FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27

As many of you already know, Colten's dad passed away yesterday. Visitation is from 2 until 8 on Sunday at Alexander West and Monday from 9 a.m. until the 11 a.m. service at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship Church.

Many of you have already expressed your concern for Colten. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts.

DEATH OF A SALESMAN REQUIRED POST

Respond to one or more of the following questions over Act I of Death of a Salesman. Here are the requirements:

1. You must POST TWICE
2. Posts must be SUBSTANTIVE
3. At least one post must be IN RESPONSE TO THE POST OF A CLASSMATE.
4. The two posts are due by Monday, March 2 at 7:40 a.m.
5. At least ONE POST must be made BEFORE Sunday, March 1.
6. You must use specific examples from the play in each post.

Here are the possible questions:

**What do you think of the characters in the play? You may focus on one character or discuss more than one.

**Discuss/analyze Willy's relationships with his sons. What stands out to you the most about his interactions with them?

**Why do you think Miller includes all the flashbacks in the play? What is their significance on the reading/understanding of the play as a whole?

**What kind of person is Linda? Discuss her relationship with Willy. Would you consider her to be a "good wife?" Why or why not?

** What are some of the quotes in the play that stand out to you (These may or may not be quotes we've already discussed). Why do you find them significant?

**What other aspects of the play do you find discussion-worthy? Explain why.

SALESMAN QUIZ--ACT I

Tomorrow we will have a 25 point quiz over Death of a Salesman Act I. Don't forget to finish reading Act I!!!! It will be multiple choice and quote identification.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25--MY LAST CLASS

Tomorrow is my last day with you all and I want you to know how much I have enjoyed this class! You are all thoughtful, intelligent, and creative people. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each of you.

While it is my last official day, I will still be involved in the planning (and unfortunately, some of you may say) in some of the grading for the class.

I will keep the blog up and running, and should you have any questions or concerns.....feel free to ask. I want to make sure your class is taken care of through the end of the year.

You should expect to read the Stranger and one other novel on the AP book list. You will also have a couple more writing assignments AND time to work on your scrapbook. We will also continue to have required discussions and postings on the blog.

I anticipate the last 9 weeks being an easier grading period; however, you will definitely still have work to do.

I just want you all to know what a special group of students I think you are and that I've really enjoyed teaching and learning from you.

See you tomorrow!

SENIOR PROJECT PRESENTATIONS ROUND 2

I have Tyler V, Ashley, Max, and the Wes/Tyler T. duo scheduled to present their power points Wednesday morning at 7 a.m.

All must be there BY 7, please.

Nice job on all the presentations today!

SENIOR PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

Don't forget you need to have your powerpoint presentations and portfolios ready for tomorrow (unless you signed up for Wednesday at 7 a.m.)

PORTFOLIOS DO NOT need to be in a binder. Just make sure everything is in order, and I'll 3-hole-punch it and put it in a binder for you.

You also have your Hamlet feedback sheets and American Dream objects due tomorrow.

Post any questions here. Otherwise, see you in the a.m.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20--IT'S A WRAP!

THIS MULTI-PART POST DEALS WITH THE FOLLOWING:

1. HAMLET
2. POWERPOINTS AND PORTFOLIOS
3. AMERICAN DREAM OBJECTS
4. ORAL INTERP PROJECTS

PLEASE USE THIS FORUM TO POST ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TOPICS BELOW
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Great job today on finishing Hamlet. I know it's been a LONG project, but so many of you have really stepped up and put a lot of effort in. Though shooting days always seem to be crazy, I think the film itself is going to turn out really well.

Those of you who are editing have some work ahead of you, but I'm already impressed with your efforts so far.

Some of you have been asking when we'll be able to see the finished product. I talked to Mr. Hughes about that, and we decided that the goal would be to view the final play (along with blooper reel) sometime towards the middle of the last grading period. I will come back to watch that, as I wouldn't miss it for anything.

I just want you all to know how much I appreciate everything you've done. It was definitely something different for us. That's for sure!

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On to next week.......

Our big assignment for Tuesday is your POWER POINT PRESENTATION along with your portfolio.

FOR THE PORTFOLIOS: You do NOT need to put them in your own binder. Some people did submit them in their own binders last year, but you don't have to. We have binders that we use for all the portfolios, so if you will just paper clip your portfolio information IN ORDER. I will 3-hole punch the material and put it in a binder for you. Please do a cover page, though.

HERE ARE THE PEOPLE I HAVE DOWN FOR TUESDAY AT 7 A.M.

Rachel and Sarah, Tamara, Lauren, Shawn

You will need to all be here AT 7, so we can get started and finished BEFORE class.
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ALSO DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR AMERICAN DREAM OBJECT AND BE PREPARED TO EXPLAIN WHY IT IS A GOOD REPRESENTATION.
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FINALLY, ABOUT YOUR ORAL INTERP PROJECT......... I am pushing it back to AFTER senior project presentations. We've got too much going on right now to cram one more thing like this in. We will probably do those on the FRIDAY of senior project week (2 weeks from today).

BLOG POST ASSIGNMENT OVER OEDIPUS

For this assignment, you will need to make 3 SEPARATE POSTS (5 points each) due on or before the following dates:

1) due by Friday 2/13 at 7:40 a.m.

2) due by Monday 2/16 at 7:40 a.m.

3) due by Wednesday 2/18 at 7:40 a.m.


Requirements

AT LEAST ONE OF THE POSTS SHOULD BE IN RESPONSE TO THE COMMENTS OF A CLASSMATE

POSTS SHOULD BE SUBSTANTIVE AND INCLUDE EXAMPLES FROM THE PLAY AS WELL AS PERSONAL OPINION

PLEASE AVOID REPEATING SOMEONE ELSE'S ANSWERS. EXAMPLE: IF SOMEONE DISCUSSES DRAMATIC IRONY IN THE PLAY, AVOID A POST THAT BASICALLY SAYS "I AGREE WITH _______________ ABOUT HIS EXAMPLES OF DRAMATIC IRONY."


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You may respond to one of the following questions, or simply include your own comments or questions:

1. What are some of Oedipus' "tragic flaws" that lead to his downfall? Although his situation is more outrageous than most of us face in our daily lives, what about Oedipus could most people relate to?

(This question takes some thought, but there are probably many commonalities between Oedipus and regular people.)

2. Analyze the role of Fate vs. Free Will in the play. Over what do the characters have control and what is out of their hands. How can you apply the idea of fate vs. free will in your own life ( you may use general or specific examples)?

3. Locate some instances of dramatic irony in the play. How does this affect the overall reading of the play.

4. Compare and contrast the title characters in Hamlet and Oedipus. How are they similar and how are they different? What are your personal thoughts/ observations about each character. Provide personal opinion, but support it with examples.

5. Discuss the theme of blindness vs. sight in the play. How are they related to the theme? Why does Oedipus blind himself instead of joining Jocasta in suicide?

6. Respond to any other themes, etc. from the play.

OEDIPUS

This Monday and Wednesday, we will begin and finish Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. PLEASE BRING YOUR ANTHOLOGIES, since you know my habit is to stop and talk about what's important. If you can mark in pencil parts of the play that we discuss, I believe it will help you greatly on the quizzes.

Friday, we are planning to shoot Act IV of Hamlet (we're over halfway finished)!.

While there is no homework for Monday, you should be working on the following:

1) your two scrapbook sections that will be due very soon

2) Also, ANOTHER REMINDER TO ORDER OR PURCHASE THE STRANGER BY ALBERT CAMUS ASAP!

3) Friday Essay due this Friday......Fate vs. Free Will is the topic

APPLAUSE FOR YOU!!!!

Just a post to say GREAT JOB on our Hamlet production. Shout outs and kudos go to lots of people, but ESPECIALLY the following:

PERFORMERS
First off, those of you performing have been AWESOME! Performers have given up their entire enrichment periods on the blue days BEFORE each shoot to block each Act. They've come up with costumes, memorized lines, rearranged the script when someone is absent, and have done an amazing job overall during the shoot.


SETS AND CAMERA PEOPLE
They have not only taken pictures for sets and brought various props on short notice, but they are now running the cameras and giving up enrichment to edit the film and record the music.

MANY OTHERS of you working on different portions of the project have also contributed greatly as well. Thanks especially to those who are not only working nonstop DURING class, but then are also giving up enrichment time for the project as well.

Obviously, if we did this again there are definitely things we would do differently, but that's the way it works when you're "pioneering" a project. At the end, I will survey you all for suggestions. Of course, I already have a list of changes I would make; however, your input will be extremely valuable.

SPEAKING OF "THE END," it has been suggested that we celebrate the end of this project with another "feast." If everyone so chooses, we can set up a day to have "feast round 2" in the cafeteria.

I WILL POST AGAIN OVER THE WEEKEND REGARDING NEXT WEEK'S CLASS ACTIVITIES.

THANKS AGAIN FOR A GREAT JOB!

PROP NEEDS FOR THURSDAY'S HAMLET

Everyone......after walking through Act III today, the performers realized they need a couple of props for Thursday:

1. a sword for Polonius' stabbing (toy sword please!)

2. a bottle or container to pour poison in the player King Hamlet's ear.

Can anyone help? If props people can help out with this, that would be great; however, if anyone, in any of the groups, has such items, it would be a huge help.

Post here if you can come up with something. This would be a great way to contribute if you still need to find ways to make your contribution!

Thanks!