Fantasy Books and Film (part one)

This is a post for those fantacists in the room, or for those curious about the genre of fantasy. Below are a series of links and materials that will give you a better historical understanding of the genre and key authors or films that helped to create the style.

J.R.R. Tolkein
Farmer Giles of Ham (full etext; high fantasy)
Scene from the animated The Hobbit
The Lord of the Rings films (trailer)

Edgar Rice Burroughs
A Treasury of Edgar Rice Burroughs (9 novels in short chapters, print is small; if you like dinosaurs and monsters, he's a good read)
John Carter of Mars (trailer)
Tarzan and the Lost City (trailer)
Tarzan the Legend of Greystroke (clip)

Robert E. Howard
The Best of Robert E. Howard (various short stories; adventure, barbarians, sword & sorcery, horror)
Conan the Barbarian (2011, trailer)
Conan the Barbarian (1982, trailer)

Fantasy Story Part Two: Commentary

Please get together in the following pairs (PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME GROUPS HAVE BEEN CHANGED DUE TO ABSENCES):

•  Tyshay & Mitchell
• Aleah & Jacob
• Saisha & Izzy
• Austin & Jamee
• Karla Marie & Radezia
• Josh & Tyshon
• Grace & Yasmine
• Justice (please complete your fantasy story, then see me for this project)
•  Share your story with your partner. Each partner should read the draft.
• Acting as an expert (you can create a fictional name and title for yourself as an expert analyst or literary critic) you are to write a short commentary about your partner's story. Use J.K. Rowling's Tales of Beedle the Bard as an example or model (the Dumbedore sections).
• In your commentary discuss:
• The significance of the story. Why is this story an important one? For example why is your partner's fictional story an important one for future readers to read? You can make up any details you think make for a good reason. You can also refer to the story directly.
• Important characters, settings, or actions that occur in the story, and what their meaning or significance is. If an element of the story is unclear or mysterious, try to explain what the author meant. Don't ask the author, make up any details you think is necessary to sound like an expert on the subject.
• Explain the moral or message of the story. Again, don't ask the author, but explain what you think is the message or moral of the story.
• When you have completed your commentary, proofread and print out your commentary, then attach it to the original story draft and turn in.

Extra credit fantasy story: 

If you are done with your commentary and have turned in your writing, please select one of the pictures in the front of the room and use the picture to inspire a story. You may decide either to use the picture as an opening for a story or incorporate the picture as the ending or climax of your story. After deciding where the picture would happen in your story, write your story. This draft will count as extra credit and will be placed in your portfolio.

HOMEWORK: None, unless you'd like to write (or continue your extra credit story).

Fantasy Story Project (with Commentary) & Grammar Lessons

Please complete your fantasy story today in class. You should have a first draft done and completed by the end of today's class. Read previous posts for specific details on the project.

If you finish early, you have 2 options to complete:
1. Continue with the second part of this project.

• Wait until your required partner is done with his/her draft. Both partners should be done before you move on to the next part of this assignment. If your partner is NOT DONE, spend your time on the grammar videos below.
• WHEN YOUR PARTNER HAS COMPLETED A DRAFT, get together in the following pairs:
•  Tyshay & Mitchell
• Aleah & Jacob
• Saisha & Izzy
• Austin & Jamee
• Justice & Radezia
• Josh & Tyshon
• Grace,Yasmine, & Karlamarie (Grace read Yasmine, Yasmine read Karla Marie's, Karlamarie read Grace's story)
•  Share your story with your partner. Each partner should read the draft.
• Acting as an expert (you can create a fictional name and title for yourself as an expert analyst or literary critic) you are to write a short commentary about your partner's story. Use J.K. Rowling's Tales of Beedle the Bard as an example or model (the Dumbedore sections).
• In your commentary discuss:
• The significance of the story. Why is this story an important one? For example why is your partner's fictional story an important one for future readers to read? You can make up any details you think make for a good reason. You can also refer to the story directly.
• Important characters, settings, or actions that occur in the story, and what their meaning or significance is. If an element of the story is unclear or mysterious, try to explain what the author meant. Don't ask the author, make up any details you think is necessary to sound like an expert on the subject.
• Explain the moral or message of the story. Again, don't ask the author, but explain what you think is the message or moral of the story.
• When you have completed your commentary, proofread and print out your commentary, then attach it to the original story draft and turn in.

2. Review grammar videos and materials (watch videos and read material below):

Grammar help:

How to format a narrative story in prose.
How to punctuate dialogue correctly.
Common misspelled words.
Its/It's and Their, There, They're
Too, to, two

If you need grammar help, take a look at these videos:

• The Punctuation Song
• Punctuation
• Grammar Time: The Comma
• How to Use Commas Correctly 
• Grammar Time: The Verb
• The Tale of Mr. Morton: Subject & Predicate

Fantasy Story Draft

Today, please do the following brainstorm exercise in your journal while I am passing back your Tales of Beedle the Bard worksheets.

BRAINSTORM ACTIVITY:  In your journal make a list of SETTINGS that might likely appear in a fantasy story in one column, and a list of settings that might likely occur in a realistic story. For example:

• Fantasy: an ogre's cave, a cemetery during the rising of the moon, a far-away distant land, a desert oasis, a dwarven mine, a witch's hut, a magical pool, etc.
• Realistic: a school cafeteria, a library, in a living room during a Christmas party, in an abandoned factory, a garage, etc.

If you didn't finish your worksheet, please complete that before moving on to the activity below. Turn in your completed paper at the end of class today.

Use the list you've created a moment ago with your answers to questions #6, #12, #13, #14. Use these lists and ideas to complete the assignment below.

In class please complete the following writing assignment:

1. Choose one of the genres of fantasy from your notes (see post below this one). Select a character and setting for your story. On top of your page, indicate the choices you have made. For example: (in your heading) sword and sorcery.
2. Use the notes you completed with your group from The Tales of Beedle the Bard to get ideas for plots, characters, settings, morals or messages.
3. Write a fantasy story in which a character learns a valuable lesson (either good or bad). Do NOT indicate in the story what the morale or message is directly. You may, however, hint at the meaning or message.
4. Your story should have three distinct parts to it: a problem, a complication (it is typical to have at least 2 complications), and a solution. Your story is not complete if it does not have these three parts to it.
5. Type up your story. This is a draft and worth writing credit. Before you print your story, you should proofread and prepare your story for a reader's eyes. Correct all mistakes and format your story correctly!

Grammar help:

How to format a narrative story in prose.
How to punctuate dialogue correctly.
Common misspelled words.
Its/It's and Their, There, They're
Too, to, two

If you need grammar help, take a look at these videos:

• The Punctuation Song
• Punctuation
• Grammar Time: The Comma
• How to Use Commas Correctly 
• Grammar Time: The Verb
• The Tale of Mr. Morton: Subject & Predicate

HOMEWORK: Review grammar videos for your next class for Ms. Perez. If you have not completed your fantasy story, please complete it for homework.

J.K. Rowling: The Tales of Beedle the Bard

Today in groups of 2-3, please complete the analysis sheet and classwork notes for the book The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

After analyzing these stories, please move on to the following writing assignment:

1. Choose one of the genres of fantasy from your notes (see post below this one). Select a character and setting for your story.
2. Use the notes you completed with your group from The Tales of Beedle the Bard.
3. Write a fantasy story in which a character learns a valuable lesson (either good or bad). Do NOT indicate in the story what the morale or message is directly. You may, however, hint at the meaning or message.
4. Your story should have three distinct parts to it: a problem, a complication (it is typical to have at least 2 complications), and a solution.
5. Type up your story. This is a draft and worth writing credit. Before you print your story, you should proofread and prepare your story for a reader's eyes. Correct all mistakes and format your story correctly!

HOMEWORK: Write in your journal this weekend. Read the article "Getting Ready to Write" and try one or both of the prompts. You may also choose your own idea, if you'd like.

Writing Genre: Fantasy (an introduction)

There are quite a few speculative and fantasy genres that writers tend to write in. Each has its own "feel" or "tone" and there are a few rules writers in these genres follow.

It can be helpful to note which genres are which so that you can select reading material more accurately or when you are writing, you can SEND the right message to the right AUDIENCE or receiver.

Fantasy fiction is a wide genre suited to the fantasist reader. A fantasist is someone who enjoys escaping into another world when reading a book. They often prefer fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, historical romance, horror, and action/adventure genres when reading--anything to get them out of their own world and skin. They often feel displaced in the wrong body or time period, and enjoy the imagination of a made-up, fictional world. A fantasist is the opposite, usually, of a REALIST, who prefers realistic settings and characters when reading.

Fantasy as a genre has what fantasists like best: a strange or exciting world in which to lose themselves in, often an epic story with a lot of action, weird occurrences, strange characters, and the best part: it's not OUR reality. Laws and physics do not work the same as in realist fiction.

Fantasy can be described as fiction with elements of magic, unknown monsters, creatures, strange beings, and make-believe worlds. While many consider knights in armor, mystical elves, and burly dwarves swinging axes (thanks to the role playing industry) to be the staples of fantasy, there are other aspects to it as well. Here's an overview of the fantasy genres in fiction:

High or Epic Fantasy Genre
The high or epic fantasy genre is probably the most recognized by the general public. In high or epic fantasy, knights go on quests, fair maidens need rescuing, and the general theme is usually Good vs. Evil. This fantasy genre is set in a pseudo-medieval world of kings and queens. It often has powerful wizards, bands of adventurers, and multiple quests to undertake. The narrative scope is large and vast, and often spread out over several books in a series. The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece The Lord of the Rings are just two examples.

Sword and Sorcery Fantasy Genre
The sword and sorcery fantasy genre is akin to Dungeons & Dragons games put in type. With similar characteristics of high or epic fantasy, sword and sorcery has a much smaller scope. One band of adventurers is going on one quest. There is often a lot of action involved.

Alternate History Fantasy Genre
This fantasy genre takes a snippet of real-life history and warps it to include fantasy elements. For example, an alternate history fantasy novel may be about WWII and how the goblins played a hand in defeating the Nazis.

One popular sub-genre of alternate history is steampunk. Set in Victorian or Edwardian era, steampunk fantasy incorporates steam-powered technology in often suprising or fantasic ways.

Urban or Contemporary Fantasy Genre
Urban or contemporary fantasy differ only in that urban fantasy is set in a city and is sometimes darker in nature than contemporary. Harry Potter is an example of contemporary fantasy (although taken together it is also Epic). These fantasy genres combine magical beings or spells with modern socity.

Dark Fantasy
The dark fantasy genre is, by definition, dark. It often overlaps both the urban fantasy genre and horror. Vampires, demons rising from the underworld, and Lovecraftian stories are dark fantasy. What makes a story dark fantasy rather than straight horror is often the medieval type setting, or more emphasis on paranormal themes over simply scaring the pants off the reader.

Other Fantasy Genres
There are other fantasy genres besides the ones listed above. Elfpunk is a sub-genre in which fantasy creatures such as elves, dwarves, and fairies enter into, or are a part of, ultra-modern 'punk' society. Erotic fantasy has a strong overshadow of sex, while romantic fantasy is more subtle in the love plots. Mythic fantasy uses classic myths or legends to introduce the fantasy elements. There are science fantasy crossovers from classic science fiction, and even comic fantasy. Fairy tales and myths are also a type of fantasy genre.

There are many worlds in which to explore.

BOA Editions Opportunity

We have been given 10-15 tickets to attend BOA's annual fundraiser Dine & Rhyme. Featured poets are Dorianne Laux and Nin Andrews. They will also be reading from The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton, a recent BOA publication.

The event takes place this Sunday (September 23) at 3:00 at the auditorium of the Memorial Art Gallery (right next door to us).

If you are interested in joining us, please let me or Ms. Gamzon know ASAP so we can reserve you a ticket. If you go, you will get extra credit.

J.K. Rowling's Tales & Assignment

It is often helpful to know who the writer you're currently reading is. Please go to J.K. Rowling's website and find out 3 interesting things about her. Write these 3 things on an index card and turn the card in by the end of class today with the assignment below.

Then take a look at her WEBSITE and see what you think of its design. Later in this course you will be asked to design a blog. Paying attention to websites that you find graphically effective are a first step in effective and useful design. It's all part of publication, baby!

Listen to J.K. Rowling read. This is one of the reasons you are taking this course. At some point in your life you will be asked to read your original work in public. It may be sooner than you think. As you listen to Rowling read, pay attention to how she presents the material. Note her speed, tone, emotion, eye contact, delivery, enunciation, etc. On the back of the index card where you placed 3 interesting things about Rowling, evaluate her reading of "The Magic Fountain."

The Magic Fountain (reading by J.K. Rowling)
The Tale of Three Brothers (from Harry Potter)

HOMEWORK: Please read the last three stories in Tales of Beedle the Bard. We will discuss this book next class.

The Communication Process

 Watch the following videos about the communication process:

A Brief History of Communication (animated film)
A Brief History of Communication (commercial)
Communication: Sender/Receiver: Abbott & Costello skit

Take a few minutes to read about and take notes on the communication process. Take careful note of vocabulary words in caps and bold.

The communication process starts with a person getting an IDEA (or reason to communicate). We will call this person: the SENDER.

1. The sender comes up with an idea or reason to communicate.
2. The sender ENCODES this idea with words or symbols
3. The sender chooses a type of communication and sends his/her message to a RECEIVER.
4. After receiving the message, the receiver DECODES the message.
5. The receiver receives the original message or idea.
if communication is to continue as conversation, the receiver becomes the sender and starts the process again, responding to what was originally communicated.

Why should I care? 
--Communication is one of the most important activities a person can engage in.
--Communication allows us to express ourselves
--Communication allows us to learn new things or meet new people
--Communication builds friendships, loyalties, love, and trust between people
--Effective communication allows us to avoid damaging or hurtful events or situations
--Ineffective communication is often the reason people engage in conflict, war, or destructive activities
--As writers, we have to communicate our ideas with our audience. The better we can do this, the more effective we can be.

There are a variety of ways in which an author or speaker can make communication more effective.

Take a few minutes to watch these videos about the failure in the communication process. Try to note what the problem communication is, and who is responsible for effective communication.

From: Monty Python and the Holy Grail
 Fawlty Towers (John Cleese)
The Evolution of Communication (Social Media) (animated film for EMC)
Communication (Animated)
Effective Communication commercial

Book Talk #1: Short Story Summary & Conversation

For homework, I asked you to select one of the short stories linked below this post and to read it. You will be reading a lot as a creative writing major. Reading is necessary for you to:

1. Get ideas for your own stories/poems/plays, etc.
2. See models of good writing (so you know how to write well yourself)
3. Learn how a story/poem/play is put together artistically
4. To learn about all sorts of things you might not have known before
5. For entertainment or to become a better communicator and/or reader

Before we begin, please take a few minutes to complete the handout I give you. Complete the handout.

When instructed, please get into small assigned groups. You will be engaging in CONVERSATION about the story you read. The other group members will be grading you on how well you communicate and relate the story you read to them. This exercise encourages you to communicate effectively in (hopefully) low-stress situations.

To get ready for this exercise you should be familiar enough with the plot, the characters, setting, point of view (POV) and general theme of the story you read. You may consult the notes you took in your journal for this purpose.

After this exercise, please either continue or finish your Interview short story draft (see posts below), or work on reading the homework (or exploring J.K. Rowling's website...also see below).

HOMEWORK: Please read the first two stories in The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling. Take a look at her WEBSITE and see what you think of its design. You can also learn about the author and what's new.

Types of Speech Communication

Today in class: In your journal/notebook, please read and take notes on the following information about communication:

There are two types of basic communication that we, as humans, engage in. They are:

1. Interpersonal communication: communication between two or more people, usually through words, symbols, gestures, or expressions.

and

2. Intrapersonal communication: communication with the self. Thoughts, feelings, and prayers are often different types of intrapersonal communication.

We are going to focus on interpersonal communication in this class. There are several general types of interpersonal communication:

• 1. One-to-one communication: talking with one other person. Conversation is the most basic form of this, either face-to-face, or in an interview, or on the telephone, but it can also be writing (the author communicating with a reader, for example) or texting or typing an email.
• 2. Group discussion: talking with more than one other person (usually 2 or more) with a common purpose in mind. Often this common purpose is to solve a common problem, to share an idea or information, to make a decision about something, or to answer a question.
• 3. Public communication: a form of interpersonal communication in which one or more people communicate with an audience. A typical example might include the communication that happens between a performer and an audience in a theatrical production, for example, or public speaking. Public communication also includes oral interpretation, reader's theater, improv, all sorts of performances or even film.
• 4. Mass communication: one person (or several people) communicate with a very large group of listeners or an audience. Usually the listeners/audience are not physically present when the person sends his/her message. Delivery of the sender's message is usually through technology, like television, the computer, or through film or radio.

Make sure you've written down and noted the difference between these types of interpersonal communication techniques. You will be tested on this information.

Today's Agenda

Today, please read and complete the assignments for the following two blog entries.

It is important to READ these blog posts carefully so that you are not confused with daily activities, homework assignments, and key concepts covered in class. You may find it helpful to TAKE NOTES on important vocabulary, concepts, writing tips, and assignment deadlines in your journal.

1. Continue and/or complete your short story draft started last class. See post below for specific directions.
2. Read about short stories in the post below, visit the link for the short fiction, then for HOMEWORK select one short story from the list and prepare to talk about it next class.

NOTE: for our homework, if you do NOT have computer access at home, please download the PDF (click on PDF if given the option) and PRINT the story from your computer today before you leave.

A Short History of the Short Story & Some Reading

Students often ask: "How long should my story be?" instead of realizing that any story needs to have a beginning, middle, and end. This sort of open ended question really has no answer. How long should a story be? Well, traditionally, short stories are shorter than novels. That's a good place to begin.

Short stories are shorter than novels, and are usually not as complex or involved. Short stories were originally meant to be read in one sitting. As our culture has sped ahead, and we don't have much free time, short stories have become as short as a sentence or two and as long as the traditional short stories, fewer than 20,000 words. A short novel is about 50,000 words. Most publishers want novels that are anywhere from 75,000 to 100,000 words or more.

Usually a short story focuses on only one event or incident. It usually has a single plot, a single setting, a small number of characters, and covers a short period of time. Most writing students start off writing short stories because they are manageable. But the form is tricky and hard to perfect. Many authors spend their whole lives learning the craft of writing short fiction.

Longer short stories usually contain elements of dramatic structure: exposition (the introduction of setting, situation and main characters); complication (the event that introduces the conflict); rising action (development of the conflict), crisis (the decisive moment for the protagonist and her commitment to a course of action); climax (the point of highest tension and the point the protagonist faces her antagonist); resolution (the point when the conflict is resolved); and a sense of enlightenment, epiphany, or moral.

Short stories may or may not follow this pattern. Some do not follow patterns at all. Modern short stories only occasionally have an exposition. An abrupt beginning, with the story starting in the middle of the action (in media res) is more standard or typical.

Usually all short stories have a turning point and climax, but endings may be sudden or what is called "open"--leaving the story incomplete. As with all art forms, short stories will vary by author.

Read a few short short stories here. Discuss with your neighbor which stories are best and try to figure out why.

Then continue to write your short story using your interview notes (see post below).

HOMEWORK: For homework, select one of the following short stories and read it. Be prepared next class to talk about the story you read in a small group of students. You should be familiar enough with the plot, the characters, setting, point of view (POV) and general theme. Take notes on the story to answer these questions in your journal. Bring your journal to class Friday.

Select any of the following stories to complete your homework:

Horror or Suspense Stories
The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe
The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe
The Cats of Ulthar by H. P. Lovecraft
The Picture in the House by H. P. Lovecraft
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce
Hobnail by Crystal Arbogast
The Judge's House by Bram Stoker
The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

Humorous or Satirical Stories
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber
A Telephone Call by Dorothy Parker
2BRO2B by Kurt Vonnegut

Fantasy Stories
A Kidnapped Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
A Witch Shall be Born by Robert E. Howard
The Jewels of Gwahlur by Robert E. Howard 
The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame
The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde   

Science Fiction Stories
A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury
All Cats Are Gray by Andre Norton
Beyond the Door by Philip K. Dick

Mystery or Crime Stories
The Red-Headed League by Arthur Conan Doyle
Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl 

Classic Short Stories
The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
The Lady or the Tiger by Frank Stockton

Miscellaneous and Realistic Stories
One of These Days by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell
Thank You, M'am by Langston Hughes
Flowers by Alice Walker 
Recitatif by Toni Morrison 

For those of you having a hard time reading, due to low reading skills, here's a simpler story:
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

Baseline Interview Story, Part 2

Please continue your baseline story using a character based on your interview notes.

Reminders: Your story can follow any genre (sci-fi, fantasy, horror, western, romance, realistic, action, comedy, etc.) Want to write about teenage vampires? Go ahead! Choose a genre or topic that you are interested in. This helps a writer write a story successfully.

Your story should be relatively short (approx. 2-5 pages, double spaced). You can always add to the draft later. When you have completed your first draft, please title your story, put your standard heading on the top left (or right) and proofread your work for spelling/grammar errors. When satisfied that this is your 'best' work, please print and turn in.

Remember that a hook works just as well for a story as it does for a speech. Revise your opening sentence of your story to HOOK your reader. Be creative to grab our attention!

Character Baseline Exercise & Delivering a Speech

Since we didn't get a chance to introduce each other yet (and there is another class using the room next door 3rd period) I'd like to start today's class off with some writing.

Character exercise:

Most writers design and build their characters from people they know. Interviewing interesting people is a great help in coming up with realistic characters. However, remember in fiction, the name of the character should be "disguised" so as not to bring unwanted attention to that single person. Writers usually begin with what they know, but then branch out and add details that have nothing to do with the original model. In this exercise, it is perfectly okay to change details, add false information, and, otherwise, fictionalize your character completely.

Please follow these directions today to start a fictional story:

1. Take your notes from your interview. Read them over.
2. Choose those traits or parts of the interview that were most interesting. Begin there.
3. Use those interesting parts to design a character (your protagonist).
4. Put this character in a specific setting (a specific house, a specific room, a hospital ward, under the elms in Durand Park, on the precipice of a cliff, etc.) The more specific and detailed your setting, the easier your character can react to its environment.
5. Give your protagonist character something to do.
6. Give your protagonist character something to desire or want.
7. Write a story.

Your story can follow any genre (sci-fi, fantasy, horror, western, romance, realistic, action, comedy, etc.) Want to write about teenage vampires? Go ahead! Choose a genre or topic that you are interested in. This helps a writer write a story successfully.

Your story should be relatively short (approx. 2-5 pages, double spaced). You can always add to it later. When you have completed your first draft, please title your story, put your standard heading on the top left (or right) and proofread your work for spelling/grammar errors. When satisfied that this is your 'best' work, please print and turn in.

During the second period of our class, you and your partner will present each other to the class in a short introductory speech.

Take a few minutes to prepare your notes, and decide what you learned from your interview and want to share with the class. Speeches usually open with an interesting statement or lead-in. This is usually called The Hook. Begin your introductory speech with a clever attention-grabber. Write an interesting opening line for your speech to introduce your partner.

When called, please stand up and introduce your partner. You may use your notes if you get stuck, but try to also "talk" to us. No one likes to be "read" to.

As a class politely listen to each speech. Listening is an important element in the communication process. It is extremely rude to chat, ignore, or otherwise distract a speaker. Please be courteous in this class. As class rules state: Respect all NOUNS (that includes you and me and each other).

HOMEWORK: None. We will finish our fiction stories next class in the lab.

Communication & the Interview Project, Part One

This morning, after our course criteria discussion, complete this in class activity: 

With a partner, discuss and come up with: 
A. a list of ways in which humans communicate (humans communicate through...)
B. Reasons why humans communicate

This begins our first step as creative writing majors. It is important for us to examine how and why and when, as human beings, we decide to practice communication. This course will also get into areas of communication, the communication process, and techniques of effective communication. If you go on to study the arts, literature, political science, divinity, history, business, advertising, marketing, teaching, law, journalism, communication, or media, you will definitely need a basic understanding of these concepts.

Conversation is one of the most obvious processes of communication. Today you are going to "interview" a class member, then introduce this person to the rest of the class. The notes you take will also be used to create a "fictional" character based on a real person during our next class.

Activity:

1. Please follow my verbal directions to choose a partner for this exercise.
2. Once you have a partner, take 10-15 minutes to ask the following questions and record what your partner says in your journal.

Please note: You do not have to write down everything your partner says. Part of communication is listening to what is being said, then remembering and retelling in your own way. Use your notes and ask follow-up questions to develop your partner's answers. (see below)

3. After you have completed the set of questions, allow your partner to conduct an interview of you as well. Again, take 10-15 minutes to complete this portion of the exercise.

4. During the second period of our class, you and your partner will present each other to the class in a short introductory speech.

5. Keep your notes for the next writing assignment (more details to follow).

 Sample Questions to ask:

A. How were you shaped by your environment or cultural background as you grew up?
B. Name a friend, relative, or childhood friend or hero figure that had an impact (positive or negative) on your life. Describe how this person influenced you.
C. Describe a personal experience that had a major impact on your life and/or creating the person that you are today.
D. What activities or hobbies or interests bring pleasure and meaning to your life?
E. Name a goal that you have set for yourself. How are you going to achieve that goal?
F. What value or philosophical belief do you hold dear? Why do you hold this belief or value so highly? How does it affect your life?
G. Any other question you wish to ask within the time limit of this exercise.

Your short introductory speech should reveal the nature or character of the person you interviewed. When asked, please introduce your partner to the rest of the class. You may use your notes to help guide you, but try not to simply read off of your notes. Try to remember what your partner told you, then report this to us.

This assignment is worth participation credit.

Welcome Freshmen!

Welcome to Performance, Word, & Text. Please read the course description, objectives, and requirements for this class. My teacher website and the Creative Writing Forum is also posted on the side links. You or your parents can check there for a PDF Course Criteria Files and more information about the Creative Writing department, our class, and SOTA.

Course Description:

This creative writing course will introduce students to such topics as performance (acting) techniques, spoken word poetry, speech communication, oral interpretation, and writing for a public forum. Through the course, the students will gain an understanding of the field of communication, improve communication and listening skills, build self-esteem and self-confidence writing and speaking in public. Students will compose their own speeches, plays, films, stories, presentations and poetry to be shared in class or read aloud in public venues like the Coffee House Readings. This course is paired with Writing for Publication.

Course Objectives:

1. Students will examine and engage in the communication process

2. Students will prepare and perform “readings” or “performances” in a public event (Coffeehouse Readings, Reader’s Theatre, SOTA’s Improv group, Speech and Debate, etc.) 

3. Students will be required to participate in class assignments, homework and/or projects

4. Students will gain confidence speaking in public and in front of an audience

5. Curricular material for this course meets the New York State Standards in English/Language Arts and the Common Core

 

Course Evaluation:

25% Participation, homework, behavior, attendance

25% Writing projects, performances

25% Tests, quizzes

25% Portfolio, journal

Long Range Curriculum:

1^st term:  the communication process, introduction to performance, speech writing, oral interpretation, improvisation games

2^nd term: interpersonal communication, techniques in voice and acting, character building, and performance poetry

3^rd term: performance or spoken word poetry (cont.), debate, theatre and mass communication; final assessment