A student of mine who now teaches English at North Kingstown HS has a blog up and running for each of his three classes. He's been teaching there for a week (yes, only a week), and he and his students are online like mad talking about what words they would use to describe Odysseus (yes, that Odysseus), defending their opinions of the guy, and comparing him to stars from popular culture.
What is it about blogging that lends itself to one kind of discourse and not another? Why does it work for responding to texts but not for reflecting on and sharing Writing Group activities? This is my I-Search question...
We don't want you to be lonely!! I think that those of us who are posting about our writers meetings are finding it enjoyable. I agree that we haven't posted much about I-search or other things, but we are just getting confident in our I-search topics. I saw posts in a different tread (I think Post Spring Break) from the 1st of April, and several from the end of March as well. I'm not sure why some classes (or some discourses)are more conducive to blogging. I think that blogging can be a great way to keep the conversation going while we are not in class. I hope it gets a little less lonely on the 445 Blog, but, Dr. Cook, some of our groups have been faithfully posting after each meeting. Good luck on you new I-search topic Dr. Cook!! Whoop!!
ReplyDeleteOh, T-Bird, my loyal blogging compatriot. Thank you. My I-Search is just underway, but you have given me useful data, as today you've broken through the "public voice" barrier and are now posting casual messages in your distinctive T-Bird voice and tone. Thank you! I wonder where everyone else is...has been...
ReplyDeleteI am provoked by your Group's prompt for the week and by your topic of conversation. The hidden life of the writer. The sacred, the mysterious, the private--our recognition of these facets of a writer's life, or of anyone else's life for that matter, has become weak, crippled by our reliance on gossip, "reality," and slander. What is personal? What is private? What deserves to be heard by a public audience? Should we be more discriminating?
I agree with Tracy,blogging is a great way to keep the conversation going while kids aren't in school. Blogging is so much a part of their life, that it has almost become second nature. Its a great way for the class to stay connected and share things that they may not have had time to share in class. Hopefully ours picks up a little more!
ReplyDeleteAshley took us to chapter 13 “Escaping from the Monkey Trap.” Using the text as an example, we played the “What if? Game.” Ashley asked us to recreate the ending to the movie, Cinderella. She prompted us with “what if” questions such as, “what if the shoe had fit one of the evil step-sisters?” This activity was a great way to help us “step into the unknown” and to help us develop our creative voices.
Instead of having students answer questions or write a summary about a book or film, students can play the what if game and create their own stories or endings. Not only will this encourage their creative voice, but it will give teachers an insight on how they feel about certain characters, how they wanted the plot to end, and what they would have changed. Essentially, this will let them become somewhat of a co-author.
So last week Sophia had us bring out our personal side. She had us focus on a moment in our life that defines who we are today.
ReplyDeleteThis can go one of many different ways. Some students may feel the need to get very emotional while others may find it nice to be humerous. Either way it is a very interesting way to get into the students minds.
This could actually be a great independent writing assignment or free write introduction to an autobiography for the class. I remember when I had to do a type of autobiography for an English class I always thought of the typical "robot speaking" we use, " MY name is Ashlee, I was born here, I have this many family memebers, etc." This can actually help the process by focusing on a few different things that have happened to someone in their life.
Last week Kay led our writing group. We talked about chapter 7 in Fletcher's book. The chapter is simply titled, "Talk" and talks about the writers notebook as a place to record things like bits of conversation you hear or slang you and your friends use. Then we each tried to list phrases we use, things we heard at the store or bizarre conversations we've had.
ReplyDeleteFletcher suggests using these kinds of things to inspire stories or simply to use within a larger piece. I think this would make a story seem more unique or personal. This expercise could create a larger assignment. Have students think of something they heard a stranger say and then create a story about that person including that phrase or conversation. It's an interesting starting point for creating a character.
So our last writing group = awesomeness.
ReplyDeleteBecause of scheduling issues, we decided to mix things up a bit, by going to Pastiche on Federal Hill :)
Stephenie was the teacher and she had us write about our environment, using a list of adjectives. We could either make a list of descriptions or make up a story. The idea was to use lots of adjectives.
It was fun to really take in the environment and actually it helped me to appreciate being there even more than the cake!
I made up a poem with loads of descriptive words about a man and woman meeting to plan their dangerous plot to destroy the highfalootin universe.
Chris took in the atmosphere with words on the list and the common sounds of a cafe with the strange speckled mirror that was in nearly everyone's writing.
Mary and Stephanie used adjectives they wouldn't usually think of choosing which was the point of the whole activity. Stephanie brought a 4 page list of adjectives and we just kept looking at the paper, searching for more. 4 English majors found words they couldn't define...it was an adventure.
This activity would be useful in a classroom for showing the significance of using descriptive language and how these words can bring a piece to life.
Dear Lonely:
ReplyDeleteI hear your plea for a response, but I still hesitate to respond. A response is what you yearn for, but is the response I can give the one that your heart desires?
Blogging is all the rage. People are connected wirelessly 24-7. Social Network sites are the greatest thing since sliced bread, but to quote a favorite "some e-card" of mine: "I want a social networking site where everyone will just leave me the f* alone."
I'm sorry, Lonely, but it's the truth. And truth is what you want, right? The problem is, that the more public the venue, the less likely I am to say or write things that actually ARE true. And if I'm not writing things that are at least kind of close to authentic, why am I bothering? Whatever the number shows on Facebook, do I really have 783 "friends"? Do I WANT 783 "friends"? If I don't have the same conversations with my Aunt Martha, my shrink, and my drinking buddy, do I really want all three of them to be on Facebook "listening" to the conversations I had with the other one? Do I want them to see that picture you posted of me with the sweaty pits at the dance club last night? Do I even want them to know that I was online at 2:37 am instead of getting a good nights' sleep? And what about what I don't want to know? Do I really need to see 12 updates a day about what my ex-lover or ex-boss is up to?
Truthfully, Lonely, I've been trying to go on an Internet diet for years. One day I looked at the computer monitor sitting at eye-level 10 inches in front of my head and said, "But you're not a person," and got up and went outside. But I admit I'm a yo-yo dieter. You gotta eat, right?
And yeah, I know, a class blog is not Facebook. But any time I'm sharing something I care about, I'd kind of rather see the face of the person I'm talking to, or at least the sound of their voice. Because for old me, throwing my thoughts out into the wind not knowing if anyone will ever respond to me is not that appealing. But even if I send you an email or write you a letter and you never write back, that is kind of a response. Out on the WorldWideWeb, though, you can just put your guts out there and never know if people even saw them. People can walk right on by your guts it like it's a New York City street. Maybe that's why I never pursued "Writing" with a capital "W" before.
I find my Writing Group as satisfying as I do because we've built a level of trust in that room through time spent, risks taken together, sweaty effort made. And well, Lonely, I just don't think I'd ever get the same thing out of a blog. But that's just me, right? And maybe old dogs can learn new tricks. I don't know yet. But if you're feeling lonely, Lonely, I can tell you, I'm always up for a cup of coffee. Just give me a call.
Awesome post Jen, very poetic!! I didn't walk past your guts! Shout out to the "Old Folks" writing group!!!!
ReplyDeleteWoop, old folks!
ReplyDeleteOh, and btw, that was in no way meant to diss the endeavor of a class blog, just to provide some additional feedback from the perspective of one who's wary, or hesitant to dive in. I've been thinking about it, actually, and realized that I've never followed a blog, let alone blogged. I have no models. It made me think that to inspire individuals who might be unsure what it's all about it could be useful to provide a range of examples. It could even be an investigation project to search for blogs that stir your soul - a la Georgia Heard's poetry autobiography anthology project mentioned at the RIWP conference. Didn't she say that once they've found a poem that speaks to them or about them, then they're hooked?
ReplyDelete