MONDAY, 27 August
Short classes for pep assembly

Students finished their work in chapter groups, and we generated a list of motifs.

ABSENT? Copy the notes from a group member.

TUESDAY, 28 August
Students shortened our list of motifs and we split up into new groups to consider motifs and create theme statements.

ABSENT? You need to find out which group is yours and what your group has accomplished so far.

WEDNESDAY, 29 August
We had a theme-writing workshop, and students revised their theme statements.

You must answer two questions to determine a theme:
1. What is this story about? (The answer here is a TOPIC.)
2. What is AUTHOR trying to tell us about TOPIC? (This answer should be a complete sentence, a claim that has to be proved. This is your theme statement.)

We talked about making the theme statement short and concise, specific and assertive. We talked about "slap me in the face" theme statements.

ABSENT? Get these notes from someone whose notes you trust. Then check with your group to find out how they changed the group's theme statement.

THURSDAY, 30 August
Motif groups worked all hour to complete the motif assignment.

ABSENT? Pick up or print a copy of the motif assignment and contact your group members to find out what decisions were made in your absence. Be sure to copy all of the notes from a group members whose notes you trust.

FRIDAY, 31 August
NO SCHOOL