AP Lit 2B/3B/3G: Setting as a Character Part II

AP Lit 2B/3B/3G: Setting as a Character Part II

Déjà vu! Today we worked hard again on our artistic interpretations of the setting from Heart of Darkness. They're finally coming together and we're really beginning to understand how the setting can not only be a character, but can be more important than some of the other characters in the story.

With the passage on the board we worked towards identifying the important diction by circling and discussing specific words we thought were unique or showed up very often. This time though, we focused heavily on section 2 of Heart of Darkness.

Finally we did a little bit of test prep to round out the day. With work like this we'll be ready to move on before you know it! 

AP Lit 2B/3B/3G: Setting as a Character

Can setting ever be more than setting? Absolutely! 

Today we took a close look at a couple passages from Conrad's Heart of Darkness. We made a few of connections to Frankenstien and "She Walks in Beauty," but spent most of our time looking at the diction in the passages. 

After that we really had to put our thinking caps on. We each chose a specific setting from the book and worked toward turning that setting into a character. 

If that setting magically transformed into a person what would they look like? Would it be a boy or girl? How tall would they be? What would they wear? On one side of a piece of paper we started drawing our characters and on the other side we began writing a short character sketch. What traits do our characters have? What would it be like if we were to have a conversation with them?

It took a minute, but we're finally opening our minds and learning to see setting as a character!

Blog: 3+ PostsReq'd Post: How might we make the last quarter of AP Lit the most exceptional, amazing powerful and important and mind blowing learning experience you could possibly have AND make the school say, "Wow.  AND they learned the stuff they were supposed to learn?"Due: Friday, Mar 28Reading: Read the next 30 pages of Heart of DarknessDue: Thursday, Mar 27  (2B, 3B) and Friday, Mar 28 (3G)

Humanities: 8th Grade Vids & Get 'Er Done Work

Today we divided into two work sessions.

One group will be focusing on producing the eighth grade orientation video(s) while the other group will be focusing on completing their process essays, DEJS, blogs, vocab and other work.

The video group completed a series of empathy activities from Stanford's d.school  today.


We started with the share and capture method, with one person in each of two groups sharing their insights on the data we've collected from our user base.  The rest of the members highlighted the big ideas and takeways from the speaker.

When used those insights to create a composite user, a profile of the typical eighth grader who will be watching and experiencing the videos we create. Also a refresher on the DEEP design thinking process.

These two experiences led to a brainstorming and ideating over how we might create 1 to 3 videos less than or equal to three minutes in length each that address the incoming ninth grader's needs.

We determined that we will make two three minute videos, one serving as a navigation guide to Mt. Blue, and the other a list of 7 tips for incoming ninth graders.  We determined team leaders for each group and will spend the next three days scripting, storyboarding, determining content, style, and preparing to actual film next week.

Tomorrow we also start To Kill a Mockingbird and complete Roots 11.

HOMEWORK

Blog: 3+ Posts
Req'd Post: How might we make the last quarter of Humanities the most exceptional, amazing powerful and important and mind blowing learning experience you could possibly have AND make the school say, "Wow.  AND they learned the stuff they were supposed to learn?"
Due: Friday, Mar 28

Vocab: Roots 11
Study: Quiz & Product
Due: Tuesday, Mar 25

Write: 5 Paragraph Process Essay
Discuss: Your process, product, and outcome of anything you have made during the third quarter, whether for school or for work or for fun.
Due: Friday, Mar 28

Produce: 8th Grade Transition Film (optional)
Due: April 4th

PACE: Pitches & Trailers Decided

Today we had our pitch revisions and chose to move forward with Pitches into Products.

After folks delivered Macbeth-inspired pitches, we decided that several were worthy of development into trailers.

We will be making trailers of Lindzee's, Mitch's and Kristen's.  We divided into production teams. More about this teams to be posted on Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, you will receive a production schedule that must be maintained.  These trailers will go live to the public on April 11.  

HOMEWORK
Blog: 3+ Posts
Req'd Post: Req'd Post: How might we make the last quarter of PACE the most exceptional, amazing powerful and important and mind blowing learning experience you could possibly have AND make the school say, "Wow.  AND they learned the stuff they were supposed to learn?"

QUACK Vocab
Unit 1 Part 2 
Quiz: Friday

Unit 1 Parts 1 & 2
Quiz: Thur, April 3

Macbeth:
3 Graphic Organizers: Past Teacher PACE
Show Bible: Past Teacher PACE

AP Lit 2B/3B/3G: Tone, Diction, Frankenstein, and Art!

AP Lit 2B/3B/3G: Tone, Diction, Frankenstein, and Art!

Today we started by revisiting one of our Frankenstein passages. 

With the passage on the board we worked towards identifying the tone by circling and discussing the diction we thought contributed to tone. Together we decided on some very fitting tone words and created a thesis as if we were going to write an essay on tone and diction in the passage. 

After that we decided it was much easier to work towards identifying tone in a passage on our own, and that's just what we did! 

But we didn't stop there. We took it to the next level and drew a picture to block out everything but the words we thought contributed to tone. We then wrote individual theses based on our passages and constructed essays around them. 

Though we're still exploring, we're getting a lot closer to really understanding the importance of understanding theme!

Just check out some of these awesome examples:

Blog: 3+ Posts
Req'd Post:  What are you passionate about?  Write as much, draw as much, audio record as much, video as much as you can and post your passions.  The subjects, the ideas, the interests that get you fired up -- that make you want to know as much as you can as fast as you can.
Due: Friday, Mar 21

Reading: Read up until the bottom of page 91 in Heart of Darkness
Due: Thursday, Mar 20 (2B, 3B) and Monday, Mar 24 (3G)

Humanities: Magician Scot Grassette

Today we have a guest speaker, magician and entrepreneur, Scot Grassette.  He owns and operates 49 Franklin, an event center and performance arts venue in Rumford.

He'll be sharing his stagecraft and magicianship as well as what he has learned about business and turning your passions into a career.  It should be a pretty great afternoon.

For Wednesday, you need to have completed all three of your DEJ entries on symbolism in Speak.   You may want to continue on to doing three on theme in Speak if you have time.  We will be tackling point-of-view in the near future.

Next week, we will be focusing on creating the video for the 8th graders.  

HOMEWORK

Blog: 3+ Posts
Req'd Post:  What are you passionate about?  Write as much, draw as much, audio record as much, video as much as you can and post your passions.  The subjects, the ideas, the interests that get you fired up -- that make you want to know as much as you can as fast as you can.
Due: Friday, Mar 21

Study & Create: Roots 11 Quiz & Product
Due: Thursday, Mar 20

Complete: Double Entry Journals (DEJs)
Topic: 3 on Symbolism in Speak
Due: Wednesday, Mar 19

PACE: Macbeth Pitches

The weather held us back, but no longer.  Today's the day we pitch our ideas for TV series, films, book series and video games inspired by Macbeth.

If we like what we hear, we just may create trailers for these ideas.

Show bibles are due today as well.  Put them in your PACE IN box on your Google Drive.

Next class?  We vote on whether to move forward with trailers or start something new.

We also get back on track with a more regular schedule and our routines, now that Mr. Ryder will be here more regularly, the weather is improving and we have Ms. Haskell and Ms. Campbell to help us.

HOMEWORK

Blog: 3+ Posts
Req'd Post:  What are you passionate about?  Write as much, draw as much, audio record as much, video as much as you can and post your passions.  The subjects, the ideas, the interests that get you fired up -- that make you want to know as much as you can as fast as you can.
Teacher PACE: Friday, Mar 21

Macbeth Pitching Power: Pitches & ShowBibles
Teacher PACE: TODAY
Student PACE: Update the Due Date Form

Macbeth Graphic Organizers: Analysis of 3 Scenes from Macbeth (see your Google Drive for graphic organizer)
Teacher PACE: Past Due
Student PACE: Update the Due Date Form