The End of a Really Good Thing

Well, another school year is over (almost) and I'm a little sad I won't be seeing the bloggers I've linked to for a while. This was an awesome year for me as a teacher - my ninth grade students were fun, energetic, and basically open to what I had to offer them - including keeping a public blog for class credit. Thanks to all my great students! I hope you keep in touch.

I can't give you credit any more for writing on your blogs, but I hope you'll keep them up and I'll check out what you post from time to time.

Have a great summer!

10 Things I Know About The Taming of the Shrew

The movie we are watching in class this week is based on the Shakespeare play The Taming of the Shrew. Research the play (spark notes is a good place to start) and make a list of 10 parallels to the movie. Include anything concerning characters, plot, setting, etc. Your list needs 10 things! Due Friday, June 12. No comments required.

Extra Credit: Reflecting on 9th grade English

Think about everything we've done this year - what was your favorite assignment? What was your least favorite assignment? Answer both questions and tell me why for each. The more detailed and reflective you are, the more credit you will receive. Be convincing and you might make a difference in the lives of next year's freshmen. 

Due Tuesday, June 9.

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

What is your favorite part in the movie? Write at least a paragraph on something you thought was funny or interesting. Post and comment by Friday, May 29.

Epic Simile

To practice for your Freshman Odyssey, write an epic simile. This can be about anything you want, but the comparison needs to be descriptive, with lots of details, and create a strong mental image. 

Extra Credit! 10 points for posting a picture that corresponds to your simile.

Post and comment by Friday, May 22.

Post a Power Point to your Blog using Slideshare

Here's an analogy for you: Slideshare is to power point as You Tube is to video. You can post your power point on slideshare and then link to it on your blog. Go the the following link and follow the directions:

http://www.slideshare.net/guest66ae43/how-to-add-power-point-presentations-to-blogger

Here are the directions. I followed them and it worked for me...if I can do it, you can do it!

How To Add Power Point Presentations To Blogger

How to add PowerPoint presentations to www.blogger.com via SlideShare.net

1. Steps to Success  Create your Presentation  Upload it to SlideShare.net  Get “Embed in Web Page” address information  Post to Blogger.com
2. Step 1: Go to www.slideshare.net
3. Step 2: Go to ‘login’ (if you already have an account) or ‘signup’ for a new account
4. Step 3: Click ‘upload’
5. Step 4: Click on ‘single upload’. Select the powerpoint you want to upload and add the information.
6. Step 5: After it is done uploading, go to ‘My Slideshow’ and click on your powerpoint
7. Step 6: Once you see the powerpoint, open a new tab or window and go to www.blogger.com
8. Step 7: Sign in or register for a new account
9. Step 8: Click on ‘New Post’
10. Step 9: Once you get to the screen below, go back to the window with slideshare.
11. Step 10: Copy the text from the ‘Embed in your blog’

Project Checkpoint

Begin working on your Of Mice and Men project. If you're making a power point, begin researching and planning your slides. Remember, you must cite all sources in MLA format. If you're making a movie trailer, begin planning when you will film and edit your movie. Begin planning who will be in it and which scenes you will include.

Write at least two paragraphs about your progress on your project. Discuss any problems or setbacks that might occur. Due Friday, April 24.

Of Mice and Men Unit

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is the final novel we will read in freshman English. It is a short novel with only six chapters and we will read the book in class. To prove how much you've learned this year you will write three five part paragraphs during this unit. Here's an out line of topics and due dates:

1. Chapters 1 & 2: foreshadowing, due Monday, April 20
2. Chapters 3 & 4: loneliness, due Friday, April 24
3. Chapters 5 & 6: your choice, due Wednesday, April 29

One of these will be revised for a final draft due Friday, May 1.

You will also be working on a project on your own that you will post on your blog and present to the class: this is the research power point or movie trailer.

Glogster

Go to http://www.glogster.com and create a poster of your own UNIQUE, PERSONAL interpretation of Romeo and Juliet. 

Make it ORIGINAL! Have fun!

You will have to register. On the profile page, you can scroll down to see the glog you've created, with "embed" code by each glog. Cut and paste that code into your blog post in the edit html tab.

Surprise! We're blogging in class on Friday...

This week we will be blogging in class on Friday. There will be no required blog for homework this week, however, you may post on your blog for extra credit - due Thursday night.

Extra Credit Blog: Write about Romeo and Juliet: what do you think of the final scene? What were your favorite parts? What influence has this play had on pop culture throughout the ages? Write at least two paragraphs discussing your own reactions to the play. You can post a video or photograph if you'd like.

Due Thursday, April 2. Post and comments are extra credit.

Dramione: The Prologue

Romeo and Juliet: Video Post

The photo post was a hit! Let's see if I can top it. 

Find and post a video related in some way to Romeo and Juliet. Explain where and how you found the video and write a paragraph about how it relates. Be creative! The video does not have to be specific to Romeo and Juliet, but make sure you are able to explain how it relates.

To embed a YouTube video into your post:

1. Find a video you want to add to your post.
   
2. Copy the embed code from the box to the right of the video.
3. Create a new post on your blog.
4. Click the 'Edit HTML' tab at the top of your post editing window.
5. Paste in the embed code you copied from YouTube.
6. Click back on the "Compose" tab. Write your paragraph.
7. Publish your post.

Extra credit for making your own video! Due Friday, March 27.

We will watch some of the videos in class on Monday, March 30.

Romeo and Juliet Photo Post

Post a photograph to your blog and relate it to Romeo and Juliet. 5 points extra credit if you post an original photograph taken by you. Please cite your source; either give credit to the website where you found the photograph or provide the date and location where you shot your original photo. Write at least a paragraph about how your photo relates to the play.

BE ORIGINAL! No photos from either film version, please.

Post and comment by Friday, March 20.

Romeo and Juliet: Act Two

Write about something that happens in Act Two of Romeo and Juliet that you found interesting for whatever reason. Explain what happens, including the characters involved and explain why you chose to write about it. Include how you think this event will effect the future of the title characters. Also, include a personal reaction: compare it to something from your own life or explain how would you have reacted in this situation: would you have done the same thing as the characters involved? Have you ever been in a similar situation?

Write two paragraphs in which you explain the event you are writing about, how you think it will effect the future of Romeo and Juliet, and include your personal reaction. Post and comment by Friday, March 13.

Characters in Romeo and Juliet

Choose a character in Romeo and Juliet and describe what type of person he or she is based on his/her words and actions in Act One. Describe this character as vividly as you can: what do you think he/she would look like? What do you think he/she would be like if you met him/her in your everyday life?

Also, think of someone you know that is similar to this character and describe what personality traits they have in common. Use examples from the play as support for you character analysis. Write at least two paragraphs. Post and comment by Friday, March 6.

Romeo and Juliet: Premonitions

Premonition is defined as a presentiment of the future; foreboding. It's a feeling that something bad is going to happen. In Romeo and Juliet, both of the title characters have premontions but do not act on them. They go along with their actions without altering them based on their intuition.

Have you ever had a premonition, or a dream, that something bad would happen and then have that premonition come true to an extent? In retrospect, what could you have done to prevent the negative consequences when you first sensed something was amiss?

If you can't think of a time when this has happened to you, you can write about this happening to someone you know or in a book or movie. Write two paragraphs in which you describe the premonition, why or how you neglected to act on it, and how it played out. Post and comment by Friday, February 27.

Shakespearean Stories

This week you will be writing your own Shakespearean comic strip using one or more of the following plot ideas: mistaken identity, star-crossed lovers, and love triangle. These ideas that Shakespeare is famous for are used again and again in popular movies. Some of Shakespeare's plays have even been adapted to a modern high school setting, such as 10 Things I Hate About You and She's the Man.

Think of a movie you are familiar with that centers on one of the three plot ideas and explain how it fits the criteria. To what degree do you think the creators of the movie were influenced by Shakespeare. What Shakespeare play is most similar to the movie? (You may have to research this a bit!)

Write two paragraphs in which you discuss Shakespeare's influence on modern cinema. Post and comment by Friday, February 20.

Anticipating Shakespeare

We are getting ready to begin Romeo and Juliet next week by watching A Midsummer Night's Dream. React to watching Shakespeare on screen: are you able to understand what you see and hear? Is the language becoming easier to understand with increased viewing? Discuss your perception of Shakespeare so far; react to the language, setting, plot and character of the film.

Also discuss your feelings about beginning Romeo and Juliet in class next week. We will read the play aloud in class. You have surely heard something about it - what prior knowledge are you bringing to this unit? How do you think you will like it - will you be enjoying the next two months in class as much as I will?

Please respond with at least two well-developed paragraphs addressing the the topics described above. Post and COMMENT ON A CLASSMATE'S BLOG by Friday, February 13.

The Worst Part of Animal Farm

What do you feel is the saddest or most disturbing event in Animal Farm? Desribe what happens and why you feel it is sad or disturbing. Your reaction to this event should reflect a close reading of the entire novel: refer to previous events, knowledge of characters, etc.

Write two complete, well-developed paragraphs. Post and comment by Friday, January 23.

Freewrite/Insight: Animal Farm

Freewrite on Animal Farm. What do you like about this book so far? What are your thoughts on the meaning behind the characters and action? Write something insightful! Give me some original ideas that only you would think of.

Write two complete paragraphs. Post and comment by Friday, January 16.