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.