Reading Schedule

Period 3 (Level 3) should complete reading of Friday Night Lights by Wednesday, March 7, 2007.

Period 2 (Level 2) should complete reading of Friday Night Lights by Monday, March 12, 2007.

More Notes on Representative Narrative Composition

Here are some more specific notes on things to consider as you revise your pieces.
Period 5 (Level 2) - Revision due Tuesday, March 6
Period 3 (Level 3) - Revision due Wednesday, March 7

Exposition/ Explanation (How do you know?)

• Unnecessary
• Doesn’t create images
• Set-up is not action: focus on action
• Show not tell: focus on visible

Sentence Structure

• Varied lengths (short, medium, long)
• Be attentive to rhythmic changes (cumulative sentences)
• Use phrases and clauses as modifiers
• Mix up the levels and layers
• Sentences are like puzzle pieces, they come in all different kinds of shapes and sizes, some with soft edges, some with sharper ones

Vocabulary

• Using words well is more important than using “big” words
• Diction = word choice
• Factors of diction are denotation (specific meaning of a word) and connotation (associated
• meaning implied or suggested; emotional connections)

Attend to nouns and verbs

• Watch use of pronouns – be clear
• Use appropriate verb forms
• Maintain tense consistency

Notes on Representative Narrative Composition

This assignment presented a very different kind of challenge than most of you were used to writing. The goal was for you to be keenly attentive to your ability to capture what you observe, in this case a sporting moment. So the emphasis was on recording description and behavior. Additionally, you were asked to avoid any thoughts or feeling related to your subject, in an effort to force you to evoke those elements rather than state them explicitly.

The results were mixed.

Most positive was all the pieces demonstrated genuine compositional ability on a general level. Everyone was beginning to demonstrate some syntactical flair with new sentence structure models. Even though some of the attempts broke down grammatically, this willingness to engage with more sophisticated sentences is commendable and is encouraged. The structures of the models lend themselves to greater depth and detail of description.

General notes for revision and improvement all relate to clear understanding of the task and the directions. Everyone should reread the directions, as well as the model that was provided. Some understood with clarity and were able to primarily focus their writing on that which is observable with the naked eye. These pieces are rich with description and developing narration. Others fell victim to the trap of recapping a memorable moment that was steeped in nostalgia and sentimentality. Consequently, those pieces are steeped in explanation, thoughts, and emotions, rather than action. Everyone can more clearly sharpen the scope of their piece, starting right into the action without set-up or exposition.

You will be given the opportunity to revise these for an improved grade, provided that you conference with me to discuss individualized issues related to your composition.