Last Assignment

Hey gang!
You have three options for your last writing assignment.  I will give you eighteen minutes in class on Friday to write it.  Use your QT4 Writing file.

Choose One:

1. Tragedies are driven by a character's fatal flaw.  What one character is most to blame for the tragedy?  Be sure to use evidence and commentary to support your answer.  You can also explain why one character is more at fault than another.

2. There are many differences between the text and the Luhrmann film during Act V.  Explain what theme the film version emphasized, what changes were made, and how they supported the theme.

3. Recast the play.  Choose actors, cartoon characters, political or historical figures, or even teachers at Central to play the major roles (Romeo, Benvolio, Mercutio, Friar Lawrence, Nurse, Tybalt, Juliet, Capulet, Paris, Prince Escalus). Explain why that "actor" would be a good fit for the role, and how they could best show essential character traits.

Romeo & Juliet Paper

For your Romeo and Juliet paper, you have three options:

CHARACTERIZATION - Choose one:

1. Choose a character from Romeo and Juliet. Explain how his or her characterization is developed throughout the play and what effect the character has on a theme (fate, love, violence begets violence, individual vs. society).

2. Choose two characters who are foils. Explain how the characterization of each impacts the other, and what effect they have on the theme.

PARALLELISM
Throughout the play, images, lines and even events seem to repeat themselves. Choose two or three parallels and explain the effect the scenes have on the play and its themes.

REMINDER: ALL To Kill a Mockingbird work must be made up by Wednesday. If you don't have it finished by Wednesday, you will take a zero.

All work for Romeo and Juliet (including the paper!) is due FRIDAY.  This includes WebQuest, QT4 Project, 15 Word (or less) Scene Summaries, and QT4 Writing file on the blog.  I will grade papers and make comments Friday night to give you a chance to revise over the weekend.

If you have something you need me to check, don't forget to email me!

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Translate This!

Read the speech below from a famous Shakespearean character:

1. I have of late—but wherefore I know not—lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises, and indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, the air—look you, this brave o'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire—why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors. 
2. What a piece of work is a man! 
3. How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty! 
4. In form and moving how express and admirable! 
5. In action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god! 
6. The beauty of the world. 
7. The paragon of animals. 
8. And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? 
9. Man delights not me. 

On your QT4 Writing file, copy these sentences. Then, sentence by sentence, translate them into more contemporary understandable English.

Group Work This Week

Hey, gang!  here's the plan this week.

Monday - Act I Scene 5. Whole-class reading, discussion, video if we have time.

Tuesday & Wednesday - Act II Scene 1&2 (small groups)

Thursday & Friday - Act II Scene 3 (small groups)

You should use Independent/Partner work to revise your TKaM papers, finish any missing work, or start planning and working on your R&J project.

During Collaborative Group time, read the information linked below to prepare for Friday's reflective writing:
http://shakespeare.about.com/od/thecomedies/a/Shakespeare_Comedy.htm
http://shakespeare.about.com/od/thetragedies/a/Shakespeare_Tragedies.htm

Friday Reflective Writing:
There are certain traits common to Shakespearean comedies or tragedies (see links above).  Romeo and Juliet starts out like a comedy, and through the action of the play becomes a tragedy.
1. Explain in what ways the play is like a comedy. Address each of the elements from the article (language, love, plot twists, identity).  Then,
2. Explain why you think Shakespeare wrote it as a comedy-turned-tragedy.  How do the elements of a comedy enhance the tragedy?

Mostly so I don't forget...

ROMEO & JULIET SCENE SUMMARIES

For every scene in the play, you need to write a summary no longer than fifteen (15) words.  It doesn't have to be a complete sentence, just tell the important plot/character/theme events of the scene.  Here's an example:

QT4 INDEPENDENT PROJECT

For QT4, you may do your independent project on Romeo and Juliet instead of your independent book.  If you have a different idea for a project you would like to do (like a short research paper on the topic of your choice), see me about it.

Extra Credit Options:

People who got an "A" on their To Kill a Mockingbird paper don't have to do as much work for their R&J paper/project.  They only have to write a plan for a characterization/theme paper or write a rough draft.  If you got an "A" on your TKaMi paper and you choose to do a R&J project or turn in a revised paper, you will earn extra credit (+5-10% to your grade)!

IN ADDITION,

People who get A's or B's on independent projects for all 4 quarters will earn extra credit (+5-10% to your grade)!

Romeo & Juliet - WebQuest and Writing Prompts

Hey folks! I put up a WebQuest in the R&J tab above.  These activities will be done in collaborative groups as we complete Romeo and Juliet.  Just make sure to use your time wisely.  Every group member is responsible for creating his or her own document.  Read, find, and discuss each section in your groups. Just make sure you do your own work when recording it on your document.

Writing Prompt for 5/5/14:

Is there such a thing as love at first sight?  What are different kinds of love? Which type of love is the strongest?

Homework:  Reread Act I Scene 3 and Act I Scene 4.  Come to Small Group Instruction with at least one question written out that you are unsure about (this isn't a student-generated pop quiz or trivia competition; the questions are for discussion). They can be either on paper, or a sticky note, or your QT4 Drive file.