Brit Lit:

Today:

We defined Ballad and Folk Ballade

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

We completed The Ballad of You 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:

 

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.  Please use detailed description.  Do not just say it is a pen.  Describe it in as much detail as you can.

 

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 3^rd person at all times:

 

There once was a boy named Joe that……

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3:  Perform these in front of the class J

Comp Lit. II:

Today:

I collected journals #1-10.  These are a paper grade, so if you di not pass in with full effort, please use vacation to do so.

WE took the Animal Farm test.

I collected your books.

HW:  Recharge and spend quality time with your friends and family.  We will hit the ground running on Monday with my favorite book of all time........

Brit Lit:

We took the Beowulf test today:

Essay: CP/CPA:  Answer the following question in a 3 paragraph essay. Be sure to back up your answer with SPECIFIC EXAMPLES from the epic. (100 points)

Describe in complete detail one of the three battles Beowulf faced. Be sure to identify characters, setting, plot and events, and how it ended.

 H:  Please answer the above question and: 

 Please explain how the story of Beowulf follows parts of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Quest.  Please make sure that you back up your points with solid, detailed examples. Min. 5 paragraphs.

I collected your journals #1-10

I collected your books.

HW:  Please have a great break and do fun things that do not involve school.  :-)

 

 

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

Journal #10:  10 year's have passed on Animal Farm.  Most, if not all, have changed.  Please describe what remains.  Consider: Gov, rules, trade, etc.  What has changed? What is the same?  1 pg

We finished our Utopia project and shared. 

We then took each society and gave them to another group to try and destroy.

We began the Animal Farm movie

HW:  Test Friday.

Brit Lit.

Today:

Journal #10:  We have all though about it- If you could have one super/special power, what would it be?  Why would you pick it?  How might you use it.   1 page

We finished our ipad group presentations.

We took a quiz on these.  You could use your notes.

C Block began watching the modern Beowulf movie.

Papers due by midnight.  MUST be submitted into turnitin.

Please have Beowulf finished for Friday.  Please plan on a test before break.

Passwords:

A Block: cusick2

C Block: cusick3

D Block: cusick1

All lowercase, esp the C

Codes:

A Block:  12128096   

C Block:  12128106  

D Block: 11916939

Comp. Lit. II:

today:

Journal #9:  Please write a speech by squealer that answers the questions being asked on the farm.  Please use the propaganda terms that we covered.              1pg

Utopia Project: We broke into small groups and created perfect societies.  We named and shared.

Quiz 5-6

HW:  Make sure book is finished.

Brit. Lit.:

Today:

Journal #9:  Make a list of the parts of the HJ that your story follows.  For each, please explain how the stage was covered in your story.

Turnitin.com  I gave out the codes and explained the basics of turnitin.

We broke into small groups and research the following topics:

#1  History of Anglo-Saxton words
#2  Weapons from period
#3 Kennings
#4 Who is who in story
#5  History of the Geats.

Each group then presented these via their ipads.

HW:  Paper due Wed. by midnight
Finish Beowulf for Friday

Comp. Lit II:

Today:

Journal #8:  Please select an animal and design a campaign poster that uses two of the propaganda terms. 

We looked at various types of propaganda.

Using the ipads, you needed to find examples of:  Euphemism, oversimplification, and faulty cause and effect reasoning.

HW: Please finish the book.

Brit Lit.:

Today:

Journal #8:  Part III of III.  Please finish the last stage of your hero's journey story.

We shared these and initialed the one that we each read.  We shared the best writing.

A Block finished Finding Joe.

We broke into small groups and used the ipads to make quizlets for Beowulf.

We reviewed your reading.

HW:  Read to pg 161.

Brit Lit.:

Today:

Journal #7:  Part II of III:  Continue with your hero's journey quest.  1 page

We finished Finding Joe

I checked your paper outlines.

We reviewed reading.

If you have free time, please check out the new TV series:  http://tv.esquire.com/shows/Beowulf

HW:  Please read pgs 134-143.

Comp. Lit. II

Today:

Journal Prompt #6:  Animal Farm has no chapter names.  If you were to name the 1st 7 ch's, what would you tile each?  Why (3-5 sent) would you name them each this.

We reviewed your reading

We took a quiz on reading.

We broke into small groups and found propaganda examples.

HW:  Read 8+9.  Have speech submitted to turnitin.com and printed out.  On Wed.  you will need to give your takeover speech.  Remember- extra credit if you can successfully beg the question.

Brit Lit.

Today:  Part I of III prompts:  Following the outlined stages, make your own original HJ.  For today, focus on separation.  1 page per prompt= 3 pages

We watch the doc Finding Joe and discussed the idea of finding your bliss.

HW:  Please complete your paper outline

Brit Lit:

Journal #5:  Last week in advisor your learned the importance of empathy.  Please consider the point of view of Grendel.  Write from a 1st person account of what Grendel would have thought in pgs 1-93/     1 page

Close Text reading:  We found textual evidence as to what Grendel would look like.  We then made a quick sketch.

I passed out your first paper assignment.  Outline is due this Wed.  Final draft next Wed.

We looked at https://vimeo.com/108682934

HW:  Please read 93-124 in Beowulf

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

Journal Prompt #4: 
Part I:  If you had to be any animal in the novel, who would you choose and why.  1/2 pg
Part II:  Write from their point of view describing the main events and how they would feel about them.  Please use CH 1-5.  Please write in the first person (I).

iPads 101:  We played with the ipads and learned how to share/save/use

We set up turn it in.com  All of your major writing will be required to be submitted this way.

We typed your first draft of your propaganda speech into a google doc.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal #4:  What is your greatest fear?  Have you ever faced it.  1/2 pg

We defined the Hero's Journey

We went over film examples

Close Text reading:  What does Grendel look like?

A Block:  Imagine that the original manuscript has burned more severely, and only 30 words survive.  Please find 30 words and link them together to still tell the story of Beowulf up to pg 93 in your reading.

Some movies to consoder:

http://www.imdb.com/list/ls055945505/

Comp Lit II:

Animal Farm:  The speech

 

Directions:  Propaganda is the manipulation and control of language.  Using the sheet of terms that you were given on propaganda, please write a one pg typed speech where you address the Tantasqua student body to convince them to elect you as the new “supreme ruler.”  Your speech must include the following:

 

1. A scapegoat:  Even if they are not directly responsible, you need to identify a person to blame all of the problems on.

 

 

2. Faulty Cause and Effect Reasoning:  A statement where no logical cause is given for the effect.

 

 

3. Bandwagon Effect:  Everyone else is voting for you, so you should as well.

 

4. Euphemism:  Use words to soften the true meaning.

 

5. Oversimplification:  Making things so simple that you try to cover the real meaning.

 

Please place a small number to correspond to the above examples at the end of the sentence or statement. 

 

After:

You will be required to give your speech to the class.  For extra credit, you may choose to demonstrate begging the question.  Remember, this is done by skillfully avoiding the question. 

Comp. Lit II:

Today:
Journal #3:  Write a letter to yourself in the 7th grade.  What advice would you give your younger self?  What should they look out for?               1 page

Animal Farm Review:  We played Three strikes and you Quiz.        
Quiz if needed

HW:  Read ch 6+7 tonight.

I passed back your quizzes from yesterday.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal #3:  Why do we often enjoy being scared?  Please describe a time when you enjoyed being frightened.    1pg

We watched part 2 of In search of Beowulf. 
I collected the list of ten things that you learned.
We reviewed the characters and story thus far.

C Block:  I broke you into groups to do a close reading of the text.  If only 30 words survived the fire, what words would you save that would still tell the general story.

Comp. Lit II:

Journal #2:  Ben Franklin said that if you ever want to see someones true character, give them a little power.  Describe a time that you were given power.    1/2 page

We reviewed ch1-3

I gave notes on:
Communism
Russian Revolution
Karl Marx

HW:  Read ch 4+5

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal prompt #2:  Describe the time in your life when you were most heroic.  1pg.

We watched part 1 of in search of Beowulf.

I asked you to listen to the language.  Listen to the pauses.

HW: please read 49-93

Brit Lit.:

Here is the author reading his translation.  Listen the the strangeness of the speaking:
https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A2KLqILsNKlWwWkAVR4snIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTBzZjc2N3EzBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQDBGdwb3MDMjQ-?p=beowulf+audio&vid=58d81425f5551f3174ffebbd2d991b86&turl=http%3A%2F%2Ftse3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOVP.V6a6ef94d54a39f524409e19cd5f232a3%26pid%3D15.1%26h%3D168%26w%3D300%26c%3D7%26rs%3D1&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DAaB0trCztM0&tit=Beowulf+-+Seamus+Heaney%3A+Part+1+of+2&c=23&h=168&w=300&l=4047&sigr=11bl8490h&sigt=114nsi101&sigi=131ikqep5&age=1334332912&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Av&fr=yhs-mozilla-003&hsimp=yhs-003&hspart=mozilla&tt=b

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

Journal #1:  If you were to make a society and could make the rules to keep order, what 10 rules would you make? 

We reviewed ch 1.

We made a list of 5 things that you wish you could change at Tantasqua.

HW:  Read ch 2-3

What Beowulf sounded like:

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=beowulf+reading&&view=detail&mid=76BE0CB2614FC8E9718B76BE0CB2614FC8E9718B&FORM=VRDGAR

Brit Lit:

For fun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiBaSqO7n9U

Brit Lit:

Today:

We started with
journal prompt #1: Please write a one page creation story that explains:  The seasons, Death/life, the sun, the stars, etc...  1 page

We defined:
Caesura
Scops
Kenning
Personification

I passed out Beowulf.

HW:  Please read Pg 3-49

Brit Lit.+ Comp. Lit II:

Welcome!  It was nice meeting you all today.  I look forward to class together.

Comp Lit. II:  HW please read CH 1 in Animal Farm.

Shakespeare:

We read the following:  Othello, Hamlet, The Taming of the Shrew (Film), The Twelfth Night, sonnets. CPA: Please answer 5 of the 10 questions.  H:  Please answer 7 of the 10 questions.  If you need more time please write this clearly at the top and see me Monday morning to arrange a time for you to finish. 

 

#1 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.  Examine how 4 characters other than Othello are directly, or indirectly responsible for the tragic ending.

#2 Please explain the ending of the 12^th Night.  Did true love prevail?  Were you satisfied with the ending?  Why or Why not?  Please use specific details in your response.

 

#3 Talk about what makes a Shakespearian tragedy.  Please examine one tragedy and discuss how it fits the definition.

#4 Please define the following literary devices that Shakespeare uses:

Alliteration, simile, metaphor, reversed word, reversed sentence construction, classical allusion, personification, suspension of disbelief, aside, using language to show class and status in the play. You should have three examples of each term and be ready to explain how they are used.

You may answer this as a list.

#5 Character can be defined by how one handles power.  Look at 3 characters and discuss how well they handled power.

 

#6 Discuss the use of comedy in his plays.  What ideas and specific plays hold up well and still make us laugh.  Please use 3 specific scenes in your discussions.

 

7.  Love, and the quest for love are important themes in many of Shakespeare’s plays.  Please examine three relationships and explain in detail how they played out in specific detail using the 3 of the following plays:  The 12^th Night, The Taming of the Shrew Othello, Hamlet.

 

#8 Define a Shakespearian Sonnet.  What did his sonnets reveal about him that his plays may not have?  Please give specific examples.  Write an original sonnet about this class that follows the rules and rhyme pattern of a sonnet. 

 

#9 Character can be defined by how one handles power.  Look at 3 characters and discuss how well they handled power.

 

 

#10 Discuss the use of comedy in his plays.  What ideas and specific plays hold up well and still make us laugh.  Please use 3 specific scenes in your discussions.

 

 

 

Skakespeare:

Today:

We finished Taming of the Shrew.

I broke you into small study groups to prep for your essays on Friday.  You may use notes, but must submit them with your final.  Your notes can outline your writing, but must do your actual writing in class.

If you will be absent on Friday, please see me to make arrangements to submit.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Portfolio work (final day)

Small study group- brainstorm on essay for Thursday.  You may use an outline.  Please make sure you have solid examples for your essay.

#1- #4  must be submitted to http://www.Turnitin.com Today. 

Please see or email me if you do not.

Shakespeare:

Today:

Those that needed more time finished their Othello essays.

We watched The Taming of the Shrew.  You may use this final play to answer any of the corresponding questions on the final.

Final exam is this Friday.  I will unfortunately be out, so please see me before then with any questions that you may have. Remember, you may use one page of notes to assist you.

I am also afterschool today (Tuesday) for anyone looking for a review or help on any of the 8 questions on your final.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We worked on questions 1-4 of your final portfolio.

You needed to submit this to turnitin.com

We began work to outline question #5.  This essay question will be administered this Thursday.  You may use one page of notes to assist you./

I am also afterschool today for anyone missing work.  Last chance before then end of the term.  End in greatness!

Shakespeare:

Today:

We took the Othello Exam

HW:  Please begin to outline your response on the final questions for next week.

Brit Lit:

Today:
We reviewed the characteristics of:

Medieval Characteristics:

s  Idealizes Chivalry (Code of Chivalry – hero-knights abided by this code)

s  Idealizes the noble hero-knight and his daring deeds

s  Women are idealized and held in high regard by hero-knight

s  Imaginative, vast, fairytale like setting

s  Mystery and supernatural elements abound

s  Repetition of the magical numbers 3 and 7

s  Tale involves a quest for love and/or adventure by hero-knight

s  Simple, predictable, inevitable plot

Gothic Characteristics:

1.  Setting. It's not quite a castle, but it is a huge mansion with several levels, including a basement and a hidden sub-basement. Dark and drafty. Ominous.

2.  Atmosphere of Mystery. It's a multiple murder mystery, with cryptic notes, hidden passageways, wind, lightning, and everyone a suspect.

3.  Ancient Prophecy. There is the Musgrave Ritual. Obscure, compelling, ancient.

4.  Omens and portents. The crow at the tavern, the intrusive lightning strike, the taunting notes from the butler.

5.  Supernatural or inexplicable events. How the victims died. The lightning seems to strike at just the right time. 

6.  Overwrought emotion. The female lead screams and panics a bit.

7. Women in distress and 8. Women threatened by a male. Toned down here, but the murderer had designs on the heroine.

9. The wind blows, signs bang into the wall, lightning, a few characters are trapped in various ways.

 

Victorian Period

 

 1. Literature of this age tends to come closer to daily life which reflects its practical problems and interests. It becomes a powerful instrument for human progress. Socially & economically, Industrialism was on the rise and various reform movements like emancipation, child labor, women’s rights, and evolution.

2. Moral Purpose: The Victorian literature seems to deviate from "art for art's sake" and asserts its moral purpose. Tennyson, Browning, Carlyle, Ruskin - all were the teachers of England with the faith in their moral message to instruct the world.

3. Idealism: It is often considered as an age of doubt and pessimism. The influence of science is felt here. The whole age seems to be caught in the conception of man in relation to the universe with the idea of evolution.

4. Though, the age is characterized as practical and materialistic, most of the writers exalt a purely ideal life. It is an idealistic age where the great ideals like truth, justice, love, brotherhood are emphasized by poets, essayists and novelists of the age.

 

We did Sound Effect Stories:
Listen to each of the sound effects that I played and use your imagination to work it into what happens next in your story.  For each you must use 8 of the 10 played sounds.

#1  Medieval
#2 Gothic
#3 Victorian

We shared these.

HW:  Please make sure parts 1-4 of your final  are completed in a Google doc.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We finished Wuthering Heights

We had a class discussion on how the two Bronte stories fit the mold of Victorian fiction.

B Block read: Orwell's Shooting an Elephent

RIP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP06F0yynic

Shakespeare:

Today:

We finished Othello.

We exchanged Quizlet's and took another groups review quiz.

We broke into groups after lunch and examined Othello's destruction in detail.

Thursday we will have a review for the test. Friday will be the Othello test.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We watched Wuthering Heights

We reviewed the characteristics of Victorian fiction, and discussed how both Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights follow this.

We worked on revising and reflecting on an assignment.  At this point, you should have completed parts 1-4 of the final portfolio in Google Docs.  Part 5 is an essay that will be written in class during the exam day.

Download Attachment

Available until Feb 11, 2016

Brit Lit:

Today:

We learned about the life of Emily Bronte on pg 910.

I had you read Wuthering Heights  and answer questions 1-6 on pg 921.

I collected these and will count them as a quiz

We passed out the ipads and worked on question #4 Letter to yourself.

At this point, you should have had time to complete 1,3 and possibly 4.

Shakespeare:

Today:

We finished act IV

We took a quiz on act IV

The Abuse of Desdemona:  I asked you to find a line that Othello use to abuse Desdemona.  We circled around the room and every time you ran into another student you needed to say the line in a different way.  How did saying this awful things make you feel?

We started act V.

Brit Lit:

We finished Jane Eyre.

We defined the characteristics of Victorian fiction.

We completed part 3 of your final portfolio, writing a letter to future students taking this class.

Reminder:  we will be working on parts of the portfolio in class in a single Google doc.  After today, you should have parts 1 and 3 completed.  If not, please finish these for HW.

Download Attachment

Available until Feb 6, 2016

Download Attachment

Available until Feb 6, 2016

Download Attachment

Available until Feb 6, 2016

Shakespeare:

Today:

We acted out act IV

Othello Talk show

Brit Lit:

We learned about the Bronte Sista's

Pg 922:  Charlotte

We read CH 1 of Jane Eyre

We discussed the power of 1st person narration

Writing assignment:  What is in the Red Room?  Write from Jane's 1st person point of view (I)

Shakespeare:

Today:

Journal:  The MAX free write.  Pick anything on your mind and write one pg on it.

We finished act III

We took a quiz on act III.

HW:  Begin outlining your final essays.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We had work day #2 to begin putting your final portfolio together.  By the end of today's class you should:
Have rewritten 5 of your 30 journal prompts.  Foe each, you improved on your prompt.  Each needs a 3=5 sent reflective piece at the end.

Shakespeare:

For a laugh:
http://wn.com/the_muppet_show._swedish_chef_reciting_shakespeare_(323)

Shakespeare Final Exam:

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, The12^th Night, The Taming of the Shrew and selected 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.

 

 

 

Shakespeare:

Today:

Journal Prompt: Imagine that Desdemona is black and Othello is white.  How would the play be different.  Please discuss three parts of the play that would be different and why. 1/2 page

We had time to finish Worksheet #2 "Chaos is Come Again." 

We finished act 3.

Brit Lit Final Exam Portfollio:

Portfolio Final 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 5 out of the 30 journal prompts that you are most proud of.  For each one, please type out  a revised and improved version.  Please follow each one with a 3-5 sentence reflection piece as to why the prompts that you selected were meaningful and what specifically you chose to improve upon in your rewrite.

 

 

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 specifically did you learn from this assignment?

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

3.       If you could do this again, what 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.

Part V:  To be completed in class during your final exam:

5 Paragraph Essay (H) 3 paragraph (CP/CPA):

Please answer the following question.  Please structure your response in a well- written (as apposed to poorly written) 5 paragraph essay.  Please make sure to give specific examples to back up your thesis.

Obtaining greater power or status is something that many people strive for, but is this ambition good or evil? In other words, what effect does trying to change one’s position in society have on a person? In at least three works of literature we’ve read in class, identify characters who struggle to change or maintain their power or status.  Explain whether this struggle turns out to be good or bad for them.  Do they succeed? What causes their success, or failure?           

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.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Like Dickens, imagine that you get paid by the word.  In fact $1 per letter- so large words = more cash.  Please write a journal prompt worth at least $900 ( 900 letters= about a page).  You can't repeat the same word over and over and it can be about anything on your mind.

Final Exam Day 1:  Please find the 5 journals that you are most proud of.  Please create a Google doc and type each one out, making improvements in your writing.  For each, please write a reflective piece as why each journal was selected and what did you improve.

I collected your questions from The Signalman.

I am afterschool this Tuesday (till 5)  and Thursday for those needing to make up missing term work.  Term 1 is ending fast- end in greatness.

Shakespeare:

Today:

Journal:  Select 4 words that added, would dramatically change the story of Othello.  What words would you select and how would it change the story?  1 page.

We performed act III.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Welcome back!  I hope that you had a restful break and came back ready to finish strong.

Journal:  Pick one meaningful day from the last 10 and explain in detail the entire day.  1 page

What the Dickens?  We learned about Charles Dickens on pg 880.

We read The Signalman Pgs 881-890

Answered questions 1-6 on pg 891.

The last 15 minutes we had small dickens theater: Take the story and in a small group show the story in front of the class as a short play.

Download Attachment

Available until Jan 22, 2016

Shakespeare:

Today:

We presented your Sonnet projects for the class.  We will finish those remaining/late on Tuesday.

Reminder:  Bring in your secret santa gifts!  the holiday shrub is lonely.

Brit Lit

Today:

We used the computer lab and ipads to complete one of the three prompts for the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

Reminder:  Secret Santa this Wed before break.  Bring those gifts in :-)

Shakespeare:

Today:

In small groups we reported on the news of the day with The Cyprus Ch 5 News.  Each group needed to report events as a newscast.

We did act 3 sc 1 with a monkey on the back.  One read lines (monkey) one acted the lines.

We ended with Othello Friday.

Brit Lit

Today:

We finished The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

We listened to the Iron Maiden version and compared the lyrics

I assigned the following project.  This is due at the end of class of Monday:

Rime of the Ancient Mariner  Assignment

 

The Ship's Log

Every ship is supposed to have a log book, which is filled in every day by the captain. If he dies, the next senior officer fills it in (usually the First Mate). You should write a series of entries for the log of the ship in the poem. For part of the voyage, these will be written by the captain; after all the other men die, only the ancient mariner is left to fill it in.

 

Storyboarding

The fantastic details in the story are well-suited to vivid illustration. You can use a series of pictures with captions underneath to turn the poem into either a storyboard for a film version, or as a comic strip. Minimum 15 frames – every frame must have a caption that is a minimum of 1 complete sentence.  If you choose this option, you MUST do the drawings yourself and you CANNOT do stick figures or oversimplified pictures.  Choose this only if you have some artistic talent.

 

Newspaper (and other) reports

When the ship leaves port, to the cheers of the sailors' friends and sweethearts, no-one has any idea of what is to happen; but the return of the ship, its sinking in sight of land, the strange lights seen on it, the one survivor, his strange tale and his effect on the pilot and his boy - all this adds up to a mystery any reporter would love to write about. Write either newspaper report

OR 

an official report of the naval authorities investigating the loss of the ship and all its crew bar one.

 

Minimum 30 sentences total.

 

Download Attachment

Available until Jan 16, 2016

Shakespeare:

Journal prompt:  Write a sonnet about this time of the year.

We made small pocket sonnet books

We designed a cover that reflected your images and feelings.

We formed a Congo line and placed them in the holiday shrub.

After lunch I gave you more time to work on your sonnet project.  These are due Monday.

Brit Lit

Today:

Journal:  What is romance?  Is it dead?  What is the most romantic thing that you have ever seen or done?     1pg

I gave you your progress report grades.

A block finish Young Frankenstein and compared it to gothic lit using the terms that I gave you.

B Block:  Began the Romantic period.  We read the intro section.
We read parts 1 + 2 of the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner.

Shakespeare:

We began with
journal prompt 31: What is love?  What do you think about inter-racial relationships?  What do you family feel about race and religion?          1page

We had a good discussion on race and relationships.

We looked at the relationship of Desdemona and Othello.  Is it love or lust?  Why?

We had 30 minutes to work on your sonnet movies on the ipads.  These are due Monday.

We finished act 2.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We finished watching Young Frankenstein

Journal:  Please select 5 elements of Gothic Lit that this movie pokes fun of.  For each explain how.

I passed back the bulk of you for so far in this term.

Shakespeare:

We began reading our Herald.  See video above :-)

Pg 64.  The Psychiatrist's Couch.  Pg 64.  We looked at Iago's soliloquy on 65.  In pairs, one played doctor, one Iago.  Using Iago's lines as answers, ask him about his obsession with both Othello and Cassio.  We performed these after lunch.

We put names in Lord Vader's dome for Secret Santa.

We covered Act II, sc 2.  One of his shortest scenes at 10 lines. 

Last 10 min: Othello Fridays!

Brit Lit:

We finished Frankenstein and our look at Gothic Lit.

We shared our Gothic Lit stories by candlelight.

Up next, Romance

Shakespeare

Today:

We finished act 1

We wrote a sonnet (must follow the rules) to Desdemona from either the perspective of Othello or Rodergio.

After lunch we gave our sonnet to a random person and wrote back as Desdemona.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We reviewed the characteristics of Gothic Lit.

We finished writing our Gothic stories on the ipads.

Stories due Thursday.