Writing Lab (Thursday)

Today is Thursday. I'm not here today. That would explain the substitute who doesn't look anything like me. You guys will be in the writing lab today.

1. Please post your comments on other writers' blogs (Blurbs). For the Blurbs comments, try to find people who used your song for a blurb. Did you like it? Do you agree? Did they get a different meaning out of the song than you did?

2. Begin your adaptation. Remember, this needs to be 500 words at the most. It's not due until 4/11 (the Sunday after Spring Break) so you don't have to finish today.

Adaptation (500 words)

Now that you've chosen a song with a story, your next task is to adapt that song into a short story in no more than 500 words.

Adaptation - noun 1. to make fit (as for a specific or new use or situation) often by modification 2. something that is adapted; specifically : a composition rewritten into a new form

Remember: you don't have to use everything in the song. Find that one thing that interests you in the story. Feel free to change any of the five elements to make the story yours. Find the balance between remaining true to the source material and making it your own.

Due Sunday, April 11

Additional Links
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet
Film Adaptation
The Orchid Thief
Interview with Charlie Kaufman
Adaptation script

Blurbs

In class we looked at some blurbs for John Grisham's Ford County. We analyzed each story's blurb to identify the elements of the story (plot, character, conflict, theme, and setting).

blurb |blərb| noun 1. a short description of a book, movie, or other product written for promotional purposes and appearing on the cover of a book or in an advertisement.

Your next assignment is to write a blurb for 5 song stories (taken from your classmates' blogs- one can be yours). Each blurb should be about 50 words long. Your reader should be able to identify the elements of the story (however, the theme doesn't need to be explicitly stated).

Due Sunday, 3/28

Story Song

Find a song that tells a story. Use our discussion on the five elements of a story to help you know if your song is a good one. If you can't identify the characters or a conflict in your song, it's probably not a good choice for this assignment.

Post the following to your class blog:
Song title, song artist, link to the song lyrics, and a brief description of each of the five elements (plot, character, conflict, theme, setting).

Due Sunday, March 21

*A note on profanity: I don't mind it personally, but these blogs are public and will be read by other students in the class. So if you're going to use a song with profanity, identify it with an asterisk (*). Also, try to avoid profanity in your assignments. You might get docked for it.

Homework:
Read opening of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Read opening of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet

6-word Memoirs

Your next assignment is to come up with a bunch of 6-word memoirs. On your blog, I want you post your top 10 (written by you). Rank them. Your #1 should be the best one.

Here is a list to get you thinking, but the top 10 you post should be original.

Due Sunday, March 14th

p.s. Don't forget to leave at least 2 comments for Grand Theft Poetry.

p.p.s. Today is Friday, March 12. You guys are in the writing lab, right? I'm at Snow College at a coaching clinic. Sorry for the sub. I hope she's nice to you guys. Let me know if she hurts you.

p.p.p.s. Can I get a comment on my Don Corleone blog? Sheez.