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Education Poem Response

If you want to get your point across, a poem is usually the wrong way to do it.  That's why I was impressed with Andew Samuel's piece titled "Modern Education."

Usually poets tend to lose the point and wander off into rants or get lost with their cool rhymes, but Samuel keeps his focus by listing three pillars of modern education that he finds most disturbing.

1.  Education stifles creativity.  As a teacher I have to agree.  Poetry, art, and creation is valued less and less by our public schools who seem intent on only teaching the skills that will produce the best test results.  My English department no longer even offers creative writing as an elective choice.  Writing in our schools today is not about self exploration, it is about test score generation.

2.  Schools exist to judge and condemn you.  Unfortunately, he is right again.  The current grading system seems to do a great job telling people they are less than perfect, less than smart.  Even the new standards based grading system that we are developing now still boils down to one letter on your report card that tells the majority of people that someone else is smarter.  Why can't your report card judge this year's performance against your performance last year?  Why do we insist on creating competition between teenagers for a limited number of stamps of approval?

3.  Segregation / Inequality.  In Illinois especially, the rich are given extra facilities and services, while the poor do without textbooks, libraries and the like.  Much of the entrenched beauracracy exists to preserve the wealth of the rich and give as little to the poor as possible.  Need some evidence?  Check out the Illinois state school report card:  http://schools.chicagotribune.com/district/grant-chsd-124/#operating-expenditures

Clearly there are other problems in schools, but "Modern Education" hits the big three.  Andrew Samuel shows us that schools are corporate entitities designed to crank out ACT takers, not develop individuals.

Weirdo Theater

When I was young (no doubt you thrill to hear those words), My brother and I used to have an old black and white tv in our bedroom. In those days having an extra tv was quite a luxury, but little danger to your development, as there were so few interesting shows on that we rarely bothered to turn on the darn thing. Most of our time was spent riding our bikes around town, exploring the nearby river, or getting into trouble with our BB guns...but I wax nostalgic, to the point!

Every Saturday night at 10:30 we would climb into bed and prepare to be scared by "Weirdo Theater." "Weirdo Theater" was a show that reran all the old horror movies from the 30's, 40's and 50's. All of them were creepy to a kid, but the films that really grabbed me were the Frankenstein films. I loved the creation scenes in the lab with sparks flying everywhere, tubes of colored liquid bubbling, the hunchbacked Igor on the roof, and the crazed Dr. Frankenstein screaming "It's alive!" For my money it didn't get any better.

As I grew older I moved onto many other films, and in high school I read every Stephen King book I could get my hands on, but I still have a soft spot for the big guy with the flat head and bolts in his neck.

Per 4, 6 Frankenstein Calendar

Per 4, 6 Frankenstein calendar

Starting the Watchmen Project

Authors – Begin by creating a story board with rough sketches and dialogue. You need to create at least 4 pages with 6 small panels, or some larger panels on each page. You also need to make sure you include at least two of the storylines. At the end of the project, you must hand in your storyboard.

Artists – Help the author decide on the story line, then find some sample pages with the characters you are about to draw. Study the style, the lines, the minor details, etc. You are obviously creating the final product.

Critics – Help the author decide what to draw and make sure s/he is keeping the characters in line with the novel. Make sure the author and artist add important thematic elements, too (nostalgia, graffiti, irony, etc). Keep notes about what the author and the artist are trying to attempt – you will need some evidence for your essay. At the end of the project, you are handing in your essay.

You should all have a good idea about what you are doing before the end of the first class period. You will have Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday to work as well. The project is due a week from today. Next Monday we will have a storytelling time using the document camera.

Have fun with this! Problems?? Ask.

Watchmen Graphic Novel Project

Now that we’ve read Alan Moore’s masterpiece, it’s your turn to create one!  In groups of three, you will create at least four graphic novel pages in the style of Alan Moore and you will write a brief essay explaining what effects you were trying to create and how your novel pages reflect Moore’s.  Your pages should look like missing pages or continuations of the novel.  Here are the stipulations:

·     Your pages must be regular A4 sized paper

·     Your story must mirror / extend the real stories and characters from Watchmen – no ridiculous plot twists or absurd stories

·     You must include at least two different plot lines

·     Your tone and art must be similar – no spoofs or drastic changes in style

·     Your explanation essay must be well organized and proofread.  You may choose to include the images from your panels, or you may refer to them by panel number and page number.

Groups

In order to accomplish the task you will each be responsible for one of three roles:  author, illustrator, and critic.

Author:  You will be the creative force behind the words and images.  It is your responsibility to write the lines, give suggestions to the illustrator about how the art should look, and incorporate the suggestions of the critic.  Your ultimate goal is to write an exciting and intriguing addition to Moore’s novel.  You will be judged on the quality and appropriateness of the dialogue, the narration, the plot and the characters.

Illustrator:  You are the one who makes real the vision of the author.  You must take the author’s and critic’s suggestions and incorporate them into beautiful panels with the same details, visual irony, motifs, and connections that Watchmen uses.  You will be judged on the beauty of the art and the quality and appropriateness of the visual irony, motifs, and connections.

Critic:  You are the one responsible for making sure the work resembles Watchmen.  You must also write the brief essay (1-2 pages) outlining what your group tried to achieve, the choices that you made and the effects you tried to create.  Your essay should also honestly assess whether or not your group’s pages achieved their goal.  You will be judged on the quality of your essay and the extent that your group's project adheres to the themes, motifs and style of Watchmen.

We will sign up for groups Friday and meet Monday.  By the end of Monday’s class, you should have a direction.

Because this project will require a great deal of your attention, you will not be required to submit a  blog next week.  You may, of course write a blog to make up for missing blogs.

The project is due Monday, November 16th. 

11-6 Blog Due in All Classes

This Friday you should have another blog to post.  Make sure you:

• Include hyperlinks to your 2 source articles
• Include hyperlinks to define references to people, places or events
• Include picutres and or videos
• Proofread!!

If you would like me to look over your article / post before Friday, I'd be happy to.  Have fun blogging!!

First Quarter II post due today!!

Periods 2, 6,and 8, your first post is due today.  Make sure you have uploaded your post by the end of the day.  Since this is our first post of quarter 2, though, I will accept posts up until the end of the day Monday.

Periods 4 and 9 - We are restarting the blogs - today you need to create your blog and upload all your writings from Quarter 1.  Your first Quarter II blog posts are due next Friday.

Watchmen Ch. 9 Response

Write a one page response for Thursday’s class. Be prepared to share your response with the class. Write your response based on one of the following prompts:

· Tell us about the costume that makes you feel invincible.

· Tell us about a thermodynamic miracle that often goes unseen.

Period 2 - Due Thursday 10/29
Period 6 - Due Monday 11/2
Period 8 - Due Thursday 10/29

Quarter 2 Blogs

We will be in the lab Mondays and Fridays during the second quarter to work on our blogs. Of course you can work on your blog anytime, but this will be our formal time to get help or ideas while working on the blog. Here are the things you need to know about the blog project in quarter II
1. Each week you will read two current (on-line) articles or blogs on one topic in your area of interest.
2. Each Friday you will post a short commentary (opinion piece) about that topic. Your commentary should:
a. Give a level one summary of the current articles you read and the current situation. You must include hyperlinks to the two articles you read!!!!!
b. Give your opinion about a particular aspect of the topic and provide evidence (level II)
c. Make a connection or discuss the relevance of the topic (level III).
d. Be written in an informal and concise style, but you must use proper grammar and all the rules of good writing you know.
e. Be written in block format (single spaced with no paragraph indentation and an extra space between the paragraphs).
Have hyperlinks in text of articles for people to click and find more information about specific words or events. Any reference to a person, place or thing is usually hyperlinked, as you see in Wikipedia.
Your blogs should also include
Photos / relevant pictures.
Comments from other readers
Links to at least 3 other blogs (not written by class members) devoted to your subject area.
Links to other students’ blogs are optional, but nice.

No Revisions!
Note that this quarter you are posting your articles before I grade them!!! Once the articles are posted, I will grade them. I won’t regrade any posted article, so put your work in before you post your article!!!!! You can ask me for comments or proofreading as many times as you like, but once your article is posted to your blog, it’s done.
No Late Posts!
On the web more than anywhere, yesterday’s news is worthless. An important part of writing for the internet is being first on the scene, therefore No credit for late posts!! Your blog is due every Friday. If you want my feedback on an article, you must get your article to me before Friday.
Scoring
Each article (individual post) is worth up to 50 points. You are required to write 7 by the end of December, for a total of 350 points!
You can add as many extra articles (posts) as you want, but your total points cannot exceed 350 points for the articles / posts.
Overall design is worth 50 pts. If you are missing required elements, I will deduct 10 pts. for each missing element.

Total points for blog project: 400!!! Take this seriously!!!!

Chicago Lit Tour

Here is the file you need to download:

City on the Make

1. Chicago City on the Make – Chapter presentations
   
   Chicago, City on the Make is Algren’s love poem to Chicago; and as any love poem, it begs to be performed. So, in groups of three, you will perform, explain and annotate a chapter of Algren’s book. For each chapter you must:
   
   Create a digital / on-line, illustrated, footnoted copy of your chapter. Your on-line version of the text should:
   Reproduce your chapter exactly – word for word.
   Include photos and or images (hopefully from our field trip) which capture the mood of certain phrases – Algren’s unique descriptions. These are not literal images or Wikipedia entries about people or places – these should be like a picture book – simply to enhance the mood. Include at least one picture per page of your chapter.
   Use hyperlinks to create visual footnotes – footnotes which explain obscure words or references by linking those words to a picture and text. For example, Chicago’s wheel. Some slang words will not have pictures, obviously, but people, places and historical events will.
   Perform a reading for the class on your scheduled day. Your reading
   Must pronounce all names and words correctly, be fluent and bring out the irony in Algren’s prose. Make sure all the members of your group participate equally.
   Must be accompanied by a presentation of your text and visuals – sho all of us the work you’ve been doing.
   Must be accompanied by music that enhances the mood of your chapter.
   Explain your chapter to the class.
   Discuss Algren’s purpose – why does he write this chapter – what message is he trying to get across?
   Point out and discuss examples of poetic description – just what make the description so appropriate and so beautiful?
   
   
   We will work on the projects in the lab and in class before we leave for the field trip (we will also view a bit more of Chicago: City of the Century). By the time we go on our trip Wednesday, you should have a very strong idea of what your chapter is. When we go on our trip, you will need to find photos to illustrate your chapter.
   
   
   Performance dates
   
   

A Minnesota Poem

Homecoming -

October moon - fat and low -
stealing through the trees
is
watching,
always with us
as we walk.

My hand in your jacket pocket
warms yours as
leaves float with our feelings
and crackle underfoot.

All too soon, we are home.
Inside the garage
away from the moon's prying eyes
we stand
on cold cement
waiting
watching
wondering

Can I kiss you?

Can I kiss you Caren,
with sapphire eyes
and soft cotton skin,
who brought the Clash
to our small town
then left
when we laughed.
Moved away from small town boys
and homecoming dances,
evenings at the Dairy Queen
and nights under stars
with rough handed boys
who loved football and Budweiser
and then you.
Stole into the shadows of city
with an unlisted phone number.

Was it to stop
boys like me from calling?
Did she want to forget?
Had she forgotten what she once said:
"Can I kiss you, Caren?"
"Yes."

David Hessert

For Robert Hayden (and my mother)

Paper Route

Sundays, too, my mother,
Weary-eyed woke
Before the sun’s thin rise
Over the icy plain
To start the furnace
And warm the oven,
Baking stones
In that silent house

She would wrap them gently
In faded tea towels -
As I struggled into separate socks -
And nestle them under the flap
Of my newsboy’s canvas bag

Under the crisp moon,
Cutting through the canyoned sidewalks
Moving house to house
Through rising hills of white,
I would plunge my frigid hands
Into their nested warmth,
Unwrapping these messages of love.

A sonnet for the snow

Snowstorm

It’s making settled homes seem farmhouse pure,
and frosting neighbors’ panes a distant blue,
So all enclosed takes on an oily hue.
We sit alone. Without, the frigid world
swirls punishing astringent falsities;
its softened lines and blustry, dancing curves,
and Christmas lights in misty-colored blurs
hide all forgotten ‘neath it’s creeping freeze.

Ah love, let us live forever in tonight,
While mistletoe kisses and eggnog smiles
Vaseline all in filter-focus white –

Cuddled in illusion, we’re tucked up tight.
We lie within our world of post card guiles,
blanketed ‘gainst the tempest-teeming night.


Dave Hessert