Signing Off!

It is nearing the end of the school-year, and so nears the end of our class blog.

Please take this weekend to work on your Shakespeare and the English Renaissance projects.  I am really excited by all the creative ideas from the groups!  Thy plans art fabulouse!

If you're still working on your research, here are a couple of valid sources you could use from the web:

http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/

http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/renaissanceinfo.htm

Remember that I have also posted many, many resources in Google Classroom.

See you Tuesday!

Signing off,

A Midsummer Night's Fairyland

When we hear the word "fairy," typically we think of a tiny sprite with wings, a wand, possibly a tiara, some lilting figure that dances innocently over toadstools and sprinkles glitter all about. In other words, Tinkerbell has informed our imaginations -- thank you, Walt Disney. These whimsical, somewhat "fluffy" characters are not the fairies of Shakespeare's world, though.

In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare's fairies serve an important role in the story itself.  They have magical powers that advance the plot or add more complexity to the story that's already happening. They can manipulate human characters into acting in ways they normally wouldn't, creating both relationships and rivalries. These characters do more than sprinkle a bit of fairy dust!

(Midsummer Eve, Edward Robert Hughes ca. 1904)

Write a story about fairies. You may make your fairies the glitter-sprinkling Disney kind, the regal, meddling Shakespearean kind, or any iteration of fairies you choose to represent. 

Remember, your story must be at least two paragraphs in length. You must include good descriptive language and characterization to adequately demonstrate your imagination's version of a fairy.

Mine would build their houses in library books!

Have fun! Be creative!

Spread the Love

Hi, everyone!  Congratulations on making it through your first ever official SBAC test!  I was so proud of how hard you guys worked.

I know you have the Math SBAC this week, so I don't want to give you extra work (See?  Your teachers care about you!)

For this blog, I would like you to give your classmates some words of encouragement!

YOU ARE ALL BRILLIANT!!  I AM SO LUCKY TO TEACH YOU!

Sleep, Study, Sleep...

I was very proud of how hard you guys tried on the CAT Portion of the SBAC this week.  I know it's a long, grueling test, and you all showed great perseverance!

We'll need that same level of perseverance as we do the Performance Task this coming week.  Don't forget to study the elements of the Three Genres of Writing, get plenty of sleep, then get some more sleep, and do something that destresses you!  For me, it's gardening.

For this week's blog, all I want is ONE sentence!

What do YOU do to destress?

To destress, I like to garden!

From the Drought Desk..

California is in a serious drought.  There is no denying that one!  Before and after images of lakes and rivers are shocking and sad.  As Governor Brown makes the decision to mandate water use restrictions across the state, many are asking: can California's farms survive?

This week's blog is a debate on the topic of California Agricultural water use.

The question: Can farms survive without drying up California?

Do your research!  Click the following link and choose to read some of the editorial pieces from the debaters on the issue.  With whom do you agree?

Room for Debate: Can Farms Survive Without Drying Up California?

Remember to cite evidence from the text, respond to classmates' points of view, and write at least two full paragraphs on the issue.

Creative Writing Workshop: A Happy Ending?

For this weekend's blog, you'll be writing a creative narrative.  There is one rule and one rule only: you must end with this line from Guy de Maupassant's A Meeting.

"He never saw her again, nor did he ever discover whether she had told him a lie or was speaking the truth."

Happy Spring!

Enjoy your Spring Break!

Frolic in a field of daffodils!

SBAC: Yea or Nay?

As we practice and prepare for the upcoming SBAC Testing, we hear various opinions about the value of these tests.  Some of us think they are good indicators of student progress, and some of us think they are detrimental to students' love of education.

Now that you've gotten a peek at what the test will be like, what do YOU think? It's important and timely to consider our own point of view toward standardized testing!  I want to hear your opinion!

Make sure to back up your opinion with evidence. An opinion is not valid in a debate unless it has facts behind it! Cite your source! Two full paragraphs, minimum. Respond to previous classmates' points of view.

You can view both sides of the debate here: http://standardizedtests.procon.org/

You can also read up on what lawmakers are thinking here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/senate-begins-debate-on-education-law-focuses-on-testing/2015/01/21/583b24d4-a19b-11e4-b146-577832eafcb4_story.html

OR, you can do your own research and find evidence from elsewhere around the internet! :)

SWEET FREEDOM!

Hi, all!  Don't worry about the blog this weekend.  Enjoy a weekend of freedom before Quarter 4 starts on Monday.

Freedom!  Sweet, sweet freedom!

Mark Twain Project

Work hard on your Mark Twain Projects this weekend!  Remember, they are due on Monday, 3/9/15.

I can't wait to see your work!

P.S. Did you know Mark Twain loved cats?  You sure can't tell from Tom Sawyer ! All those poor dead cats...

Creative Writing Workshop, Part Trois

Another writing game to get your creativity going!

1. Pick an age between 12 and 18 OR 62 and 100.

2. Pick a city: Paris, Detroit, Chicago, Mumbai, Rio De Janiero, Tokyo, Moscow, Honolulu, Krakow, Athens...or one of your own choosing.

3. Choose a prominent physical feature to make distinctive: nose, ears, eyes, teeth, or hands. For example, a long, crooked nose or small, calloused hands.

4. Pick an eye color.

5. Pick a hair color.

6. Create a name, first name starting with R and last name starting with G. R_____ G_____

7. Choose a passion: painting, jazz music, poetry, aviation, environmental activism, gardening, basketball, cooking, astrophysics, social justice, butterfly collecting, space travel, mad science experimenting, training animals..or one of your own choosing.

You are now officially this character!  Write a two-paragraph minimum story starting with: 

I thought I had been asking politely, but obviously...

Civil Rights Movement: Legacy and Reflection

As we celebrate Black History Month here in the United States (or, as I like to call it, "Why is This Only Once a Year? History Month"), I would like us to think about the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement.  If you don't know very much about it, or if you'd like to learn more, try this website: The Civil Rights Movement.

First, in what way has the Civil Rights Movement changed our nation and our lives? Be specific, thoughtful, and descriptive.

Second, if Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Evers, Rosa Parks, or any of the other myriad brave civil rights activists who are no longer with us, could see the changes we've made and the current state of race relations and civil rights in America, what would they think? How would they react? What might they say?

Third, what does the Civil Rights Movement and the idea of civil rights mean to you personally?

Creative Writing Workshop Part Deux

For this weekend's Creative Writing Workshop, we'll be trying a bit of surrealism...

Follow the directions carefully to create a two paragraph (minimum) short story.

1.) On a small sheet of paper, create two lists of words.  In the first list, write down 8 action verbs ending in -ing.  For the second list, write down 8 plural nouns.

For example:

1. scurrying      1. gardens
2. wobbling      2. centaurs
3. glancing       3. beans

etc.


2.) Now, match up the words in this order: Verb 1 to Noun 7, Verb 2 to Noun 4, Verb 3 to Noun 2, Verb 4 to Noun 8, Verb 5 to Noun 1, Verb 6 to Noun 3, Verb 7 to Noun 5, Verb 8 to Noun 6.

Write down the pairs of words you've created.  For example, "scurrying centaurs" or "glancing gardens."

3.) Now, choose AT LEAST three of these pairs and include them in your story.  Start your story with The alarm went off, and...

CREATE!

Creative Writing Workshop

At Creative Writing Workshops, writers play "writing games" to get their creativity flowing and help inspire them to write freely. Our blog this weekend will be a workshop!

CIRCLE GAME

1.) Choose the one word that most appeals to you: Alabama, Banister, Carousel, Diesel, Exorcist

2.) Choose another word that appeals to you: Extinction, Garage, Harried, Insensitive, Jambalaya

3.) Choose yet another word that you find appealing: Keepsake, Lamb, Code-Breaker, Nonsense, Constellation

Now, use these three words in a story written in third-person limited point-of-view.  

Start with, "He felt just like a gerbil, running around and around on his wheel."



Remember, the two-full paragraph minimum rule still applies!

I can't wait to read where your minds take you!

Art or Vandalism?

We've been writing argument essays in class.  One topic that always inspires debate is graffiti.

On the one side, Eric Felisbret maintains it is art: Legal Venues Celebrate Graffiti as an Art-Form.

On the other side, Heather MacDonald maintains graffiti is always vandalism: Graffiti is Always Vandalism

 What do you think?  Is graffiti art, or is graffiti vandalism?

At least two paragraphs! Express your point of view clearly, refer to classmates' perspectives, and cite textual evidence (and your source!).

By the way, whether you decide it is vandalism or art, isn't that last one painted onto the street to look 3-D COOL?!?!

Click on the photos to enlarge them. :)

Mark Twain: America's Foremost Humorist

While definitely known for his novels and short stories, Mark Twain, the author of our Quarter 3 Class Novel Tom Sawyer, is also beloved as our foremost "humorist."  A humorist is an artist, typically a lecturer or a writer, whose works display a unique, normally a sort of "folksy" sense of humor.  Mark Twain's wry sense of humor is what led to his career on the lecture circuit. People would come to packed theatres here in the U.S. and in Europe just to hear him talk!  Often, he'd tell humorous stories about his travels, his observations on human nature, and self-deprecating jokes.

Famously, in the 1960s, Hal Holbrook, an actor, recreated Mark Twain's lectures.  Watch the following youtube clip in which Hal Holbrook acts out one of Mark Twain's lectures.  As in the quote above, note that Twain's humor often contains a serious message.  In the quote above, for example, Twain is making a (very modern!) criticism of politicians. 

In this video, Twain talks about the nature of man -- how we squabble, fight over religion, war with other nations, and other such things.  Note his sarcasm: "Man is a reasoning animal..."  From this lecture, what are Twain's feelings on mankind and the way we treat one another? What is his message?  Quote at least one line from the video that shows his sense of humor while also demonstrating his more serious message.  Explain.  Pin-point a moment in his lecture when he gets very serious and you can tell he does really care about this topic -- quote a bit of it and explain it. What do you think of Twain's method of making his argument with humor?  Is it more or less effective than a straight-forward, serious argument? Does the humor take away or add to the message?

Remember, you need to write at LEAST two paragraphs!

700 AD or 2015 AD?

While discussing the motif of darkness and lightness in Beowulf with you guys this week, I kept thinking of a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.

What do you think he means? How does this relate to Beowulf? How does this relate to our lives? In what ways can we follow Dr. King's words? Like Beowulf and Dr. King, how do we make sure we continue embodying lightness and love, even in the face of darkness and hate?

Medieval Literature: Why Bother?

In an article entitled "Why Bother with Beowulf?" Melissa Snell claims that medieval literature provides a "gateway to our past." She contends it is important, enriching, and enlightening to read literature that is centuries old.

Do you agree? Are works like Beowulf still relevant? Is there still something profound to be gained from reading them?  Should we throw them out of our English course curriculum in favor of newer, more modern works? If so, in what ways are modern works more relevant to our lives?

Whatever position you take, be sure to address the points Snell makes in her article and explain your reasoning soundly. Don't forget to respond to classmates' perspectives.