Wednesday, April 4, 2012

WRITING YOUR OWN MYTH

(REF: http://teacher.scholastic.com )

Go to: "Myths Writing Workshop"

Myths are stories that explain a natural phenomenon. Before humans found scientific explanations for such things as the moon and the sun and rainbows, they tried to understand them by telling stories. These tales — which often include gods and goddesses and other supernatural characters who have the power to make extraordinary things happen — remain popular today. As you start to think about writing your own myth, try these warm-ups. They should help you begin to plan your story.

BRAINSTORMING FOR YOUR MYTH… Follow these five steps.

1. A) Pick out the natural phenomenon you want to write about.
Make it something that really interests you. If you live in the desert, you might want to think about the way a single rainstorm can cause a flood. If you live in the North, think about the way a snowstorm can cover the ground like an icy blanket. If you live near the ocean, consider the way the tide comes in and out each day. In other words, find something that is familiar that you can observe.

B) Create a character… He or she can be a monster, a new god or goddess, or a new hero… just someone brand new for Greek Mythology. Brainstorm his or her characteristics, physical traits, personality traits, strengths, weaknesses… make the character "REAL"!

2. Observe carefully.
It helps to know a thing well before trying to make up a story about it. The old myths were created by poets and storytellers who were well-acquainted with nature. Find out as much as you can about the natural phenomenon that you've chosen.

3. Write down what is actual about the phenomenon.
Keep a record of what you have observed or read. What are the smells, sights, and sounds connected to this natural phenomenon? If you are artistic, you might want to try drawing sketches or painting pictures. Think of yourself as a reporter, not a storyteller – this will aid in your description.

4. Write down key words from your research.
If you're learning more about the desert, the words you find could be: sand, rain, gully, wash. Then look in a thesaurus or dictionary to find as many synonyms, phrases, and meanings for your words as you can. For example, under "sand" you might find grain, granule, gravel, shingle, powder, pulverizer. As you are writing those words down, think about the images behind them. It's those images that will help you build your myth. For example, I thought of a pepper grinder when I reached the word pulverizer. Once you've got a picture in your mind, it's time for the big WHAT IF. . . ?

5. Ask yourself, WHAT IF?
Hop onto your image and head off into myth land. This is the point from which you need to start brainstorming! Take a picture in your mind of what an aspect of the world would be like if certain events happened. Then use this "what if" to create a story that explains why the natural phenomenon exists. The story can be as farfetched as you want.

For example, take the pepper grinder from Step 4. What if there was a chef to the gods who lived in a beautiful green countryside but became upset one day because no one ever complimented his cooking? While wandering around, he sat under one of those beautiful green trees and wished (always be careful what you wish for in a myth) that he could somehow make the gods take notice. And suddenly in front of him was a special pepper grinder that said, "Use me, and you will be noticed." And so the chef took the pepper grinder and used it that evening as he was seasoning the gods' stew. But instead of churning out pepper, it ground out sand — more sand than the chef had ever seen! The sand kept pouring out, completely covering the beautiful green countryside. And thus the desert came into existence.


Here are some tips in warding off fear of the blank white page. Try them!

  • Be a reader. Read something of interest every day — something of interest to you, not to your teacher or your best friend or your minister/rabbi/priest. Comics and graphic novels count! So does poetry or the newspaper…or a biography of a rock star…or an instructional manual… of course there is the Bible too!
  • Write every day. You don't have to write about anything specific, but you should exercise your writing muscle constantly. Write about your day (journal writing); write your observations (descriptive writing); write your opinions (editorializing); write lists of ideas or titles; write jokes; write down the plot of the TV show or movie you just saw. All this exercises the writing muscle.
  • Hide the internal editor. Take a deep breath and just start. Don't worry whether something is good. Just let it flow onto the page. At this stage spelling, grammar, and run-on sentences don't count.

START BRAINSTORMING – YOU CAN EVEN GO ONLINE FOR THIS!!!

http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mff/mythmachine.htm

CLICK ON: "The Myths Brainstorming Machine" - This machine was built to help students come up with ideas to write a myth of their own. Follow the directions, use your imagination, and have fun!

CLICK ON: START

Launch the Brainstorming Machine, click on the Draw button.

Click on the Effect button to change the mood of the setting and the god/goddess.

 
 

Click on the Effect button to change all the moods.



Click on the arrow next to each category to view different choices.

Click on the picture you want to write about.

This will place your picture in the machine window.

Clicking on the Clear button will erase all your choices.

When you get an effect you like, visit the Idea Outline window. The Idea Outline window shows you a word version of your picture. These words will help you in witing your myth.

You can toggle between both windows if you want to make more changes.

When you have the ideas you want, click on the Myth Starter to print them out.
Launch the Brainstorming Machine


 


 

START WRITING… Put your pencil on the paper and get started! Be sure to double space (write on every other line). Ensure your myth has the following elements of a myth:

1. Setting:

2. Protagonist:

3. Antagonist:

4. Initial Incident/problem:

5. 3 or 4 key events:

6. Climax:

7. Falling Action/Resolution:

8. Lesson or Moral:


 

Write a web and an outline on loose leaf.

Things to Think about as You Write Your Myth...


 

1) Setting - Does it....

a) Grab your attention? Does it DESCRIBE VIVIDLY (Include Adjectives, Adverbs - they describe verbs, Figures of Speech - similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, personification, repetition...)? Does it introduce the characters? (Who is the main character/protagonist? Who is the villain/antagonist? What problem or event/initial incident is introduced in the beginning to get your story moving and grab audience's attention?)


 

Self-Analysis… My thoughts... Am I including the above?
Explain
...

Peer Comment… Is the writer including the above? Explain…


 


 


 

 


 

2) Character Development - Does your story...

Have believable characters? Are they believable in their relationship with other characters? The way they react to different situations. Are your characters described well enough? Physically, emotionally, their background, likes, dislikes... Why is the antagonist working against the protagonist? Why do they have this relationship?

Self-Analysis… My thoughts... Am I including the above?
Explain
...

Peer Comment… Is the writer including the above? Explain…


 


 


 

 


 

3) Events - Is there an initial problem that creates interest for your reader?

Are all your events in chronological order, so that there is flow and it makes sense, and it's confusing to the reader?

Do all the events or details relate to the story? Are there any details that sidetrack your story? Is everything explained? Is there background information or explanation?

Are the relationships well developed? How is the villain working against the main character?

My thoughts... Am I including the above? Explain...


 


 

4) Climax - Do all the events build up to the suspense of the climax? Is there suspense??

Is there enough detail in the climax to get your attention (as an audience member)?

Self-Analysis… My thoughts... Am I including the above?
Explain
...

Peer Comment… Is the writer including the above? Explain…


 


 


 

 


 

5) Falling Action/Resolution - Is the story properly finished off? Does it end too quickly? What questions would an audience member have? Are all the questions answered. What happens to all the main characters? Does the villain get punished or does the villain try to change for the better? What happens to the hero? Describe it fully.

Self-Analysis… My thoughts... Am I including the above?
Explain
...

Peer Comment… Is the writer including the above? Explain…


 


 


 

 


 


 

6) Moral or Lesson - What lesson can audience members take from the myth?

How could you incorporate "natural phenomenon"? Remember, the moral and natural phenomenon could be a part of your conclusion/last paragraphs.


 

Ex: "Every time the Ancient Greeks looked to the stormy seas (volcano, the heavens, stars, lightening storm), they thought of the great battle (war, fight...) between ______ and ________."


 

Self-Analysis… My thoughts... Am I including the above?
Explain
...

Peer Comment… Is the writer including the above? Explain…


 


 


 

 

Phys. Ed. Fitness Appraisal

Cardiovascular Endurance - Mr. Cote

Name:
Date:


In Physical Education, we use two appraisals to evaluate ones cardiovascular endurance:
20 meter shuttle run and 1600 meter run.

Fitness Appraisals – March Results
20 meter shuttle run


Level _____

1600 meter run


____ Minutes:____ Seconds



Fitness Appraisals – June Goals


20 meter shuttle run


Level _____

1600 meter run


____ Minutes:____ Seconds


My Weekly Plan for Success


Please enter into the weekly calendar the activities you will do to help reach your cardiovascular goal. Remember F.I.T.T.
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday




In order to improve my cardiovascular endurance I will follow the above stated plan for ____ weeks.


Sign your name to the bottom if you print this out.
_________________________________

Post your schedule of cardio activity on your www.kidblog.org/deshayephysed2/