Tuesday, October 4, 2011

A/ B Block

Today:

We started with the following 2 journal prompts:

What 5 web sites do you visit often, and why?

What is the one thing that nobody knows about you because nobody ever cared to ask?

We finished beowulf.

B Block Only: HW: Please read pages 90-100 in your anthology.
A Block: Make sure you have read all the ballads in your anthology and have written your own origional ballad.

Monday, October 3, 2011

D Block:

Journal prompt #11. Please see A/B Block from today.

I passed back your journals. Please see me if you are missing any.

We defined a Ballad.

We listened to a ballad and talked about the characteristics.

I paired you with a partner and had you interview them in prep of writing a 25-30 line ballad on their life. We will finish these Tuesday.

HW: Please bring in the lyrics of a ballad.

A/B Block:

Today we finished Beowulf.

Journal Prompt #11: If you could pick three people to sit down and have dinner with, who would you pick? Please write a 2 page journal responce detailing what the three of you would talk about. For example, if I was to do the assignment, I would pair Hitler with Steve Jobs and a young M. Jackson.

Word O' the Week:

Kench: To laugh loudly.

Think

Cats have over 100 vocal sounds. Dogs about 10.

Friday, September 30, 2011

D Block:

We took the test for the Beowulf unit today.

The Things You Carry....

Name:____________________ Block:______

The Ballad of You:

Directions: Today in class you will all be writing a ballad: A short narrative poem that tells a story and is usually set to music. To make this interesting, the ballad that you make will be about another student in class, based primarily on a short interview that you have with them today in class.


Step 1: The Interview:

Please generate 10 questions to ask and record their answer. These will be the foundation of your ballad:

1. Your Question:



Their Detailed response:



2. Your Question:



Their Detailed response:




3. Your Question:



Their Detailed response:





4.Your Question:



Their Detailed response:




5. Your Question:



Their Detailed response:




6. Your Question:



Their Detailed response:



7. Your Question:



Their Detailed response:




8. Your Question:



Their Detailed response:




9. Your Question:



Their Detailed response:






10. Your Question:



Their Detailed response:


Part 2: The Things They Carry….
Describe in detail 5 items that are on them right now

1.


2.


3.


4.


5.








Step 3, The Ballad of….

Write a 25-30 line folk ballad on the person that you interviewed and the information that you collected about them. Please begin this with the following and keep it in the 3rd person at all times:

There once was a boy named Joe that……

































Step 3: Perform these in front of the class 

Thursday, September 29, 2011

D Block:

Today we defined some new terms:

Alliteration
Epithet
Paganism
Fate

I explained the format of the test, and had you break into small study groups. Each group worked to produce one page of notes that can be used on the test Friday.

HW: Please study your terms and review your reading. (H) Make sure that you look over the notes on the hero's quest.

A + B Block:

Today:

We defined Ballad.

We looked specifically at folk ballads.

We read Johnny Cash, Sir Patrick Spens, Get Up and Bar the Door, The Twa Corbies, and Barbara Allen.

I printed out 5 samples from the modern day ballads that you brought in for HW. We discussed if they were examples of a ballad.

HW: Please brainstorm about what you life would be like as a ballad told in the third person. We will be writing and performing the ballad of You in class Friday. I am looking forward to seeing what you guys come up with.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

D Block:

Today we looked at your musical scores. I asked you to bring in a "score" for a scene in the book. Today during our shortened class we read parts that you selected with music. I randomly selected 10 people to perform their scene in class.

HW: Please have Beowulf finished for class on Thursday. We will review and have a test this Friday.

B Block:

We finished Beowulf and Grendel. Tomorrow you will need to define 10 ways that the story followed the hero's quest.

HW: Same as A Block.

A Block:

Today:

We defined a ballad.
We looked at the Man in Black, Johnny Cash: Ballad of a Teenage Queen.
We read Sir Patrick Spens.

HW: Please bring in the lyrics to a modern ballad. Please make sure that it is appropriate for school. Try an find a song that tells a story. For example, don't bring in a song about going to a club- rather bring in a song that has a beginning, a middle and a end. Conflict helps as well....

You will need your Big books Thursday and Friday.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

A and B Block:

A Block:

Today we finished the movie.
I broke you into groups of three and asked you to list 10 parts of the Hero's Quest that could be found in the movie version.

B Block: We went to the computer lab to finish typing your final drafts. These were due today.

Monday, September 26, 2011

D Block:

Today:

I asked you to pick a scene from Beowulf and break into 5 groups. Each group was asked to complete the following:

Show your scene as a short skit.
Add 5 origional kennings to make it more interesting.
Change one small part to be 100% different than the real story without being super obvious.

During our performance, you were given a short quiz asking you to:
identify 3 of the 5 kennings
Define the one difference briefly.

Group one was given comedy as a challenge.

Word O' the Week:

Gride (gryd) Verb intr. To scrape or graze against an object to make a grating sound.

Early morning writing is often the best....

A and B Block:

We used today to finish your papers. Please see me asap if you were not able to finish yours and pass it in.

HW: Please finish your paper if needed.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Caught Learning

Image created with WordFoto for iPhone.
http://www.wordfoto.com/

Friday, September 23, 2011

D Block:

I collected your papers today. You are reminded that you loose a letter grade (10 pts.) for each late day. Papers submitted Monday count as one day late.

Due to the amount of you that needed to leave early to prep for the pep rally, we pushed the activity today to Monday and instead watched the Beowulf and Grendel movie.

We will be taking a deeper look at the story differences next week.

Have a great weekend.

Tantasqua Shout Out this AM

http://ulocal.thebostonchannel.com/_Tantasqua-Regional-High-Shout-Out/video/1638412/61862.html

A/ B Block:

A Block: Journal Prompt #10: If you could only keep 10 things in the world, what would you save?

A and B Block: We used this time to type the final draft of your paper. Please finish these this weekend if you did not have enough time. These are due at the end of class Monday. I will try and give you time on a computer Monday- but please have your writing done and ready to type. Please email me with any questions.

Have a great weekend!

Sorry this is late....I forgot last night

Transitional Words:
Transitional words are like signs that help the reader make a smooth shift from one idea to the next. They are a means of precisely guiding the reader through the various levels and shifts that your essay or argument may develop. These words or phrases can be considered the basic tools of the trade, so to speak. Transitional words prevent ideas from awkwardly blending into one another; they also keep the reader from feeling as if he or she is abruptly jumping from point to point.


Words that can be used to show location:
above behind by near throughout
across below down off to the right
against beneath in back of onto under
along beside in front of on top of
among between inside outside
around beyond into over

Words that can be used to show time:
while first meanwhile soon then
after second today later next
at third tomorrow afterward as soon as
before now next week about when suddenly
during until yesterday finally

Word that can be used to compare two things:
likewise also while in the same way
like as similarly

Words that can be used to contrast two things:
but still although on the other hand
however yet otherwise even though

Words that can be used to emphasize a point:
again truly especially for this reason
to repeat in fact to emphasize

Words that can be used to conclude or summarize:
finally as a result to sum up in conclusion
lastly therefore all in all because

Words that can be used to add information:
again another for instance for example
also and moreover additionally
as well besides along with other
next finally in addition

Words that can be used to clarify:
that is for instance in other words

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Example of a Far Side Comic...



A/B Block:

Today:

Listening to your feedback, I will be giving you 2 daily prompts to write on. Please only answer ONE:

"An optimist thinks this is the best of all worlds, the pessimist fears the same to be true." Doug Larsin (Far Side)

What are your greatest fears?

1 page.

A reminder: Failure to complete these will result in a mandatory help session after-school. Please make sure that these are complete. I will be collecting these these this Friday. Please make sure that they are all complete. Almost all of them are on the blog.

I asked you to envision what the monster Grendel might look like. I asked you to base your creature on the clues given in the story and draw a picture of the beast. I will continue to post some of the best ones....

We continued to look at the movie Beowulf and Grendel. Do you think that the film captured the tone of the original story? Why or why not.

Friday we will be using the computers in the lib. to work on your hero quest papers. Please have all notes and early drafts available. I will be using this time to also work with those that are having a hard time. These are due Monday.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

D: Block

Same journal prompt as below (A and B Block)

Today we finished watching Beowulf and Grendel.

HW: Please work on your papers.

Brit Lit A/B Block:

Journal Prompt:

If you had a chance to go back in time, for 5 minutes, where would you choose to go and why? 2 pages

Reminder...journals are collected after every 10 assignments. I will be collecting them this Friday- so please make sure that you are up to date. Any student that is missing more than 2 assignments will be required to stay after for a mandatory extra help session next week. Please see me with any questions. We do these in class, so there is no excuse as to not having them done.

We finished Beowulf and took a quiz on your reading and terms/notes.

HW: Please continue to work on your paper. These are due Next Monday.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Brit Lit

Today:

Journal Prompt:
If you had three wishes, what would you wish for and why. Also, look 10 years out and describe what specifically these wishes would change.

A/B Block: We looked at examples of Kennings and finished Beowulf.

D: We defined symbolism, worked on dream representations, and found examples of kennings in the text.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Today in class:

A & B:

Journal Prompt:
"When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers." Oscar Wilde

Journals (1-10) will be collected and graded this Friday. Please make sure that you have them completed.

I assigned your paper. These will be due Monday. You will have the majority of Friday to work on these. Please have your 1st draft ready so I can come around and conference with those that need help. I have us signed up for the computers in the lib on Friday as well.

We finished our performance of the Hero's quest. B Block- not bad.... A block not so good. I expect much more from both going forward.

Today in class:

Word O' the Week:

Pendulous: (Pen-juh-luhs) adj. Hanging.

Think:

The average life span of a major league baseball: 7.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Today in class

A Block prompt:

Please describe the most vivid smell that you remember, without telling me what you are specifically describing. 1 page

B and D Block: "Curiosity is the key to creativity." Akio Morita 1 page

You act the scene:

15 minutes to storyboard your Hero's Quest group project
10 minutes fro scene prep
20 minutes to perform

I will try and share some video of these afterschool.

Have a great weekend.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Ever wonder what happened to all of our cranes?

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/08/21/magazine/mag-21Look-paper-cranes.html?ref=magazine

Brit Lit:

I used different journal prompts today:

A Block: Describe a moment of intense pain. This can be phsical, or if you are brave emotional.

B and D Block: Smell is your greatest memory. Use the memory of smell to write a 1 page descriptive piece.

All classes: Today we broke into groups and constructed a Hero's Quest following the notes that I have given to you. We will be trading these and performing them in front of the class this Friday.

HW: Please study the Hero's Journey and be ready for a quiz on the terms. You should be able to explain each in your own words.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

D Block:

Today:

We started with journal prompt #3

We had M complete the Beowulf chant challenge. He lost and was forced to sing the chant on pg 73.

We took a timeline quiz (20 events) from pgs 1-83.

HW: Please read pg 83-101. Please be ready for a quiz on these pages.
Please be ready to share a specific image from a recent dream. We will be using them as symbols in or class writing project Thursday.

Brit Lit Paper assignment

The Hero’s Quest
Over the last week, we have looked at the classical definition of a hero. Specifically, we discussed the research and findings of Joseph Campbell. He believed that mythology was our one single truth as humans, and these stories connected us all in a very deep and spiritual way.

In a 3-4 page traditional 5 paragraph typed paper, please take a popular movie, play, or novel, and examine how it fits Campbell’s classical definition. Please use the sheet that I gave you on this. You may pick any hero that you feel fits this mold, however, here are some suggestions that would work well: Pinocchio, Dumbo, Star Wars (1st 3), the Matrix, The Lion King, Indiana Jones, Batman, Harry Potter

Your paper needs to have a clear thesis and you must use solid examples in your body to answer the question.

Please use the following outline to help you formulate your ideas:

Opening Paragraph


Your Thesis:








Example: Many stories in literature are often influenced by stories and writers before them. In the movie Star Wars, we are told the story of a Young Luke Skywalker, and follow his quest into outerspace on his way to defining himself and finding the hero inside him. The movie Star Wars follows the tradional hero’s quest.


Main body paragraph 1:

Transition sentence:


Example 1

Example 2

Example 3


Main body paragraph 2:

Transition sentence:


Example 1

Example 2

Example 3


Main body paragraph 3:

Transition sentence:


Example 1

Example 2

Example 3


Conclusion:

Closing wrap up. Here you re-state your thesis statement.



Final Due:________________

A and B Block

Today we started with the following journal prompt:

"When something can be read without effort, great effort has gone into its writing." Enrique Poncela

We continued our great class discussions on The Hero's Quest. I gave you a 2nd handout detailing some of the things that we have been working on.

We will be writing a class story collectively on Thursday.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Word O' the Week:

Vamoose: (va-Moos) verb intr. To leave in a hurry. From Spanish vamos (let's go.)

Use in class for bonus points and dum-dums...

Think:

A duck's quack does not echo and no one knows why.

D Block:

Today in class we:

Journal #2:
"Everyone is necessarily the hero of his (her) own life story." John Barth

One page free-write.

We defined hero.

We defined the hero's quest.

We looked at the power of mythology.

I asked you to brainstorm on stories/movies that follow specific parts.

HW:
Read Beowulf: pgs 43-83. Please be ready for a quick quiz on your reading.

A Block:

Today:

We tracked down your journals and started the first 15 minutes doing a free-write.

I attempted to make the connection with what you wrote to the core concepts of heroic deeds.

We defined hero and examined modern day examples. We had a good talk about 911 and your feelings on the vents 10 years ago. I find it still hard to talk about.

I introduced you to the hero's quest, and passed out notes defining the concept.

I asked you to brainstorm on popular movies and stories that follow this mold. Please finish this for HW.

We looked at the power of mythology and had a discussion on why stories tied to these things have a deep lasting impact on us as humans.

These notes will be leading us towards our 1st paper assignment that I will assign this week.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Beowulf: The class movie...

The following videos are from D block today. Complete a scene from Beowulf in 32 sec. Given the short time they had to do these, great job! I know that I said that I would post the best one, but they were all fun to watch....so here they are:

Block D:

Today: We found our journals and worked on our first topic:

Journal #1: Describe a recent event where you did something that was not based on reward or punishment, but just because it was the right thing to do. I encourage you to write about the smallest of details. Random acts of kindness....

I introduced the concept of the hero.

We discussed your reading from last night.

I broke you into 4 groups and had you act out a section from your reading in costume. This was done with a narrator telling the tale.

You can read Beowulf fast, but it is impossible to comprehend this story quickly. Take your time in your study. Remember: Fine restaurant, not McDonald's. Chew your classical works slow and appreciate all of the taste. :-)

Have a great HW free weekend!

Block A + B



Today:






We were introduced to journals. I went over how we plan on writing everyday.






Journal #1: If you were a superhero and had one power, what would it be. Please describe specifically how you would use it. 1 pg.






We tried to defined the role of a hero. We looked at the classical definition, as well as the modern incarnation.






I introduced Beowulf and the work of J. Campbell. We will be learning about the Hero's Quest next week and taking a look at some popular modern movies and books that were directly influenced by his books.


Have a great weekend Tantasqua.


Q6


Thursday, September 8, 2011

DBlock:

http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael/noa/audio.htm

Some audio files to check out....

Brit Lit:

Today in class:

A and B Block took a quiz on their HW reading (pgs. 2-14) in the Anthology.

D Block discussed the introduction to Seamus Heaney's Beowulf.

We defined the following terms:
Caesura
Kenning
Epic Poem

I broke you into small groups and had you each come up with 10 original Kenning's. We then swapped and each group took time to guess the Kenning...

Intro to Beowulf.

Intro to J. Cambell and the Hero's Quest notes.

Exampe of Early Clay Tablet:



Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Brit Lit

Today:




We talked about the oral tradition of storytelling.



We looked at the evolution of recording stories. We went from stones, to cave paintings, to the printing press....



We played a quick game of Telephone to show what happens to a story after it is passed around. We speculated that many of these same problems happened with the early stories that we are about to read.



We talked about:

The "value" of a good story

Using stories to explain the unknown

Using them to entertain

Using them to teach



Earliest stories recorded the following:



Creation stories/religious beliefs

Explaining natural events, like the sun rising, etc.

War/hero stories of valor

Recipes



HW: Read pgs 2-14 in your anthology. Three question quiz Thursday.



Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Word O' the Week:

Garrulous: Adj. (GAR-uh-Luhs)  A blabbermouth, one prone to rambling.

Think:

Donald Duck's middle name is Fauntleroy.

Welcome!

Welcome!  We made it past our 1st day.  It was nice to meet you all today and I look forward to working with you this year. 

Friday, June 24, 2011

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Summer


Have a safe and enjoyable Summer. See you in the Fall :-)

Friday, June 17, 2011

World of Shakespeare:

The World of Shakespeare: Final Exam Review Sheet

Your final exam will ask you to answer (5 of 7 CP) 7 of 7 H) questions based on the plays and sonnets that we read in this course. To assist you in remembering, you may bring in one sheet of notes to remind you of specific plays and characters.

We read the following: Othello, Hamlet, The 12th Night, The Taming of the Shrew,) and the sonnets.

The following prompts are possible questions to consider (hint, hint):

Examine the relationship in terms of a timeline between Desdemona and Othello. Please make sure to examine the end of their relationship, and how specifically Othello believes she has not been faithful.


Please read the first page of each play. How is the opening in each play important to the story? Does it bring you in and make you interested? How? Please have specific examples from at least 3 plays.

Talk about what makes a Shakespearian tragedy. Please examine one tragedy in your study group and discuss how it fits.

Please define the following literary devices that Shakespeare uses:
Alliteration, simile, metaphor, reversed word, reversed sentence construction, classical allusion, personification, inflection, stress, aside, using language to show class and status in the play. Sonnet

Character can be defined by how one handles power. Look at 3 characters and make a list how each handles power.

Discuss the use of comedy in his plays. What ideas and specific plays hold up well and still make us laugh. Please use specific scenes in your discussions.

Please review important information on Shakespeare. Please work to define what we know about him. If you had to write his obituary, what would you list about his life?

Define a Shakespearian Sonnet. What did his sonnets reveal about him that his plays may not have? Pick a sonnet and be familiar enough with it that you could reference it in an answer.

Soph Lit:

Questions from the 4 pieces of Literature we read:
1. George Orwell’s Animal Farm
2. J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye
3. William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
4. William Golding’s Lord of the Flies


POETRY/ Lit. Terms:

Allusion –
Iambic Pentameter –
Sonnet -
Rhyming Couplets –
Metaphor –
Simile –


READING COMPREHENSION:

Protagonist
Antagonist
Theme
Plot
Setting
Climax
Characterization
Point of View – (1st person, 3rd person, Omniscient)
Symbolism
Allegory
Satire

Shakespeare:

Reversed Word
Reversed Thought
Metaphor
Simile
Personification
Alliteration

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Today:

We worked on finding the meaning of a word by the context. I asked you to do this for 14 words from Midsummer.

We took a trip to the aud. to try this scene on stage. We discussed blocking and stage movement.

We took a quiz on Act 1 +2

Brit Lit:

Today: we reviewed Jane Eyre by watching the movie version.

HW: Please begin looking over the novel for your essay question this Friday in class.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Brit Lit:

Today:

We talked about the 10 year gap in the novel. What do you think happened during this time? Why not include it?

We then broke into three groups to script a fictional scene that happens within this time.

We will perform them wed.

Begin to review for the final for HW.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Soph Lit:

Today:

We acted/finished Act 2.

I went over 7 examples of launguage tricks that Will S. uses. I asked you to find an example of each with a partner.

These terms are on the final, so please review them and do not loose the sheet.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We reviewed the week ahead and talked about the final.

I broke you into groups and had you examine Jane in a +/- timeline. We will use these as we attempt to understand her relationship with Mr. Rochester.

Each group presented their findings.

I assigned ch 11-15 and gave you a quiz on the reading. If you took these home to complete, please make sure that you pass these in Tuesday.