Animal Farm Creative Project

Post your Animal Farm Creative Project to your blog by Monday, January 3.

• Technology based – Must be created on a computer (no scanned artwork allowed.)
• Reflect ideas from annotations
• Reflect how irony, symbolism and foreshadowing contribute to the themes of the novel
• Reflect ideas from class discussions
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the novel

Project ideas include:

• Movie trailer
• Comic strip
• Song (performance on YouTube)
• Photoshop

Specifics:

• Grades will be based on relevance to the novel, reflection of themes, irony, symbolism, foreshadowing and ideas from class discussion as well as effort and quality of work.
• Movies and songs can be created in groups of up to four people, but each group member must post the project on his/her blog.
• See Mrs. Gilman prior to beginning your project if you have concerns about whether your idea for a project meets the criteria.

Poetry Out Loud: My Poem

Poetry Out Loud is about taking a well-known poem and making it your own. When you commit a poem to memory, you let every word become a part of you. The words and images in the poem are now ingrained in your brain - connections are formed between your memory of the poem and memories of your own life experiences. This is why choosing a poem that you feel strongly about is crucial to a successful performance.

Write several paragraphs about your poem selection. Include the title and poet and discuss its meaning and its relevance to your own life. Discuss how you intend to convey the meaning of the poem with your voice, face, and gestures. Be specific and detailed in your writing - demonstrate and in-depth knowledge and passion for the poem you have chosen.

Due Wednesday, December 15.

Urgent! Extra Credit Blog - One Day Only!

While sitting here reading your old blogs due to my recent computer crash, I realize that reading over your 5 part paragraph blog can really help you write your new 5 part paragraph tonight. However, I won't have a chance to ask you to do so before the paragraph is due...

So, if you read this before you write your paragraph, go back and read your 5 part paragraph blog post and consider the skills you said you needed to work on. For extra credit, write a post about how you developed THOSE SPECIFIC SKILLS further in this new 5 part paragraph.

One day only! Due tonight, December 6.

Poetry Out Loud Website Activities

Using the handout given in class, complete parts 1-5 on your blog. Be sure to clearly label every part.

Due Friday, December 3.

Thanksgiving Break Extra Credit Blog

I hope you all enjoyed your two snow days and had a happy Thanksgiving.

Unbelievable as it may seem, more than one fourth of the school year has passed. For extra credit, write about the most important skill or concept you've learned in English thus far. Describe in detail what the assignment/unit was, what you learned and why it is important. The higher quality writing and reflecting you post, the higher amount of extra credit points will be awarded.

Due Monday, November 29.

Something Interesting

Write about one thing you found interesting in our class discussions of "Lobsters." It could be an idea brought up in your discussion, the discussion you observed, or a comment made by a classmate that made you think about the poem in a different way.

If you were absent for the discussion of "Lobsters", you may write about last week's discussions of "The Knife."

Write two paragraphs: the first paragraph should describe the idea brought up in discussion and the second paragraph should describe your new perspective on or ideas about the poem as a result. Go beyond the obvious - write about an idea not everyone would think of or that shows a deeper level of understanding.

Due Sunday, November 21.

So Many Pargraphs, So Many Skills

While listening to and critiquing the 5 part paragraphs of your peers over the past few weeks you have undoubtedly begun to realize how many skills are involved in the genre of writing that is literary analysis.

Reflect on the paragraph critiques - which aspects of the paragraph are consistently mentioned as weaknesses? What do most people need to improve upon? Think about all of the work that goes into writing a 5 part paragraph, and discuss the skills needed to be successful in writing topic sentences, effectively using concrete details, and developing insightful commentary. Also consider your level of success in your use of these skills first time around and what you need to improve upon for your next venture into analyzing literature.

Write two paragaphs: one of which should discuss specific skills required to write a "good paper" with reference to the daily paragraph critiques, the other should describe what you personally need to do better in order to improve your writing skills for your next 5 part paragraph.

Post and comment by Friday, November 5.

Formal vs. Informal Diction

Compose a post using either formal/high or informal/low diction in which you discuss something that happened to you this week. You have complete freedom in your choice of topic: write about whatever you like...just write it in either formal or informal diction. Use your notes on diction to be sure you're doing justice to the level of diction you've chosen. For example, if you are choosing formal diction you would not use contractions anywhere in your post.

Your post should reflect a thorough knowledge of what formal or informal diction is as well as the effect an author achieves by choosing the respective level of diction.

Your post should be at least two paragraphs in length and be understandable...not every word needs to be polysyllabic or slang. Make sure that I can understand the story you are telling!

Post and comment by Friday, October 29.

Extra Credit Blog: Writing about Writing

For extra credit this week, compose a post about your favorite writing assignment or your favorite piece of your own writing. Describe the assignment or piece of writing and why it is your favorite or best work. Why did you enjoy writing this or why are you particularly proud of it?

For example, if the 5 part paragraph on To Kill a Mockingbird is your proudest moment as a writer, explain your satisfaction with that writing piece in detail. Be sure to explain what the assignment (or if it's something you did completely on your own, what your reason for writing it was) in detail and give details as to what the content of the writing was.

Extra credit will be awarded based on the detail and quality of writing. Set out to entertain your audience with your blog post.

Due Sunday, October 24.

Outside Reading

How are you enjoying your outside reading book? Write a review of your book so far (if you are ahead of your group's predesignated checkpoints, don't write about anything that someone who's keeping up wouldn't know yet.)

• What do you think of the book? Be specific and thoughtful.
• Choose one literary element that you'll be required to reflect on in your creative project ( plot, theme, characters or setting) and analyze its use in the novel to this point. 
• Also, make a meaningful comparison between this novel and another novel, story or play you have read. For example, maybe both novels deal with a similar theme or have a similar setting. 
• What ideas do you have for a creative project at this point?

Write several paragraphs in response to the bulleted points above. Post and comment on a classmate who is reading the same novel as you are by Friday, October 15.

Extending the Theme

This week we will be concluding our study of To Kill a Mockingbird, with focus on discussing themes in the novel and how the other literary elements we've covered contribute to the development of meaning in the novel. Think beyond our class discussion on theme, characterization, plot, conflict and setting and their contribution to the development of symbolism and motif to consider, "what does To Kill a Mockingbird mean to me?"

Whenever you read a novel, you experience it in two ways. First, there is the way the author intended. If you're a careful and critical reader, you'll notice how the aforementioned literary elements work together to send important messages about life to the reader. Second, there is your own personal experience with the novel. You bring your prior knowledge and your life experiences with you as you read - for example, someone who has lived in Alabama or has a lawyer for a parent will have a unique perspective on the setting or characters. Even if you're pretty unfamiliar with the south or the United States legal system, you undoubtedly had moments in the novel that stood out to you due to your own life experiences and your take on the novel is unique.

Think about your own personal reading experience with To Kill a Mockingbird. How did the novel speak to you as an individual? Think about what the novel means to you - go beyond ideas discussed in class and describe your unique perspective on the meaning of the novel. In other words, extend the theme to your own life. What lessons have you learned from the novel? What does To Kill a Mockingbird mean to you? Write several detailed, insightful paragraphs.

Feel free to write with the intent to entertain, however, your post should reflect your ability to read the novel critically and carefully.

Post and comment on a classmate's blog by Friday, October 1.

My Boo Radley

Think about how Boo Radley functions in To Kill a Mockingbird as more than just another character. Boo Radley, the mystery surrounding him, and his heroism at the end of the novel help Scout to understand many important life lessons. He is instrumental in Scout's development from childhood to adolescence.

Who or what is your Boo Radley?

What from your own life can you compare to Scout's experiences with and about Boo Radley? Think about someone or something that was instrumental in your development from childhood to adolescence. Ideally this should be something that you initially did not understand, were scared or intimidated by, or that was mysterious to you. Take some time and think metaphorically instead of literally. For example, do not write about a spooky house in your neighborhood that you eventually discovered was normal, etc.

Write several paragraphs in which you explain your experience and how it relates to Scout's experiences with Boo Radley. Your experience does not have to align perfectly with To Kill a Mockingbird. It should, however, reflect original thought and the ability to extend your knowledge of the novel to make connections with your own experiences.

Good luck! Feel free to attach a picture to spice up your post. Post by Friday, September 24.

Introduction to Your Blog

Congratulations! You now have an English blog. This is your own personal space for writing about English. Throughout the school year you will be posting personal responses to my prompts. These posts will help you develop as a writer as we supplement class discussions with open-ended questions.

Your first assignment is to write an introduction to your blog. Write about yourself as a reader and writer. What type of English student are you? What will someone who follows your blog expect to see? How will you enlighten the on-line world with your reaction to the literature studied in class? Remember, English is reading, writing, and communication. Attempt to answer the question: what is the meaning of English class? Why is English a four-year requirement for college bound students? How will excelling in English help you become a successful person, both personally and academically?

Address the above questions, some or all, in several paragraphs in a way that introduces your blog your audience: your teacher and your classmates.

Due Friday, September 17.