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

Focus: How do we actually start making a film?

1. Warming up by meeting www.wevideo.com

Can you...

• Import an image?
• Create a text slide?
• Import a video?
• Import music?
• Layer narration, music, and images?

2. Finishing your script and making a plan for recording it; remember that you must record your narration on your own time

3. Starting to gather images and create text slides for your mockumentary

Click HERE  for a website that converts youtube music videos to MP3s.

Click HERE for a website that converts youtube videos into videos (MP4s) you can use in your film.

KEEP TRACK OF ALL WEBSITES USED.

HW:
1. Record your narration into wevideo by the end of the week.
2. Assigned book club reading/activities.
3. ALL REVISIONS/MAKE-UP WORK DUE THURSDAY, MAY 15.
4. MOCKUMENTARY IS DUE FRIDAY, MAY 16. If your film is not completed by this date, you can only receive half credit.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: May 6, 2014

Focus: How can we turn the timeline into a powerful script?

1. Warming up: Listening to the openings from two "real" mock/documentaries:

Example #1: Remember Epic?
Example #2: Supersize Me

Your task: As you listen, describe the opening of each script, typing up powerful words, phrases, and tactics.

2. Showing me your timeline if you have not yet done so

3. Composing a rough draft of your script with a focus on the following aspects:

It should have a powerful opening and closing.

It needs smooth transitions between years/events.

This is a great place to show off your creative voice; choose your words carefully.

You need to have it written out EXACTLY as it will be narrated.

4. Explaining how your work habits for this project are being graded:

You start off with 50 points in the Growth category (5 work days left, 10 points each).

You lose a point each time you...

• Distract or are distracted by someone sitting near you
• Play on your cell phone
• Do other homework
• Use language inappropriate to class
• Pack up early

HW: 
1. You must have a rough draft of your script completed before the start of class tomorrow.

2. Assigned book film club reading and activities for Friday.

3. ALL REVISIONS AND MAKE-UP WORK ARE DUE THURSDAY, MAY 15.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: May 5, 2014

Focus: What motifs are starting to emerge in our book club novels?

1. Warming up: Human minesweeper: Brainstorming concrete motifs vs. abstract motifs

2. Finishing your setting activities from last week if you have not done so (make sure it's published on your website)

3. Developing your motif activity (this one might take you a little longer) and publishing it on your website

HW:
1. Finish today's motif activity by Friday; assigned book club reading for Friday.

2. Finish your mockumentary timeline by tomorrow if you have not yet done so; script due at the beginning of class on Wednesday.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: May 2

Focus: Analyzing SETTING with your book-film clubs

1. Warming up by spending some time reading your book club novels

• Is your website finished? 
• Have you published your expectations and your characterization activity?
• Have you changed the "Share" setting to "Anyone with the link"?
• Have you e-mailed me the link to your website?

2. Interpreting and discussing setting with your book-film clubs: Please click HERE for instructions.

3. Publishing your setting activity on your website

HW: 
1. Assigned book club reading for Monday; finish the setting activity.
2. Timeline should be finished by now; please finish it if you have not done so.
3. Script will be due by the beginning of class on Wednesday, May 7.

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

Focus: How do we developing your mockumentary script?

1. Warming up: Listening to an opening clip from a "real" documentary

What do you notice about the script itself (powerful words and phrases)?

How does the script turn this into a movie about us? In other words, how does it capture human interest?

What ideas can you steal for your mockumentary?

2. Looking at a sample script and developing the script for your mockumentary

3. Please make sure that by the end of class, you have shown me your annotated research and your timeline

HW: 
1. Bring your book club novel to class tomorrow; make sure you have completed the reading assignment (as determined by your book club).
2. Your characterization activity from Monday should be finished by tomorrow.
3. Mockumentary script will be due by the beginning of class on Wednesday.

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.