Reflection and Response on Reading Assignments and Your Learning Style

Please comment on how we have had more independent reading time with smaller discussion groups.  This feedback will be very useful in planning our final unit on The Road as well as my preparation for next year's classes.

Please don't feel obligated to fill up this blog post with a lot of words.  I'm really just looking for your honest response on how the schedule of reading time, quizzes, discussions and papers have worked for you as an individual.  The more honest you can be, the more helpful it will be for me - and, potentially, for you since I can still apply some of your suggestions to this final unit.

NO LENGTH REQUIREMENT
DUE: End of day (11:59PM) Sunday, May 20

Suggested topics to discuss:
***Please restrict your discussion to how we study books***

• small group versus large group discussions
• independent reading time versus daily assignments
• online quizzes versus paper quizzes
• note-taking during reading
• forum posts and blog writing
• instruction of literary devices
• activities you have done in other classes that have helped with analyzing literature

Slaughterhouse-5 Movie Response

 *I suggest you do this assignment first while the movie and presentations are fresh in your minds*

General instructions: write a reflection on the adaptation of the book to a movie, any version(s) of the movie we have dealt with (the actual movie and student concepts).

300 word minimum

Due: Published to your blog by end of day (11:59pm) Sunday, May 20

Suggested topics*:

• Additional insight/understanding you gained from the projects/movie
• Changes made in the actual movie that you thought worked well
• Changes made in the actual movie that you didn't like
• Ideas you had for your movie that were better than the actual movie
• Ideas other groups had that were better than the actual movie
• The musical choices used by other groups or in the actual movie
• Casting of the actual movie or student projects

*feel free to branch out and write about anything else related to the book/movie

Boy in the Striped Pajamas Extra Credit Blog Assignment

Read the 2006 novel by John Boyne and write a 300 word blog on the differences / similarities between the movie and book, how they worked thematically, and how they affected you emotionally.
Read the 2006 novel by John Boyne and write a 300 word blog on the differences / similarities between the movie and book, how they worked thematically, and how they affected you emotionally.

Boy in the Striped Pajamas Response Blogs - 2 OPTIONS

OPTION I
Create a found poem from the reflection/response free-write you did after the movie yesterday.

Provide a thoughtful and thorough explanation of what poetic devices you used to add meaning to your poem.

***To receive credit, you must turn in your pre-writing with YOUR NAME on it.

Grading: 5 points total (3 points for poem; 2 points for explanation)
Due: 11:59 PM, Wed., Apr 11

OPTION II
Write a 300-word blog response to how The Boy in the Striped Pajamas works as a text of witness. What is its theme? Consider how this theme is similar to and different from Night and Maus. In particular, consider the following points.
1) As a work of fiction about a real-life event - especially one as well-known and written-about as the Holocaust - is the impact of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas lessened or mitigated? Why or why not?
2) Reflect on the role of misunderstanding and secrecy in the movie. How are these elements incorporated into the theme of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas? How does the young protagonist's naive point of view contribute thematically to the story?

Grading: 5 points total (3 points for completion; 2 points for content)
Due: 11:59 PM, Wed., April 11

Poem exercise from "Witness" reading

Witness reading linked here

Poem worth 4 points
Explanation worth 4 points

References and Alluions Poem (Maus/Night Reflection)

Write a poem that uses at least 8 references and allusions to Maus and/or Night to express your witness experience of reading those texts. References should be CAPITALIZED, bold or italicized.

Afterwards, include an explanation of what your poem means, where you incorporated your volta, and how you used references and allusions to the texts.

Poem worth 4 points
Explanation worth 4 points

Personal Narrative (meter and rhyme) Witness Poem

For this assignment, cut and paste the verse and chorus of a familiar song into your blog. Scan (label the accented syllables) to establish a meter and rhyme structure.

Next, rewrite that verse and chorus into a narrative witness poem of personal experience that FOLLOWS THE SAME METER AND RHYME.

Link to the original song to cite the actual meter/rhyme
Explain how you use the meter and rhyme to add meaning to you poem.
Required elements:
same meter and rhyme as original
volta

Poem is worth 4 points
Explanation is worth 4 points

See video below for a demonstration of scanning a poem: