October 27

Today we had presentations of some of the posters made for our novel.  We heard about the Black Codes, The Emancipation Proclaimation, 13th and 14th ammendments, the KKK, and the Fugitive Slave Act.  We will have more tomorrow.  I also gave about 30 minutes of reading time and had a bit of time to discuss with groups about their dystopian movie trailers.  Please bring a copy of it tomorrow if you can.  We will not be having a quiz this Thursday.

October 26

Well, here I am, back after a long absence.  Yesterday we saw the movie trailers and I have to say that overall, I was very impressed.  Today we looked at some posters about the 1930's and I went over the criteria for the posters.  We will begin to look at these in class tomorrow.  Please do your best to have yours ready.   It is likely that we will not be able to see all of them in one day and we will be going roughly chronologically.  Keep up the reading journal.  I have extended the reading date to Friday which means it must be done by the following Monday.  The quiz this week may be the short story final exam so please keep the various terms in mind.

October 15

Today we signed out "To Kill a Mockingbird" and then had the rest of the class to film the videos.  Remember that these are due on October 25.  Starting Monday you will be reading the book and doing an online research project.  The research project is due on Oct 26.  Have a nice weekend.

October 14

Today I showed the clip about film techniques again and then some people went out to start filming their projects. You must have a completed storyboard and a script before you can go out and film. Bring your stuff with you tomorrow as it is the last day of class time for this project. NO quiz tomorrow.

October 13

Today we watched a few video clips about storyboarding and camera techniques to help you plan your storyboards. I also gave out a sheet for notes/assignment that asked you to collect some information from the videos. We will watch another couple tomorrow. Please have your storyboard done or nearly done for tomorrow. If you have a camera and are planning to shoot on school property, you can use some of tomorrow's class for filming.

October 12

It was record sheet day today.  After this, I asked groups to finish their scripts for their trailers using the synopsis that you wrote last week.  Tomorrow we will be doing the story boards.  Please be thinking about how you want things to look in preparation for this.  You could download copies of the storyboard sheet from that website I showed you, or you can just use paper.  Quiz on Thursday will be Bias to Style.

October 8

We spent today working on the dystopian movie trailers.  You had to get your synopsis finished, and a means of communication with each member of your group outside of class time established.  We made a few alterations to the group #'s which I think will make everyone more successful.  For homework, please use your communication system and make sure that everyone in your group comes to class on Tuesday with a copy of your group's synopsis.  Have nice long weekend.

October 7

Today we did a quiz on the terms Bias to Style and marked it in class.  Then I introduced the movie trailer project.  There was very little time to get started but we will carry on tomorrow.  I was not entirely happy about how the groups were formed etc. so there may have to be adjustments tomorrow.  Be prepared.

October 6

Today we quickly went over the terms Bias to Style and the questions to All the Troubles of the World.  We marked the Harrison Bergeron package.  If yours wasn't done or was incomplete you need to come in after school and re-do it.  Finally, we watched some clips from Brazil and Logan's Run and I briefly described your movie trailer project.  Your quiz is on Bias to Style tomorrow.

October 5

Today we went watched a few clips from the movie The matrix and discussed the dystopian characteristics.  After this I handed out a question booklet on the story Harrison Bergeron.  This package must be done for tomorrow. I also assigned questions 4, 5 and 9 for the story All the Troubles of the World.  Please have this done too.  This week's quiz is the back of last week's list (bias to style).

October 4

Today we watched some film clips from the 1984 apple ad and from a movie called Metropolis.  You had to fill in the worksheet that described the dystopian characteristics of the society and the protagonists.  We then started to read the story "Harrison Bergeron". Please finish the story at home tonight.   I also collected your self-assessment essays today.  If yours did not come in, please get it to me tomorrow.

For your viewing pleasure, I have embedded these clips below.

October 1

Today, despite several unavoidable interruptions, we started talking about what a dystopian world would be like.  I handed out some notes on this and we looked at the 1984 Mac advertisement.  I handed out a sheet where you were asked to find examples of typical dystopian characteristics in the ad.  Don't worry if you did not finish.  We will continue this work on Monday.  Please get your self assessment essay done over the weekend.  I need good and rough copies please.