HAPPY (ALMOST) 2009!!!

I hope you have all had a relaxing holiday. I know I definitely needed a break with the rush that comes at the end of the semester. The good news is that we have another week of freedom to enjoy before we return to the everyday routine.

A break is a great time to reflect. The cliche of New Years resolutions aside, now is a perfect time to think about what is working for you and what isn't. Sometimes we don't have time to clear our brains during the hectic grind of the school year to think about where we might change course and where we are doing well.

THE START OF A NEW YEAR IS ALSO THE PERFECT TIME TO START THE SECOND SEMESTER WITH SOME BONUS POINTS, WHICH I "RESOLVE" TO RECORD DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES!

**Here's the bonus assignment WORTH 5 POINTS (remember that's one letter grade bump on a 50 point assignment)***

1) THINK of at least 5 areas of your life that you could address and 5 resolutions that make sense for you.

Examples: academics, health, personal fitness, spirituality, family and/or personal relationships, attitude, creativity, productivity, etc. The possibilities are endless.

2) POST at least 3 specific resolutions for yourself during the new semester. AT LEAST ONE MUST HAVE TO DO WITH OUR CLASS: AP LITERATURE AND COMP. (You can save the other, more personal, resolutions for your eyes only).

3) ALSO POST at least 2 activities that you have found most enjoyable over break.

***RULES AND RESTRICTIONS APPLY:

1) resolutions must not closely resemble other classmates' posts, meaning......no copying; make your own resolutions

2) same goes for activities over the holidays. You can certainly RESPOND in agreement with someone else's post, but come up with your own ideas.

3) due date is January 4 by 9 p.m. The earlier you post, the fewer people will have taken your ideas.

I'LL LIST MY OWN SAMPLE TO START OFF THE POSTS. ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR BREAK!!!!

FINAL EXAMS AND FINAL GRADES

A few notes......

1. Our Final Exam is Tuesday.

2. Binders must be turned in by Tuesday. Here's a reminder about what goes in it.....

I. 4 Journals (40 points)---#1 1984 questions, #2 timed writing prep, #3 Animal Dreams questions, #4 This I Believe writing
(REMEMBER, EACH JOURNAL MUST BE ONE PAGE IN LENGTH TO RECEIVE ALL 10 POINTS)

II. 3 Grammar Edits (15 points)-- dates are 8/21, 8/29, and 10/1

III. 2 Notes (10 points)--- #1 Socratic seminar evaluation, #2 Hamlet characters

TOTAL 65 points

3. Act V script people-----I need the script by Tuesday so I can give you a grade.

4. FOR ALL WHO HAVE NOT YET TURNED IN BINDERS (AND ACT V SCRIPT PEOPLE), I am putting in a "missing" for your grade until you give it to me. AS SOON AS YOU TURN IT IN, I will change the "missing" and give you a grade which will raise your grade considerably.

BINDERS AND ACT V SCRIPT WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED LATE UNTIL AFTER TUESDAY.

SEE YOU TUESDAY!!!

FRIDAY'S TO DO LIST

1. Performers show off memorized version of Act II

2. We watch the rest of Act V

3. We take the Act V quiz

4. We go over timed writings (Plath and Blake poetry)

5. We review literary terms that are on the final using our remote controls that didn't work last time (I'm pretty sure I've got it figured out!!)

6. We tie up loose ends before the final: grades, Act V script, makeup assignments from those who were absent, etc.

OUR TIME IS SHORT AND CLASS TIME IS BUSY. IF YOU HAVE A PRESSING QUESTION, IT HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING ANSWERED HERE.

See you tomorrow!!!!!!!

FINALS ARE ALMOST HERE!!!!

For tomorrow..........Act II WILL BE PERFORMED. Make sure it is memorized! Those with small parts, should be taking MANY small parts, so that Hamlet (and any other main speaking role) doesn't have to remember everything!

MUSIC PEOPLE: I must have some way to grade you for THIS SEMESTER. That means you must put something detailed in writing regarding exactly WHAT you are going to do with the music, WHO else besides yourselves are involved, WHERE you are going to record it, and WHEN (estimated dates) will it be recorded.

LITERARY TERMS will probably go on FRIDAY, assuming we can get Act V finished. I don't want to send any reading home if possible. Our goal for tomorrow is to finish.

I will have FINAL EXAM REVIEW sheets ready for tomorrow.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING FOR CLASS......PLEASE POST HERE SO WE CAN ADDRESS THEM.

We're almost to the break!!!!!

POWER POINTS DUE MONDAY

Please refer to the handout I gave you a few weeks ago for guidelines about your power point presentations.

If you have any questions, please ask in class or post them here.

Sorry this is not much of a post, but like you I find myself with less time as the semester nears it's end. Also, I'm pregnant and tired, so I'm blaming it on the baby.

By the way......we found out tuesday IT'S A BOY!

HAMLET ACT I PERFORMANCE

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday. It was a much needed break. AND NOW, back to our world of due dates:(

PERFORMERS.......You need to be prepared to perform Act I WITHOUT A SCRIPT!!!!! It must be memorized.

SET group......You need to have a presentation of photos/sets ready to put on the projector for Act I.

MUSIC group.....You need to have your music recorded. (I haven't heard anything from this group. Have you made arrangements to record Act I already? I am happy to help you set something up, but you'll have to tell me what you need).

IF YOU ARE NOT PART OF ONE OF THESE GROUPS, you need to let me know how you are contributing at this point.


We will read and watch Act IV in class tomorrow.

If you have any questions, please post them here.