Extra credit opportunities, quarter 1:
-For a quiz grade: Memorize and recite Henry V's speech from Henry V, "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more."
-Watch Henry V and cite, in a brief analysis, three specific scenes in that play which mirror, in some way, the character's scenes from Henry IV.
-Compose a Shakespearean sonnet about your years at CM. Must follow all the rules of the form!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Blog, Weeks 6/7
The work: This class began to read Henry IV and towards the end of the past week we memorized ten lines from the play (MM). We watched a PBS series with Michael Wood looking at the life of William Shakespeare. We learned many interesting details of his life...his father was a gloveman, a mayor, and an illegal wool dealer (NR). We discovered a country boy who was lost between the worlds of religious intolerance (VC). We took notes on how Henry came into power and his ironic speech about ending all of the bloodshed (GM). We learned that...royalty, or the aristocracy, speak in iambic pentameter (AH). We learned new ways to memorize lines, perhaps as actors during Shakespeare's time did (ER). As we are reading the class has been taking advantage of our tuition dollars by printing out the story in the school library due to a back order of the text (BB). Having read Acts I and II...the only real question is when is Hal going to leave his thieving friends, Poins and Falstaff, and become the prince he is supposed to be (SS).
The workers: We learned why Mr. McGonegal dislikes Doug E. (ER). Chapin was critical of the film (ER). Michael won the American Idol contest with "I could feel the ground tremble with ancient energy" (DK). Brendan came to the conclusion that the story's real underlying theme was the struggle in the relationship between father and son (SS).
Words to live by:
"'Tis no sin for a man to labour in his vocation." ~Falstaff
"He will give the devil his due." ~Prince Hal
"He's funny, streetwise, sexy, and by all accounts, good company." ~Michael Woods (on Shakespeare)
"My reformation, glitt'ring o'er my fault, will show more goodly and attract more eyes..." ~Prince Hal
The workers: We learned why Mr. McGonegal dislikes Doug E. (ER). Chapin was critical of the film (ER). Michael won the American Idol contest with "I could feel the ground tremble with ancient energy" (DK). Brendan came to the conclusion that the story's real underlying theme was the struggle in the relationship between father and son (SS).
Words to live by:
"'Tis no sin for a man to labour in his vocation." ~Falstaff
"He will give the devil his due." ~Prince Hal
"He's funny, streetwise, sexy, and by all accounts, good company." ~Michael Woods (on Shakespeare)
"My reformation, glitt'ring o'er my fault, will show more goodly and attract more eyes..." ~Prince Hal
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Fear not.
Having a lot of trouble wading through Shakespeare's brilliant Elizabethan wit? Read a nice contemporary translation next to it. If you haven't discovered No Fear Shakespeare, hie thee hence! Just remember, you're responsible for the parts on the left too (the original text!).
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Weeks 4/5 blog
The work:
We had an essay test with the option of picking two particular short stories and dissecting their internal conflict (RH). This past week we began the most difficult part of senior year (TJ). Last week began with the analysis of a short story "The Ice Man." The story was symbolic of a lack of an emotional bond between a woman and her husband (MM). We learned to trim the fat of our essays (ER). We learned that Hugh Gallagher has done a lot of wonderful things, but hasn't gone to college (KK). The essay unit has been a great help to our individual college process. We have all received expert analyzed essays that will lead to "acceptance and money" (BB).
The workers:
Silverio showed his knowledge of history by writing about Columbus's influence (DC).
Steve gave us a strong thesis statement on the diversity of religion and prejudices (CM). Brendan's sentence, in an attempt to follow Orwell's rules of writing, had no veracity as he broke the first rule of never using a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print (JW). Flaherty had a pithy way of shortening a (MM). Bob said you don't need to impress people by stating in your essay that you get good grades or play on a certain team (DK). Pete mentioned that he wrote his essay response to the common application under the influence of his favorite film (SC). Graham revealed that Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird has had a profound influence on his life (RH).
Words to live by:
"Years ago I discovered the meaning of life but forgot to write it down." -Hugh Gallagher
"The unexamined life is not worth living." -Socrates
"Never use a long word where a short word will do." -George Orwell
"Can the essay make a difference in getting the 'thin versus thick' envelope? Absolutely." -Richard Fuller
"One issue that concerns me is major fires." -Anon.
"The eternal past, heavy beyond all comprehension, had us in its grasp. We would never shake it off." -Haruki Murakami
We had an essay test with the option of picking two particular short stories and dissecting their internal conflict (RH). This past week we began the most difficult part of senior year (TJ). Last week began with the analysis of a short story "The Ice Man." The story was symbolic of a lack of an emotional bond between a woman and her husband (MM). We learned to trim the fat of our essays (ER). We learned that Hugh Gallagher has done a lot of wonderful things, but hasn't gone to college (KK). The essay unit has been a great help to our individual college process. We have all received expert analyzed essays that will lead to "acceptance and money" (BB).
The workers:
Silverio showed his knowledge of history by writing about Columbus's influence (DC).
Steve gave us a strong thesis statement on the diversity of religion and prejudices (CM). Brendan's sentence, in an attempt to follow Orwell's rules of writing, had no veracity as he broke the first rule of never using a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print (JW). Flaherty had a pithy way of shortening a (MM). Bob said you don't need to impress people by stating in your essay that you get good grades or play on a certain team (DK). Pete mentioned that he wrote his essay response to the common application under the influence of his favorite film (SC). Graham revealed that Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird has had a profound influence on his life (RH).
Words to live by:
"Years ago I discovered the meaning of life but forgot to write it down." -Hugh Gallagher
"The unexamined life is not worth living." -Socrates
"Never use a long word where a short word will do." -George Orwell
"Can the essay make a difference in getting the 'thin versus thick' envelope? Absolutely." -Richard Fuller
"One issue that concerns me is major fires." -Anon.
"The eternal past, heavy beyond all comprehension, had us in its grasp. We would never shake it off." -Haruki Murakami
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
College Essay: Research tips
Is the college admissions essay a research paper? While you may think it's just about you, it's also a good chance to show that you're a skilled researcher. Here are some ways to integrate research into even the most personal of essays:
~quote a lesser known line from a famous author, or a compelling line from a less-than-famous author. Start digging through Bartlett's, but also check this guy's site or this one. There's less legitimate websites out there like this one--if you use a quote there, do some fact checking to make sure it's properly cited.
~connect your personal topic to one of national importance now. Search the New York Times or other newspaper for what intelligent writers have said about it. Cite some information they provide.
~If you're writing about another country check the CIA Factbook for information or about another state check the U.S. census.
~quote a lesser known line from a famous author, or a compelling line from a less-than-famous author. Start digging through Bartlett's, but also check this guy's site or this one. There's less legitimate websites out there like this one--if you use a quote there, do some fact checking to make sure it's properly cited.
~connect your personal topic to one of national importance now. Search the New York Times or other newspaper for what intelligent writers have said about it. Cite some information they provide.
~If you're writing about another country check the CIA Factbook for information or about another state check the U.S. census.
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