Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Extra Credit; Yosemite free climb



  • Watch this video and read the post.

  • Find a third article on your won that relates and annotate.


Response: Relate this climb to Chris McCandless and add in your own personal reflection, in a one page response, using direct citations.

Due FEB. 9

3 Act Structure, Storyline and Plot Assignment.

As we study Narravative Structure, we are learning the elemments which create the storyline, plot, timeline which help the director shape their own vision.


  • 1. Read this article with a basic description of 3 -Act Structure. from ElementsOf Cinema.com, titled  3 Act Structure.

  • 2. Read and annotate this article titled Narrative First about the narrative Structure of Stand By Me. 
  • 3. Then watch this video on 3 Act Structure and take notes.

Extra Credit: Share a video on FaceBook about 3 Act structure or Hero's Journey, with a brief descriotion of what is "new information learned" from the video.

Terms to remember to remember: Plot, Narrative, 3 Act Structure, Sotry within a story, Denouement, Apotheosis, Belly of the Whale


  • 4. Task: Use three of the terms to write a 1 page academic response, using direct quotations from the reading and videos defining the storyline or narrative structure of either The Sixth Sense or Stand By Me.


DUE BLOCK DAY Jan 20, 21.

Monday, January 12, 2015

River Phoenix - Extra Credit Reading Due Feb. 9

Read and annotate the two articles below on River Phoenix and then write a 1 page response that defines the legacy of Phoenix, as identified in the readings 20 years after his death.

You must use at least 1 doirect quotation from each article in your response and follow the acadewmic writing guidelines we have established. Also, turn in your notes from the articles.

Vanity Fair, "The Night at the Viper Room": http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/10/river-phoenix-overdose-dan-aykroyd

Rolling Stone Magazine, "Last Night at the Viper Room"; http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/last-night-at-the-viper-room-the-life-and-death-of-river-phoenix-20131022

This is Due no later than Feb. 9.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Understanding Hero's- Extra Credit Due Feb. 9.

Extra Credit will be for watching 1 of the movies and reading the article and writing the acompanying response. It is due no later Feb. 9.

1. Watch and take notes on the Hunger Games: Catching fire.
objective for notes; Is Katniss a traditional "hero"?

2. Watch the Lego Movie.
objective for notes: Is Emmit a traditional "hero"?

3. Read the article titled Kaniss Everdeen as Female Hero Archetype.
Read an annotate and write a paragraph respose, using citations about Katniss as the hero.

If you do not have acces to the movies you may read the article and write a 2 page response regarding Katniss as hero.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Film As Lit. Semester Study Guide

Below is a list of terms we have studied this year, in no particular order. For the test, you will be watching two separate TV episodes. Each will have three objectives for you to focus your notes. You will be given 5 minutes to review your notes and then you will have 20 minutes to write a response based on your notes. 

Below is a list of terms to be able to identify, define and explain their purpose. Also you will need to be able to refer to a movie, TV show or book where these were terms were applied (that we viewed in class): 
·     
  • satire, irony, dramatic irony, word play, malaprops, symbol, metaphor, close up
  •  auteur, backstory, ensemble, back ground music, back lighting, medium shot, Brat Pack
  •  high angle, low angle, oblique angle, over the shoulder, two shot, three shot, biopic, 
  • blaxploitation, compilation, dystopic, documentary, establishing shot, flashback, 
  • tragic hero, modern hero, epic hero, fourth wall, motif, symbol, personification, Rat Pack
  • vignette, ambience, mood, tone. villain, use of music, archetype characters, Frat Pack, 


 Your writing will be gaded on the same skills we used for your essay. A few reminders:
  • have a clear thesis; a one sentence answer to the question
  • make sure you say directly how your evidence supports your thesis and why it is important
  • make sure you use author, tittle, page citation conventions
  • look at the previous links for Commentary


A reminder that the second draft of your Into the Wild essay will be due on Turnitin, by Friday Dec, 19 at 8 am. Your annotations for the essay are due, Monday Dec. 15.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Into the Wild - extension essay

Now that we have read Into the Wild and explored the tragic figure of Chris McCandless, we are gong to explore any untold topic in an essay.

Topic: Extend the learning of a topic you discovered while reading the book, what part of the story should be more explored? 

Think about the discussion we had in class and ponder ideas like the theme of father/son relationships, does the National Park Service have more responsibility to protect its vistors or preserve the natural habitat, tell me something about Jon Krakauer, or even consider Carine McCandless's new book, Into the Wild Truth (there is agreat archive of videos and resources on Jon Krakauer's FaceBook page)...any of these topics are great, or find one of your own.

The essay:

  • 5 paragraphs
  • 3 sources (at least 4 separate citations)
  • MLA format
  • submit to turnitin

Guidelines:
You must combine 2 extra sources with the book. Your extra sources must be at least 3 pages in length and come from legitimate sources, as we discussed in class. Avoid .org sources when you can, as well as encyclopedias, especially Wikipedia (although Wikipedia does prvoide good overviews and resources at the bottom at the bootom of the page). Print and annotate those extra sources as we have done all year.

The quotations you use from Into the Wild cannot be quotes I provided, or citations you used in your previous paper.

Grading Rubric:
We reviewed the rubric for grading in class when I explained I would not present the list of skills to you again; as seniors you should have been able to take notes, keep track and review them. (I will answer individual questions for clarification regarding any confusion.) If you were absent, see me for the list of skills which will form the majority of your grade.

We will do two drafts. the submission window for the first draft closes on Weds, Dec 10. I will review ASAP and a second draft will be due Fri Dec. 19, 8 am.

Turinitin enrollment info:

  • first period: FAL1> ID 9147916, PW english1
  • second period FAL2> ID 9147935 PW english2
  • fourth period FAL 4> ID 9147990 PW english4
  • fifth period FAL 5> ID 9147999 PW english5


Thursday, November 13, 2014

McCandless Character Essay - Into the Wild

Into the Wild 

Assignment
your character chart to write a paper on Chris McCandless based on the first 5 chapters. 

Writing expectations:
  1. 1-2 page paper
  2. MLA, 
  3. At least 3 direct quotations, properly cited
  4. Remember proper citation rules
  5. We will submit into Turnitin
  6. Extra credit if you use vocabulary words from your list in your paper
  7. This is the rubric which will be used: http://www.schoolimprovement.com/docs/Common%20Core%20Rubrics_Gr11-12.pdf

You must turn in your character chart. It serves as your pre-write. Your chart must cover chapters 1-5. You must have 3 references that are your own (ie you did not share them with your partner). Your citations from your paper must come from your chart. 

Topic:
Who is Chris McCandless? Consider: Was he a dreamer? A lunatic on a death march? What do you think about him so far? 

Your paper must pick one side.