Spelling Bee, Creative Writing Assignment, Spelling Test

1. Spelling Bee

Congratulations to our class Bees who will represent the class in the schoolwide bee on Mon Nov 9!

807: Grant Lane

805: Zacharie Winter

811: Carla Hamilton or Lily Cohen (to be determined)

We also had many ghouls and ghosts correctly spell many grotesque and macabre words in our Spooky Spelling Bee!

811:

Ethan

Louis

Marley

Silo

Sean

Lily

Carla

805:

Ava

Georgia

Gerrit

Rachel

Karma

Darya

Anthony

807:

Grant

Chad

Joshua R

II. Spectacular Spelling Words Creative Writing Assignment:

Write a creative work (poem, song, dialogue, monologue, fictional or nonfictional narrative) using at least 15 spectacular spelling/vocabulary words. Follow these steps:

• Brainstorm topics. Look through list of words and determine a theme or simple topic. Choose a genre to write in.

For this assignment, I would like to write ____________________________________________ (genre)

about _______________________________________________________________________________

because _____________________________________________________________________________.

Ex. I would like to write a rhyming poem about apocalypse or disaster. I have been reading poems by Paul Muldoon and like the surprising rhymes and unusual words, and I would like to imitate his style.

• Create a Word Palette in your writer’s notebook of words you can include in your final writing project. Include topic + 4 section (Nouns, Vivid Adjectives and Adverbs, Active Verbs, + a section of your choice (examples are Rhyming Words, French or Spanish words, Words with Roots…). See below.
• Write a 1st draft due Friday November 6.
• Write a final draft and publish on your blog by Tuesday Nov 10.

Here is my example of a Word Palette of Spectacular Words. I perused the lists/handouts that we went over in class + I skimmed through Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins which I chose because of the theme I chose, apocalypse. Choose words based on meaning, sound, newness, difficulty, and/or awe. Think about an artist choosing the precise colors to include in a painting. Follow a similar process in creating a literary work.

Word Palette     Topic: Apocalypse?

New and Unique Nouns (tangible or intangible nouns or proper nouns)	Amazing Adjective and Adverbs
taboo reaping malady infection warfare annihilation	belligerent raucous malicious biological defenseless
Vivacious Verbs	Rhyming Words
sacrifice skewer vaporize	taboo   voodoo malicious  raucous  hideous annihilation  acceleration banshee  cruelty  ghastly vilify  liquefy  nullify woeful  scornful  universal stationary   stationery

1st draft of my poem:

Halloween Harvest

(inspired by “Winter Wheat” by Paul Muldoon)

From the South Pacific, taboo

comes in for harvest reaping;

so does Louisiana French voodoo,

its spells and sorcery creeping

in black swirls. The annihilation

of sacrificial birds that contort in ghastly

tremors after splitting in acceleration,

its spirits, released to end cruelty.

Our actions and imaginations liquefy

and course narratives of woeful

maladies only a phoenix can nullify,

tears making the cryptic universal.

What does my example make you think or realize about this assignment?

Get started on your own wordplay.

Here are more ideas for inspiration. Make sure your word palette relates to spelling rules and roots, prefixes, and suffixes that we have been studying in class. Also, use your independent reading books and Upfront magazines to find words to add to your palette.

• write about a work of art that you saw at the MOMA
• write about a dream or anecdote or memorable event
• write something comical
• write a trailer for a made-up movie
• make up a fable or myth
• write a found poem based on your independent reading book
• create a synthesis page on a focus of your choice; this could be based on theme, meaning, etymology/origin.

Name: __________________________________  Class: _________  Date: ______________________

Rubric for Creative Writing Assignment Using Spectacular Words

In this assignment, I chose to: ______________________________________________________________

because:_______________________________________________________________________________.

Criteria	1: below standards	2: approaching standards	3: meeting standards	4: above standards
The text has a thought-provoking focus.
2. The writing has a clear genre that effectively communicates the focus, and it is thoughtfully organized.
3. The writing is fully developed with a variety of details/evidence.
4. Word choice is effective and sophisticated. It includes a variety of at least 15 words that relate to spelling rules, prefixes-roots-suffixes, and/or personal interest.
5. There is evidence of planning and drafting. A word palette and drafts were done.

III. Spelling Test - Friday November 13: Words with roots, prefixes, and suffixes generated in class and spelling rules handout.