Shakespeare Unit

Wednesday, April 30:  End Test  for Shakespeare, Elizabethan Theater, and Romeo and Juliet

• Review the PowerPoint I provided prior to studying Romeo and Juliet
• Review the webquest you completed in class on Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Theater
• Review your notes from the How William Became Shakespeare CD
• Review all handouts and notes provided before, during, and after the reading of Romeo and Juliet
• Review the entire play of Romeo and Juliet

Online text:
http://shakespeare.mit.edu/romeo_juliet/

Study guide:
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/romeoscenes.html

Romeo and Juliet Skits: 
Upon our return from the break, you will begin preparing a modern version of Romeo and Juliet.  The assignment and due dates will be provided in class on Wednesday, April 23. 


Upcoming Reading and Assignments:
You will be independently analyzing and reading Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler.  As you are completing Hedda Gabler at home, we will be studying Ibsen's A Doll's House as a class. 

Vocabulary and Shakespeare Resources

Writing Prompt:  Read "The Sniper" over the weekend in preparation for an in-class writing on Monday, April 7.  Please meet in computer lab #438  on Monday and Tuesday (April 7 & 8).


Vocabulary Quiz:  Unit 6 on April 9, 2014.




Shakespeare Resources:


Online text:
http://shakespeare.mit.edu/romeo_juliet/

Study guide:
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/romeoscenes.html

SHAKESPEARE UNIT & PRO/CON ESSAY INFORMATION

SHAKESPEARE SCAVENGER HUNT


We will meet in the computer lab (room 438) on Monday and Tuesday (3/24 and 3/25).  Complete the handout provided in class by using the websites listed below.  The websites are listed in the order of how they appear on the handout. 


www.bardweb.net  (Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
http://www.pangloss.com/seidel/shake_rule.html (Section 7)
www.renfaire.com/Costume/index.html (Section 8)
http://elizabethan.org (Section 9)
http://www.william-shakespeare.info/elizabethan-theatre-facts.htm (Section 10)




PRO/CON Essay:This formal essay will be in MLA format and will maintain a formal tone throughout.  A Works Cited page is required.  The essay will be turned in to turnitin.com.  The due date for the final paper will be Wednesday, March 26 by 11:59 PM.  A penalty of a letter grade lower for each day the paper is late. You must provide quotes for both "DNA as Destiny" and Oedipus the King. If you do not have any quotes for Minority Report, you must then provide specific examples.


Works Cited Information for PRO/CON Paper:
DVD/Film - Minority Report directed by Steven Spielberg for DreamWorks in Universal City, California (original release date is 2002 and it came out on DVD in 2003). 
Magazine  - The magazine article "DNA as Destiny" was written by David Ewing Duncan.  It first appeared in Wired magazine November of 2002. 
Anthology - Sophocles is the author of Oedipus the King (keep the original date of print blank).  This work appears on pages 433-471 in the following Anthology:  Literature World Masterpieces which was published in 1995 in Englewood Cliffs by Prentice Hall Publishing Company. 

March 2014

Reminder:
Due Tuesday, March 18: Complete the Magical Realism handout for homework. 
Due Wednesday, March 19:  Complete the front side of the personal legend handout provided in class on Tuesday.
Due Wednesday, March 26 by 11:59 PM: The essay for Oedipus, "DNA as Destiny," and Minority Report.

The Alchemist Webquest

The Alchemist Webquest Websites

Answer the questions on the handout by using the websites listed below.  I do not want you doing a google search. You are not allowed to copy and paste information into a Word Document.  Instead, take handwritten notes (in your own words) on the handout or on white-lined notebook paper.  I have also provided the questions found on the handout below these links.  Therefore, no excuses as to why you have not been able to complete the webquest. Please stay focused.  If you do not completed the webquest today, we do have the lab again for tomorrow. 

http://www.crystalinks.com/alchemyindex.html  (Check out the index of this website)

http://www.crystalinks.com/alchemy.html   (Background information on alchemy)

http://www.crystalinks.com/philosopherstone.html  (Philosopher’s Stone information)

http://www.crystalinks.com/alchemists.html   (Famous Alchemists)

http://www.alchemylab.com/directory.htm  (Check out the index of this website-famous alchemists, emerald tablet, etc.)

http://www.alchemylab.com/what_is_alchemy.htm  (More information on alchemy-connections)

http://www.alchemylab.com/AJ1-1.htm   (More information on alchemy)

http://www.necronomi.com/magic/hermeticism/ALCHEMY1.txt  (More information on alchemy)

http://www.levity.com/alchemy/alchem-a.html  (Alchemy laboratories in art)

http://www.levity.com/alchemy/alchlab.html (Alchemy laboratory picture)

 Questions:

I.             Define the Craft (What is Alchemy?  What does an alchemist do?)

II.           Making Connections (Alchemy is a subject, a field of study.  List and discuss two other subjects to which alchemy is related or similar.)

III.          Describe an Alchemist’s Laboratory (What things can be found in the laboratory based off of pictures and paintings you see on the Internet?)

IV.         Famous Alchemists (List two famous alchemists and what they have done.)

V.           Philosopher’s Stone (What is the Philosopher’s stone?  The Philosopher’s Stone has been mentioned in novels, comics, films, and even video games – Can you think of any specific examples?)

VI.         Personal Legend Connection

After doing all other parts of the webquest, answer the following questions in complete sentences: 

What does Alchemy have to do with finding one’s personal legend?

Why would Paulo Coelho call a book about following one’s dream The Alchemist? 

March Assignments

The Alchemist Assignments:
Part I reading due on Monday, March 10
Notes for Part I due on Monday, March 10
Practice AP Multiple Choice Questions due on Monday, March 10


Pages 51-112 due on Thursday, March 13
Pages 112-end due on Monday, March 17


PRO/CON Essay:
You will receive the requirements for the Pro/Con Essay during the week of March 10.  This essay will include examples from Minority Report, "DNA as Destiny," The Alchemist, and Oedipus the King. This formal essay will be in MLA format and will maintain a formal tone throughout.  A Works Cited page is required.  The essay will be turned in to turnitin.com.  The due date for the final paper will be Wednesday, March 26 by 11:59 PM.  A penalty of a letter grade lower for each day the paper is late.


Works Cited Information for PRO/CON Paper:
DVD/Film - The Minority Report directed by Steven Spielberg for DreamWorks in Universal City, California (original release date is 2002 and it came out on DVD in 2003). 
Magazine  - The magazine article "DNA as Destiny" was written by David Ewing Duncan.  It first appeared in Wired magazine November of 2002. 
Anthology - Sophocles is the author of Oedipus the King (keep the original date of print blank).  This work appears on pages 433-471 in the following Anthology:  Literature World Masterpieces which was published in 1995 in Englewood Cliffs by Prentice Hall Publishing Company. 




Vocabulary Test (note change in date):  Unit 5 Vocabulary test will be on Thursday, March 13.

February Assignments

UPDATE:  Due to the recent snow days, the following changes have been made:


*Unit 4 Vocabulary Test will be on Friday, Feb. 21. 
*Antigone Creative Writing Assignment (20 Points) and the Antigone Socratic Seminar (20 Points)  will be moved to Thursday, February 27.  See the information below on both items. 
*End test for Antigone (40 Points) will be on Friday, February 28.  This will include True/False, Multiple Choice, and matching.  The test will conclude with a short essay prompt. 
*End test for Oedipus and Greek Theater Background (50 Points) will be on Monday, March 3.  You must review your PowerPoints - Greek Theater Background and Greek Masks.


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We will be doing a dramatic reading of Oedipus the King in class and you will be reading and completing assignments for Antigone independently.  If you miss any part of the dramatic reading of  Oedipus the King, it is your responsibility to read the part you missed at home.  Please notice the assignments and due dates for Antigone listed below.  I have also provided outside sources to help guide you through both Oedipus the King and Antigone. On top of Antigone and Oedipus, you will need to prepare for the Unit 4 Vocabulary Quiz (Friday, February 14). 

ANTIGONE ASSIGNMENTS:


CREATIVE WRITING ASSIGNMENT (20 Points) -- Due Thursday, February 20, 2014: 

Choose one of the following creative writing assignments listed below.  The response must show originality and creativity.  However, it must also stay true to what you have learned about the characters in the play.  You must use MLA format.  At this point, you should know what I mean by MLA format and if not, refer to my blog to find out where you can access this information.  Your response should not exceed two typed pages. Bring in a printed copy of the assignment to class on Thursday, February 20, but it also must be posted to turnitin.com prior to coming to class on February 20.  Late papers will be penalized a letter grade lower for every day it is late. 

       1.  An epilogue is a speech delivered by one of the actors after the conclusion of the play.  Write an epilogue for Antigone that describes the fates of Creon, Ismene, and Tiresias after the play ends.  Then write a brief explanation of WHY you believe your version of the future to be the best ending for the story. 

  2. An elegy is a song or poem that expresses sorrow for one who has died.  Write a separate elegy for TWO out of the three characters:  Antigone, Haemon, and/or Eurydice.  Use these elegies to sum up your feelings and opinions about the characters’ lives and actions. 

  3. Write a eulogy for Antigone.  A eulogy is a speech written in praise of a person after his or her death; it is spoken during funeral rites to honor the deceased.  Select an appropriate character to deliver the eulogy.  Write from that characters point of view. 


SOCRATIC SEMINAR PREPARATION (20 POINTS) -- Due Thursday, February 20, 2014:    

    Prepare for your Socratic Seminar by taking notes as you are reading Antigone.  These notes will be checked at the beginning of class and will be turned in at the conclusion of the Socratic Seminar.  All students must participate in the discussion.  Please have your book with you on this day.  The following topics will need to be discussed during the Socratic Seminar:

*Do you think people should be obliged to obey laws even if they don’t agree with  them?  Why or why not? Link your response to Antigone.  

*Connect our discussion last week on pride in terms of Antigone.  Think about each character in the play that possessed this quality.  Was it an admirable quality or not in terms of these characters? 

*From your experience, do most people find it easy or difficult to admit they’ve made a mistake?  Is admitting to a mistake a sign of strength or weakness in contemporary society?  Explain. Link your response to Antigone.  

*How responsible do you feel for your family members?  Do you think family members should risk danger or even death for one another?  Explain your responses. Link your response to Antigone.  

*Refer to your PowerPoint on Greek drama and discuss how Antigone fits the definition of a Sophoclean Tragedy.  Who do you think is the tragic character of this play—the title character or Creon?  Why?  

*Do you think there was a single “correct” solution to the political problem of the play:  whether or not to bury the body of Polynices?  Consider both Antigone’s and Creon’s sides of the argument.
*In a single sentence, state what you think Sophocles was trying to tell his audience in     Antigone.  Then discuss whether you agree or disagree with his viewpoint.

OUTSIDE RESOURCES FOR ANTIGONE AND OEDIPUS:

 Greek Theater Glossary

http://www.whitman.edu/theatre/theatretour/glossary/glossary.htm

Study Guides – Oedipus

http://www.temple.edu/classics/oedipus/index.html
http://northandoverpublicschools.com/faculty/DowneyM/OedipusRexSG.pdf 
Study Guides -- Antigone
 http://www.temple.edu/classics/antigone/index.html
 http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/netshots/antigone.htm

Oedipus - Background Animated Movie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX34LKPOMxs

Oedipus Audiobook:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9WOQT7qD7w

Antigone Audiobook:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU5sxyzzPlo 
Oedipus Review Game:
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~loxias/oedipus/oedipusindex.htm