All Boys, All Blogged: May 7, 2015

Focus: What motifs are starting to emerge in our book club novels?

1. Warming up: Taking 15 minutes to read your book-film club novel

2. Checking your website to make sure your characterization and setting activities are there

3. Developing ideas about your novels through a motif activity and publishing it on your website

HW:
1. Finish today's motif activity by Tuesday if you did not finish in class; assigned book club reading for Tuesday.

2. Catch up with your mockumentary work; scripts should be done by Friday (otherwise, next week will be painful).

3. All mockumentaries are due by the beginning of class on Friday, May 15.

All Boys, All Blogged: May 6, 2015

Focus: How do we write a script to develop real and imagined events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences? (Common Core Writing 3)

1. Warming up: Listening to an opening clip from a "real" documentary

What do you notice about the script itself (powerful words and phrases)?

How does the script turn this into a movie about us? In other words, how does it capture human interest?

What ideas can you steal for your mockumentary?

2. Looking at a sample script and developing/editing the script for your mockumentary

3. Please make sure that by the end of class, you have shown me your annotated research and your timeline as an absolute minimum; hopefully, you can show me your script as well. Please note that we have only FOUR days of work time left.

HW: 
1. Bring your book club novel to class tomorrow; make sure you have completed the reading assignment (as determined by your book club).

2. Your characterization and setting activities from Tuesday should be finished by tomorrow.

3. Mockumentary script should be complete and edited by Friday so that you can start making your film.

4. We start presenting the mockumentaries on Friday, May 15.

All Boys, All Blogged: May 5, 2015

Focus: How and why do individuals, time and place develop and interact in a text's early chapters? (Common Core Reading Standard 3)

1. Warming up with characters from your book-club novels (30 min)

a. Click HERE for Characterization Option #1

b. Click HERE for Characterization Option #2

Feel free to mix and match Options 1 and 2; be sure to publish your work on your website!

2. Interpreting and discussing setting with your book-film clubs: Please click HERE for instructions.

3. Publishing your characterization and setting activities on your website

HW: 
1. Assigned book club reading for Thursday; finish the characterization and setting activities.

2. Timeline should be finished by now and the script should be in motion (only four days left of in-class work time left, as mockumentaries are due at the start of class on Friday, May 15.

3. Script should be done by the end of class on Wednesday, May 6.

All Boys, All Blogged: May 4, 2015

Focus: How can we turn the timeline into a powerful script?

1. Warming up: Listening to the openings from two "real" mock/documentaries:

Example #1: Remember Epic?
Example #2: Supersize Me

Your task: As you listen, describe the opening of each script, typing up powerful words, phrases, and tactics.

2. Showing me your timeline if you have not yet done so

3. Composing a rough draft of your script with a focus on the following aspects:

It should have a powerful opening and closing.

It needs smooth transitions between years/events.

This is a great place to show off your creative voice; choose your words carefully.

You need to have it written out EXACTLY as it will be narrated.

***Click HERE for a sample script from last year.***

4. Explaining how your work habits for this project are being graded:

You start off with 50 points in the Growth category (5 work days left, 10 points each).

You lose a point each time you...

• Distract or are distracted by someone sitting near you
• Play on your cell phone
• Do other homework
• Use language inappropriate to class
• Pack up early

HW: 
1. You must have a rough draft of your script completed before the start of class Wednesday.

2. Assigned book film club reading for tomorrow; be sure to bring your book to class.

3. ALL REVISIONS AND MAKE-UP WORK ARE DUE THURSDAY, MAY 14.

All Boys, All Blogged: May 1, 2015

Focus: How can we combine our ability to invent with our ability analyze history?

1.Warming up: Which projection into the future is stronger and why?

Projection #1: In the year 2021, Apple releases a new version of iPod that is smaller, comes in various colors and patterns, and can be worn as jewelry.

Projection #2: In the year 2021, Apple releases iChip 1, an iPod that measures one millimeter by one millimeter and can be implanted directly into the tympanic cavity of the ear. Although the iChip has to be surgically implanted, it is an outpatient procedure costing less than a typical professional teeth whitening session. Many recipients of the iChip 1, however, complain about the inability to turn the iChip off, finding themselves tormented by constant noise and unable to think or concentrate.

2. Offering you an overview of the timeline (click here for an example)

3. Finishing your annotated research and creating your timeline

HW:
1. Please finish your timeline before class on Monday. You will need a completed timeline before you can compose your script.

2. Assigned book club reading for Tuesday; make sure you bring your books to class on Tuesday.

3. Please make sure your book-film club website address is shared with me. Don't worry about the characterization activity yet.

All Boys, All Blogged: April 29, 2015

Focus: How do we start discussing our books?

1. Warming up: What are the three rules that your book club abides by?

2. Creating websites for your book clubs:

Two possible web applications for your website: www.wikispaces.com and Google sites

Criteria for your website:
Remember that this website will be how you share all of your book club work with me. Your website grade will be your culminating grade for this unit.

First names of group members (no last names, please).
Title and author of book club book

You will need separate links/pages within your website for the following items:

1. Welcome page with statement of purpose: Who are you, and why are you creating this site?
2. Your three group rules
3. Characterization activity (description of assignment and link to it and the product you created, whether it was a series of brains or a discussion)
4. Setting activity
5. Motif activity
6. Theme activity
7. Book-film comparison

CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE WEBSITE ON THE BLIND SIDE.
CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE WEBSITE ON SILENCE OF THE LAMBS.

Please e-mail your website link before the end of class.

3. Discussing CHARACTERS!

a. Click HERE for Option #1

b. Click HERE for Option #2

Feel free to mix and match Options 1 and 2; be sure to publish your work on your website!

HW:

1. Finish any work not finished in class today (website, characterization, expectations/rules).

2. Annotated mockumentary research due by the end of class tomorrow.

3. Assigned book-film club reading for Tuesday, May 5.

All Boys, All Blogged: April 28, 2015

Focus: How we can we establish a strong, academic background for our mockumentaries?

ACT: Very shortened class

1. Warming up: Introducing the timeline

2. Finishing your five annotated articles; please show me your research as soon as you finish.

• Remember that you need to annotate each article with your brainstorming and questions.
• Keep track of your sources and start a Works Cited page.

3. Starting the timeline and creating your projections into the future

HW:
1. If you have not yet finished your five annotated articles, please finish BEFORE class tomorrow.

2. Assigned book club reading for tomorrow. Make sure you bring your books with you on book-film club days.