Writing Across Cultures

This morning, please take 5 minutes to take this online quiz: 12 Survivors . After getting your result, take another 5 minutes to reflect in writing to what you have learned from the test. [If the site does not load the test, refer to the handout regarding the 12 "survivor" archetypes. Which one resonates most with you? Which one do you identify with the most?] Together, let's discuss the film  Gravity . When we finish, get together briefly with your book group and discuss possible survivor archetypes in the novel you are reading. Do you recognize any event/plot in the survivor archetype? Is there a character that is trying to survive? Is there a character that reflects the victim? The saboteur? The prostitute? The inner child? How? When? Do you recognize any of the characters as one of the 12 archetypal survivor characters? Who? When? Why? At about 8:10, let's take a look at the psychological theories of C.G. Jung. See handout. In his book  Pathways to B...

Period 1/2: Alfonso Cuaron : Roma  (2018, trailer) Gravity  (2013, trailer) Children of Men  (2006, trailer) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban  (2004, trailer) Y Tu Mama, Tambien  (2001, trailer) As we screen the film Gravity (2013), read along with the script and take note on the graphic organizer about the following: The survivor archetypal plot is as follows:  A. Many stories and plots have at their central core a need for the protagonist to survive--whether that's an external or internal force. The survival plot is simply a series of life-threatening conflicts that a protagonist must overcome in order to survive.  B. The survival trope in archetypal stories usually includes: A brief status quo (used to establish normalcy or routine in the setting) An inciting incident (a dangerous or life-threatening event or suggestion of an event that gets the protagonist into the action of the story) Various events and conflict...

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). Please note that you will be expected to conduct some revision each marking period, along with a short 1-3 page reflection. Reflection pages  do not count  for the # of pages indicated below.  Please also note that your portfolio grade is a combination of  quantity  AND  quality . Scores are determined by an average score based on the holistic rubric. Some papers/assignments are also required and should be included in your marking period portfolio. This marking period your identity drafts should be included in your portfolio. 4 = Exemplary 3= Accomplished 2= Promising 1=Beginning 0=Failing Exemplary : Thoroughly and artistically developed and crafted characters, plot, structure, co...

Period 1: This morning please prepare and upload or print out your 2nd marking period portfolio. Some things to note: You need a reflection. Reflect on the work/writing you have included in your MP2 portfolio. How have you improved? What problems still exist with your writing or writing process? What have you learned from rewriting, revision, or the literature we read in MP2 about your own style/voice, or writing projects? What are your goals for MP3? What would you like to see more or less of in class? What kind of specific feedback do you need on your writing drafts? Please proofread your drafts before submitting them. Remember to include evidence of previous drafts if you want credit for revision. See rubrics above this post. You should use Grammarly as a proofreading tool and view VERSION HISTORY in your Google Docs if you need evidence of revision. Make sure you provide titles for your work and indicate the DRAFT # in your headings.  If you placed your drafts in your g...

Period 1: Let's read the  short article about Mexican mythology/Aztec mythology . Check out these important  Aztec gods . And read/learn about  some Mexican myths/legends . Write an ode to one of them--or an elegy (since they are no longer worshiped) or a story involving one of them...this might be humorous (an Aztec god who now works in a Taco Bell) or horror (a maniac who kidnaps someone to call forth one of the Aztec gods through blood sacrifice), or any other genre you might be interested in (mystery, romance, western, adventure, science fiction, etc.) Write a documentary poem like Forche's prose poem "The Colonel"--use the country you studied for your presentation or some other event of your choosing. Want some current Mexican news? Check  here . Or current Puerto Rican news? Check  here . Continue your Mexican story from last class or work on your portfolio or continue workshopping. Period 2: Until about 8:40 please gather in your readi...

Let's pick up either A. All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy or B.  Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea. Before you pick check the links and decide which book you want to read. Well, it certainly looks like you know what the typical American knows about Mexican culture...food & celebrations aside, we're going to have to do better research. Let's look back at our padlet... Mexican culture padlet . And now, let's watch this short video: The Average American v. Average Mexican and then research for a writing piece. 1. Pick a contemporary issue reported on the daily life of a Mexican "character". Look at one of these daily papers to help you select a topic/article. El Universal Mexico Daily News Banderas News Other online newspapers 2. Consider what you learned about a Mexican citizen from the video above, choose a name for your character (see this link for some examples ), and put your character in a city or town in Mexico to...

Period 1: 100 Years of Solitude Discussion Discussion Questions: Discuss the importance of the setting in the novel. How is Macondo a character in this book? Using Ecocriticism, consider how nature is represented in this novel. How are natural forces treated in the book? How does Marquez effectively create conflicts between person v. nature? For what reason do these conflicts occur? Why might this be important to understand the point of the novel? Discuss your favorite character in the novel. Why was this character compelling to you or how did the character catch your attention? There are so many characters in this novel. Why? What might Marquez be trying to do by providing us with an epic story like this? What was your experience trying to figure out the different characters in the novel? What did you learn about writing interesting characters in stories from reading this book? Take a feminist/gender focus or reading of this text. Are female characters interesting or powerful...

This morning, please take the exam for 100 Years of Solitude . When the class is finished with the test, we will hold a discussion on the book in the Socratic seminar form. While we are waiting for our peers to complete the test, if you find you finish early, please work on your writing portfolio. You might write a story set in your researched country, or use this knowledge to write a magical realist story. Characteristics of magical realism include  five  primary  traits: An " irreducible " magic that cannot be explained by standard or accepted notions of natural law or physics.  A realist description that stresses normal, common, every-day phenomena or realistic depiction of characters.  This realistic style reporting unrealistic events causes the reader to be drawn between the two views/extremes of reality and fantasy.  These two visions or realms (realism/fantasy) merge or intersect.  Time is reported both as history and the timeless or...

Period 1: Welcome back! Take about 10 minutes this morning to prepare your speech/presentations. We will give the rest of our presentations to the class: Suriname : Akhiyar Bolivia: Pahz Paraguay : Kyla Panama: Alquasia Honduras: Joshua Guatemala: Isobel Costa Rica: Kemani Trinadad & Tobago (islands): Raeona Belize : Turon Period 2ish: When we are done with presentations, please watch the following on 100 Years of Solitude . Your test will be next class, along with our discussion of the book. Crash Course: 100 Years of Solitude, Part 1 (with John Green) Crash Course: 100 Years of Solitude, Part 2 A major theme in the book involves colonialism. With a partner, discuss and find examples of  Post Colonialism  in the novel. Take notes. HOMEWORK: Complete your reading of  100 Years of Solitude . Take notes! There will be a test and discussion on the book next class. See previous posts for details and help with the book if you need it. See your han...