Last week, we emphasized the need to create a character with a conflict. As you continue working on your longer fiction story, develop your character with “show not tell” details, flashbacks, and other characters.

The literary focus for this week was based on the 3-C literary analysis:

Character

Conflict

Crisis

Write your own beginning of a ”novella” in which one key character is developed.

In conjunction with reading “My California” the Benicia library is asking 8th graders to write a short essay (200 – 250 words) on an experience they have had in Benicia. Winning essays will be recorded in the library’s California of the Past oral history program. Write a descriptive, detailed, “zoom” account of a memory in Benicia.

The art of creative writing is actually the art of painting with words. Select from one of the description prompts from this week to write an incredibly detailed description or scene. Let the details pull us in to your “world.”

This week you prepared for your debate by coming up with a focused proposition, logical reasons, and specific supporting details. Put it all together by writing a powerfully persuasive essay, convincing readers of your proposition.

Turn your topic that you will debate next week into a script in which two people debate your topic, one taking the affirmative side (your side) and another arguing the negative side (the opponent’s side). Demonstrate a clear grasp of the main issues related to your topic, supporting details for BOTH sides, and an ability to understand both sides of the topic. YOU CANNOT DEBATE any topic unless you have researched the topic thoroughly. This “script” should show some evidence of having researched your topic.

The metaphor poems capture life by using comparisons. Write any poem or story using an extended metaphor (comparison without using like or as). Let the poem or story surprise the reader by using a unique metaphor that may have never been used before to describe some aspect of your life!!

The novel we began reading this week reveals how two teenagers find themselves crossing the generation gap by entering into the life of Mr. Pignati. They discover that old people have much to offer if we would only listen. You may either write a poem about an older person (grandpa, grandma, or older neighbor) that provides a poetic portrait of his or her world or you may write a biographical sketch or essay about that person. Either way,  you must include specific “show not tell” sensory details that would allow the reader to enter into that person’s world.