We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 30, 2014

Focus: How can we combine our ability to invent with our ability analyze history?

1. A quick warm-up: Which projection into the future is stronger and why?

Projection #1: In the year 2021, Apple releases a new version of iPod that is smaller, comes in various colors and patterns, and can be worn as jewelry.

Projection #2: In the year 2021, Apple releases iChip 1, an iPod that measures one millimeter by one millimeter and can be implanted directly into the tympanic cavity of the ear. Although the iChip has to be surgically implanted, it is an outpatient procedure costing less than a typical professional teeth whitening session. Many recipients of the iChip 1, however, complain about the inability to turn the iChip off, finding themselves tormented by constant noise and unable to think or concentrate.

2. Finishing your timeline

HW:
1. Please finish your timeline before class tomorrow.
2. Assigned book club reading for Friday.
3. Finish your characterization activity before class on Friday.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 29, 2014

Focus: How we can we establish a strong, academic background for our mockumentaries?

1. Warming up: Introducing the timeline

2. Finishing your five annotated articles; please show me your research as soon as you finish.

• Remember that you need to annotate each article with your brainstorming and questions.
• Keep track of your sources and start a Works Cited page.

3. Starting the timeline and creating your projections into the future

HW:
1. If you have not yet finished your five annotated articles, please finish BEFORE class tomorrow.

2. Assigned book club reading for Friday.

3. Make sure your characterization activity is finished BEFORE class on Friday.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 28, 2014

Focus: How do we start discussing our books?

1. Warming up: Finishing your book club expectations/rules (make sure you print and sign them)

2. Creating websites for your book clubs:

Two possible web applications for your website: www.wikispaces.com and Google sites

Criteria for your website:
Remember that this website will be how you share all of your book club work with me. Your website grade will be your culminating grade for this unit.

First names of group members (no last names, please).
Title and author of book club book

You will need separate links/pages within your website for the following items:

1. Statement of purpose: Who are you, and why are you creating this site?
2. Group expectations/rules
3. Characterization activity (description of assignment and link to it and the product you created, whether it was a series of brains or a discussion)
4. Setting activity
5. Motif activity
6. Theme activity
7. Book-film comparison

CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE WEBSITE ON THE BLIND SIDE.
CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE WEBSITE ON SILENCE OF THE LAMBS.

Please e-mail your website link before the end of class.

3. Discussing CHARACTERS!

a. Click HERE for Option #1

b. Click HERE for Option #2

Feel free to mix and match Options 1 and 2; be sure to publish your work on your website!

HW:

1. Finish any work not finished in class today (website, characterization, expectations/rules).

2. Annotated mockumentary research due by the end of class tomorrow.

3. Assigned book-film club reading for Friday.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 25, 2014

Focus: How can set ourselves up for successful book-film clubs?

1. Warming up: Reading the first chapter of your books

2. Establishing in-class and out-of-class expectations for your club; after receiving my approval, please print and sign them.

—Outside of class:

—Work Ethic: How much time should we spend on reading each night? What do we need to do as we read? What is our division of labor (writing prompts, discussion questions, activities)?

—Accountability: What happens of some members of our group drop the ball? Forget their book? Don’t finish the assigned reading? How do we prevent ugly situations? How do we enforce the expectations?

—In class:

—Work Ethic: What are our expectations for discussion? How do we plan to spend class time?

—Accountability: What happens if two of us (or all of us) starting losing our focus? What happens if the bell rings and we haven’t accomplished everything we were supposed to do?

3. Setting up your reading calendar for the next three weeks: Write in your student calendars which specific pages/chapters need read by each of the following dates, keeping in mind that the book must be finished and the film must be watched no later than Monday, May 12. 

Monday, April 28: Discussion of characterization
Friday, May 2: Discussion of setting
Monday, May 5: Discussion of motifs
Friday, May 9: Discussion of themes
Monday, May 12: BOOK MUST BE FINISHED AND FILM MUST BE WATCHED BY THIS DATE

4. (If time allows) Creating your Google site and/or wikispace and/or other website for your book club

HW:
1. Assigned book club reading for Monday, April 28.  Please note that if you have not done your book club reading, you won't be able to complete the characterization assignment during class, which will result in a zero.

2. Your mockumentary annotated research must be completed by the end of class on Tuesday; if you have not started this yet, you will want to work on it before Tuesday.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 24, 2014

Focus: How do we build a strong foundation for our mockumentaries?


(1st hour: Finishing book talks)

1. Warming up: Showing you the glory of annotated research!

2. Completing your how-why chart; please see the purple handout for the example and follow it closely.  Share it with me via Google docs when you finish it (label it, "How/Why Chart" and make sure it has an MLA heading).


2. Starting on your research; remember that you need at least FIVE articles, and you must annotate them.  See purple handouts for an example.  When you finish researching and annotating, please share it with me via Google docs (label it, "Annotated Research," and give it an MLA heading).

Please note that all purple documents are now linked to our website calendar.

HW:
1. Please finish your how/why chart AND annotated research by Tuesday, April 29th at the latest (you will need to do some of this at home because Friday and Monday are book club days).

2. BRING YOUR BOOK FILM CLUB BOOK TO CLASS TOMORROW (10 pts).

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 23, 2014

ACT: Very Shortened Class Today

1ST HOUR AGENDA

Focus: What can we learn from each other's book talks?

Please turn in your signed book club proposal today if you have not yet done so.

1. Warming up: Enjoying book talks

2. Cooling down: Enjoying book talks


3RD HOUR AGENDA

Focus: How can we start on our mockumentaries?

1. Warming up: Working on your how/why charts

2. Cooling down: Finishing your how/why charts (if you finish, let me know so I can grade yours and get you started on the annotated research)


6TH HOUR AGENDA

Focus: How can we develop strong schedules for next year?

Please turn in your signed book club proposal today if you have not yet done so.

1. Warming up: Clarifying Language Arts electives

2. Working on your schedules


HW FOR ALL CLASSES:

1. Bring your book-film club novel to class this Friday, April 25 (10 points in the completion category).

2. Finish your How/Why chart so that I can grade it during class tomorrow and you can start your research.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 22, 2014

Focus: How do we start creating our mockumentaries?

1. 3rd and 6th hours: Warming up with book talks

1st hour: Warming up with a quick overview of English electives and a little time to work on your schedules

2. Testing your topic by brainstorming: The How/Why Chart

3. Working on your How/Why Chart; if you finish class, please show me so that I can give you credit on your rubric and get you started on your annotated research.

HW:
1. Complete your How/Why Chart if you did not finish in class.
2. Signed book film club proposals must be handed in tomorrow or you will be reading A Separate Peace.
3. Bring a hard copy (or electronic copy) of your book film club novel to class this Friday, April 25.
4. 1st hour: Work on your book talk if you haven't given yours yet.

Midsummer revisions?  Synthesis outlines/Truman Show notes?

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 21, 2014

Focus: What is our final project in English 10?

Please turn in your book film club proposals.  They are due today.  If I do not receive your signed proposal by this Wednesday (ACT day), you will be reading A Separate Peace.

1. Warming up: Viewing a few sample mockumentaries

Austin and Graham
Boring History Lesson on Music
iPods

2. Figuring out the purpose and process of creating a mockumentary

3. Brainstorming possible topics

HW:
1. If you parent approved your book film club novel, then you may go ahead and purchase that novel.  You must have a hard copy of your book in your hands this Friday, April 25.

2. Prepare for your book talk if you haven't given yours yet.

3. Decide on your mockumentary topic by the end of class tomorrow.

4. 1st and 3rd hours: I will go over English electives with you tomorrow; 1st hour, bring your schedules to class on Tuesday; 3rd and 6th, bring your schedules to class on Wednesday.

Catch-up work...
Signed proposals were due today.  If I don't have yours by Wednesday, you will be reading A Separate Peace.  

Outlines were due last Friday.

Midsummer essay revisions: If you wish to revise your essays, I encourage you to stop by for a conference.  Remember that to receive credit for a revision, you must the following:
1. Highlight all changes on your new draft.

2. Staple it to the original draft with my feedback and rubric.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 17, 2014

Focus: How can we effectively synthesize The Truman Show and F451?

1. Warming up with our final (or almost final) round of book talks!

2. Finishing your outline; please see yesterday's blog for details and click HERE for the rubric

Today needs to be a quiet work day since you should no longer be in the brainstorming phase; you will receive a work habits grade for the day (10/10 = you were working quietly and staying on task the entire time).

3. Cleaning up the outline:

• Does your document have an MLA heading and title?
• Have you deleted the thesis statements that you're not using?
• Have you italicized F451 and The Truman Show in your thesis and topic sentences?
• Are your examples from F451 quotations?
• Did you cite them properly?
• Are your examples from The Truman Show specific?
• Did you avoid "you" and "I" in your thesis and topic sentences?
• Did you remember to offer a little brainstorming after each quote/example?
• Have you proofread your outline carefully for grammar and punctuation?
• Is your document shared with me directly?

HW:

1. Please complete your outline before class tomorrow.

2. Remember that your signed book-film club proposals are due Monday, April 21. Those without proposals will be assigned a school-approved text.

3. Meet in the Forum tomorrow for scheduling.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 16, 2014

Focus: How can we support our thesis and topic sentences with examples?

1. Warming up with a rousing round of book talks

2. Exploring a few sample topic sentences and seeing how it all comes together in a glorious outline

A special thanks goes out to Dalton; the following thesis statements and topic sentences were inspired by your Truman Show notes and thesis rough drafts.

The fire from F451 and the water from The Truman Show initially represent fear but ultimately symbolize freedom, representing that we can only achieve true freedom by conquering the very boundary that terrorizes us.

Topic sentence #1: The elements of fire and water in F451 and The Truman Show confine the protagonists and show how fear often stems from repression.

Topic sentence #2: Ultimately, the boundaries of fire and water in F451 and The Truman Show melt into the medium that conveys the protagonists to freedom, proving that individual and societal freedom can only be obtained by facing and overcoming fear.

In both F451 and The Truman Show, the societies suffer from control, but they ultimately crumble, revealing that a good society can’t sustain itself while under oppression.

Topic sentence #1: The societies in both F451 and The Truman Show are populated by zombies rendered soulless by oppression, showing that excessive control leads to dystopia.

Topic sentence #2: To rise from their own ashes, the societies in both F451 and The Truman Show must first crumble because a powerful society must be one in which the people themselves are empowered, not weakened by oppression.

3. Revising your topic sentences and seeking the best examples to complete your outline:

Thesis: In both F451 and The Truman Show, the societies suffer from control, but they ultimately crumble, revealing that a good society can’t sustain itself while under oppression.

Topic sentence #1: The societies in both F451 and The Truman Show are populated by zombies rendered soulless by oppression, showing that excessive control leads to dystopia.

a. F451: "He saw himself in her eyes, suspended in two shining drops of bright water, himself dark and tiny" (Bradbury 7). The word "suspended" conjures an image of repression, and he's starting to realize what makes him "dark and tiny" in this society--his inability to think, to create, etc.

b. The Truman Show: Truman's repetition of the phrase "Good morning! And in case I don't see you..good afternoon, good evening, and goodnight." Every day is the same...even Truman's lines are cliched and scripted. There's no heart in what he says to others.

Topic sentence #2: To rise from their own ashes, the societies in both F451 and The Truman Show must first crumble because a powerful society must be one in which the people themselves are empowered, not weakened by oppression.

a. F451: "And in that instant [he] saw the city, instead of the bombs, in the air. They had displaced each other. For another of those impossible instants the city stood, rebuilt and unrecognizable, taller than it had ever hoped or strived to be..." (Bradbury 160) The city is described as "taller than it had ever hoped...to be" not only because it is literally exploding in the air but because its very destruction is its only hope for being great, for regaining its soul once again.

b. The Truman Show: After Truman walks through the exit door in the film's final scene, one of the show's producers, but NOT Cristof says, "Cease transmission." The show going off the air is similar to the society in F451 being destroyed by bombs; in order for Truman to live a fulfilling life, the fake world that oppresses him must come to an end. Interesting that it's someone else, not Cristof who ultimately turns the show off, as though the power and control has been completely stripped away from his hands.

HW:
1. Please complete your outline by class tomorrow; you will NOT have class time tomorrow to work on your outline.  You do not need to create a separate document or print it; the outline can just be at the end of your Truman Show notes

2. Continue considering which book you want to read for your book film club; the completed, signed proposal is due this Monday, April 21 (NOT April 28; there is a typo on the handout).

3. Work on your book talk if you have not delivered yours yet.

4. Meet in the Forum on Friday for a scheduling extravaganza.  

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 15, 2014

Focus: How do we lay the organizational groundwork for a synthesis essay?


1. Warming up: Introducing you to book clubs!  Overview, letter, and time to browse

Click here for a list of upstanding books made into upstanding films.
Click here for a student-generated list.
Click here for a list of books recently made into films.


2. Google sharing your thesis statements and getting peer feedback:

Is it clear (well-worded and easy to understand)?
Is it specific (mentions specific characters, symbols, titles, and problems/solutions)?
Is it debatable (makes an argument instead of merely summarizing what happens)?
Is it provable (can be backed up by examples from both texts)?


3. Putting your thesis to work in your outline; composing topic sentences


HW:
1. Continue working on outline; completed outline is due this Thursday at the beginning of class.

2. Start thinking about which book you want to read for your book club.

3. Prepare for your book talk if you haven't delivered yours yet.

4. Meet in the Forum this Friday for a scheduling extravaganza.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 14, 2014

Focus: How do we close read a film, and what larger meanings can we take from The Truman Show?


1. Warm-up: Close reading two scenes from The Truman Show

Some close reading questions to jump start your thinking...

Why is Truman looking a mirror?
How are his drawing and speech symbolic?
How is this moment significant to the film as a whole?

What might the water (and the storm) symbolize?
What might the boat symbolize?
How does this scene reflect an important change in Truman?
What do you think is the most significant moment in this scene and why?
What does Christof represent?

Why do you think the writer of this film named the protagonist "Truman"?
Why do you think Bradbury named his protagonist "Guy"?


2. Impromptu fishbowl discussion of The Truman Show (15-20 min)


3. Composing a rough thesis that draws together The Truman Show and Fahrenheit 451

Some samples...

Character analysis:
Both Guy from F451 and Truman from The Truman Show share the heroic traits of ________ and _________, revealing that a true hero must ___________________________.

Both Clarisse from F451 and Sylvia from The Truman Show spark the main characters to realize ________________ and _______________, showing that _________________________.

Problem - Solution:
In both F451 and The Truman Show, the societies suffer from _________________, but they ultimately _______________________, revealing that _____________________________.

In both F451 and The Truman Show, the protagonists struggle to ____________________, but they eventually succeed in _________________________, revealing that _______________________.

Symbols:
The ____________ from F451 symbolizes _______________________, while the ___________ from The Truman Show represents _______________________, both symbols suggesting that _______________________________.


HW:
1. Form three different versions of a thesis statement using Google docs and share them with me by 10 pm tonight.

2. Bring F451 to class tomorrow so that you can start gathering quotations.

3. Meet in the Forum this Friday, April 18 for scheduling fun.

4. Remaining book talks speeches are this Wednesday and Thursday.

Helpful website for spelling the director's and the characters' names correctly: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120382/fullcredits

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 11, 2014

Focus: To what extent is our "reality" real?

1. Warming up...
1st hour: Two book talks
3rd hour: No warm-up (we're too behind in the film)
6th hour: Close reading a scene

2. Watching The Truman Show

3. Finishing your notes by adding the following...

a. Take a look at your character descriptions.  Which minor character (any character besides Truman) was the most important to Truman's heroic journey and why?

b. Take a look at your symbols/motifs.  Which object carried the most symbolic weight and why? What does it symbolize to Truman? To Cristoff? How did its meaning shift a little throughout the film?

c. Reread your questions.  Pick two questions that seem important to understanding the film as a whole and respond to them thoroughly.

d. Examine the connections you made to Fahrenheit 451. Which one is the most revealing/intriguing/important?  Type a few sentences in which you really explore and expand upon this connection; be as specific as possible.

HW:
1. Work on your book talk.

2. Before Monday, please respond to the following statement:

Cristoff asserts in an interview that "We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented."  Do you agree with him? Is our world like Truman's?  In other words, is our reality manufactured or fictionalized in a way, as Truman's is? Are we passive recipients in or creative architects of our own reality?  

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 10, 2014

Focus: To what extent is our "reality" real?

1. Updating you on Sam's cath:

2. Warming up with a round of book talks!

3. Discussing what you're noticing and questioning so far in The Truman Show

4. Watching The Truman Show

HW:
1. Prepare for your book talks if you have not given yours.

2. Add to your Truman Show notes if necessary.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 9, 2014

Focus: To what extent is our "reality" real?

Shortened Class: PLC

1. Warming up: Say hello to Mr. Rosenberg and recap the expectations for your Truman Show notes:

Your document should be called "___________ (your last name) Truman Show Notes" and needs to be shared with me directly at kleclaire@lps.k12.co.us

This document will eventually be worth 40 points in the growth category.

Include the following categories in your notes:

a. Characters: Names, personality traits, clothes, things they say

b. Motifs/symbols: Specific objects that seem symbolic, what they might represent, and how they change throughout the film

c. Questions: Level 1, 2, and 3 questions; try to answer them at the end of the film

d. Connections to Fahrenheit 451: Be specific and original (these will form the backbone of your essay)

2. Watching The Truman Show and taking notes

Note: Please keep track of where you stopped watching the movie today.

HW:
1. Add to your Truman Show notes.

2. Work on your book talk.

3. If you're interested in what's happening with Sam, feel free to check out our family blog.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 8, 2014

Focus: To what extent is our reality "real"?

1st hour: You finally have a new seating chart!
All hours: Please turn in your final observation charts if you did not do so yesterday.

1. Warming up with an important announcement and a new round of book talks!

2. Explaining how to set up your notes for The Truman Show

Please start a new document called "___________ (your last name) Truman Show Notes" and share it with me directly at kleclaire@lps.k12.co.us

This document will eventually be worth 40 points in the growth category.

Include the following categories in your notes:

a. Characters: Names, personality traits, clothes, things they say

b. Motifs/symbols: Specific objects that seem symbolic, what they might represent, and how they change throughout the film

c. Questions: Level 1, 2, and 3 questions; try to answer them at the end of the film

d. Connections to Fahrenheit 451: Be specific and original (these will form the backbone of your essay)

3. Watching The Truman Show

HW:
Add to your Truman Show notes (once again, please make sure they're shared with me directly).

Work on your book talk if you have not delivered it yet.

If you'd like to know what's going on with Sam, feel free to follow our family blog (also linked to class website).

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 7, 2014

Focus: What aspects of our society is Bradbury warning us about?

1. Warming up: Questioning so called "reality" TV

Viewing a quick clip on The Hunger Games and how "reality" TV affects our lives

Brainstorming a few concepts together...

a. What is reality TV?

b. What types/genres of reality TV have you noticed?

c. To what extent is reality TV real, and to what extent is it fake?

d. Why do you think reality TV has become so popular? Why do we watch it?

e. In Fahrenheit 451, how does TV fictionalize the end of Montag's chase?  Why?

For ideas, please peruse this article on reality TV.


2. Enjoying our final fishbowl together: The ending of Fahrenheit 451

3. Wrapping up: What is your big takeaway from this novel?

HW:
1. If you have never seen The Truman Show, please watch the trailer by clicking HERE.

2. Work on your book talk.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 4, 2014

Focus: What does reading do for our brains?

1. Enjoying our next round of book talks!

2. Reading your independent book or the final pages of F451

OR....

Reading some articles that connect (closely or loosely) to what we've been talking about lately:

Inertia, Obedience, and Faith

An Education...in which I Bash Traditional Schooling

Your High School Transcript Could Haunt You Forever 

Harvard's Looking for a Wikipedian in Residence

Why Parents Need To Let Their Children Fail

HW:

1. Finish reading F451 for our final fishbowl on MONDAY and fill in your final observation chart.  Try to use your observation chart to draw larger conclusions about the book...how does it end and why? What lesson is Bradbury trying to teach us?  What warnings should we heed?  Do you think the ending is effective?

Click HERE for an observation chart (I neglected to make copies--my apologies). Please print this on your own before class on Monday.  If you're having printer issues, please share the document with me directly and make sure your name is in the title.

2. Work on your book talk if you are delivering it next Tuesday or Thursday.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 3, 2014

Focus: What larger patterns are coming clear in F451?

1. Warming up: Designing your ideal playground, comparing it to today's vanilla playgrounds, and reading about "The Overprotected Kid"

Before you read...

• Design your ideal playground (sketch it or describe it in words).  Create it from bottom to top, starting with what the ground would be made of, what the playground itself would be made of, what equipment it would have (if any equipment at all), how tall it would be, what colors it would have, etc.

• How do think your playground compares to playgrounds today?

As you skim the article, please respond to these questions in your notes...

• What is "The Land," and what makes it unique?

• What's happened to our playgrounds over the years and why?

• What is problematic about today's playgrounds?

After you read...

• What connections can you make between this article and F451?

2. Enjoying F451 Fishbowl #6: Pages 102-139

3. Wrapping up

HW:
1. Bring F451 or your independent reading book to class tomorrow for 20-30 minutes of reading time.

2. Work on your book talk if you have not given your book talk yet.

3. Finish F451 and your final yellow observation chart for Monday.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 2, 2014

Focus: What major shifts are you noticing in Fahrenheit 451?

1. Warming up: Enjoying a round of book talks

2. Tackling the biggest reading assignment of the semester: F451, pages 102-139

Note: Today could be a big win-win situation for you.  Not only do you get time to do your homework, but you get 10 points just for being focused on your reading in class today.

HW:
1. Finish reading pages of 102-139 of F451 and complete the other side of your yellow observation chart (which you will be turning in tomorrow).  Get ready for a big fishbowl!

2. No vocabulary quiz this week.  Just keep up with Fahrenheit 451.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: April 1, 2014

Focus: What larger patterns are you starting to notice in Fahrenheit 451? What is starting to shift?

1. Warming up with an artistic approach to "Dover Beach"

As you listen to the poem being read, sketch the details that stand out most to you.  

Pick any THREE images and write down what you think each symbolizes and why.

For each of those three images, make a thoughtful connection back to a symbol, motif, moment, or idea from Fahrenheit 451.

2. Enjoying F451 Fishbowl 5: Pages 80-102

3. Wrapping up

HW: 
1. Bring your yellow vocabulary packets to class tomorrow for review of words 16-30 (quiz this Friday). --NOPE!  VOCABULARY QUIZ IS CANCELLED THIS WEEK.

2. Bring your copy of F451 and your yellow chart; since the reading assignment for Thursday is very heavy, you will have at least 30 minutes of reading time tomorrow in class.

3. Start on Thursday's reading assignment, which includes pages 102-139.  Yeah!