Re-posted! Challenge Options!

Challenge Criteria Reminder:

You need 2 by the end of the semester if you are A or B seeking. These are assignments that show you have extended your learning. See 8 options below:
Choose to:

1. Make an appointment this week with Ms. Brandy to be filmed as a group performing your Newscast.

2. Choose an Igbo proverb from the list and illustrate it (beautifully, showing understanding and using symbolism).

3. Read a multicultural novel as an independent book and create a project representing your learning (check with Ms. Brandy about the project first).

4. Write a short narrative (typed and double-spaced) from the perspective of Okonkwo, Nwoye, or Ekwefi.

5. Research some aspect of the book based on a question you have, ie. How did they have guns if they hadn't seen white people before? What is the natural history of the yam? How widespread was its use? Reference at least two sources, cite them and compose a brief report of your findings.

6. Illustrate some aspect of Things Fall Apart, either in a poster or storyboard.  Remember, quality is everything. If it's not meaningful to you, it won't be worth the effort.

7. Free Rice--Spend time on the site and earn 10,000 grains. Once you have done this, take a picture of your score with your phone, or print the image of the screen and turn in.

8. Propose a small project that relates to our unit inspired by your own interests.

Finals This Week

This week come prepared with your completed outline, and or rough draft and be ready to draft your very polished final draft in class Monday (5,6 and 8) and Tuesday (3). You will have the whole period to write and may ask me questions as they arise.

Wednesday and Thursday will be reserved for your short answer exam. Remember that you can use ONE 3x5 card with handwritten definitions from the terms list during the exam.

If there is time at the end of the period I will open up the floor for you to read your short stories aloud for extra credit because we didn't do it yet and they were just fantastic!

We will be starting a new book next after finals so be prepared to begin reading.

Finals (and all that good stuff!)

This week we will be working on your essays. You should come to class with all of the artifacts of your learning ready to use. This includes dialogue journals--worksheets from Things Fall Apart, quizzes, etc. with which you will compose an expository style Literary Analysis paper.  This handwritten piece of work will be preceded by some type of pre-write (you will have several options). You will likely do a rough draft (or at least a detailed outline) and then a handwritten final. This handwritten essay will be 50% of your grade for the final, worth 100 points total.

The other half of the final will be a short answer test covering the terms an concepts listed on the study guide I handed out last week. You are each allowed one 3x5 card to write definitions of terms. You may use both sides of the card but it must be handwritten. If it is typed or copied from another source, you will not be allowed to use it on the final.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

I hope you feel ready to write really beautiful, well-crafted essays. You have done some wonderful thinking about the book and exploring of the expository form.

30 Day Project, Filming Skits and the End of the Semester

In the coming week will be looking at several different angles to view the book, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe. We will also examine the expository essay in greater detail and look at a couple of different examples of papers that Meet and Exceed on the state writing rubric. We will then write a draft in-class, and you will type a draft with purposeful revisions at home.

This paper will be included as part of your final. You will also have a written test reviewing terms and vocabulary from the semester. I will give you a study sheet in advance.

If you are still interested in having your skit filmed, Dr. Dreyer is requiring a little more prep than the first group. I believe this will take you no more than 15 minutes to adjust, and rehearse, so let me know if you still wish to avail of this option. If you do, it means that you will have to meet with me after class, during tutorial, or before school for further instruction before you get the green light.

Your 30-Day project is something that you have undertaken to move in the direction of becoming the person you would like to be. Ideally, this is a project that does not require much of a time commitment, say, 25 sit-ups each day to become stronger, or giving 3 compliments to others as a way to be more positive. Maybe you have given up sugar, or you are just going to initiate one random act of kindness each day to make the world a better place. Whatever it is, your chosen challenge should be something YOU WANT to do. You will not be graded on your success, but on your reflection of your project at the end of the 30 days (you will write a one page reflection on your experience). The grade will reflect completion of the attempt to take on a new practice for 30 days; it will not be based on success or failure to achieve your goal.  If you forget one day, just pick it up the next.

Filming Skits

Mr. Dreyer said that the process will go much more smoothly if we have a wee bit more time for filming the skits. I hope that Ms. Margolis passed this onto you on Friday.

Be safe, healthy and happy this holiday season.

I look forward to seeing you in 2013

Ms. B

I'm Re-Posting This!

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

Images of Nigeria (thank you Aaron and Maia!)

I have added these images to remedy some of our classroom technological deficit. Please continue past the pictures to view the homework update as well as other reminders.

The image above was requested by Aaron who couldn't picture the kinds of huts the family of Okonkwo were constantly tending to and later, when they are banished, building.

                                               Below you will see several images of the Kola Nut

 The Kola Nut symbolizes peacefulness and harmony. It is broken to offer of  friendship. This is very similar to the idea of "breaking bread" an act of sharing that is also deeply symbolic.

In case you didn't know... 

Below is an image of a Nigerian King as documented by a french photographer whose mission was to make a visual record of African Royalty.

Further Information : Between the years of 1988 and 1991, French photographer Daniel Laine spent about 12 months on the Africancontinent tracking down and photographing figures of royalty, and leaders of kingdoms.  During this time he managed to photograph 70 monarchs and descendants of the great African dynasties with his work on this series.

 Shell money is a medium of exchange similar to money that was once commonly used in many parts of the world. Shell money usually consisted either of whole sea shells or pieces of them, which were often worked into beads or were otherwise artificially shaped. The use of shells in trade began as direct commodity exchange, the shells having value as body ornamentation. The distinction between beads as commodities and beads as money has been the subject of debate among economic anthropologists.^[1]

Some form of shell money appears to have been found on almost every continent: America,Asia, Africa and Australia. The shell most widely used worldwide as currency was the shell ofCypraea moneta, the money cowry. This species is most abundant in the Indian Ocean, and was collected in the Maldive Islands, in Sri Lanka, along the Malabar coast, in Borneo and on other East Indian islands, and in various parts of the African coast from Ras Hafun toMozambique. Cowry shell money was important at one time or another in the trade networks of Africa, South Asia, and East Asia.

Film Your Newscast!

Dr. Dreyer will be available tomorrow during our 3rd period class and Friday during our 5, 6, and 8th period classes to film the skits. Friday classes please let Ms. Margolis know at the beginning of the period if you intend to have your skit filmed. I anticipate the process would be no more than 10 minutes per group if you go down to his studio one at a time. I will leave further instructions with her.
Have a wonderful break! Enjoy the free-time if you are finished with the book or use the time to keep up. Extra dialogue journals are in the southwest corner of the classroom if you need them.
I loved your creativity shown today in your rousing performances! Wonderful work all of you!
Ms. B
See you in 2013!

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