E3H: Revise at least the intro; use red text or bold (if you don't have a color printer) to denote changes. Bring in tomorrow.
Also: In reading the posts for the November posting grade, I noticed something I was not happy about: only Anna actually examined the terminology and all of the referenced artists, etc. I asked you to examine two weeks ago. Now, I was very tempted to give Anna an A+ on an assignment and everyone else an F, but I decided, no, what would you all be learning from that?
So the first board assignment of December begins today, and it takes off from here. Anna has done all of the hard work. Your job is to do exactly what she suggested: draw relations to these artists/works/styles to Asher Lev. You have only the next few nights to engage in this conversation, for it is an Asher board I was not really counting on. Do it well...
E2H: Revise at least the intro; use red text or bold (if you don't have a color printer) to denote changes. Bring in tomorrow.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
post-tryptophan
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
happy thanksgiving
So I am sitting here, wishing I were at home but realizing that I will in all likelihood be here for another few hours attending to school stuff and forensics stuff, and I need to get this out before my room is inundated with people who, for whatever reason, decide that they don't need to start their four day weekend until hours after everyone else does.
:-)
So here goes:
E3H and E2H:
We're doing workshopped essays this week. You need to come in on Monday with a printed copy of a 2-3 page essay that follows the prompts below. A few general principles:
- Don't open with a rhetorical question. (If your essay starts with "Have you ever...?" I'll stop reading right there.)
- A strong essay invites the reader into it in some way from the beginning: a powerful or provocative quote, a clever opening metaphor, an interesting comparable scenario, even a personal anecdote. Strong, clear and dynamic writing always helps. Show us your own voice from the start.
- A strong essay has a clear and specific thesis that works as the rubric says a strong thesis ought to work.
- A strong thesis paragraph has a clear map, whether or not that map is divided into individual sentences.
- Body paragraphs follow the map and are developed logically and thoroughly. They bild from each other.
- Points are supports with the text.
- Text is cited according to MLA internal support guidelines. (For the movie, you only need to use the name of the film, not any page number.)
- A strong conclusion does far more than merely restate the thesis or summarize the paper. It takes the reader somewhere new, building on everything we have learned. And it concludes whatever opening device you used in the thesis paragraph.
- Don't forget a title; a clever title works wonders. (Note that the name of the play or book is not a title that you should use as yours.)
- Do not refer to the author by his or her first name; you are not old friends.
E2H Essay: In both Our Town and Harold and Maude, we see modern writers tackle Transcendentalist themes. Thornton Wilder's play and Colin Higgins' screenplay (along with Hal Ashby's direction) show us that the ideals of Emerson and Thoreau are still alive in the modern world. In a 2-3 page essay, compare these works in their exploration of specific transcendentalist concepts.
CW: Guess what? There is finally a letter!!!! It's on Edline!!!
In Thanksgiving Tradition, Bush Pardons Scooter Libby In Giant Turkey Costume
j:thank you to the holiday gods
music: thank you--the redwalls
--kt
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
one-inch kangaroos
It's just so hard to imagine, isn't it?
:-)
E3H: We will be in workshop tomorrow. But tonight you should discuss online the "atonement" issue as well as the artistic influences of Asher Lev.
E2H: We'll finish up Harold and Maude tomorrow and there will be a writing assignment over the weekend.
CW: confs confs confs P- 13 school days
and here is an example of a song of praise subtitled for the hard of hearing...BY the hard of hearing...
j: and then there were two
music: two pina coladas--garth brooks
--kt
Monday, November 24, 2008
i'm dreaming of a white thanksgiving...
Wait.
That's not right.
E3H: Asher and that mythic ancestor, Jacob Khan, and Guernica and the Pieta...
E2H: We are watching Harold and Maude.
CW: Confs confs confs... P - 14 school days and counting...
and purely for fun...
j: white morning
music: staying alive--bee gees
--kt
Thursday, November 20, 2008
short and sweet
Congratulations McKee!!!
E3H: Jacob Khan and the mythic ancestor...
E2H: Simon's "ignorance and blindness" speech v. Emily's "Goodbye GC" speech...
CW: confs confs confs
And at midnight...
j: all smiles
music: pretty woman--roy orbison
--kt
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
tonight's the night!
America's Next Top Model! Congratulations, McKee!!!
OK, E3H: The boards tonight continue to focus on the artists and art works from yesterday as well as the education of Asher Lev and his growing movement toward art and away from a traditional Hasidic childhood.
E2H: "Waiting for the eternal part in them to come clear." Discuss that and the 12th birthday and the stars...
CW: confs...
j: a perfect 10
music: ten year's night--lucy kaplansky
--kt
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
brittany mckey
I hope that everyone will be rooting for Brittany tomorrow night when she wins America's Next Top Model!
I know I will be!
The show is on the CW at 7PM tomorrow night...that's Channel 9 for those who don't know jack...
;-)
Anyway...
If you can concentrate on anything other than the photo above...
Here's what is happening tonight:
E3H:
Go online and discuss issues connected to Asher Lev. Write about anything you want, but here is a new focus:
Asher and Art:
>Art terminology: arabesque, matrix, baroque, impressionist, expressionist, surrealist, cubist, abstract expressionist
Who or what are all of these? Why might they be important as influences?
E2H: Continue discussing Our Town online with the focus on Act Three, especially Emily's 12th birthday, Simon Stimson, and the stars.
CW: We'll be conferencing tomorrow...
j: wandering into black
music: 1952 vincent black lightning--richard thompson
--kt
Monday, November 17, 2008
hello, winter
It's cold and getting colder. The weather page shows a low tonight in the lower teens. OY!!!
Sit by a fire with your laptops and post. :-)
All classes: see Friday's post for assignments.
winter song
J:thoughts of orange snowmen
music: colors of the wind--pocahontas soundtrack
--kt
Friday, November 14, 2008
tgif again
And so we come to the end of another week!
And tonight's forecast includes...ugh...snow. (Is it too late to move to Hawaii?)
Clarification for E3H:
About the prospectus for tech portfolios: If you have ideas that you want to try out, first see me about them and let's talk for a bit to find out if they are tenable. Then you may proceed to writing the prospectus, which should be an essay of about two pages that clearly outlines both what you plan to do and how it will cover all of the portfolio requirements. You should then email me the essay.
and while i'm at it...
E3H:
OK, we're going to be in Asher Lev until it's done, so bring your books on Monday. As for this weekend, I'm putting some information on the E3H page for you to peruse. (It is under "Asher Lev info.") Use it as you will to enhance discussions on the board, which at this point need to become a lot more focused. Also, go onto the WW boards and continue the thread started by Arnett that has different writers telling a continuous story. And while you're at it: start a few more! Also, go to the Wikicab board and the Official List Playground: start playing with the official list words. Use them! Build songs, poems, rhymes, stories, games, puzzles, etc. around them. Be creative!
E2H:
We will be in Our Town until it is done, so bring your books on Monday. Go to the E2H page to find a categorized list of lines from the play; use these to enhance and focus your online discussions. Also, go to the Writing Workshop board and someone begin the thread in the new board I have created called "class story." Write a paragraph of a story. Set it up. Be descriptive and careful. Then let it go so someone else can continue it! (Be careful! Someone could be writing at the same time you are!) Also, go to the Wikicab board and the Official List Playground: start playing with the official list words. Use them! Build songs, poems, rhymes, stories, games, puzzles, etc. around them. Be creative!
CW:
Working on revisions, working on getting conferences, working online on the continued stories that we discussed in class today. Have a great weekend!
before i go, here's the most famous song from melanie, the one she wrote at and about woodstock:
j: if the spirit moves
music: gathering of spirits--carrie newcomer
silly 70's: brand new key--melanie
--kt
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
hump days and toilet seats
So it's Wednesday, and that means it's Hump Day, which means the week is more than half over, which is pretty awesome (and even more awesome when you consider the turkey we'll be eating in two weeks!) so even though I am exhausted I'm good.
What have we learned today?
Let's see...
- Hitchcock was a psycho about toilet seats.
- Cutting casaba melons sounds like knives entering flesh.
- 2nd period finally has a representative in the 100+ club. (Go, Bianca!)
- Ben Davidson is a fantasia god.
- Hanna has something going at a Blockbuster in Kenosha.
- Someone gave my whole 2H class an overdose of sleeping pills.
And what about tomorrow?
In E3H: There will be a Reading Workshop. Bring your books!
In E2H: There will be a film day: back to Our Town. As for tonight, go to the boards for this discussion.
In CW: Conferences, conferences, and more conferences.
j: the doldrums
music: all is quiet--lowen and navarro
--kt
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
feeling the chill
Walking into school this morning, I was behind a girl who was wearing a very short skirt, nothing at all covering her legs, and flats with no socks. And all I could think was: do you know what today's date is?
Last week, the calendar was lying to us. This week, a scant seven days after temps climbed into the mid-70's to celebrate Obama's rally in Grant Park, it's winter. And this girl isn't even wearing sweats or something at least until she's through the door? I mean it's not as if she was coming from a car in the lot; she was walking from somewhere, for crying out loud. And I know it is not as cold yet as it is going to be, but I'll lay odds that that girl is wearing something similar (but with Uggs) when it's 5 below. I saw girls like that last year when they had to go outside to go to gym or chorus!!!
What is up with that?
I detest winter. Snow, just fallen, is pretty enough. Skiing is fun; so is skating. Cold and icy winds? Give me a hot day on a beach any time! We are entering into my least favorite time of the year...at least once we get past the holidays.
There is something redeeming about the holidays...
But couldn't we celebrate them sipping lemonade at the pool?
E3H: Wikicab poll for 3H is here. Writing workshop tomorrow. Board topic: Asher's family!
E2H: Wikicab poll for 2H is here. Our Town tomorrow. Board posts: the wedding!
CW: More and more conferences!!!
j: feel the chill
music: chills--grey eye glances
--kt
Monday, November 10, 2008
ten november
On ten november, 1975, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank in a storm in Lake Superior. 29 men died. Twice here at LFHS, I directed a play written by Steven Dietz about this devastating loss, based on the Gordon Lightfoot 1976 hit, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. To commemorate the anniversary of the disaster, I offer you this video:
E3H: We will attempt to finish up our fantasias tomorrow. Post, darn it! And BTW: there is a wikicab poll! And a nifty follow-up to the word "schadenfreude."
E2H: WW tomorrow.
CW: Confs continued tomorrow.
J: another monday morning
music: just another morning here--nanci griffith
--kt
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
omg i missed two days!
The forgotten blog
by Ima Knucklehead
Once upon a time, there was a homework blog. The blog's creator wrote in it diligently day after day after day for an entire academic quarter without fail. And then came a single crazy night in Grant Park. And things went straight to hell...
I'm back!!!
Sorry about the missing days. If someone reminds me what the journal topics and music were, I'll be happy to record them. (Or just send me a comment here, and effectively post them yourself.)
This weekend...
E3H: You should be reading Asher Lev, targeting a halfway point by midweek. Boards are open for both background and text discussions. We will continue fantasias Monday.
E2H: Boards are open for Our Town. Discuss anything you want, esp. topics in Act One. In particular, discuss the Jane Crofut letter and its significance.
Both E2H and E3H: For Monday, you need to write an essay (or bullet points or power point or whatever) of about two pages in which you either justify the score I gave you on your in-class essay or argue with it. Use the rubric. Quote from both the rubric and your essay.
CW: Post your fairy tales on the new Fairy Tale boards and provide feedback. Time to start paying attention to portfolio requirements.
And here's a music video from someone who used to go to LFHS:
j: sitting in a cafe
music: free man in paris--joni mitchell
silly 70's: spiders and snakes--jim stafford
yesterday
music: elected--alice cooper
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
omg i got a ticket...
heading downtown shortly...i'll be up all night after that grading stuff!
3h: ww and fantasias tomorrow; asher lev coming up
2h: our town tomorrow
cw: confs
and now, a recap:
j: all that's left is the waiting
music: waiting on the world to change
--kt
Monday, November 3, 2008
one day more
One day. One. Then it will be over.
I promise.
:-)
WW tomorrow. Bring Workshop summaries!!!
j: state of exhaustion
music: sleep through the static--jack johnson
--kt