overcome? What are your thoughts about your decision in hindsight?
    • Option 2
      • Industry is one of the greatest factors contributing to the unique character of a place. Deep coal mines and narrow hollers made much of Appalachia feel like an isolated labyrinth. Western Pennsylvania’s steel mills, with their raging blast furnaces and endless soot, created a real-life inferno. The logging industry turned the Pacific Northwest into a land ruled by mist, danger, and falling giants. What industries have shaped the people and landscape of your home? In an essay, explore the philosophical implications an industry can have on towns and the character and psyche of its inhabitants.
    • Option 3
      • Several years ago, after searching for more than two decades, Navy archaeologist Steve Schwartz and his team found what is likely the San Nicolas Island cave, which had been inhabited by the Native American woman who inspired the popular 1960 novel by Scott O’Dell, Island of the Blue Dolphins. Choose a favorite book that is inspired by, or references, factual events and write an essay about what draws you to the topic. Include any further historical digging—whether at an archaeological site or in a library—that you might find particularly engaging. What is it about the specific subject matter that resonates with your personal interests or your own life experiences?
    • Option 4
      • In an essay published in the New Yorker in 2011, Jhumpa Lahiri wrote, "Being a writer means taking the leap from listening to saying, 'Listen to me.'" Jot down a list of several personal beliefs, contemporary topics, or ideas that you feel an especially strong need to express volubly—from the personal to the political, the spectacular to the mundane, the all-encompassing to the minute. Write a personal essay about one of these issues, reflecting on how you arrived at your opinions by first discussing the idea with other people and listening to what they had to say, and then making your own, more specific conclusions. Provide anecdotes from conversations, events, situations, or words you have read or overheard. Make sure that your unique personality and voice are showcased in what you've decided is worthy of being shouted from the rooftops.
    • Option 5
      • What was your worst subject in school? Write an essay about that subject and why you found it so difficult. Does the experience still influence the way you process information? Have you developed a passion for what you once couldn’t crack? Use this prompt to study your own approaches to learning, and how your mind and personality may have changed over time.

May 17, 2016

  1. Creative Non-Fiction
    • Option 1
      • Many people were overjoyed to learn several weeks ago that Inky, an octopus at the National Aquarium of New Zealand, had escaped from his tank, wiggling through a drainpipe in the floor that eventually led him out into the ocean. NPR reporter Scott Simon commented, “it's hard not to note that Inky chose to bolt from surroundings in which he was safe, secure, and hand fed, for the dangers of an open sea that teems sharks, seals, and whales that might eat him. Inky chose liberty over security.” Write a personal essay about a time when you chose freedom, whether via a daring escape or by bravely walking away, from a lifestyle you weren’t satisfied with that may have seemed like a safer, more stable route. Were there risky obstacles to overcome? What are your thoughts about your decision in hindsight?
    • Option 2
      • Industry is one of the greatest factors contributing to the unique character of a place. Deep coal mines and narrow hollers made much of Appalachia feel like an isolated labyrinth. Western Pennsylvania’s steel mills, with their raging blast furnaces and endless soot, created a real-life inferno. The logging industry turned the Pacific Northwest into a land ruled by mist, danger, and falling giants. What industries have shaped the people and landscape of your home? In an essay, explore the philosophical implications an industry can have on towns and the character and psyche of its inhabitants.
    • Option 3
      • Several years ago, after searching for more than two decades, Navy archaeologist Steve Schwartz and his team found what is likely the San Nicolas Island cave, which had been inhabited by the Native American woman who inspired the popular 1960 novel by Scott O’Dell, Island of the Blue Dolphins. Choose a favorite book that is inspired by, or references, factual events and write an essay about what draws you to the topic. Include any further historical digging—whether at an archaeological site or in a library—that you might find particularly engaging. What is it about the specific subject matter that resonates with your personal interests or your own life experiences?
    • Option 4
      • In an essay published in the New Yorker in 2011, Jhumpa Lahiri wrote, "Being a writer means taking the leap from listening to saying, 'Listen to me.'" Jot down a list of several personal beliefs, contemporary topics, or ideas that you feel an especially strong need to express volubly—from the personal to the political, the spectacular to the mundane, the all-encompassing to the minute. Write a personal essay about one of these issues, reflecting on how you arrived at your opinions by first discussing the idea with other people and listening to what they had to say, and then making your own, more specific conclusions. Provide anecdotes from conversations, events, situations, or words you have read or overheard. Make sure that your unique personality and voice are showcased in what you've decided is worthy of being shouted from the rooftops.
    • Option 5
      • What was your worst subject in school? Write an essay about that subject and why you found it so difficult. Does the experience still influence the way you process information? Have you developed a passion for what you once couldn’t crack? Use this prompt to study your own approaches to learning, and how your mind and personality may have changed over time.
  2. Creative Fiction

May 18, 2016

  1. Creative Fiction

May 19, 2016

  1. Creative Fiction

May 20, 2016

  1. Creative Fiction
    • Character Sketch Share Out/Q & A

Week 11

May 23, 2016

  1. Creative Fiction Short Story
    • 1.5 - 2 pages typed
    • 12 point font, single spaced, double space between paragraphs
    • Prompts to Get You Started (you don't have to choose one these):
      1. Teen moves from big city to small town (or vice versa, your call) – fitting in is central to the story.
      2. Teen's parents are splitting up – choosing which parent to live with is central to the story.
      3. Teen doesn't fit in well at school (the reason is yours to choose) but finds him/herself as the center of attention (for good or bad is for you to choose) – dealing with this "new found fame" is central to the story.
      4. Teen goes on some type of school trip or summer camp – a crush/love interest is central to the story.
      5. Teen rebels against some type of authority because of what he/she believes is the higher, moral ground – teen ultimately loses.
      6. Teen loses someone close, i.e., family, friend, mentor – coping with the loss is central to the story.

May 24, 2016

  1. Creative Fiction Short Story
    • 1.5 - 2 pages typed
    • 12 point font, single spaced, double space between paragraphs
    • Prompts to Get You Started (you don't have to choose one these):
      1. Teen moves from big city to small town (or vice versa, your call) – fitting in is central to the story.
      2. Teen's parents are splitting up – choosing which parent to live with is central to the story.
      3. Teen doesn't fit in well at school (the reason is yours to choose) but finds him/herself as the center of attention (for good or bad is for you to choose) – dealing with this "new found fame" is central to the story.
      4. Teen goes on some type of school trip or summer camp – a crush/love interest is central to the story.
      5. Teen rebels against some type of authority because of what he/she believes is the higher, moral ground – teen ultimately loses.
      6. Teen loses someone close, i.e., family, friend, mentor – coping with the loss is central to the story.

May 25, 2016

  1. Creative Fiction Short Story
    • 1.5 - 2 pages typed
    • 12 point font, single spaced, double space between paragraphs
    • Prompts to Get You Started (you don't have to choose one these):
      1. Teen moves from big city to small town (or vice versa, your call) – fitting in is central to the story.
      2. Teen's parents are splitting up – choosing which parent to live with is central to the story.
      3. Teen doesn't fit in well at school (the reason is yours to choose) but finds him/herself as the center of attention (for good or bad is for you to choose) – dealing with this "new found fame" is central to the story.
      4. Teen goes on some type of school trip or summer camp – a crush/love interest is central to the story.
      5. Teen rebels against some type of authority because of what he/she believes is the higher, moral ground – teen ultimately loses.
      6. Teen loses someone close, i.e., family, friend, mentor – coping with the loss is central to the story.

May 26, 2016

  1. Creative Fiction Short Story
    • 1.5 - 2 pages typed
    • 12 point font, single spaced, double space between paragraphs
    • Prompts to Get You Started (you don't have to choose one these):
      1. Teen moves from big city to small town (or vice versa, your call) – fitting in is central to the story.
      2. Teen's parents are splitting up – choosing which parent to live with is central to the story.
      3. Teen doesn't fit in well at school (the reason is yours to choose) but finds him/herself as the center of attention (for good or bad is for you to choose) – dealing with this "new found fame" is central to the story.
      4. Teen goes on some type of school trip or summer camp – a crush/love interest is central to the story.
      5. Teen rebels against some type of authority because of what he/she believes is the higher, moral ground – teen ultimately loses.
      6. Teen loses someone close, i.e., family, friend, mentor – coping with the loss is central to the story.

May 27, 2016

  1. Creative Fiction Short Story
    • 1.5 - 2 pages typed
    • 12 point font, single spaced, double space between paragraphs
    • Prompts to Get You Started (you don't have to choose one these):
      1. Teen moves from big city to small town (or vice versa, your call) – fitting in is central to the story.
      2. Teen's parents are splitting up – choosing which parent to live with is central to the story.
      3. Teen doesn't fit in well at school (the reason is yours to choose) but finds him/herself as the center of attention (for good or bad is for you to choose) – dealing with this "new found fame" is central to the story.
      4. Teen goes on some type of school trip or summer camp – a crush/love interest is central to the story.
      5. Teen rebels against some type of authority because of what he/she believes is the higher, moral ground – teen ultimately loses.
      6. Teen loses someone close, i.e., family, friend, mentor – coping with the loss is central to the story.

Week 12

May 30, 2016

Memorial Day – No school

May 31, 2016

June 1, 2016

June 2, 2016

June 3, 2016

Week 13

June 6, 2016

June 7, 2016

June 8, 2016

  1. Padlet Pass-Around

June 9, 2016

June 10, 2016

Week 14

June 13, 2016

June 14, 2016

End of Trimester 3

s

Last day of school