Mrs. Ledbetter’s Senior Seminar

Just a reminder: the third draft of your narrative is due Tuesday, November 18. I will be expecting VERY few mechanics errors (spelling, punctuation, tense shifts, etc.) and an obvious attempt to show sentence variety, strong diction, and poetic devices (similes, metaphors, etc.).

As we speak, I am ensconced in a hotel in downtown Tulsa, a place where they literally roll up the carpet at sundown - we had to briskly walk (frigid wind!!!) four blocks just to find food. We began the day in a cramped, twin-propeller, puddle jumper - also known as an airplane - kind of. After the second plane ride in a similar vehicle, complete with a farting fat man next to me and turbulence which made me feel as if I’d signed up for bronc’ riding at some point, intellectually I know that this beats a 14 hour car ride, but my aching backside is screaming at me. All of this in the name of relaxation! I’ll check in tomorrow after we visit the Fitness Expo (lots of crazy runner people in the same room!!).

Search the above example for creative sentence structure (dash)(and parenthesis), simile, personification, alliteration, vivid verbs, vivid description and a kenning!

Rock on!

Your illuminated writing project will be completed as we read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. You will be required to choose four lines of the romance and create an illuminated writing that features a large initial letter with illustrations of the content in the four lines and Medieval decorations. This must be done in color. I have several examples at my desk that you may view to assist you. The due date will be given when we begin reading Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

Enjoy!

The Heraldry project will be assigned the week of November 17. Your crest will be due on Tuesday, November 25. As your rubric details, you may choose any family name or create your own crest. Accompanying the crest you must give the meaning behind all symbols, colors, etc. on your crest. In addition, you must give a logical opinion as to how this name came to be in existence (ie. Shoemaker = occupation). The size of your crest must be at least 18′ x 24′. It may use posterboard, which will receive full credit, or you may use fabric or wood to earn extra credit. I have packets detailing the meaning behind most symbols, etc. which you may use during class. In addition, I will be giving you links to websites like www.5dollarcoatsofarms.com which will allow you to at least look at your crest at no cost.

Happy hunting!

We are entering my favorite unit - the Medieval Era. Also known as the Dark Ages or the Middle Ages, this time is filled with the “stuff” of imagination. The people of the British Isles were very superstitious and believed in omens, signs, magic, fairies, sprites, nymphs, dragons, magicians, etc. This is the time both Robin Hood and King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table were born.

During this unit we will be completing various projects and participating in many classroom activities. I challenge you as a student to use these to renew your interest in education. I realize that it’s almost Christmas of your senior year - almost finished! However, you’re ALMOST finished - remember: You don’t get something for nothing…..

This week we are exploring the world of the Anglo-Saxon Era in the British Isles. As we read Beowulf (Bear), I challenge you to look beyond the story itself and consider the role of the hero in society itself. How does our society today shape what we view as a hero? Would Beowulf be a hero in the 21st century? Why or why not?

In addition, think about this tale from the aspect of the villain - Grendel. He is described as being “hated by God”, “forever banished”, and “forever joyless.” Although he is depicted as a monster who gleefully smashes men in their beds and runs out trailing their blood behind him, your challenge will be to tell this tale from his perspective. How does he see Herot and Hrothgar’s men when he hears them singing praises to a God that he cannot know?

Today’s question: Beowulf - an Anglo-Saxon hero. Would he be a hero by 21st century standards?

On Wednesday we will conclude our discussion of Beowulf with his battle with the dragon. We will begin reviewing and test on either Thursday or Friday. We will then begin watching the new film version of Beowulf and write an analytical piece comparing/contrasting the film and the epic. This analysis should answer the question: Does the film stay true to the elements of an epic? Is the film Beowulf an epic hero? Is this film an effective companion piece to the actual epic?

I hope you all enjoyed your Fall Break!

Now that school is back in session, it’s time to refocus and work towards completing some quality portfolio pieces, reading some more great literature, and working to improve our grammar skills!

Please see the week’s agenda below; pay close attention to due dates!!

Monday, October 20 - Verb tense introduction/practice, begin narrative conferences, Macbeth conclusion project explained/assigned.

Due dates: Tuesday, October 21 - verb tense practice sheet, project plan sheet 

Monday, October 27 - Macbeth project

Wednesday, October 29 - Narrative 2nd draft due (all changes annotated/highlighted!)

Tuesday, October 21 - KIP Survey, review Act III, scene iv of Macbeth. Letter assignment given with rubric. Narrative conferences continue. 

New due date: Wednesday, October 22 - Banquet scene letter due

Wednesday, October 22 - (District Walk-Through) Editing, tense flashback, continuation of verb tense (progressive/emphatic), practice, review Act V, scene i of Macbeth. Small group assignment of dialect rewrite - Due by end of class period.

New due date: Thursday, October 23 - verb tense practice due

Thursday, October 23 - Field trip to watch Macbeth at Falling Springs

Friday, October 24 - Anglo/Saxon web quest in library. Preparation for reading Beowulf.

Remember: Macbeth projects due Monday!!

Whew! It seemed like Fall Break would never arrive!! It has been crazy working to finish Macbeth in just 11 class periods!! However, I hope that once we see it on stage October 23, it will have been worth the extra effort.

Now for an update, be ready to work on your narrative after Fall Break. I will be giving back your rough draft (with many comments!) and speaking with you one-on-one about how to improve your piece. We will be doing three drafts of this piece; I will expect each one to improve exponentially (look it up!!). We will also begin working on your transactive pieces, which you pulled out of your working portfolio. Both pieces should be close to portfolio-ready by Christmas. Remember: the goal isn’t Apprentice, it’s Proficient!!

Tomorrow we will be working to complete Act II of Macbeth; students should be prepared to quiz over Act II on Thursday, October 2. You will definitely be having outside reading assignments beginning Thursday night, so NO WHINING!!!

Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 9 from 5:30-8:30. Please encourage your parents to call the WCHS office to make an appointment. I will be contacting the parents of all students who presently have a “D” or an “F” and asking for a conference; your parents may rather hear it from you, so………..

Thanks for the attention and hard work the majority of you give every day. Continue to be focused on that prize in May - GRADUATION!!!

Playoffs begin tomorrow - GO CUBS!!

As we work our way through Macbeth, keep in mind that the play will be covered on our midterm exam - Thursday, October 9 and Friday, October 10. Make sure that you are completing your study questions daily and writing in the margin the important quotes and other information stressed in class regarding repeated themes, etc.

On another note, one of the new school policies involves mandatory tutoring for those students who have D’s and F’s in their classes. I will be contacting you individually if you fall into this category. We will schedule a tutoring date and time; during this time you may work on assignments that you have not completed, or I can assist you with material you don’t understand. Failure to attend these tutoring sessions will result in disciplinary action through administration. Guys, this policy is designed to assist you students (whether you like it or not!) in achieving your goal of graduating in May. If you object to mandatory tutoring, then you need to make sure you maintain a C or better in your classes!!!

Go Cubs!!