Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Performance Group Poetry Project

3rd Period: Please take period 3 to rehearse your group poems.

When you perform, pay close attention to:

Physical presence: You should appear at ease and comfortable, conversational, relaxed--but your poise should reflect the tone of the poem, as well. You will be graded on your creativity and your blocking for your memorized group poem.

Voice and articulation: Project. Keep your volume louder than you usually speak, but do not SHOUT! Proceed at a comfortable pace appropriate to your poem. Create TONE with your voice. You will be graded on your group's voice and articulation, particularly how you work well together.

Dramatic appropriatenessrecitation is about performing. That means that you have practiced and worked on smoothing out problems in your delivery. Use gestures to communicate an idea, but don't overdo it so that your main or key points are lost or confused. Inappropriate tone that does not match the words or text of the poem will not help your dramatic appropriateness. Make sure you are not reciting or performing in a monotone (see articulation above).

Evidence of understanding: You should understand the poem well enough to "interpret" it for us. What are the key points and ideas the poet is trying to convey? Think about how your voice, physical presence, and overall performance is helping to communicate those ideas.

4th Period: When we are done with our rehearsals, we will perform and be graded on our performances. When we are done (every group performs on stage), we will discuss/give feedback about the experience. With time remaining, we will slip back to the library and select our final poetry collection: N - Z.

HOMEWORK: Like the previous 2 collections, please complete your reading of your poetry collection. Bring your poetry books with you to our next class. You will be using your text for a variety of activities. NOTE: Monday's class does not exist. We will meet again Wednesday, Dec. 7. Monday is a scheduled 1/2 day and will only cover periods 5-9.

Monday, November 28, 2016

Poem Project Rehearsal; Collection (H-M) Model Poem Activity

Period 3: Collaborative Poem Project:

1. Get into your groups of 2, 3, or 4. If you are missing folks due to absences recut or rearrange your poem performance for that inevitability. You will be performing next class. You will need to know your lines. Use your time today to rehearse and practice.

2. Block your poem. All performers should be standing (at least to begin with), spaced out on "stage", and use gestures, facial expressions, and body position to communicate themes/ideas.

3. The rules:
A. All group members must speak.
B. All group members must contribute to the poem in some significant way.
C. Help each other.
D. Include gestures and "blocking" for your performance. Decide how you will move, what will you do with your body, what tone you will use in your voice, how this tone will change, what facial expressions you will make, how you will change your pitch, pace, and rhythm, etc.
4. Memorize and practice your group poem together. You will perform your poem "slams" from memory next class! The more you practice today, the more polished you will likely be for your graded performance next class.

Period 4:

Using your poetry collection (Poem Collection H - M) complete the handout and write a draft of a new original poem. Complete both parts by the end of class today. Turn in for credit.

HOMEWORK: None. Practice your lines for your group slam poem project. 

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Collaborative Poem Draft Due

The Collaborative Poem

Watch these video performances: (Choose 3 and in the COMMENT section of this blog post, please evaluate and rank your top 3 favorite poems from the list. Which poem is strongest in its performance/concept/creativity, etc. Which poem moves you or makes you think most? Etc. Make sure you defend your ranking by explaining why you ordered the top three poems this way...)
Collaborative Poem Project:

1. Get into your groups of 2, 3, or 4. Again, no one should work alone for this project.

2. You should have decided on a topic or theme for your poem. As most collaborative slam poetry, it might be easiest to agree on a political or social problem that you are all concerned with. If you have new ideas, present/communicate them to the group.

3. The rules:
A. All group members must speak.
B. All group members must contribute to the poem in some significant way.
C. Help each other.
D. Include gestures and "blocking" for your performance. Decide how you will move, what will you do with your body, what tone you will use in your voice, how this tone will change, what facial expressions you will make, how you will change your pitch, pace, and rhythm, etc.
You may find it helpful to first come up with a response line or choral line: a repeated line that all group members recite together or at different times to cue your group members as to where you are in the poem. Write the draft of the poem together first. Once you have a draft, print out enough copies for each of your members, then gather to practice and block the performance.

This project draft is due by the end of class. If you finish early, please begin rehearsing and memorizing your poem.

At the end of period 4, we will be going to the library to pick up and select our second poetry chapbook. Please begin reading the collection.

HOMEWORK: Choose one poet from this linked list and read/watch/listen to these poems.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Poem Project Performance

3rd Period: Please take period 3 to rehearse your group poems.

When you perform, pay close attention to:

Physical presence: You should appear at ease and comfortable, conversational, relaxed--but your poise should reflect the tone of the poem, as well. You will be graded on your creativity and your blocking for your memorized group poem.

Voice and articulation: Project. Keep your volume louder than you usually speak, but do not SHOUT! Proceed at a comfortable pace appropriate to your poem. Create TONE with your voice. You will be graded on your group's voice and articulation, particularly how you work well together.

Dramatic appropriatenessrecitation is about performing. That means that you have practiced and worked on smoothing out problems in your delivery. Use gestures to communicate an idea, but don't overdo it so that your main or key points are lost or confused. Inappropriate tone that does not match the words or text of the poem will not help your dramatic appropriateness. Make sure you are not reciting or performing in a monotone (see articulation above).

Evidence of understanding: You should understand the poem well enough to "interpret" it for us. What are the key points and ideas the poet is trying to convey? Think about how your voice, physical presence, and overall performance is helping to communicate those ideas.

4th Period: When we are done with our rehearsals, we will perform and be graded on our performances. When we are done (every group performs on stage), we will discuss/give feedback about the experience. With time remaining, we will slip back to the library and select our final poetry collection: N - Z.

HOMEWORK: Like the previous 2 collections, please complete your reading of your poetry collection. Bring your poetry books with you to our next class. You will be using your text for a variety of activities. NOTE: Monday's class does not exist. We will meet again Wednesday, Dec. 7. Monday is a scheduled 1/2 day and will only cover periods 5-9.

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Chapbook Project; Collaborative Poetry Project

Part 1/Period 1: Chapbook poetry A - G.

During period one, please complete the following chapbook project based on the collection of poems you read this weekend. If you did not complete your reading of the chapbook, please do so now. You. Alone. Reading. Now. You need to do this part first.

When you have read the collection of poems, please choose your favorite poem from the collection.
Prepare this poem to perform (deliver orally) in front of the class next class (Wednesday, Nov. 16). Your poem does not have to be memorized, but you will be graded on how long you can sustain your eye contact, how well you are prepared, and how effective your delivery of the poem is. I suggest using notecards (write the lines on the card) and use the cards as you did your speech exercises or your coffeehouse reading. Give important lines or phrases their own card (or memorize parts of the poem--particularly the opening and closing lines) so that you make direct and sustained eye contact.

To help you do your best when performing a poem/reading:
1. When speaking someone else's words, you will need to know what the author means. Look up and define for yourself any words you are unsure of in meaning.
NOTE: it is very clear when a student does not prepare because he/she often reads to us in a boring, atonal way (like hitting the same note on a piano for 5 minutes), or because the speaker acts like this is the first time he/she has spoken these words out loud. Do yourself a favor (and your grade...) Prepare/rehearse and physically speak the words, I pray you, trippingly on the tongue...as Shakespeare wrote.
2. Consider who the speaker of the poem may be. Is this person a housewife, or a mechanic, or a brother, or son, or young or old? Why might this persona be speaking? (is there a special reason?) To whom may this character be speaking to? How might this speaker sound? Try to create this experience for your audience.
3. If the poet repeats lines or phrases, consider why the author is doing this?
4. What images stand out strongly or vividly to you? It is often a good thing to slow down during descriptive moments of a poem.
5. Where does the climax or most important line in the poem occur? It is often helpful to raise the tension of the poem using our voice. Consider using an appropriate TONE of voice during this section.
6. If a poet lists a great number of things (like in slam poetry) it is often a good idea to increase the pace of this section.
7. Consider gestures or posture. Is your character happy, sad, bored, eager, excited, fearful, or any other emotion? How will you best convey this to your audience through your body, facial expressions, or voice?
8. Is your character performing an action? If so, what gestures could you include in your performance that might help aid understanding?
Use the time in class during period 3 to select and practice reading your poem. Make some choices about how you will best perform the poem for the class. You may wish to work with a partner when rehearsing so he/she can give you feedback about the effectiveness of your choices.

Part II: The Collaborative Poem

Watch these video performances:


1. Get into groups of 2, 3, or 4. No one should work alone for this project.

2. After you have chosen your groups, gather together and decide on a topic or theme for your poem. As most collaborative slam poetry, it might be easiest to agree on a political or social problem that you are all concerned with. To gather ideas, each person in the group should suggest a topic, write down the topic, then go around the circle adding other options. After you have gone around a few times (and everyone has at least contributed two ideas) look at the list and agree on a topic.

Go no further than this step. Your group should FIRST agree with the topic. When you have decided, please let me know what your group has decided is their topic/subject, and go on to step #3.

3. The rules:
A. All group members must speak.
B. All group members must contribute to the poem in some significant way.
C. Help each other.
D. Include gestures and "blocking" for your performance.
You may find it helpful to first come up with a response line or choral line: a repeated line that all group members recite together or at different times to cue your group members as to where you are in the poem. Write the draft of the poem together first. Once you have a draft, print out enough copies for each of your members, then gather to practice and block the performance.

This project is not yet due. You should pick your groups, decide on a topic, and begin your writing of the first draft by the end of class. I suggest using Google docs so that all members can contribute while sitting at their computer stations. To do this, SHARE your document with your members. Give members editing privileges.

HOMEWORK: Please prepare your chosen poem from your poetry collection (part 1) for next class. Here are some tips for memorizing parts of your poem from PoetryOutLoud:
  • Rewrite your poem by hand several times. Each time, try to write more and more of it from memory.
  • Read your poem aloud before going to sleep at night, and repeat it when you wake up.
  • Carry around a copy of your poem. You’ll find several moments throughout the day to reread or recite it.
  • Practice your poem by saying it to family and friends.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Coffeehouse Reflection; Collaborative Poetry Project; Poetry Book Selection

Congratulations, Freshmen!

You have successfully completed a public performance. I hope you enjoyed the coffee house and will participate in future ones.

Part of our goal this year is for you to get to know your strengths and weaknesses by completing a myriad of assignments, projects, and performances. Self reflection is an important component to learning.

  • How did you feel you did last night as a performance? Why? 
  • If you had to do it over again, what would you do differently? 
  • What did you learn about public speaking by performing your writing last night? 
  • What surprised you about the performance? 
  • Who's performance did you particularly enjoy? 
  • Did you notice anything different between the Freshman performances and the other Creative Writing performances? 
  • What did your parents or friends say or think about the performance? 
  • What would you do differently the next time you perform a speech or public reading? 
  • What advice would you give other performers?
  • Other issues you wish to discuss...
This morning, please take the first period (3rd period) to respond and comment to your coffeehouse performance.

4th period:

Let's retire to room 238 for a moment. We'll screen a few videos and discuss our options.

The Collaborative Poem

Watch these video performances. As you watch, please notice the poets' use of imagery, creativity on a selected topic, relevance, and, of course, performance techniques and skills:
1. Next class you will get into groups of 2, 3, or 4. No one should work alone for this project.

2. After you have chosen your groups, you will gather together and decide on a topic or theme for your poem. As most collaborative slam poetry, it might be easiest to agree on a political or social problem that you are all concerned with. Next class, please come with some ideas to write about. Write your ideas in your journal in the next few days.

3. Please go to the LIBRARY. Complete this activity with the time remaining in class:

A. Choose a book of poetry to read and study. Sign out the book and indicate on the list what book you chose.
B. Find a seat or corner in the library. Read your poetry collection selection. As you read, list themes, settings, ideas, etc. and capture cool or effective lines in your journal. 

HOMEWORK: Please complete the poetry collection you chose. Complete activity B (list themes, settings, ideas, etc. and capture cool or effective lines in your journal.)

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Coffeehouse Rehearsal: Day 2

Join us in the Ensemble Theater with your reading selections. We will be rehearsing for the coffeehouse.

HOMEWORK: Practice your reading/performance. The Coffeehouse is tomorrow (Nov. 8 at 7:00--please arrive by 6:45 at the latest.)

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Preparation for Coffeehouse & 1st Rehearsal

This morning, during period 3, please select up to three of your best pieces of writing so far this year (from September until now) that you would want to share with the world.

Details about the event:
1. You may read up to 3 poems or 1 short story (no longer than 3 - 5 minutes, please)
2. You must introduce yourself and let your audience know what you are planning on reading.
Example: "Hello, I am Mr. Craddock and I will be reading 2 poems tonight entitled: Poem #1 and Untitled Poem #347."
3. Always breathe and take a slight pause between transitions (that includes your greeting and the reading or performance of your selection(s))
4. Perform your poems or stories with energy, volume, and effective speech techniques. You should be using the techniques and skills we have been discussing in class to communicate your idea (your poem/story) to your audience.
REMEMBER: Effective performance is based on a few things:
  • 1. Preparation (rehearsal) -- knowing what you are saying and why.
  • 2. Voice (how you sound: volume, pacing, pitch, tone, elocution, and appropriateness of voice)
  • 3. Character (how you portray a character both vocally and physically)
  • 4. Energy
  • 5. Making choices. A good performer makes deliberate choices about voice, character, energy, tone, and rehearses these choices to deliver a solid performance.
After you select your pieces, please do the following to prepare your work for a public reading:
  • Highlight the best lines in your work. I should see a yellow glow over some of your best lines when you are rehearsing. (Be selective: not everything you wrote is your best line...)
  • Bold important or key lines or words in your draft that you might want to stress.
  • Italicize changes in tone in your story, or changes in setting--(that includes location, time, and weather or season), or changes in point of view (POV).
  • Underline dialogue. (Not the tags--just the dialogue lines...!)
Use your time in the lab to complete this step of the rehearsal process. I will be collecting your "scripts" for Ms. Gamzon. She will be rehearsing with you on Friday. You will receive credit for completing the bulleted activity above.

FAQ's about the COFFEEHOUSE:

Q: What should I pick?
A: The performance is to show you off to the public. We like to celebrate the fact that you created something out of nothing, wrote down your ideas, and are furthering your education. As such, please pick a piece of work that you are PROUD of. Look over your work that you have done from September until now and pick a piece that you feel best represents you and your talent.

Q: Do I have to perform a poem?
A: No. Listening to 16 students perform the same type of poem is maddening. You can choose: Your interview story, your prologue story, your House on Mango Street vignettes, your 500 word short story, your slam poem, your found poem, a piece from your Glass Menagerie project, or any poem assignment, or any other fiction or script assignment we asked you to write. You can even perform a piece of writing we did NOT ask you to write, provided that you are proud of it and want to perform it.

A helpful hint: please select only one piece to perform as a requirement. This should be your top choice. Then select 1 other piece that you MIGHT want to perform. You will have about 3-5 minutes to deliver your reading performance. If might select 1 vignette or short story, 1-3 poems, and/or a combination.

Q: So, I just go and read, is that it?
A: No. All performances need rehearsing. To help you prepare for the event, we will spend Monday (and possibly Tuesday) rehearsing for next Tuesday night (Nov. 8). To help prepare, make some decisions about your piece. What moods happen in the story, what rate of speaking is most appropriate, which words will you stress, where will you pause, when can you make direct eye-contact, etc.? Decide and then rehearse.

Q: What time do I have to be there?
A: 6:45. It is sometimes helpful to get to a performance a few minutes before you have to perform so that you can get yourself ready. The Ensemble Theatre will be open at 6:30 for you to prepare.

Q: How long is the performance? Can I leave after I read?
A: The performance lasts about an hour and a half usually (depending on how many readers read--you will be joined by other creative writing majors in other grades--but you are the header. This coffeehouse is meant to introduce our Freshman class to the school/community/world). Please plan on staying for the entire performance. It is rude to leave after you've read. Tell your parents this is a requirement. Refreshments are served after the performance. Please join us for those.

During period 4, please gather your performance script(s), your belongings, and head down to the Ensemble Theater to rehearse.

HOMEWORK: None. The end of the marking period is Friday, Nov. 4. Any work missing will become a permanent score of zero for this marking period's grade. Turn in any missing work!

The Graveyard Book - Discussion Questions

  In your discussion groups, please answer 5 of the 10 discussion questions. Choose a member of your group to record your answers. Make sure...