tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645Thu, 19 Dec 2024 03:31:53 +0000imageryFrench frydetailexplode a momentfavorite linesfirst lineshorsehumorousinspirationsmemoirmetaphorpoemseventh periodstorieswelcomehttp://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Blogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-5467284191634048365Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:44:00 +00002010-10-17T17:53:23.162-07:00first linesseventh periodstoriesSo I just finished reading seventh period's short stories. Well, actually skimming. Remember, this first round of grading is for some basic skills. After skimming, I am already impressed, and I hope that some of you will choose your short stories for me to evaluate with greater scrutiny. I wanted to share a sampling of some of the first lines to these stories:1. A flash of light lit up the http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2010/10/first-lines.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-5874394734076188690Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:06:00 +00002010-10-12T12:20:29.491-07:00Our art museum trip yielded some rich rewards; it was the "Ellis Island: Ghosts of Freedom" exhibit that captured the imagination of Caitlin, who wrote the poem below. The two images in this post offer just a sample of the brilliant photography of the abandoned hospital complex on Ellis Island. And this is just one of many remarkable poems produced by students on the trip: The rust encrusts my http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2010/10/art-museum-trip.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-4652199804010877364Mon, 11 Oct 2010 23:25:00 +00002010-10-11T16:31:18.984-07:00So I'm enjoying the book Slob, by Ellen Potter, our first Reader's Lunch book of the year, and I decided to look her up on line. She's an author I've never read before, but I'm excited to learn that she has her own blog, which you can find at www.ellenpotter.com. Her writing on her website is just as witty and fresh as the writing in her book, and get this: if you look for the Contact Ellen http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2010/10/readers-lunch-anyone.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-4892819859426869532Wed, 06 Oct 2010 12:58:00 +00002010-10-06T06:09:33.448-07:00So how is your short story coming along? Are the characters believable and the dialogue brisk? Does the plot incorporate intriguing conflicts and move irrevocably towards the climax? Is the theme meaningful?Try some of these creative writing excercises to push you in the right direction. They come from one of my favorite creative writing books entitled "Metro: Journeys in Writing Creatively" http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2010/10/tips-for-storytelling.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-5837542503566700424Thu, 30 Sep 2010 18:54:00 +00002010-09-30T12:00:29.578-07:00horseimagerymetaphorpoemWell, I honestly can't remember whether this person wished to remain anonymous or not, but I do know that I have permission to publish, and the poem is impressive, so if she wishes to be identified, check back tomorrow for the poet's name. I love the metaphors in this poem -- see how many you can find!Raw RidingI sit aloft the saddleThe pound of her strong limbs below meBeating the ground with http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2010/09/imagery-poem.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-7669614645099516490Sun, 26 Sep 2010 13:17:00 +00002010-09-30T05:28:22.615-07:00inspirationswelcomeYou know that it's been a busy start to the school year when Mr. V. is publishing his first post at the end of September. But there is good news! This year, Scribbles and Bits will be expanding! Just like the past two years, this blog will continue to feature the writing work of students on Team 8-2. All readers will still be invited to comment on the work they read there, establishing an online http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2010/09/welcome-back.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-8540619686283848279Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +00002009-11-06T06:02:24.692-08:00So this humorous memoir was so embarrassing, the author asked to publish it anonymously. The names have been changed to protect the innocent (or guilty!) The roar of a mother’s voice thrashed upon her child. It was the disciplining voice coming from my mom to my four year old brother. My brother had just done something that you don’t see very often. “Jack Testerman! What were youhttp://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2009/11/must-read-memoir.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-3864641309371369238Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:54:00 +00002009-11-04T11:55:43.561-08:00I think this poem, by Sarah, speaks for itself.You are like a dragon engulfed in powerFlaming like a brilliant sunScaly like a serpentFreckled - black spots adore youYou're like a teardrop sliding down my cheekDid you fall hard?Or crunch softly among your brethren?http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2009/11/leaf-poem.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-7470238504250319938Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:09:00 +00002009-11-04T11:53:42.273-08:00favorite lineshumorousmemoirNo, I don't mean raindrops on roses. I'm talking about the humorous memoirs which I have recently finished grading. I cacluated it out, and I have read almost 400 pages of student work in the last week and a half. Wow -- that's like an entire novel!I decided to share a few lines that stood out from the crowd. I'd love to hear you weigh in with comments on which of these are your favorites outhttp://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2009/11/few-of-my-favorite-things.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-7011550863274457166Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:45:00 +00002009-10-29T04:47:55.624-07:00No, this post's title does not refer to plagiarism! Earlier this year, in class we fused together words that came from famous quotes about war and crafted them into our own original poems. Here is Lizzy's effort; it's a good one!WarWar determines the end of mankind,Marching our brothers into battle,With honor and liberty.Prisoners of battle,Eye to eye with death watching all men.A cry for peacehttp://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2009/10/fusing-words-of-others.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-7688911782911533364Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:42:00 +00002009-10-29T04:45:14.046-07:00I always love it when students surprise me with an approach to an assignment that I didn't anticipate. When we wrote poems inspired by Linda Gregg's 2005 poem, "Whomever" I assumed most people would write about a person in their life. Marc chose to write about an animal. The Lonely StrangerYou are not even human, except to your owner maybe.I saw you again as I walked across the bridge.You were http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2009/10/creative-approach.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-1039145071210015995Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:35:00 +00002009-10-19T17:53:25.851-07:00Whoever said the best poetry has to be sad has obviously never heard from these two poets before. The poem "What Is Caring?" by Jess is inspired by the poem "What Is Success?" by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Her poem makes us all think about how we can show compassion and concern for our fellow human beings.The poem "Love" by Samantha uses a series of metaphors to write about an emotion that is oft http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2009/10/who-says-you-cant-write-happy-poetry.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-8424749121289015925Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:17:00 +00002009-10-15T06:20:44.617-07:00detailexplode a momentFrench fryimageryWell, we're back for another year with a whole new crop of writers to showcase. I thought I'd begin the year with this post, which my Advanced English class wrote collaboratively (and yes, that is a vocab word!) Our goal was to "explode a moment," bringing it to life in full color, clarity, and a hint of slow motion. Enjoy! The salty smell tempts me. As I raise it closer and closer tohttp://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2009/10/returning-at-last.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-4332392024883632476Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:05:00 +00002009-04-06T05:22:00.323-07:00 Earlier this year, I awarded "Vogie" awards for the documentary "Things Not Seen" films that most impressed me and my classes. Since these awards are only for film, I guess I can't bestow a Vogie upon these poems, but I can say that according to a vote taken in my eighth period class, these were the three best headline poems from the team.The inspiration came first from http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2009/04/headline-poems.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-7044893996981490622Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:33:00 +00002009-04-03T08:40:41.945-07:00This piece, by Tim, helped me look at a piece of literature in a new way. Reading it was one of those great moments in teaching when a student reveals that even though I've read something a million times (OK, that's a slight hyperbole) there is still more to mine. I'm not sure if this is what the author of the play intended, but it sure explains the moral complexities of this play.The theme, “http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2009/04/intriguing-interpretation-of-twelve.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-2675955666144738273Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:57:00 +00002009-03-10T05:42:52.473-07:00This piece, by Naiya, was written in the style of famed author Robert Cormier after our class read I Am the Cheese. I must say, Naiya brings her own signature style Cormier's techniques and establishes an enticing grabber for her story. I wonder if even she knows where it's headed?Stuck in a Maze I back out of the parking lot, sweat covering my forehead and my mind captivating me. Nohttp://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2009/03/talk-about-grabber.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-805001483073174924Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:05:00 +00002009-01-15T06:09:58.404-08:00"imperfection" is the pen name, or pseudonym, that today's author has chosen for herself. She says it matches her choice to use no capitalization and unconventional grammar in today's piece. What creativity, though! This story is a romance with a twist of tragedy, yes of unrequited love -- maybe fans of Twilight will find it more "perfect" than the author feels it is!she'd followed him into his http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2009/01/imperfection.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-6028178371573608968Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:24:00 +00002009-01-07T07:30:45.136-08:00Well, it's that time of the year and in Advanced English we are reading Robert Cormier, one of the greatest writers of young adult novels (in my humble opinion!) This post, is unlike the others in that the essence of it is really hidden in the comments part of this post. As we are enjoying our third winter storm of the year and reading I Am the Cheese, we tried our hand at imitating Robert http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2009/01/absolutely.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-7925318276995890713Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:49:00 +00002009-01-05T09:53:16.251-08:00Some of these poems are inspired by characters we are reading about in Things Not Seen, others are inspired by our own experiences, but all of them say so much with so little. These poems emphasize the power of metaphor. The first one is by Chris, the other three are anonymous.I am a bookwith a coverthat does not interest you.Like wind, you cannot see me,but feel.I am a dress,pretty, beautiful,http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2009/01/mini-metaphor-poems.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-5868977550532274534Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:20:00 +00002008-12-22T14:20:24.705-08:00In the March 21, 2005, Linda Gregg published a poem called "Whomever" in the New Yorker magazine. It haunted me. It told about a homeless person in Penn Station who tried, but failed, to be "invisible." Since we are studying a book about invisibility right now, I thought we could take the pattern Linda Gregg created grammatically and adapt it to write about something new, some other person whohttp://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2008/12/in-march-21-2005-linda-gregg-published.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-3969020545112656847Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:35:00 +00002008-12-17T06:43:48.553-08:00OK, so the secret is out. I've been working on a book. This is only Chapter 4, or at least pieces of it, and that's as far as I've gotten. I hope it won't be too confusing, even though it refers to specific scenes from chapter 1-3. The narrator is a sixteen-year-old-boy who is off from school for the summer. He had to move way out in the booneys due to his parents' sudden divorce. A distant http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2008/12/mr-vs-authorial-debut.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-5497953512809787940Tue, 16 Dec 2008 02:14:00 +00002008-12-16T05:07:31.378-08:00Sometimes, an embarrassing or painful moment can be the richest source material for writers. This excerpt from Cody's memoir proves how true this is. The voice in this piece is exceptional; if you know Cody, you feel like you are listening to him tell it! OH, and by the way, the English class scene did not take place in English class, and I am not the teacher . . .I poked my neck in the room and http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2008/12/sometimes-embarrassing-or-painful.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-7845413199125078315Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:36:00 +00002008-12-09T04:42:57.315-08:00Do you remember those early trips to the dentist as a child, when you were never sure if you were going to make it out alive? Andrew captures these moments well in his humorous memoir. I love how he builds in elements of the horror genre to write about the dentist. It's a perfect extended hyperbole. (P. S. Sorry I can't figure out how to make blogger indent the paragraphs. Weird, huh?)Imagine http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2008/12/horror-or-at-least-hyperbole.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-6761559902215419612Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:04:00 +00002008-12-04T05:08:38.214-08:00So as everyone knows by now, we've been working on humorous memoirs in class. In this memoir, Emily does an amazing job of capturing the mind of a three-year-old version of herself while maintaining the voice of an advanced (and maybe even a bit cynical?) writer. I love how she strings the idea of the baby as "an evil alien" throughout the memoir. This extended hyperbole takes the piece to a http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2008/12/on-lighter-side.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637083983898897645.post-3405669741707843462Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:00:00 +00002008-11-25T13:01:15.080-08:00This excerpt from Katie's work is descriptive and mysterious, almost like a dream. The language is poetic. I almost feel as if, broken into lines, this could be a poem. I think Steinbeck would be proud of this word choice and Tolkien would celebrate it's mystery. The first line of this passage fascinates me too, for it could go so many different ways . . .The black world began four days ago. The http://mrvogelsinger.blogspot.com/2008/11/this-excerpt-from-katies-work-is.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)3