November 17 ... Shakespeare's Life and Times - a webquest

OBJ ... 

Students will research and evaluate information about William Shakespeare and about Renaissance England

WARM-UP ... 

Find your group, get a laptop from the cart, open the blog and click on the link for the webquest document below.  You will need to save a copy if you wish to type your answers OR you will need to write on your own paper (if you wish).

Log in to your Office 365 account.  Begin scanning over the webquest document.

Click here ... Webquest Document

3 THINGS YOU MUST DO BEFORE WE BEGIN ... 

1) LOG IN TO Portal.office365.com

2) IN A SEPARATE WINDOW OR TAB, OPEN MY BLOG daviseng4.blogspot.com

3) OPEN THE WEBQUEST DOCUMENT (Click the link above)

TODAY ... 

We will work in assigned groups on a webquest researching the background of William Shakespeare and of the Renaissance Period.

Each group will be reponsible for evaluating their information and creating 3 powerpoint slides for their section of the webquest.  We will work cooperatively on the same Powerpoint (that I have already shared with you) to create a comprehensive document the entire class can access and refer to.

Time permitting, each group will briefly present the information and their slides (although this will probably be something that we have to do tomorrow).

You will be evaluated on your group's slides, the quality and presentation of the information.  You will also be peer graded for your contributions by your fellow group members.

November 16 ... Shakespeare - The Conspiracy Theories

Warm up ...

On a sheet of notebook paper, list 5 things you know about William Shakespeare.


Today ...

As you watch the video "William Shakespeare: The Conspiracy Theories" make a list of 12 things you learned or found interesting about it (CANNOT BE BASIC BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION).

Shakespeare: The Conspiracy Theories


Once you have your list of 12, list 3 things you would like to know OR know more about William Shakespeare.


Turn in before you leave.

November 11 ... Chivalry Journal

TODAY ...

You will write a journal (300-400 words) over the following prompt for a quiz grade ...

Part of the Medieval Code of Chivalry was that women should be treated with a great deal of reverence and respect - although that mostly meant only women of noble birth.

One phrase that is often said today in regard to this respect for women is that "Chivalry is dead."

What is your take on this element of "chivalry"?  What does is mean when people today say it is "dead"?  Do you agree with this?  Explain.


Due before you leave today.

If you need to make up any part of the Medieval Literature test, that is your priority in class today and you can complete the journal for homework.

BELL SCHEDULE:

1st 7:25-7:55
2nd 8:00-8:30
3rd 8:35-10:55
(Veteran's Day Ceremony 9:00-10:00)
4th 11:00-11:35

Back on regular schedule the remainder of the day.

November 10 ... Medieval Literature Essay

TODAY ...

Write the essay response for the Medieval Literature Test.  You may use the book as a resource as well as any notes you may have.   Be sure to answer all parts of the essay response - and to use specific examples from the works indicated.  Standard single-write/journal type length of 300-400 words.

Work quietly and independently - this is not a partner assignment and "assisting" your neighbor is cheating.

I am including the traits of a Medieval Romance below for you information as you write.  You're welcome.

• Knights and the Code of Chivalry
• Idealization or High Expectations of the Hero-Knight
• Women are idealized and prominently figured in the story
• Set in a vast fairy tale like or legendary land (like Camelot)
• Supernatural elements abound
• Romantic Quest - a hero will go on a journey to find something, perform a task, or find love
• Plot is usually simple and predictable - but with some kind of ironic twist 
• Repetition of a period of time (a year and a day) or "magic" numbers (3 & 7)

JOURNALS - Many of you, for whatever reason, have not completed or turned in one or both of the journal assignments that are being counted as quiz grades.  You will need to get a copy of the prompts from me today to make those up.  You will need to get them to me no later than Tuesday of next week to receive credit ... max grade at this point is a 75 (per district grading policy).

November 9 ... Medieval Literature Test (Objective Portion)

TODAY ...

Students will take the objective portion of the Medieval Literature Test - be sure to check and verify that your answer sheet and your test have the same FORM (A, B, or C).

Quick Reminders -

• No phones or electronic devices of any kind are allowed while tests are out for any reason.
• Your test review is DUE to the tray when you pick up your exam. It is 2 daily grades if you have it complete ... but will not count at all if it isn't complete.  It can only help your grade.
• No notes of any kind are allowed on the test

Tomorrow, we will write our essay responses ... the essay will address the elements of a Medieval Romance in the stories we read ("The Wife of Bath's Tale" and "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight") and in the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail (if you saw it with us).  You will choose 2 of the 3 resources.

November 8 ... Medieval Literature Test Review

OBJ ...

Students will prepare for a unit test over a genre of literature.


WARM-UP ...

Students need to retrieve their slot notes over The Canterbury Tales and their book notes over the Medieval Period from the back table.  All information in these notes is fair game for the test in addition to the Test Review itself.



TODAY ...

Finish working on the Medieval Literature Test Review.  Available online below if you need an additional copy.

Medieval Literature Test Review

Be sure to review your slot notes and your book notes (on the green sheets) that you retrieved today.  ALL that information (especially the descriptions of the pilgrims) is testable material.

November 7 ... Medieval Literature Test Review

TODAY ...

Students will spend the period working on the test review for the Medieval Literature Test.  The test is scheduled for Wednesday.  Students should refer to the review, to their slot notes over The Canterbury Tales, and to their own notes on the Medieval Period to prepare for the test.

Copies of the review are available on the back table as well as at the following link:

Medieval Literature Test Review

November 4 ... Medieval Romance, Satire, and The Holy Grail (continued)

WARM-UP ...

Retrieve your notes about the common traits of Medieval Romances from yesterday.

TODAY ... 

Begin watching "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" ... it is a satire of the Medieval Romance and of Arthurian Legend, but it will connect to many of the same traits of a Medieval Romance noted above.

Continue to note the traits of a Medieval Romance that the movie reflects.

• Knights and the Code of Chivalry
• Idealization or High Expectations of the Hero-Knight
• Women are idealized and prominently figured in the story
• Set in a vast fairy tale like or legendary land (like Camelot)
• Supernatural elements abound
• Romantic Quest - a hero will go on a journey to find something, perform a task, or find love
• Plot is usually simple and predictable - but with some kind of ironic twist 
• Repetition of a period of time (a year and a day) or "magic" numbers (3 & 7)

You will need to be familiar with this for the test next week (currently planned for Wednesday, November 9th).

November 3 ... Medieval Romance and Satire

WARM-UP ...

On a sheet of scratch paper list the following traits of a Medieval Romance ...

• Knights and the Code of Chivalry
• Idealization or High Expectations of the Hero-Knight
• Women are idealized and prominently figured in the story
• Set in a vast fairy tale like or legendary land (like Camelot)
• Supernatural elements abound
• Romantic Quest - a hero will go on a journey to find something, perform a task, or find love
• Plot is usually simple and predictable - but with some kind of ironic twist 
• Repetition of a period of time (a year and a day) or "magic" numbers (3 & 7)

TODAY ... 

Begin watching "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" ... it is a satire of the Medieval Romance and of Arthurian Legend, but it will connect to many of the same traits of a Medieval Romance noted above.

Pay close attention - we will do more with it tomorrow.

Tuesday, November 1 ... Gawain and the Green Knight

TODAY ...

• Students will begin reading "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" on pp 230-243 in the literature book.

• As they read, students will work on study questions to guide their reading and analysis (handout is on top of the laptop cart).

• We will work on this in class today and tomorrow - try to get at least halfway through today (question 17) ... though many of you will get further than that and may even finish.

Monday, October 31 ... Canterbury Journal Writing

Students will write a journal (300-400 words) over the following prompt:

Pretend YOU are judging the storytelling contest in The Canterbury Tales and you MUST choose a winner between two finalists ... The Pardoner's Tale and The Wife of Bath's Tale. Which Tale wins? 

Write from a 1st person perspective and render your judgement.  Discuss what you liked and disliked about each story.  Finally, make sure you clearly explain why you felt one story was more worthy of winning than the other (there can be no ties - if you say it was a tie, you get a zero ... nobody likes ties). 

300-400 words. Single draft writing, so do the best you can on neatness, spelling, and grammar... but it doesn't have to be final draft quality. You may refer to the book as a resource. And it is due today before you leave class. Minor/Quiz grade at stake.