Star Wars Questions

Due next Thursday by EMAIL to me.

Here they are:

STAR WARS (1977) GUIDING QUESTIONS:  Actively view the film and take notes on the following questions.  

1)      The movie opens with a battle scene.  Darth Vader is looking for something.  What is he looking for, and what has happened to it?

2)      At the beginning of the movie, what does Luke Skywalker want to do?  What is holding him back?

3)      Who do we find out Ben Kenobi really is?

4)      How does Ben describe “The Force” to Luke? 

5)      How does Luke Skywalker mature during the story?  What is the main event that triggered this change?

6)      In what ways is Star Wars similar to other stories we have read this year such as The Epic of Gilgamesh and Siddhartha?

7)      How does Luke follow the “Hero’s Adventure” as described by Joseph Campbell?  What physical or spiritual deeds does he perform?  Where in the film does he experience a literal or figurative death and resurrection?

8)      How does Star Wars attempt to answer the following:

a)      Who are we?

b)      Where are we going?

c)       How did we get here?

d)      Why are we here?

e)      What happens to us when we die?

Metamorphoses and Final Exam Prep

How about that for expressivity and metamorphosis? 

Metamorphoses
Bring props and costumes to class on Monday.

You will perform next Thursday after school in the amphitheater.  Prepare to demonstrate your fluency, expressivity, and staging based on your RUBRIC.  Snacks will be served.

Final Exam - The Power of Myth
Edit your aphorism blog to include a reflection on the aphorism's connection to Joseph Campbell's "Hero's Adventure."  If you missed the video or need a refresher, here is an abridged version.

Metamorphoses Staging Preparation

Performances next Thursday after school in the CNG ampitheater!

Costume and props due next Monday!

The final rubric for your review is HERE!  Know what is expected of you in terms of expressivity, fluency and staging.

Let's Construct a Rubric

Here is the LINK TO OUR METAMORPHOSES RUBRIC.  Click link and follow instructions before our next class.

Metamorphoses / Final Exam Preparation

Metamorphoses Scene

Gain FLUENCY over your role.  Carefully consider how your voice should sound as you practice your lines.  MAKE NOTES ON HOW YOU WILL DELIVER LINES.  Denotation, connotation and cadence are critical pieces of a fluent performance.

Final Exam Preparation: The Power of Myth

Please post an aphorism on your blog that holds specific significance in your life.  Write a one paragraph justification for selecting it using specific examples from your life.  Here are a few links that might help you find one:

Aphorisms Galore
Not as many aphorisms as other sites but categories are nice.

Brainy Quote
Tons of aphorism choices and categories.

The Quotations Page
This website offers authorship quotes if you have a particular author that you are searching for

Scripting out your scene

Please bring evidence of thoughtful note taking on your planned expressivity in your scene.

FYI - We will perform after school on Thursday, May 30th with Mr. Tangen's class.

LINK to Scene/Plot/Theme Organizer work today.

Select your roles!

Select your roles HERE

Metamorphoses Scene 5- Orpheus and Eurydice

Read pp. 25-29  from the Metamorphoses script and answer the following questions in sentence form using examples from the text to support your responses:

1. Who are Hades, Fates, Tantalus and Sisyphus?
2.  How can Orpheus get Eurydice back?
3.  List the ways we are invited to interpret the story.
4.  Which interpretation do you most agree with?
5. Is this a love story?  Why?  Why not? If so, what kind of love does this seem to be?

Metamorphoses - Erysichthon scene

Hungry?

Read pp. 19-24 from the Metamorphoses script and answer the following questions in sentence form using examples from the text to support your responses:

1) Why does Erysichthon cut down the tree?
2) Define piety.
3) How does this term relate to Erysichthon?
4) What connections can be made between this scene and this children's story?
5) Relate the events in this scene to a specific passage in Siddhartha.

Siddhartha - LAST SECTION (#4)

For Thursday:

1)  Finish Siddhartha and your lit circle role;
2)  Post to your reading blog; and
3)  Bring your book to class for our Socratic Seminar.

Due Tuesday April 23rd

1. Read Section #3 of Siddhartha and post your third blog response.
2. Complete your literature circle role for Section #3.

Siddhartha Reading Blogs

Please write two reading blogs for Sections #1 and #2 of your Siddhartha reading.

Siddhartha Reading Section #2

Complete your reading and literary circle task(s) for Thursday.

Gospel Projects and Siddhartha

1) Gospel Projects Due Tuesday.  You'll want to consider the grading criteria as I'll be asking you to reflect on them and assess your performance on Tuesday.

2) Reading Section #1 and literary circle role responsibility due for Siddhartha on Tuesday

Gospel Projects Due Next Tuesday

Your Gospel Projects are due next Tuesday.  You will be graded on the following:

50% Textual details
An excellent project will adhere to readings from your assigned Gospel and present them in a coherent way for your audience.  Coherence comes from a well-planned and drafted project that has a framework for organization (chronological, thematic, etc.).

50% Originality
A unique perspective on your Gospel (your's or a character's) takes the Gospel reading at a literal level and elevates it through your creative envisioning of the text either through your perspective or through the perspective of how a given character might have recounted events in the story.

The Gospels End

If you were unable to finish your assigned Gospel readings in class today, you'll need to finish reading them for homework and completing your Lit Circle role responsibilities.

The audio version of KJV is here and the text is here.  You should read and listen at the same time.

Matthew 14, 21-end
John 14-end
Mark 8, 9, 14-end

Also, we will have a Gospel Project Writer's Workshop on the Monday after break, so NEXT CLASS BRING YOUR GOSPEL PROJECT DRAFT AND ANY MATERIALS YOU NEED TO CONTINUE CREATING A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON YOUR GOSPEL.

Gospel Literary Circles

1)  Read the next Chapter in your Gospels here and complete your literary circle tasks for discussion on Thursday.

2) You should have the beginning of your Gospel Project draft for Thursday.  We will continue to work on these projects after the break, but I want us to discuss your work before you leave for break.

The Gospel Project

The Gospel Project

You have a few options for your Gospel project. While you will be assessed individually, you might consider a collaboration. All of the projects much show an understanding of the subtleties of your particular Gospel - that is point of view, or perspective.

You will write a Gospel from the point of view of anyone in the story OR you may give your own account of a Gospel. You can do this in a variety of genres.
- a song (if group, then various songs)
- a comic book (see example as presented in class)
- a series of illustrations
- epic poem (not rhyming necessarily)

These will be due some time around mid-April. Nevertheless you should have the beginning of a draft ready for next Thursday.

Google Doc Reflection

Using the feedback you received on your Tao of _______ story, write a one-paragraph reflection on your strengths and challenges.

If your received below a 3 on concise writing, grammar, or story content, you may improve your grade to a 3 if you revise your story on your Google Document.

REMINDER - Amazon products due Friday.

Amazon Products DUE next Friday

Your chosen product should demonstrate a Taoist connection you made to the Amazon during your travels.  Your product choices include:

1) make a video
2) write 3 poems
3) write 3 song lyrics or write and record a single song
4) drawing with text (1 page explanation)
5) graphic novel (at least 3 pages)

You will be graded on:
- grammar
- originality
- Taoist connection

Tao of ________ Stories Due Thursday

You will be graded on the following criteria:


1) Concise Writing – (30%)
Author uses clear, concise writing and sentence structures throughout.  

2) Grammar – (30%)

Capitalization and spelling are used properly.  The author’s use of commas (FANBOYS, introductory clauses) is accurate.  


3) The Story Content - (40%)
The author has used protagonist, foil (optional), antagonist, setting (time, place), use of an episode, conflict, and connection to the essence of Taoism is clear, original and entertaining.  Author has integrated at least three illustrations or images to enhance the Taoist thought presented in the story.

CWW Product Selection

Great focus this week on your Tao of _____ drafts!  We'll finish our work on your narrative the week after next.

Whether you are traveling to the Amazon or not, you need to select one from among the following CWW product choices and focus your work on the theme of Taoism:

1. make a video
2. write poetry (3 poems)
3. draw a graphic novel (at least 3 pages)
4. make a drawing with text (at least 1 page description of your work)
5. write the music and lyrics to a song (either 3 songs with lyrics or 1 song with lyrics that you have recorded)

Moving from Drafting to Revision

Here are the steps for Thursday:

STEP 1: Select a paragraph that you would like to discuss with me on Thursday.  
STEP 2: Type the paragraph into your Google Doc Online Writer's Workshop.  
STEP 3: Lastly write a sentence below on why you chose it for us to discuss.

IMPORTANT - BRING YOUR COMPLETED DRAFT NARRATIVE TO CLASS ON THURSDAY.

Prewriting - Tao of _________

For the three artistic expressions you brought to class, make a list of connections the item has to Taoism.  We will begin writing our narratives (stories) next class, so consider whether the artistic expressions you brought today could be turned into a story that teaches the Tao.

The Tao of _____________

For next class be sure to bring three artistic expressions that can teach the essence of Tao to class.  You can consider any artistic expression (music, art, film, literature) that can be used to teach the Tao (that is not Tao).    

This is Just to Say it's Almost Valentines Day!

For Wednesday, write three additional “This is Just to Say” parodies using the parody format I provided in class.  You will need to turn these in, so write them on loose-leaf paper or type and print them.

Here is a checklist for how to write a good parody:

• Focuses on a subject/topic that contributes to the parody.
• Chooses words that mock the original poet’s style.
• Maintains similarity to the original poem (the connections between the two are clear and obvious).
• Contains creative details and demonstrates originality (avoids cliche).
• Has no spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors.

Publication Day!

Today we will publish your aphorisms around school.  Share your aphorisms with your group and select one whose content is original and worthy of publication.

For homework, I would like for you to attempt to publish your best aphorism here.

The Tao that is not Tao

Due Tuesday - 

Find three visual examples of paradox and post them on your blog with one-paragraph justifications for each.

Aphorism Project DUE Friday

Final aphorisms are due Friday.  Please use the following criteria to earn an advanced score:

- Process - type up 10 final 6-word or less aphorisms to turn in with your name, date and block number on it.  Select 5 to decorate and print out for publication with your name on them.  ("I think, therefore I am. - Descartes Ferrebee)
- Content - Each aphorism is 6-words or less.  Each offers a piece of wisdom and is concise and original.
- Grammar - Author uses commas appropriately.  All words are spelled correctly.  Proper nouns and titles are capitalized.  Author may choose to write in a sentence fragment, but the fragment does not distract from the author's intent.
- Register - Author uses familiar or informal register consistently.

The Way to the EVL on Wednesday

On Wednesday afternoon, we'll meet in the EVL at 2:15pm for a guest speaker on Confucius.  Please bring your best behavior, a willingness to ask questions, and an open mind.

Aphorisms project update - For Wednesday's writer's workshop, finalize the three aphorisms you have been working on.  Ten aphorisms will be due on Friday.  Five of them should be ready to publish (decorated for posting around the high school).  Each one must be equal or less than six words.

One way of the Way - Practice, Practice, Practice...

The Secret of the Way? Practice!

Next Tuesday, we will have a Summative Spelling/Vocab Test (worth 70%).  You'll want to begin studying the words from your list.

If you kept track of the roots in your notebooks, you will also want to review vocabulary definitions and usage.  All roots can be found on previous blog posts in the event you did not keep a record of them.

Book 4 or 5 Blog Post DUE Wednesday

Write a blog post on one of the Analects from Book 4 or 5 of the Analects that you liked from our in-class reading.

Use this website for any terms you are having trouble understanding.

Welcome Back!

For next Monday, please complete the following:

Revise what you drafted in class on "Three things I learned over break" for conciseness.  You should write a couple of pages, so that you can develop your thinking about the significance of what you learned.  Bring evidence of this process to class (meaning - bring in a marked up paper).