Weekend Homework

Hello,

Let me revise this weekend's homework assignment. You can limit your reading to Act 1, Scene 1. Mr. Marx has offered to come in to do the lesson on "The Dumb Show," (part of the play within the play) and a critical reading of 1.1. He will discuss Shakespeare's use of language in the scene to establish setting. After all, in Shakespeare's day, they had no sets and very few props, so everything was done with language. This will be a treat for us.

Thanks to everyone for today. Even those who did not participate. You will get a chance later. It was an enjoyable lesson, and I was very impressed with all the skits. I lookl forward to doing more of this as the semester moves forward. Good job. Fun class today.

remember I.R. 3 is due on the 16th. So, no journals due on Monday. Remember to bring your money for the show. Thanks.

2/25/09

Good evening,

Thanks for enduring the tangential disquisition on conspiracy theories today. In the end, I believe the debate over authorship - while not critical in the ultimate enjoyment of the work - does have a place in class discussions. This academic debate has been raging for many years, and it is all part of an education. Occasionally, I take for granted that many of you have curiou, if not skeptical minds. Most intelligent people do. I hope it wasn't too painful. The moon landings ... well, I have no defense for that. It just interests me.

Tomorrow we will watch the conclusion of Shakespeare in Love. I hope you are finding it enjoyable. I consider it one of my favorite films. 

As per request, I am making all parts of your I.R. 3 due on March 16th. So, no journals on the 9th. Let me know if this poses a problem.

Mr. Marx will be in tomorrow to discuss the Hamlet trip. I have names and dates I will provide for you tomorrow. If you are no longer interested that is fine. If you are, "show me (really Marx) the money."

We will begin Hamlet soon. Bring your books.

Good night.

Pre-Hamlet

Hello,

I apologize that I did not get to post earlier, but for those that check frequently, I wanted to give some notes on the task at hand. For this evening - or at some point tomorrow - try to familiarize yourselves with the characters of the play. You will want to know who's who, and begin to understand the relationships present in the play. You should also take a minute to look through the introduction, as it can often offer some insight into the edition itself, as well as the complex structure of the plot, and criticism. 

Tomorrow, we will watch a little more of Shakespeare in Love, as it is a great way to get us into the Elizabethan mood and thinking about the time period in which Shakespeare lived and wrote. It depicts life accurately and offers a glimpse into the hardships of life in the 16th and 17th centuries. 

Looking forward, I will assign more reading cards on Monday. Check your due dates for the I.R. assignment. I believe your journals are due March 9th, and your Questions/Passages March 16th. Check that out to make sure.

One final note. For those who have offered to assist me with grades (whom I have dubbed interns), please see me to discuss scheduling. I have a lot of work that needs to be entered into Snapgrades. And for anyone who is looking for work, I could certainly use the help. Please ask.

A Brief Note

Hello,

I wanted to take a moment to pass along my condolences to those of you who knew Adham, and to those who - although did not know him - were impacted by the news of his tragic passing. Dealing with loss is never easy and it is especially hard when the loss is a young person in the prime of life. As a parent I can only imagine how difficult a situation this must be for the family, and how the loss of a child can produce grief to the point of paralysis. I am not insensitive to your feelings either. I know this is not easy for you. My thoughts are with you as you attempt to reconcile your feelings and deal with this tragic loss in your own way. Let me know if I can help you in any way. Have a good evening.

Homework 2/6

For homework tonight, please complete the tragic hero handout we started in class today. Try to find a character who meets most of Aristotle's tragic hero characteristic requirements. Tomorrow we will work on some practical AP preparation. I may even be able to spend half the class showing Oedipus. We'll see. 

Some notes on the week(s) ahead:

It is likely that I will limit your break work to your I.R. #3. 

I am checking to see about going to Becket's play on Broadway. Not sure of all the details, but I will keep you posted. 

I will assign more reading cards after the break.

I will have the writing conferences sign-up after the break, as well as the unit schedule for Hamlet. 

Have a good night.

Homework - 2/10

For this evening, you should take a few minutes to look over the handouts from class and look at the play through a psychoanalytic perspective. In thinking about the story, you should try to provide analysis based on a psychological evaluation of the characters. For example, Oedipus could have abandonment issues. Jocasta could have memory repression issues. After all, she did abandon a child - Oedipus. This is an event that could stay with someone for the rest of his/her life, and one we might want to forget. Jocasta has to live with what she did, and Oedipus as well. Is their behavior understandable? In addition, Jocasta denounces oracles in one scene and prays at the altar to Apollo in another. What is the psychology behind this behavior? We can mask our sorrow, but it is still there. How do the characters act as a result of their personality traits? If you did not complete this in class, you should do so at home tonight. We will do a little more with Freud tomorrow.

Make sure that you are keeping up with the work. The semester moves quickly.

Weekend Homework: 2/6 - 2/8

For this weekend, please complete the play. Finish the questions if you did not get them done in class. Also, complete the Greek terms to know handout. There will be a quiz on Tuesday. Any other work you owe should be done as well. Reminder, your reading schedules are due Monday (the 9th). They should be typed.

Plan to discuss the text Monday and work in groups to discuss specifics. There will be an in class timed-write on Tuesday during the second part of the class.  

I am working on a schedule for Hamlet, but it is difficult to know how long it will take. Have a good weekend.

Homework 2/5/09

For this evening's homework, I would like you to read the first half of Oedipus (roughly page 54). Be prepared to discuss the text in small groups tomorrow in class. Consider the dramatic irony found in your reading. Consider the structure of the play as well as Oedipus' qualities. Is he a tragic hero? You should also conduct a close reading of today's handouts and be prepared for a short quiz on the reading. Know the terms introduced in the lecture. 

Some of you still owe the Wilde timed write. 

We will begin choosing groups for student-led class discussions about the text soon. This will be similar to what you did early last year. Have a good night. 

Homework 2/4/09

Please complete the assigned timed-write for homework this evening. The essay prompt is here. 

Based on today's board notes, write an essay in which you explain how the author uses the contrasting country and city metaphor to illustrate the double lives being led by the characters in the play. Just do your best. 40 minutes.  

Complete your questions from Wilde as well. 

Welcome Back

Hello and welcome back. Today marked the first day of your last semester of high school. I hope you take a little time to reflect on your experiences over the last four years as you prepare to leave this part of your life behind. Before we get there, however, we must manage the tasks at hand. Since I discussed much of these in class today, I will not address them here. 

It was good to see you all this afternoon and I look forward to an outstanding semester ahead. Please know that it is my goal - and obligation - to help you achieve your personal and professional goals. Please do not hesitate to see me if you feel that you are in need of any additional support in these areas. 

Just a reminder, for homework, please complete the questions from today's group work. Also, tomorrow, please take a different seat in the classroom. I will provide a guide. Thank you for all your hard work and cooperation. It continues to be a pleasure to teach your class.