Writing Across Cultures

Please check out and begin reading the novel: 1984. As you read, please take a look at any of these links: Having trouble understanding the book or you are lazy and cannot read the entire book and need to know what happens in a certain chapter? Look here . You have lost or forgotten your book and you want to read the text. Look here . An animated discussion (with George Orwell's voice, talking about his book). You'd like to see part of the film adaptation of the book with actor John Hurt as Winston. Look here for: Just the trailer . Part 1 of the film . Part II of the film . Part III of the film. Part IV of the film . Part V of the film . Part VI . You can find the other sections from Youtube. Some of the sections of the film have been deleted because of "copyright" -- or perhaps because the government doesn't want you to see them. Creative student films using 1984 as starting material. 1984 Postmodernism in 1984 (lecture). Famous essay: Shooting an Elephant (in

Take one of your favorite shows and write about it. Your "writing" can be any of the following, the point is that the piece examine various issues and reflect a bit about how TV (this show in particular) influences our culture. 1. Create a documentary! With a camera or microphone, record peers and teachers attitudes about your show! 2. Non-fiction essay: you know how these things work now. Write one and reflect! 3. Poem 4. Short story 5. Play/movie/tv script (for TV script format look here .) Draft 1 due by the end of the week (no later than Monday, Oct. 26)

Love it or turn it off, TV has changed us. Look here for information about the history of TV. Take a few notes about TV history. Examine how TV has insinuated itself into American culture. Television Without Pity is a website that provides detailed recaps of select television dramas, situation comedies and reality TV shows, often by mocking them. In 2007 the site was purchased by the Bravo unit of NBC Universal. The site is notable for its wide usage of the word "snark" to describe its typical style of sarcastic review. The site's mascot is Tubeelzebub (a portmanteau of tube and Beelzebub - "Tubey" for short), a demonic television set replete with horns and a pointed tail. Please view the site: Television Without Pity . Read a few critiques. Try writing a critique of your own based on your favorite TV show list. Also take a look here. Greatest T.V. Controversies . Review these sites and make notes or brainstorm ideas for fiction/poetry, TV scripts, or non-ficti

The original Star Trek, created by Gene Roddenberry, debuted in 1966 and ran for three seasons, following the interstellar adventures of Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Federation Starship Enterprise. These adventures were continued in an animated television series and six feature films. Four more television series were produced, based in the same universe but following other characters: Star Trek: The Next Generation, following the crew of a new Starship Enterprise set several decades after the original series; Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager set contemporaneously with The Next Generation; and Star Trek: Enterprise, set in the early days of human interstellar travel. Four additional feature films were produced, following the crew of The Next Generation, and most recently a 2009 movie reboot of the series featuring a young crew of the original Enterprise set in a parallel universe. Check here for the "official" Star Trek website. Some fans hav

The portfolio is due today (Thursday, Oct. 8). While in the lab, please finish any last minute touches on your work. Proofread and prepare a 1-2 page reflection on your writing. Discuss each piece you select for the portfolio and explain what you feel still needs to be worked on, what you found to be working in the piece, and where you might want to take the project given a second or third draft and more time. If you turn in the portfolio early, check this blog--make sure you have read the appropriate articles, completed homework, etc. Continue reading and completing your non-fiction book. Finish this over the long weekend. Check out these clips. Use any of these ideas to create a poem, short story, non-fiction narrative, film, play/script, comic strip, etc. of your own: Captain Capitalism cartoon In Debt We Trust Maxed Out (2006) What Would Jesus Buy? - clip #1 What Would Jesus Buy - clip #2 Consumer Island (short) Consumerism - the musical Embodiment of the American Way (satire)

You know it. You love it. It's the right thing to buy and will make your life complete. Welcome consumerism. Consumerism can be defined as the theory that a progressively greater consumption of goods is economically beneficial. We use the term also to refer to an attachment to materialistic values or possessions. Recently, it also refers to a movement seeking to protect and inform consumers by enacting laws that affect honest packaging, advertising, and safety and quality issues. Culturally, America is often blamed for rampant consumerism. Recently, the government encouraged Americans to "go out and buy" stuff to help the economy. But does this really help? And what is it doing to us as a hegemonic group of people and our culture? Please read the following articles and view the clips. For each article, jot down a brief summary of the article. Prepare to discuss the articles on Tuesday, Oct. 6. To hand in: write a question you want to ask about the points made by these au

Your portfolio for WXC is due Oct. 8. Today, work on finishing your 2 (or more)drafts of writing. If you finish early you have various options. 1. Workshop with another friend who is also finished. 2. Revise and create a second draft of one or both of your 1st drafts. 3. Read your pop-culture book. 4. Take an idea from your pop-culture book and write a poem, creative essay, script, or short story involving the topic. 5. Work on your evaluation for this marking period. The Evaluation should be a 1-2 page (double spaced, 12 point font) discussion about what you did this marking period. It is SELF reflective. You do not need to whine, but examine what you surprised yourself with, what you liked about your writing, what you think you need more assistance on, etc. Talk about each piece of writing in specific terms (use literary language and vocabulary).