Plan for October 24, 2007

Announcements:

· Project and group activity cancelled? Reasons: Graduate-level? With one exception, I seem to be getting the work from just one person, not from a group. People tend to copy and paste materials. So, you only need to submit your project as an individual, and we’ll move on.

· Next week—back to our home classroom

· Prepare a class presentation on your favorite Dr. Seuss (anything except The Zax), or Shel Silverstein, or other children’s poem (or song—I’ll have a CD-tape player here). Your presentation should consist of the following:

§ Giving me a copy of your outline before your talk

§ Reading well (rehearse at home please) (or singing) the poem to the class

§ Applying the 5 levels to it: context, retelling, interpretation, critical evaluation, assimilation

§ Sharing with us the results of additional background research, if necessary (dictionary, background information your listener may need to understand your presentation)

§ Anything else?

§ Can use power point and/or other audiovisuals.

· Final questions: in progress (only if covered in class): FinalQuestions2007.htm

· This in turn mandates policy changes: 1. After October 31, attendance will no longer be taken or counted towards the final grade. If you do well on the test, you can still get an A for this portion of the final grade without attending class even once (starting Nov. 7). 2. This also causes changes in final grade components: Final 45%; Attendance through October 31, 2007 only: 10% (if not a minute missed until then, 5% extra); Short research projects: 35%; Participation and oral presentations: 10%. Consistently demonstrating constructive critical thinking in action (instructor’s decision only): 5% extra.

My show and tell today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_17vGYa81s

Two interpretations of Sound of Thunder: 1. State each. Now explain, relying on the story, why do you believe that is Bradbury’s point? We’ll begin with a discussion, followed by a writing workshop which involves answering this question. To do that, you can work in pairs or singly.

Preparing for your next week’s children story presentation: The Zax (p. 52) (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5578965514830078074&q=%22The+Zax%22&total=10&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=8)

Film: Bread & Tulips. In watching the film, keep this final q in mind: Compare and contrast Elephant’s Ear (pp. 47-50b) to Bread and Tulips (Italian movie we saw; also, click here). Both short story and film depict an accidental adventure, a woman in love, a transforming experience. There are likewise some differences. Your essay will explore these similarities and differences. It will have a title. The first paragraph will have an introduction. The next 2-3 paragraphs will explore some important similarities. The next 2-3 paragraphs, some important differences. The last paragraph will give the essay’s conclusion.

At the end of the film, if we have time, we shall answer this question in writing.

Kiswana Browne: 1. Listen. 2. Retell. 3. Who is right about the name change, Kiswana or her mother?