Conflict

Source: Pixabay

Hey! You!

Yes, YOU!

Is there a book on 
your desk?

I need you to fill out another form please!
Thank you!

So far we've taken the time to analyze characters, settings, mood, and sensory details. We are not done yet!

Over the next couple days, we're going to be looking at conflict!

Conflict is a struggle between two opposing forces. (like in chess?)

In literature, there are few types of conflict.

Don't panic! We're going to learn what those are.

When I tell you to, click this link for a view only copy of a document. 
DO NOT MAKE A COPY. 
Instead, listen to my instructions.


Reminder - By Friday you should have:

• Completely finished reading two books.
• Written one book review and posted it on Goodreads
• Updated your English Journal.
• Taken the last Group Novel quiz. (See Ms. Black or Mrs. Roberts if you haven't.)

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

Denotation and Connotation

It's Thursday!
(in case you weren't aware yet)

We'll be reading today.

• Open Socrative
• You'll also need your copy of "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" open.
  We're not done with it just yet!

Denotation vs. Connotation
When you look at sensory details and mood within the story, you are using the author's word choice to figure out how you're supposed to feel within the story. When an author chooses specific words over others when they write, they are using diction to tell their story.

Diction involves knowing how words relate to each other in different contexts.

This means we have to understand the denotation and connotation of words.

Let's look at this more closely....



Important Information You Need:

• The end of the grading period is next Friday 10/10. If you have not finished two books (your group novel and one choice novel), you need to spend a lot more time reading. Finish them.
• Your group novel should be DONE on Monday, October 6
• You can improve upon the English Journal grade you gave yourself by going back and working on the pieces that you have not yet completed or done thoroughly.
• Give Mrs. Roberts or Ms. Black a fist bump (an exploding one, preferably)
• If you didn't take the Newsela Quiz yesterday, go do that.

Sensory Details and AOW #3

READ.

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies," said Jojen. "The man who never reads lives only one.” 

― George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons

Yesterday you made a chart in your English Journal and began reading a passage from your group novel to look for sensory details. We will continue that process today. If you do not know what your passage is, or don't know what the chart could look like, ask a neighbor or scroll down to yesterday's post.


What else are we doing today Ms. Black?

Article of the Week!

I know that we usually do Article of the Week on Fridays, but we're switching it up a little bit. 

There is a new Newsela article in your binder. 

1. Read it.
2. Take the quiz.

You do not have to write a summary. Today, focus on the quiz. Ask questions if you have them. If you are not taking the quizzes, it will affect your grades.


Bonus:
Give Ms. Black a thumb's up if you read all the way to the end!