week of 10/23

10/25/12

Goal: Begin to connect Jovan's presentation, "Step to the Line" and "The Change Poem" to our study of hip-hop and slam.

First Step: Hip-Hop by Mos Def. 

"Hip-Hop" by Mos Def (link to youtube)

Lyrics to "Hip-Hop"

What devices did you notice?

What connections can you make to our discussion/activity on Tuesday?

Change Poems: Let's read!

HW: Post some lyrics on Edmodo to a hip-hop song you like. You don't need to post the whole song. Just post some lines that you like right onto the class feed. Make sure you mention who the poet is (the writer/rapper).


10/23/12

Goals: Use Jovan Mays as a jumping off point to explore hip-hop, slam, and ourselves. Get outside our comfort zones a little.

First Step: Debrief Jovan's visit. What did you get out of it?

My points: His honesty. His unapologetic conviction about who he is. His sincere desire to share his craft.

Line Activity: 

HW (due Thursday): Change Poem (link) Note: Everybody reads. 

week of 10/9/12

10/11/12

Goal: Wrap up papers. 

First Step: First Afghan female rapper!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Gwi7SNiTx0 (Youtube)

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/female-rapper-history-afghanistan-article-1.1178182 (Article)

Next: Find a partner. go through the paper and help each other improve. I will come around to answer questions and check drafts. With any remaining time that you have, begin completing you paper. 

HW: Turn in a polished copy of your paper on Tuesday!


10/9/12

Goal: One more great poem, continue working on paper.

First Step: Rudy Francisco Poem. Just listen.

Template is on Edmodo. Make a copy or print it. Freewrite time. 

Share some of them. 

If time: Work on papers as I check to see who has done the intro/outline.

HW: Paper Due one week from today (mostly because I don't want them over the weekend! :). 

week of 10/2/12

10/4/12

Goal: Consider the connections between Man on Wire and unit themes. Synthesize ideas from the first 6 weeks. Begin drafting an essay.

HW (see below) 

First Step: Read the following poem and respond to the questions below it. 

WHEN I MET MY MUSE

(Definition of muse: A guiding spirit; a source of inspiration. Also, the ancient Greek goddesses of inspiration)


I glanced at her and took my glasses
off — they were still singing. They buzzed
like a locust on the coffee table and then
ceased. Her voice belled forth, and the
sunlight bent. I felt the ceiling arch, and
knew that nails up there took a new grip
on whatever they touched. “I am your own
way of looking at things,” she said. “When
you allow me to live with you, every
glance at the world around you will be
a sort of salvation.” And I took her hand.
~ William Stafford (1914-1993)

1. Why is the muse female?
2. Why are the glasses singing and buzzing?
3. Why does the ceiling arch?

Brief Discussion

6-week assignment: Hand out and explain. Assignment and rubric.

Look at my example of the assignment.

Edmodo Small Groups: Quick Intro. (ON EDMODO--note creative writing examples)

Task: 
1. Find your group on the lefthand side of the page. It's the name of the poet right under the poetry tab.
2. On your own, choose one "class event" from the list. On your small group page, write down a connection between that event and a theme in Man on Wire.

Example:
Taylor Mali's poem on conviction relates to Man on Wire because Mali says, "You must speak with conviction" and Philipe says that you must "live your life on a tightrope." These ideas are related because they are both about living the life YOU want to live.

3. Once everyone has posted, meet with your small group. Work together to put together an intro paragraph that pulls together at least a couple of these connections. Post your paragraph on the main page.


HW: Complete your intro paragraph and outline for your 6-week paper. (Similar to my example).







10/2/12

Goal: Finish "Man on Wire"

First Step: What are some connections you've already seen between Philipe and the poetry class so far.

Watch the last 40  minutes of Man on Wire. 
Questions:

There is no 'why.'" Why does Philipe say 

this?


Why are his friends so emotional?



The cop is moved by the scene to the point 

of getting out of character. Why?