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January 31, 2019

Thursday

  • Writing Practice
    • I returned the timed essays with introduction/thesis feedback based on AP scoring (1-9). I discussed the qualities of a good thesis statement. Then, we revised the thesis statements and turned them back in.
  • Hamlet
    • Act II, 2, part 1 (1-215)
      • QUIZ (see me for make up if you were absent)
      • Annotation guide 
      • HW due Tues. 2/5/19: 
        • Read and annotate to the end of Act II.
        • Analyze Hamlet's next soliloquy, "A Rogue and Peasant Slave" (lines 505-562). Although it isn't the most famous soliloquy in Hamlet, the Act II, 2 soliloquy is considered by many actors to be the most eloquent in the drama. Spend some quality time looking at it and marking it for these key features:
          • self-realizations
          • short moments of profound depression
          • self-directed insults
          • incredulous questioning
          • changes in tone
          • peaks of rage
          • the seeds of a plan
        • NOTE: You will need to understand the mythological origin of the Pyrrhus/Priam/Hecuba allusion in order to understand much of the soliloquy. Here are some good sources for researching this:

January 29, 2019

Tuesday

January 25, 2019

Friday

January 23, 2019

Wednesday

  • Podcast
    • I'm trying out podcasting the sections of class where I give notes on what we are studying. You can access this on the YouTube playlistSpotify, or my podcast account. There is also a side widget here on this weblog page (-->). Since this is new for me, I would like your feedback on whether this is helpful or how I can improve it.

January 21, 2019

Monday

  • Hamlet
    • Discussion of homework for I, 2.
    • Notes on I, 3 (Listen here and make your own notes.)
    • We watched this stage version of I, 1-3 to 23:30, the end of scene 3. Think about the following directorial decisions:
      • What has been left out of this performance and what are the effects of this omission?
      • What emotions does the actor playing Hamlet seem to emphasize? Do you think this is effective?
      • Comments on the staging, lighting, music effects.
    • HW due Wed. 1/23/19: Read, make notes, and complete the study guide for I, 4 and I, 5.

January 17, 2019

Thursday

  • Hamlet
    • QUIZ: Vocab for Act I
    • Analysis of I, 2
    • HW due Mon. 1/21/19: Analyze Hamlet’s first soliloquy, “O that this too, too sallied flesh…” (129-159). Mark your text and explain the following:
□      paraphrase sections
□       comparisons
□       striking phrases and images
□       progression / sequence of thoughts,
□       how Hamlet’s tone differs from his tone earlier in the scene
□       attitude / state of mind
□       allusions

January 15, 2019

Tuesday

January 11, 2019

Friday

  • Create Your 2018-19 Writing Portfolio
      1. Access this folder on my drive.
      2. Create a folder and title it with your last name, first name. 
      3. Insert copies of all essays from 1st semester into your folder.
      4. Title the essays as follows:
        • College Admissions Essay
        • Semester Exam Essay: Critical Theory Analysis (pictures of essay)
            5. Make sure the folder is set for viewing by anyone in WISD.

  • Hamlet
    • HW turned in: Answers to Hamlet Theatrical Poster Analysis questions
    • Notes on drama
    • Discussion of background/fact research topics below. Complete notes by Tues. 1/15/19.
      • Shakespeare's lifespan
      • Key events of Shakespeare's life
      • The extent of Shakespeare's work
      • Questions about the authorship of Shakespeare's works
      • Characteristics of life in the Elizabethan Era
      • What life was like in London during the Elizabethan Era
      • The lifespan of Elizabeth I
      • Important contributions of Elizabeth I 
    • Prepare / practice vocabulary for Act I: 

January 9, 2019

Wednesday


  • Hamlet
    • Intro activity: Theatrical Poster Analysis (If you were absent, you can view the posters here.)
    • Complete and turn in answers to the Theatrical Poster Analysis questions. I am expecting a paragraph response for each question.
    1. What do many of the theatrical posters have in common?
    2. What do you think each similarity signifies?
    3. Which poster seems most provocative to you? Explain why.
    4. Write three questions this activity makes you want to answer by reading the drama Hamlet.
  • HW start for Fri. 1/11/19; Due Tues. 1/15/19Begin background research on William Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Era. Come to class with accurate facts in your notes about:
    • Shakespeare's lifespan
    • Key events of Shakespeare's life
    • The extent of Shakespeare's work
    • Questions about the authorship of Shakespeare's works
    • Characteristics of life in the Elizabethan Era
    • What life was like in London during the Elizabethan Era
    • The lifespan of Elizabeth I
    • Important contributions of Elizabeth I