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English 12: Film and Literature Ms. De Soto 354-2730, ext.335; pdesoto@lgsuhsd.org “What does it mean to love the movies? It does not mean to sit mindlessly and blissfully before the screen. It means to believe, first of all, that they are worth the time…It is not important to have a “good time,” but very important not to have your time wasted. A movie is not good because it arrives at conclusions you share, or bad because it does not …The task of every movie is to try to change how you feel and think during its running time.” --Roger Ebert
“I think we ought to only read the kind of books that wound and stab us like a disaster—like the death of someone we loved more than ourselves—like being banished into forests far from everyone. A book must be the axe for the frozen sea inside us.” --Franz Kafka Course Goals: To foster a passion,curiosity, and commitment to learning; To improve one’s ability to write, speak, read, and think critically, closely, and creatively; To increase one’s visual and cultural literacy; To explore the ethical/philosophical components of film and literature; To establish a thoughtful, respectful, safe, and supportive community for discussion and discovery; To risk, to ask the question,to fall down, to get up, to try again. Class & Assignment Structure: The class will be broken into six individual units with a specific theme. For each thematic unit listed below,students will read one or two major texts and view one or two in-class films in their entirety. Students will also be asked to analyze film clips and shorter readings. For each unit, students will be required to view an additional number of films outside of class. Therefore, watching movies will be a part of the students’ homework (not a bad deal). Students will be responsible for finding time and access to these films, either by attending scheduled on-campus afternoon and/or evening screenings or renting the films themselves. I highly recommend group and family viewings, as such events fuel greater camaraderie and discussion. Students will find that the films, texts, and units are all connected. Sample Themes,Texts & Films*: The Search forTruth and Goodness The Catcher inthe Rye (J. D. Salinger),The Republic (Plato),The Truman Show (Peter Weir), Garden State(Zac Braff), Wings of Desire (Wim Wenders), The Matrix (the Wachowski Brothers), The Usual Suspects (Bryan Singer), The Graduate (Mike Nichols) Institutionsand the Individual TheMetamorphosis (Franz Kafka),The Shawshank Redemption (Frank Darabont), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Miloš Forman), Paths of Glory (Stanley Kubrick), Obedience andAuthority (Stanley Milgram), Schindler’s List (Steven Spielberg), The Lives of Others (Von Donnersmarck) Heaven, Hell,& Redemption Hamlet (Shakespeare), “Killings” (Andre Dubus),In the Bedroom (ToddField), The Mission (RolandJoffe), Road to Perdition (Sam Mendes), Crimes and Misdemeanors (Woody Allen), Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino), Aguirre: The Wrathof God (Werner Herzog), DeadMan Walking (Tim Robbins) Culture Clash A StreetcarNamed Desire (TennesseeWilliams), Crash (PaulHaggis), Secrets and Lies (Mike Leigh), Dirty PrettyThings (Stephen Frears), Do the Right Thing (SpikeLee), Gone Baby Gone (Ben Affleck), TheClass (Laurent Cantet), Paradise Now (Hany Abu-Assad) Myths ofMasculinity “S... an Elephant” (George Orwell, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” (T.S. Eliot), American Beauty (SamMendes), Lars and the Real Girl ((Greg Gillespie), Fight Club (David Fincher), Grizzly Man (Werner Herzog), Rebel Without a Cause (Nicholas Ray), Good Will Hunting (Gus Van Zant), Full Metal Jacket (Stanley Kubrick) Some Faces ofFeminism: A Search for Self Beloved (Toni Morrison), A Doll’s House (Henrik Ibsen), Thelma and Louise (Ridley Scott), Pan’s Labyrinth (Guillermo Del Toro), A Walk toBeautiful (Mary OliveSmith), Spirited Away (HayaoMiyazaki), Million Dollar Baby (Clint Eastwood)
Plus TwoSpecial Units for Seniors Only!! College Application Essay Research Paper *Movie study will not only focus onthese thematic elements, but also film technique (i.e. composition, editing,lighting, sound, music, etc.) and its effect on the audience. SPRING SEMESTER 2010 Thursday, 1/21/10 1. Fill out diploma cards 2. Pass back papers and journals 3. Intro to research paper unit--I'm going to walk you through the process of writing a research paper on film using my own example. In order to understand my research paper about adoption, you first need to watch Mike Leigh's Secrets and Lies, which is the focal point of my paper. 4. Begin watching film (which is admittedly slow and very character-based; you need to be patient and you need to pay attention because there will be a little quiz after the viewing; you also need to pay attention to the film so you can understand my essay. HW: Select two QUALITY films that resonate with you personally and/or socio-politically. For each film, write one page (typed, double-spaced) in which you explain why the film is important to you. The goal here is for you to find a film about a subject that is interesting and engaging to you and that will form the basis of your own research paper. NOTE: Here are the names of the major characters we've met so far in the film: Hortense Cumberbatch (black adoptee); Cynthia Purley (white birthmother; Maurice's older sister); Roxanne Purley (Cynthia's sourpuss biological daughter); Maurice Purley (brother of Cynthia; husband of Monica); and Monica Purley (the obsessive-compulsive housewife who can't have children), Monday, 1/25/10 1. Turn in film write-ups 2. Recap of Leigh's film and more background info; distribute article 3. Finish watching film 4. Journal #1 (start over for 2nd semester): Write a one-page review/response to the film. HW: ACTIVELY read the article "Genealogy Revised in Secrets and Lies" for 1/27/10 Wednesday, 1/27/10 1. Reading check (note: you will receive a "reading grade" at the end of each grading period that would reflect how consistently and carefully you've read the assigned text) 2. Discuss article on Secrets and Lies 3. Distribute Senior Research Paper packet--go over some logistics 4. Read over "Getting Started" & "Tips on Thesis Statements" 5. In notes section, write down at least 5 questions you've been pondering about society, culture, politics, science, history, etc. Share with group to determine if any question has the potential to be an RP topic 6. Group discussion/assessment of topics & theses 7. Distribute 'Questioning Authority" and read ACTIVELY HW: Type up 10 questions whose answers could be a potential thesis and actively read article for Friday, 1/29/10. NOTE: The following is the schedule for the Research Paper. Note that the big due date is Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Mark your calendars now! Senior Research Paper Requirements Length: Approx. 2500-3000 words (8-10 typed pages) Sources: Minimum of seven legitimate sources (“Legitimate”means books, journals, pamphlets, and websites associated with educationalinstitutions, the government, law, and business--look for .edu; .gov; and.org). The authors of these books/sites will have their own biases, but at least they are seen as having some knowledge in their fields. Given the open-ended nature of this paper, there may be other sources that qualify as “legitimate,” including certain personal interviews. Please note that you may use dictionaries and encyclopedias, but these texts do not count towards your seven sources.) Citations: Minimum of ten Format: Typed, double-spaced, 12-point font inTimes; must follow MLA guidelines Grading Thefinal version of your research paper will be graded based on the quality of your thesis, analysis, citations, structure, format, and bibliography (“Works Cited” page). The total point value for all the assignments in this unit is approximately 600--about 35% of your semester grade. You may not rewrite for a new grade any portion of this assignment. Any preliminary steps that you do not submit on the due date will receive half credit maximum. If you have not submitted a preliminary step within one week of the due date, you will receive a 0. If you fail to turn in a hard copy of your paper by 3:00 pm on Wednesday, Marcch 31, you will receive a 0 for the paper.You must also submit your paper to turnitin.com by 11:59 pm on March 31. MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW--THE RESEARCH PAPER IS DUE ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2010!!! Friday, 1/29/10 1. Turn in 10 questions and "Authority" article 2. Browse the internet for topics and relevant outside reading books (you may choose fiction or non-fiction, but it must relate to your RP topic, be at least 200 pages long, and have a degree of difficulty beyond Young Adult) 3. IC (individual consultations) HW: Bring lots of blank index cards (at least 50); on one of those cards, write down your topic. Meet in LL on Tuesday, 2/2/10. Tuesday, 2/2/10 1. Meet in LL 2. Turn in topic on index card 3. Now that you have your topic, it's time to research the current debates and conversations surrounding your topic and to take notes on that information on note cards (see p. 7 in packet). Make sure you fill out a source card for each source you take notes on--use MLA Works Cited format on each source card so you can make your life easier when you have to type up a Works Cited page. Instead of thinking of this project as a standard research paper on some overdone topic like gun control or euthanasia, think of this as a cultural studies project in which you look at the books, articles, films, TV shows, internet sites (in some cases, even music and TV commercials) that deal with your chosen topic and examine how and why your topic is important to American culture. 4. Being compiling note cards and source cards--25 note cards and 2 source cards are due at the end of the period on Thursday, 2/4/10. 5. Individual consultations HW: See #4; meet in LL Thursday, 2/4/10 1. A few notes about MLA format 2. Continue compiling note cards and source cards 3. Individual consultations HW: Turn in note cards and source cards at end of period--though you do have until tomorrow at 10 am (i.e. during tutorial) to turn in your cards and still receive full credit; meet in LL on Monday, 2/8/10; turn in preliminary thesis and get OR book checked Monday, 2/8/10 1. Turn in preliminary thesis 2. Distribute yellow handout with MLA format tips for Works Cited 3. OR check 4. Continue compiling note cards and source cards/ IC HW: Meet in main library on Wed, 2/10; 2nd set of note cards (25) and source cards (2) due at end of period Wednesday, 2/10/10 1. Pass back preliminary thesis 2. Time for some tough lovin'--many of your thesis statements are casual observations that any old uninformed chump could come up with--you need an ARGUMENT. Given the hours you have supposedly spent familiarizing yourself with the conversations and debates surrounding your topic, your perspective should be more informed. See blue handout for more lecture, sample thesis statements, and MLA updates. 3. Continue compiling note cards and source cards/ IC HW: MEET in ROOM 21 on Friday. Because my lecture infringed upon your research time, your 2nd set of note cards and source cards will be due at the beginning of the period on Friday, 2/12/10. With the 7th edition of MLA hot off the press, we will be going over the revised guidelines in class, so it's really important to have all the source card information. Friday, 2/12/10 1. Turn in 2nd set of note cards--keep all source cards out on desk 2. Distribute guidelines for revised MLA (7th edition)--correct MLA format on source cards as needed 3. Distribute outside reading assignment #2 4. Fill out a "progress report" for your research paper HW: Revised thesis due Tuesday, 2/23/10; read your OR book over break Tuesday, 2/23/10 1. Turn in revised thesis 2.. Pass back blue "progress report" 3. Distribute packet on outline help 4. Go to library and work on organizing your research in outline form--the more detailed the outline, the easier it will be to write your rough draft HW: TYPED outline due Thurs, 2/24/10--should be 11/2 to 2 pages single-spaced or 3 to 4 pages double-spaced; bring all note cards, source cards, and OR to class NOTE: I'm having Starbucks "office hours" tomorrow from 3 - 5:30 pm--drop by if you need help or want to buy me a mocha (ha ha). Make sure to go to the Starbucks near Petco on N. Santa Cruz Avenue, not the one on Blossom Hill where all the annoying Fisher kids hang out. Thursday, 2/25/10 1. Have outline and OR book out on desk 2. You read, I review (10 points for "good faith outline effort) 3. Discuss the ideas of a balanced "conversation" and go over rudimentary outline format 4. Go to library--work on outline, do OR, IC. Those of you who believe that your outline is fine as is, turn it in now. HW: You have until 2 pm tomorrow (Friday, 2/26) to turn in a hard copy of your (revised) outline before you incur a late "fine." Meet in library lab on Monday to begin work on first draft. Monday, 3/1/10 1. Meet in library lab--go over expectations for first 3 pages of rough draft 2. You have three options: turn outline into rough draft, type up Works Cited page, do outside reading HW: Meet in LL; Works Cited is due Wed, 3/3/10; first 3 pages of rough draft due Fri, 3/5/10--you must bring in TWO hard copies of your draft AND submit your draft to turnitin.com by 7:50 am (for 2nd period) or by 10:05 am (for 4th period) on Friday the 5th before I can grade your work. IMPORTANT ADDENDUM: Because I did not finish grading your outlines, you may stop by the Starbucks near Petco today from 3:15 - 4:45 pm or you may pick up your graded outline tomorrow at tutorial. If I don't see you at either time, I will pass back your graded outline on Wednesday. Also note that I will have Starbucks hours on Wed (the 3rd) from 3:30 - 5:30 pm for those of you who would like help on your rough draft Wednesday, 3/3/10 1. Meet in library lab; turn in Works Cited page 2. Pass back outlines; go over importance of a BALANCED "conversation" 3. Work on rough draft HW: Meet in classroom on Friday; bring TWO copies of 1st 3 pages of rough draft and make sure to submit your rough draft to turnitin.com. 2nd period deadline is 7:55 am; 4th period deadline is 10:05 am. Friday, 3/5/10 1. Turn in one copy of RD to blue bin 2. Go over Rough Draft Review Sheet (p. 9 in main RP packet) 3. Fill out peer reviews for 2 different writers, also making comments on the other copy of the RD 4. Turn in peer reviewed copy of RD to blue bin 5. Pass back Works Cited; address problem areas HW: FULL rough draft of paper due Thursday, 3/11/10 Tuesday, 3/9/10 Let me just take a moment to say how very sorry I am about Tom Gallie's death. I know that all of our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. This is a particularly difficult time for the whole community, and this week I would like to honor the various ways we all have of coping with grief and loss. Therefore, there are no deadlines this week. The full rough draft will be due Wednesday, 3/17/10. Options: 1. Go to community room, House 1, guidance, or library; 2. Work with me individually on RP; 3. Watch ET. Whichever option you choose, please take good, good care of yourselves and each other. ANNOUNCEMENT: I will be having Starbucks office hours tomorrow (Wed, 3/10) from 3 - 6 pm if you would help with your RP or just want to talk. (That's the Petco/N. Santa Cruz Starbucks, FYI.) Thursday, 3/11/10 1. Finish film/IC 2. Group activity HW: On Monday, 2nd period--meet in library; 4th period--meet in library lab; full rough draft due Wed, 3/17/10 Monday, 3/15/10 1. A note about due dates--basically, everything has been pushed back a week. Thus, the final version of your research paper will now be due on Wednesday, March 31. The outside reading assignment will now be due on Thursday, April 8. 2. Work on expanding your three-page rough draft to a SEVEN-page FULL draft for Wednesday, March 17. Also bring your Works Cited page to class on Wednesday (preferably revised, based on my comments) NOTE: I will be having Starbucks office hours tomorrow, March 16th, from 3 - 5:30 pm if you need extra help before the full draft is due on the 17th. Wednesday, 3/17/10 1. Have your full draft out on your desk so I can check it 2. Distribute pink peer review sheets and goldenrod one-sentence summary handout 3. Each person who has a draft should fill out two peer review sheets--they are worth points 4. After you've finished two peer reviews, go back to your own paper and fill out the one-sentence summary handout to determine how organized your draft is (or isn't) HW: For Friday, bring in your edited full draft, pink peer review sheet, golden handout, AND a REVISED version of the Works Cited page. Friday will be the last day that we'll work on the research paper as a class. I will have Starbucks office hours next Wednesday, March 24th, from 3-5:45 pm. I may have additional office hours if demand is high. Remember that the final version of your research paper is due Wednesday, March 31. Friday, 3/19/10 1. Turn in full final draft of RP--attach pink peer review sheet and goldenrod one-sentence summary to the back of the draft 2. Go over revised WC page, paying particular attention to spacing, indenting, and alphabetizing. 3. Time to get back into in-class writing shape! You have 45 minutes to write a five-paragraph essay on one of three topics. I want to see how "flabby" the group has become... HW: Big dates: March 31 and April 8. You know the specifics. Have fun at Sadies! Tuesday, 3/23/10 1. Pass back drafts w/ attachments 2. On the back of one-sentence summary sheet (goldenrod), write a one-to-two paragraph response to the following: The purpose of this exercise isto answer the "so what?" question about your paper. After you've done all this research, what difference does itall make? What do your researchand your analysis add to the general topic or debate? What can you contribute to the"conversation?" 3. Read "What Life Asks of Us" by David Brooks on institutional vs. individual thinking 4. Begin Gone Baby Gone HW: Bring barcode for Thursday; see above for major due dates. FYI: I will have Starbucks office hours from 3 - 5:45 pm tomorrow--zebra frap, anyone? Thursday, 3/25/10 1. Check out The Glass Castle (TGC) in textbook office 2. Pass back "so what?" responses and discuss how to avoid vagueness and platitudes (no Miss America or Dr. Phil) 3. Go over cross referencing with the Works Cited page so your reader has easy access to your research should she need to consult it 4. Continue film HW: Bring TGC, your outside reading book, and the grey handout on Monday, 3/29/10. I will more than likely have one more Starbucks session before the big due date (WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31) after school on Monday, from approx. 2:30 - 5:00 pm. When you DO turn in a hard copy of the final, flawlessly edited version of your research paper (with Works Cited as your last page of the paper), you must also turn in the 3-page draft that I graded, the 3-page draft that your peers reviewed (on purple sheet), and the 7-page draft that your peers reviewed (on pink sheet). Thus, I need a total of FOUR documents by 3 pm on Wednesday, March 31. If you are sick, you need to find someone else to bring these materials to me by 3 pm. By 11:59 pm that night, you need to submit your final paper (paper only, no Works Cited) to turnitin.com. Monday, 3/29/10 1. Finish film 2. Get in small groups and answer the following questions: a) Do you agree with Patrick's choice to call the police? List all the reasons why you agree and disagree. b) How would you have ended the film? Why? c) What are the film's strengths and weaknesses? d) Write down 3 questions you still have about the film 3. Discuss responses HW: See above for RP fun; bring The Glass Castle and your journal (remember that?!?) to class on Wednesday; period 2--turn in your grey sheet; period 4--bring your grey sheet--I will give you 10 or so minutes of class time to finish this. NOTE: I will have Starbucks office hours today from 2:30 - 5:00 pm. 'Wednesday, 3/31/10 1. Turn in the Beast with all necessary attachments 2. Finish filling out the grey GBG worksheet 3. Read aloud excerpts from the novel 4. Compare and contrast film and novel HW: Finish responses to questions on yellow sheet (front side only); read pp. 3 - 16 of The Glass Castle IMPORTANT REMINDER: DON'T FORGET TO SUBMIT YOUR FINAL PAPER TO TURNITIN.COM BY 11:59 PM TONIGHT!! No Works Cited, just the paper. Friday, 4/2/10 1. Reality check! "practice" reading quiz on pp. 3-16 in The Glass Castle (have you even checked out the book yet??) 2. Homework check--C&C side of yellow worksheet 3. Do morality exercise (other side of yellow sheet) and discuss "rankings" 4. Fill out charts examining both sides of Patrick's two biggest moral dilemmas: killing Corwin Earle and calling the police on Jack Doyle 5. Admin. miscellany re: film night, Friday potlucks HW: Read pp. 17-38 in TGC for Tuesday (and be prepared for open-note in-class essay on Gone Baby Gone); outside reading #2 assignment due Thursday, 4/8/10--I need a hard copy of your written work, any notes you have on your book, and your actual book to help me determine if you actually did the reading; you also need to submit the written work to turnitin.co that Thursday morning. For 2nd period, this means 7:55 am; for 4th period, this means 10:05 am. Tuesday, 4/6/10 1 Take reading quiz on pp. 17-38 in TGC 2. Go over revised CSU rubric 3. Score sample essays based on 6 point CSU scale 4. Begin in class essay on Gone Baby Gone HW: See above for outside reading #2 logistics; while I'm going over your OR work, you will have 30 minutes to finish your in-class essay and then 30 minutes of SSR so you can read pp. 39-66 in TGC. There will be a reading quiz on those pages, so if you know that you are a slow reader, get a head start now. Per numerous requests, here are the directions for the outside reading assignment: Outsidereading assignment #2 (in conjunction with Research Paper) Pointvalue: 150 Duedate: Thursday, April 8, 2010 Directions: This assignment must beTYPED. You need to turn in a hardcopy of the assignment and submit your work to turnitin.com at the beginning of the class period. You should also bring your book withyou, in case I have questions or need clarification. You may single-space or double-space your work. Although the tone can be more informal(i.e. you may use “I”), you should still proofread your work. Egregious sentence-level errors willlower your grade on this assignment. Please remember that one paragraph = 5-8 sentences, not 2! 1. Turn in allnotes and note cards you took on the book. Make sure you indicate the page number on which you foundthe material. 2. From yourfinal draft, cut and paste all quotations you used from the book as well as thecommentary you provided for each quotation. For the purposes of this outside reading assignment, youshould have at least three quotations + commentary. If you didn’tuse three in your paper, you will need to go back to the book or your notes onthe book and come up with three “meaty” quotations and write up the commentary. (3 ¶s minimum) 3. How helpfulwas the book in terms of your research? Did the book enhance your interest in your topic? Why or why not? (1 ¶ minimum) 4. Discuss howthe book affected you. Maybe ithas changed your way of looking at an issue, made you realize something aboutyourself, etc. This is NOT areview of the book. It is possiblethat you hated the book, but stillfound it influential. (1 ¶minimum) 5. Review thebook. Would you recommend it toothers? Why or why not? (1 ¶ minimum) Thursday, 4/8/10 1. Turn in hard copy of OR #2; have book/notes out on desk 2. Finish Gone Baby Gone in-class essay 3. Read pp. 39-66 in The Glass Castle and take brief reading quiz 4. Play educationally enriching game (ha ha) HW: Many of you need to meet with me about the OR #2 assignment--come in ASAP with your book so we can talk and get the assignment in the grade book by the end of 2nd grading period (which ends Friday, April 23, and then you're that much closer to graduation!!) HAVE A GREAT BREAK! Your only homework is to read pp. 67-90 of TGC for Monday, 4/19/10. TWO Extra Credit Opportunities! 1. MOVIE NIGHT: Based on Tuesday's votes, Movie Night will be on Thursday, April 22, at 7 pm in my room, room 21. We will be watching American Beauty, the Academy Award winning film by Sam Mendes. You will earn 15 extra credit points for attending Movie Night and typing up a one-page review of the film. Food logistics to be announced. 2. Bring your own copy of The Glass Castle to class by Friday, April 23, for 5 points of extra credit. We don't have enough copies in the textbook office, so here's a good way to free up some copies and earn some easy bonus points! Monday, 4/19/10 1. Take reading quiz on pp. 67-90 of The Glass Castle 2. Explain final Outside Reading/Outside Viewing assignment 3. Begin viewing Todd Field's film In the Bedroom, based on the short story "Killings" by Andre Dubus HW: Read pp. 91-125 in TGC for Wed, 4/21/10. Make sure to take care of any outside reading logistics (book, interview) by this Friday, 4/23/10, when 5th grading period closes. Wednesday, 4/21/10 1. Announcements: Tomorrow's Movie Night has been postponed until AP tests and Fractured Follies are over. However, you may still earn extra credit if you write a one-page (typed, double-spaced) review/recommendation of a film that is not on the syllabus. (The film you choose cannot be one that you wrote about for the Outside Viewing assignment, either.) Please select a film that you feel has merit and is worth everyone's time. (Thus, Hot Tub Time Machine and that ilk are not appropriate for this assignment.) To earn 10 extra credit points, you must turn in this review/recommendation by this Friday at noon. You still have the opportunity to earn 5 ridiculously easy extra points just by bringing your own copy of The Glass Castle and returning the school's copy to the textbook office. You need to show me your own copy by this Friday as well, as the 5th grading period looms largely. 2. Take RQ on pp. 91-125 in TGC 3. Recap film, focusing on dynamics among couples and trios ("two's company; three's a crowd). What will happen with Matt and Ruth? With Natalie and Frank? How does a person come to terms with a tragic event? 4. Continue watching In the Bedroom HW: Read pp. 127-158 in TGC for Friday, 4/23/10. Friday, 4/23/10 1. Take RQ on pp. 129-158 in TGC 2. Finish film 3. Journal: Write a full-page review of In the Bedroom 4. Debrief film HW: Read pp. 159-188 in TGC; we will read Dubus's short story in class on Tuesday, 4/27/10. Have you picked a book/film for OR/OV? It's due in about a month--get going! Tuesday, 4/27/10 1. Take RQ on pp. 159-188 in TGC 2. Pass back Gone Baby Gone essays with general commentary 3, In small groups, grade student sample papers on the 1-6 rubric 4. Begin reading Andre Dubus's short story "Killings" upon which In the Bedroom is based HW: Finish reading "Killings" in preparation for Thursday's in-class essay; on Monday, May 5, there will be a double reading quiz on TGC--pp. 189-217 AND pp. 218-241 Thursday, 4/29/10 1. Examine differences between Andre Dubus' story "Killings" and Todd Field's film In the Bedroom 2. Go to library lab--work on a first "crappy" draft of your essay--one solid page, single-spaced, of your thoughts, your ideas, your "brainstorms." Turn off the editor and think aloud on the page. 3. Email your first draft to yourself. Highlight the good parts, make an outline so you stay organized, and turn your "barf" into a glorious and beautiful five-paragraph essay. Crappy draft and revised version will be due next Friday, May 7. Make sure to submit your revision to turnitin.com by 11:59 pm Friday night. HW: Double RQ on TGC; pp. 189-217 AND pp. 218-241 Monday, 5/3/101. Take RQ on pp. 189-217 in TGC 2. Discuss "masculinity myths" and "femininity myths" and the price/cost involved in buying into these myths 3. Read excerpt from The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien; compare and contrast that with "Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell 4. Begin watching Lars and the Real Girl 5. Pass back research papers w/ general commentary HW: To simplify things, we'll have a reading quiz on pp. 218-241 in TGC on Wed, 5/5/10 and a final reading quiz on pp. 245-end on Fri, 5/7/10. Also due this Friday--ITB/"Killings" essay--see above) Wednesday, 5/5/10 1. Take RQ on pp. 218-241 in TGC 2. Recap film and characters 3. Continue watching Lars and the Real Girl HW: Final RQ on TGC on Friday and crappy 1st draft and revised version of ITB/Killings essay due Friday, May 7. Make sure to submit your revision to turnitin.com by 11:59 pm Friday night. Friday, 5/7/10 1. Turn in revised and "crappy" versions of ITB/Killings essay (don't forget turnitin by 11:59 pm tonight!) 2. Take final RQ on The Glass Castle 3. Recap and finish Lars and the Real Girl 4. Journal #2 (2nd period); Journal #3 (4th period): Write a full page response to the film HW: Have you picked out your OR/OV book yet? It's due May 25--get going! Wednesday, 5/12/10 & Thursday, 5/13/10 Given that it's the second week of APs, there's STAR testing, Fractured Follies, and the Great America trip on Friday, let's just say this is going to be a low-key week. Early next week I will model and explain the Senior Statements which begin on Tuesday, 6/1/10. Monday, 5/17/10 1. Distribute Senior Statement directions (see below for specifics) 2. Model statement 3. Being mini-unit on positive psychology HW: 2 big due dates left--OR/OV #2 due Tues, 5/25/10; Sen. Stat. starting Thurs, 5/27/10 Final Project: The SeniorStatement
Forthis project, I have given you the very vague topic, "Who Am I?" onpurpose, so that you have as much flexibility with this final "exam"as possible. For those of you whoare having a bit of identity crisis as you approach your final days of high schooland the beginning of the "real world" as adults, not adolescents,this presentation may provide you with an opportunity to clarify what and whoyou really are--aside from your role as Student, the role that you have beenforced to take on since age five. This project also gives the other members of this class (myselfincluded) a chance to see what you are like apart from your LGHS persona.
Yourseven-to-ten minute presentation canincorporate as little or as much of your life as you wish. Perhaps you want only to show us a"day in the life of...". Maybe you'd like to show us how you got from Point A (freshman year) toPoint B (senior year). Maybe the mostauthentic way you can represent yourself is through poetry or songs orsoccer. Whichever way(s) youdecide, it must be clear to the audience HOW and WHY you have chosen the thingsyou have.
Mygreatest hope for you as you put together and then perform thisautobiographical exercise is that you TAKERISKS. Go out on a limb. You will earn a better grade as well asthe respect and admiration of all of us. The best way to learn is to break out of your comfort zone. Please do NOT merely sit in a chair andimprovise.
Iwill assess your presentation based on the following elements:
Content: Thecontent of the presentation definitely answered the question, "Who amI?" The speaker made aconcerted effort to break out of his or her "comfort zone" and takerisks.
Preparation/Organization: Thespeaker's preparation for the presentation was thorough and clearly obvious,and the speech was ordered in some sort of fashion, not merely thrown togetherat the last minute. NOTE: You should practice your speech at least three times before presentingit--and use a stopwatch. Do NOTmake the day your speech is due a "trial run." (Trust me on this one!) You may use a few note cards, but youshould not read from them or rely upon them excessively.
Originality: Thespeaker's presentation was one-of-a kind and thus enforced the idea behind thepresentation that we are all different with various strengths and struggles.
Delivery: Thespeaker engaged with the audience, showed the appropriate amount of enthusiasm,spoke with clarity, energy, and expression, and observed the 7-10 minute timelimit.
This presentation is worth 200 points. Make the most of it! Presentationsbegin on Thursday, May 27, 2010 GOOD LUCK!! Wednesday, 5/19/10 1. Due to technical difficulties, we will not watch American Beauty until Friday, when I may or may not have a fully functioning larynx 2. Continue mini-unit on positive psychology--defenses, dream list 3. Journal #3 (2nd period)/#4 (4th period): Write about how you feel before and after a timed writing in which you list everything and anything that makes you happy. When completed, answer the following questions: a. How do I feel about what I've written? Surprised? Frustrated? b. Was it difficult for me to come up with things? Did I "freeze up" as I wrote? c. How much of the list reflects who I really am? How much reflects what I've been told to enjoy or desire? 4. Group discussion on centralizing (i.e. prioritizing) happiness and what gets in the way. You know what you need to do for homework. 'nough said. Friday, 5/21/10
OK,here is the deal TODAY…
Istill have a crappy voice and still have a crappy projector. The light bulb is about go out and it’sthe end of year so why bother.
ThereWILL be a viewing of American Beauty, on Tuesday night, May 25, for extracredit in Mr. Rogers’ room, room 303, at 6:45 pm. For 15 extra credit points, you have to watch the entiremovie AND type up a one page, double spaced review of the film, due at thebeginning of class on Thurs, 5/27.
Wouldyou like to why I have made this decision?
Well,we have two more classes before the Senior Statements start. Realistically speaking, you will neversee each other again once June 11 is over. So I would like to spend these last two classes doingmore positive psychology stuff because I think it make the SS moreinteresting—you get to know each other a little better now, for the SS. You can always watch a movie. You can always play Scattergories. You can’t always talk about otherstuff, life stuff. So, that is whythe movie is extra credit.
1. Check in about short-termintentions & pick a new intention. 2. Journal #6: Fears, struggles, disappointments, and appreciation 3. Sign up for SeniorStatements (they will begin in less than a week!) HW: Do I even need towrite it down? You know what isdue on Tuesday, May 25. Tuesday, 5/25/10 1. Turn in OR/OV assignment (don't forget to submit your work to turnitin.com by 11:59 pm tonight!) 2. Short-term intention check in 3. Finish mini-unit on positive psychology 4. Last journal entry: ways in which you are giving; fill in the blanks: "I pretend that ____. The truth is _____" and elaborate upon one of these statements HW: Journals are due Thursday, 5/27/10--6 entries for 2nd period; 7 entries for 4th period; MOVIE NIGHT tonight, 6:45 pm, room 303 (Rogers' room, underneath library). Bring $ if you want pizza; bring other snacks or drinks. If you can't make it tonight, you can watch American Beauty on your own and type up a one-page double-spaced review of the film and turn it in at the beginning of class on Thursday (when you turn in your journals and we start Senior Statements). If you come to Movie Night, you don't have to type your review (that's a little carrot for some of you...) 1. Turn in journals and E.C. 2. Senior statements For the rest of the year, we will be doing Senior Statements, so this is my last entry on this website. CONGRATULATIONS on your graduation and THANK YOU for the good times and lessons learned. Best of luck out there in the "real world!!!!" :) Ms. D. |
