Much Ado About Nothing Cartoon

A neat animation about the play that we are about to read. This may help you in understanding the plot.

http://www.stratfordfestival.ca/education/activities/muchado/06_animation/index.html

Brit Lit:

Today we finished Act 2.

We looked at how the play is following a tragedy.

Block D took a quiz on Act 2

We caught up on our notes.

I gave a 2nd chance to those that have not recited their 10 Macbeth lines. Please be reminded that this counts as a test grade. You will continue to loose 10 points for each day late.

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

You presented your Sonnet Projects.

If you are not attending the play Macbeth, you are responsible for completing the comparison writing assignment. Anyone not attending, please report to the Caf and sign in with the sub on Tues.

Word O' the Week:

Avid: Adj. 1. Enthusiastic 2. Greedy.

Think:

The original flavor of the Twinkie was banana until there was a banana shortage during WWII.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We recited the lines from Macbeth that were due today. Please remember that you loose 10 points for each day present in school, but not ready.

We watched the Polanski ver. of Macbeth and talked about how well the film holds up to the play. Did you notice anything taken out?

HW: Learn lines if you were not ready to go today.

Wos:

Today:

You had 2 options in class today:

1. Use this time to use the school technology to complete your Sonnet projects.
2. Work on a mad lib assignment for Sonnet 130.

We shared these at the end of class.

Awards for our Shakespeare Olympic Games are as follows:

1st Place, winning the sonnet and pinky competitions: JG

Honorable mention: MH

Great job yesterday. I hope it is one of the memories that you hold from high school :-)

Brit Lit:

Today:

We took a quiz on the end of act 1. Reminder: you may continue to use the notes and summaries that I give on every quiz. There is little excuse not to receive an A on EVERY Macbeth quiz.

I collected your journals 1-10. Reminder: these count as a paper grade.

We acted out The Death of Duncan with fake blood and light sabers.

Why does Shakespeare not show us the most powerful scenes in his plays?

I will try and post pictures.

World of Shakespeare:

Today....

1st Annual Shakespeare Olympic Games
To be held on the first unexpectedly warm school day…


Events:

Superior Spring Sonnet. Find a quiet spot outside to sit and write a sonnet that draws inspiration from the fabulous weather that we are having.

Must include the following that we have discussed:
Iambic Pentameter with marked stressed and unstressed syllables
14 Lines
ABAB CDCD EFEF GG with end lines marked
Last two lines answer a question, or is used as a “power chord”



Pinky Sword Fight. Imagine that your pinky finger is a four foot, 45 lbs. sword. But together a group sword fight that shows both the weight and size of your sword in an epic battle from Hamlet, or another play of your choosing.



3. Epic Line battle. FIGHT! Race to your line, read it with power and emotion and pass it to the next student. Repeat. First group to the finish line reading all lines wins the round.



Winners will be announced for each round. Student(s) with the most awards, wins a prize.

Brit Lit:

Today: Journal prompt #9: Describe a moment when someone close to you convinced you to do something that you knew in your heart was wrong. 1 page.

Connection: We looked at how Lady Macbeth convinces her mighty warrior husband to kill.

We finished act 1 and completed our notes on the act.

Remember: this acts as the exposition in a tragedy.

HW: Macbeth ten lines- due Friday. This will count as a test grade.

Wos:

Today:

We started class reading two comical poems: One by a fictitious Anne Hathaway, and the other by comic Billy Collins.

We each contribute a verse going around the room with 5 original sonnets.

We continued sharing the sonnet that each of you selected.

HW: Please continue to enjoy the spectacular weather and work on your Sonnet Projects. These are due this Monday.

A Comedy Sonnet

Sonnet - Billy Collins

All we need is fourteen lines, well, thirteen now,
and after this one just a dozen
to launch a little ship on love's storm-tossed seas,
then only ten more left like rows of beans.
How easily it goes unless you get Elizabethan
and insist the iambic bongos must be played
and rhymes positioned at the ends of lines,
one for every station of the cross.
But hang on here wile we make the turn
into the final six where all will be resolved,
where longing and heartache will find an end,
where Laura will tell Petrarch to put down his pen,
take off those crazy medieval tights,
blow out the lights, and come at last to bed.

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

I broke you into small groups and asked you to discuss what each of your sonnet is about.

I tasked you with making a performance out of one of the poems.

We performed these in class.

HW: Please continue to work on your Sonnet Movie Project. The due date has been extended to Monday.

Brit Lit:

No class today due to MCAS.

HW: Please learn your 10 lines. Due Friday!

Brit Lit:

Today:

We took a quiz on Macbeth Act 1+notes.

We finished acting act 1

HW: I gave you you 10 lines to memorize. These are due Friday.

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more.
It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

We took notes on the Sonnets.

We finished sharing your selected sonnet on the mic in front of class.

We viewed a few more examples of the Sonnet movie project. Please see me with any questions.

HW: Please work on your projects. They count as a paper grade and remain due this Friday.

Word O' the Week:

Welkin: (Wel-kin) Noun. The vault of heaven, firmament; the sky.

Sonnet Project example

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

Journal Prompt: Lost love- share your feeling on love lost. 1 page.

We watched the final scene from Hamlet. Is Mel Gibson the best Hamlet?

We shared a sonnet in front of the class and explained why specifically you selected it.

We took notes on what makes a Shakespearean Sonnet: Iambic Pentameter, 14 lines, ABABCDCDEFEFGG

We did tried doing some exercises that illustrate the iambic beat. Hopefully you heard the heartbeat within your selected poem.


The Sonnet Movie Project


Introduction:
As we have been discussing in class, Shakespeare’s sonnets revealed a much deeper and complex picture of his heart. For your next project, you will need to visualize the feeling and emotion in the sonnet.

Procedure:
Pick a sonnet that you connect with, or just like. It will be easier if you pick one that holds a special connection to you specifically. If not, that is ok- just try and have one that you have feeling towards.

Next, you are to make a visual representation of the images and feelings in the sonnet. Here are some suggestions:

A short film:
This needs to be 3 minutes long. Please narrate your sonnet over the footage. The footage and images in the movie must tie in with the sonnet.

Powerpoint/slideshow:
For each of the 14 lines, please pick an image that expresses the feeling or imagery of the line. Please use background music to score these emotions as well.



Painting/Drawing:
Draw an emotional representation for each of the 14 lines. You will need to read your sonnet to the class, and hold up each image.

You will be graded on the following rubric:

You successfully understood the poem……………………30 points
You had a correct visual representation for each of the 14 lines
………30 points
You presented it live in front of the class…………………..40 points

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

We supported our fellow classmates, and attended the dress rehearsal for Lost in Yonkers.

HW reminder: Please print out/or copy a Shakespearean sonnet. Please make sure that you pick one that you have a personal connection to.

Brit Lit:

Today C Block:

We worked on Shakespearean insults. I had you combine three insults and then hurl them at another student. I told you that Shakespeare can indeed be fun...

We acted Act1, sc2 complete with fake blood. A- sorry for the stain :-)

We took a quiz on my intro notes from yesterday.

D Block:
We took a quiz on my intro notes.

We watched a bit of Shakespeare in Love to help you visualize some of the notes.

Pie in Hamlet:

http://gizmodo.com/5893192/if-you-read-pi-long-enough-youll-find-hamlet

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

We took the Hamlet exam
I collected your scripts. Please pass in asap.

HW: Please find a Shakespeare Sonnet that you like and have it for class Friday. Please be ready to share what you liked about the poem.

Brit Lit:

Journal prompt #8:
Look at the picture found on pg 152 in your anthology. Please write a one pg story based on the clues from the painting. Be creative.

We finished our notes on Shakespeare, and I passed out Macbeth.

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

We discovered a question from the review game that was not correct. Because of this, we extended the review game and finished the Gibson version in class. The test was rescheduled to Wed. Please make sure that you are ready for it.

I will also be collecting your plays, so please have them with you.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We took notes on the English Renaissance 1485-1625.

We read pgs 180-201.

Shakespeare:

Today:

I broke you into groups and had you work on review questions for the test.

We played the review game: Who Wants to Win a Pizza Party.

HW: Please be ready for the test on Tuesday.

Brit Lit:

Today:

I asked you to pick one of the 6 essay prompts on pgs 150-151. I asked for 2 pages.

Shakespeare:

Today:

We reviewed act 5 and took a quiz. Please see me if you were absent and need to make it up.

We watched the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode that depicted a bad 1968 BW German version of the play. It was nice to see you laughing.

We will be reviewing on Monday, and taking the Hamlet exam Tuesday. Please use the weekend to review the play and ready yourself for the test.

Have a nice weekend.

Brit Lit

Today:

We took a quiz on The Canterbury Tales. Please see me to make it up if you were absent.

We defined a morality play, and acted out the play Everyman.

I collected your pilgrimage assignments.

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

Journal Prompt: Explain how The Lion King follows the play thus far. 1-2 pages.

We took a quiz on act 4.

We defined the final moment of suspense and discussed what need to be resolved in act 5.

I passed back the bulk of your assignments.

HW: Please finish act 5. As always, please be ready to take a quiz.

What happened to the cranes that we made for Japan?

Can you see the ones that you folded?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJcNsRQQZzU&feature=youtu.be&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRonuK7OZKXonjHpfsX54u4rW6Gg38431UFwdcjKPmjr1YIESsV0dvycMRAVFZl5nQ1KGeicaIVD7uBPDke9SjPqjaDUZplX&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Kudos Joel

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/03/tantasqua_student_joel_kass_cr.html

Hamlet set design

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-144zI1Hwe4&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Shakespeare:

Journal Prompt:

Act 4: 7 scenes, 7 sets. Explain or draw, how you would design a modern set to allow for 7 scenes of different locations. Your set should allow for the action to have a speedy continuous flow.

Shakespeare:

Today:

We went down to the aud. to perform the last 2 scenes.

I broke you into small groups and had you detail how the play fits a Shakespearean Tragedy.

We talked about Act 4 and looked at O's crazy scene.

I collected any late papers.

Quiz on 4 if there was time.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We started with a journal Prompt: A picture is worth 1,000 words. I asked you to find a picture from a magazine and share it with another student. You then had to write a 250 word min. story. We shared these.

I answered questions on your pilgrimage assignment.

We looked at A Knights Tale.

HW: Work on the first draft of you pilgrimage assignment.

Shakespeare:

Today:

Journal prompt: Find a random picture in a magazine. Pass this picture to another student. Your task: insert how your object could be used in the start of Act 4. These can be crazy. 2 page min.

We shared your writing.

I introduced you to Hamlet, the video game on ios. If you are bored, a good Shakespeare related game to play. If I can get the mirror function working, we will play a few rounds this Friday. Mental note to self: make a video game based on play....

We were missing a few students in the last two groups. We will try to perform these last 2 scenes Tuesday. Sorry that we did not work them in on Friday. I always schedule too much...

I collected your papers. Please email it to me by 3:00 pm today to receive full credit. Papers after this point are 10 points off each late day.

We defined a Shakespearean Tragedy.

We looked at Act 4.

HW: Please finish act 4 for HW.

Brit Lit:

C Block:

No computers available till Tuesday. We will be writing our final drafts then. Sorry- it is the best that I can do...

I broke you into small groups and asked you to make a character sketch of the pilgrim that you were assigned today.

I assigned the Pilgrimage assignment, and we worked on the first 2 parts.

D Block: A Knight's Tale

Shakespeare:

Today:

We broke into small groups and blocked a scene with full stage directions.

We went down and tried to perform these on stage.

HW: Hamlet paper is due Monday.

Brit Lit:

We read The Canterbury Tales.

We began talking about your pilgrimage 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 the 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:_________

Shakespeare:

Today:

We started class looking at blocking and stage direction. We discussed three different stage directions for Ophelia in 4.5

We looked at the missing words in Act 4, sc 1.

We discussed the importance of movement on stage.

I broke you into teams of 4 and had you block a scene, using the abriviations that we covered.

We went down to the stage and tried performing these with your notes.

Brit Lit:

Hear Middle English spoken here (MP3):
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael/noa/audio.htm

Better than my version in class.... :-(

Canterbury Tales Music Video for Brit Lit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBa5nN_JyPk&feature=youtu.be&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Brit Lit:

Today in class:  We finished looking at how the story Beowulf fits the Hero's quest.  Journal Prompt:  Explain how the story follows the hero's quest.

We began Canterbury Tales.

WOS:

Today:

Journal Prompt:  Make a Facebook page for one of the main characters in the play.  20 posts.  Be creative.

We took Quiz #3 on act 3.

We had a "book talk" on the events of act 3.

I assigned your Hamlet Grief Paper (due Friday):
Hamlet: Grief Session

Directions: You are a psychiatrist and have begun counseling a new patient recently. In a 250 word, one page typed paper, please file a report on your findings. Please use specific examples from Acts 1-4 to support you end recommendations. You are required to look at all of his soliloquies and dialogue, which should be used as direct conversations given in his therapy sessions.
Please follow the following rubric:



1.) Start with an opening paragraph which needs to state your overall opinion of Hamlet’s mental state. 20 points



2.) In your body, please detail 4 examples which support your thesis.

40 points



3.) Please end with a final paragraph restating your diagnosis. Please end your report with your recommendations. 20 points



4.) Paper is typed, with proper grammar and punctuation 20 points

Brit Lit:

Today:

We watched Beowulf the movie and I asked you to complete the following journal prompt:

Please examine 10 examples that show the story Beowulf follows the hero's quest. Please be detailed in your explanation of events.

World of Shakespeare:

Today:
We watched some of the Mel Gibson version of the play. We had a good class discussion on whether Hamlet is crazy, or faking it for attention. We talked about the Mel Gibson portrayal of Hamlet.

We went over the 7 stages of grief. I broke you into groups of 4 and asked you to give a line that relates to each of the stages.

I gave anyone that has not recited their lines the opportunity to complete the assignment during the last 5 min.

HW: Please read/finish act 3. Expect a quiz Tuesday.

Word O' the Week:

Nonet: (no-net) Noun. A combination of 9 instruments or voices.

Brit Lit:

Today:

I introduced you to how we will use peer editing in class, and placed your with a partner. We worked on making your writing "sparkle" by using strong transitional words and phrases. Often is the new all in all.... makes you sound wicked smart.

We rolled into break with a small reward for your diligent work this week- Beowulf. I asked you to list how the story follows the Hero's Quest.

HW: Have a wonderful vacation!

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

I introduced the controversial research behind what is known as the Mozart effect:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1281386/pdf/0940170.pdf

We listened to 10 min of Mozart music, and then I gave you 10 min to study immediately after. Did it work?

Your To be, or not to be lines were due today. If you were not ready, please be reminded that you will go first thing Monday. You loose 10 points for each school day late with the assignment.

We ended the week/class with scenes from Mel Gibson's version of Hamlet. How do you think he pulled off the "Hamlet crazy?"

HW: Have a restful vacation!

Brit Lit:

Today:

We went to the computer lab and completed your first draft. Please finish your draft for HW if you did not do so in class.

We will be working on peer edits in class on Friday- so please make sure that you have your first draft printed out and ready to go.

HW: Please finish reading Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in your Anthology for HW.

To snooze, to sleep—
To sleep, perhaps too long. Ay, there’s the problem,
For in oversleeping what events may come about
When we are hiding from the alarm’s harsh call
Must make us stop and think.
That’s the idea
That makes disaster of sleeping in.
For who really wants to face the 6 a.m. sun,
The first period’s quiz,
The morning person’s obnoxious cheeriness,
The disappointment in decaffeinated coffee,
The dance class’s early rehearsals,
The overly chipper song of the early bird,
And the cold looks
That early-risers send in my late-sleeping direction,
When they too may sleep in
On weekends free from tribulations?
Who would heed the alarm’s early call,
To squint and yawn through the first hours of the day,
But that the horror that something may be missed while dozing,
The unknown events that have occurred which
The gossips discuss
While we stand in a confused daze,
Wishing we had risen on time
Instead of seeking those futile thirty minutes?
Thus the chance of missing out does make early risers of us all,
And thus the bliss of sleeping in
Is tainted by eye-opening thoughts of lost news,
And peaceful moments of dreams and sleep
With this regard their paths are cut short
And lose the dark in favor of the harsh light.

Early Hamlet

Brit Lit:

We began with journal prompt #2.

We worked on your paper outline.

We went to the computer lab to write your paper.

HW: Please work on the 1st draft of your paper. These are due Friday.

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

We began with journal prompt #2.

We broke up into small groups and converted Hamlet's To Be Or Not To Be.

We finally made time to take the quiz on act 2.

HW: Please study your lines for Friday. Please study the terms given on Monday for a brief quiz Thursday.

Journal Prompt #2

Please describe a moment in your life when you were at your all time lowest point. 1pg.

Today:

We began using your journals for writing prompts:

#1 What is the craziest thing that you, or someone that you know, has done for love. 1 page free write.

We defined Medieval Romance. Please get the notes from me or another student in class if your were absent.

We read the first 1/2 of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

I passed out field trip forms for Macbeth: March 27. $5

Quiz #2 on Act 2

We collected your journals from the writing center. I explained the journal prompts.

Journal Prompt #1: What is the craziest thing that you or someone you know, has done for love. 1 page

We acted out act 3

I passed out a packet on Hamlet and assigned it for HW.

Quiz on terms this Thursday. Memorize lines for this Fri.

Word O' the Week:

Nous: (noos) Noun. Mind, intellect.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We talked about the movies that you selected for your paper and worked on an outline. We will be writing these in the computer lab this Wed and Thursday.

We did the following assignment:

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:



Part 2: The Things They Carry….
Describe in detail 5 items that are on them right now. Please use detailed description. Do not just say it is a pen. Describe it in as much detail as you can.

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 4: Perform these in front of the class J

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

We looked at the special effects of Shakespeare's day: his words. We defined 8 terms. Please study these for a quiz this Wed.

I collected your take home quizzes from Friday.

I gave your a short quiz on Act 2

We looked at the To be, or not to be lines. Please learn the lines in bold for this Friday.

We read/acted Act III.

C+D

Today:

We went over the characteristics of The Hero's Quest.

I broke you into small groups and asked you to brainstorm on a movie or book that follows this mold.

I gave you your first paper assignment:
Name:_______________________ Block:____________


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 outer space on his way to defining himself and finding the hero inside him. The movie Star Wars follows the traditional 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:________________

B Block:

Today:

We began looking at Act 1+2 in Hamlet.
We worked on Shakespearean Insults
I asked you to review act 1+2 and be ready for a quiz Friday.