Monday, September 10, 2012

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

Journal #4:  The play Hamlet begins with the line:  Who's there?  Please write a 15 line scene, where each line only has 2 words per line, between 2-3 different characters.

We used the movie Shakespeare in Love to show some of what William Shakespeare might have been like while writing Romeo and Juliet.

HW:  Please Read Act 1 in Hamlet.  Hamlet lines are now officially assigned and due next Monday.  This will be a test grade.

Brit Lit Paper outline form:

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:________________

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal Prompt #4:  Newsprint is a dying art form.  In my opinion, Newspapers help keep us honest in a democracy.  Please read 4 articles from the Wall Street Journal.  In your journal, please explain what each article is about, and more importantly, what YOUR opinion is on what you read.  One page.

I assigned your first paper.  Please complete the outline and be ready to work on your 1st draft this Wed.  We will be working on these in the computer lab this Wed. and Thur.  Your final paper is due this Friday.  Please see me with any questions.

I showed you the documentary The Hero's Journey.  Although the fashion and quality were both dated, I hope that it was a good supplement to the notes that I gave you.

HW:  Please read Beowulf in your Anthology.  Please be ready for a surprise quiz on Tuesday.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Shakespeare:

Today:  Journal Prompt #3:  Describe the rise and eventual fall of a person/company/event/a song.  Why do we enjoy watching the fall?  Why do we slow down and watch an accident?  1 page.

This led us to our intro on Shakespeare and his version of a tragedy.  We defined a Shakespearean Tragedy.  These are important reference notes.  Please make sure that you understand it fully.  We will be referencing it often during our look at the tragedies.

I broke you into 4 groups and asked you to model the final moment of suspense.  I will try and post some of these on the blog.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal Prompt #3:  Please describe a moment where you helped someone without looking for any recognition.  A random act of kindness moment.  1 page.

We went over the Hero's Quest, and used examples from many popular movies: Jaws, Lord of the Rings, Batman, Star Wars, Harry Potter, etc...

I broke you into small groups and asked you to brainstorm on how a specific movie follows this formula.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

World of Shakespeare:

We began class with:
Journal Prompt #2:  Please describe your experience with Shakespeare.  1/2 page.

We went down to the auditorium and did a series of acting games.  It was great to see you all laughing and smiling in school.

HW:  Please look over your reading from last night.  Please be ready for a short quiz on your reading.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We started with journal prompt #2:  If you could choose three super powers, what would they be and how would you use them?    1 page.

We defined the classical hero.  We looked at our need for a hero, and why we are always waiting for superman.  We discussed people that might be modern heroes.

I introduced you to Joseph Cambell and his book, The Hero With a Thousand Faces.  I gave you a handout in preparation for your fist paper.  We went over the basic concepts of the Hero's journey.

We looked at Star Wars and other popular stories that follow this formula.

HW:  Please find a movie/book that follows this formula and be prepared to explain how it follows the outline that you were given.
Here's some advice Bill Gates recently dished out at a high school speech about 11 things they did not learn in school.


RULE 1

Life is not fair - get used to it.



RULE 2

The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world

will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel

good about yourself.



RULE 3

You will NOT make 40 thousand dollars a year right out

of high school. You won't be a vice president with

car phone, until you earn both.



RULE 4

If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a

boss. He doesn't have tenure.



RULE 5

Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your

grandparents had a different word for burger flipping

they

called it Opportunity.



RULE 6

If you mess up,it's not your parents' fault, so don't

whine about your mistakes, learn from them.



RULE 7

Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as

they are now. They got that way from paying your bills,

cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about

how cool you are. So before you save the rain forest

from the parasites of your parent's generation, try

delousing the closet in your own room.



RULE 8

Your school may have done away with winners and losers,

but life has not. In some schools they have abolished

failing grades and they'll give you as many times as

you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the

slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.



RULE 9

Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get

summers off and very few employers are interested in

helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.



RULE 10

Television is NOT real life. In real life people

actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.



RULE 11

Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

We started class with our 1st journal Prompt:

#1  Pick a character from your reading last night and write from their perspective.  Please describe a typical day in their life.

We watched a clip from the National Endowment for the Arts on why Shakespeare is important.

We looked at some words and phrases that we thing Shakespeare coined.

HW:  Please read pgs. 17-47 Order in the Court:  The Renaissance
Please wear compfortable outfits for class on Thursday.  We will be doing some warm ups that require you to move around.

Brit Lit:

Today:

I passed out books and we tracked down old writing journals.

We wrote our 1st Journal Prompt:

Journal Prompt #1:  Write an original creation story.  1 page.

We defined the Oral Tradition of storytelling, and explored the fundamental problems.

We defined a Lyric Poem and discussed The Seafarer

Black A:  Read above story for HW.  Page 17.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Friday, June 22, 2012

Vader Waves Goodbye...

Vader slideshow:
Vader Slideshow

Thanks guys!  Feel free to share.  M.P took all pictures, I just cleaned them up :-)  Thanks M.

It was a pleasure being your teacher this year.  Find a tree and read a good book.  Try it. You may begin to love reading.  Have a great Summer!

Cusick

Vader slideshow:
http://www.flickr.com//photos/seancusick/sets/72157630242612248/show/

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Brit Lit:

We took your final exam today.

HW:  Have a wonderful Summer.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Shakespeare:

We took the final exam today.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Brit Lit:

I gave you the final exam review sheet
Reminder:  You may use one page of notes.

I collected any late journals, books, late paper, etc...

You need a locker clean out pass to take the final.  Please make sure that you have that with you.

Shakespeare:

We finished  Anonymous.  What did you think?
We worked on the review sheet for the final.
I collected any late journals, missed quizzes, etc.

For the final you need:
All books passed in
Locker clean out pass
One page of notes.

We are almost there- end strong!