January 28th, 2013

1/28/13

In Class:
Journal--  Relate the following quote to writing: “When you try to make almost anything, you are probably working in a tradition, whether you know it or not. It is almost more interesting not to know it, and only belatedly come to see that the tradition was working in you before you were conscious of yourself working in it.” -Franklin Burroughs

GMX--  Verbs and Verbal Phrases
First, bracket and cross out prep. phrases; then, identify the action verbs; then, identify the subjects.
With the fleshy green boats in hand, we slice vertical strips from one end to the other. Vegetable planks. We smother the avocado with salsa, hot chiles at noon in the desert. We look at each other and smile, eating avocados with sharp silver blades, risking the blood of our tongues repeatedly. From “An Unspoken Hunger” by Terry Tempest Williams
Introduction to Helping Verbs and verbs of more than one word. Examples include: can, will, may, shall, must, could, would, should, might
Underline the complete verbal phrase, then box the main verb.
1) Language researchers at the University of Arizona have been studying parrots.
2) Dr. Irene Pepperberg has worked with Alex, an African Gray parrot, for years.
3) Nearly one hundred words can be used by this intelligent bird.
4) Alex has been counting to six.
5) Currently, he and the other parrots are learning letters and their sounds.

Screen example of reverse/mirror poetry: “Lost Generation."

Class read “A Wind from the North" by Bill Capossere and “The Snow Man" by Wallace Stevens.
Defined and discussed ‘motifs.’
motif: a recurring image or idea used to help express a point or convey a theme.

Exit ticket: If you could choose one song as the soundtrack to this past weekend, what would it be?

Homework:
Write a piece using a motif related to nature.
Catch up on missing work.