Brit Lit:

A Block:  Journal Prompt:  Please use your notes on the hero's quest and describe in detail how the movie/full story of Beowulf follows it.  You may make a list, just be sure to describe each in detail.  Please aim for 10 of the 12.

We watched the animated version of Beowulf.

C Block:  Demonstrating what we have been talking about with the oral tradition, I told my ghost story from when I was teacher in Ireland. 

HW:  Please make sure you have finished Beowulf for Monday.

Brit Lit:

Yesterday (Wed.):  Journal Prompt:  Please convert the Ballad that you brought in into a story.  Use new language to tell the story- not the lyrics.                  1/2 Page

We started the Ballad of You assignment where to interviewed a member of class and then wrote a detailed ballad about their life and who they are.

We read Sir Partick Spens (set to a phat drum beat)
We read Get Up and Bar the Door (Blues version)

Today:

Journal Prompt:  Write from the point of view of an animal?  Your story can be about anything, just make sure that it is told from the perspective of an animal.   1/2 page

We finished the Ballad of You assignment.  Today we completed our interview, described the things they carry, and wrote a 25-30 line ballad.

We used the raven puppet and did the Twa Corbies. 

I played Bob Dylan, Johhny Cash and a random old guy performing Barbara Allan.

C Block Supplemental learning:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/poetry/seamus-heaney/

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal Prompt:  If you could pick 3 super hero type powers, what would you pick and why?  How would you use each of your powers?                       1 page

We finished the final draft of your paper and passed them in.

C Block:  We played three strikes and you quiz.  We avoided a quiz on your reading and won the night of for Beowulf.

HW:  Please take your ballad and convert it to a similar Anglo-Saxon style.  Please see pg 71 for a model.  For each line, please break two separate ideas using a caesura, or pause in the middle.  Try to limit each part to no more than 4 syllables.  You will need to take out and rewrite the story in your ballad to make this work.  Please include at least one new kenning.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal Prompt:  Please describe what you did over vacation.  1/2 page

We defined Kennings, alliteration.

C Block found 5 kenning examples from Beowulf, and two examples of alliteration.

We did a peer edit on your first draft. 

We went over transitional words and phrases and we worked these into your draft.

HW:  Find a Ballad- a song that tells a story.

C Block:  Read to pg 133.  Expect a quiz.

Brit Lit:

Today:

D Block:
 Journal Prompt:  Revenge can indeed be sweet.  Like Grendel's Mom, please describe a time when you got revenge.  Was is sweet?  If you could do it again, would you?  Why?      1 page

We reviewed pgs 50-100.  Per our deal, no vacation HW.

We finished and passed in your first draft.  Final is due Tuesday after vacation.

A+B Block:  We finished our 1st draft and passed it in.  Final is due Tuesday after break.


Have a great vacation!  Be safe and make good choices.  See you on the flip side.

Brit Lit:

Today we wrote the first draft of your paper.  A few general reminders:

1st draft is due Friday.  It does not need to be perfect.  We will be working on revising these the Monday that we get back.

The requirement is 4-5 pages.  Please make sure you cover 10 of the 12 stages that we went over.  For each, begin by defining the stage, followed by how your movie specifically connects.

Final copy due Tuesday after vacation.

D Block HW:  Please read to pg 100 for tonight.

Brit. Lit.:

Yesterday (Tuesday)
We used the time to work on the outline for your paper.

Today: 
We went over specifics on how to write this paper.  I answered any questions and offered help.  Most of the class was spent in the computer lab writing your first draft.  First draft is due Friday at the end of class.

Brit Lit.:

Today
Journal Prompt #3:
Please describe in detail your greatest fear. Have you ever tried to face it?  Why or why not?  If you have, please describe it.  If you have not, please explain why.        1/2 page

I assigned your paper:

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 4-5 page 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, The Wizard of Oz, Fight Club, Batman Begins, Dumbo, Star Wars (1^st 3), the Matrix, The Lion King, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, The Twilight Series, The Lord of the Rings Series, The Narnia Movies, Alice in Wonderland.

 

Your paper needs to have a clear thesis (a statement that clearly states what you will prove) and you must use solid examples in your body to back up your thesis.

 

We reviewed your reading HW.

 

We used the stages of the Hero's Quest and you made an original skit in small groups.  We performed these in class.

Brit LIt:

Today:

We started with
 Journal Prompt #2:  Please consider fear.  What makes you scared?  Please describe a moment when you were scared for fun.                                                                                             1/2 page

We finished the Finding Joe Doc.

D Block:  Hear Seamus reading Beowulf:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=beowulf%20reading%20seamus&qs=n&form=QBVR&pq=beowulf%20reading%20seamus&sc=0-19&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&mid=015A67F9975654BB205C015A67F9975654BB205C    

A+ B Block Finish Beowulf in your anthology.

We continued talking about The Hero's Quest.

D Block: Here is what I was referencing in class today.  Please check it out if you are a fan:
http://www.tolkienbeowulf.com/           

Brit Lit.

Today:

We watched the first part of the documentary on J. Campbell- Finding Joe.
This can be viewed here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YjpNMYCEN8

A/B Block- Please read pgs 23-27 in your Anthology.
C Block- Please read the introduction pages to Beowulf.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We started with
journal prompt #1:  What in your opinion makes a person a hero?  Who are yours?  Who do you consider modern hero and why?  Please end with describing a time that you were heroic?                                                                             1 page

We took a quiz on your reading.

We began our look at the Hero's Quest.

HW:  Please watch a movie that you feel might follow these steps (most action movies do.)  Suggestions:

Rocky, Finding Nemo, Dumbo, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Happy Gilmore, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Jaws.

Brit Lit

Today:

We looked at the origin of stories.

We defined and discussed the oral tradition.

Telephone: I passed around a fictional story about Mr. Lucas and we retold it across the class.  We agreed that stories lose detail and change if not written down.

I gave you 20 minutes to write a creation story.  Must be 1 page and include:
Explain the seasons, day/night, life/death, right/wrong, how the world came to be.

We read The Seafarer and looked at how pagan and Christian beliefs merged.  We also defined it as a Lyric poem.

HW:  Please read pgs 2-14.  We will have a 5 question quiz on Friday- Start strong!

Brit Lit:

Welcome to my blog! 

Please enter your email at the top if you wish to receive auto updates.  You might also wish to bookmark it.  It is a great resource if you miss school or need clarification on assignments.

I look forward to working with you all this year!  Have fun in the blizzard!

The End

Best of luck to you all.  I greatly enjoyed our time together.

Final Assignment:

Portfolio Assessment

For your final assignment, I will ask you to reflect back on the work that we did together.  A portfolio allows you the opportunity to think about what you have done, what you have learned, and how you may have changed through the process.  A completed portfolio consists of the following four parts:

 

Part I:  Journal Prompts  Please select 3 out of the 30 journal prompts that you are most proud of.  For each one, please type out and write a 3-5 sentence reflection piece as to why the prompts that you selected were meaningful.

Part II:  Selected Assignment  Please select one assignment that you are the most proud of from  your writing folder and include it in your portfolio.  Please include a 3-5 sentence reflective piece commenting on:

1.        What did you learn from this assignment?

2.       What did you find most challenging in this assignment?

3.       If you could do this again, what specifically could you improve on?

Part III:  Letter to Students  Please write a one page letter to future students taking this class.  Please give advice on what to expect from me as a teacher, as well as your comments on the activities and assignments that we did in class.  Please make reference to specific assignments and novels in your discussion.

Part IV:  Letter to Yourself  Please write a letter to yourself.  In this letter, please comment on specific areas that you have improved upon while taking this course.  Think about thoughts and feeling that you have had while reading and writing in this class.  Please try and give specific evidence to back up your statements.  You should aim to cover at least three areas of improvement, with three specific examples.  Please also feel free to comment on how you have changed as a person through assignments and class discussions.

 

Please include all parts along with this assignment sheet in a manila folder, with your name, date and class clearly marked on the front.  If you do not have one easily available, please see me.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

I gave your writing folders and journals back.

We went over the req. for your portfolio assessment.

We watched the rest of the Oprah special on Elie W. and Night.

We talked about the use of the word night in the novel.

HW: Study for vocab quiz.  Finish book.  Work on final prep.

Shakespeare:

Today:

Journal Prompt:  Write a back story for Madame Overdone.  Exactly 32 words.  Force yourself to edit and choose your words carefully.

We took a cartoon quiz on act 4.

HW:  Finish act 4.  Play for Tuesday.

Friday- writing from you unconscious mind....

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

We read pgs 3-22. 

We took a quiz on these pages.

I gave you your vocab #1 for Night.

HW:  Please define your vocab words.  Read pgs. 23-40

Shakespeare:

Today:

Please break into groups of 5-6.  Take time in your group to review Act I+II.  Please pick 10 main plot points.  In your group, please decide how to put these to gather as a 3 min. skit.  Please elect one person to play 3 songs that can be used to add to any parts of your skit.

HW:  Please read act 3 sc 1-2.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

We started the novel Night

I passed out 5 opening questions.  We shared your responses and had a class discussion.

I passed out the novel.

We went over the character list.

We began reading the book.

Shakespeare:

Today:

Journal Prompt #21:
Describe three examples of hypocrisy that you have seen in your life.  How did these make you feel?  Please describe one time when you, yourself, were a hypocrite.                1 page

We finished our Shakespeare Allusions.

HW:  Please make sure that you have read thru act 2.

Comp. Lit. II:

We finished the documentary Shakespeare Behind Bars.  Do you think that you should be provided experiences like this in prison?  Can Shakespeare change a life?

Shakespeare:

Today:

We shared your pop culture allusions in class.  Great job.  We will finish these Friday.

HW:  Please finish act 2.

Comp. Lit. II

We took the test on the Tempest.

Shakespeare:

Today:

Dan started class with a guitar solo. (video to follow)

We again defined Allusion.

We looked at both a modern and classic allusion:

First we watched a clip from Monty Python- Measure for Measure under water

Then we read a poem based on a future character Mariana by Tennyson

I asked you to pick any character, major or minor and write a poem from their perspective.  One line had to have come from a line in a play. Min req. 14 lines.

We shared a few great ones.

We read act 2, sc 3 to the point where Angelo makes his proposition to Isabella.  We also discussed briefly how creepy this is and why people were so fearful of open sexuality.

HW:  Please find any Shakespeare allusion.  We will share these Thursday and Friday.  They should be under 3 minutes in length.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

We took notes on the Tempest acts 2-5.  You may use these on the test Wed.

We played a Jeopardy review game for the play.

HW:  Study for your test.  Review notes/characters/plot.

Shakespeare:

Today:

We took a quiz on act 1

I passed out 15 virtue quotes from Measure for Measure.  In small groups you had to construct a fable/children story for two and present it to the class.

We reviewed act 1

HW Act 2 sc 1-2

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

We finished The Tempest

We watched the documentary, Shakespeare Behind Bars.

Shakespeare:

Today:

We finished presenting the sonnet projects.

I passed out our final play: Measure for Measure

Please finish act 1 for HW.

Comp. Lit. II

Today:

B block:  We took on Mr. Metz's class in the holiday challenge.  We lost a close game.

We finished the Tempest C Block.

Shakespeare:

Today we presented more of you sonnet projects.  We will finish these when we get back.

No HW!  Enjoy your time off and spend time with those that you love.

Comp. Lit. II:

We finished acts III-IV

I collected your journals 21-30. 

C Block made Shakespeare snowflakes.

Shakespeare:

Today:

We watched the last groups movie project

We decided what to do with the money raised.

We began to present your sonnet projects.

We did peer evaluations for each.

FLM

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

Journal #30:  Write a journal from the point of view of the monster Caliban.  Explore his anger, his feelings, and his reaction to the events thus far.  +5 if you try and draw him.   1 pg.

We did Shadow Shakespeare.  One person read the line, one acted it out.  Like a shadow.

We finished act 2.

Shakespeare:

Today:

I collected you sonnet comparisons.

We went over the basics for our Film Festival.  We agreed to dress up and bring in treats.  We will accept donations and give money to support a local family that is in need over the holidays.  Good food leads to big donations!

All groups need to have a clean version on either dvd or as a file on a flash drive.  Please preview it.  It should be perfect with no issues.

I can't wait for you all to showcase your appreciation and understanding of Shakespeare!

We went to the computer lab and worked on your Sonnet projects.  These are due on Monday.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

Journal prompt #29:  Do you believe in love at first sight?  Do you believe in fate?  Please explain your experience with both.  H= 1 pg   CP/CPA= 1/2 pg.

We covered Act 2 sc1-3.

We elected a rep to work a sound effect board to use sound effects that added comedy to the scene.  After all, this is a tragic comedy, right?

We laughed, learned and had fun reading words 430 years old.  I told you so.....

Shakespeare:

Today:

We looked at the sonnet based on a problem, followed by a solution.  You each thought about a problem on your mind and wrote an original sonnet.

We looked at Sonnet 130 (WS) vs. Sonnet 15 (E. Spenser)  One pg writing prompt comparing their portrayal of women for HW

We looked at how comedy can be used in Sonnets.  We looked at a sonnet making fun of the rules by Billy Collins.

We spent 30 minutes working on your sonnet project.  You will have the entire class on Thursday.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

We used costumes to bring the play and your involvement to life.

We reviewed act 1.

We took a word bank quiz on act 1.

We acted out act 2, sc1-2.

Shakespeare:

Today:

We warmed up with an activity called You Act the Sonnet.  You had to "show" a sonnet as a group with no words.

I showed a few more past examples of the sonnet project.

I shared 4 of my favorite sonnets.

Wed + Thursday will be work days on you project.

Friday is the film fest!

Continue to bring in your secret santa gifts.

Comp. Lit II:

Today:

Why Shakespeare?  We watched a 15 minute video filed with famous actors explaining why the Bard is important to them

We looked at inflection and stress.  You each picked a line from act 1 and I gave each row a challenge.  We proved that to understand Shakespeare, you only need to understand the emotion of the line.

We made either snowflakes, or poems, and filled them with 15 words from act 1 that connect to how you are feeling right now.

Shakespeare:

Get on the mic!  I set up a mic and amp and a stool.  You each had to read the sonnet you selected and explain why you connected to this.  Great job to all that have shared thus far.  We will finish this on Monday.

We made sonnet snowflakes- a snowflake as unique as you, with your sonnet inside it.

I gave permission slips for next Friday.

Comp. Lit. II:

I passed back your Lord of the Flies Exam.

We collected names for secret santa.

We watched Shakespeare in Love, looking for examples from my opening lecture.

I passed out copies of the Tempest.  Please bring to every class for the next 2 weeks.

Shakespeare:

Today:

We previewed the rest of your comedies.

We agreed to do a Secret Santa in class.

We took your sonnet and made it into a pocket poem with the following:
Cover that draws you in.
14 line poem inside
2-3 sent on back explaining your connection to the poem.

We then formed a congo line and decorated the holiday shrub.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

Journal #28:  Please describe your experience with reading/watching Shakespeare.   1 page

We took notes on the Globe

We watched 20 min of Shakespeare in Love to set the stage as we launch into Shakespeare for the next 3 weeks.

Shakespeare:

Today:

We found 5 sonnets and read them.  We shared our thoughts on a few.

We took notes on them.

We defined the sonnet.

We looked at the GG at the end.  I compared it to the power cord in rock.

HW:  Find a sonnet that you connect with.  Have it for class on Tuesday.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

We worked in groups and finished your Soundtrack project.  We will be presenting these on Monday.

Shakespeare:

Today:

We all finished our projects, but ran short on time to share.  We will be previewing these on Monday, and presenting these at our Shakespeare Film Festival next Friday.

HW:  Begin to look over the sonnets.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

We learned how to make a CD booklet using the link that I posted yesterday.

We went to the computer lab for day 2 to work on your Lord of the Flies Soundtrack assignment.

I extended the due date until Monday.

Shakespeare:

Today:

We edited your Shakespeare Comedies.  I extended the due date till Monday.

Template for Project

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/cd-or-dvd-case-insert-TC001012985.aspx

or http://design.neato.com/PaperSelect.aspx?Category=2

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

I gave time to anyone needing more time to finish the test.

We finished the BW version of LOTF.

We went to the computer lab and began work on your Lord of the Flies Soundtrack project.

HW:  Continue work on your project.  Due Friday.

Shakespeare:

Last day of filming.  I am afterschool today for any group that needs more time.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

We took the test for LOTF.

I collected your books.

Shakespeare:

Today:

You had your final day of filming for your comedy project.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

Journal Prompt #27:  After reading Lord of the Flies, has your opinion of whether people are inherently evil changed in any way?  If so, how?  If not, please give examples to back this up.   1 pg.

We played a review game for the test Tuesday.

HW:  Study notes/review novel

Reminder Soundtrack projects due Friday.

Shakespeare:

Today:

Day 4 of 5 filming days.

Projects due Friday.