Great Expectations: Photo Post

Find a photo that relates to something in this week's reading. The photo should be an interpretation of a scene or idea from one of the chapters we're covering this week - anything from chapter 17 through 25. In selecting a photo, attempt to show your unique perspective on the novel and a thorough and sensitive understanding of the idea or scene that the photo represents. No movie photos and nothing too "literal." For example, don't choose a photo of an an old building and write about how the building looks like somewhere Pip visits in London.

Post your photo on your blog - the photo should appear on your blog rather than a link to the photo. Write a paragraph explaining how your photo relates to something specific in this week's reading. Be sure the specific scene or idea from the reading is described accurately and thoughtfully and conveys your unique interpretation of the photo.

Post and comment by Friday, March 5.

Great Expecations: The First Stage

The last sentence in chapter 9 reads:

Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.

Respond to this quote.

• What is Pip referring to? 
• How has this day altered him?
• How has Pip's character developed on this "memorable day?"
• Think of a memorable day in your life that began your "chain." How can the formation of your character or the person you are now be traced back to one life-altering day?

Write two paragraphs.  The first paragraph should discuss Pip's experience and the second paragraph should describe your own personal experiences.

Post and comment by Friday, February 26.

Great Expectations - Annotations

We are starting Charles Dickens' Great Expectations next week. You will be required to read and annotate the novel for homework on a daily basis. I will not be providing post-its for annotating. Please acquire some sticky notes over the holiday weekend. You may want to consider purchasing your own copy of the novel so you can annotate directly in the text without needing sticky notes - it's faster and easier that way.

Enjoy the long weekend!

Collaborating on Your Group Essay: Commentary and the Three-Fold Transition Sentence

Before you begin your post, please keep in mind that you need to have the core of your paragraph (all concrete details and commentary) complete or nearly complete.

Post: Write a post to your group members describing the three points you are making in your body paragraph and the commentary you are writing to tie the concrete details to your group’s thesis. In other words, tell your group members what you are writing about. By now your group should have made sure that you are each using different concrete details within your own paragraph, so this post should focus on the commentary. Discuss how your commentary specifically supports the thesis.

Comment: Read each of your group members’ posts and comment back to them. Your comment should include your critique of how their commentary supports the thesis and give them ideas for their three-fold transition sentence. Give each member of your group an idea for how they can transition from or to your paragraph and refer subtly to the thesis without being overly repetitive. *The comments are each worth 10 points and need to be substantial and thoughtful.

The Three-Fold Transition Sentence:

1. Refers subtly to the idea discussed in the previous paragraph
2. Refers briefly to the overall thesis idea
3. Refers more specifically to any new ideas to be discussed in the next paragraph.

See the back of your body paragraph graphic organizer for helpful examples of the three-fold transition sentence.

The Importance of Being Earnest/Victorian Research

Explain how your Victorian era research has enhanced your understanding of the play. Write two paragraphs in which you discuss what you learned and what it specifically relates to in the play. Use concrete details from the play to clarify your points and relate them to your knowledge of the Victorian era.

This blog post is worth 25 points - be sure to write two well-developed, thoughtful paragraphs in which you showcase a thorough understanding of both the play and the era in which it was written.

Post and comment on a classmate's blog by Friday, January 29.

New Year's Resolution

Extra Credit! Due Tuesday, January 5, 2010

As you celebrate the New Year, take a few minutes to think about something you could do to improve your life or make yourself a better person. You new year's resolution should be something that you dedicate yourself to for the duration of 2010 - in other words, set an on-going goal for yourself and start working toward it immediately.

Think carefully. What are your shortcomings? What about you needs improvement? What types of things could you do now to help you achieve your goals in the future?

For instance, if lack of organization is keeping you from reaching your maximum academic potential, you may resolve to put everything in it's place rather than just shove things in your backpack, desk drawers, closet, etc. Or maybe you feel so tired after school that you tend to confine yourself to the couch and watch t.v. all afternoon and you feel like you don't have much fun on the weekdays. You could resolve yourself to exercising or eating a nutritious snack when you get home to get your energy level up and then head out with friends and have fun before dinner.

Think for a while about what you would like to improve about yourself or your life and make a new year's resolution. Write at least two paragraphs - one focusing on your inspiration for this goal (your shortcomings or areas for improvement) and the other focused on the goal itself and your on-going plan for achievement.

This needs to be realistic and must be something you can work on every month of the year - not just during one sport season, etc. The goal does not have to be academic. Plan carefully! I'm going to check in with you on this throughout the second half of the school year.

Good luck and happy 2010!

Animal Farm Project: Post to Blog by Thursday, 12/17

Animal Farm Project

DIRECTIONS: Create an artistic project that portrays how one of the themes is shown in the novel and post it to your blog. Present the project in class on Thursday, December 17.

Projects must be posted to your blog - each group member must post his/her project by the due date.

Ideas for projects include:

Group options (up to three or four people can get credit for the same project if they all contribute equally to the production of the project.)

·      Make a movie – either live action or stop-animation (Playmobile/Lego/other toys, etc.) Be sure it is clear that your characters are animals (some type of costume, such as pig ears or noses, would be appropriate). Extra credit is available for quality work.

·      Movie trailer – use voice over, titles and music to show a theme’s usage in several scenes from the book.

·      Write and perform a song. Record the song and post it or post the lyrics and perform the song in class.

Individual options

·      Write a narrative or epic poem (at least one page in length).

·      Create a representation of one of the themes and its impact on the novel using Photoshop.

·      Make a children’s book or comic strip teaching important lessons using a computer drawing program.

·      Your own idea – see Mrs. Gilman for approval prior to beginning.

Presentation/Writing:

·      Before you show your project to the class, give a brief (30-60 second) speech about the theme of your choice and its impact on the novel. Showcase your in-depth understanding of the novel. All group members must participate in the presentation.

·      Write a page of analysis of the theme’s use in the novel and write COMMENTARY on how your project highlights the theme. GROUP PROJECTS – Specifically describe what you contributed to the project and how much time you spent working with your group.

Grading Criteria: 50 points possible

·      Projects will be evaluated on relevance to the novel, understanding of the theme, effort, and creativity.

·      Writing will be graded on insightful understanding of the theme and use of commentary.