Collaborative Play Project Draft Due; Poem Options; Conclusion of Fences

Lab: (until 10:00)

Collaborative Play Project Script draft due. Your play scripts are due by 10:00.  Please make sure you proofread and check your grammar--put periods/end punctuation on the ends of sentences, capitalize proper nouns and the beginnings of words in sentences, spellcheck, etc. Help each other do this.

Remember, as well, that each of your characters (protagonist and antagonist) should have a monologue to help provide characterization.

If you finish early, try the following poetry exercise (our next unit is poetry...)

• Option #1: Choose a character from Fences (Rose, Troy, Gabe, Lyons, Cory, Bono, Raynelle, etc.); write a poem from that character's perspective. 
• Try a poem starter: "When I..." followed by what that character did and how that affected his/her family. "When I married you, Troy, I swore I'd be true..." or "When I played ball with those white boys, I aimed every ounce of my being toward the fence..." or "When I built that fence..." or "When I blow my horn God will open the clouds of heaven above..." etc.
• Option #2: Fences keep things safe from the outside world or protect a family, but also trap a person from obtaining or getting what they want. Pick an inanimate object like a fence or wall or barrier of some sort that represents a human shortcoming or human flaw or restriction or boundary keeping the speaker from what he/she wishes to get or achieve. A problem with grades or money, for example, can be a barrier. It might also be a broken window or a stalled car or some other object. Use the object to explain how the speaker of the poem interprets their situation--what's keeping them back? Write about this conflict. See the following poems as examples:
• Mending Wall by Robert Frost
• Fences by Pat Mora
• Border by Gillian Clarke
• The Boundary by Bei Dao
• Other fence poems

At 10:00, we will go next door to complete Fences. Sign up for a role to read, please.

HOMEWORK: If we do not finish the play in class, please read the end of the play as homework. Otherwise, none.

FYI: Your journal will be due next week!

Fences: Day 3; Collaborative Play Project (adding characterization)

Period 3: Fences

Act Two, Scene One from the film version; Act Two, Scene One (from the Broadway production)--this is drama...view and evaluate the performance. What does film do for a story that plays don't or vice versa? What's special about a theatrical performance?

READING: Get into groups of 2-3 (choose your partners that you are writing your play scenes with. If you are writing alone, join another student who is also writing alone to form a group of 2-3).

Read out loud: Act 2: Scenes 1-3 (pg. 67-79)--start on page 67 with Gabe's exit.

When you complete your reading out loud, please return to the lab to work on your play projects (and/or homework). 

Lab:

Continue your collaborative play drafts. These drafts will be due Tuesday, Oct. 31.

• Make sure you add characterization in your play drafts to develop your character! (see the previous post for details...)
• Your protagonist should have at least 1 monologue!
• Your antagonist should have at least 1 monologue!

HOMEWORK: Please take notes in your journal and research to find information about:

In 1918 when Troy Maxson is your age (about 14), he leaves the South for Pittsburgh. His father was a sharecropper. What is a sharecropper? What was life like for a sharecropper in the South? How did the system of sharecropping entrap people? How could a person escape that life? Read about it here.

• The Negro League
• Jackie Robinson & Satchel Paige

The setting of this play is 1957. Please research and find information about this time period. Some questions to help guide your research are:

• What were the social, economic, political and educational expectations and opportunities for African Americans at this time?
• What advances had been made in civil rights?
• What significant changes will occur in America during the years between 1957 and 1965?

Some links to help you:

Images of the civil rights movement
Images of “the children’s crusade" of the civil rights movement
Timeline of the civil rights movement

Bring your Fences scripts back with you to next class so we can finish reading the play together. 

Fences: Act 2

Fences:

When an author develops a character, he/she relies on characterization. Characterization is based on four distinct things:

• What a character says or thinks about him/herself
• What another character says or thinks about the character
• What the character does (the actions the character does and the choices he/she makes)
• The details or physical description the author or narrator gives us. In this case, what is revealed in the STAGE DIRECTIONS of the play script. 

Let's take the first 10-15 minutes of today's class please take a look at these scenes from Fences. In the first clip, we'll see two different versions played first by James Earl Jones and then by Denzel Washington. Compare/contrast the two versions. Note the reaction by the audience as well as the performance.

• Act One, Scene Three (different performances...)
• Fighting Death (Act One)
• Act Two, Scene One from the film version; Act Two, Scene One

Act 2: Scenes 1-3 (pg. 59-79)

Lab:

Please take notes in your journal and research to find information about:

In 1918 when Troy Maxson is your age (about 14), he leaves the South for Pittsburgh. His father was a sharecropper. What is a sharecropper? What was life like for a sharecropper in the South? How did the system of sharecropping entrap people? How could a person escape that life? Read about it here.

• The Negro League
• Jackie Robinson & Satchel Paige

The setting of this play is 1957. Please research and find information about this time period. Some questions to help guide your research are:

• What were the social, economic, political and educational expectations and opportunities for African Americans at this time?
• What advances had been made in civil rights?
• What significant changes will occur in America during the years between 1957 and 1965?

Some links to help you:

Images of the civil rights movement
Images of “the children’s crusade" of the civil rights movement
Timeline of the civil rights movement

Continue your collaborative play drafts. These will be due Friday, Oct. 27.

HOMEWORK: None.

Fences; Collaborative Play Project (con't)

Period 3:

After our quiz on the first two scenes in August Wilson's play Fences, please continue to work on the collaborative coming-of-age play script project. See previous post for more details.

While you are waiting for your partner to finish the test, please take notes in your journal and research to find information about:

In 1918 when Troy Maxson is your age (about 14), he leaves the South for Pittsburgh. His father was a sharecropper. What is a sharecropper? What was life like for a sharecropper in the South? How did the system of sharecropping entrap people? How could a person escape that life? Read about it here.

• The Negro League
• Jackie Robinson & Satchel Paige

The setting of this play is 1957. Please research and find information about this time period. Some questions to help guide your research are:

• What were the social, economic, political and educational expectations and opportunities for African Americans at this time?
• What advances had been made in civil rights?
• What significant changes will occur in America during the years between 1957 and 1965?

Some links to help you:

Images of the civil rights movement
Images of “the children’s crusade" of the civil rights movement
Timeline of the civil rights movement

At 10:00 we will stop writing and move next door to continue reading Scene 3 of Fences together. Sign up for a part to read during class as bonus participation credit.

• Act One, Scene Three

HOMEWORK: If we do not complete it in class, please finish Act 1 of the play Fences.

Film Evaluations; Collaborative Play Project; Fences: Scene 1

Period 3:

View and evaluate 3 of the following student human interest videos.

Use the handout rubric for presentations to write a short review of 3 of your peers. Write your review with language in the rubric and give some praise and criticism to your 3 peers. Do these separately. 1 review for 1 peer three times. Each review should be about 1 paragraph in length.

Hand your critique in with your name and the name of the person you are reviewing when you have completed your viewing:

• Alayza
• Madison
• Tali
• Wesley
• Degraj
• Valerie
• Michelle
• Tia

Collaborative play project:

• Work alone or with a partner for this assignment. If you need a partner, let me know and I'll help you find one. I'd prefer that you work together with a partner, but some of you are not ready to be friendly or work collaboratively. You can choose what's best for you.
• Using the four stages of the coming of age story and the 9 characteristics of a coming of age story (see above), write a short play in which a young protagonist comes into conflict with a parent or authority figure. The young protagonist should learn a valuable lesson or "mature" by the end of the play/scene. 
• Remember that plays are all about conflict. Your play scene should consist of 2 characters: a young protagonist and an authority figure or parent. Each character should in some way conflict with one another. 
• Keep your play in one setting or scene.
• One partner should play and write the dialogue for one character (for example, the young protagonist). 
• The other partner should play and write the dialogue for the other character in the scene. 
• Write your draft in your google drive so you can share the file (without having to be right next to your partner). Share email addresses so you both can work on the file at the same time.
• Write your play in what you know or remember as play format. For advanced students, you can find proper play format at this link.
• This project is not due yet.

4 stages of the coming of age story:

• REALIZATION -- changing, emotional and mental preparation, growing, physical changes
• REMOVAL -- change of status quo or familiar environment; separation from support units (family, friends, social institutions), experimentation with "forbidden" issues/activities--testing the limits of support units/social institutions, breaking rules/laws or beliefs, etc.
• CHALLENGE --- proving oneself; overcome a major problem or resolve a major conflict (killing the boss monster, growing mature, taking on responsibility, etc.)
• REINTEGRATION - protagonist comes back into society; character undergoes a rebirth, new status, or new understanding or epiphany of his/her situation.

Nine Characteristics of a Coming of Age experience or story

1. Usually the protagonist is between the ages of 12-18, but can be younger
2. Adults are either "bad guys" or not important--they represent society or laws or rules--the natural order of things; in some stories a parent is missing, absent, or dead. Authority figures are often antagonists to the protagonist. (see below)
3. Usually involves a journey of some sort (this can by a physical, mental, or spiritual journey)
4. Protagonist must confront his/her fears or weaknesses
5. Conflicts with a parent /guardian/authority figure
6. Protagonist learns something important (usually about him/herself)
7. There are usually a series of tests or challenges that the protagonist must face and overcome
8. The ending may be bittersweet--there is often a loss of innocence as a protagonist matures
9. Scarification (there are often scars left--physical or/and emotional), but these "wounds" mark the protagonist as a hero--he/she has come through the "storm" and is "wiser" for the experience. 

Around 10:00, please bring yourself to a stopping point. We will be getting our next play: Fences by August Wilson from the library. When you return from the library, please get into smaller groups of 4-5 and read Act 1, Scene 1 out loud. Use the lab or the classroom for your groups. (2 groups per room, please).

HOMEWORK: Please read the rest of scene 1 if you did not finish it during class, and read scene 2 on your own. Expect a short quiz on scenes 1 & 2 for Monday's class.

Human Interest Video Project Due!; Collaborative Coming of Age Play Draft

Complete your Human Interest Video Projects today in the lab. This is the last day we are working on this project together.

Please send me your video URL link in the COMMENT section of this post. 

If you finish with your film project before the end of class, move on to our next required project: Collaborative Coming of Age Play Script. See below for details.

4 stages of the coming of age story:

• REALIZATION -- changing, emotional and mental preparation, growing, physical changes
• REMOVAL -- change of status quo or familiar environment; separation from support units (family, friends, social institutions), experimentation with "forbidden" issues/activities--testing the limits of support units/social institutions, breaking rules/laws or beliefs, etc.
• CHALLENGE --- proving oneself; overcome a major problem or resolve a major conflict (killing the boss monster, growing mature, taking on responsibility, etc.)
• REINTEGRATION - protagonist comes back into society; character undergoes a rebirth, new status, or new understanding or epiphany of his/her situation.

Nine Characteristics of a Coming of Age experience or story

1. Usually the protagonist is between the ages of 12-18, but can be younger
2. Adults are either "bad guys" or not important--they represent society or laws or rules--the natural order of things; in some stories a parent is missing, absent, or dead. Authority figures are often antagonists to the protagonist. (see below)
3. Usually involves a journey of some sort (this can by a physical, mental, or spiritual journey)
4. Protagonist must confront his/her fears or weaknesses
5. Conflicts with a parent /guardian/authority figure
6. Protagonist learns something important (usually about him/herself)
7. There are usually a series of tests or challenges that the protagonist must face and overcome
8. The ending may be bittersweet--there is often a loss of innocence as a protagonist matures
9. Scarification (there are often scars left--physical or/and emotional), but these "wounds" mark the protagonist as a hero--he/she has come through the "storm" and is "wiser" for the experience. 

Collaborative play project:

• Work with a partner for this assignment. If you don't have a partner please let me know and I'll help you find one. 
• Using the four stages of the coming of age story and the 9 characteristics of a coming of age story (see above), write a short play in which a young protagonist comes into conflict with a parent or authority figure. The young protagonist should learn a valuable lesson or "mature" by the end of the play/scene. 
• Remember that plays are all about conflict. Your play should consist of 2 characters: a young protagonist and an authority figure or parent. Each character should in some way conflict with one another. 
• Keep your play in one setting.
• One partner should play and write the dialogue for one character (for example, the young protagonist). 
• The other partner should play and write the dialogue for the other character in the scene. 
• Write your draft in your google drive so you can share the file (without having to be right next to your partner). Share email addresses so you both can work on the file at the same time.
• Write your play in what you know or remember as play format. For advanced students, you can find proper play format at this link.
• This project is not due yet.

HOMEWORK: None. 

Working With Windows Movie Maker Tips/Tutorials

 help complete your project by learning about:

• Working with audio files for MovieMaker (video tutorial)
• Add/Edit audio (microsoft's intructions)
• Adding music (video)
• Extracting audio clips/files
• Splitting/splicing clips (video)
• Combining clips
• Export files
• Adding both music and voice over in Windows Movie Maker (video tutorial; addressing problems)
• How to add two layers of audio in Moviemaker (video)
• How to export files from Audacity to Moviemaker (video)
• Saving files to a MP4 format (video)

• Youtube audio/video file converter to MP3

Human Interest Video Project Deadline; Collaborative Coming of Age Play Script Project: Day 1

Please complete your Human Interest Video projects today during the lab. The last day to turn in your video will be Tuesday, Oct. 17.

If you finish today, please send me your video URL link in the COMMENT section of this post. 

If you finish with your film project, you may either write another 500-word short story or work on our next required project: Collaborative Coming of Age Play Script. See below for details.

4 stages of the coming of age story:

• REALIZATION -- changing, emotional and mental preparation, growing, physical changes
• REMOVAL -- change of status quo or familiar environment; separation from support units (family, friends, social institutions), experimentation with "forbidden" issues/activities--testing the limits of support units/social institutions, breaking rules/laws or beliefs, etc.
• CHALLENGE --- proving oneself; overcome a major problem or resolve a major conflict (killing the boss monster, growing mature, taking on responsibility, etc.)
• REINTEGRATION - protagonist comes back into society; character undergoes a rebirth, new status, or new understanding or epiphany of his/her situation.

Nine Characteristics of a Coming of Age experience or story

1. Usually the protagonist is between the ages of 12-18, but can be younger
2. Adults are either "bad guys" or not important--they represent society or laws or rules--the natural order of things; in some stories a parent is missing, absent, or dead. Authority figures are often antagonists to the protagonist. (see below)
3. Usually involves a journey of some sort (this can by a physical, mental, or spiritual journey)
4. Protagonist must confront his/her fears or weaknesses
5. Conflicts with a parent /guardian/authority figure
6. Protagonist learns something important (usually about him/herself)
7. There are usually a series of tests or challenges that the protagonist must face and overcome
8. The ending may be bittersweet--there is often a loss of innocence as a protagonist matures
9. Scarification (there are often scars left--physical or/and emotional), but these "wounds" mark the protagonist as a hero--he/she has come through the "storm" and is "wiser" for the experience. 

Collaborative play project:

• Work with a partner for this assignment. If you don't have a partner please let me know and I'll help you find one. 
• Using the four stages of the coming of age story and the 9 characteristics of a coming of age story (see above), write a short play in which a young protagonist comes into conflict with a parent or authority figure. The young protagonist should learn a valuable lesson or "mature" by the end of the play/scene. 
• Remember that plays are all about conflict. Your play should consist of 2 characters: a young protagonist and an authority figure or parent. Each character should in some way conflict with one another. 
• Keep your play in one setting.
• One partner should play and write the dialogue for one character (for example, the young protagonist). 
• The other partner should play and write the dialogue for the other character in the scene. 
• Write your draft in your google drive so you can share the file (without having to be right next to your partner). Share email addresses so you both can work on the file at the same time.
• Write your play in what you know or remember as play format. For advanced students, you can find proper play format at this link.
• This project is not due yet.

HOMEWORK: None. Complete your Human Interest Video.

Brighton Beach Memoirs: Act 2 (Conclusion)

Today we will finish our reading of Brighton Beach Memoirs.

With time remaining, we will go back to the lab to upload any video footage or to catch up on missing work:

• human interest article
• 500 word short story
• poetry walk poem draft

Your human interest video will be due next week. Make sure you complete your video filming over the long weekend.

For those of you who have completed all assignments so far:

Our next writing project (apart from those we have worked on so far, such as the human interest video, etc.) will be to write a coming-of-age play script. Use the characteristics of a coming-of-age story (bildungsroman) to tell a story about a character growing up. Write your coming of age story as a play (like Brighton Beach Memoirs or Fences). This project is not due yet.

HOMEWORK: Complete the filming of your human interest video project. Bring your film footage to our next class to begin uploading and editing. 

Brighton Beach Memoirs: End of Act 1; Act 2

This morning, please take 10-15 minutes to do the following:

• Print out your 500 word short story draft and turn in if you have not yet done so
• Print out your poetry walk poetry draft and turn in if you have not yet done so
• Upload any film footage for your human interest video project (or upload to Youtube and send me your URL in the COMMENT section below if you're done...)
• Extra Credit: There are 4 stages of the coming of age story:
• REALIZATION -- changing, emotional and mental preparation, growing, physical changes
• REMOVAL -- change of status quo or familiar environment; separation from support units (family, friends, social institutions), experimentation with "forbidden" issues/activities--testing the limits of support units/social institutions, breaking rules/laws or beliefs, etc.
• CHALLENGE --- proving oneself; overcome a major problem or resolve a major conflict (killing the boss monster, growing mature, taking on responsibility, etc.)
• REINTEGRATION - protagonist comes back into society; character undergoes a rebirth, new status, or new understanding or epiphany of his/her situation.

Choose a book you have read in the past (for pleasure or for school), or a film you have watched and explain how it follows the 4 stages of the coming of age story. 

Example: Star Wars, A New Hope: Luke Skywalker, at first left behind by his friends on Tatooine, learns about a rebel plot and the Force [realization]. When his aunt and uncle are slaughtered by the Empire, Luke sets out with his mentor Obi Wan and pilot Han Solo to recover a princess [removal]. Along the way, Luke struggles to find his force within, fights storm troopers, manages to survive a trash compactor, rescues a princess, and trains for the final battle against the Empire's "Death Star" [challenge]. Luke uses the force to blow up the Death Star and returns a hero [Reintegration].

Post your book or film choice and your explanation in the COMMENT section of this post. 

Let's continue reading Brighton Beach Memoirs this morning.

Nine Characteristics of a Coming of Age experience or story

1. Usually the protagonist is between the ages of 12-18, but can be younger
2. Adults are either "bad guys" or not important--they represent society or laws or rules--the natural order of things; in some stories a parent is missing, absent, or dead. Authority figures are often antagonists to the protagonist. (see below)
3. Usually involves a journey of some sort (this can by a physical, mental, or spiritual journey)
4. Protagonist must confront his/her fears or weaknesses
5. Conflicts with a parent /guardian/authority figure
6. Protagonist learns something important (usually about him/herself)
7. There are usually a series of tests or challenges that the protagonist must face and overcome
8. The ending may be bittersweet--there is often a loss of innocence as a protagonist matures
9. Scarification (there are often scars left--physical or/and emotional), but these "wounds" mark the protagonist as a hero--he/she has come through the "storm" and is "wiser" for the experience. Sorta like this class...

A memoir is a story about a memory. In essence the writer looks back on his/her youth and remembers a specific time period, or personal or historical event. In a MEMORY PLAY--a character does this remembering. He/she often breaks the 4th wall and speaks directly to the audience about what he/she remembers. Plays like this are SUBJECTIVE.

HOMEWORK: Aim to finish your FILMING of your human interest story by the end of the week (or weekend). Bring in your footage to upload and edit by next week. Our due date for the film will be next week.