Friday, December 16, 2011

ENGLISH - 1^st trimester – Day 15

After attendance, move your tables into test-taking position!

Took vocabulary test (affixes: prefixes and suffixes)

SECOND TIME AROUND: After the test, please take an index card and write a note of thanks to a teacher, secretary, custodian, administrator, or cafeteria staff who has done something nice for you this year. I will put them in their mailboxes before we leave for break. You wouldn't believe how much this will mean to them!

Graded capitalization and vocabulary tests

Using our literary terms handout, review the definition of simile, metaphor, and personification

Identified metaphor, simile, personification in 7 examples from “The Most Dangerous Game”

Identified 3 kinds of irony with comics and scenarios

Homework:

Do NOT bring Literature book Tuesday.

Enjoy your Holiday break

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PLAYWRITING – Day 15

Finished rehearsing and performing another script from your group

Watched The Odd Couple – Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau (1967)

Collected scripts.

PLAYWRITING homework:

None.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

ENGLISH - 1^st trimester – Day 14

1. BEFORE I collect your homework, complete the following:
1. Number your story 1 – 25.
2. Staple it ON TOP OF the graph (stapler on center table)
3. On a separate paper, number it 1 – 20 for today’s capitalization test.
4. After attendance, move your tables into test-taking position!
2. Take the capitalization test (20 questions)
3. After turning in your test, take out your Latin/Greek prefixes and suffixes sheet
1. Create what you think the 10 question test will look like tomorrow.

                                                              i.      Do NOT fill in the answers.

2. Q & A
3. Think about your list of 25 events in your life as I read the following story:
1. “The Farmer’s Luck” by Jon J. Muth -  from Zen Shorts
4. Write a new paragraph for “The Farmer’s Luck” using one of the events from your list of 25
5. Next sentence type introduced – “5-things sentence”…(choose five items from the room then write them into a sentence by forming a relationship or connection between the items…) then choose 5 words from this week’s prefix/suffix list and tried the same thing

ENGLISH homework:

Study Latin/Greek affix packet for Friday’s affix test. Know all 6 affixes on handout and at least one word from the handout that uses each affix.

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PLAYWRITING – Day 14

Performances – DAY 2

Rehearse and perform another script from your group.

PLAYWRITING homework:

None

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

ENGLISH - 1^st trimester – Day 13

WARMUP:

1. Check homework:
1. List of 25
2. Graph of 25
2. Write YOUR FIRST and LAST NAME on your GRAPH.
1. Exchange your GRAPH ONLY (not your list) with a classmate.
3. Complete capitalization outline
4. Using someone’s personal plotline as a guide, write a story about an inanimate object that experiences highs and lows in the same order. Number your paper 1 – 25. Due tomorrow.

ENGLISH homework:

Finish your inanimate object story – it must be numbered 1 – 25.

STAPLE IT to your classmate’s graph

Study for tomorrow’s capitalization test

Study Latin/Greek affix packet for Friday’s affix test. Know all 6 affixes on handout and at least one word from the handout that uses each affix.

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PLAYWRITING – Day 13

Continue scripting your scene from yesterday – 15 minutes

Performances – DAY 1

PLAYWRITING homework:

None

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

ENGLISH - 1^st trimester – Day 12

WARMUP:

1. Get a manila folder from the center table. Erase the name and hour and NEATLY WRITE your name and hour
2. Create test folders – return all graded work including “Most Dangerous Game” take-home tests from Friday
3. Fill-in this week’s Latin/Greek affix sheet (prefixes and suffixes) – this will be your vocabulary sheet for this week’s test on Friday
4. Capitalization practice
1. (test Thursday)
5. BEGIN HOMEWORK: Discussed how to create a personal plotline that includes 25 highs and lows of our own lives over the last few years (finish for homework) – number the plotline (graph) and make a numbered key for your reference.

Homework:

Create a personal plotline that includes 25 highs and lows from your life

1.      List your 25 points, chronologically

2.      On a separate paper (or neatly on the same), map the same 25 points (showing the highs and lows, graphically)

Study for Thursday's capitalization test

Study Latin/Greek affix packet for Friday’s affix test. Know all 6 affixes on handout and at least one word from the handout that uses each affix.

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PLAYWRITING – Day 12

Continue scripting and begin staging your scene from yesterday

PLAYWRITING homework:

None

Monday, December 12, 2011

1^st trimester – Day 11

WARMUP:

1. Watch Capitalization video in class, then, using your book (and your notes), create a detailed outline about “The Most Dangerous Game” – work with a partner at your table???
2. Follow up on “John Updike” sentences – showed student examples then inferred what the author was saying - literal vs. suggested
1. Create another “Updike” sentence...inferred what the author meant to say
3. Wrote down a series of prefixes and thought of words that used them:

1. a-, ab-, abs-

2. a-, an-

3. acr-, acro-  

4.  alt-, alti-  

5.  ambi-  

6.  ant-, anti-

4. Continued with capitalization work – reviewed answers - announced capitalization test date – Wednesday

Homework:

None.

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PLAYWRITING – Day 11

Read a sampling of student scripts

Finish your script from Friday

Show Will Ferrell spoof of A Chorus Line (lyrics by Edward Kleban, music by Marvin Hamlisch) in Land of the Lost.

Show excerpts from Gypsy (music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim), Guys and Dolls (music and lyrics by Frank Loesser), A Chorus Line (lyrics by Edward Kleban, music by Marvin Hamlisch.)

Next, bring both your protagonist and antagonist together into the same room (or space). Look back at the action you created for your protagonist. REWRITE the actions putting both characters in the same action.

Write what happens (in paragraph form).

Finally, define the conflict in one sentence.

Script your scene from above.

PLAYWRITING homework:

None.

Friday, December 9, 2011

1^st trimester – Day 10

After attendance, we’ll take both parts our test:

1.      Vocabulary test (lesson 1)

a.       Turn it into me…

2.      “The Most Dangerous Game” test

a.       Turn it in to me when you’re done…begin #3 immediately

3.      After you’ve turned in both tests, imagine that the only things the cyborg understands about how real human beings are to behave is from what he learns from “The Most Dangerous Game”

·         Write down 5 POSITIVE THINGS that he would learn about the behavior of humans if we inputted the story “The Most Dangerous Game” into his memory.

Grade vocabulary tests

Read the poem “Television” by Roald Dahl

How to Write – Day 1 - show Ted Williams video - Sentence structure mimicking – wrote like John Updike

Reminder: This week's video lecture: Watch and take notes on THE RULES of OUTLINING for Monday.

Homework:

Watch and take notes on THE RULES of OUTLINING for Monday.

See blog entry for THURSDAY, December 8 for links and details: http://mrvanbragtonline.blogspot.com/

Bring Literature book Monday

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PLAYWRITING – Day 10

1.      Create a concrete goal for your protagonist.

a.       A want. A need. A desire. Just one. Concrete, not abstract. Write it down.

2.      “Character is action; action is character.” Create an action that tells us what kind of person your character is. (Example: A young boy steals a purse from an old lady.)

a.       Write the action down.

                                                  i.      Is the action connected to a concrete goal?

b.      What does it show you about your character?

c.       Does he get what he wants? Or does he run into an obstacle?

3.      Next, bring both your protagonist and antagonist together into the same room (or space). Look back at the action you created for your protagonist. REWRITE the actions putting both characters in the same action.

a.       Write what happens (in paragraph form).

b.      Finally, define the conflict in one sentence.

4.      Script your scene from above.

PLAYWRITING homework:

None.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

ENGLISH - 1^st trimester – Day 8

Check homework: 4 made up sentences; 4 different points of view (re: “The Most Dangerous Game”)

Create fill-in-the-blank sentences that requires the blank to be filled in with 1 of this week’s vocabulary words – do NOT INCLUDE THE ANSWER. Write the answers on a separate paper.

Using page 4 of your Literary Terms handout, read about the 3 types of IRONY – and how and where it is used in “The Most Dangerous Game” - we considered the irony of the gargoyle on Zaroff's front door

Explain this week's video lecture: Watch and take notes on THE RULES of OUTLINING for Monday.

Continued unscrambling sentences

Homework:

1.      Study for vocabulary test on Friday (20 fill-in-the-blank sentences – you provide the correct vocabulary word for each sentence)

2.      Test on “The Most Dangerous Game” Friday

3.    Watch and take notes on THE RULES of OUTLINING for Monday.

To download and watch the video, please click the link below:

Outlining video

If all else fails, click on the following links and take notes from the 2 websites listed below:

Outlining website 1 of 2 and Outlining website 2 of 2

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PLAYWRITING – Day 9

Summarize what we read about character yesterday – feel free to use your notes

Finish reading – beginning with “Characters in Conflict” (pg. 29-33)

NOTES:

• Antagonist – the opposer of the action; anyone or anything that tries to get in the protagonist’s way or stop him in any way

A good antagonist is: A strong villain, A loved one, Fate – “a god”, Society, Weather, Chance, luck, circumstance – a random act, Oneself

In class assignment: create an antagonist for your protagonist – for today, the antagonist has to be a person – write that person’s biography.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH (like you did for your protagonist):

a.       Today you will learn how to create a character - an antagonist. Perhaps it’s a character based on a real-life person, perhaps it’s one you’ve imagined.

                          i.      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…EVERYTHING.

                        ii.      Next describe 3 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?

                      iii.      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:

None

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

ENGLISH - 1^st trimester – Day 7

WARMUP:

1. Finish 10 conflict assignment from yesterday
1. For each conflict, also tell

                                                              i.      Internal or external

                                                            ii.      Man vs. ?

2. Complete PROOFREADING assignment (capitalization)
1. See monitors for details.
3. Number paper 1 – 15,
1. Complete MDG CONFLICT work
4. Complete PLOT handout (on monitors and with each other) – COLLECTED – write out the details for each of the 6 plot points for “The Most Dangerous Game”…starting with exposition, ending with resolution (see your notes for details)
5. Using your Literary Terms handout (page 2) – read the “Point of View” paragraph noting the 3 different kinds of narrators – then make up one sentence for the story “The Most Dangerous Game” using each of the 4 kinds of narrators – HOMEWORK: TO BE CHECKED TOMORROW IN CLASS
6. Sentence “chunking” – meaningless vs. meaningful

ENGLISH Homework:

1. Complete plotline (1-6) for “The Most Dangerous Game”
2. Make up one sentence for each of the 4 kinds of narrators from the story “The Most Dangerous Game” (1^st person, objective, limited omniscient, omniscient)
3. Study for vocabulary test on Friday (20 fill-in-the-blank sentences – you provide the correct vocabulary word for each sentence)
4. Test on “The Most Dangerous Game” Friday

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PLAYWRITING – Day 8

Listed what we thought made up a “good” character

Considered if our lives would make for good characters in a play

Read about “Character” from The Art & Craft of Playwriting (pg. 22 - 28) – and took NOTES

Homework:

None

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

ENGLISH - 1^st trimester – Day 6

WARMUP:

1. Check homework: vocabulary handout #1-13
2. Wrote down “Rules of Capitalization” handout

Q&A on Capitalization (including this warmup)?

Discussed the ending of “The Most Dangerous Game”

Complete the following:

Because “The Most Dangerous Game” ended with…

I predict…

Show grade sheet and how to read it

Make list of 10 conflicts (large and small) from MDG

Label each internal or external ?

            Then label each as which of the following 7 Types of conflict:

                                    Man vs. Self                          Man vs, Machine

                                    Man vs. Man                         Man vs. The Unknown

                                    Man vs. Society                    Man vs. The Supernatural

                                    Man vs. Nature

Homework:

Study for vocabulary test on Friday (20 fill-in-the-blank sentences – you provide the correct vocabulary word for each sentence)

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PLAYWRITING – Day 7

Check homework: 1-2 page biographical sketch

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

Performances – In the same acting groups as before, using one of the scripts from the other day, keeping in mind that an action must have 2 parts, and keeping a character in trouble, perform the script. (Remember that we write not to be read but to be performed.)

PLAYWRITING homework:

None.

Monday, December 5, 2011

ENGLISH - 1^st trimester – Day 6

WARMUP:

1. Pick up a copy of this week’s vocabulary words (on center table)
1. You will have a fill-in-the-blank test on Friday
2. Complete “Exercise I” (#1, 2) on the back of the handout
1. After 5 minutes (or so) review the answers to Exercise I only. (see ANSWER KEY)

                                                              i.      Students are to finish Exercise I (#1, 2) and II (#1-13) for homework.

3. Introduction to “Book Pass” (aka “Book Tasting”)

Homework:

Finish vocabulary Exercise I (#1, 2) and II (#1-13) for homework.

Bring Literature book tomorrow.

Study for vocabulary test on Friday (20 fill-in-the-blank sentences – you provide the correct vocabulary word for each sentence)

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PLAYWRITING – Day 6

WARMUP:

1. Collect homework: a 2-3 page script about a character that includes 2 “actions.”
2. What kinds of people fascinate you in real life?
3. Read from The Art & Craft of Playwriting pages 11 – 12.
4. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:
1. Today you will learn how to create a character - a protagonist. Perhaps it’s a character based on a real-life person, perhaps it’s one you’ve imagined.

                                                              i.      In approx. 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…EVERYTHING.

                                                            ii.      Next describe 3 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?

                                                          iii.      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 a, b, c  (biographical sketch)

Friday, December 2, 2011

ENGLISH - 1^st trimester – Day 5

WARMUP:

1.      Collected homework (or a pink sheet if you don’t have it):

a.       signed Contact Information Sheet – just the last sheet

b.      3 inferences (from yesterday)

2.      Pick up copy of Literary Terms handout – review “plotline” and “conflict”

3.      Explained homework:

a.       Watch Capitalization video on blog for Monday: Find “Friday, December 2, 2011” and click on video link there: http://mrvanbragtonline.blogspot.com/

4.      Listened to ENTIRE reading of “The Most Dangerous Game” in Literature book p. 19 – end (or finish for homework)

5.      As you listen, complete plotline for MDG (1 – 6) – exposition, conflict, rising action, etc.

Homework:

Watch Capitalization video on blog for Monday: Find “Friday, December 2, 2011” and click on video link there: http://mrvanbragtonline.blogspot.com/

Finish reading “The Most Dangerous Game” in Literature book p. 19 – end.

Finish filling in the plotline (#1 – 6) for “The Most Dangerous Game”

Remind parents to send me a brief email from their preferred email address with student name in the Subject line (if they haven’t already done so).

Capitalization video:




Try this version on your iPod:

If you have trouble opening these versions of the video, please go to the following website and take your notes from it:

17 Capitalization Rules



Thursday, December 1, 2011

ENGLISH - 1^st trimester – Day 4

1. Write your name, date, and hour on your homework and put it out in front of you (to be collected)
2. If you do not have your book, WITHOUT ASKING ME, go to locker and get your Literature book (the purple one).
1. Then write your name on the inside cover
3. Begin writing a paragraph with the word “I…” (TO BE COLLECTED)
1. But pretend you are a deer on opening day of hunting, tell us what is happening and what you are thinking (inner conflict).

                                                              i.      EXAMPLE: “I never look forward to opening day…”

1.      share on Elmo?

4. 60 second PREVIEW of “The Most Dangerous Game” – formed first impressions of short story

Began reading “The Most Dangerous Game” in Literature book pgs. 16 - 24

Began writing 3 predictions/inferences from the story using the following format: “Because the story says…I predict..."

ENGLISH Homework:

Finish 3 inferences for tomorrow.

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PLAYWRITING – Day 4

Check homework: Recall an incident from your past, one that had a profound effect on you, changing the course of your life.  Write the story of this incident in “Once upon a time” fashion, like a fairy tale. Write it down in a few sentences or paragraphs.

With your homework, identify the actions that took place in the story.

a.       What actions caused these actions and in turn caused others?

b.      How did you use actions to tell the story of this incident?

c.       Did you tell the story in linear sequence, or was there a reason to tell some parts of the story out of sequence?

d.      What role, if any, did chance, coincidence, accident, fate, the weather, or dumb luck play in the story?

Read pages 752-753 from Elements of Literature and take notes. Next, read page 759.

PLAYWRITING homework:

None.