Monday, December 6

ENGLISH - 2nd trimester – Day 6

Had our Literature books scanned in main office (if new book was issued this trimester)

Wrote about the advantages of meeting people who are different than you? Discussed the disadvantages too.

Discussed the relative size of our individual and our collective worlds (according to geography and age)

Introduced to Shakespeare’s use of unusual word order and its poetic advantage – re: “I ate the sandwich”

Also likened this word order to the poetry of popular song lyrics and to Yoda from Star Wars – Why didn’t the writers of Star Wars have Yoda speak more simply? How would the character have been different?

Rewrote a sentence from today's journal in Shakespearean/Yoga style

Exit slip: Wrote a 10+ word response, Shakespeare-style, to the following question: What did we do or learn in English class today? COLLECTED.

ENGLISH homework:

None.

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PLAYWRITING - 1^st trimester – Day 6

Check homework: a short script about a character that includes 2 “actions.”

What kinds of people fascinate you in real life?

Watch video excerpt from The Odd Couple (Neil Simon) – showing “character.”

Took notes on Aristotle’s 6 elements of drama and character.

1. Created a character. A protagonist. Perhaps it’s a character based on a real-life person, perhaps it’s one you’ve imagined.
1. In one to two pages, write a brief biographical sketch of this person. You are creating a fictional character, but don’t be afraid to base this character on a person or persons from real life. Maybe the character is you. Maybe it’s someone you hardly know. Choose the character’s birthdate, birthplace, and where the character grew up. Choose the character’s family, social and economic background.
2. Next describe a few key events in that character’s life – deaths, winning the lottery, childhood scars. Now look at your biography. Is it interesting enough? Could the events and actions you’ve imagined be altered to create a more interesting person? Is there any hint of a rebellious spirit?
3. Revise the biography. Play with different possibilities, different actions and events. Has your biography brought your character to a point in his or her life where a potential high-pressure crisis is suggested? The kind of crisis that could start a play?

PLAYWRITING homework:

Finish 1-2 page biographical sketch