Quality Project Reflections

Here are some general topics to make sure you cover in your reflections. In addition, all of you need to have a written introduction that elaborates on the reasons why you chose this project.

For the reflection:

*Describe the process you went through for the past six weeks.

*What were the successes and frustrations? How did you deal with them?

*What makes your project quality? Think about our discussions of the classical and romantic elements of quality. Discuss both and how they apply to your project.

*What's next for you? What doors have been opened? What interests have you found?

Character Study/Mental Model Essay...and some other stuff

This is the last essay, and I'm trying to give you plenty of class time to work on it. Here are some things to think about using as an outline:
* Articulate what you don't understand about your subject.
* Describe physical characteristics symbolic of what's interesting/perplexing about your subject.
* What do others say or think about your subject?
* What is your subject's voice?
* What is the universal theme that your interest in your subject reveals?

Other Stuff:
The deadline for missing work was yesterday. If you've completed posts, you need to send me an email so I know to check your blog.
Don't forget the four posts for cycle 26.

Freshman Performance Project

As you know from class, your going to be staging a performance of a scene from A Midsummer Night's Dream. In order to create a believable interpretation, the project will have several required steps, as well as a few creative options. The idea behind the project is that a play is meant to be performed, and the only way to really understand the themes and characters is to become them from the inside out. That's what you're going to do.

Step One: Brainstorm your ideas for characters, scenes, and how you might put them together and perform them (you already did this on your blogs).

Step Two: Find others that are interested in working with you. Or don't, you can perform solo if you like.

Step Three: Write a one page interpretation of your scene. More specifically, you will analyze the minimum 15 lines that you'll memorize, adapting the scene for performance, and figuring out how you're going to play the character, including their mood, tone, motivations, frustrations, all based on the language. The one-pager is due next Wednesday, C-day the 16th.

Step Four: With your groups, if you're working with a group, decide on a performance option. Here they are:
1. You can put on a live performance for the class. This means creating props,
costumes, and learning how to stage (move actors around the stage).
2. Radio show. These were before your time and mine. But they're really cool.
Think the audio version of the play but with more sound effects. This option
will mean really knowing how to inflect every word and how to use effects to
create meaning. The final product will be a podcast.
3. You can film and edit an iMovie. Before you choose this option, there are
several things to consider. First, you will have to make arrangements with
ITV to check-out equipment, unless you have your own. And it's a busy time of
year for video equipment. Also, we will need to meet and discuss sound,
lighting, and composition. These will make the biggest impact on the quality
of your movie.

Step Five: You will create a neat, organized, well-planned storyboard, analog or digital. The storyboard is also due C-day the 16th.

Step Six: Rehearse and create any materials.

Step Seven: Performances will be next cycle, day 3 and 4. That'll be Friday the 18th and Monday the 22nd.

Flat World Reflection Questions

On your blog, respond to the following questions. We will discuss and podcast in class.

1. What did you like best about the project and why?
2. What did you like least and why?
3. What was something surprising that you learned about the other students (from other schools)?
4. How do you think the project affected your writing?
5. Describe the most challenging aspect of the project.
6. Offer some advice to future participants.
7. Other comments.

Freshman Homework

We don't meet again until next Tuesday. So here's the work you need to prepare:
1. Finish your Shakespeare wikispace page. We'll be looking at them as a class next week.
2. Finish reading Act II, maybe even start reading Act III. Write another character analysis post after reading.
3. Prepare a few notes for a Flat World debrief/reflection session that I'm going to podcast.

Freshman, Here's Today's Activity

Follow this link to the Freshman corner of my class wikispace. Read every word, follow the links, rearrange yourselves into the assigned groups, and get to work.

Composition Readings

Here's something I just read that made me think of composition class. It's kind of an anti-how-to or maybe a character sketch of self. Read it (or not).