Story Starter: The Package

Finish this story:

I placed the package on the doorstep and rang the bell. My heart pounded as I hid in the shadows.

March 30th, 2010

The beginning of your story is very important. Those first few sentences need to leave your reader questioning what is going on. It should make them want to continue reading the story to find out what has happened before this first sentence, or what will happen after. Think of this sentence as a puzzle piece. Does it make the reader want to finish the puzzle?

Finish this story:
I watched the truck drive away with tears in my eyes. How could....

Language Arts A, 1st hour, March 29th

Dr. Sereno Really Digs his Job!

In Language Arts A, we have read about Dr. Sereno finding the bones of Jobaria but did you know that Dr. Sereno has also found the bones of ancient humans? While digging in the sands of the African country of Niger, Dr. Sereno found the remains of of over 200 prehistoric people. What is so remarkable about this find is that many of the bodies were buried on beds of flowers. The Touareg call the area where the bodies were found the "Desert within the desert," because the area is so dry.

How did these ancient bodies get buried with fresh flowers in the middle of the desert? Write a short story about how the bodies got there? What do you think this desert area was like 7,000 to 10,000 years ago, when these bodies were laid to rest?

To find out more information about this dig go to:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1044992/Amazing-5-000-year-old-skeletons-laid-bed-flowers-Sahara--proving-desert-green-lush.html

Language Arts C, 3rd hour, March 29th

Read the following lyrics, try to figure out what the artist is trying to say, then rewrite or copy change the lyrics to make this song your own.



Purple Rain

I never meant to cause you any sorrow
I never meant to cause you any pain
I only wanted to one time see you laughing
I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain

Purple rain Purple rain
Purple rain Purple rain
Purple rain Purple rain

I only wanted to see you bathing in the purple rain

I never wanted to be your weekend lover
I only wanted to be some kind of friend
Baby I could never steal you from another
It's such a shame our friendship had to end

Purple rain Purple rain
Purple rain Purple rain
Purple rain Purple rain

I only wanted to see you underneath the purple rain

Honey I know, I know, I know times are changing
It's time we all reach out for something new
That means you too
You say you want a leader
But you can't seem to make up your mind
I think you better close it
And let me guide you to the purple rain

Purple rain Purple rain
Purple rain Purple rain

If you know what I'm singing about up here
C'mon raise your hand

Purple rain Purple rain

I only want to see you, only want to see you
In the purple rain

Song by Prince

Learn more about Prince by reading this except from Thomas E. Larson's Book, History of Rock and Roll.
http://books.google.com/books?id=vGJ7XmA8rjIC&pg=PA243&dq=formerly+known+as+Prince#v=onepage&q=formerly%20known%20as%20Prince&f=false

Writing a Poem: Copy Change

Read the Poem below. Change parts of the poem to make it your own.

Afternoons and Coffeespoons

What is it that makes me just a little bit queasy?
There's a breeze that makes my breathing not so easy
I've had my lungs checked out with x-rays
I've smelled the hospital hallways.

Someday I'll have a disappearing hairline
Someday I'll wear pyjamas in the daytime

Times when the day is like a play by Sartre
When it seems a bookburning's in perfect order--
I gave the doctor my description
I've tried to stick to my prescriptions

Someday I'll have a disappearing hairline
Someday I'll wear pyjamas in the daytime

Afternoons will be measured out
Measured out, measured with
Coffeeespoons and T.S. Eliot

Maybe if I could do a play-by-playback
I could change the test results that I will get back
I've watched the summer evenings pass by
I've heard the rattle in my bronchi...

--Brad Roberts


Sarah knight
3/26/10
2nd

What is it that makes me just a little bit sick to my stomach?
There's a breeze from an open door that makes my breathing not so easy
I've had a lot of tests done on my lungs
I've smelled the food in the hospital hallway

Someday I'll have a no cancer
Someday I'll run around like I have my head cut off

Times when the day is like The Fast and the Furious
When it seems like a kid in a candy store
I gave the doctor my description
I've tried to stick to my prescriptions

Someday I'll have a no cancer
Someday I'll run around like I have my head cut off

Afternoons will be measured out
Measured out, measured with
Coffee spoons and his mail

Maybe if I could do a play-by-playback
I could change the test results that I will get back
I've watched the summer evenings pass by
I've heard the rattle in my lungs

Writing Prompt Wednesday, March 24th

Below is an incomplete story, finish writing the story. Use all your senses to describe the scene and objects, make the reader believe they were actually there.

The Lino Family Secret

In the cool, damp air of her grandmother’s basement, Claire rummaged through the old cardboard boxes, looking for granny’s old pasta maker. Her Grandmother had sent her downstairs 20 minutes ago to retrieve the appliance so they could make a batch of the Lino family’s famous linguine. Claire could see the dust wafting through the air in a stream of sunlight that shot through the basement window like a spot light. After moving a brown cardboard box, she noticed a steamer trunk in the corner of the basement. She cautiously opened the lid, there in the middle of the trunk, wrapped in silk was a………