The Macbeth Curse...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scottish_play

Brit Lit:

This morning we had a quick quiz on the intro reading that I assigned last night in Macbeth. I also gave notes on "that Scottish" play, and told you the story of Shakespeare and his times. During our study of Macbeth, I have two main objectives:

That you will understand Macbeth and do well academically. There is no reason that you all should not have A's during Macbeth. You may use your notes on every test and quiz.

That you will enjoy Shakespeare and have fun. This is entertainment. Granted it is 400 year old entertainment- but it, more than any other writing, holds up extremely well. We will actively perform the play and have fun with it. I am not doing my job if you are not enjoying my class. Please come to class with an open mind. If you think that you will hate it, you will. Leave your bad experience with reading his plays at the door...

Wos:

Today I asked you to write what you thought the moment of final suspense will be in Act 4. I then assigned each row a scene in act 4 to "perform" in front of the class.

Hw:
Make sure you passed in your Hamlet vs. The Lion King writing prompt.

For tonight, please select a musical score that could be placed behind Hamlet's speech on pg 169 Act 4, sc 4. Please pick music that matches the mood and intensity of what is being said. Remember, musical scores are meant to add intensity.

Word O' the Week:

Batie: A useless bungler. An obsolete Scottish dialect word.

Brit Lit:

Good to be back, even at 80%. Thank you for being polite and respectful while I was out. Today we started our look at the life and times of the greatest writer of all time, William Shakespeare.

HW: Please read the section in Macbeth on:
Shakespeare's Macbeth, Reading Shakespeare's Language (pgs xiii-xxiv)

You know that you go to a great school when....

Wos:

Today we recited our "To be, or not to be" lines. If you were not ready, or were absent, please be ready to go Wed. Remember, you loose 10 points each day that you are not ready!

Brit Lit:

Today I was finally able to get us into the lab to but together the final draft of your pilgrimage papers. I will look to get us one more day if possible this week.

These will be due this Friday.

Word O' the Week:

Anile [an-yl]: Adj. Of or like an old woman. Why did that kid and anile get along so well? Because they have a common enemy: mother.

WOS:

Today we translated the famous "To be, or not to be" speech in Hamlet. Reminder, you need to memorize the first 10 lines for Tuesday.

HW: Learn your lines for Tuesday. 10 points per line, with one free line if needed.

Brit Lit:

Today we learned about the Compare and Contrast Essay. In class you began the 1st draft of comparing and contrasting the differences between the classic tale A Kinight's Tale and the very modern film of the same name. Below is a brief explaination on how to write this:


How to Write a Compare/Contrast Essay
Compare and contrast essays are the other big essay types in academic writing. These essays will follow a specific question and are fairly easy to complete. There are several ways to write this type of essay. The most important thing to remember is structure. Many wonderful essays fall victim to the woes of bad structure, making any ingenuity to fall by the wayside. Go over the rules on how to write a general essay, and then structure your compare/contrast essay in one of the following two formats:
Introduction
Your introduction — like the five-paragraph-essay, should open generally (with a quotation, anecdote, generalization), and lead into the thesis statement.
Topic 1
This next portion of your essay (which may consist of one paragraph or several) should cover only the first topic of the comparison and contrast. Compare/Contrast essays take two topics and illustrate how they are similar and dissimilar. Do not mention topic 2 in this first portion.
Topic 2
This next portion of your essay (which may also consist of one or more paragraphs) should cover the second of the two topics. Do not discuss Topic 1 in this section. Since you have already gone into great detail about it, you may allude to Topic 1 briefly; however, do not analyze Topic 1 in this section. This portion of the paper is to discuss Topic 2 in great detail.
Topics 1 and 2 Together
Now that you have analyzed both Topic 1 and Topic 2 independently, now it is time to analyze them together. This section may also be one or several paragraphs.
Conclusion
The conclusion — like the introduction — should be a generalization of the thesis. This paragraph should express your certainty and absolute knowledge on the subject matter. You should reaffirm your thesis (essentially restate it in new words) and show how you've proven it.
OR
Introduction
Your introduction — like the five-paragraph-essay, should open generally (with a quotation, anecdote, generalization), and lead into the thesis statement.
All Comparisons (Topics 1 and 2)
This section — which should consists of several paragraphs — should go through all similarities you find in the two topics on which you are writing. There should be at least three comparisons (essentially three short body paragraphs) in which you give an example from both topics of comparisons in each.
All Contrasts (Topics 1 and 2)
This section — which should consist of several paragraphs — should go through all differences you find in the two topics on which you are writing. There should be at least three contrasts (essentially three short body paragraphs) in which you give an example from both topics of comparisons in each.
Conclusion
This conclusion is wrapping up everything you have just proven in your paper. It should restate the thesis in a new, more official way, and you should feel quite confident in your writing.
Here is a quick breakdown on how the Compare-Contrast Essay should appear:
Type A:
Paragraph 1: Introduction (with Thesis)
Paragraph 2: Topic 1 (Comparison a)
Paragraph 3: Topic 1 (Comparison b)
Paragraph 4: Topic 1 (Comparison c)
Paragraph 5: Topic 2 (Contrast a)
Paragraph 6: Topic 2 (Contrast b)
Paragraph 7: Topic 2 (Contrast c)
Paragraph 8: (Optional) — Comparisons/Contrasts together (any topic)
Paragraph 8: Conclusion
Type B:
Paragraph 1: Introduction (with Thesis)
Paragraph 2: Comparison a (Topic 1&2)
Paragraph 3: Comparison b (Topic 1&2)
Paragraph 4: Comparison c (Topic 1&2)
Paragraph 5: Contrast a (Topic 1&2)
Paragraph 6: Contrast b (Topic 1&2)
Paragraph 7: Contrast c (Topic 1&2)
Paragraph 8: Conclusion

Back 2 School Night

Tonight, from 6:30-8:30 , Tantasqua will be holding an informative "meet the teacher" night. I encourage all parents/guardians to consider attending. It is a great way to casually meet them and discuss the many great things that we will be doing this year together. Looking forward to meeting them!

Brit Lit:

Due to a scheduling mix up this morning, coupled with the Sr assembly, your Pilgrimage paper will be now due next Tuesday. I have scheduled the lab on that day.

Today in class we talked about A Knight's Tale and watched the Heath Ledger version. On Friday it is all about contrasting images in film and literature.

HW: Please finish reading A Knight's Tale. If you lost the printed on that I gave you, look for it online. It can be found easily.

WOS:

Please memorize the following for next Tuesday:

To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream:

WOS:

Take the scene assigned today in class on pg 83 (lines 278-292) and convert them to match a certain new take on Hamlet. For example:
How would you write these as a-

Sci-Fi film
A children's story
A Musical
A war drama

Brit Lit:

HW: Please read pgs 1-9 in A Knight's Tale. Today in class we finish our 1st draft of our pilgrimage stories. Most of us will be in the lab Thursday to type these.

WOS:

Today we read our Voltemand lines as newscasters. I have posted some online. I am sorry about the audio on the 1st one :-( I had my finger on the mic.

After lunch, I defined Stress and Inflection. I broke the class into 2 groups and asked you to find 2 examples on each, and change the line based on you stress and/or inflection.

No HW so Rob can save the universe in the new Halo expansion. :-)

Brit Lit:

Today in class we discussed symbols. The majority of the block was spent construction your symbolic representation collage of yourself.
Block B took a quiz on The Pardoner's Tale. A block will have this on Wed- so please review the story.

Wed, we will be writing the 1st draft of you pilgrimage. For HW tonight, please have ready an experience required you to travel a distance in which you learned a lesson about yourself.

WOS:

Today we compared yet another take on Hamlet via the Kenneth Branagh version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qsn9opKuWbs
Good class discussion on the many differences. I think how you picked up on the use of white in the film. It def was a strange contrast to some of the "darker" versions.

This week we will be looking at stress, tone and inflection. In particular, how each can alter the meaning of the play.

HW: Please take a look at Voltemand's speech on pg 71 (Act 2 Scene 2) and be prepared to give it as a news report. Focus on how it would be read as a modern news story on the state of the nation. We will present these in class Tuesday.

Brit Lit:

Today in class I assigned the Pilgrimige Paper:
Make Your Own Pilgrimage…..

Over the next week, we will be reading a collection of “tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer.

In class we will be looking at his style, and be looking at what a pilgrimage is, and why you would go on one. Duplicating a writer’s style is one of the hardest tasks that I will ask you to do. It will require close examination of the language and they way Chaucer tells the tale.

Part 1: The Prologue Poem In this section, you will write a poem to begin your piece. In your poem you must: Give yourself a title as a pilgrim
Write 4-6 Lines.
Emulate Chaucer

Part II: The Symbolic Representation Provide a hand drawn picture, a collage, or a brief descriptive piece which clearly gives a symbolic representation of who you are. Remember, symbols are common images, which are used to represent much larger things.

Part III: The Tale You will write about a pilgrimage that you have been on.
In your Tale, you must: Write 3 well written paragraphs
Write a tale that includes, Characters, a plot, a setting, a climax, and a conclusion
There is a clear lesson that you learn by the end of the tale.


Due Date:_________

Word O' the Week:

Chad: A small piece of paper generated from punching holes in paper.

Brit Lit:

Today in class we completed working on the video game manual assignment. I will accept these via email attachments with no late penalty by 4 pm today. Any time after, you loose 10 points per day.

HW: Please continue to think about a pilgrimage that you took that has changed you.

WOS:

Today in class we defined: Personification, Metaphor, Simile, Classical Allusion, Reversed word/thought/sentence construction. We talked about how these were the special effects during Shakespeare's plays.
Next, I broke you into groups and asked you to find examples from Act 1.

After lunch, we went outside and learned about stage fighting. I asked you to imagine that your pinkie finger was a 30 lbs. 4 foot sword. Videos above..... Then we swapped them out for light sabers and added a sci fi element.

HW- At the end of class we defined an aside. Please write a script (1/2 page or more) that ends with an aside that dramatically changes the scene. For example, a scary scene that become funny, or a tragic event that becomes insignificant. Remember, the aside is ONLY heard by your audience and can be a powerful insight into the character's mind. We will start class on Friday acting these out- so try and make them interesting! I can't wait to see what you guys come up with....

You Tube link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbQdE6fNa0k

WOS:

Today we finished Act 1 in Hamlet. We defined Classical Allusion, and acted out Act 1 sc 4 live. Please complete the questions that I gave you for HW this evening.

I would like to have parts of class outside if the weather permits- so please dress accordingly.

Brit Lit:

Today we took notes on folk ballads. In class we read Get up and Bar the Door, and Barbara Allen. Block A, please read BA for HW, as we did not get to this in your class.

I played three songs: The Dukes of Hazzard Theme, Love by LL Cool J, and Pretty Boy Floyd by Bob Dylan. For each I asked you to examine if they fit the def of a ballad and why.

We then wrote our own Ballad to the beat of a blues song.

Thursday, I will give some of you time to finish your video game manuals. These will be due at the end of class tomorrow.

WOS:

Today in class we went around the room and you shared your "one line." Please hold onto these. I gave out green stickies to remind you of their importance.

We concluded our Theme Scenes depicting major themes in Hamlet. We ended class reading/watching Act 1, sc 1. I then broke you into groups and had you convert parts to modern English. I suggested that characters in his plays can be full of themselves and often have the gift of gap. This is true in Hamlet.

Brit Lit:

Today in class we took a quick quiz on The Green Knight. If you missed it, or wish to take the make up, I am after school on wed.

I gave you about 1/2 of the block to work on your manuals in the lab. I also have us down for this Thursday if it is needed.

HW- please read Sir Patrick Spens, pgs 78-81.

Early Green Knight text

Word O' the Week:

Claus [Lay-vuhs]: A pain in the forehead, as though a nail were being driven into it. From Latin, meaning nail.

Try and use it in class for extra credit and fabulous door prizes...

WOS:

Today I passed out Hamlet, and we went over Shakespearean insults. I paired you up and had you yell your three word pairing at each other. See, Shakespeare can be fun.

HW- Please look at a bunch of lines from any play or sonnet. Please pick one that you identify with and bring it in for Tuesday. If you pick a line that you have no connection with, the assignment Tuesday will be very difficult- so as always: choose carefully...

Brit Lit:

This am we researched 14th c weaponry. I asked you to find 5 weapons of choice to use in your video game manual.

HW- Tonight, please read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: pg. 123-138 in your anthologies. Expect a quiz....

Video game manuals due this Thursday!

Brit Lit:

Today we had shortened time to accommodate for summer reading. We began watching Beowulf and Grendel. Many of you were surprised that Grendel was in human form- did that add to the horror in any way? Or did it annoy you?

Monday we are in the lab for a block O' research. Enjoy the weekend, and good luck to the Football team, the band, and any other groups/teams playing/performing this weekend!

WOS:

Today we took notes on A Shakespearean Tragedy, and I gave preliminary notes on Hamlet. I also passed back your Day in the Life assignments. Please hold onto them, as we will be revisiting the character that you made next week.

I typically do not give weekend HW- so enjoy the weekend and rest up for next week.

WOS:

Today you each introduced your character to the class. For each description, I paired you with a costume. I have to say, seeing you guys smile and have fun in costumes made any work writing that grant well worth it! Fun in education...go figure :-)

After you were given a costume, I presented you each with a scenario that would have been common in 1562. This activity was designed to introduce you to the costumes. Don't forget your character- we will be using them again next week when we begin Hamlet in earnest.

You have the evening off to focus on your Summer reading preparation. Enjoy the pictures from class today :-)

Brit Lit:

Today in class we listened to 3 short clips of Beowulf being read as it was written. We broke into groups and found examples of kenning and alliteration.

I assigned the following. due Sept 17th. We will have computer lab time this Monday and possibly Tuesday.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight:the Video Game Assignment:
You work for a small indie video game company, and have just purchased the publishing right for a new video game based on the story. Please design a manual that will explain how the game is played. You will be graded on the following rubrics:
1.) A cover that has the title and cover art. 10 points
2.) Weapons page. Detailing at least 5 weapons that you have researched from the 14th century. Please include a picture and detailed 3 sent description for each.20 Points
3.) Intro page, which summarizes the story.20 Points
4.) 10 Levels. For each, please title and give a 5-10 sentence description of the objective. 30 Points
5.) End boss picture or description, including the one weakness.20 Points.

Now HW to focus on Summer Reading.

Beatles do Shakespeare...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOpEZM6OEvI

This clip is great. This was before they where mega stars...watch how they are heckled by the anti-Liverpool crowd. This would actually be very close how this scene in Midsummer Night's Dream would have been done in Shakespeare's day....very rough and playing on the impossible nature of the amateur performance...

Wos:

Today we continued our look at Shakespeare and his times. I gave you a quiz on Shakespeare ALIVE! and we watched selections from the film Shakespeare in Love.

HW- please imagine that you are a specific person, with a specific job and life in the year 1562. In a one page narrative, please describe a day in your life. If you get stuck, use the Beatles song of the same title to start you off :-) Please use information gathered this week to poaint the picture of your world.

We will be reading some of these in class Thursday for your listening enjoyment.

Please type these if possible to help my aging eyes. :-)

Brit Lit:

Today in class we had a quiz on your reading in Beowulf. We looked at Joesph Cambell's definition of a hero, and specifically the "hero's Quest". I gave notes on both.

We talked again about horror, and why we enjoy it in stories.

I gave no HW for this evening- please use the time to complete your Summer reading if you have not done so.

Brit Lit:

http://faculty.virginia.edu/OldEnglish/Beowulf.Readings/wave/beo01p.wav

Summer Reading

Summer reading tests will be conducted this Friday. Please make sure that you have completed all reading by this time. Please see me if you have any questions.

Globe

Word O' the Week:

Cruentation: [kroo-en-tay-shun] a term for oozing blood.

As always, try and use the word of the week for extra points on assignments. They are silly words, but like any vocab, they can make you a stronger thinker/speaker.

WOS:

Today we discussed the life of William Shakespeare and the very little that is known. We began talking about the Globe and some of the more interesting aspects around it and the impact on popular culture.

Please read ch 3-4 in S. Alive! for HW and please be prepared for a quiz on Wed.

Brit Lit:

Today in class we defined alliteration, and kenning. After finishing the Seafarer, I asked you to write a tale is a similar "larger than life" formula using at least 3 examples of the terms discussed. Some of you elected to finish these for HW. It is your responsibility to remember to pass these in Wed.

Tonight for HW, please read Beowulf: pgs 24 to 36. Please be prepared to discuss this in class on Wed.

WOS:

Today, we relocated for the entire block to the Aud and continued with acting exercises to help us feel comfortable together as a group. Next week we will begin with a lecture on Shakespeare and his times. I hope to be into Hamlet by the end of the week. So many plays, so little time....

Have a great weekend!

Brit Lit:

For the record, I think every school year should start with a 3 day work week, followed by a 4 day weekend. That just rocks.

Today in class we talked about end rhyme, and how it may have been used to help storytellers remember the stories, and keep the important details. I gave you a pattern of: ABABABABAB and asked your a small story/narrative poem about the 1st week of school. Light lifting to get us in shape for next week. As a reminder: No HW this weekend, but please make sure that you have your textbooks covered. They are $$$ and a bit of cover goes a long way to protect them.

It was very nice meeting you all and I look forward to our time together. Have a wonderful weekend!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOpEZM6OEvI

Wos:

Today in class we looked at the first 2 words in the play Hamlet and discussed the power and ambiguity of the words: Who's there?

I broke you into small groups and asked you to come up with your own 2 words, and then each group developed a small skit starting with those words.

After lunch, we convened in the auditorium and did some acting games, all focused on trusting each other.

I passed out the book Shakespeare Alive! and assigned ch 1-2 for HW tonight.

Please meet us in the aud for class on Thursday. Bring an open mind :-)

Brit Lit:

Today in class we discussed the oral tradition- specifically storytelling.

I passed out the Anthology- please cover it tonight and read pg 6-14.

Summer!

I have been meaning to write this since the last day of school... But it just has not "felt" like Summer with all of the rain. I wanted to post a short note of thanks to all of you for making my first year at Tantasqua simply incredible. I hope that you all enjoyed my class, as much as I truly enjoyed teaching you each day. You have helped me reconfirm my deep love of teaching.

One of my goals for my first year was to "blog" about class. Quite frankly, it was a ton of work to keep up to date. I am looking for feedback from all of you on wether it was a source that you found useful and interesting as a student. Ultimately, I was looking for a fun way for you to stay connected to what we were working on in class each day. I think on the most basic level, it was helpful to those of you who missed school that day and needed to find out what we did in class that day.

Looking back on all of the posts and pictures, I am exceptionally proud of everything that we did in class. I guess this serves as a good online scrapbook to look back on. To all of you whom stumbled onto this web site this Summer trying to check out what your next year English class/teacher is going to be like, get ready to have a great English class. I am planning on doing some great things with you all next year. Until then, have a restful Summer. And remember: a strong oak on your back, a light breeze, and good book is the best remedy for Summer boredom.

Have a great Summer Tantasqua!

STUDY!
End in Greatness!

Sonnet Assignment

New Bathroom Pass

Most of you know that I hate writing passes. They are a necessity in a modern high school- but they always seem to break the flow of class. Rather than fill out a pass, I traditionally like to use objects that lets everyone know that you have left class with permission.

This year, I used a bean bag. This was lovingly refereed to as the "potty bag" by most of you. But after heavy use, the bag was beginning to show some wear....let's face it, it was getting gross....

It is with much appreciation, that today I received a small gift from C Block. Tom and Nick- thank you for the new pass. Respect. Pictures to be posted on Monday.... Here is a hint..it is made of stone...

Soph Lit:

Today we finished A. Miller's All My Sons. The 2nd part of class, I had you form small groups of 4 and write a script. Premise: It is 5 years in the future. Location: Summer picnic. 2 pgs

Brit Lit:

Reminder....Your Short Story assignment is now pass due. Please see me if you were unable to finish, or had any printing issues. I will have those passed in graded for Monday.

Wos:

Today we watched a film version of Othello. Have a great weekend. We will be finishing Othello this Tuesday, and begin our review for the final on Wed.

Soph Lit:

HW: Please write one page explaining what you think is the real reason for George's visit. Look for clues and mild foreshadowing in act I to help you. Why do you think Keller is so nervous? There is no right or wrong answer- so just think.

Soph Lit:

Today in class we continued reading/acting out A. Miller's All My Sons.

HW: Please write 1/2 page on what will happen next in the play. We will be using these for class discussions on Tuesday.

Note: If you are a parent using this blog, ask your student to share their Midsummer Night's Dream exam with you tonight. Not bad for a bunch of kids that first told me that they "didn't get Shakespeare." :-) I am proud of you guys!

Word O' the Week:

Vug [vuhg]: A cave or cavity or hollow in a rock. Adj. vuggy means full of cavities. Try using it the next time that you visit the dentist and see if they know the word....

WOS:

Today we finished Act 1 in Othello. Please read act 2 for HW and be prepared to discuss it in class. Specifically, please have ready three discussion questions that we will use in class Tuesday. It is an insane schedule, but my goal is to finish the play by June 16th.

As master Yoda once said: "Do or do not, there is no try."

Brit Lit:

This morning we began the process of writing our short stories. We will be in the computer lab Tuesday and Wednesday. At the end of class on Wed, you will need to pass in your brainstorming sheet, your written 1st draft (4-5 pages) and your final copy of your short story. Remember, as always, end in greatness....