--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.
Friday, May 29, 2009
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
Monday, May 18, 2009
Monday, May 18
--Eurasian Conference packets were due today. After turning those in, we had a quick debrief of the conference, but you'll be doing more of that in history next class.
--We then watched all of the movie pitches and saw the lovely film posters everyone had designed. They were awesome--you missed out if you were gone today!
--We then did a little "chalk talk" activity over the second part of Wild Swans. (A "chalk talk" is like a written discussion, usually done on the board, but we did it on bucher paper outside!) To make up this activity, answer three of the following questions on a sheet of notebook paper, 3-4 sentences each:
1. What did you think of Yu-Fang and Dr. Xia's relationship?
2. Why were Dr. Xia's children so upset by their father's marriage to Yu-Fang? Do you think they were justified in feeling that way?
3. How is Dr. Xia's household different from the one Yu-Fang grew up in?
4. Why is it so "shocking" that Dr. Xia moves away with Yu-Fang? Does that make sense to you?
5. When Yu-Fang and Dr. Xia move to Jinzhou, why do you think Yu-Fang is so happy, despite the poverty she is experiencing?
--HW: Read Bound Feet in Western Dress for Wed.
--We then watched all of the movie pitches and saw the lovely film posters everyone had designed. They were awesome--you missed out if you were gone today!
--We then did a little "chalk talk" activity over the second part of Wild Swans. (A "chalk talk" is like a written discussion, usually done on the board, but we did it on bucher paper outside!) To make up this activity, answer three of the following questions on a sheet of notebook paper, 3-4 sentences each:
1. What did you think of Yu-Fang and Dr. Xia's relationship?
2. Why were Dr. Xia's children so upset by their father's marriage to Yu-Fang? Do you think they were justified in feeling that way?
3. How is Dr. Xia's household different from the one Yu-Fang grew up in?
4. Why is it so "shocking" that Dr. Xia moves away with Yu-Fang? Does that make sense to you?
5. When Yu-Fang and Dr. Xia move to Jinzhou, why do you think Yu-Fang is so happy, despite the poverty she is experiencing?
--HW: Read Bound Feet in Western Dress for Wed.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Thursday, May 14
--Took a quiz over the first part of Wild Swans--see me for makeup next class if absent today
--I handed out the Eurasian Conference packet, and we reviewed that. If you were gone today, print off a copy of the packet from the EC website and bring it with you tomorrow. Be sure to be there by 8:15 at the latest!!
--We spent most of the rest of class working on the pitch/poster assignment. They're due Monday, so be sure your group is ready!
--HW: Read second half of Wild Swans; complete pitch/poster assignments for Monday
--I handed out the Eurasian Conference packet, and we reviewed that. If you were gone today, print off a copy of the packet from the EC website and bring it with you tomorrow. Be sure to be there by 8:15 at the latest!!
--We spent most of the rest of class working on the pitch/poster assignment. They're due Monday, so be sure your group is ready!
--HW: Read second half of Wild Swans; complete pitch/poster assignments for Monday
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Tuesday, May 12
--Today, everyone got into their film groups and worked pretty much the whole class on designing and planning out their films. Each group filled out a "Film Plan" sheet and turned it in to me; I'll be handing them back next time with feedback. Part of this sheet was assigning roles for the film, so if you were gone today, be sure to check with your group to find out what they'd like you to do.
--I also went over the Pitch/Poster assignment, which is going to be due on Monday, 5/18. You'll have some time to work on it next class, but will probably end up doing most of it outside of class. The whole group doesn't need to work on the poster, but everyone needs to have a role in the pitch. Again, check with your group to see what they covered today.
--HW: Read first chapter of Wild Swans in China packets for Thursday, and expect a quiz!
--I also went over the Pitch/Poster assignment, which is going to be due on Monday, 5/18. You'll have some time to work on it next class, but will probably end up doing most of it outside of class. The whole group doesn't need to work on the poster, but everyone needs to have a role in the pitch. Again, check with your group to see what they covered today.
--HW: Read first chapter of Wild Swans in China packets for Thursday, and expect a quiz!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Thursday, May 7
--Today we began our Chinese literature unit and film project. I introduced the film project and gave out a reading/assignment schedule (get one from crate if absent today). We also got into groups for the film project, so see me or ask a classmate to find out which group you're in. Finally, I handed out the China reading packets.
--HW: Read your group's assigned short story for Tuesday (if you were gone, see if a classmate got you a packet...if not, you can get one from me next time).
--HW: Read your group's assigned short story for Tuesday (if you were gone, see if a classmate got you a packet...if not, you can get one from me next time).
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Tuesday, May 5
--Today was the final test over the India unit--the Nectar in a Sieve passage analysis. It took everyone most of the period to complete, so you'll need to arrange a time to make it up on your own time if you were absent today.
--No lit. homework, but Projects homework is the Position Paper, due Thursday, 5/7. See Eurasian Conference website for directions.
--No lit. homework, but Projects homework is the Position Paper, due Thursday, 5/7. See Eurasian Conference website for directions.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Friday, May 1
--Since so many people were gone today, we moved the final Nectar test back to next Tuesday and did some fun book/vocab review games today. I also showed a few student films from last year to get everyone thinking about the film project at the end of the year. Nothing to make up if you were absent today!!
--HW: Study for your final on Tuesday--make sure you've read the whole book and studied your vocab!!!
--HW: Study for your final on Tuesday--make sure you've read the whole book and studied your vocab!!!
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