Poetry Out Loud Performances

Go to the Poetry Out Loud website (poetryoutloud.org) and watch at least two performances, in addition to the performances we watched in class. Write two paragraphs about one of the performances in which you discuss how the student conveys the meaning of the poem with his/her performance.

The first paragraph should primarily discuss the effectiveness of the performance. Include language from the scoring criteria (physical presence, voice and articulation, etc.) The second paragraph should deal with your interpretation of the poem's meaning, with an emphasis on how specific details of the performance enhances the meaning. Be sure to include the title of the poem.

Due Friday, December 4.

Mockingbird Motif

At the beginning of the year we discussed the meaning of "motif" as it relates to a work of literature. How has reading To Kill a Mockingbird enhanced your understanding of the term "motif?" What is the "mockingbird motif" and how does it add a symbolic level of meaning to the other themes in the novel?

Write at least two well-developed paragraphs in which you address the questions above. Showcase your understanding of the characters, events, and themes in the novel as well as your ability to analyze literature thoroughly and with insight.

Post due Friday, November 20.

Extra Credit: Symbolism

Find and post a photo of something that you interpret as symbolic of one of the character's you are portraying in this week's dramatic reading. Briefly state why you think this symbol accurately represents the character.

To receive extra credit you must:

• Post a photo on your blog.
• The photo must be symbolic (not a picture of a person who reminds you of the character for whatever reason.)
• Spell the character's name correctly.
• Briefly explain your choice of symbol.

This post is due Saturday, November 14.

Life Lessons

In To Kill a Mockingbird Scout learns many lessons from her father, Atticus. Atticus' insightful observations about life help Scout to understand the world around her and the actions of adults. This week we will be discussing indirect characterization of Atticus - specifically, things he says that impact his children.

Think of something insightful that one of your parents or another influential adult may have told you. This should be something meant to help you understand the world around you or the actions of others that resonated - something that you have thought about or considered since.

Write two paragraphs: the first paragraph should explain the context and what was said, the second paragraph should discuss when and how you have thought of this since and the life lesson you learned as a result.

Post and comment by Friday, November 6.

Characterization: Your Best Friend

As we read To Kill a Mockingbird we will be focusing on how the author, Harper Lee, creates vivid characters through both direct and indirect characterization. Characters are created by both what the author directly tells us about them as well as by what they do, say, think, look like, and what other characters say or act around them.

Think about your best friend and the things that make him/her unique. Write a paragraph of indirect characterization - details about his/her physical appearance, things he/she does, opinions or thoughts, things he/she says, or how other people perceive him/her. Write about things that show his/her personality.

Then write a paragraph of direct chacterization - tell specifically what type of person he/she is. This paragraph should be a reflection of the previous - for example I might write that my best friend built her own bed and doesn't own a t.v. in the first paragraph and then write that she is creative and a non-conformist in the second.

Each paragraph should be well-written, well-developed, descriptive, thoughtful, and interesting. If your best friend is not very interesting you can write about someone else!

Post and comment on a classmate's blog by Friday, October 30.
Extra credit! Use words from Word Power, Session 1. You must embolden or underline the words to receive extra credit and use them correctly in context.

Point of View: 1st Person

This week we will be discussing and analyzing point of view, and then we will begin reading To Kill a Mockingbird. As in the passage from Eudora Welty's autobiography, To Kill a Mockingbird is narrated in first person with an adult looking back on childhood experiences. In this type of narration, memories from childhood are illuminated with an adult eye - the narrator can use childlike words and phrases and more sophisticated language simultaneously to enhance the story and give the viewpoint of both the child and the more mature person.

In this week's blog, tell the story of one of your earlist memories - try to think back ten or more years. Vary your narrative voice between that of tiny-you and that of the more sophisticated freshman in high school that you are now.

Your story should be at least two paragraphs in length.

Extra Credit Opportunity! 5 points. Include a photo in your blog that enhances the story you are telling.

Post due Friday, 10/23

Outside Reading: The Why

As you complete your outside reading project this week, you are sure to be thinking about the "why" component of your dominant literary element. Follow these instructions for this post:

1. Title your post with the title of your book and the literary element you are discussing, for example "Slaughterhouse 5: Irony." This way your classmates will be able to immediately see what your post will discuss. 
2. Discuss the question, "why did the author use this literary element so heavily?" Write at least two paragraphs. Your response will not be graded as part of your project, but should help you hash out your ideas in order to do address the idea more clearly on the actual project. 
3. Comment on the blog post of a classmate who is reading a book that you read either over the summer or for this assignment. In your comment, give him/her feedback as to what you think of his/her "why."
   

This post and comment is due Thursday by 7:00 p.m. - do it early so you have more time to focus on your project due Friday!