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).

Deadline For All Work

If you're planning to make up missing work, revise essays, or deal with any other back-work issue, it needs to happen before:

MAY 14th

A Couple of Things...Sophomores

Free Choice Books -
It's a good idea to use your blog to keep track of characters, themes, plot, essential questions, and connections you make as your read. On day 3 of cycle 27, you will be responsible for discussing these elements of your book with the rest of the class. To have all of this information on your blog will make this an easy task. Otherwise, you might come up short in the detail department.

Quality Project Rubrics -
We've been discussing the Universal Standards/Sophomore Rubric all semester. For the Quality Project, it will look similar with a few modifications to apply to the nature of the project. Here's the rubric:

CREATIVITY – It is original and inspiring. The creator put a lot of thought and planning into the piece, and it possesses aspects that distinguish it from others of its kind.
__________

AESTHETICS – It is well made and pleasing to the eye, demonstrating excellence and superiority. It is executed well and will not easily fall apart or lose its value.
__________

TIME AND EFFORT – There is a clear, organized and defined thought process. The final project looks professional and finished. Also, the amount of time, effort, and dedication is readily apparent and documented.
__________

PRESENTATION – It is clear, organized, compelling, and the process of its creation is explained. Overall, it captures the audience’s attention.

...and don't forget about the reflection, which will be graded separately.

Cycle 25 - Everybody

Okay, the final month is here. And each class is on their respective "plan" for the remaining 4 cycles. Be sure you're consulting the calendars I created for you often. Sophs, it's quality project all cycle, and "Stuckness" in class; Freshman, bring A Midsummer Night's Dream and get ready to do some performing; Composition, this cycle we write our nature essays.

Cycle 24 - Composition

Public Interest essays are finished. They were a different kind of essay, involving background research, control of writing for more pages, and subtle presentation of big questions and ideas that people care about. Our next essay will slow us down and allow some meditation on the natural world. In addition, we'll read some quintessential naturalist writing.

The Plan:
Day 1 - Evaluations, Muir essay.
HW - One blog post or 2 pages in journal.

Day 2 - Muir essay.
HW - One blog post or 2 pages in journal.

Day 3 - Finish essay if needed, assorted short nature pieces, brainstorm essay.
HW - One blog post or 2 pages in journal.

Day 4 - Computer lab time to draft.
HW - One blog post or 2 pages in journal.

Cycle 24 - Freshman

This cycle marks the end of our work with The Woman Warrior,culminating in an essay/project with a few options.This essay is your chance to display what you've learned about reading critically and writing thoughtfully, and most importantly what you've learned about who you are and your voice. We've also completed stories for 1001 Flat World Project, the first ever in the world! Now we wait for the winners.

The Plan:
Day 1 - Final Woman Warrior discussion, essay/project directions and brainstorm.
HW - Rough draft of essay.

Day 2 - Peer feedback groups for essay.
HW - Work on essay/project.

Day 3 - Computer lab time to work on essay, individual conferences about presentation.
HW - Continue work on essay/project.

Day 4 - Final essay/project work day.
HW - Presentations next class.

Cycle 24 - Sophomores

This cycle marks the end of our work with The Poisonwood Bible,culminating in an essay with a few options.This essay is your chance to display what you've learned about reading critically and writing thoughtfully. This cycle we also begin work on Quality Projects. Be sure you check the calendar handout I gave you in class often for checkpoints,work days, and due dates. The rest of the semester will be mostly self-directed.

The Plan:
Day 1 - Quintessence, project proposals, examples of Quality projects, PB paper assignment.
HW - Rough draft of PB paper. (You should be finished reading).

Day 2 - Peer feedback groups for PB paper.
HW - Work on paper.

Day 3 - Final draft of paper due, discuss, start working on Quality project, plan work day.
HW - Bring materials for work day.

Day 4 - First project work day.
HW - Quality Project, get free choice book.