English 4: 12/10, 13/10

1. Work day.
2. Make up and complete all zeros. There should be no zeros for any assignment. All make up work must be done.
3. Complete Macbeth for any who need to read.
4. Work on/complete if possible the process writing assignment: Cause and effect, pages 530-537 based on a character from Macbeth
5. Begin organizing and preparing for the semester exam.
6. Students were given the period to work, my assistance as needed, and a computer as needed.
   

Drama: 12/10/10

1. Set up semester exam and then spend the rest of class working on it.
2. Students are to choose a scripted character or create their own.
3. Written material required: 1. Character description; 2. Character background that would make motives and goals understandable; 3. Character motivations and goals
   
4. Performance requirements (each will be evaluated on a 0 to 5 scale with 5 being excellent): 1. 3 to 5 minute time limits: cut off at 7 minutes; 2. Character is distinct and separate from actor; 3. Character is believable; 4. Visual content: mannerisms, movements, body language; 5. Accent, language, word use; 6. Relationships to self and/or others; 7. Script: story content; 8. Emotional content
   
5. Students were given the rest of class and use of the computers to prepare.
   

English 4: 12/8,9/10

1. Reminder: primary goals for the rest of this semester: A. Clean up and complete all zeros and make up work. B. Complete Macbeth and the process writing assignment. C. Prepare and take the semester exam.
2. Read and take notes for the writing assignment Acts 4 and 5 of Macbeth. Discuss and explain the various aspects of the reading.
3. Discussion: Q and A regarding Macbeth and the writing process paper.
   

Drama: 12/8/10

1. Discussion, what makes comedy funny.
2. Read Chapter 12 aloud, 124-133.
3. Intersperse reading with video examples. Evaluate the various videos and stories for what made them funny.
   
4. Point of this time of study is not just to know something is funny or do something that is funny, but to know/evaluate/analyze the elements at work in a humorous piece.
5. Test on Chapter 12 expected next class.
   

English 4: 12/6,7/10

1. Handout that covered the last agenda, giving instructions and reminders regarding their cause and effect writing assignment due on or before December 15.
2. Students are assigned to create a list of all their zeros from the current print out of grades for my initials (and for a grade in the grade book). Students can take the list home for a parent signature and bring back for extra credit.
3. Read and take notes (as preparation for the essay) all of Acts 2 and 3.
4. Spend any remaining time working on the project.
   

Drama: 12/6/10

1. Completed students presenting their "Mannerisms" papers with trials and illustrations.
2. Students given an example of prosody from "A Tell Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe
3. Students assigned to do a prosody example. They are to bring in a reading that will take them one to four minutes to perform. They are to be rehearsed and ready.
4. Students presented their "Relationships" papers, explaining the different motivations and goals of the persons/characters they observed.
5. Reminded students of the requirements for the "Comedy" observation paper, particularly focusing on timing, content, physical mannerisms/content, and staging
6. Students began reading Chapter 12 beginning on page 124 in class. The test will be soon.
   

English 4: 12/2,3/10

1. Remind: Writing assignment is prompt 2, page 530 (choose a character from Macbeth and follow the cause and effect events that lead to the character's final outcome in the play)
2. Example: A model for the writing assignment is on pages 531, 532.
3. Pre-writing is half the project grade. Students can choose to follow the process on pages 533, 534 or the 4 D's. The rough draft is the other half of the grade.
4. During the reading, students are to use the following two questions to guide their work on cause and effect relationships in the play: A. Why did this happen? and B. What does this change?
5. We read all of Act 1 aloud in class in the modern English from No Fear Shakespeare. Students are to take notes on the character they have chosen to write about as part of their prewrite assignment.
   
6. Resources: A. Sparknotes.com has the study guides that explains and provides the analysis for the different elements of the play. B. No Fear Shakespeare has the complete play with the old English and the modern English side by side.
   

Drama: 12/2/10

1. Present and discuss "Mannerisms" paper. Students imitate mannerisms described. Discussion includes how the mannerisms make us feel or help us understand from doing it as well as from watching it.
2. As soon as this is complete, we will go on to the "Relationship" observation journal and the "Comic Moment" observation.