Wednesday / Thursday 8-9 December

In class students reviewed concepts of connotation, denotation, inflection and stress. Students read I.iii-I.vi.

Students learned about the concept of a "word trace;" see teacher for a handout.

Students may have worked in groups tracing the word blood in Act I. (I'm writing this ahead of time....)

Tomorrow students will be in the Computer Lab Room #16 for a counseling lesson.

Tuesday, 7 December, 2010

Homework Reminder: Act I & II of Macb_th is due for next class.

Memoir Day

First we talked about the concept:

The Suspension of Disbelief: Authority in the voice of the author helps us "let go," suspend disbelief and "go with" the story. This suspension of disbelief happens in all kinds of writing (and is famously talked about in terms of the theater).

We then read a section from the memoir A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel was shared.

We noted... sometimes sophisticated images can be "slipped in" if there are simple words express complicated or adult P.O.V. ideas. Long loopy hair that only an ungrateful man gets -- is an example of an adult perspective, but presented in a simple way that allows it to be part of a narrative from a child's perspective.

Today's prompt: "Something that has been with you over time." Anything on your bodies. Things in your environment. Anything that has been in or a part of your life over time. So, not a scene. This is different, the writing is about a topic.

Monday, 6 December

Memoir Day!

(Homework reminder: Macbeth Acts I & II should be read by Wednesday or Thursday class.)

Some general notes and reminders:

Don't use exclamation marks in memoir (different than commenting).

P.O.V. = point of view

"Nice" = a good passage

Voice: the quality of being "you" in your writing.

We discussed the idea of a "Telling Detail"

The specific words you choose to describe something reflect your feelings about it.

Old School: bright; art work everywhere

New School: dark; big; brick

Which school was licked better? Which was feared?

The new school is a foreboding place. The details you pick are those details that support the emotional feeling you are attempting to create in a piece.

It all goes back to "Show Don't Tell"

Today's Lesson is to exercise our "detail muscle"

We rely a lot on sight, especially for details. However, the other four senses (hearing; touch; Taste; Smell) are particularly powerful, in large part because they are underutilized. In the writing prompt today use all of your senses, particularly hearing, touch, taste, and smell.

In the following prompt, I want you to use all of these senses. Write about a time when you were scared. (A perfect response shows the fear, but doesn't actually have to say that you are scared.) Fill at least a whole page.

If you get stuck, remember that the sense of smell is our most evocative. Even to say, "It smelled like my old dogs bad breath," brings about a response from readers.

"On the Body": big emotions can be shown powerfully, by writing about the effects of these strong emotions on the body. E.g., love makes the breath go quicker; fear may bring a ugly taste to the mouth; joy may make our feet feel light.

Friday, 3 December

Read Act I and Act II of Macbeth for next Wednesday

Memoir Day!

3rd & 4th Periods with Karen Karbo; 5th & 7th Period with me.

Remember January 21st, 2011 1,000 word memoir due! (ABSOLUTELY NO LATE WORK!!!!)

Brainstorming -- remember, all ideas are good:

Listing things that traditionally happen to kids:

Pets; birthday parties; day care; potty trained; lose teeth; first days of school; make friends; lose friends; play dates; learn to read; 1st crush; travel; lemonade stands; T-ball; Outdoor School; sleep overs; imaginary games; hide and seek; recess; Magic School Bus; watch TV; school plays; argue with siblings; solstice; christmas; halloween; holidays; Doctor and dentist visits; shots; birthday parties; "cooties";

Choose a vivid memory (for example one of the above); write about this event as if you are THAT AGE -- try writing in present tense to reinforce the idea that you are there and you are that age.

Note how it felt to write from the child's perspective (as opposed to your current perspective).

Wednesday/ Thursday 1&2 December

In class we did a focused study of Act I scene i and scene ii.

We discussed language and meter is Shakespeare's work.

We paid special attention to the paradoxes and contradictions of the Witches in I.i.

We did a staging of I.ii. using buttons.

Mr. Zartler made a lot of the blood and gore.

See a fellow student for additional and specific notes.

Tuesday, 30 November

Karen Karbo Residency for 3rd & 4th.

Karen reminded the class of the deadline for the 1,000 word memoir on January 21st.

Karen apologized for being sick last week. We will reschedule to "make up" that class period.

Photos: remembering from a visual cue; they help us remember details.

Karen talked about he importance of including the Who?; What?; When?; Where? and Why? which are the famous essential questions of journalism in writing memoir as well.

Karen talked about a "Golden Rule" of good writing: "Show Don't Tell." Specifically don't just say that something was "awesome" or "amazing" or "agonizing" or aweful, as you write about that thing include specific details that show how wonderful or woeful it was.

For example:

Thanksgiving was awesome this year. We had fifty-five of my favorite relatives, four turkey's and vension that my cousin Daniel had shot on his first hunting trip last week. Everyone laughed and played, and no one was stuck with the dishes because everyone pitched in just a little.

Don't forget the weather for finding details.

Free Tip: always stop in the middle of sentence; it makes it easier to....

Monday, 29 November

We "tossed" the following lines from the Scottish Tragedy (we can't use the original title in class because we are turning the class into our theatre, and the play's title carries a curse).

We checked out copies of the play.

Here are the lines we tossed:

Fair is foul, and foul is fair… (1.1.12)

So foul and fair a day I have not seen. (1.3.39)

If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me

Without my stir (1.3.157-158)

Stars, hide your fires;

Let not light see my black and deep desires. (1.4.57-58)

Yet do I fear thy nature;

It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness… (1.5.16-17)

Come, you spirits

That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here… (1.5.47-48)

Look like th’ innocent flower,

But be the serpent under ‘t. (1.5.76-78)

If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well

It were done quickly. (1.7.1-2)

HOMEWORK:

Writers need to bring the photograph(s) of themselves that they brought last Friday.

For Wednesday students should read the introductory materials to the play.