Writing Across Cultures

This is a reprint from early September: I will be using the following rubric when assessing your portfolios. A portfolio is due each quarter and comprises the major part of your quarter grade (along with attendance, participation/homework, reading, quizzes/tests, presentations and class activities). 4 = Exemplary 3= Accomplished 2= Promising 1=Beginning 0=Failing Exemplary : Thoroughly and artistically developed characters, plot, structure, conflict, theme, and setting. Uses vivid description, effective diction and word choice, tone or voice, POV, imagery, and compelling dialogue throughout portfolio. Uses a variety of effective literary devices. Writing can be considered “art,” effectively communicating issues central to the human condition in a compelling way. Has few errors in spelling punctuation, syntax, and usage. Sentence structure and overall effect of the work is artistic. Format is carefully and correctly followed. Work includes evidence of several revised drafts that...

Please take the first 10-15 minutes to complete your discussion of the novel Jennifer Government . You may use the rest of the period to write drafts for your portfolio. Your portfolio is due Tuesday. Please remember to add a 1-2 page reflection on the writing you have completed this quarter. Not to distract you too much but here is a Halloween popular culture clip from the Simpsons: The Simpsons The Bennington Young Writers Contest is looking for non-fiction, fiction, and poetry (you probably have some) and the deadline is today! Check out this website and submit for x-tra credit! HOMEWORK: None. Prepare your portfolio to turn in next class.

After our quiz today on Jennifer Government , please gather in small groups of 5-6 to discuss the novel. While you are waiting for students to finish, please use the time in the lab to write drafts for your portfolio. HOMEWORK: None.

This morning, please regale the class with information about popular culture. Then, it's off to the lab to work on your upcoming portfolios! We will have a quiz and discussion on Jennifer Government next class. HOMEWORK: Complete Jennifer Government . Prepare your portfolio: due Tuesday, Nov. 4.

To start off, please take the first 5 minutes of class to read the article: "Snap! Crackle! Plot!" by Roy Rivenburg. After reading, please respond in writing. Then, let's take a look at some advertising techniques. As you watch the slide show, please take notes about advertising strategies.  Creative Advertising Techniques . Please make a list of things you'd like to buy if you were given a blank check and the sky was the limit. Now annotate the list with brief explanations for why you want each item. --How much of what we buy is who we are? --How does what we buy help us connect, compare, or create homogeneous groups (hegemonies). --America: why are we so greedy? --What's up with all this consumerism? Is capitalism to blame? Then check out the 2010 Oscar award winning animated short film:  Logorama . I think it captures the events in  Jennifer Government  pretty well. After viewing, let's respond. Jennifer Government : Please read  Jennifer Gov...

Pop culture in 2013 There is a difference between a fad and popular culture. Often objects, people, and events (or inventions) continue to influence our own culture from age to age or even from centuries in the past. Depending on your education level, your background, your own culture, and various other traditions or interests, some things never seem to really fade into obscurity, something likely to happen to a fad or a person who might be popular today. As a writer, it is important to familiarize yourself with some common popular cultural icons and consider why these things are still popular after all these years. We've touched on some items, but here are a whole host of others. In the lab, read these articles. Consider how familiar you are with them. Enjoy them for what they're worth, but also consider how you might use them to create your own writing. Perhaps you will reflect on the topic in an essay, or use an idea found here in a story. After researching and reading ...

Key points in the presentations: What is this? Where did it come from/what influenced this phenomenon? Who is involved? Why is it popular NOW? How does it affect our culture? HOMEWORK: Please read Part III of  Jennifer Government .

Please take the first period of class today to put the finishing touches on your presentations. If your work is completed, please use the time in the lab to write work for your portfolio (this class) or read Jennifer Government . Then, it's back to our classroom to present some Popular Culture. Key points in the presentations: What is this? Where did it come from/what influenced this phenomenon? Who is involved? Why is it popular NOW? How does it affect our culture? HOMEWORK: Please read Part III of Jennifer Government .

This morning please take a few minutes (about 5) to study the different logical fallacies and propaganda terms from your notes and refresh your memory about Part One of J ennifer Government . We will then have a short quiz on these terms. For the rest of class today, please prepare your prezi presentations for Wednesday, Oct. 15. If you finish early, please create note cards if you need them for your presentation, and rehearse your speech with a peer or friend who is also done. You may also spend your time reading or writing if you have completed your Prezi presentation! HOMEWORK: Please read Part Two: Jennifer Government . Get caught up if you have not read part one. There is no school on Monday.

EQ: What is Capitalism? What is Materialism? Terms: Look up and define these 3 terms. Compare your definition as instructed by your teacher. Capitalism Consumerism Materialism Please read the two articles and look at the group of pictures in the handout this morning. Use the articles to spark your own response. Write a creative response to something in these pictures or articles. Keep your draft in your portfolio. [This is an ongoing assignment]! Other key terms you should be familiar with: propaganda, testimonial, name calling, glittering generalities, plain-folks appeal, argumentum ad populum, argumentum ad hominem, post hoc ergo propter hoc , transfer or guilt by association, bandwagon, false analogy, begging the question, two extremes fallacy, card stacking, and testimonial. These terms can be found in your article: "How Not to Be Bamboozled." During the rest of the class, please continue to work on your Prezi projects. By the end of 1st period, you should...

Please turn in your homework from last class (see HOMEWORK on previous post for details). Period 1: Prezi & Library research Please pick up the book: Jennifer Government . You are likely not to find a book directly on your topic. You might, however, find something related from a broader context. Remember to check out the following sections using the Dewey Decimal System: 000  – General works, Computer science and Information 100  – Philosophy and psychology 200  – Religion 300  – Social sciences 400  – Language 500  – Pure Science 600  – Technology 700  – Arts & recreation 800  – Literature 900  – History & geography Period 2: Prezi & Research As you research, please make sure you answer: What is this? Where did it come from/what influenced this phenomenon? Who is involved? Why is it popular NOW? How does it affect our culture? Your Prezi should be between 3-7 minutes. Consider timing if yo...

After voting the units we will cover this year appear in this order: Popular culture Australia/New Zealand (including Aborigines)  Psychology Feminism/Women's Studies Philosophy Africa/African American Canadian/Native American Queer: Gay & Lesbian Europe Asia Middle East Central/South America Latino/U.S.

EQ's: How do you create a Prezi? How do you conduct effective research? The Pop Culture Project: Choose one of the areas of study in popular culture: Media Pop Art Pop or Media Icons (people) Fads Technology Sports Leisure Activities (gaming, pastimes, etc.) Music Fashion Food Lifestyle Narrow your topic by breaking the category down to manageable and identifiable topics. Make a list or mind map of sub topics and components in the category in your journal. EX. Media can be broken down into smaller areas such as television, film, radio; but then can be broken smaller still into things such as television:  Breaking Bad, Orange is the New Black , T he Simpsons, o r various actors, various directors. Then these topics can be broken down further, if needed. Search the internet. Find internet sources that examine the significance of your chosen topic. Record the internet addresses and keep careful track of your sources according to  MLA format . Search the ...