May 7

This week's vocabulary comes from the last act of A Raisin in the Sun

Finish movie.  Compare Sidney Poitier 1961 version to P. Diddy version.

Write vocabulary story.

If you haven't already finished the following assignments, do so for tomorrow.  They didn't go on the 12 week grades but will be entered the next few days.

Journal: What is it about Walter that makes it so easy for Willy Harris to steal his money?  Explain, 1/2 - 3/4 page.  Cite a specific example or two from the play to support what you are saying.

Today's reading: Act 3.  We should be able to fiinish the play today

On page 1113, answer questions 2,3,5, and 6.  1 paragraph each.  1 page total
Today, we will answer question 1 on page 1114.  1/2-3/4 page.

When you finish, start writing six (6) of your own test questions for Monday's Raisin in the Sun test.  If your questions are really good you might see them on the test, which would definitely increase your chances of doing well, obviously.
Types of questions you have to write:

3 Identify the Speaker of the Quote.  Pick three significant quotes from the play and tell me who says them.  A significant quote deals with an important idea in the play, ideas such as the struggle to attain your dreams, racism, pride, love, what it is to be a good person--that kind of thing.

3 Multiple Choice Questions.  Again, your questions should deal with important parts of the play.  here's an example of a bad question: What is the name of the guy who stole Walter's money (who cares what his name is).  Here's an example of a pretty good question: When Walter says to Mama that Ruth would never "get rid of" her fetus, what does Ruth say? Answer: "I would too.  I already gave her a $5 down payment."

April 26th

Vocab test
Da Vinci Vocabulary

In groups you will discuss the following and share your ideas with the class (1 question per group)
5 min.  Then share 3 min
#1 on page 1075  Alex            Josh
#5 on page 1100 Dakota        Raul
#7 on page 1100 Nathan      Angelika
#1 on page 1101 Eden             Ethan
#2 on page 1101 Amber      Taylor
#3 on page 1101 Liana        Bailey

Watch A Raisin in the Sun film

April 23

Start the period writing out poem
Vocab story for 4th period.  Each person writes his or her own story
Read Raisin in the Sun

April 17

Good luck finishing your essays.  It's really important that you finish them up today and that the grammar and spelling are perfect.  You also need to be sure to fully develop your ideas.  Remember, if your paragraph is shorter than four sentences, you haven't developed it enough.  Be sure to explain and convince.

Vocabulary for Friday is the same vocab that we were supposed to have last Friday!
Da Vinci Vocabulary
must be memorized for Friday

Raisin in the Sun poem found on 1047 in book
must be memorized for Monday

Dreamed Deferred Nike Commercial (Thanks Taylor!)

April 11

Extra credit option: Enter a poem in the Willamette bookstore poetry contest.  Writing poetry is an act of letting the soul sing, and we don't get enough opportunities for that in life, do we?

Extra credit:
+2 for entering a quality poem (most, but not all, poems fall into this category if you spend some time)
+1 for a second poem (but you don't get extra points for those)
+5 for best poem in the class
+10 for 2nd or 3rd in the contest (we will probably have one of those.  Will it be you?)
+15 for 1st place

Requirements:
Awards will be given for the following categories:
Best Rhymed Poem, Best Unrhymed Poem, Best Haiku (that pretty much covers it all!)
You may enter up to 3 poems per category (9 total)
30 lines maximum
Original poems only--no reinterpretations and no illustrations
Enter separate poems on separate sheets of paper
Type poems

In upper left corner in a 3x3 box write:
Name
School
Grade
Phone
Poem category

Bring poems to Mr. Isom no later than 2:30 on Friday, April 12
Or email poem to poetrycontest@willamette.edu by 5:00; or hand deliver to Willamette bookstore

April 2

Today we will do two things:
1. Make characterization charts for characters in Where the Heart Is and
2. Brainstorm for your Bean Trees movies.

Characterization Chart
          What She's Like             Example
Novalee
1. superstitious                                  5 birthday candles.
2. afraid                                            she decides to tell Forney she loves him.
                                                       Forney's love helps her overcome her insecurity
3.
Sister Husband
1.
2.
3.
Lexie
1. Ready for what life throws at her.      Takes new kids gladly
A little bit like Taylor.  Optimistic
2. Depressed. Like Taylor.       Mattiew helps her understand that life isn't perfect but that we should still try to make it as good as possible for one another
3.
Forney
1.Has a good heart                          Takes care of Americus; Delivered Americus; takes care of sister
2.

In what ways is Novalee like Taylor Greer, and in what ways is she like Lou Ann?
What thematic similarities do you see in the two works?

Fear
Theme: _When we have the courage to face our fears we are then able to overcome them.  OR Friends and extended family can help us overcome our fears by showing us love.  Love conquers fear. 

Family
Theme: Care for one another makes you family.  A family is people who make you feel protected.  Willy Jack  NOT.  Abandoned his daughter. 
Sister Husband helps and loves Novalee _____________________
It's hard to be a family.

Movie
Movie Project Description

Bean Trees Video


Your final project for The Bean Trees is to create a 5-9 minute
video teaching a theme from the novel.

You are to work in groups of 4 but feel free to recruit friends to
help you--60 points
Due April 9

Pretend that you are a film student in the prestigious USC film program.  Your former teacher, Mr. Isom,  has hired you to make a video that will help his students understand one of the themes in the novel The Bean Trees and has given you carte blanche as far as your approach goes.  Although you know that Mr. Isom is offering a package of gummy bears for the top video, you are more motivated by thoughts of personal gain.  You know that the George Lucas Foundation gives a hefty $25,000 prize to the winner of its Educational Video Short contest in the literature category (see Edutopia.com).  Winning this prize will not only pay for your next film but could greatly help you reach your lifelong goal of working for LucasFilm.

As you begin to brainstorm ideas, your mind first turns to themes in the work.  You remember from your days spent in Mr. Isom’s class that a theme is the author’s statement (message) concerning a motif such as friendship, pride, alienation, mortality, family, etc.  In your movie group, write a theme for three of the following  motifs:
Common motifs found in the Bean Trees include: 
Family
Theme: ________________________________________________________
Rebirth
Theme: ________________________________________________________
Choices
Theme: ________________________________________________________
Racism
Theme: ________________________________________________________
Moral responsibility

Theme: ________________________________________________________
Feminism
Theme: ________________________________________________________
Fear
Theme: ________________________________________________________

Your 5-9 minute film will be graded as follows:

15 pts--Theme illustrated.  Most students film a scene from the novel.  It's possible, however, to get creative and make a movie about something else and then show its connection to the book in the director's explanation of the theme

15 pts--Director's explanation of theme covered in the film. 1-3 min of the total 7-9 minutes. You must make at least four references to the novel and explain how the film illustrates (or teaches) the theme.  Sometimes students focus on the acting, lighting, etc., and how it emphasizes the theme.

30 pts--Craftsmanship.  Including costumes and props, camera angles, lighting, editing

A’s go to excellent work that thoroughly and creatively develops a theme from the novel.  Director’s explanation clearly and insightfully shows how the film develops the theme.  Four (4) well-chosen references to the book show strong understanding of the novel.  Craftsmanship is superb.  Costumes, props, camera angles, lighting, and editing seamlessly develop the ideas covered.

B’s go to good work that develops a theme from the novel.  Director’s explanation shows how the film develops the theme.  Four (4) references to the book show understanding of the novel.  Craftsmanship is good.  Costumes, props, camera angles, lighting, and editing tend to develop the ideas covered.

C’s go to ok work that tries to develop a theme from the novel.  Director’s explanation does not adequately show how the film develops the theme.  References to the book don’t show strong understanding of the novel.  Craftsmanship is superb.  Costumes, props, camera angles, lighting, and editing seamlessly develop the ideas covered.

March 14

Quiz today over daily oral language sentences that we do at the first of the period.  Hand in sentences and other notebook entries.
Test over Bean Trees
Hand in Comic books and we will share!