Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
And, they're off...
We've spent the last week preparing for writing the rough draft of the final project. So hopefully you have a lot of ideas that you want to start working with.
Remember that the rough draft of your project is due Friday.
Since this is the final project of the year, I will be holding you accountable for the skills we've worked on throughout the year. For example, if you're writing a story, I expect a good plot out of you. If you're writing a paper, I expect good logos, ethos and pathos from you.
If you feel that you're ready to have me critique your work, email it to me.
Remember that the rough draft of your project is due Friday.
Since this is the final project of the year, I will be holding you accountable for the skills we've worked on throughout the year. For example, if you're writing a story, I expect a good plot out of you. If you're writing a paper, I expect good logos, ethos and pathos from you.
If you feel that you're ready to have me critique your work, email it to me.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
A post especially for Kenny
Hi Kenny,
This post is especially for you. Just you, Kenny. You, you, you.
Answer the following questions:
Why does Kenny like to watch people fight on You Tube?
Why does Kohlby like to watch people fight on You Tube?
Why do girls like to watch people fight on You Tube?
Is watching someone get beat up on You Tube cooler than watching wrestling or boxing? Why?
If you had someone you really hated, would you have someone video you while you beat him up?
Would you put it on You Tube?
Why would you put it on You Tube?
I
This post is especially for you. Just you, Kenny. You, you, you.
Answer the following questions:
Why does Kenny like to watch people fight on You Tube?
Why does Kohlby like to watch people fight on You Tube?
Why do girls like to watch people fight on You Tube?
Is watching someone get beat up on You Tube cooler than watching wrestling or boxing? Why?
If you had someone you really hated, would you have someone video you while you beat him up?
Would you put it on You Tube?
Why would you put it on You Tube?
I
Thursday's child is studious
Project 1:
Do any last bits of research you need to do and then start writing. Make sure to send me your progress at the end of the hour.
Project 2:
If you need to read a book in order to refresh your memory of how it proceeds, do that today and tomorrow. Make sure you finish by Monday. If you don't need to read the book again, go through the internet and find opinions on how well the book was made into a movie (or whatever translation you're interested in).
Some good sites to find reviews like these are:
metacritic.com
rottentomatoes.com
You can also find out information about the book and movie at:
http://www.mcpl.lib.mo.us/readers/movies/
Project 3:
Most of you are ready to start working on your translation. So now's as good a time as any. Probably even a better time than any.
For those of you who are doing poems, take a look at this Wikipedia article. It has descriptions of a number of poetry forms. If you click on the form's name, it will show you an example of that form. Choose three poem forms you think might work best for your translations. Send me these along with you ideas on why they would be especially good for your translations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetry#Poetic_forms
Project 4
There are actually many different ways to set up a classroom and to conduct school. Most of us don't know about these alternatives because we've never experienced them. Read the through the following articles about alternative schooling methods. Which methods appeal to you? Which don't? Which might you use in your own class?
Send me in your ideas by the end of the hour.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_school
http://www.indypendent.org/2005/06/15/why-the-free-school-rules/
Do any last bits of research you need to do and then start writing. Make sure to send me your progress at the end of the hour.
Project 2:
If you need to read a book in order to refresh your memory of how it proceeds, do that today and tomorrow. Make sure you finish by Monday. If you don't need to read the book again, go through the internet and find opinions on how well the book was made into a movie (or whatever translation you're interested in).
Some good sites to find reviews like these are:
metacritic.com
rottentomatoes.com
You can also find out information about the book and movie at:
http://www.mcpl.lib.mo.us/readers/movies/
Project 3:
Most of you are ready to start working on your translation. So now's as good a time as any. Probably even a better time than any.
For those of you who are doing poems, take a look at this Wikipedia article. It has descriptions of a number of poetry forms. If you click on the form's name, it will show you an example of that form. Choose three poem forms you think might work best for your translations. Send me these along with you ideas on why they would be especially good for your translations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetry#Poetic_forms
Project 4
There are actually many different ways to set up a classroom and to conduct school. Most of us don't know about these alternatives because we've never experienced them. Read the through the following articles about alternative schooling methods. Which methods appeal to you? Which don't? Which might you use in your own class?
Send me in your ideas by the end of the hour.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_school
http://www.indypendent.org/2005/06/15/why-the-free-school-rules/
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
To Do List
Project 1:
1. Come up with your protagonist and a goal for him/her.
2. Come up with an antagonist and how he/she will be opposing the protagonist.
3. Come up with three ideas for events where the protagonist and antagonist clash.
Project 2:
1. If you have not read the book (or if you haven't read it in a long time and can't remember it well) start reading it.
2. If you have read the book, make a list of major points where the movie and the book (or the whatever and the whatever) differ from each other.
3. Then come up with a list of elements that you think are especially good in each medium.
Project 3:
1. You have already sent me a link to the work you are going to translate. So I want you to start your translation now. If you're writing something, begin. If you're drawing something, begin. Please send me your progress at the end of class.
Project 4:
1. Send me descriptions of the following
a. How you would set up your classroom. (What you would have on the walls, how you would arrange the desks. Would you even have desks. Etc.)
b. How you would run the first day of school so that the students will be excited about the class.
c. Ideas for two class projects that would be interesting and exciting.
By the way. Project #4 is going to be for Mrs. Hughes, since you will be in her class next year. I think that she'll have a much better idea of how to teach you if she knows how you would set up your perfect class. So keep her in mind as your audience. You may be influencing how class will happen next year.
1. Come up with your protagonist and a goal for him/her.
2. Come up with an antagonist and how he/she will be opposing the protagonist.
3. Come up with three ideas for events where the protagonist and antagonist clash.
Project 2:
1. If you have not read the book (or if you haven't read it in a long time and can't remember it well) start reading it.
2. If you have read the book, make a list of major points where the movie and the book (or the whatever and the whatever) differ from each other.
3. Then come up with a list of elements that you think are especially good in each medium.
Project 3:
1. You have already sent me a link to the work you are going to translate. So I want you to start your translation now. If you're writing something, begin. If you're drawing something, begin. Please send me your progress at the end of class.
Project 4:
1. Send me descriptions of the following
a. How you would set up your classroom. (What you would have on the walls, how you would arrange the desks. Would you even have desks. Etc.)
b. How you would run the first day of school so that the students will be excited about the class.
c. Ideas for two class projects that would be interesting and exciting.
By the way. Project #4 is going to be for Mrs. Hughes, since you will be in her class next year. I think that she'll have a much better idea of how to teach you if she knows how you would set up your perfect class. So keep her in mind as your audience. You may be influencing how class will happen next year.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Proposal
Today I'd like you to send me a proposal for your project. I'm hoping that this proposal will help you think through your project, and save you some frustration later on.
By the end of class, please send me an email containing the following:
Whether you are doing project 1, 2, 3, or 4. (I know, you did this yesterday, but it will only take one keystroke)
If you are doing project 1, send me the following:
a. A description of the mediums you are most interested in integrating into (or removing from) your story, and a link to a news article on that medium.
b. Ideas for a plot for your story.
If you are doing project 2, send me the following:
a. A description of the work of art you have chosen and which mediums it has been translated into.
b. A link to a review of the original work of art, and a link to a review of the other medium the work was translated into.
c. You initial thoughts on what differences your paper will be focusing on.
If you are doing project 3, send me the following:
a. A link to, or a description of, the work of art you are planning to translate into another medium.
b. The medium you are planning to translate it into.
c. Some ideas on how you plan to approach this translation.
If you are doing project 4, send me the following:
a. The things you think are important to learn in an English class.
b. Methods of teaching that have NOT helped you to learn these things.
c. Methods of teaching that HAVE helped you to learn these things.
By the end of class, please send me an email containing the following:
Whether you are doing project 1, 2, 3, or 4. (I know, you did this yesterday, but it will only take one keystroke)
If you are doing project 1, send me the following:
a. A description of the mediums you are most interested in integrating into (or removing from) your story, and a link to a news article on that medium.
b. Ideas for a plot for your story.
If you are doing project 2, send me the following:
a. A description of the work of art you have chosen and which mediums it has been translated into.
b. A link to a review of the original work of art, and a link to a review of the other medium the work was translated into.
c. You initial thoughts on what differences your paper will be focusing on.
If you are doing project 3, send me the following:
a. A link to, or a description of, the work of art you are planning to translate into another medium.
b. The medium you are planning to translate it into.
c. Some ideas on how you plan to approach this translation.
If you are doing project 4, send me the following:
a. The things you think are important to learn in an English class.
b. Methods of teaching that have NOT helped you to learn these things.
c. Methods of teaching that HAVE helped you to learn these things.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Final Project
This term we have been studying how the medium (or tool) affects how we interact with the world around us. Or, to put it in familiar terms, how the medium is the message.
For example, someone who owns a car will interact with distance much differently than a person who has only feet to travel with. The medium of the car sends the message that distance is unimportant, thus a car owner would tend to travel much more frequently, and much longer distances, than the person without a car. While a car owner in Lyman would think of a trip to Salt Lake City as a one-day affair, the walker would see such a trip as a major undertaking. The car owner would perceive the world as a much smaller place than the walker.
A much more comprehensive explanation of “The Medium is the Message” can be found at the following links:
Introduction
Application
Images vs. Text
Analogue vs. Abstract
I’m going to offer you a number of approaches to the project for this unit. Read through them and decide which one would be most interesting to pursue.
1. Go through recent findings in the scientific world, or technological products in the early stages of development. Using Postman’s metaphor of the drop of red dye to guide your thoughts, come up with possible futures where this product or finding has permeated and changed the culture of America. Choose the scenario that most excites your imagination. Write a short story (3000 words at least), complete with a plot and character arcs, showing how the product or finding affects the culture. Or you can go into the past. Find a medium that significantly affected history. What would happen if that medium never arrived? Or what might have happened if another medium came in its place? For example if electric cars had gained ascendancy instead of gasoline powered cars? Some good writers to read on this subject would be Ray Bradbury and Phillip K. Dick.
2. Find a work of art that has been rendered into more than one medium. For example, a book that has been made into a movie, or a movie into a book. Or a piece of music that has been rendered into a dance (anyone here remember the Boot Scootin’ Boogie?). Or a book into a graphic novel. Write a paper analyzing how the difference in medium affected the work of art. What aspects of the original were enhanced by the change in medium? Which parts were diminished? How did the meaning of the original change? What new meanings were added when the medium changed? What meanings were subtracted? How did the work of art benefit from the change? How did it suffer? The analysis should be about 1000 words.
3. Find a work of art and translate it into another medium. For example, translate a painting into a short story, or a piece of music into a dance, or a poem into a drawing. Write a short paper (700 words) talking about the process of translation. Are you pleased with the translation? What qualities of the original piece were enhanced through your work? What parts diminished?
4. The classroom is a medium. The assignment is a medium. The quiz is a medium. The grade is a medium. Each of them sends a different message about what learning is. Some of these mediums help learning, and some of them inhibit learning. Many of them do both. Develop an English class that would cater to your particular learning style. What would actually be important to learn in your class? How would you define learning? How would you set up the classroom? Would you even have a classroom? How would you present information to the students? Would you have assignments? What would they be like? How would you test what the students have learned? Write a paper of about 1000 words describing your class and how your particular design would enhance learning.
Deadlines and point values:
May 6: You have chosen your project. 10 pts
May 9: You email me an outline of your project. 10 pts
May 16: You have emailed your first draft to me. 10 pts
May 21: You have emailed your second draft to me. 10 pts
May 28: You have emailed your final draft to me. 10 pts
There will be a 50-point worth ethic grade.
The final draft of your final project is worth 100 points.
Total points: 200
Since the PAWS test took up so much of our term, your performance on this project will constitute the majority of your grade.
We will be working on these projects during class time. Thus, I will always be available to assist you. Make sure you pick something you’ll enjoy doing. If you have an idea for an alternate project make sure you pitch it to me by May 6.
For example, someone who owns a car will interact with distance much differently than a person who has only feet to travel with. The medium of the car sends the message that distance is unimportant, thus a car owner would tend to travel much more frequently, and much longer distances, than the person without a car. While a car owner in Lyman would think of a trip to Salt Lake City as a one-day affair, the walker would see such a trip as a major undertaking. The car owner would perceive the world as a much smaller place than the walker.
A much more comprehensive explanation of “The Medium is the Message” can be found at the following links:
Introduction
Application
Images vs. Text
Analogue vs. Abstract
I’m going to offer you a number of approaches to the project for this unit. Read through them and decide which one would be most interesting to pursue.
1. Go through recent findings in the scientific world, or technological products in the early stages of development. Using Postman’s metaphor of the drop of red dye to guide your thoughts, come up with possible futures where this product or finding has permeated and changed the culture of America. Choose the scenario that most excites your imagination. Write a short story (3000 words at least), complete with a plot and character arcs, showing how the product or finding affects the culture. Or you can go into the past. Find a medium that significantly affected history. What would happen if that medium never arrived? Or what might have happened if another medium came in its place? For example if electric cars had gained ascendancy instead of gasoline powered cars? Some good writers to read on this subject would be Ray Bradbury and Phillip K. Dick.
2. Find a work of art that has been rendered into more than one medium. For example, a book that has been made into a movie, or a movie into a book. Or a piece of music that has been rendered into a dance (anyone here remember the Boot Scootin’ Boogie?). Or a book into a graphic novel. Write a paper analyzing how the difference in medium affected the work of art. What aspects of the original were enhanced by the change in medium? Which parts were diminished? How did the meaning of the original change? What new meanings were added when the medium changed? What meanings were subtracted? How did the work of art benefit from the change? How did it suffer? The analysis should be about 1000 words.
3. Find a work of art and translate it into another medium. For example, translate a painting into a short story, or a piece of music into a dance, or a poem into a drawing. Write a short paper (700 words) talking about the process of translation. Are you pleased with the translation? What qualities of the original piece were enhanced through your work? What parts diminished?
4. The classroom is a medium. The assignment is a medium. The quiz is a medium. The grade is a medium. Each of them sends a different message about what learning is. Some of these mediums help learning, and some of them inhibit learning. Many of them do both. Develop an English class that would cater to your particular learning style. What would actually be important to learn in your class? How would you define learning? How would you set up the classroom? Would you even have a classroom? How would you present information to the students? Would you have assignments? What would they be like? How would you test what the students have learned? Write a paper of about 1000 words describing your class and how your particular design would enhance learning.
Deadlines and point values:
May 6: You have chosen your project. 10 pts
May 9: You email me an outline of your project. 10 pts
May 16: You have emailed your first draft to me. 10 pts
May 21: You have emailed your second draft to me. 10 pts
May 28: You have emailed your final draft to me. 10 pts
There will be a 50-point worth ethic grade.
The final draft of your final project is worth 100 points.
Total points: 200
Since the PAWS test took up so much of our term, your performance on this project will constitute the majority of your grade.
We will be working on these projects during class time. Thus, I will always be available to assist you. Make sure you pick something you’ll enjoy doing. If you have an idea for an alternate project make sure you pitch it to me by May 6.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Jung Typology Test
Click here to take the test.
When you get your result, copy down the letters into a Word document.
Then read the interpretations of your type.
Which parts are right on? Which parts are way off? What parts surprised you at first, but, upon further reflection, you found to be true?
Write on these questions and then email me your responses along with your type.
When you get your result, copy down the letters into a Word document.
Then read the interpretations of your type.
Which parts are right on? Which parts are way off? What parts surprised you at first, but, upon further reflection, you found to be true?
Write on these questions and then email me your responses along with your type.
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