Dr. J’s Writing Class Writing Can Be Learned Nov 17, 2013
Communication, everybody wins. This class is an open class, meaning: 1. everybody is welcome; 2. students are active players in the class. So I’ll ask YOU to speak out!
Today’s Theme Writing Is About Attitude
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, my dear friends, My class is not just a writing class; it’s also, and in a sense even more, an inspirational life journey. I have so many wonderful stories and ideas to share with you folks that I can’t help bursting into passionate teaching.
First Story Who is this?
“I work hard, I work very hard. All the books at least 30 revisions.” ― Ha Jin
Ha Jin (born 1956,China), Chinese American writer. Among his works, Waiting (2000) won a National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award, and War Trash (2004) won him a second PEN/Faulkner Award. Only four authors have won PEN/Faulkner Award more than once.
What’s the moral?
Let’s listen to the dialogue between Chris Gardner and his son. Those life-changing words!
The Looks of Dr. J’s Age-Oriented Class
accident; acclaim; accommodate; accompany; accomplish; accord; account; on account of; take into account Vocabulary
Class Coverage (Big Schedule) 1. Vocabulary 2. Sentences 3. Paragraphs 4. Composition 5. Parts of Speech
6. Punctuation 7. Format 8. Spelling 9. Diction 10. Research and Writing 11. Writing Exercises 12. Writing Critique (Classics Appreciation + Writing Samples Analysis)
Second Story How about her?
"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us." — Helen Keller
Brilliant writing comes from a beautiful mind and a burning heart!
Helen Keller with Anne Sullivan An encouraging teacher is the light of hope in the night of despair.
Helen Adams Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer, despite being deaf and blind. Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.
At the age of roughly seven years, Helen Keller had Anne Sullivan as an instructor, who at that time was only 20 years old and herself visually impaired. It was the beginning of a 49-years-long relationship, Sullivan evolving into governess and then eventual companion.
She was an ardent advocate for people with disabilities, amid numerous other causes. She was a suffragist, a pacifist, an opponent of Woodrow Wilson, a radical socialist and a birth control supporter. Helen Keller wrote a total of 12 published books and many articles on various topics. Her writings and her quotes have been an inspiration for many, specially those with disabilities or working with disabled individuals.
On September 14, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the United States' highest two civilian honors. In 1965 she was elected to the National Women's Hall of Fame at the New York World's Fair. Writing is the torch Keller used to brighten the darkness of hers and ours.
The Looks of Dr. J’s Age-Oriented Class
subject + verb + direct object + objective complement (They made him comfortable. / We thought the party a success.) Conventions of Language (grammar; punctuation)
Class Coverage (Big Schedule) 1. Vocabulary 2. Sentences 3. Paragraphs 4. Composition 5. Parts of Speech
6. Punctuation 7. Format 8. Spelling 9. Diction 10. Research and Writing 11. Writing Exercises 12. Writing Critique (Classics Appreciation + Writing Samples Analysis)
Third Story The Pursuit of Happiness
"For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness." ---- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25, 1803 – April 27, 1882) was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet.
The Pursuit of Happyness -- A Movie Story The Pursuit of Happyness is a 2006 American biographical drama film based on Chris Gardner's nearly one-year struggle with homelessness. Directed by Gabriele Muccino, the film features Will Smith as Gardner, an on- and-off-homeless salesman-turned stockbroker. Smith's son Jaden Smith co-stars, making his film debut as Gardner's son, Christopher Jr. Good movies (shows) start from writing. “y” vs. “i” = passive vs. active
Christopher: Dad, you wanna hear something funny? There was a man who was drowning, and a boat came, and the man on the boat said "Do you need help?" and the man said "God will save me". Then another boat came and he tried to help him, but he said "God will save me", then he drowned and went to Heaven. Then the man told God, "God, why didn't you save me?" and God said "I sent you two boats, you dummy!“ Humorous writing rocks!
Christopher Gardner: It was at that time that I thought about Thomas Jefferson writing that Declaration of Independence. Him saying that we have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And I thought about how he knew to put the 'pursuit' in there, like no one can actually have happiness. We can only pursue it. Fragment or not? Fresh life bigger than grammar!
Christopher Gardner: Probably means there's a good chance. Possibly means we might or we might not. Diction: lightning vs. lightning bug
The Looks of Dr. J’s Age-Oriented Class
So, to quaint old Greenwich Village the art people soon came prowling, hunting for north windows and eighteenth- century gables and Dutch attics and low rents. Then they imported some pewter mugs and a chafing dish or two from Sixth Avenue, and became a "colony." Writing Analysis
Class Coverage (Big Schedule) 1. Vocabulary 2. Sentences 3. Paragraphs 4. Composition 5. Parts of Speech
6. Punctuation 7. Format 8. Spelling 9. Diction 10. Research and Writing 11. Writing Exercises 12. Writing Critique (Classics Appreciation + Writing Samples Analysis)
Dr. J’s Writing Class Communication, everybody wins.