| DATE | IN-CLASS | HOMEWORK |
| Tu, Aug. 30 | Go over
First Day Handouts:
Get Memoir Reader. |
Compose two true
stories about yourself, filling out the true-story outlines in your packet. Scan photo and write motto on a single sheet. |
| W, Aug. 31 | While taking notes, listen to your partners two true stories. Select one to retell the class tomorrow. | Practice telling
the true story (2-3 minutes) aboout your partner and then compose a
completely fictitious story (2-3 minutes) about that person.
Type the true story and false story about your partner
and place them on MOODLE. Scan photo and write motto on a single sheet. |
Th & F, Sept 1-2 |
Start telling true/false stories. Photo/Motto Assignment due. |
Select a memoir
to read in class on Friday. Complete first MOODLE Journal on academic strengths and weaknesses. Due by MIDNIGHT on Friday. |
| M, Sept. 5 | NO SCHOOL -- LABOR DAY | Practice your
true/false stories if you haven't already told them. True and False Stories about your partner due on Moodle by MIDNIGHT. |
| Tu, Sept. 6 | Finish telling true-false stories. Work on Essay vs. Story Differences Exercise. |
Purchase or check out
your book-length memoir. Read Introduction to Isabel Allende's My Invented Country and respond to Questions about Memoir. |
| W, Sept. 7 | Discuss Introduction to Isabel Allende's My Invented Country, consulting Questions about Memoi |
Read excerpt from Tobias Wolff's This Boy's Life and respond to Questions about Memoir. |
| Th, Sept. 8 | Discuss Tobias Wolff's This Boy's Life and respond to Questions about Memoir. | Remember to bring a student memoir from www.mrbye.com/stories or your memoir book to class tomorrow. |
| F, Sept. 9 | Independent reading of student memoir from
www.mrbye.com/stories or several pages from book you chose. Write a letter identifying and discussing strengths and weaknesses. Start writing your most frightening event true story and then share it with the class. |
Read student memoir from www.mrbye.com/stories or several pages from book you chose. Write other letter identifying and discussing strengths and weaknesses. Continue writing your most frightening event true story and then share it with the class. |
| M, Sept. 12 | Finish writing your most frightening event true story and then share it with the class. | Put your two letters (one to a published memoirist and one to a student author) addressing strengths and weaknesses with supporting quotations on MOODLE. Read Mother Tongue and Five Writing Tips by Amy Tan. Fill out a Questions about Memoir sheet about Mother Tongue. Jot down a 6th writing tip. |
| Tu, Sept. 13 | Discuss Amy Tan's pieces, consulting Questions about Memoir and revealing your 6th writing tip. |
Put your frightening event true story on MOODLE. Start writing your most humiliating event true story about yourself or someone else. |
| W, Sept. 14 | Leadership Assembly in Community Theatre | Read Chapter 50 of Frank McCourt's 'Tis and respond to Questions about Memoir. |
| Th, Sept. 15 | Discuss Chapter 50 of Frank McCourt's 'Tis, consulting Questions about Memoir. | Finish writing your most humiliating event true story about yourself or someone else. |
| F, Sept. 16 | Independent reading of student memoir from www.mrbye.com/stories or several pages from book you chose. Write a letter identifying and discussing strengths and weaknesses. | Read student memoir from www.mrbye.com/stories or several pages from book you chose. Write other letter identifying and discussing strengths and weaknesses. |
| M, Sept. 19 | Finish writing your most humiliating event true story and then share it with the class. Get sample College Application Essays. |
Put your two letters (one to a published memoirist and one to a student author) addressing strengths and weaknesses with supporting quotations on MOODLE. |
| Tu, Sept. 20 | Meeting in College Counseling Center | Put your humiliating event true story on MOODLE. Read sample College Application Essays 1, 2, and 3--filling out evaluation sheets. Start writing rough draft of College Application Essay. |
| W, Sept. 21 | Discuss sample College
Application Essays 1, 2, and 3--consulting evaluation sheets. |
Read sample College
Application Essays 4 and 5--filling out evaluation sheets. Continue writing rough draft of College Application Essay. |
| Th, Sept. 22 | Discuss sample College
Application Essays 4 and 5--consulting evaluation sheets. |
Remember to bring a student memoir from www.mrbye.com/stories or your memoir book to class tomorrow. |
| F, Sept. 23 | Independent reading of student memoir from www.mrbye.com/stories or several pages from book you chose. Write a letter identifying and discussing strengths and weaknesses. | Read
Barbara Gates':
Write down three excellent discussion question for each piece. |
| M, Sept. 26 | Barbara Gates visits our classes to discuss the opening sections of Imperfect Endings. Bring three insightful questions to ask her. | Finish writing rough draft of College Application Essay. Bring it to class for Peer Editing tomorrow. Put your letter to a published memoirist or to a student author addressing strengths and weaknesses with supporting quotations on MOODLE. |
| Tu, Sept. 27 | PEER EDIT two students'
College Application Essays. |
Read student stories, The Cell Phone and A Failed Experiment in International Living. Come to class tomorrow prepared to discuss strengths and weaknesses of both stories. |
| W, Sept. 28 | Discuss student stories, The Cell Phone and A Failed Experiment in International Living. | Read Indian Education by Sherman Alexie. What does each story tell you about Sherman Alexie as an individual and as an Indian? |
| Th, Sept. 29 | Discuss Indian Education by Sherman Alexie. | Start writing a creative piece about an event in a specific grade of your education. Revise peer edited rough draft and bring final draft to class tomorrow |
| F, Sept. 30 | Final
Draft of COLLEGE APPLICATION due. Work on creative piece about a particular grade in your education or Independent reading of student memoir from www.mrbye.com/stories or several pages from book you chose. Write a letter identifying and discussing strengths and weaknesses. |
Continue writing a creative piece about an event in a specific grade of your education. Bring it to class on Monday. |
| M, Oct. 3 | Finish writing your creative piece about a particular grade in your education and read it aloud to the class. |
Read Chapter 1 of Mary Carr's Cherry and respond to Questions about Memoir. Put your letter to a published memoirist or to a student author addressing strengths and weaknesses with supporting quotations on MOODLE. |
| Tu, Oct. 4 | Discuss Chapter 1 of Mary Carr's Cherry, consulting Questions about Memoir. | Read Wendy
Lesser's Mr. Jones. Write a memoir about a teacher's powerful influence. Put creative piece about a particular grade in your education on MOODLE. |
| W, Oct. 5 | Discuss Wendy Lesser's Mr. Jones. Read your memoir about a powerful teacher to the class. |
Read Chapter 5 from Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama. Fill out a Questions about Memoir. |
| Th, Oct. 6 | Discuss Chapter 5 from Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama, consulting Questions about Memoir. | Start working on Memoir Design for tomorrow. |
| F, Oct. 7 |
Complete Memoir Design. |
Consulting your Memoir Design, start writing the beginning (at least three pages) of your memoir. |
| M, Oct. 10 | NO SCHOOL--Staff Development Day | Consulting your Memoir Design, finish writing the beginning (at least three pages)
of your memoir. Bring copies for your entire workshop group to class on Tuesday. |
| Tu, Oct. 11 | Distribute your
copies to workshop members and Mr. Bye.
Make a schedule for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Begin reading and annotating workshop members' drafts. Remember to write two paragraphs--of strengths and weaknesses--at the end of each one. |
Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on memoirs to be discussed on Thursday in workshops. |
| W, Oct. 12 | Memoir Workshop Session 1A | Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on memoirs to be discussed tomorrow in workshops. |
| Th, Oct. 13 | Memoir Workshop Session 1B | Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on memoirs to be discussed tomorrow in workshops. |
| F, Oct. 14 | Memoir Workshop Session 1C | Start writing the middle (at least three pages) of your memoir. |
| M, Oct. 17 | In-class time to work on middle of memoir. | Finish writing the middle (at least three pages) of your memoir. |
| Tu, Oct. 18 | Distribute your
copies to workshop members and Mr. Bye.
Make a schedule for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Begin reading and annotating workshop members' drafts. Remember to write two paragraphs--of strengths and weaknesses--at the end of each one. |
Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on memoirs to be discussed tomorrow in workshops. |
| W, Oct. 19 | Memoir Workshop Session 2A | Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on memoirs to be discussed tomorrow in workshops. |
| Th, Oct. 20 | Memoir Workshop Session 2B | Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on memoirs to be discussed tomorrow in workshops. |
| F, Oct. 21 | Memoir Workshop Session 2C | Write the end (at least three pages) of your memoir. |
| M, Oct. 24 | Distribute your
copies to workshop members and Mr. Bye.
Make a schedule for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Begin reading and annotating workshop members' drafts. Remember to write two paragraphs--of strengths and weaknesses--at the end of each one. |
Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on memoirs to be discussed tomorrow in workshops. |
| Tu, Oct. 25 | Memoir Workshop Session 3A | Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on memoirs to be discussed tomorrow in workshops. |
| W, Oct. 26 | Memoir Workshop Session 3B | Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on memoirs to be discussed tomorrow in workshops. |
| Th, Oct. 27 | Memoir Workshop Session 3C | Get mentally prepared for the SPELL OUT tomorrow. |
| F, Oct. 28 | RALLY DAY | Start revising memoir. Revised draft is due on Wednesday. |
| M, Oct. 31 | Get short story readers and handouts for online memoir submission. Memoir Proofreading Day |
Finish revising memoir. Bring hard copy of revised draft to class for PROOFREADING tomorrow. |
| Tu, Nov. 1 | Listen to some students read their memoirs. |
Read The Game carefully, consulting short story questions at beginning of reader. |
| W, Nov. 2 | Discuss The Game, consulting short story questions at beginning of reader. | Memoir biography due by MIDNIGHT to: mrbye2012@gmail.com. Subject: Last name, First name Content: Your biography (no longer than 60 words) Bring Final Draft of Memoir satisfying all requirements to class tomorrow. |
| Th, Nov. 3 | FINAL
DRAFT of Memoir due satisfying format requirements. Discuss Hills Like White Elephants, concentrating on dialogue. |
CREATIVE WRITING ASSIGNMENT #1 Write a dialogue in which the speakers do not refer explicitly to the topic they are discussing. Insert subtle clues that enable the reader to infer the discussion topic. |
| F, Nov. 4 | Share your dialogue with the class. | Obtain a collection or anthology of stories that will inspire you to write your best fiction. |
| M, Nov. 7 | Ms. Penney conducts a lesson on stories by Robin Black and D.H. Lawrence. | Dialogue must be on Moodle by MIDNIGHT. Read stories by Robin Black and D.H. Lawrence for tomorrow. |
| Tu, Nov. 8 | Ms. Penney conducts a lesson on stories by Robin Black and D.H. Lawrence. | Read stories by Robin Black and D.H. Lawrence for tomorrow. |
| W, Nov. 9 | Ms. Penney conducts a lesson on stories by Robin Black and D.H. Lawrence. |
Relax. |
Th, Nov. 10 - F, Nov. 11 |
NO SCHOOL--VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY |
Read Hawk by Joy Williams concentrating on tragedy. |
| M, Nov. 14 | Discuss Hawk by Joy Williams concentrating on tragedy. | Read In the Gloaming by Alice Gould Elliot concentrating on epiphany. |
| Tu, Nov. 15 | Read In the Gloaming by Alice Gould Elliot concentrating on epiphany. | Read Poe's The Black Cat concentrating on vivid description of setting and suspense-building techniques. |
| W, Nov. 16 | Discuss Poe's The Black Cat concentrating on vivid description of setting and suspense-building techniques. | Read Carver's Cathedral concentrating on dramatic irony. |
| Th, Nov. 17 | Discuss Carver's Cathedral concentrating on dramatic irony. | Bring collection/anthology of published short stories or downloaded student story from www.mrbye.com/stories to class tomorrow. |
| F, Nov. 18 | Independent reading of student short story from www.mrbye.com/stories or several pages from book you chose. Write a letter identifying and discussing strengths and weaknesses. Remember to supply quotations from the story to support your commentary. | Read student memoir from www.mrbye.com/stories or several pages from book you chose. Write other letter identifying and discussing strengths and weaknesses.
Remember to supply quotations from the story to support your commentary. Read Wolff's Hunters in the Snow concentrating on characterization. |
| M, Nov. 21 | Discuss Hunters in the Snow concentrating on characterization. | Read Thanksgiving Turkey concentrating on family dynamics. |
| Tu, Nov. 22 | Discuss Thanksgiving Turkey concentrating on family dynamics. | Relax. |
| W, Nov. 23 - F, Nov. 25 |
NO SCHOOL--THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY | Enjoy your turkey. |
| M, Nov. 28 | Write ADD-ON Creative Writing Exercise and share it with the class. | Read Oates's Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been concentrating on point of view. |
| Tu, Nov. 29 | Discuss Oates's Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been concentrating on point of view. | Read Walker's Everyday Use concentrating on symbol. |
| W, Nov. 30 | Discuss Walker's Everyday Use concentrating on symbol. | Read Thurber's The Catbird Seat concentrating on conflict. |
| Th, Dec. 1 | Discuss Thurber's The Catbird Seat concentrating on conflict. | Bring collection/anthology of published short stories or downloaded student story from www.mrbye.com/stories to class tomorrow. |
| F, Dec. 2 | Independent reading of student short story from www.mrbye.com/stories or several pages from book you chose. Write a letter identifying and discussing strengths and weaknesses. Remember to supply quotations from the story to support your commentary. | Read student memoir from www.mrbye.com/stories or several pages from book you chose. Write other letter identifying and discussing strengths and weaknesses.
Remember to supply quotations from the story to support your commentary. Work on DRAMATIC IRONY Creative Writing Exercise and bring it to class on Monday. |
| M, Dec. 5 | Finish writing your DRAMATIC IRONY Creative Writing Exercise and then share it with the class. | Start thinking about characters and a plot for the story you will write. 2 letters due on Moodle by MIDNIGHT. Read Jackson's The Lottery concentrating on symbol. |
| Tu, Dec. 6 | Discuss Jackson's The Lottery concentrating on protagonist. | Read O'Connor's Good Country People concentrating on symbol. DRAMATIC IRONY Creative Writing Exercise due on Moodle by MIDNIGHT. |
| W, Dec. 7 | Discuss O'Connor's Good Country Peopleconcentrating on climax. | Read Carver's Neighbors concentrating on theme. |
| Th, Dec. 8 | Discuss Carver's Neighbors concentrating on theme. | Bring collection/anthology of published short stories or downloaded student story from www.mrbye.com/stories to class tomorrow. |
| F, Dec. 9 | Independent reading of student short story from www.mrbye.com/stories or several pages from book you chose. Write a letter identifying and discussing strengths and weaknesses. Remember to supply quotations from the story to support your commentary. | Read student memoir from www.mrbye.com/stories or several pages from book you chose. Write other letter identifying and discussing strengths and weaknesses.
Remember to supply quotations from the story to support your commentary. Read Lahiri's A Temporary Matter concentrating on foreshadowing. |
| M, Dec. 12 | Finish writing your TONE Creative Writing Exercise and then share it with the class. Discuss Lahiri's A Temporary Matter concentrating on foreshadowing. |
Read Strout's A Different Road concentrating on surprise ending. 2 letters due on Moodle by MIDNIGHT. |
| Tu, Dec. 13 | Discuss Strout's A Different Road concentrating on surprise ending. | Study and make notes for tomorrow's Short Story EXAM. TONE Creative Writing Exercise due on Moodle by MIDNIGHT. |
| W, Dec. 14 | Short Story EXAM Get Short Story Design sheets. |
Start filling out Short Story Design sheets. |
| Th, Dec. 15 | See Smooth Talkvideo based on Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?by Joyce Carol Oates. | Finish filling out Short Story Design sheets. Bring them to class tomorrow |
| F, Dec. 16 | Pitch two story ideas to workshop. | Have a great vacation. Consulting your StoryDesign, write the beginning (at least three pages) of your story. Bring copies for your entire workshop group to class on Monday, Jan. 3 |
| Tu, Jan. 3 | Distribute your
copies to workshop members and Mr. Bye.
Make a schedule for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Begin reading and annotating workshop members' drafts. Remember to write two paragraphs--of strengths and weaknesses--at the end of each one. |
Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on stories to be discussed tomorrow in workshops. |
| W, Jan. 4 | Short Story Workshop Session 1A | Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on stories to be discussed tomorrow in workshops. |
| Th, Jan. 5 | Short Story Workshop Session 1B | Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on stories to be discussed tomorrow in workshops. |
| F, Jan. 6 | Short Story Workshop Session 1C | Consulting your StoryDesign, write the middle (at least three pages) of your story. Bring copies for your entire workshop group to class on Monday. |
| M, Jan. 9 | Distribute your
copies to workshop members and Mr. Bye.
Make a schedule for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Begin reading and annotating workshop members' drafts. Remember to write two paragraphs--of strengths and weaknesses--at the end of each one. |
Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on stories to be discussed Wednesday in workshops. 1 letter due on Moodle by MIDNIGHT.
|
| Tu, Jan. 10 | Attend Dance Production performance. | Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on stories to be discussed Thursday in workshops. |
| W, Jan. 11 | Short Story Workshop Session 2A | Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on stories to be discussed tomorrow in workshops. |
| Th, Jan. 12 | Short Story Workshop Session 2B | Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on stories to be discussed tomorrow in workshops. Bring collection/anthology of published short stories or downloaded student story from http://mrbye.com/stories/public_html/Years.htm to class tomorrow. |
| F, Jan. 13 | Short Story Workshop Session 2C |
Consulting your StoryDesign, write the end (at least three pages) of your memoir. Bring copies for your entire workshop group to class on Tuesday. |
| M, Jan. 16 | NO SCHOOL--MLK JR. HOLIDAY | Consulting your StoryDesign, write the end (at least three pages) of your story. Bring copies for your entire workshop group to class on Monday. |
| Tu, Jan. 17 | Distribute your
copies to workshop members and Mr. Bye.
Make a schedule for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Begin reading and annotating workshop members' drafts. Remember to write two paragraphs--of strengths and weaknesses--at the end of each one. |
Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on stories to be discussed tomorrow in workshops. |
| W, Jan. 18 | Short Story Workshop Session 3A | Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on stories to be discussed tomorrow in workshops. |
| Th, Jan. 19 | Short Story Workshop Session 3B | Read, annotate, and write summary paragraphs on stories to be discussed tomorrow in workshops. |
| F, Jan. 20 | Short Story Workshop Session 3C | Revise story. Bring one hard copy to class on Monday for PROOFREADING. |
| M, Jan. 23 | PROOFREADING DAY | Begin marking up hard copy of your story for the Final Exam. Bring marked up copy to class tomorrow. |
| Tu, Jan. 24 | Time to go over and mark up your story in preparation for the Final Exam. | Finish marking up hard copy of your story for the Final Exam. Bring the marked up copy to the exam. |
| W, Jan. 25 | 8:30 - 10:30 Period 1 Final Exam 10:40-12:40 Period 2 Final Exam |
Revise proofread short story to email to Mr. Bye tomorrow. |
| Th, Jan. 26 | 8:30 - 10:30 Period 3 Final Exam | Short Story biography due by MIDNIGHT to: mrbye2012@gmail.com. Subject: Last name, First name Content: Your optional revised biography (no longer than 60 words) On Tuesday, bring a correctly-formatted short story to go on website. (Download EXAMPLE) |