Continuing from the previous lesson on MLA 8 Works Cited, Katya created a Works Cited entry for a short narrative within an anthology with double editor and publishers. We will continue to practice different types of entries. After showing Katya the short narrative and its headnote, I explained the brief, but important, writing assignment. Homework: Write a two paragraph headnote for The Book Thief using the example "What's in a Name?" text that has been emailed. Paragraph one -- author bio; paragraph two --explore the setting and time period (important items relevant to the text). Include a quote from a Zusak interview in the bio paragraph. Keep website interview information to create an online Works Cited entry. Review the three vocabulary words. Use one in the paragraphs if possible.

After reviewing important items from the previous lesson, we studied an MLA 8 PPT that I made recently. Katya took notes and constructed a Works Cited entry to the book we will begin to read ASAP, The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. She then chose a book review that we read, practiced writing a woven quote from the review, and added this source as an additional item on the Works Cited list. HOMEWORK: Review vocabulary. Begin reading The Book Thief.

Katya and I chose 'The Book Thief' as her next book. We will use the text for lessons on narrative, creative writing, analytical reading, grammar, syntax, and mechanics. We discussed the importance of knowing authors and backgrounds of both the authors and the settings of their writing. To prepare for reading 'The Book Thief,' Katya found information on Markus Zusak that we noted and discussed. We talked about using our own experiences and knowledge in writing both fiction and non-fiction. Grammar will be a focus; vocabulary (her strongest point) will be augmented by three new academic words per week (in notebook with synonyms, sentence example, part of speech, and so forth). Katya will use these words in her writing and speaking. HOMEWORK: pre-write/pre-think a vignette to write based on something in her past experience (true story writing, or changed to fictional character). She will memorize the three new vocabulary words. Our first reading will be the introduction and chapter one in 'The Book Thief.'

STUDY TIME, AS PER JUDIE.

Since Katya did not complete her homework (writing the second paragraph of her essay), she finished that in class. (We also discussed how in the future, she should email me if she has questions, or simply give her assignment her "best shot" even if she isn't as confident as she'd like to be about its completion.) We discussed her second paragraph, and she went on to write the third in class -- we discussed that as well. Points of emphasis/review for today included making plural pronouns possessive, avoiding cliches and first person in academic writing, and using precise diction (e.g avoiding words like "thing" and "a lot"). for homework, she will write the fourth paragraph of her essay.

Katya wrote the introductory paragraph for her essay. We discussed the clarity of her thesis and I recommended changes in order to ensure that her intro is clear and specific and will provide an outline of sorts for the essay's development. She will write at least the first development paragraph for tomorrow.

Katya and I worked together to plan and organize her argumentative essay.

Katya wrote another bio poem to demonstrate deep understanding of another character of her choice. We then began the pre-writing process for her argumentative essay about why THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY... should/shouldn't be banned in schools.

We reviewed Katya's quiz from before the holidays. We watched relevant video/read relevant articles, including those focusing on Sherman Alexie's take on being "brown" in a white world & a TED talk about changing the way we see Native Americans, as well as the recent Trump/Warren controversy, dicussing what SA's "take" would likely be on this current event and why.

I pointed out the author's use of the literary terms above and we briefly discussed their impact on the novel. Katya took a short essay quiz on last night's reading. We also watched a short video about author Sherman Alexie, in which he comments on what it means to be a Native American in a "white world."