First Day Docs
Read these documents, fill out the student survey, strap in for a wild ride!!
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syllabus_english_ii_pap.pdf |
How to Learn 101
Learning how to learn. Thinking about thinking. This section introduces you to how, categorically, we think. Educational psychologist, Benjamin Bloom, introduces us to his classification of the thinking process.
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Bloom's Taxonomy
Juliet's Monologue (discussion of true "understanding") If we know that the toughest step, the place where we become most intimidated, the process where we get lost is KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING...how can I make learning more engaging for you? How can I inspire you to be the Creative Thinkers of the future that Daniel Pink hails as the inheritors of the next economy?? Daniel Pink's A Whole New Mind |
How to Read 101
Scientific American Mind: What happens in the Brain When We Read? article. From the KNOWLEDGE to the UNDERSTANDING level of Bloom's, what does reading look like in my brain?
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The Lorax Challenge
Three paths to theme: working from APPLICATION to EVALUATION, how do we analyze literature for THEME? 1. Identify patterns and repetition 2. Track character development from the beginning to the middle to the end. 3. Analyze the conflict introduced and resolution or lack of resolution presented. In your groups you will identify the overarching theme of the Lorax. The group that presented the best (most interesting, most analytical, most creative) thematic statement....wins!! Here's a link to the ORIGINAL book video thing... |
Literary devices and strategies
Theme: It's NOT Plot!!
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Think about the RELATIONSHIP that I am PURPOSELY PAIRING (hmmm...wonder what word that is) for you to study. Look at the PLOT, and extract the THEME. Annotate these lyrics the way we tackled Mulan!! Kill it dudes. Tell me the relationship between the two songs!!
John Mayer's STOP THIS TRAIN Jack Johnson's BREAKDOWN John Mayer's: Waiting for the World to Change Buffalor Springfield's For What It's Worth John Mayer's 3X5 Nickleback's Photograph |
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Devices & Strategies
Keeping in mind that the goal is always to extract the theme or thesis of a work...let's review some of the more intimidating devices that you may have studied in the past: Motif: UP and UP Chorus and Exposition: Hercules and Robin Hood In Medias Res: Big Hero 6 Character Development and Prologue: John Adams Parallelism: Mulan and the Men Juxtaposition: Shrek Allusion: Shrek and Mission Impossible. |
How to Write 101
As we approach both descriptive and prescriptive theories of writing, we will deconstruct the ACTS and ACTIVITIES of the writing process.
Pre-writing: why do it? how's it help? what's it look like?
Writing: how's it happen? how do the pros do it?
Re-writing: how long should I take? how's it help?
1. Writing is fluid, not chronological.
2. Experienced writers seem to give the activities within the act of pre-writing the most focus and time.
3. You will learn the most about your writing through the activities within the act of re-writing.
Pre-writing: why do it? how's it help? what's it look like?
Writing: how's it happen? how do the pros do it?
Re-writing: how long should I take? how's it help?
1. Writing is fluid, not chronological.
2. Experienced writers seem to give the activities within the act of pre-writing the most focus and time.
3. You will learn the most about your writing through the activities within the act of re-writing.