--Today was the final test over our China unit. If you were absent today, you'll need to e-mail me to set up a time for you to make up the test.
--No homework--we'll be watching your films next class and having our Oscar party! Dress up if you want extra credit! :)
Friday, June 12, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Thursday, June 4
--Eurasian Conference reflections due today. If you didn't turn yours in today, be sure to put yours in my box tomorrow, no later!
--We started class with a freewrite response to Red Azalea. If you were gone today, you can answer the following questions on a piece of notebook paper to turn in next time:
What did you think of Anchee’s betrayal of her teacher, Autumn Leaves? What was the Secretary’s “evidence” for thinking Autumn Leaves was a spy, and was there any merit to it? Given the pressures that were placed on Anchee, do you think you would have done the same thing she did? Why or why not?
--We then began watching the rest of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (I decided to reward everyone for their hard work and take the last short story off of the reading list!) We'll be finishing the movie next class, and you can get extra credit for doing a viewing guide if you want.
--Homework: No reading homework (don't need to read "A Girl Like Me" like the schedule says)--just work on your films, DVD copies of which are due Wednesday, 6/10!!
--We started class with a freewrite response to Red Azalea. If you were gone today, you can answer the following questions on a piece of notebook paper to turn in next time:
What did you think of Anchee’s betrayal of her teacher, Autumn Leaves? What was the Secretary’s “evidence” for thinking Autumn Leaves was a spy, and was there any merit to it? Given the pressures that were placed on Anchee, do you think you would have done the same thing she did? Why or why not?
--We then began watching the rest of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (I decided to reward everyone for their hard work and take the last short story off of the reading list!) We'll be finishing the movie next class, and you can get extra credit for doing a viewing guide if you want.
--Homework: No reading homework (don't need to read "A Girl Like Me" like the schedule says)--just work on your films, DVD copies of which are due Wednesday, 6/10!!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Tuesday, June 2
--Took a quiz over "Guessie Grows Up"
--We had a student-generated discussion of the story using the questions that everyone brought to class with them. If you were gone today, be sure to turn in your 3 discussion questions next time to get credit for today.
--We started reading the next story, Red Azalea, out loud in class, and I discussed a few key reminders about the story--namely that it is a true story of the author's childhood growing up as a Little Red Guard during the Revolution.
--HW: Finish reading Red Azalea for next time; Projects Eurasian Conference reflection is also due on Thursday (questions are on the website)
--We had a student-generated discussion of the story using the questions that everyone brought to class with them. If you were gone today, be sure to turn in your 3 discussion questions next time to get credit for today.
--We started reading the next story, Red Azalea, out loud in class, and I discussed a few key reminders about the story--namely that it is a true story of the author's childhood growing up as a Little Red Guard during the Revolution.
--HW: Finish reading Red Azalea for next time; Projects Eurasian Conference reflection is also due on Thursday (questions are on the website)
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday, May 29
--Storyboards due!
--Today we did fishbowl discussions on "Daughter of the Yellow River." If you were absent today, you'll need to make up this activity by answering TWO of the fishbowl questions on your own notebook paper, 4-5 thoughtful, well-written sentences each. (See last class' posting for the questions.)
--HW: Read "Guessie Grows Up" for Tuesday, and write 3 open-ended (meaning no set "correct" answer) discussion questions about the story to bring to class and use in discussion.
--Today we did fishbowl discussions on "Daughter of the Yellow River." If you were absent today, you'll need to make up this activity by answering TWO of the fishbowl questions on your own notebook paper, 4-5 thoughtful, well-written sentences each. (See last class' posting for the questions.)
--HW: Read "Guessie Grows Up" for Tuesday, and write 3 open-ended (meaning no set "correct" answer) discussion questions about the story to bring to class and use in discussion.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wednesday, May 27
--Turned in screenplays at the beginning of class
--Today we did a graded partner discussion on the point of view shifts in Becoming Madame Mao. If you were gone today, get a copy of the assignment from the crate and complete it on your own, or look at the questions below and answer them on your own paper.
--Then, I handed out the fishbowl questions for "Daughter of the Yellow River", the story we'll be reading for next time. Make sure to read the questions and prepare responses for each since you don't know which question you will get in advance. The questions are on a yellow handout in the crate or you can see them below.
--We spent the last 30 minutes or so working on the storyboards in film groups. Storyboards are due next class, so be sure to have them done!
--HW: Read "Daughter of the Yellow River" and prepare for fishbowls; complete storyboard assignment
Practice with Point of View Shifts
Becoming Madame Mao
This story is confusing because it breaks a common convention in writing—the idea that all of a story should be told from one point of view. Writers usually choose to compose stories from either a third person omniscient viewpoint, in which case the narrator of the story can see everything that happens, or a first person viewpoint, in which case the narrator sees what happens from within the mind of one character.
Lately, some writers have been changing the usual customs around point of view. In fact, to change this convention is one hallmark of a form of writing that has become known as Post-Modernist. Post-Modernist writers tend to break a lot of rules in order to force their audience to see the world in a different way. Also, Post-Modernist writers use second person point of view (you), more often than writers have in the past.
However, no writer shifts point of view at random. Almost all audiences start a story expecting to hear it from a single point of view, and so stories that don’t do so tend to confuse their audiences at first. In other words, when they shift point of view, writers sacrifice clarity for another purpose. Our job today is to figure out to what purpose Anchee Min sacrifices an element of clarity.
With a partner, discuss and then answer the following questions in COMPLETE sentences.
1. In Becoming Madame Mao, which is historical fiction, author Anchee Min shifts the point of view of the story frequently. Describe the two points of view that Min uses. Where does the first point of view shift take place? (Explain whose perspective it shifts to and where it happens, i.e. page and paragraph.)
2. What is the effect of these point of view shifts? What do they do for our perception of the characters’ experiences? To answer this, think about how you felt as you read this piece.
3. Evaluate Min’s use of these shifts. Are the reasons her use of them worth the sacrifice she makes in terms of clarity? Why or why not? Write 2-3 sentences to explain
“Daughter of the Yellow River” Fishbowl Discussions
Fishbowl Reminders:
• I will randomly call up 6-8 people to participate in each fishbowl. You won’t know in advance which question you’ll get, so prepare for all of them!
• Share your own ideas about the question, as well as commenting/following up on others’ ideas. Be respectful of each other and listen attentively to their comments.
• Remember to speak to the other people in your group, not to me or the rest of the class.
• To get full credit out of 15 points, you should speak at least 2-3 different times with well-developed ideas.
• You will receive a separate score out of 5 points for offering at least one piece of thoughtful feedback in response to another group’s discussion.
Possible Questions:
1. Does age difference matter when it comes to relationships? If so, why? How is the age difference between Granny Duo and Grandpa Duo seen by society in the story? Do you think their age difference would be as big of a deal now, in our society? Why or why not?
2. How does Granny Duo stand out as an individual in her society? What kinds of values does she seem to possess or represent that make other people feel threatened by her? Do you think those same values still threaten people in American society today? Explain.
3. Do you think love is the most important value in a long-term relationship? If so, does that make it acceptable for Granny Duo to leave her husband for Ergeze? Or should she have stayed with him, even though she didn’t love him? Why or why not?
4. Look at the descriptions of the river on pg. 185-188. What kind of atmosphere is created by this description? Find some specific examples of how the river is described and discuss the effect this description has on the story.
5. How did you react to Grandpa Duo’s forgiveness of Granny and Ergeze’s actions at the end? Why do you think he was able to forgive them? Was he right to? Do you think that kind of forgiveness could happen in our society today? Why or why not?
--Today we did a graded partner discussion on the point of view shifts in Becoming Madame Mao. If you were gone today, get a copy of the assignment from the crate and complete it on your own, or look at the questions below and answer them on your own paper.
--Then, I handed out the fishbowl questions for "Daughter of the Yellow River", the story we'll be reading for next time. Make sure to read the questions and prepare responses for each since you don't know which question you will get in advance. The questions are on a yellow handout in the crate or you can see them below.
--We spent the last 30 minutes or so working on the storyboards in film groups. Storyboards are due next class, so be sure to have them done!
--HW: Read "Daughter of the Yellow River" and prepare for fishbowls; complete storyboard assignment
Practice with Point of View Shifts
Becoming Madame Mao
This story is confusing because it breaks a common convention in writing—the idea that all of a story should be told from one point of view. Writers usually choose to compose stories from either a third person omniscient viewpoint, in which case the narrator of the story can see everything that happens, or a first person viewpoint, in which case the narrator sees what happens from within the mind of one character.
Lately, some writers have been changing the usual customs around point of view. In fact, to change this convention is one hallmark of a form of writing that has become known as Post-Modernist. Post-Modernist writers tend to break a lot of rules in order to force their audience to see the world in a different way. Also, Post-Modernist writers use second person point of view (you), more often than writers have in the past.
However, no writer shifts point of view at random. Almost all audiences start a story expecting to hear it from a single point of view, and so stories that don’t do so tend to confuse their audiences at first. In other words, when they shift point of view, writers sacrifice clarity for another purpose. Our job today is to figure out to what purpose Anchee Min sacrifices an element of clarity.
With a partner, discuss and then answer the following questions in COMPLETE sentences.
1. In Becoming Madame Mao, which is historical fiction, author Anchee Min shifts the point of view of the story frequently. Describe the two points of view that Min uses. Where does the first point of view shift take place? (Explain whose perspective it shifts to and where it happens, i.e. page and paragraph.)
2. What is the effect of these point of view shifts? What do they do for our perception of the characters’ experiences? To answer this, think about how you felt as you read this piece.
3. Evaluate Min’s use of these shifts. Are the reasons her use of them worth the sacrifice she makes in terms of clarity? Why or why not? Write 2-3 sentences to explain
“Daughter of the Yellow River” Fishbowl Discussions
Fishbowl Reminders:
• I will randomly call up 6-8 people to participate in each fishbowl. You won’t know in advance which question you’ll get, so prepare for all of them!
• Share your own ideas about the question, as well as commenting/following up on others’ ideas. Be respectful of each other and listen attentively to their comments.
• Remember to speak to the other people in your group, not to me or the rest of the class.
• To get full credit out of 15 points, you should speak at least 2-3 different times with well-developed ideas.
• You will receive a separate score out of 5 points for offering at least one piece of thoughtful feedback in response to another group’s discussion.
Possible Questions:
1. Does age difference matter when it comes to relationships? If so, why? How is the age difference between Granny Duo and Grandpa Duo seen by society in the story? Do you think their age difference would be as big of a deal now, in our society? Why or why not?
2. How does Granny Duo stand out as an individual in her society? What kinds of values does she seem to possess or represent that make other people feel threatened by her? Do you think those same values still threaten people in American society today? Explain.
3. Do you think love is the most important value in a long-term relationship? If so, does that make it acceptable for Granny Duo to leave her husband for Ergeze? Or should she have stayed with him, even though she didn’t love him? Why or why not?
4. Look at the descriptions of the river on pg. 185-188. What kind of atmosphere is created by this description? Find some specific examples of how the river is described and discuss the effect this description has on the story.
5. How did you react to Grandpa Duo’s forgiveness of Granny and Ergeze’s actions at the end? Why do you think he was able to forgive them? Was he right to? Do you think that kind of forgiveness could happen in our society today? Why or why not?
Friday, May 22, 2009
Friday, May 22
--Took a quiz over Bound Feet short story and had a quick whole-class discussion
--I gave some background about Becoming Madame Mao, the next story we'll be reading. If you were gone today, get online and research Madame Mao before reading the story so you can be sure to understand the context.
--I gave film groups the rest of the class to work on their screenplays and storyboards--screenplays are due next time!!
--HW: Read Becoming Madame Mao and complete screenplays for Wed. Have a great weekend!!!
--I gave some background about Becoming Madame Mao, the next story we'll be reading. If you were gone today, get online and research Madame Mao before reading the story so you can be sure to understand the context.
--I gave film groups the rest of the class to work on their screenplays and storyboards--screenplays are due next time!!
--HW: Read Becoming Madame Mao and complete screenplays for Wed. Have a great weekend!!!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Wednesday, May 20
--Today we did NOT have a quiz on the reading because I messed up...the schedule said to only read ch. 1 of Bound Feet, but I accidentally assigned the entire thing last time. So, we will have a quiz over the whole story on Friday instead.
--I went over the next 2 steps of the film project: the screenplay and the storyboard. We then got into groups and worked on these the rest of the period. Make sure to talk to your group if you were absent so you know what they completed/worked on today.
--HW: Make sure you've read all of Bound Feet and Western Dress for Friday; work on screenplays
--I went over the next 2 steps of the film project: the screenplay and the storyboard. We then got into groups and worked on these the rest of the period. Make sure to talk to your group if you were absent so you know what they completed/worked on today.
--HW: Make sure you've read all of Bound Feet and Western Dress for Friday; work on screenplays
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