Ol' King Cole's Castle

Your voice is what gives your writing personality, flavor and style. Here are some questions to ask yourself when writing. These will help to develop your sense of voice.

Can you tell I am enthusiastic about my topic?
Does this writing sound like me?
How do I want my readers to feel?
Will my story hold readers’ attention? Will they want to hear more?

Read the two stories below and decide which author grabs and holds your attention.

1.  I went canoeing with friends. They brought their dog. It was hot outside. The water felt good. The dog liked to play in the water with us. We all got wet. It was fun!

2.  One sizzling August afternoon my friends and I cruised down the Wisconsin River on a bright red canoe. Their energetic golden retriever, Paddington, rode along with us. Whenever one of us would shout, “Switch sides,” Paddington would jump up and dance around. One time he leaped so high, he tipped the bouncing boat. We all flopped into the water splashing and laughing like baby seals. What fun!

Which story was more fun to read? In the second story you could hear the writer’s voice. The author’s enthusiasm made it easy for readers to imagine what was happening.

bliss

compassion

dismay

ecstatic

endear

exasperate

forlorn

somber

sullen

wretched

Vocabulary work is due Friday, September 3rd

Vocab. Quiz on Friday, Sept. 3rd

We are studying the Writing Process in class this week. Today you’ll take the cinquain you wrote in class, take it through thewriting process, and print a copy to be displayed in class tomorrow.

What is a cinquain? A five line poem. Here is the format we’ll use -

Format for the cinquain:

Tiger

Orange, black

Stalks, leaps, kills

Burning eyes and soul

Flame

Line 1: one word, the subject or topic

Line 2: two adjectives describing the topic

Line 3: three verbs associated with the topic

Line 4: four words, a phrase or comment on the topic

Line 5: one word, a synonym or impression of the topic

Use your Macbook tonight to edit, revise and add some creative elements to your cinquain. Come to school prepared to print your final version (published). You must put your name on the front of your cinquain.

chic – adjective - The fashion model looked very chic in the latest fashions.

debonair – adjective – James Bond always looks debonair in his expensive, tailored suits.

disheveled – adjective – Wearing a disheveled outfit to a job interview is usually a guarantee that you won’t get the job.

dowdy – adjective – The old woman’s clothes were so dowdy that I assumed they came from some cobweb-filled attic.

drab – adjective – Drab, olive-green material is often used by the army.

garb – noun – When the astronaut retired he had to turn in his space suit, helmet, and any other garb he had acquired over the years.

ostentatious – adjective – Even though Tony was worth millions, he was not ostentatious; he never showed off his wealth.

rumple – verb – Leaving your clothes all over your room can rumple them and create tons of wrinkles.

unsightly – adjective – Use bleach to remove unsightly stains from white shirts.

veneer – noun – Although it looked nice, the desk was just cheap material covered with a fancy veneer.

Vocabulary classwork is due Monday, 8/30/10

Vocabulary Quiz is on Tuesday, 8/31/10

As we move through our first full week of school, we dive into the writing process and look at the 6 Traits of Writing in depth.

We have begun our study of vocabulary with lesson 16. There will be a quiz next week on these 10 words.

Welcome to Mr. Cole’s 7th grade humanities class. I’m excited for this year. Take a look around the blog, when you have a chance, and get familiar with Ol’ King Cole’s Castle.

This is our final novel of the year and final assignment. This Renaissance novel is about a boy who wants to become an artist, but must become an apprentice to a master who is of questionable character.

This is a quick read of less than 100 pages.

Novel Quiz – (Thursday – RED and Friday – White & Blue)

30 pts.

Click HERE to take the self-assessment / self-reflection for the Renaissance Art Project and Persuasive Essay.

Be honest with yourself and about your group members. This information will stay confidential.

agile

dawdle

distort

itinerary

mobilize

modify

quiver

recede

supplant

traverse

Vocab. work is due on Monday/Tuesday 5/31 – 6/1

Vocab. 17 Quiz on Tuesday 6/1 in ELO

If you have ever been to a museum, you will have noticed that paintings come with little information cards. These cards give people important details about the painting they are viewing.

Here’s what your group needs to do!

Fill out the appropriate information card – landscape or portrait. You can then type your information right into the form!

When you’re done, print it out, cut it out, and glue it to a piece of construction paper. Leave a big border at the top, and you can attach it (with sticky tack or tape) to your laminated painting.