Friday, January 25, 2008
Questions while I am gone...
If you have questions while I am gone, you can post a question under the comments section here or you can email me: lindsay.peifer@spps.org
Monday, January 7, 2008
The Piano Lesson Challenge Projects
August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson
Challenge Projects
Remember to include a works cited page for every project!
1) A 3-4-page research paper that details your own heritage (go back to your great grandparents) and your observations about how that heritage and their legacy has affected your identity. How is this similar or different from the play?
2) A 3-4-page research paper on the historical facts of segregation and Jim Crow Laws in the south, drawing on at least three reference sources. One may be your social studies textbook.
3) A 3-4-page research paper on Pittsburgh in the 1930s drawing on at least three reference sources.
4) A 3-4-page research paper on the oral tradition in different cultures drawing from at least three reference sources. What place does oral tradition have in maintaining a society’s, a people’s, history or identity? Present a story in the oral tradition in class.
5) Turn one scene of this play into a movie. Provide a soundtrack, a storyboard, and a written rationale for the project.
6) Create a symbol for the main characters of this novel and provide a quote from the book that embodies that character.
7) Act out a scene from the play or from a short story that is related to the play. Give rationale for either why you chose that particular scene or why you how the short story you chose relates to the play.
8) Read another August Wilson play. Compare and contrast the themes from the play of your choice and The Piano Lesson. This paper should be at least 2 pages long.
9) Read The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. Compare and contrast this play to The Piano Lesson. Find literary criticism to support your analysis. This paper should be at least two pages.
10) In the introductory video on August Wilson, Wilson said that “he has no particular method of writing his plays, but admits to relying on what he calls the "4 B's": the Blues; fellow playwright, Amiri Baraka; author, Jorge Luis Borges, and painter, Romare Bearden to tell what he needs to tell.” Research ONE of the four “B’s” and explain how EITHER the Blues, Baraka, Jorge Luis Borges, or Romare Bearden influence is seen in August Wilson’s work.
11) Research different views and political stances on assimilation and integration into a larger/dominant society. Wilson believes that the melting pot is a myth, “which was never relevant to the black experience—only working for people that are ethnically European. What do other experts believe? What do you believe? Use at least three different sources for this paper.
12) Research the idea of white privilege in America. Wilson says, “It is a cultural war that he is a participant in”. Use at least three different resources to write a paper about what it is and how it affects you, your parents, and/or society in general. How does this idea affect politics and thus the government that governs us?
13) Your own create project.
Challenge Projects
Remember to include a works cited page for every project!
1) A 3-4-page research paper that details your own heritage (go back to your great grandparents) and your observations about how that heritage and their legacy has affected your identity. How is this similar or different from the play?
2) A 3-4-page research paper on the historical facts of segregation and Jim Crow Laws in the south, drawing on at least three reference sources. One may be your social studies textbook.
3) A 3-4-page research paper on Pittsburgh in the 1930s drawing on at least three reference sources.
4) A 3-4-page research paper on the oral tradition in different cultures drawing from at least three reference sources. What place does oral tradition have in maintaining a society’s, a people’s, history or identity? Present a story in the oral tradition in class.
5) Turn one scene of this play into a movie. Provide a soundtrack, a storyboard, and a written rationale for the project.
6) Create a symbol for the main characters of this novel and provide a quote from the book that embodies that character.
7) Act out a scene from the play or from a short story that is related to the play. Give rationale for either why you chose that particular scene or why you how the short story you chose relates to the play.
8) Read another August Wilson play. Compare and contrast the themes from the play of your choice and The Piano Lesson. This paper should be at least 2 pages long.
9) Read The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. Compare and contrast this play to The Piano Lesson. Find literary criticism to support your analysis. This paper should be at least two pages.
10) In the introductory video on August Wilson, Wilson said that “he has no particular method of writing his plays, but admits to relying on what he calls the "4 B's": the Blues; fellow playwright, Amiri Baraka; author, Jorge Luis Borges, and painter, Romare Bearden to tell what he needs to tell.” Research ONE of the four “B’s” and explain how EITHER the Blues, Baraka, Jorge Luis Borges, or Romare Bearden influence is seen in August Wilson’s work.
11) Research different views and political stances on assimilation and integration into a larger/dominant society. Wilson believes that the melting pot is a myth, “which was never relevant to the black experience—only working for people that are ethnically European. What do other experts believe? What do you believe? Use at least three different sources for this paper.
12) Research the idea of white privilege in America. Wilson says, “It is a cultural war that he is a participant in”. Use at least three different resources to write a paper about what it is and how it affects you, your parents, and/or society in general. How does this idea affect politics and thus the government that governs us?
13) Your own create project.
The Piano Lesson Journal Assignment
Journal Assignment for The Piano Lesson
Characterization is the creation of believable fictitious personalities. The basic methods of characterization include these:
• Explicit statement by the author
• The character’s appearance
• The aspects of setting which reflect influence of the character
• The character’s actions including mannerisms
• Reactions of and to the character
• The character’s thoughts
• What the character says
• What others say about the character
Your Assignment:
• Choose one character from The Piano Lesson.
• Trace the above descriptions of characterization for that character throughout the play. How does the characterization of your particular person help develop and shape the story? What is your character’s motivation and how does that motivation influence or effect or conflict with others?
• In the final journal, explain why you believe that character is either believable or not believable.
• Use standard English and correct sentence structure throughout your journals.
Characterization is the creation of believable fictitious personalities. The basic methods of characterization include these:
• Explicit statement by the author
• The character’s appearance
• The aspects of setting which reflect influence of the character
• The character’s actions including mannerisms
• Reactions of and to the character
• The character’s thoughts
• What the character says
• What others say about the character
Your Assignment:
• Choose one character from The Piano Lesson.
• Trace the above descriptions of characterization for that character throughout the play. How does the characterization of your particular person help develop and shape the story? What is your character’s motivation and how does that motivation influence or effect or conflict with others?
• In the final journal, explain why you believe that character is either believable or not believable.
• Use standard English and correct sentence structure throughout your journals.
August Wilson The Piano Lesson Schedule
January 2008
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
31 1 Happy New Year! 2 Start The Piano Lesson—video, check out book, notes 3
Handouts: Journal assignment, CP
Finish notes on drama and August Wilson 4
Independent Reading
HW: Work on Challenge Project!
7
Read Act One of play
HW: Character Journal 8
Finish reading Act One
HW: Character Journal 9
Read Act Two
HW: Character Journal 10
Finish Act Two
Assign Paper
HW: Character Journal 11
Challenge Project Proposal due
14
Journals Due
HW: Work on Paper! 15
Challenge Projects Due
HW: Paper and study for test
After school: Cocoa and Cram with Link Leaders 16
Final Test for The Piano Lesson
HW: Paper 17
Finals 1, 2, 3
Final Paper Due 1, 3 18
Finals 4, 5, 6
Final Paper Due 5
21
Martin Luther King Jr’s Day—No School 22
Grading Day—
No School 23
Second Semester Begins!
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
31 1 Happy New Year! 2 Start The Piano Lesson—video, check out book, notes 3
Handouts: Journal assignment, CP
Finish notes on drama and August Wilson 4
Independent Reading
HW: Work on Challenge Project!
7
Read Act One of play
HW: Character Journal 8
Finish reading Act One
HW: Character Journal 9
Read Act Two
HW: Character Journal 10
Finish Act Two
Assign Paper
HW: Character Journal 11
Challenge Project Proposal due
14
Journals Due
HW: Work on Paper! 15
Challenge Projects Due
HW: Paper and study for test
After school: Cocoa and Cram with Link Leaders 16
Final Test for The Piano Lesson
HW: Paper 17
Finals 1, 2, 3
Final Paper Due 1, 3 18
Finals 4, 5, 6
Final Paper Due 5
21
Martin Luther King Jr’s Day—No School 22
Grading Day—
No School 23
Second Semester Begins!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
If you were absent...
Thursday, Dec 13
Map out the neighborhood in House on Mango Street. Include textual evidence. Present projects
Friday, Dec 14
Independent Reading Day
Turn in reading log
Monday, Dec 17
Discuss House on Mango Street themes and major ideas.
Tuesday, Dec 18
Neighborhood project due
Present projects and discuss House on Mango Street
Wednesday, Dec 19
Discuss House on Mango Street.
Discuss test.
Thursday, Dec 20
Challenge projects due.
Present projects.
Study for test.
Friday, Dec 21
House on Mango Street Final Test
Map out the neighborhood in House on Mango Street. Include textual evidence. Present projects
Friday, Dec 14
Independent Reading Day
Turn in reading log
Monday, Dec 17
Discuss House on Mango Street themes and major ideas.
Tuesday, Dec 18
Neighborhood project due
Present projects and discuss House on Mango Street
Wednesday, Dec 19
Discuss House on Mango Street.
Discuss test.
Thursday, Dec 20
Challenge projects due.
Present projects.
Study for test.
Friday, Dec 21
House on Mango Street Final Test
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
If you were absent...
Tuesday, December 11
Finish discussion from yesterday.
Continued talking about book.
Wednesday, December 12
Challenge project proposal due.
Continued talking about the book.
Start the Mango Street map.
Finish discussion from yesterday.
Continued talking about book.
Wednesday, December 12
Challenge project proposal due.
Continued talking about the book.
Start the Mango Street map.
Monday, December 10, 2007
If you were absent...
Friday, November 30:
Independent reading--turn in a reading log
Monday, December 3
Lord of the Flies final test
You have until December 10th to make this up!
Tuesday, December 4
Start House on Mango Street: handouts include the unit calendar, journal assignment, challenge project options, and we checked the book out of the library
Wednesday, December 5
Early release day, which means a shortened hour.
Discussed the meaning of names--see vignette in HOMS "My Name."
Thursday, December 6
Definition of vignette added to literary devices notes
Find three examples from the text that shows precise and delicate writing.
Share in small groups and then discuss these quotes in large group discussion
Friday, December 7
Independent reading--turn in reading log
Monday, December 10
Think about the following topics relating to House on Mango Street
• Identify—finding one’s own self/voice, learning to accept one’s own self, valuing one’s self
• Choices—who makes our choices? What keeps us from making choices? How important is one’s identity to the making of good choices?
• Power—who has it? Who uses it? How do they use it? How is power abused?
• Loss and Grief—loss of culture, loss of identity, loss of language, loss of voice
• Surviving—Who survives and who doesn’t—and why?
• Culture—the importance and place of traditions, ceremonies, religion
• Gender conflict/masculine and feminine roles
• Awakenings
• Being an outsider
• Friendship—with opposite gender and with same gender
• Appearance
• Names
• Prejudice and stereotypes
• Risk-taking
• Parenting—nurturing, caring, physical or emotional neglect, abuse
• Values—love, honor, family, friends, money, materialism, education, work, country
• Role models/guides
• Shame—what it is and how it affects us
• Passion—love, hate, indifference
• Honesty
• Sexuality
• Energy
• Abuse—physical, emotional
Assignment for today:
Choose one vignette that you like the most because of its relevance to your own life. Write about this chapter in terms of that relevance bringing in any of the appropriate topics from the list above. Make connections to other books, characters, and incidents. Be prepared to talk about this vignette in class.
Next, share your journal with one partner. What did you learn from your partner? What do your journals have in common? How are they different?
Discuss in class--if we have time. Turn in your journals
Independent reading--turn in a reading log
Monday, December 3
Lord of the Flies final test
You have until December 10th to make this up!
Tuesday, December 4
Start House on Mango Street: handouts include the unit calendar, journal assignment, challenge project options, and we checked the book out of the library
Wednesday, December 5
Early release day, which means a shortened hour.
Discussed the meaning of names--see vignette in HOMS "My Name."
Thursday, December 6
Definition of vignette added to literary devices notes
Find three examples from the text that shows precise and delicate writing.
Share in small groups and then discuss these quotes in large group discussion
Friday, December 7
Independent reading--turn in reading log
Monday, December 10
Think about the following topics relating to House on Mango Street
• Identify—finding one’s own self/voice, learning to accept one’s own self, valuing one’s self
• Choices—who makes our choices? What keeps us from making choices? How important is one’s identity to the making of good choices?
• Power—who has it? Who uses it? How do they use it? How is power abused?
• Loss and Grief—loss of culture, loss of identity, loss of language, loss of voice
• Surviving—Who survives and who doesn’t—and why?
• Culture—the importance and place of traditions, ceremonies, religion
• Gender conflict/masculine and feminine roles
• Awakenings
• Being an outsider
• Friendship—with opposite gender and with same gender
• Appearance
• Names
• Prejudice and stereotypes
• Risk-taking
• Parenting—nurturing, caring, physical or emotional neglect, abuse
• Values—love, honor, family, friends, money, materialism, education, work, country
• Role models/guides
• Shame—what it is and how it affects us
• Passion—love, hate, indifference
• Honesty
• Sexuality
• Energy
• Abuse—physical, emotional
Assignment for today:
Choose one vignette that you like the most because of its relevance to your own life. Write about this chapter in terms of that relevance bringing in any of the appropriate topics from the list above. Make connections to other books, characters, and incidents. Be prepared to talk about this vignette in class.
Next, share your journal with one partner. What did you learn from your partner? What do your journals have in common? How are they different?
Discuss in class--if we have time. Turn in your journals
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