Re-visiting Brock Mealer

A phenomenal fall poem will use words to evoke strong emotion (click "evoke" to see the definition). Watch the Brock Mealer video above. You have some background knowledge about his situation already, but the video will give you more insight. After watching, answer the following two questions.

What scenes evoked the strongest emotions for you?

What purpose do the scenes from right before the game fulfill? (You might want to rewatch this part to refresh your memory.)

Performance indicators

On Friday, report cards for the first 5 weeks went home. Along the way you have had some hints as to how you were doing: tests and quizzes handed back, homework that you did or didn't do, and your feelings about how well you were grasping concepts. Now that you have seen your grades, in which class do you feel you are doing the best? Why do you think you are doing well in that class? Is there anything you could improve?

Learning

Brooks Conrad, a second baseman for the Atlanta Braves, made three errors in a playoff game against the San Fransisco Giants over the weekend. Before the next game, as the players were getting warmed up, Conrad was given an ovation from the Braves fans. Why would the fans cheer for Conrad in this situation? Shouldn't they have let him know that he had let them down when he cost his team the game? What can we learn from this situation?

Plot charts

Plot charts can be a great way to develop the framework for a story. Once the framework is in place, it is relatively simple to add in appropriate supporting details that make an interesting story. Starting to write without having a framework in place, however, can lead to a long, boring story that never comes to a climax or a conclusion.

In order to practice making charts, pick a favorite book or movie. Write out a brief plot chart, being sure to include at least three examples of rising action.

Armageddon
Exposition: A meteor is headed toward Earth; if it isn't stopped, it will destroy our planet.

Rising Action:
1. A plan is developed to have a crew of oil drillers drill into the meteor and deposit a bomb.
2. The crew is separated on the meteor; down to one active drill, they begin work
3. After many complications, the second crew arrives on the scene to make the final push.
4. They drill to the necessary depth; however, the remote trigger for the bomb fails.
5. Harry Stamper stays behind to detonate the bomb.

Climax:
Harry is ready to press the trigger, and time is running out. The remaining crew blast off, but worry that something might have gone wrong. Can Harry detonate the bomb in time?!

Falling Action:
He does. The shuttle comes back safely to Earth, and the surviving members of the crew are happy.

Conclusion:
Harry's daughter and one of the crew members get married; at the wedding, there are large pictures of the crew who died on the mission. Happily ever after.