Writer’s Workshop 8th Grade

In your orange musings: Quick Write: In your orange musings: Yesterday you asked great questions about what constitutes racism. How would you define racism? FIRST 4 Write tonight’s homework in your agenda. HOMEWORK: Author’s craft (directions on Edlio) On your desk: Last night’s homework Writer’s notebook Writing utensil Put everything else away. Begin your quick write.

Dr. Tatum on Racism “sometimes it is so thick it is visible, other times it is less apparent, but always, day in and day out, we are breathing it in” (p. 6). It is not that one wakes up and chooses to discriminate, but rather, if one is a member of the majority, there is an institutionalized system of advantages that is in place. This system has consequences that affect the everyday lives of people of color. Both in big ways and in small. For example, no one has ever assumed that I, a White middle-class female, attend my school because of affirmative action. No one as has ever assumed that I am there on an athletic scholarship either. When I go to the store, the manager does not follow me. Though these examples may be small issues, they regularly affect people of color, and are symptoms of the greater smog we breathe. It is the accumulation of these insults that yield major consequences in the treatment of people of color as second class citizens in the United States (see post: Microaggressions). It is within this racialized world that people of color are paid less for the same work, hired less often with the same resume, incarcerated longer for the same crime, charged more for the same mortgage. e as I shop and I can assume I will find pantyhose or band-aids that match my skin tone.

Reading Like Writers Think back to when you authored your own fiction stories. Name one deliberate craft move that you made as a writer? Now think about what you’re reading in ELA. What’s one deliberate craft move that Harper Lee has made so far in the text?

ALL OF US WILL LEARN: As great essayists, we will be able to notice and analyze the craft moves our writers are making and write about them in our companion books.

Reading like Writers Once you become a fiction writers yourself, you never read the same way again. I used to skim over craft moves, not even noticing them or wondering why they were there without ever being able to come to an answer. Now, when I read fiction, I read like a writer. That is, I notice everything! Every little metaphor, hyperbole, image. It’s almost like a superpower. You guys are fiction writers too. That means you know what it’s like to write fiction from the inside. Today, I want to encourage you to read as fiction writers yourself and write about what you notice.

From Black Beauty I had heard the cries and groans of the dying, I had cantered over ground slippery with blood, and frequently had to turn aside to avoid trampling on wounded man or horse, but, until one dreadful day, I had never felt terror; that day I shall never forget.” Here old Captain paused for awhile and drew a long breath; I waited, and he went on…. My dear master and I were at the head of the line, and as all sat motionless and watchful, he took a little stray lock of my mane which had turned over on the wrong side, laid it over on the right, and smoothed it down with his hand; then patting my neck, he said, 'We shall have a day of it to-day, Bayard, my beauty; but we'll do our duty as we have done.' He stroked my neck that morning more, I think, than he had ever done before; quietly on and on, as if he were thinking of something else…. I cannot tell all that happened on that day, but I will tell of the last charge that we made together; it was across a valley right in front of the enemy's cannon. By this time we were well used to the roar of heavy guns, the rattle of musket fire, and the flying of shot near us; but never had I been under such a fire as we rode through on that day. From the right, from the left, and from the front, shot and shell poured in upon us. Many a brave man went down, many a horse fell, flinging his rider to the earth; many a horse without a rider ran wildly out of the ranks; then terrified at being alone, with no hand to guide him, came pressing in among his old companions, to gallop with them to the charge.”

The writers of your books have done the same thing The writers of your books have done the same thing. You have to find them and write about them. “Why did this author use _____ (certain technique you notice) in this particular way, in this text?” Open your notebooks to the green section, and write this question down 2 - 3 times with different craft moves inserted in the blank space there.

Thinking About Craft This author uses ____ (fill in technique) to _____(fill in purpose). Start writing time today by reviewing your books and thinking about how you might answer the questions you jotted down. Then, find a place in your books where you can write the answer to these questions.

FINAL 4 Put your pencil and notebook in your binder. Place your binder in your desk. Check the floor for trash or your belongings. Track me silently for writer of the day. of the day is...