#15 – Fluency: Show, Don’t Tell (9.29)

Write as much as you can during the time given. The focus is on getting ideas and details down on the paper (or screen), rather than on getting the grammar and punctuation perfect. Keep writing instead of editing what you have written.
Pay attention to organization, but not so much that it limits your writing. Stream of consciousness is better than a blank page.
If you are struggling to get started, try changing the prompt a little. Change “he” to “she”; “cat” to “dog”; “worst” to “best” and see if it helps.

Prompt:

He was weak.

or

She was strong.

Reflection on Whole-Class Discussion

#16 - “Step Back Reflection” (9.29) [DO THIS IN YOUR LITERACY NOTEBOOK!]

What did you learn about the text that you didn’t know before the discussion?
What do you do when you form an interpretation?
How is forming an interpretation different from responding to a comprehension question?
What did you learn about doing interpretive work, including what makes a good and compelling interpretation?

To help you remember, here are the ideas from our discussion:

PER 3

Songsam felt that Tokchae was braver than him for staying
Songsam starts out as aggressive towards Tokchae, but as he is asking questions to starts to learn the truth about Tokchae’s life AND that he is married and has a child on the way
Songsam saw himself in Tokchae
Tokchae told his life story and Songsam realizes he is not a bad person
Songsam is reminded of their friendship
Talking about their choice of whether to stay or leave before the invasion
Songsam sees Tokchae as an example of what he could have been
He is both proud of Tokchae and jealous of him
Tokchae has a family to take care of
Tokchae didn’t even want to fight in the war

PER 4

There is some evidence that could lead a reader to think that Songsam kills Tokchae, but there is even more evidence that contradicts this interpretation
Songsam knew Tokchae too well to kill him
Songsam realizes they are in the same boat
Tokchae was never a threat
Nostalgia for the past
The conversation about the choice to leave or stay
Songsam has sympathy/empathy for Tokchae
Songsam turned “soft” when Tokchae spoke about Shorty and the baby

PER 5

Songsam felt guilty (his face averted, avoiding confrontation)
To cranes flying = moving on to freedom, represents friendship
Songsam feels guilty that he would leave a family without a dad (pg 3 evidence in conversation)
Songsam grew up with Tokchae and “he couldn’t live with himself if he did it”
Songsam has memories of when Tokchae helped him out
The memories are the cause of his change
Songsam is merciful towards Tokchae to make peace with himself
It’s not just Tokchae, but Songsam is free too (two cranes fly into the sky)
The cranes in the last memory represent Songsam and Tokchae [this isn’t a reason in itself, but breaking it down can lead to a reason]

What are the criteria for effective interpretive writing?

Before we write, I want you to reflect on what effective interpretive writing looks like.

You need to see the target if you're going to hit the target.

Today, we brainstormed a list of criteria (standards, rules, "laws") of effective interpretive writing. In other words, we made a list of things that need to show up in writing that is "effective"

Tomorrow, I will use that list to introduce you to the rubric that will be used to score your writing.