Othello - Day 12

Happy Friday!

Today we'll finish our look at Act III, Scene 3. Instead of acting out the rest of the scenes, you'll write your own conclusion, based on the work you did with your partner.

After that, we'll have a discussion about the results, as well as these other questions from Act III, Scene 4 and Act IV, Scene 1:

• What words/actions from Desdemona add to Othello's changing thoughts about her?
• What sort of person is Emilia, and what seems to be the nature of her relationship with her husband Iago? 
• What is the importance of the handkerchief to Othello?
• How does Desdemona's handkerchief come into play within the relationship between Emilia and Iago?
• Why does Othello have powerful physical reactions to Iago's information? What might these mean?
• What happens with Cassio and Bianca?
• What is Othello's original plan for dealing with Desdemona? Why does it change?
• What is the news that arrives from Venice?
• How is Othello changing in act 4? What is the effect of his public humiliation of Desdemona by slapping her?

Don't forget - you are reading Act IV, scenes 2 & 3 for Monday and writing a journal response!

Othello - Day 11

We'll start with a short writing about Act III, Scene 4.

After that you'll continue to work with your partner to complete the slideshows you started yesterday.
With the time remaining, we'll share these scenes as we continue to try to understand how Iago was able to manipulate Othello and change his mind from being a person madly in love to a jealous man prepared to kill.

For Friday, you are reading Act IV, Scene 1

Othello - Day 10

Welcome back! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving break, and a fun bonus snow day!

First of all, I've made some slight revisions to the calendar - please be sure to follow this version.

Today you'll work with the same partner you had last week (click here if you need a reminder).
You'll be taking a close look at Act III, scene 3 - make a copy of this Google Slideshow for you and your partner to use.

As a reminder, you are reading Act III, Scene IV and writing a journal response for tomorrow.

Othello - Day 9

Today we'll bring Act II to life by working with partners to perform a brief moment of it. Use this handout to guide your work.  We'll perform the scenes during the second half of class.

Over the break, you have no specific homework, but you will need to be through Act IV by Tuesday the 27th.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving break!

Othello - Day 8

Happy Monday! It is the start of Thanksgiving week, so just two days of class for us before the break.

Today you'll meet again with your group for about 10 minutes to complete your work on the chart. After that, you'll work individually to gather and express your initial thoughts about some of the characters.

• Othello in-class writing #1

For tomorrow, keep reading - you should be through the first three scenes of Act III. Don't forget about your journal response!

Othello - Day 7

Happy Friday! I hope you enjoyed the film (as much as you can enjoy a story of betrayal and jealousy and murder) and you have a good sense of the basic elements of the story.

We'll start off the day working individually to look back at the quotations you received on the first day of the unit.

1. Re-read what you wrote about the quotation on the first day
2. Search for your quotation using this digital version of the play. Identify the speaker and the act/scene. Find it in your book and underline it.
3. Now that you know the story, what else do you think your line is about?
4. We'll share these out loud

Next, you'll get into a new group - one you'll be with for the rest of the unit.

• Here is a link to your handout for today. Make a copy of it to share with your group members.

We'll have a chance to perform these lines toward the end of the period.

As a reminder, your next reading is Act III, scenes 1-3 - it is due Tuesday, along with a journal response.

Othello - Day 6

Hard to believe, we are set to finish the film and your first time through the story of Othello. After today we'll return to the classroom and start our journey through a close reading of this complex and powerful story!

Othello - Day 5

I'll start the day by checking in your first three journal responses - the first part of Act 1, Scene 1; the end of Act 1, Scene 1; and Act 1, Scenes 2 & 3.

Also - I've added one more day to our watching of the film in E116. Tomorrow we'll see how it all comes together!

Othello - Day 4

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend! We'll continue with the film in E116 today. Don't forget about your reading and writing journal responses. I'll be checking in the first three of them tomorrow!

Othello - Day 3

We'll continue watching the film in E116 today. Don't forget to start the reading - and to write your journal response using the guidelines!

Othello - Day 2

Today we'll start our look at Othello by previewing the book and starting to watch the film. I've posted the new calendar - it will take us through the end of the semester!

Othello - Day 1

Congratulations on finishing your essay! I look forward to reading what you have to say about the power of visual images.

Instead of opening the book today, we'll play some theater games to start our study of Othello. I'll give you one of these famous lines from the book and we'll use them both individually and with partners. At the end of the activity, you wrote about your quotation in your notebook and also gave a quick sense of what you think this play will be about, based on that quotation and others you heard.

Lastly, we'll do some improv games around scene starters I give you. Here's the one we actually used:

• Two people are talking. One is trying to convince the other to stop seeing a serious boyfriend / girlfriend.

Starting tomorrow, we will meet in E116 for the next four days to watch the film version of the play. 

Persepolis - Day 12

Happy Monday! Today you will be writing feedback for another person's essay while they are doing the same for you. Here is the form you will be using.

Your essay is due by the start of class tomorrow. You need to submit it in two different ways.

1. Through Schoology to Turnitin
2. Share a pdf version with me through Google Docs. Export / save it as a pdf first, then share it with me. 

I am having you submit two version of it just in case turnitin messes up the spacing. 

You do not need to submit a paper copy of your essay, but you will need to turn in the peer feedback sheet. 
As for the format, you can use either 1.5 spacing or double-spacing. 

Good luck with it - I hope you are submitting your best possible essay!

Lastly, please remember to bring your copy of Othello to class tomorrow.

Persepolis - Day 11

First a few quick matters of business:

• Please be sure to own a copy of Othello by Tuesday ($9 at the bookstore)
• Here is a link to the rubric for this essay: Persepolis Argument Essay Rubric
• Be sure to take the time to review my comments from your last essay as you move towards your final draft of this one!

Today's focus: the Counterclaim

• Persepolis Argument Essay - Counterclaims

A few quick reminders for your essay:

• The rough draft is due Monday - the final draft is due by the start of class on Tuesday
• Only use the first person voice in the sections where you are talking about your experiences. The rest of the essay should not have first (I, we) or second (you) person voice at all.

The introduction:

• Start with a statement about your topic - this is not a "grabber" in terms of using a random quotation, rhetorical question, or dictionary definition!
• Preview your main points. There should be a clear sense of the topics you will cover in your first two body paragraphs.
• Name the counterclaim.
• Finish with your thesis. Note that the thesis is in the form of fact + opinion + so what / why / because, which in this case can follow the formula: visual images (help / hinder) understanding of complex issues because they (reason A) and (reason B).
• You do not need to name the different examples you will use in your introduction, but you can if you'd like.

The conclusion:

• Re-state the thesis
• Recap your main points, including your counterclaim
• Finish with a sense of the broader implications of your thesis. If your thesis is true, what else is true as a result? What warnings or hopes for the future does your essay suggest?

Good luck with it! I can't wait to read the results!