Mrs. Welshon's English 12 Blog

"Rabbit Proof Fence" and Theatrical Representations of a True Story

2010-05-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

In order to highlight the different ways that a film maker can tell a story we are comparing and contrasting two films, both based on true events.

Our first film is "Rabbit Proof Fence". We discussed the history of the parlimentary legislation around the Aboriginal Protection Act in Australia. We also reviewed a map of the area where the film took place.
a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/b/bb/20051016224509!Rabbit_proof_fence_Western_australia.jpg">

Critique of a Movie Based on a True Story

Theatrical Movie Based Upon a True Story
1. What truths are presented in movie?

2. Who in the film do you empathize with ?

3. Write about at least 3 techniques the film maker used to cause you to empathize with that character/characters.

4. How have the true events been dramatized to enhance the story’s potential to entertain?

5. How has the director used the musical score of the film to accentuate the themes of the film?

6. How did the director use sound to heighten a character’s reaction to situations?

Point of View
The second step is to recognize that all films based on true stories are biased. The word "bias" is equated with prejudice and information that is slanted in a particular direction. The connotation here is that the information is tainted in a negative way, much the same way the word "propaganda" has taken on connotations of having evil intentions behind it. Another term that might be more useful here is "point of view."
1. From what point of view is the film speaking? What perspective is it offering on events and arguments?

2. Can you relate to this viewpoint or at least understand where it's coming from?

3. Are there multiple viewpoints? Do they agree or contradict each other? Does one come across as more "right" while the other seem more "wrong?"

4. Can you think of some other perspectives that might be out there but not addressed in the documentary?

5. What is the tone of or emotion behind the(se) viewpoint(s)?

6. Why do you think that the negative view has been reduced and barely presented?

7. Write about at least 3 different techniques has the film maker used to cause you to dislike the negative side.

Themes
What are the central ideas or themes of the film and how has the way the movie has been put together helped convey these to the audience? Comment upon: Camera angles, shots, dialogue, voiceover, sound effects, dramatic structure (orientation, complications and resolution), Lighting, editing, etc.
8. Explain using the above how the themes represented in the film?

9. Does the film make you more aware of a part of history or another culture, explain?

10. What was the purpose and the message of the film?

11. Who is the intended audience ? How do you know this?

11. How does the viewer’s culture change his/her reaction to this film? (Do you think we view and react to it differently than a person in Austrailia?) Why? If so, how?

What is a Documentary Film and How is it Constructed?

2010-05-10T11:51:00.000-07:00

What is a Documentary Film and How is it Constructed?

When we go to see a movie we have a preconceive notion of what kinds of things should be happening in the film are viewing. This expectation is based on our experience and knowledge of various genres of stories, movies and films. The audience brings their expectations, background knowledge and biases of what the film should be like with them when they view a film. The director uses story telling methods to craft their film.

One of the most notable media theories is that of Tzvetan Todorov and his theory of story development:

Tzvetan Todorov’s 5 Stages of Narrative Patterns:- A stage of equilibrium at the outset.
- A disruption of the equilibrium by some action.
- A recognition that there has been a disruption.
- An attempt to repair the disruption.
- A reinstatement of the equilibrium

Now, there is no narrative police checking to make sure that a film maker follows the established patterns. Thus,

• How is the audience effected when a the pattern is disrupted?
• What effect does the disruption stage have on the audience?
• How does the audience respond?
• Who is responsible for the disruption?
• How does the audience respond once the equilibrium is reinstated through the narrative?
• Some films will return to a state of equilibrium only to then throw in another new disruption or will create an equilibrium that is less than satisfactory. What kind of impact does that have on the audience? Why would a film maker set up a film that way?

Fill in the chart below with simple summaries from various films. The goal here is for you to notice and acknowledge how these different stages of narrative development are embodied in different types of film genres.

(Chart Construction)
Top Line:
Genre Equilibrium Disruption Recognition of Disruption Attempts to Repair Disruption Return to Equilibrium

(Genres - Down the left hand side of the page)
Action

Horror

Science Fiction

Romance

Western

Comedy

Vladimir Propp, a Russian theorist, suggests that there are 8 main types of characters in stories.
It is important to note that sometimes a single character can fill the part of more than one character type. Likewise, there may be several characters who embody a single character type. For example, the father of the princess can be both the father of the heroine and the villain. A group of people or an organization may be the dispatcher.

8 Character Types in Narration:

Hero – is usually the main character whose role is to restore everything back to a state of normalcy or equilibrium.

Villain – usually is set against the hero and is the root cause of the disruption. This disruption may be some sort of physical threat, but it could be a mental disruption as well. Sometimes the threat has to do with another person’s virtue or responsibility.

Dispatcher – Is a person who is in the know, is usually older than the hero, and sets him or her off on their journey to set things right or restore equilibrium. The dispatcher could also be a person sending the hero off into a situation where he/she can prove his/her worth.

Donor – is the person that give the hero some sort of tool/weapon/magic to help him/her on his/her journey. This gift may be a piece of advice, a skill or a weapon.

Helper – is a person who helps the hero restore equilibrium in some way. This may be a friend who is along for the entire journey or it could be a stranger that is met along the way.

Heroine – is usually passive and vulnerable. This character is threatened by the villain in some way and in need of rescuing.

Heroine’s Father – is protective of the heroine. He is often the one to send the hero on the journey. The hero usually needs to persuade him of his/her worth.

False Hero - is a character that seems to be on the side of the hero, they may even be helping the hero, but turns against or deceive the hero at some important juncture during a critical period.

The 8 character Types in __________________________________________________________

Character Type: Character Name: Description of Action/Function:

Hero

Villian

Dispatcher

Donor

Helper

Herione

Herione’s Father

False Hero

The director of a documentary film has many of the same tools available as a director that is creating a feature film. However, it is in the use of those tools that the film emerges looking, sounding and feeling like a documentary. They attempt to use raw footage of film to craft a film that is edifying, thought provoking and entertaining. Each strategy has its strengths and weaknesses. Some styles are more raw and experiential while others are lyrical and bias. All of them aim to convince you to adopt their cause, change you thinking to match theirs or persuade you to take action.

Modes of Address: Qualities Found / Definition: Pro’s: Con’s:

Expository:

Observational:

Interactive:

Reflective:

Types/Kinds of Documentary Films: Qualities Found / Definition: Pro’s: Con’s:

Actual

Creative

Interpretive

Now You Get to Choose - Perusing Online Offerings

2010-04-28T10:12:00.001-07:00

"ve worked hard at putting together a nice set of readings to help ground you in Creative Non-Fiction and the variety of what is found within. Now I'd like you to spend some time perusing some of the places online where you can find more Creative Non-Fiction stories.

I've provided you with links that will provide you with lots of stories to choose from. Have a look at them, pick a story, read it and respond to it. At the end of this post you will find that I have included a generic response form that I would like you to complete.

I look forward to seeing what wonderful stories you will find and why you picked them.

Susan Orlean's article archive

The Santa Fe Writer's Project Archives (I suggest you look at the literary awards program stories)
2009 SFWP Literary Awards Program Stories
2007 SFWP Literary Awards Program Stories

Next, print your story. (Please note: If the story you choose is short, please pick a second one to go with it and do the activity twice.)
Now, please do the following:
Read the story and -
* Highlight the parts the you find interesting;
* Annotate in the margins -
- What questions do you have (for the author, about the topic, etc.)
- Have a conversation with the writer
* Make connections between you and what you read. What does this make you think about? How might you have reacted? Have you ever had something similar happen to you? And so on...
* What is your reaction?

Finally, complete "Creative Non-Fiction Article Review and Analysis" (below)

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The Worksheet

Title: Author:

Type: (circle one or two that seem to fit )
personal essay (any subject)
memoir (memories of a life)
literary journalism (using fictional elements to tell a news story)
narrative history (retelling an event in history)
travel journalism
nature/science essay

Reason for Choice: Why did you pick this essay?

Real life: What real life event is this essay about?

Create a summary of what the text is about. (What is going on? What is the story this writer tells?)

Sense of place/setting: What does the setting look like?

Feel like? Where is it? When is it?

Point of view: Who is telling the story?

Why did the author choose him/her?

What can he/she see or know that others might not or don't know?

Voice: Choose three of the following adjectives to describe the narrative voice in your essay
serious | casual/informal | instructive | sincere |sarcastic | cocky | reflective | young | old | indignant | optimistic | pessimistic | honest | _________________________________ your own adjective

Explain why you chose those adjectives using reasoning and quote specific examples from the text:

*

*

*

Character: Who is the dominant character or person in this essay?

What do you know about him/her? Appearance? Personality?

What is it that he/she wants/needs/cares about, etc.?

Language
What is the tone (emotional quality) of this essay? Use an emotion word for your answer.

How effectively does the author use any of the following:

Dialogue

figurative language (metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, etc.)

imagery. Choose one of these and give an example and say something about how it helps you understand the story.

Purpose/Theme/Impression: What does this essay reveal about life? Is it about human relationships? Is it about
right and wrong? Is it about what is important? Be specific.

Style/ Quality:
In terms of the author's style and the major theme(s), what do you think are particularly significant passages (generally, 20 to 50 words each)?

What specific qualities of the text warrant its characterization as a work of literary nonfiction?

What are the distinguishing characteristics of the work?

What sort of reader does the writer seem to be targeting--and what sort of reader might gain the most enjoyment out of the work?

What is your overall evaluation of the reading

Do you think I should consider the piece you read as one of our required readings? Explain your answer with specific and clear reasoning. (Please be sure to note if there are any mature theme, curse words, etc. in the piece.)

This worksheet has been an adaptation of the works of:
© 2008, Dawn Hogue ▪ Permission granted for classroom use only. Reprinting without permission not permitted.
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Here are some that some people found interesting:

"The Unwedding" Elizabeth Chase
"Dogs in Guatamala" by Patricia King
"Where Luck Lies" by Mary Larkin
"Animal Action" by Susan Orlean

Considering "Beyond the Black Box", "American Male, Age 10" , "American Food" - A British Perspective

2010-04-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

I was pretty happy when I found these two pieces. We start off with Susan Orlean's "American Male Age 10" in which she offers us a thought provoking description of a 10 year old boy who lives in New Jersey. We'll round it off with a British broadcast about food in America.

These both take a close and descriptive look at everyday things we encounter. Our discussion and work with these pieces will be around the kinds of things each of these write choose to focus on, why they might have picked those items, and not others. We'll look at what kind of response that triggers in you and how their choice of adjectives evokes a reaction in the reader/listener.

We began reading it together in class and had some great discussion about what thoughts it brought up for some of the people in class.

Here's the story:"American Male Age Ten" by Susan Orlean

Here's what I would like you to do with it:
1. Read the story all the way through.

2. Go back and look at the topics presented in each paragraph. Pick out 10 categories of things about Colin that are described in the story. Make a chart that lists these categories (items such as what he looks like, what he expects adult life will be like, what he loves, etc.) down the left hand side of the paper. Put a column next to that and fill in the information for Colin. Then add another column and fill in the information about yourself. Try to answer it as much as you can from you at ten year old perspective. It should look something like this:

Category/Topic................Colin, 10.....................You

What he looks like............4"8' 75 pounds,
..............................handsome dark,
..............................smiley eyes,
..............................always wears a baseball cap

3. Now, take a closer look at Ms. Orlean's writing style. Make a list of at least 8 things that you notice.

4. Look at the section where she begins to write a dialogue between Colin and herself. She intersperses dialogue with descriptive paragraphs. Why do you think she writes this way? What is your response to it? What do you think is her intended impact on the reader?

5. Think about a scenario of some ordinary event that you remember of some similar time period in your life. Write about it using a style similar to Mrs. Orlean's style.

6. Why do you think Ms. Orlean writes out a conversation about the things he likes? What kinds of things are there on that list? What would have been on your list?

7. Towards the end of the writing she goes into great detail describing Colin's thinking about money. What might be the purpose of this focus? Why do you think this was described in such detail, while other things were merely mentioned?

8. Do you think Colin is an average American male at age 10? If so, why? If not, why?

9. If Ms. Orlean had written about you, what kinds of details concerning your life do you think she would find interesting and write about?

10. What are the strengths of this story?

11. Do you recommend that I keep this story in my collection for next year's class? Why or why not? Please make your thinking clear to me so that I can take it into consideration next year - Thanks!

12. Turn this in, making sure to include your name and "American Male Age 10" at the top of the paper.
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I'd like to now turn your ear to an intersting broadcast put out by the BBC. It is a popular culture piece by Simon Schama.

Here's the link. You'll need about 11-12 minutes to listen to it.
Simon Schama on American Food from the BBC.(11 minutes, including the BBC ad at the beginning.)
Simon Schama on American FoodListen:Listen now (10 minutes)

Synopsis
Simon Schama reflects on the quality of American food and eating habits and welcomes what he sees as the growing popularity of ethnic dishes and local farm produce. Excellent fresh food and good cooking has always existed, he says, in hidden pockets of the countryside but now he sees it being bought and enjoyed by more city dwellers, too.

Here's our activity with this piece:

1. Before we begin listening to this podcast, I'd like you to write about how you see American food. Give a brief response to the following types of American food:

Airport food

Fast Food

Food from Small/Family Owned Restuarants

Ethnic Food (Mexican, Chinese, Russian, Hmong, Vietnamese, etc.)

2. Mr. Schama states that Americans are not "so much in search of food, as fuel." What do you think this means?

3. He goes on to describe Americans as focused on the "speed of eating [and so much] brutal chewing... Most American eating seemed swift and silent...befitted a bodily function" instead of the social occasion as it is for the British. What is your reaction to such a description?

4. Schama shifts from such unpleasantries to describe pies in mouthwatering detail many pies. Why do you think he waxes poetically about the pie and the people who eat it?

5. Mr. Schama goes back and forth between negative descriptions of "waterly Cesar Salad with cardboard croutons..." and "places where you'll find that Real McCoy". Do you think this kind of contrast is due to a personal bias on the part of Mr. Schama, or is it an accurate description of the foods or is it an unfair comparision between fast food and finer dinning? Could it be a combination of all of those factors? Write out your thougths on this contrast and transition.

6. About 7 minutes into the recording Mr. Schama describes his experience of getting some barbequed chicken from a local "hole in the wall" restuarant. He goes on to describe the experience and the reaction of others. Try your hand and describing some meal that you have enjoyed.

7. Next up is a description of ethnic food. You can tell by what he shares with us that he is not in Colorado, but back East. What do you think he would descripe if he were here? What kinds of ethnic food would he find here?

8. What do you think he means by "agribusiness"? (9.10+)

9. If Mr. Schama were to come and spend some time with you, asking you to show him American food in Colorado, where would you take him (assuming you did not have to worry about the cost of the adventure or the time to travel to the places you desired)? Pick at least five places you would take them? Explain why you picked each of the places and what each one represents.

10. What did you think about this podcast? Should I keep it for next year?

(If you liked this kind of podcast you can find a bigger variety of them by looking up "Society & Culture: Personal Journals" on Itunes.com. You might find "This College Life" to be interesting, too)

If you are accessing this from a computer at school you can listen to it using Windows Media Player. You find it on the "S:" drive in the Student Shared folder>teacher folder>Language Arts> Welshon PoV_ with Simon Schama 16th

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Next up is a unusual piece that is really quite interesting. It is "Beyond the Black Box" from Stiff: The Curious Life of the Human Cadaver by Mary Roach. I don't have an electronic entry for this piece. You'll have to come to class to read it.

We've looked at it from a reader's point of view. Now I want you to shift your perspective and look at it from a critical angle. Here's what I'd like you to do:

Put yourself in the teacher's shoes and develop a learning activity to go with this reading. Please create about 10-12 questions and/or activities that are designed to help the reader comprehend the text better. You'll need items that address:

* Comprehension of key points in the text;

* A consideration of the craft of writing;

* Items that are designed to help the reader clarify confusing or complex parts of the text.

Creative NonFiction - Taking a Closer Look, Step 1

2010-04-12T14:24:00.000-07:00

Today we began to delve into the readings I have picked out for this unit.

All students read, "Badlands: Portrait of a Competitive Eater" by John O'Connor.

a href="http://justataste.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/badlands.png">

Next, each student read either:
"The Suicide/Murder? of Joseph Kupchik" by James Renner

or
"The Truth about Cops and Dogs" (a shorter version of the story is here.
< (photo by Eugene Richards)

We'll be thinking about the craft of the writing and what made these pieces stand out.

I'd also like to compare the "Badlands" essay to "Major League Eating: Eric "Badlands" Booker" by By Kelly Ann Senyei

We'll use the lenses of:

Personal Narrative (how are the writer's thoughts and personal response interwoven into the story? What impact does that have on how you read and respond to the text?)

Observation (what's noted and what's ignored - Why?)

Interpretation (how much room is there for you to make up your own mind? What is the writer's purpose, intent and intended audience?)

The Quality of the Craft of Writing

----

Here's the activity we did:

Creative Non-Fiction: A Close Look at the Craft of Writing

A Consideration of:

"Badlands: Portrait of a Competitive Eater" by John O'Connor.

"The Suicide/Murder? of Joseph Kupchik" by James Renner

"The Truth about Cops and Dogs"by Rebecca Skloot

---
Before we start:

Please write your name under the title of the story you read.

Get out 3 pieces of paper and something to write with.

Form a group of 3 -5 people who read the same story.

We will be discussing "Badlands" in small groups first, then sharing with the rest of the class. This will serve as a model of our process.

After we have gone through the model with a story we have all read, we will repeat a similar model with other groups.
---
We'll use the lenses of:

Personal Narrative
* How are the writer's thoughts and personal response interwoven into the story?
* What impact does that have on how you read and respond to the text?

Observation
* What's noted - Why?
* What's ignored - Why?
* As a reader,
Do you find anything missing?
Is there too much?
* As a writer,
What might you have done differently?
What would you have done the same?

Interpretation
* How much room is there for you to make up your own mind?
* What is the writer's purpose, intent and intended audience?

The Quality of the Craft of Writing
----

The following questions are in relation to "Badlands" with the group results being shared and posted

What caught your attention when you read the story? (Each group - please make a list of at least 10 things)

What did you notice about the writer's craft?
(Each group - please make a list of at least 10 things)
---

Personal Narrative
* How are the writer's thoughts and personal response interwoven into the story?

* What impact does that have on how you read and respond to the text?

---

* As a writer,
What might you have done differently?

What would you have done the same?

---

Interpretation
* How much room is there for you to make up your own mind?

* What is the writer's purpose, intent and intended audience?

----
----

Now we broke up into groups based on whether the student read "The Truth about Cops and Dogs" or "The Suicide/Murder of Joseph Kupchick and repeated the activity above.

The following questions are in relation to "Badlands"

What caught your attention when you read the story? (Each group - please make a list of at least 10 things)

What did you notice about the writer's craft?
(Each group - please make a list of at least 10 things)
---

Personal Narrative
* How are the writer's thoughts and personal response interwoven into the story?

* What impact does that have on how you read and respond to the text?

---

* As a writer,
What might you have done differently?

What would you have done the same?

---

Interpretation
* How much room is there for you to make up your own mind?

* What is the writer's purpose, intent and intended audience?

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The 5 R's of Creative Non-Fiction

2010-03-26T08:14:00.001-07:00

Creative Non-Fiction is the newest genre in Literature. Last year this was the favorite unit of many of my seniors. Two of my seniors even went on to declare a Creative Non-Fiction major in college. I worked over the summer break last year to make it even better and am excited to share it with you.

First we begin with a cornerstone article about what it is. The 5 R’s of Creative Non-Fiction By Lee Gutkind is an interesting read. I've also put together some questions to help focus your reading.

As a side note: In the article Mr. Gutkind writes about a heart lung transplant. I believe that a longer set of essays on this topic comes from his book Many Sleepless Nights. I am trying to get a copy of that book to share some of those essays with you. If you want to read more of his outstanding writing, you can check out his website for a list of books, news and interesting information. You can also check out the Creative Non-Fiction Journal to find more great stories.

The 5 R’s of Creative Non-Fiction By Lee Gutkind
Comprehension Questions

1. What is your response to paragraphs 1-4 and 6-8?

2. What does the author mean when he uses the term “fly-on-the-wall” or “ living room sofa” concept of immersion?

3. Use your own words to describe what the author means when he uses the term, “immersion journalism”.

4. Read paragraph #12 * (“The other phrase…) to get a sense of what he means when he uses the term, “creative non-fiction”. Make a bulleted list that explains what creative nonfiction is according to this description:

5. Explain what Gutkind means when he writes about “’immersion’ or ‘real life’ aspect of the writing experience.” R1 = Real life)

6. What is reportage and how does it relate to creative nonfiction?

7. The R2 is reflection. Whose reflection are we talking about? Why is it important?

8. The is R3 research important? Why or how is it used in creative nonfiction?

• How does is launch and anchor the creative process?

• Why research? What is the benefit?

9. The R4 is reading? What kind of reading should be done? Why?

10. Explain the two phases of R5, writing

• Phase #1:

• Phase #2:

11. Why are vignettes important in creative nonfiction?

12. Explain the importance of the following elements of a scene:
• Action –

• Dialogue –

• Intimate and specific details –

13. What does he mean when he says, “The frame represents a way of ordering or controlling a writer’s narrative”?

• How do flashback figure into framing and storytelling?

14. Explain who the following people are and how they are connected: (Do this one carefully, many people get this question wrong.)
• Richie Becker –

• Dave and Winkle Funk –

• Pvt. Rebecca Treat –

• Dr. Bartley Griffith

Creating Your Own Review Podcast

2010-03-18T11:06:00.000-07:00

Creating Your Podcast- –Planning Stage

Now it is time for you to create a review. You may work in pairs or in a triad, though I think 3 people will make the assignment more difficult to complete. The other person/people working with you must have experience with the items that you are doing the review on:
• Review a group of songs from a band/artist;
• Review a genre of music/art/film (such as punk rock, pop rock…)
• A list and review of the top ____ songs/films of 2009;
• A list and review of the songs/films that represent your generation;
• A list and review of ten songs you should listen to before you die,
• A list and review of ten movies everyone should see;
• A review of the history of a band and how it has changed over the years;
• A review of a film maker/actor and how their films have changed throughout their career;
• A review of the best food to have at a party;
• A review of local restuarants.

• And so on – you get the idea. If you have an idea that is not on the list, see me for approval before you begin.

How many songs/ movies/ artists/ performers/ models/ makes do I need in my review?
You need to have three items per person in your group. Pairs will have six items and triads will have 9 items.

Important Things to Consider When Choosing Your Topic:
• Is your topic broad enough that you will have enough items to review?
• Is your topic appropriate for school?
• Can you find enough visuals to go with your audio? (You will need at least one per item.)
• If you select a topic that might have images that are blocked at school, will you be able to find time and internet access outside of school to get the images you will need? (For example, if you want to do a history and review of Metallica you would have to get many of the images outside of school.)
• Do you know enough about your topic to be able to talk about and review/critique it?

What Needs to Be Present in Your Review:

Here’s where your work on the deconstruction of a review graphic comes into play. You did that assignment in order to raise your awareness of how a professional review is constructed. Refer back to the graphic and the outline you made. Use it as a guide, but also feel free to deviate from it.

 A title slide that introduces your topic and includes your name(s);
 At least one image per item;
 Audio, usually music;
 Your spoken commentary –
 Introduce yourself/yourselves;
 Personal story connections;
 Personal Response and/or connection to review item or time period;
 Personal analysis;
 Clear transitions;
 Criteria for selection and/or inclusion;
 Introduction to genre / style / musical movement/classification, etc…
 Elements of style comments
 Background on band / song/film/actor/model, etc.
 History of band / song/ film/actor/model, etc.
 Transitional comments to the next segment
 Excerpt of song/ film still/ image of item, etc…
 Concluding comments
 A works cited page that documents all of your sources for research, images, reference, etc.

And so on - let me know if you need more information.

Creating a Review- Planning & Scripting
To do this assignment you can either:
1. Choose to plan and write out your entire script. The advantage of this option is that you might feel less nervous about recording your voice since you already know what you are going to say. The down side is that it may take you a while.

2. Choose to create a basic plan of what you will say. The advantage of this one is that you do not feel tied to a script. However, it can result in a lower quality podcast since there will most likely be a lot of pauses, “Uhms,” “ya’knows,” and so on. You can fix this by recording in Audacity.com. This is a free audio recording site that you can use to clean up your sound.

How to do this:
 I suggest that you figure out your content then look for images. As you find the right images add them to your VoiceThread. Be sure to put the works cited information on the last slide!

 You can create your show in PowerPoint and upload it, or create it directly in VoiceThread.com

 Practice with your script, and your partner, if you have one.

 Be sure to save your VoiceThread before you add the audio. That way if you screw up the audio you can start from that point, instead of starting over.

 Be sure to put "welshonreview" in the tag line so that I can find it.

 Title it something like yourfirstnamelastinitialreview (all lower case, all one word. Mine would be tammywreview).

 Be sure to check the "Browse" button in the publishing options box.

 Once your happy you can turn it in.

Deconstructing Music Reviews

2010-03-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

Deconstructing Music Reviews

The goal with this assignment is for you to become very aware of what elements are present in a quality music review. Later you will have an opportunity to create a music review of your own based on what you find.

Process Overview:
1. You will select a music review that features at least two commentators from the NPR All Songs Considered Podcast Archives. I suggest either "Break Up Songs" or "Holiday Music";2. You will listen to at least 30 minutes of music review(s).
3. You will create a graphic flowchart that reveals the components of that/those review(s)
4. You will view the flowcharts others create
5. You may create your own music review in a multimedia format.

Step One – Listen to a Music Review Podcast

There are a number of wonderful music review podcasts offered by National Public Radio (NPR). You can download and listen to these from either the NPR.org website or the Itunes website. I also uploaded a few into the student shared folder. Go to either site and select a few podcasts to listen to.

Listening to them on NPR.org.
1. Go to npr.org.
2. From the program list select “All Songs Considered.”3. From this site you can select one of the programs offered by scrolling down the webpage. You can see more by selecting “Past Stories by Date.”
4. Select a podcast by clicking on the title. That will bring up a new screen. Click on Listen Now. This will bring up another box where you can listen to the podcast.
5. I would like you to listen to at least two podcasts for at least 15 minutes each or 30 minutes of one podcast. Remeber that you need a podcast that has two or more commentators.

(Break Up Song Podcast Direct Link Here)

OR You Can…

Listen to them on Itunes:
1. This will bring up another box where you can listen to the podcast.
2. I would like you to listen to at least two podcasts for at least 15 minutes each (for a total of 30 minutes minimum of listening to the podcasts)or 30 minutes of one podcast. Remeber that you need a podcast that has two or more commentators.

Step Two- Deconstruct a Review and Make a Graphic of the Elements of a Review

Go to Microsoft Word and make sure your drawing tools are available. If you do not see them on the bottom of your screen you may need to load them. You do this by selecting “View” from the tool bar at the top. Then select “toolbar” from the drop down menu. From there check “drawing.” This will make them available. From here you can get the shapes you need by clicking on “autoshapes” at the bottom of the screen. This will give you a flyout menu. You will pick “basic shapes” and then the shape you need.

Once you have figured out how to use the program, you will listen to very small bits of the podcast(s) and make a graphic that represents what kinds of things you are hearing. There are four general types of things you will hear in a podcast review:
 Speaker’s personal comments;
 Comments about the genre and/or elements of style;
 Comments dealing specifically with the band/band members/band history/music;
 Transitions between songs/albums/topics.

Make a graphic representation of the elements of the musical review.
Code the elements by using consistent shapes and shades of colors.

Personal Comments are done in squares and rectangles: (done in shades of green)Personal story connection
* Speaker introduction
* Personal Response and/or connection to self or time period
* Personal analysis

Musical / Genre Comments are in rounded rectangles and squares in shades of yellow:Criteria for selection and/or inclusion
* Introduction to genre / style / musical movement
* Elements of style comments

Music Related Comments are in circles
And ovals with shades of pink:* Background on band / song
* History of band / song
* Transitional comments to song
* Excerpt of song

Here’s what needs to be on your “Deconstructing a Review Podcast” document:
 Your name
 The title of the assignment
 The title(s) of the podcast(s) you listened to and made a graphic of.
 Be sure to use the shapes and colors as dictated in the assignment sheet.
 Instead of generic comments in the shapes, write a very brief indication of what the speaker said or what audio was used. This includes things like song titles, band member names, summary of comments, etc.
 Take particular note of how the speaker indicates that what they are saying is their personal opinion.
 Take special note of how the speaker transitions from one segment of the review to another.
 A print out of the graphic. (You will need to create the graphic in such a way that it will print out on one sheet of paper and still be legible. That is why I began wrapping around my boxes in the screen shoot above.)
 I made my sample in Webspiration, a program that is no longer available. You can make a document that looks the same in Microsoft Word using the auotshapes available with the drawing tool.

Tips for Creating Your Graphic of the Review Podcast:

• Listen to the podcast that you are graphic at least one time without interrupting it.
• Open Microsoft Word. Make sure your drawing tools are available and get started.
• Open a second browser and listen to a very small bit of the podcast.
• Go to the Word screen and make the first few boxes. You will see a crosshair symbol on the screen.
• To create a box simply select a shape from the autoshape menu on the bottom of the screen. This will produce a shape. Resize it by dragging from the handles on the corners of the shape.
• Color the fill color by clicking on the symbol that looks like a bucket with a colored line below it. This is located on the bottom of your tool bar. Clicking on this will pull up a color menu. Select an appropriate color. It will be filled in with the same color that your shape is filled in with. Click on this to bring up a color palette. Select the color you like and check to see that your shape fill color is the same. You can get more choices by selecting “More Fill Choices” from that menu.
• To pick the font/type color look for the shape in the bottom toolbar that looks like rainbow in a box. Clicking on this will produce a set of colors to choose from.
• You will need to use the arrows that shows the flow of the comments. You can produce these by clicking on the diamond shapes found at the center points of the shapes. Clicking on the diamond shape and dragging will bring out the arrow.
• To print it go to document and select page set up. Next, select fit to page and okay. Then select print from the document menu.

The Writer's Craft Genre Study - Reviews & Critiques

2010-03-08T07:36:00.001-08:00

We've started a genre study where we look at lots of reviews and critiques as a lens to view the craft of doing persuasive writing.

Part 1 - Deconstructing Reviews- Looking at Word Choice and Elements* We completed the following exercise two times. First, we read through "Whip It" from Spin Magazine. Next, the students had a variety of reviews to pick from and complete the chart on their own. The reviews and critiques were for albums and video games.

Persuasive Writing: Deconstructing Product

One of the main goals of this assignment is to make you metacognitively aware of the elements of product reviews so that you will be armed with the knowledge to decipher fact from opinion and bias. You will be using this knowledge to create your own review of a product.

(We completed the following chart. The one I used in class has boxes that don't translate to this blog.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feature Detail Example from Review Analysis/ Commentary
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Attention
Getter

* Introduction
of Speaker/Narrator/
Writer

* Background
Information

* Speaker’s
Personal
Commentary/
Opinion

* Comments
Dealing with the
Genre/
Elements of Style/
Product Specifics

* Comments
Dealing with the
Genre/
Elements of Style/
Product Specifics

* Comments/
Critique
About the item specifically
(as opposed to generalized comments)

* Conclusion/
Wrap-Up

* Notes on Style:

* Intended Audience:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next, we tried to see what kind of patterns emerged from this genre of writing. The students had eight mentor reviews and critiques to pick from and do the following:

Deconstructing Reviews: Finding the Form

The goal with this assignment is for you to become very aware of what elements are present in a review. Later you will have an opportunity to create a review of your own based on what you find.

Process Overview:
1. You will select a review;
2. You will read through the review once just to read it and see what is says.
3. Next, you will reread the review so that you can notice the writer’s craft and the form that the review takes.
4. You will create a graphic flowchart that reveals the components of that review.
5. You will view the flowcharts others create.
6. You’ll write your own review on a product of your choice.

There are four general types of things you will find in a review:
* Speaker’s personal comments;
* Comments about the genre and/or elements of style;
* Comments dealing specifically with the product, including specific details/stat.s/facts, etc.;
* Transitions between concepts.

Make a graphic representation of the elements of the review.
Code the elements by using consistent shapes and shades of colors. Within each shape you should quote the text so that the wording can be shared and considered when we look at the emerging patterns.

Personal Comments are done in squares and rectangles: (done in shades of green)
Personal story connection
Speaker introduction
Personal Response and/or connection to self or time period
Personal analysis

Category / Genre comments are in rounded rectangles and squares in shades of yellow:
Criteria for selection and/or inclusion
Introduction to genre / style / classification
Elements of style comments

Product Related Comments are in circles
And ovals with shades of pink:
Background
History of
Stat.s & Facts
Transitional between concepts

___________________________________________________________________________________
Part 2: Distilling What We Have Noticed

Having read and examined at least six reviews, we are now armed with some knowledge of what is included in a review or critique. In order to make that information useful we need to organize it.

We began by making a list of all of the qualities that a reader notices when reading a review or critique. From there we did an "Always, Sometimes, Never" chart of those elements. Each pair of students had to contribute at least three items to the lists which were then put in their respective categories. Each class then created a rubric of the most essential elements. These rubrics will help guide the student's writing and be used to grade their written reviews/critiques.

Here are the results:

Period 5:

Ideas and Content =
* Must have tested/expereinced the product
- Write about the time you used it
* Include details about it

Structure =
* Include Title
* Must have paragraphs

Style =
* Personal Opinion
* Include the positive and the negative
- Persasion/ Bias

Conventions =
* Use Simple and complex sentences
* Remeber to use commas

Period 6:

Ideas and Content=
* Opinion
- Include positive and negative
- Must have personal experience with the topic
- Bias
* Description
- Include facts
- Use very specific details
- Include some background information

Structure =
- Use Paragraphs
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
- Transitions

Style =
* Highlight specifics
* Use a rating system

Conventions =
* Use a combination of simple and complex sentences
* Be thoughtful about punctuation, especially comma use.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part 3: Writing Your Own Review

Now that the students have each read at least six reviews and/or critiques, it is time to give it a try and write their own. I suggested that the students pick some product, place or activity that they have a strong (positive or negative) response to. The end product should look like a review/critique out of a magazine.

New Biography VoiceThreads - check them out!

2010-03-08T07:33:00.001-08:00

Wow, I had not realized that it had been so long since I updated this blog. That happened because we were so busy with our Biography/Autobiography unit. The kids would love to have people check out their final project - VoiceThreads about the person they researched. You can enjoy them by going to Voicethread.com and browsing "welshon".

Images for Thought and a Fun Video for a Good Cause

2010-01-29T13:07:00.000-08:00

Here are two things I came across that I thought were worth viewing. They have nothing to do with what we are studying.

First up, the "Fallen Princess" photos series. You can view the entire set of images here.

A video to raise awareness about Breast Cancer Awareness month, featuring "Down" by Jay Sean.

Our Biography / Autobiography Unit - Part 1 Learning About Someone Else

2010-01-15T07:37:00.000-08:00

Developing Greatness: Part 1 Biography & Autobiography
Mrs. Welshon & Ms. Riches

Essential Questions: How do people change? How do we become who we are?

Assignments:
 Select and read a biography or autobiography;
o Justification for Choice
 Create a PowerPoint presentation with information you have learned;
 Create a VoiceThread about the person you researched

Schedule:
Jan. 18 No School
19 Learn about Biographies and Autobiographies –Begin selecting a book (LMC)(Mrs. Welshon & Ms. Riches)
20/21 Select your book and begin reading. Set up a Citation Page
(Reminder on how to cite images & books)(LMC)(Mrs. Welshon & Ms. Riches)
22 Time to read.Due: Write out a justification of why you choose your person. Paragraph minimum.(LMC)
25 Time to Read
26 Create Slides 1-3 & Time to Read Due: Print out of Slides with notes, including updated citation slide.(LMC)
27/28 Time to Read
29 Time to Read
February 1 Create Slides 4-6 & Time to Read Due: Print out of Slides with notes, including updated citation slide. (LMC)
2 Time to Read
3 / 4 Create Slides 7-9 & Time to Read Due: Print out of Slides with notes, including updated citation slide.(LMC)
5 Introduction to VoiceThread (Mrs. Welshon & Ms. Riches)
8 Finish PowerPoint and Begin VoiceThread. Due: Printout of completed PowerPoint
(LMC)
9-12 Work on your VoiceThread (LMC)

Developing Greatness: Part 1 Biography & Autobiography
Your PowerPoint Presentation
Mrs. Welshon & Ms. Riches

Goal & Rationale:
I would like you to create a PowerPoint presentation about your findings from your reading. I have structured this set of assignments to help focus your efforts while reading and researching your person. I have spread out the due dates to help discourage procrastination.

Slide Content:
 The actual content of what will go on each slide is very minimal.
o You will be talking behind each slide so you won’t need a lot of information on the slide.

 You should have an image or two
o Think about including pictures, maps, etc.

 A few bulleted points that suggest what you are going to talk about.
o No more than 6 bullet points on a slide

 You will need to create handout notes that include a script about what you will say with each slide.
o You will use this when you create your VoiceThread. I expect these notes to be turned in with your slides.

 I also expect you to update your citation page each time you turn in a set of slide handouts

Slide 1- Title Page

Slide 2- Brief Biographical Summary
 Who is this person?
 Why is he/she important/significant?

Slide 3- Social and environmental aspects, demands or exigencies of time period and places in which they found themselves.
 What events of his/her time period shaped them?
 What human qualities were most influential in shaping the way this person lived and influenced his or her times?
 Was he/she impacted significantly by any technology?

Slide 4- What were their dreams/goals/aspirations?
 Which quality or trait was most beneficial?
 Many people act out of a "code" or a set of beliefs which dictate choices. It may be religion or politics or a personal philosophy. To what extent did your person act by a code or act independently of any set of beliefs? Were there times when the code was challenged and impossible to follow?

Slide 5- What difficulties/road blocks did he/she encounter?
 How did he/she deal with them?
 How did they impact him/her?
 Which quality or trait proved most troubling and difficult?
 Did this person make any major mistakes or bad decisions? If so, what were they and how would you have chosen and acted differently if you were in their shoes?

Slide 6- What were the significant changes in his/her life?
How did these changes affect him/her?

Slide 7- How did this person become who he/she is?
 Some people say you can judge the quality of a person's life by the enemies they make. Do you think this is true of your person's life? Explain why or why not.

Slide 8- Who helped/assisted/encouraged your person?
 An older person or mentor is often very important in shaping the lives of gifted people by providing guidance and encouragement. To what extent was this true of your person? Explain.

Slide 9- What is to be learned from this person?
 What are the three or four of the most important lessons you or any other young person might learn from the way this person lived?
 What do you think it means to be a hero? Was your person a "hero?" Why? Why not? How is a hero different from a celebrity?
Slide 10- Citation Page
 Written Text
 Images
 Electronic Information

Many of the subpoints used in this assignment were borrowed from http://www.bham.wednet.edu/bio/QUEST.HTM

What Motivates Us? A Thoughtful Video by Daniel Pink

2010-01-05T11:31:00.001-08:00

Here's a thought provoking video that I hope you will enjoy:

Two questions that can change your life from Daniel Pink on Vimeo.

Advice for Your Future

2010-01-04T14:54:00.000-08:00

As a means of welcoming you to your last semester of high school, I'd like you consider the following video:

This is an exciting, albeit a little scary, time in your life. This semester will present you with challenges in ways you have not experienced before.

Be thoughtful about your actions. Try to make choices that will benefit you in the long run. You will likely be tempted to make this a very social time in your life. Ditching class or blowing off assignments can have pretty big impacts. Some of you will make choices that will result in your not being in the Class of 2010. Vow to not be one of those unfortunate folks. Make choices that you will be proud of later on.

Some of your relationships will become stronger. Others may crumble. Still others, often very important or pivotal ones, may become stressed or strained. Understand that those who love you may be both excited for you, and sad or scared for themselves. They may worry that you will not need them anymore. Those people will need your sympathy and understanding, even as they provoke anger in you. Try to be kind and understand where they are coming from - it probably comes from loving you so much. Try to treat them in the way you would like to be treated.

Most importantly, try to remember the wonderful and remarkable things about yourself. This can be a time of doubt. No one knows everything. Everyone makes mistakes. Even if you think you know where you are going and what you are going to do, chances are your life is headed is some directions you can't even imagine, yet. Act intelligently. Make good choices. Be the very person that your dog or your younger cousin thinks you are. Believing in yourself, even if it feels like you are faking it, is the first step to a great future!

Chapter Questions - Test Review for Their Eyes Were Watching God

2009-12-14T12:11:00.000-08:00

English 12, Unit 3:
Their Eyes Were Watching God – Quoted Passages

Directions: Below you will find important quotes from the passages from the book. They are intended to help you check your comprehension of the text. You should be able to identify:
* The Speaker
* The Importance of the Quote =
- Character Details
- A Pivotal Change in the Story
- It Highlights Some Aspect of a Quality or Person

I will not be collecting this. It is simply designed as a test review item.

Chapter 1:
“ Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men.” Ch. 1 P.1

“Now, women forget all those things they don’t want to remember, and remember everything they don’t want to forget. The dream is the truth. Then they act and do things accordingly.” Ch. 1 P.1

Chapter 2:
“Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone. Dawn and doom was in the branches.” Ch.2 p. 8

"'You know, honey, us colored folks is branches without roots and that makes things come round in queer ways. You in particular. Ah was born back due in slavery so it wasn't for me to fulfill my dreams of whut a woman oughta be and to do . . . Ah wanted to preach a great sermon about colored women sittin' on high, but they wasn't no pulpit for me.'" Chapter 2, pg. 15

“[Janie] was stretched on her back beneath the pear tree soaking in the alto chant of the visiting bees, the gold of the sun and the panting breath of the breeze when the inaudible voice of it all came to her. She saw a dust-bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom; the thousand sister-calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree from root to tiniest branch creaming in every blossom and frothing with delight. So this was a marriage! She had been summoned to behold a revelation. Then Janie felt a pain remorseless sweet that left her limp and languid.” Ch. 2

Chapter 3:
“Janie’s first dream was dead, so she became a woman.” Ch 3 p. 25

Chapter 4:
“Janie pulled back a long time because he did not represent sun-up and pollen and blooming trees, but he [Joe] spoke for far horizon. He spoke for change and chance. Still she hung back. The memory of Nanny was still powerful and strong.” Ch. 4 p. 29

Chapter 5:
“Over, Janie? I god, Ah ain’t even started good. Ah told you in de very first beginnin’ dat Ah aimed tuh be uh big voice. You oughta be glad, ‘cause dat meaks us big woman outa you.
A feeling of coldness and fear took hold of her. He felt far away from things and lonely.” Ch. 5 p. 46

“They had murmured hotly about slavery being over, but every man filled his assignment.” Ch. 5 p. 47

“It sort of made the rest of them feel that they had been taken advantage of. Like things had been kept from them. Maybe more things in the world besides spitting pots had be hid from them, when they wasn’t no better than to spit in tmato cans. It was bad enough for white people, but when one of your own color could be so different it put you on a wonder. It was like seeing your sister turn into a ‘gator.”Ch. 5 p. 48

“Speakin’ of winds, he’s de winds, he’s de wind and we’se de grass. We bend which ever way he blows,…but at dat us needs h im. De town wouldn’t be nothin’ if it wasn’t for him. He can’t help bein’ sorta bossy. Some folks needs thrones, and ruling – chairs and crowns tuh make they influence flet. He don’t. He ‘s got us throne in de seat of his pants.” Ch. 5 p. 49

Chapter 6:
“This business of the head-rag irked her endlessly. But Jody was set on it. Her hair was NOT going to show in the store. It didn’t seem sensible at all. That was because Joe never told Janie how jealous he was… She was there in the store for him to look at, not those others. But he never said things like that. ..” Ch. 6 p. 55

“The spirit of the marriage left the bedroom and took to living in the parlor. It was there to shake hands whenever company came to visit, but it never went back inside the bedroom again. .. The bed was no loner a daisy field for her and Joe to play in. It was a place where she went and laid down when she was sleepy and tired.” Ch. 6 p. 71

“She found that she had a host of thoughts she never expressed to him, and numerous emotions she had never let Jody know about. Things packed up and put away in parts of her heart where he could never find them. She was saving up feelings for some man she had never seen.” Ch 6. p. 73

Chapter 7:
“She got nothing from Jody except what money could buy, and she was giving away what she didn’t value.” Ch. 7 p. 76

“Then one day she sat and watched the shadow of herself going about tending store and prostrating itself before Jody, while all the time she herself sat under a shady tree with the wind blowing through her hair and her clothes. Somebody near about making summertime out of lonesomeness.” Ch. 7 p. 77

Chapter 8:
“The young girl was gone, but a handsome woman had taken her place. She tore off the kerchief from her head and let down her plentiful hair. .Then she starched and ironed her face, forming it into just what people wanted to see…” Ch. 8 p. 87

Chapter 9:
“The Little Emperor of the cross-roads was leaving Orange County as he had come – with the out-stretched hand of power.

Janie starched and ironed her face and came set in the funeral behind her veil. It was like a wall of stone and steel. The funeral was going on outside. All things concerning death and burial were said and done… Weeping and wailing outside. Inside the expensive black folds were resurrection and life. She did not reach outside for anything, not did the things of death reach inside to disturb her calm. She set her face to Joe’s funeral, and herself went rollicking with the springtime across the world.” Ch 9. p. 89

Chapter 10:

This is a transition chapter. I did not pick any quotes from this section.

Chapter 11:
“He was probably the kind of man who lived with various women but never married. Fact is, she decided to treat him so cold if her ever did foot the place that he’d be sure not to come hanging around there again. “ Ch 11 p. 100

"[Tea Cake] looked like the love thoughts of women. He could be a bee to a blossom - a pear tree blossom in the spring. He seemed to be crushing scent out of the world with his footsteps. Crushing aromatic herbs with every step he took. Spices hung about him. He was a glance from God." Chapter 11, pg. 101

Chapter 16:
"Before the week was over he had whipped Janie. Not because her behavior justified his jealousy, but it relieved that awful fear inside him. Being able to whip her reassured him in possession. No brutal beating at all. He just slapped her around a bit to show he was boss." Chapter 16, pg. 140

Chapter 17:
"They huddled closer and stared at the door. They just didn't use another part of their bodies, and they didn't look at anything but the door. The time was past for asking the white folks what to look for through that door. Six eyes were questioning God." Chapter 18, pg. 150

Chapter 18:
"'Once upon uh time, Ah never 'spected nothin', Tea Cake, but bein' dead from standin' still and tryin' tuh laugh. But you come 'long and made somethin' outa me. So Ah'm thankful fuh anything we come through together.'" Chapter 18, pg. 158

Chapter 19:
"Janie held his head tightly to her breast and wept and thanked him wordlessly for giving her the chance for loving service. She had to hug him tight for soon he would be gone, and she had to tell him for the last time. Then the grief of outer darkness descended." Chapter 19, pg. 175

Chapter 20:
"'So Ah'm back home agin and Ah'm satisfied tuh be heah. Ah done been tuh de horizon and back and now Ah kin set heah in mah house and live by comparisons.'" Chapter 20, pg. 182

"Here was peace. She pulled in her horizon like a great fish-net. Pulled it from around the waist of the world and draped it over her shoulder. So much of life in its meshes! She called in her soul to come and see." Chapter 20, pg. 184

A Note on Points Earned During Discussions - Extra Credit Option

2009-12-08T12:59:00.001-08:00

Students,
Please check your Parent Portal to see how many discussion points you have earned. You have the potential to earn 125 during weeks 1-3 and 50 points during week 4. If you find that you do not have as many points earned as you would like you may do a bit of extra credit work. You may copy some of the questions from various chapters into a Word document and answer them.You will find that most chapters have several sets of questions. Pick the best set and answer those questions. You may also create a special set by picking and choosing from the available questions. Be sure to label the chapter number and include the question with your answer. This option is not available for the chapter you presented.
Here's how they are broken down:
Week 1 Chapters 1-7
Week 2 Chapters 3-12
Week 3 Chapters 4-19
Week 4 Chapter 20 (We have not done this one, yet)

These must be turned in by close of school on Wednesday, December 17.

Chapters 19-20 Their Eyes Were Watching God

2009-12-08T11:29:00.000-08:00

Chapter 19

1. “Git on down de road dere, suh! Don’t look out somebody’ll be buryin you! G’wan in front uh me, suh!” (170).
-the black man’s reality is a white man with a badge and a gun

2. “Death had found them watching, trying to see beyond seeing” (270).
-Any significance between these “watchers” and the Watcher from in the opening lines of Chapter 1?
-What is significant about the title Their Eyes Were Watching God.

3. Why worry about putting the whites in a coffin? (171).

4. Treated like crap-here’s their reality: “Sofar as [de white man’s] concerned all [the blacks] he don’t know oughta be tried and sentenced to six months behind de United States privy house at hard smellin’”(172).

5. Why would Tea Cake be so angry with Janie? He’s never been angry with her before-just take his anger out on her (176).

6. Rabies! What would you do if your spouse was sick like Tea Cake? Save yourself or take care of him?

7. “If she didn’t see the sickness in his face she could imagine it wasn’t really happening” (178).
-Any significance about Janie’s character?

8. Would sop-de-bottom and Dochery have stayed with Tea Cake if Janie had told them he had rabies? (179)

-Should she have told them?

9. Why would Tea Cake sleep with a pistol under his pillow? (181).

10. “You’se uh lil girl baby all de time” (186) Is Janie to naïve for her own good?

11. Why didn’t Janie just run when she found the loaded gun? (182).

12. Why try Janie if she shot Tea Cake in self defense?

13. In what ways does our justice system waste time and money today?

14. What is it about gruesome details that make us want to see? To know? (Car accident?).

15. Why do we want to believe/see the worst in people?

16. Why does the author want us to see “the white woman [cry] and [stand] around [Janie] like a protecting wall and the Negroes… with heas hung down [shuffle] out [of the court house] and away (188).

17. “Aw you know dem white mens wazn’t gointuh do nothin’ tuh no woman. Dat look like her” (189).
-Do beautiful people suffer as a process/result of their beauty?

Chapter 20

1. Why do people have to place blame on someone or something when a loved one dies? (190)

2. “The seeds reminded Janie of Tea Cake more then anything else…” (191).
How does this feed the tree metaphor for Janie’s life?

3. “Ah done been to the horizon and back now Ah kin set heah in mah house and live by comparison” (191).
How does this tie into Hurston’s opening lines about the dreams of men and women?

4. What does Pheoby mean when she says, “Ah means tuh make same take me fishin’ wid him after this (192)?

5. What does Janie mean by saying “And listenin’ to dat kind of talk is lak openin’ yo mouth and lettin’ the moon shine down your throat” (192)?

6. “She pulled in her horizon lke a great fish net” (193).
What would the rest of Janie’s life be like?

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Chapter 19
Ivan’s Summary:
After the hurricane Tea Cake decides to go walk around and finds himself being forced by two white men to help find and bury dead bodies. Has time go’s by Tea Cake find an opportunity to escape and he takes it. He gets back to his house only to find Janie crying worried, he calms her down and tells her that they need to move, and so they leave. A couple weeks later Tea Cake comes home with a headache and starts having problems eating and drinking water. Janie calls a doctor to do a diagnosis on him, Tea Cake has Rabies and it’s too late to save him because he has been infected for to long. Janie decides not to tell him and look for a cure but has time passes by it gets worse and worse until Janie finds out that Tea Cake is hiding a gun under his pillow so instead of taking the bullets out she fixes the gun so that it shoots three blanks first while he go’s to the out house when he comes back in a fit of rage he get’s the gun and walk into the kitchen with Janie he fires the first blank shots and has he is about to shoot the last one Janie gets the rifle and kills him. Janie held his head tightly to her breast and wept and thanked him wordlessly for giving her the chance for loving service. She had to hug him tight for soon he would be gone, and she had to tell him for the last time. “Then the grief of outer darkness descended." And that same day she was sent to jail. She was sent to trail and was considered innocent after that happened they held a funeral for her love and she buried him in her overalls.

Alejandro’s Summary:
In chapter 19 many interesting things happen. At the beginning Tea Cake is forced to help two white guys bury dead bodies. He finds out that white people get coffins and black people just get put in ditches. When he gets the chance he runs away and goes to Janie and tells her that they need to get away. So after some time Tea Cake starts to feel sick. His condition gets really bad so Janie tells a doctor what’s wrong. The doctor tells Janie that he has rabies and that she should be careful. Janie finds a gun on tea Cake’s bed and so she puts the blank rounds in first so that in case something was to happen the blank rounds would fire first. When Tea cake loses his mind he shoots at Janie and then defends herself by shooting Tea Cake. Tea Cake dies and Janie is sent to be on trial but is found innocent. At Tea Cake’s funeral Janie goes to it in her overalls.

1. What happen in town? (Literal)
2. Where do Janie and Tea Cake go at the beginning of the Chapter? (Literal)
3. When Janie is on trial do they find her guilty or innocent? (Literal)
4. Why was there two white men carrying weapons in town? (Literal)
5. What are some of the odd things that start happening to tea cake? (Literal)
6. What do you think Tea Cake means when he says “Dey claims dey’s after de unemployed, but dey ain’t bein’ too particular about wether you’se employed or not.”?(Interpretive)
7. When Janie goes to fix Tea Cake’s bed what does she find? (Literal)
8. What did Tea Cake have to do once he was part of the small army pressed into service? (Literal)
9. Do you think that Janie should have told Tea Cake that he had Rabies? (Interpretive)
10. Do you think it’s fair that the dead whites get coffins but the colored don’t? (Interpretive)
11. Why do you think that Tea Cake shoots at Janie? (Interpretive)
12. Do you think that Tea Cake became jealous because Janie went to Mrs. Turner’s Brother? (Interpretive)
13. If Tea Cake had taken the cure do you think things would have been different instead of how it ended happened with Janie killing Tea Cake?(interpretive)
14. Why do you think that Janie went to the funeral in her overalls? (Interpretive)
15. Do you think it was Janie’s fault that Tea Cake died? (Interpretive)
16. Would you be able to take the life of your one true love? (Universal)
17. If you took the life of the person you love would you be able to live your life like if it never did?

----

Fransisco's Discussion
Chapter 20

This chapter is about Janie and her best friend Pheoby. And in this chapter it’s really talking about how everybody in court blamed her because she had killed Tea Cake. But after she had told everybody that she had done it because it was self defense everybody was sorry that they accused her. This chapter was also about how she came back to her home town and she was walking in her room for the first time after a long time, remembering all those emotions that she once had with Tea Cake. She is also remembering the whole story that had happen to her.

1. How long were they mad at Janie for? L

2. What one thing did Janie keep when she was giving her things away? L

3. What is Janie trying to say to Phoeby when she says,
…love is lak de sea . Its uh movin’ but still and all, it takes its shape from de shore it meets, and it’s different with every shore. (pg. 191) I

4. What emotions come to Janie when she steps into her old room? I

5. Do you think that Janie found true love? I

6. Why did the court forgive Janie after she explained why she killed Tea Cake? L

7. Do you think that she will stay in town or move away? I

8. Do you think people like Janie seek love again or do you think that they stay alone? U

Chapters 17-18 Their Eyes Were Watching God

2009-12-07T11:58:00.000-08:00

Ch. 17 Questions - Carolyn

Summary: In this chapter Mrs. Turner brings by her brother to meet Janie. Tea Cake gets jealous and hurts Janie to prove he is in charge, even though she didn’t do nothing wrong. That Saturday when everyone gets paid they decide to party! Sterrett and Coodemay get the most drunk and they push, shove and talk really loud till they end up in Mrs. Turner’s store. Since the store was full they had to stand and eat and they ended up fighting. Tea Cake tried to stop them, but that only made it worse. Mrs. Turner got mad and told Mr. Turner to do something and he did nothing. The next morning Sterrett and Coodemay apologize and even pay her $5 for her forgiveness.

1.) How did Tea Cake prove to Janie and everyone else that he’s in charge?

2.) Could Tea Cake have treated or handled Janie different to prove his point?

3.) How do the men compare Janie to “other black women”

4.) When the men say “Ah ain’t mad wid her for whut she done, ‘cause she ain't done me nothin’ yet. Ah’m mad at her for thinkin’.”……is it right for them or anyone to be mad at another person just because the way they think about life?

5.) Could Tea Cake have handled trying to escort Sterrett and Coodemay out a little differently?

6.) What did Mr. Turner do when the store went crazy?

7.) Why didn’t Mr. Turner help his wife?

8.) Do you think being drunk is a good enough reason to explain your actions, why you did what you did?

9.) Should Mrs. Turner forgive Sterrett and Coodemay for their actions?

Chapter 18 – 1st half - Selena

Janie and Tea Cake Begin Having Dances out behind their house, because of the dances Tea Cake stops Janie from working with him in the Field so she can get her rest. One Day while Janie is at home She Sees Indian Walking through to Palm Beach. They inform her, a Hurricane is coming. Janie notices the animals start to leave, and some workers leave. On the way out Lias stops and offers Tea Cake and Janie a ride out, Tea Cake says no because he believes that there will never be the Hurricane. Tea Cake is putting work before the safety of Janie and Himself. Some People who stay in the muck continue to work and Party at Tea Cakes and Janie’s. Their Main fear is the Lake Okechobee will overflow. After everyone except Motorboat, Janie, and Tea Cake leave the house, Tea Cake questions if Janie, regrets staying with him...

Literal:
1.) Who Offers Janie and Tea Cake a Ride out of the Muck?
2.) What lake Are they Afraid is going to overflow?
3.) What did the People in the Muck think of the Indians?

Interpretive:
1.) When everyone began questioning the storm because of the Indians, Did the people really trust the judgment of the Indians? Why or why not?
2.) Should Janie have stayed with Tea Cake even though her opinion on the storm was different then his?
3.) Even though Janie was concerned about the Hurricane, why do you believe she allowed there to be a party at her house anyway?
4.) Is Janie Life worth risking for what may or may not be meaningful love with Tea Cake?
5.) Knowing the dangers of staying in the muck through the storm. Do you Think Janie stayed because she honestly loved Tea Cake and trusted his Judgment or Do you think Janie stayed out of fear that with out Tea Cake she loses the little bit of youth she has…

Universal:
1.) Was it a Good Idea to Party and Not dwell on what could be with the storm?

Alexzandra
Chapter 18 part 2

This chapter is about a huge storm coming in and they don’t choose to leave until it gets really bad the storm builds in the distance and the gigantic Lake Okechobee begins to roil. The three of them wait out the storm in the house with “their eyes . . . watching God.” They decide to flee and the storm is so bad that they have to swim long distances Janie gets blown into rough water. She struggles but then sees a cow swimming by with a growling dog perched on its back. She grabs the cow’s tail for safety, but the dog begins to attack her. Tea Cake dives to the rescue and wrestles in the water with the beast, which bites him on the cheek before he stabs it to death. The next day, Janie and Tea Cake reach Palm Beach, a scene of chaotic destruction. They find a place to rest and Janie thanks Tea Cake for saving her life.

1. How deep is the water when they leave the house? (L)

2. How long and wide is Lake Okechobee according to Tea Cake? (L)

3. Describe what T.C did when he saw Janie struggle on the cow and the dog attacked her. (L)

4. In what way has Tea Cake “made somethin’ outa” Janie as she tells him at the end of the chapter?(I)

5. What does Janie mean by the statement, “If you kin see de light at daybreak, you don’t keer if you die at dusk. It’s so many people never seen de light at all” (I)

6. In this chapter, they say “their eyes are watching God.” What does this mean to you? (I)

7. If you had a friend like Motor boat and he decided to stay in the house when the storm was coming and sleep, how would you react? (U)

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Ch. 18 (pg. 54-60) - Vince

1. After hearing what the Indian told Janie, would you have left to higher ground as well?
2. Why were all the animals going east?
3. Why do they feel it’s easier to have hope during the day then at night?
4. Who are they referring to when they say massa?
5. Do you think during the hurricane Tea Cake regretted not leaving before?
6. Do you think the same way as Janie does when she said “ People don’t die till dey time come now how, don’t keer where you at”…
7. Do you think it was dumb for Tea Cake to want to leave after the hurricane but not before?
8. Do you think the hurricane strengthened Tea Cakes and Janie’s relationship?

Chapters 15-17 Student Generated Questions for Their Eyes Were Watching God

2009-12-04T13:06:00.001-08:00

Chapter 15 Saylor
1. Who is the chunky girl Nunkie?
2. Why does Janie get jealous?
3. Where does the find tea cake and Nunkie?
1. Does Janie start to doubt Tea Cake?
2. Are some of Janies fears coming true?
3. Should Janie think about leaving yet?

Their Eyes Were Watching God -Chapter 16

1. Why would a black/white woman (or any colored folk) judge another based on the color of their skin?
-They’re not accepted by whites

-Do the blacks reject the lighter blacks because of their mixed blood? Why?

2. What does Ms. Turner hope to gain by “lighten[ing] up the race”? (140).

3. What makes others so sure that we will agree with their opinions? Is it narcissism? Hope? Insecurity? Stupidity?

4. What keeps us from speaking their minds to people like Ms. Turner who is overbearing and a boar?

5. Is there a “class system” of skin color for blacks?

6. “Half gods are worshiped in wine and flowers real gods require blood” (145). What does this symbolize for Ms. Turner

7. Are blacks intimidated by half-white/Negroes? Why?

Chapter 16 - Gabby

1. On page 140 in the 2nd paragraph it says, “To her way of thinking all these things set her aside from Negros.” Who is this they’re talking about and what “things”?

2. What does Mrs. Turner mean when she says she couldn’t see herself married to such a black man?

3. Why does Mrs. Turner assume that Tea Cake must have had a lot of money when they got married?

4. How does Mrs. Turner feel about black people? Why is it ironic?

5. Think of yourself as Mrs. Turner, would you be friends with someone who’s husband or boyfriend made fun of you behind your back the way Tea Cake did to Mrs. Turner?

6. Do you think Tea Cake has a reason to hate Mrs. Turner?

Chapters 13-15 Their Eyes Were Watching God Student Generated Questions

2009-12-03T13:28:00.000-08:00

Their Eyes Were Watching God -Chapter 13

1. Did Janie’s sneaking off to marry Tea Cake likely give the town a reason to be angry with her?
-maybe she could have convinced them to accept Tea Cake.
-People get P.O.’d when they don’t get invited to the wedding- they feel snubbed.
2. Is it odd that Tea Cake left ahead of Janie? If a couple runs off/elopes, is it usually done together?
3. “It was hard to love a woman who always make you wishful” (117).
-Are pretty women always required to prove themselves?
-How would things be different if Janie weren’t so pretty?
4. Why would Janie keep her money a secret? Does she still not fully trust Tea Cake?
5. How do we “check” ourselves from making bad decisions? What should Janie have done differently?
6. Describe a time when you have done something so completely dumb and how you recovered from your demise (Janie’s realization of her and Ms. Tyler) (119).
7. Why didn’t Tea Cake invite Janie to the party? (122)
8. Is he lying? Is he testing her?
9. How well should you know someone before you marry him/ her? How do you know?
10. Is it a good idea to reveal “bad habits” before you commit to some one? (124).
11. What “bad habits” are bad enough to throw in the towel on a relationship? (What about that list of characteristics of the perfect mate?
12. Is Janie defending Tea Cake out of love? Embarrassment? Fear? (126).
13. Why wouldn’t Tea Cake want a doctor to check out his migraines?
14. What details does Tea Cake leave out of his heroic story?
-he was cheating?
-he killed the guy?
15. “When I ain’t got nothin’ you don’t get nothin’” (128). Will he stop gambling & get a real job?
16. “Folks don’t do nothin’ down there but make money and fun and foolishness” (128).
-When is it time to set priorities and get real about a future?

Their Eyes Were Watching God -Chapter 14

1. “Ground so rich that everything went” (129). What is this foreshadowing?
2. What does Tea Cakes gambling habit symbolize?
-Janie gambles away her future?
-You have to take risks for some adventure in life?
-Love is just a gamble anyway?
3. “Even if you didn’t never find no game it’s always some trashy rascal dat needs a good killer.’” (130-131).
Did Tea Cake kill the man who stabbed him? (See page 126: “Honey no up-to-date man don’t fool wid no razor. De man wid de switchblade will be done cut yuh tah death while you foolin’ wid a razor.”
See page 126: “He went out and bought a new switchblade knife…”

4. Is Tea Cake about money or just excitement? (Janie shoots alligators & they sell the hides-?)
5. What is attractive to Janie about Tea Cake’s lifestyle? (131). “People ugly from ignorance and broke from being poor.
6. What’s different about Janie’s housekeeping now that she & Tea Cake are “on the much”?
7. Does Tea Cake really need Janie to work beside him?
8. Is it healthy to spend so much time together in a relationship?
9. How important is it for couples to have similar interests? When is it okay to do things independently?
10. Did Tea Cake get Janie into the field with him for any other reason?
11. Are Janie & Tea Cake equals?
12. What is better: Wealth & social status or hand-to-mouth & party time atmosphere all day, everyday?

Chapter 14 - Lisette

1. For what reason do Janie and Tea Cake move to the Everglades? literal

2. Why did Tea Cake say Janie and him had to get their ahead of time? literal

3. What did Tea Cake say he was going to be picking and making money off of? literal

4. "It was generally assumed that she thought herself too good to work like the rest of the women and that Tea Cake pomped her up tuh dat." Do you believe Tea Cake is the reason for her thinking this way? Or is it also because of the way she was living before? universal

5. Do you think Tea Cake was trying to keep an eye on Janie when he would stop by the house during his work hours? interpretive

Raina - Chapter 15 Summary!

Janie became jealous of a girl named Nunkie. Tea cake and Nunkie would always flirt with each other and the whole town started to notice. When they were working in the field tea cake and Nunkie ran off, when Janie found them they were rustling in the cane field and yelled at them. After that Janie truly believed that tea cake was fooling around with that girl. Later that night tea cake tried to talk to Janie but she didn’t want to hear it. Tea cake held her and wouldn’t let go the wrestled till they fall to the floor and kissed then they fall asleep and he reassured Janie that Nunkie was nothing to him.

1. Who was Janie jealous of? (F)

2. Where did Janie find Tea Cake & Nunkie? (F)

3. How would Nunkie flirt with Tea cake? (F)

4. Why is Janie so worried about losing Tea Cake? (I)

5. Does Tea Cake really love Janie, and vise versa? (I)

6. Would you react as Janie did about Tea Cake and Nunkie? (U)

7. What does Tea Cake say Nunkie is good for? (F)

8. Does Janie really believe that he loves Nunkie in the morning? (F)

9. Tea Cake says that Janie is the kind of women to make a man forget what? (f)

10. Would you trust Tea Cake? (U)

6. Do you think Janie is more in love now with Tea Cake than she was with Logan and Joe? universal

7. "She was sorry for her friends back there and scornful of the others." Do you think she should feel this way towards the others still living in Eatonville because of how they doubted hers and Tea Cakes relationship? universal

8. What did Tea Cake mean by, “Dis ain’t no game fuh pennies. Po’ man ain’t got no business at de show.”? Interp.

Their Eyes Were Watching God -Chapter 15

1. Why does Tea Cake chase and play with Nunkie if he knows she’s playing him?

2. What kind of flirting is okay> when is it time to set things straight with someone if the teasing/flirting gets out of hand?

3. Is there a different set of rules for make/female friendships?

4. Compare Janie’s behavior with Tea Cake’s situation with Nunkie to a possible mistress situation with Joe Starks. How would Janie have acted if Joe stepped over the line of faithfulness?

5. Should Janie have taken off after Nunkie? When is it not appropriate to physically make your relationship issue of public or “air dirty laundry”?

6. Is it right for Janie to smack Tea Cake at home for his flirtations with Nunkie?

7. Is there anything significant about Tea Cake not engaging in a physical fight with Janie?

8. Is it important to have verbal reinforcements of a husband’s/wife’s commitment form time to time?

Chapters 11 & 12 Their Eyes Were Watching God

2009-12-01T11:59:00.000-08:00

Chapter 11:

1. Why would the others like to see Janie play checkers? What does this imply about her status?
2. Should Janie be more cautious about Tea Cake? Why?
3. What does Hezekiel mean when he says “…nobody wouldn’t marry Tea Cake tuh starve tuh death lessn it’s somebody jes lak him- ain’t used to nothing’”
4. Why would Janie look strangely at Tea Cake when he laid on the compliments? What does this say about her character?
5. Is there a limit to an age difference between men & women?
6. Is it important who’s older: the man or the women?
7. Read passage on 106: Is Tea Cake right for Janie?
8. How do we try to talk ourselves out of love? What kinds of things do we do or say to push away the attentions of others?
9. Why is love so scary?
10. What’s different about Tea Cake’s “daytime thoughts”?
11. Is the “fiend from hell (doubt)” a mode of self protection?
12. How do we know when love is real and not just a fleeting thing?

Bojan's Chapter 11:

CHAPTER 12
SUMMARY: At this point the wealthy Janie and the penniless Tea Cake are doing everything together. Janie’s friend Pheoby Watson talks to her about the towns concern. Janie is well aware that every suitor after her is after her dead husband’s property. Janie informs Pheoby that she and Tea Cake are already getting married. Janie is taking Tea Cake out to plan on moving somewhere and start all over.

Literal #1: How long was Janie’s husband died, before she started seeing Tea Cake?

Literal #2: Do you think Tea Cake is after Janie for her wealth?

Literal #3: Do you think Janie should marry Tea Cake?

Interpretive #1: On page 113 Janie says “still and all ah’d ruther be wid Tea Cake” Is Tea Cake the one for Janie?

Interpretive #2: How does the town feel on Janie’s dissension to marry Tea Cake and move out of town?

Interpretive #3: Is it right that the whole town is trying to convince Janie not to go after Tea Cake and move away?

Universal #1: what does this chapter focus on the most?

Their Eyes Were Watching God, Chapters 9 & 10 Questions

2009-11-30T12:14:00.000-08:00

English 12 Unit 3:
Their Eyes Were Watching God -Chapter 9

1. What does the author mean to “Starch and iron” Janie’s face as she prepares for Joe’s funeral?
2. What is the significance of the horizon? (read 2nd long paragraph on page 89)
3. Is Janie right to hate her grandmother so deeply because she married her off at such a young age? Why?
4. Why does Janie believe that “Most humans don’t love one another no how…” (90)?
5. How long should a woman or man mourn the death of their spouse?
6. Is it important to the town that Janie re-marries? WHY!?!
7. Who is the new mayor?

English 12 Unit 3:
Their Eyes Were Watching God -Chapter 10

1. Why is Janie attracted to this tall stranger?
2. Should Janie be wary of her aloneness while everyone’s at the ball game? While she’s at home?
3. “So she sat on the porch and watched the moon rise. Soon its amber fluid was drenching the earth, and quenching the thirst of the day? (99). what is significant about the imagery of “quenching the thirst of the day”?
4. What are the rules of attraction?
5. What is the boundary for flirtation?
6. Is there a mate “out there” for everyone?
7. Make a list of 10 things you desire/require in the perfect mate.

Kenia's Chapter 10 Questions
• Where does Janie meet "Tea Cake"? (Factual)
• How did the man greet Janie? (Factual)
• Does the man mean something bad when he tells Janie, "People wouldn't know me lak dey would you..."? (Interpretation)
• What does the man offer to teach Janie? (Factual)
• Why does she get some kind of discomfort when playing the game of chess? (Factual)
• Do you think that Janie is doing wrong in keeping the man in late hours, and even though she has a man already? (Universal)
• If you were Janie, would you of done the same thing in keeping the man that late? (Universal)
• What is "Tea Cake" doing when he throws the hat to her and stands by the door as if going outside? (Factual)
• What is her response to him flirting with her? (Factual)
• Do you think that "Tea Cake" is different from the other men that she has talked to? (Universal)
• How do you think it's different? (Universal)
• What does the last paragraph say about the impression that "Tea Cake" left on Janie? (Interpretation)

Chapters 6-8 "Their Eyes Were Watching God"

2009-11-20T12:06:00.000-08:00

Mitch's Chapter 6 Questions:

What day does Janie Not have to go to the store?
What did Janie think was a waste of time and life?
Why does Joe resent Janie’s sadness?
How much did mayor Starks pay for his shoes?
Why is Janie so descendent about her life?
How does gossip make life interesting?
Why did Starks tell Janie she is getting too mouthy?
Would the towns people, be just as unhappy as Janie if they didn’t have there porch talks?

Kanee's Chapter 6 Questions:

Chapter 6 -
Why did Janie get so mad when the men at the store were messing with the mule? (Literal)
Why didn’t Jody let Janie go help the dragging of the dead mule? (Literal)
Why was the death of the mule such a huge impact on the town? (Interpretive)
“Everybody enjoyed themselves to the highest and then finally the mule was left to the already impatient buzzards… They were holding a great flying-meet way over the heads of the mourners…” Who are the “impatient buzzards”? (Interpretive)
What was wrong with Janie when Joe came back from the funeral? (Interpretive)
Joe didn’t let Janie go to the mule’s funeral because he thinks that a lady with the power that she has, she should not be dragging a dead mule. What did Joe think that was unusual for Janie to pout about? (Literal)
Joe said that Janie is too good to be doing dirty work and Janie got mad. If you were in Janie’s position, how would you feel about the situation? (Universal)
Sam and Lige get into this argument; Walter pulled himself into it too agreeing with Lige. “Whut is it dat keeps uh man from gettin’ burnt on uh red-hot stove-caution or nature?” Which one do you think it is? (Universal)
When Janie and Jody get into an argument about losing the paper for the pig feet orders, Jody starts saying things like Logan did. Do you think that this marriage will end up like her marriage with Logan? (Universal)

Mary's Chapter 7:

1. Did Janie’s marriage turn out the way she expected? (literal)
2. If you were Janie would you have left like she wanted too? (interpretive)
3. What was Jody fearing Janie noticed about him? (literal)
4. What did janie do in the store to make Jody angry? (literal)
5. How did Jody react to Janie talking back to him? (literal)
6. Do you think Jody took it too far when he hit Janie or was it common in these times? (interpretive)
7. If you were Janie would you have left like she wanted too? (Universal)
8. What did Janie mean by saying? (interpretive)
“Ah’ll lie and say he is. If Ah don’t life won’t be
nothing but uh store and uh house.”
9. What emotions do you think Janie was feeling after Jody hit her in front of all those people? (interpretive)
10. How would you have reacted to Jody’s down talking and criticism? (Universal)

Lizette's Chapter 8 Questions:

The chapter begins with the day after the big fight Janie and Joe had, Joe begin to come up with way to get revenge on Janie for some of the cruel things she said in the previous chapter. As the days pass Joe seems to be getting sicker and sicker but still Joe continues to come up with different ways to hurt Janie. At the same time Janie struggles to find a way to come to peace with Joe one last time. When Janie finally confronts Joe, he completely shuts her down. And for the first time Janie speaks up for herself.

Literal

1. Why was Joe no longer having Janie cook meals for him?
2. What is Joe dieing from?
3. How long have Janie and Joe now been married?
Interpretive
1.What is Janie trying to say in this quote?
“People he never bothered with one way or another now seemed to have his ear.”
2. Was it either Janie’s or Joe’s fault their marriage didn’t last?
3. Was it a good idea for Janie to have tried talking to Joe, or should she have just left things the way they were?

Universal
If Joe were to pass away, what do you think Janie’s next step should be?

Gaby's Chapter 8 Questions:

With problems growing in Janie and Joe’s relationship, their marriage seems to be falling apart. Joe moved out of their bedroom but is still sick and refuses to let Janie care for him. He also refused to get any medical attention. Janie not wanting to fail as a wife went against her husband wishes and calls for a doctor. Janie goes to Joe again against his wishes and tells him that she realizes their marriage did not bring either of them the happiness as they had hoped for. Joe died without reconciling with his wife. After Joe died, Janie pitied him for letting his life end while in a state of denial.

*How does Joe’s pride affect his relationship with his wife?

*What are Janie’s feelings on her husband not wanting to call for a doctor?

*Even at the end of his life Joe tries to control Janie to the best of his ability. Why does he desirer this power over his wife so much?

*How will Joe’s death impact Janie’s life?

*Why does Joe not want Janie to care for him while he is sick?

*Why does Janie tell Joe on his death bed that their life was not happy? What good will come of telling him that?

*Why does Janie have so much pity for her dead husband?

*Why does death always seem to bring out the honesty in people?

Their Eyes Were Watching God, Chapters 4 & 5

2009-11-20T07:41:00.000-08:00

Chapter 4 Questions:

Janie finds that marriage is not what she had expected. She finds herself very unhappy. The tension between them is very real. All of that changes when Janie meets Joe Starks one day while she is out cutting potatoes. He tells Janie to leave Logan and marry him. Janie asks Logan about how he would react if she left him. He replied that he does not worry about it because no other man would want her. They are both hurt and turn to lick their wounds. Janie leaves Logan and marries Joe.

1. The first paragraph states that “… Janie noticed that her husband had stopped talking in rhymes to her. .” (p. 26) What does this mean/indicate? (Interpretive)

2. Do you think it was a reasonable expectation that Janie would work in the fields soon, or should she be able to stay with the work in the house? (Universal)

3. Describe the citified man. (Factual)

4. Who is Joe Starks, and what does he want? (Factual)

5. On page 29 it reads, “Janie pulled back a long time because he did not represent sun-up and puller and blooming trees, but he spoke for far horizon.” What does this mean? What is Janie doing or not doing? (Interpretive)

6. Why does Logan want to hurt Janie? (Interpretive)

7. What are some of the mean things Logan says to Janie? (Factual)

8. Why do you think Janie left Logan? Did she do the right thing? What advice would you give Janie if she came to you with this problem? (Universal)

9. On page 32, read the paragraph that begins with “ Janie turned from the door without answering, … She turned wrongside out just standing there and feeling…” Explain the change that takes place in Janie and what she decides to do. (Interpretive)

10. Do you think Janie did the right thing at the end of this chapter? Is it a realistic behavior? (Universal)

Lena's Chapter 4 Questions:

Summary: Chapter 4
In this chapter Janie realizes that Logan is changing, and not treating her the way he use to…he is becoming less affectionate. One day, Logan leaves to town, and when he does a new guy named Joe Starks comes along…he’s from Georgia-going to Florida. He stops for a week or two in Janie’s neighborhood, and after this stay he tells Janie he wants to marry her, and move to the new town their building. So, she confronts Logan about what he would do if she met someone new, they fight and they next day Janie runs down the road to meet Joe. They run away together and get married in Green Cove Springs.

Questions
1. Do you think Janie is really in love with Joe, or does she just want change? (I)
2. Why does Joe leave in the beginning? (F)
3. Who does Logan say Janie acts like on page 30? (F)
4. Where does Logan say is Janie’s place? (F)
5. What does this mean “From now until death she was going to have flower dust and springtime sprinkled over everything.”? (page 32)(I)
6. Do you think Janie knew she hurt Logan as bad as she did when she asked what he would do if she ran away with someone else? (I)
7. If you were married to someone, you didn’t really love but they never mistreated you, and you met someone new…like Janie did, would you leave your significant other after just two weeks of knowing this new person? (U)
8. Do you think Janie would’ve ran to the pump the same way if Joe didn’t look the way he did, what if he looked just like Logan, would she have made such an effort to get noticed? (I)

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Mrs. Welshon's Chapter 5 Questions:

Janie and Joe (sometimes called Jody) go to Eatonville. At this point, Janie feels happy and proud. Joe finds out more about the people and the land. He buys 200 acres and decides to start a town. People are impressed with Joe. Things are good for a while, but then it starts to change. At first they want him to be the mayor and get things organized. He builds a house and a story where they will work. Joe wants Janie to look better than any of the other women. Jody begins to cause Janie to be constrained both in how she dress and how she does her hair. Later things begin to change and the town’s people begin to resent him.

1. Describe what Eatonville was like at the beginning of this chapter. (Factual)

2. What do the men think about Janie at the beginning of this chapter? (Factual)

3. How do you think Janie felt when the people in the town called for him to give a speech? (Interpretation)

4. Explain the importance of the following quote:
“Thank yuh fuh yo’ compliments, but mah wife don’t know nothin’ ‘bout no speech-makin’. Ah never married her for nothin’ lak dat. She’s un woman and her place is in de home.” (p. 43)
(Interpretation)

5. Do you think Jody has treated the town’s people with respect, or has he bullied and harassed them into doing what he wants? Are there real people like Joe? (Universal)

6. Explain what is happening during the parts of the chapter and what the quotes means:
“ Over, Janie? I god, Ah ain’t even started good. Ah told you in de very first beginnin’ dat Ah aimed tuh be uh big voice. You oughta be glad, ‘cause dat makes uh big woman outa you.’
A feeling of coldness and fear took hold of her. She felt far away from things and lonely.” (page 46)

“ Like things had been kept from them. Maybe more things in the world besides spitting pots had been hid from them, when they wasn’t told no better than to spit in tomato cans. It was bad enough enough for white people, but when one of your own color could be so different it put you in a wonder. It was like seeing your sister turn into a ‘gator. A familiar strangeness. “ (p. 48)

“The town had a basketful of feelings good and bad about Joe’s positions and possessions, but non had the temerity to challenge him. They bowed down to him rather, because he was all of these things, and then again he was all of these things because the town bowed down.” (p. 50)

Mandi and Mason's Chapter 5 Questions -

Chapter 5

Joe and Janie take a train to the colored town and when they get there, Joe finds out that there is no mayor yet and rents a house for a month. Then he finds out that the town only owns 50 acres and goes to Captain Eaton and buys another 200 acres in cash. Then he built a store and new families started to move into the town. Joe soon became mayor and while he was busy upgrading the town, Janie began to feel lonely and scared and unsure of the life she had chosen. The town began talking about how harsh Joe was, but how good of a leader he was and how he yelled at Janie for small things and made her work in the store. The loved him and feared him.

Factual-
1-Who were the first two men that Joe and Janie saw upon entering the town?

2-How long did Joe rent out the house?

3-How may acres did Joe pay for in cash?

4-What is Joe’s last name?

5-What was the first building Joe built for the town?

6-Who did Joe hire as carpenters for the town?

7-Who was the mayor’s wife?

8-Did the town love everything Joe did?

Interpretive-
1-Why do you think Hicks lied about being at the Stark’s house?

2-Why did Starks go after Janie in the first place?

3-Why was Hicks upset that Joe bought the 200 acres?

4-Why did Joe make Janie dress up perfect for the store opening?

5-Do you think Janie was happy about working in the store? Why or why not?

6-Why did Joe not let Janie try and say a few words at the store opening?

7-What was the significance of the lamp post to the town? Why was it so important?

8-Why is Hicks so jealous of Joe?

Universal-
1- Could you give up your life and go with a complete stranger to start a new life in a strange place?

2-What matters most to you in a spouse?

3-Could you live with a verbally abusive spouse, even if they said they cared for you and bought you nice things?

4-Would you put a random man in charge of your town if he had money and the courage to change things?

5-How would life be for you if you didn’t have a store or a post office in your town?

6-What did the light post symbolize?

Chapter 3 - Their Eyes Were Watching God

2009-11-17T13:03:00.000-08:00

Mrs. Welshon's Set of Questions:
In this chapter Janie marries Logan in a big ceremony in Nanny’s house. Janie is worried because she does not love him, but expects love to develop naturally, just as Nanny said it would. A few months later Janie goes to see Nanny to learn about love. She tells Nanny that she does not love Logan and Nanny gets mad at her for not appreciating the wealth and stability that Logan provides for her. After Janie leaves Nanny prays to go to care for Janie. Nanny feels like she has done the best she could. One month later, Nanny dies. Janie’s lack of love for Logan leads her to begin feeling disillusioned.

1. What is Janie worried about when she does to visit with Nanny? (literal)

2. What is Nanny’s reaction to Janie when she first begins their visit? (literal)

3. What does Janie mean when she says,
“ Ah wants things sweet wid mah marriage lak when you sit under a pear tree and thin. Ah…” (p.24) (Interpretation)

4. What advice and/or comfort could you give Nanny? (universal)

5. Explain what the following passage means,
“She often spoke to falling seeds and said, ‘Ah hope you fall on soft ground’ because she had heard seeds saying that to each other as they passed.’” (p. 25) (Interpretation)

6. Explain what the following sentence means and implies.
“Janie’s first dream was dead, so she became a woman.” (Interpretation) (p. 25)

7. Do you think this kind of situation happens very often these days? Why or why not? (universal)

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Chapter 3 – Craig’s Questions

1. What does Janie think of love and marriage?

2. Who did Janie marry? Where at?

3. Why does Janie not want her husband anymore?

4. If you were married for a couple months and you didn’t feel the same way about your spouse anymore, what would you do?

5. Why does Nanny think Janie should want her husband?

6. Why is Nanny so happy to see Janie?

7. How do you think Nanny knew something was wrong with Janie?

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Amber's Chapter 3 Questions

Summary: Janie thinks that you get married and you automatically fall in love, and once she gets married to Logan, she goes home and expects it to happen but it doesn’t. So she goes and talks to her Nanny. Her Nanny explains that if he doesn’t beat you or mistreat you then you will just have to learn to love him.

1. What does Janie think about marriage? (F)

2. Do you think love will just happen once you marry someone? (U)

3. Do you think Nanny believes that you will learn to love your husband? (L)

4. Do you think Janie likes her husband? (L)

5. Why would they put something in Logan’s seat? (F)

6. Why is Janie so upset? (F)

7. What do you think the author means by “ There are years that ask questions and years that answer?” (L)

Their Eyes Were Watching God - Novel Assignment

2009-11-16T13:06:00.000-08:00

English 12, Unit 3:
Their Eyes Were Watching God - Presentation of Chapters

Each student will be responsible for leading a 15 minute discussion on a chapter from Their Eyes Were Watching God. Presentations will enable class discussion based on the questions that the presenter(s) prepare in advance of the chapter presentation date.

In planning the presentation, each student should:
• Write a summary of the chapter.
• Develop 3-4 literal questions based on facts from the novel;
• Develop 3-4 interpretive questions that require the individual connections and analysis;
• Develop 1-3 universal questions relate the chapter to the lives of the class or the world at large.
• Include in the questions the author’s use of literary devices, such as imagery, metaphor, simile, and symbolism to help construct meaning and understanding from the text during the class discussion;
• Label the questions as fact, interpretation, or universal.
• Turn in a copy of the questions on the class period the day before the presentation. Make copies for the class; No copies = no points (If your presentation is on Monday, the questions are due on Friday. )

Presentations will begin and end promptly. Be on Time! NO late work will be accepted!

It is expected that all students will keep up with the reading of the novel. Points will be awarded for offering meaningful contributions to the discussions.

Chapter Assignments:
Mrs. Welshon will assign chapters to students. Longer chapters may have more than one person presenting. Group work will have to be completed outside of class. Each person is responsible for writing his/her own summary and questions. For example, if you have two people doing a chapter, they will need 6- 8 questions based on fact, 6-8 questions based on interpretation and 2-6 based on universal elements. A group of two people would have 30 minutes to teach their chapter. Turn in each member’s questions together with the questions that the group has selected to use. Each member of a group will receive the same grade, which will be a reflection of the effort put in by each.

Class Participation:
Each member of the class will be responsible for participation by having the book open to the appropriate chapter, giving eye contact, and taking part in the discussion. I will, as fairly as possible, be awarding credit based on their participation and contributions. Keep in mind that side conversations will be interpreted by me as not paying attention.
Five or more meaningful responses = 25 points
Three meaningful responses = 15 points
Two meaningful responses = 10 points
Quietly Sitting = 0 points

Points:
Presentation of Chapter = 200 (DNM 0-120 Meets C 150 Exceeds B 170 Exceeds A 200)
Questions to the Teacher (Only is provided by the due date, the day BEFORE the presentation) = 50
Class Participation = 25 per day

Chapter 1 -

Summary: One evening in 1928, in the town of Eatenville, Janie, a middle-aged woman, returns on foot to her home, after having been away for some time. Townspeople sitting on the front porch of Pheoby’s house watch her as she walks by. Pheoby leaves the porch with a plate of food for her friend. The two women sit in Janie’s back yard and reminisce. Janie decides to tell her story to her friend with the understanding that Pheoby can then share the story with the others.

1. Do you think the first two paragraphs are an accurate description of men and women? Universal

2. What does the third paragraph say about where the woman had come from? Factual

3. What does the narrator say about the “sitters?” Interpretation

4. What do the sitters say about the woman? Factual

5. Where do we do our “porch talk?” Universal

6. What things do we learn about Janie in this chapter? Factual

7. On page 6, the third paragraph from the bottom reads, “They don’t know if life is a mess….” What two metaphors does Hurston use and what does she mean by them? Interpretation

8. In the last paragraph on page 6, what would Janie say to those who, “come kiss and be kissed?” Interpretation

9. Why does Janie decide to tell Pheoby her story? Factual

Chapter 2 - Their Eyes Were Watching God

2009-11-16T13:02:00.000-08:00

Chapter 2 - Per. 5
In this chapter we learn about Janie’s early life when she was raised by her grandmother. As a very young girl she had so many nick names that they called her, “Alphabet.” It was not until she saw a photo of herself when she was six that she realized that she was Colored. When Janie was sixteen she kissed Johnny Taylor and her life changed. Her grandmother wanted Janie to marry Logan Killicks so that Janie would be financially secure life with stability. Janie did not want this. Janie saw herself as the metaphorical pear tree is bloom, waiting for and inviting love. Logan did not fit in this picture. We also learn that Janie’s mother, Leafy, had been rapped by her teacher. That was how Janie came to be conceived. Leafy had become a bitter shell of a young woman who escaped life by drinking and running away. Nanny is sure that Leafy is alive, even though she does not know where she is. Nanny explains that she believes she will die soon and that she can rest easy if she knows that Janie will be taken care of. Grandmother tells Janie that she was never able to have a full voice since she had been a slave, but that she dreams that Janie will have the chance to speak for herself.
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1. How is Janie’s life impacted by the fact that she does not know her mother or her father? (Interpretive)

2. How would your life be different if you were raised without knowing either or your parents? (Universal)

3. Why was Janie so surprised when she saw the photo of her and her friends? (Literal)

4. Explain the metaphor of the pear tree. (Interpretive)

5. Why does Nanny dislike Johnny Taylor? (Literal)

6. What is meant when she states that, “That was the end of her childhood.” (p. 12)? (Interpretive)

7. What does Nanny mean when she says to Janie,
Dat’s what makes me skeered. You don’t mean no harm. You don’t even know where harm is at. Ah’m ole now. Ah can’t always be guidin’ yo’ feet from harm and danger. Ah wants to see you married right away. (p. 13) (Interpretive)

De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah can see. Ah been prayin’ fur it tuh be different wid you. Lawd, Lawd, Lawd. (p. 14) (Interpretive)

8. Why does Nanny want Janie to marry Logan Killicks? (Literal)

9. Do you agree with Nanny when she says, “But nothing can’t stop you from wishin’. You can’t beat nobody down so low til you can rob ‘em of they will.” (p. 16) (Interpretive)

10. Recount the troubles Nanny had when her daughter, Leafy, was born. (Literal)

11. Why didn’t Nanny want to marry anyone? (Literal)

12. What does Nanny mean when she tells Janie,
Ah don’t want yo’ feathers always crumpled by folks throwin’ up things in yo’ face. And Ah can’t die easy thinkin’ maybe de menfolk white or black is makin’ a spit cup outta you. ( p. 20) (Interpretive)

13. Explain the meaning of the metaphor when Nanny says to Janie, “Put me down easy, Janie, Ah’m a cracked plate.” (p. 20) (Interpretation)

14. Do you think it is best to marry for safety and protection, or for unpredictable love? (Universal)

Chapter 2 - Jennifer & Dan Per. 6

Summary: Janie is still telling stories to Pheoby but they change from bad life experiences to go ones. The first story was about how she realized that she wasn’t white like the other kids but colored and talked about how the kids made fun of her. Her second story she talked about how on a beautiful day she wanted to become a blooming tree and that same day she became women. She also tells the story of her conversation between her and her grandma on that same day. That conversation was showing how much her grand ma loved her and was making sure was taken care of before her grandma dies. During that same conversation she tells Janie about her mother and some incidents that happened to her.

1. What is the author talking about in the first paragraph? Interpretation

2. Why did everybody call Janie Alphabet’? Factual

3. Why did Mayrella get mad at Janie all the time? Factual

4. Why did Janie want to be any tree that was blooming? Factual

5. If you were in Janie’s position what would you do about it? Universal

6. Why does Janie say “That was the end of her childhood” in the middle of page 12? Interpretation

7. How would you react if you were as young as Janie and was told that you had to get married right away? Universal

8. Why would Janie’s grandma say she has a second chance the time Janie was born? Interpretation

9. Why does her grandma want to be completely different from her mother? Interpretation

10. What happened to Janie’s mother to make her the way she was? Factual

"Stranger in the Villiage" by James Baldwin -

2009-11-03T13:06:00.000-08:00

At this point in class we have worked paragraphs 1-14 together. Paragraphs 15-24 have been assigned to student pairs. Each student pair is to annotate and analyze their paragraph. They will then present their findings to the class, using them as a springboard for running the class discussion. It is expected that the text annotation be transferred to the text via our Smartboard. Here's what is to be discussed:
Read the paragraph aloud to the class;
- Summarize the meaning of the paragraph;
- Underline/Highlight and discuss the most important sentences/lines/phrases/words
in the paragraph. Justify and explain your choices;
- Explain the purpose of the paragraph in relation to the essay as a whole (Why is
it included? What is its purpose?)
- Describe Baldwin's reflection on what it means to him.

English 12 Unit 2: Stranger in the Village

(Please note that the format of this worksheet has been condensed. If you intend to fill it in, please copy and paste this onto a word processing document and add space for your answers.)

As you read this famous essay by James Baldwin please write down responses to the following questions:

1. Describe, in detail, the “village” as it is portrayed in this essay.

2. In general, what is it that people fear from this stranger?

3.In general, what is it that people might want this stranger?

4. Why is James Baldwin such and unusual stranger?

5. James Baldwin feels a very strong sense of being an outsider/stranger. Is this because the town members make him feel this way? Does he make himself feel that way? Or is it a combination? Explain your answer with at least two specific quotes and analysis from the text:

Quote:

Analysis:
Quote:

Analysis:

6. What is the impact on James Baldwin as a result of being a stranger in the village?

7. What are some of the risks that James Baldwin faces by being/becoming part of the village?

8. Describe how various people try to help James Baldwin feel less of a stranger.

Halloween Fun!

2009-10-30T08:39:00.000-07:00

Period 3 -