Your original ballad is due on Friday:
1. Choose a news article from an online news source.
2. Read the article and underline 5 important facts.
3. Write a stanza for each fact. Each stanza must be 4 lines long and follow a ABCB rhyme pattern - the 2nd and 4th lines rhyme.
4. Each stanza must include a refrain - you can make the last line of each stanza repeat as your refrain.
5. Make sure your ballad tells the story of your article.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Homework Due Wednesday, October 29th
Homework Assignment Due Tomorrow for All British Literature Classes:
What are the similarities between "Lord Randall" and "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall"?
1. Make a list of the elements of a ballad found in each and give an example from each ballad.
2. Write a sentence or two in which you determine the speakers in the Dylan ballad - infer your answer from context clues; be specific.
3. Write a paragraph in which you choose two lines from the Dylan ballad that best reveal the ballad's overall message and explain their significance to the ballad as a whole.
A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall – Bob Dylan
Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, where have you been, my darling young one?
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains,
I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways,
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests,
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans,
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard,
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard,
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it,
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin',
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin',
I saw a white ladder all covered with water,
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken,
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children,
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin',
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world,
Heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin',
Heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin',
Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin',
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter,
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley,
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, who did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
Who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony,
I met a white man who walked a black dog,
I met a young woman whose body was burning,
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow,
I met one man who was wounded in love,
I met another man who was wounded with hatred,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what'll you do now, my darling young one?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin',
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest,
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty,
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters,
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison,
Where the executioner's face is always well hidden,
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten,
Where black is the color, where none is the number,
And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it,
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it,
Then I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin',
But I'll know my song well before I start singin',
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Copyright ©1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music
What are the similarities between "Lord Randall" and "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall"?
1. Make a list of the elements of a ballad found in each and give an example from each ballad.
2. Write a sentence or two in which you determine the speakers in the Dylan ballad - infer your answer from context clues; be specific.
3. Write a paragraph in which you choose two lines from the Dylan ballad that best reveal the ballad's overall message and explain their significance to the ballad as a whole.
A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall – Bob Dylan
Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, where have you been, my darling young one?
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains,
I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways,
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests,
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans,
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard,
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard,
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it,
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin',
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin',
I saw a white ladder all covered with water,
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken,
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children,
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin',
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world,
Heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin',
Heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin',
Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin',
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter,
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley,
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, who did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
Who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony,
I met a white man who walked a black dog,
I met a young woman whose body was burning,
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow,
I met one man who was wounded in love,
I met another man who was wounded with hatred,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what'll you do now, my darling young one?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin',
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest,
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty,
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters,
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison,
Where the executioner's face is always well hidden,
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten,
Where black is the color, where none is the number,
And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it,
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it,
Then I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin',
But I'll know my song well before I start singin',
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Copyright ©1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Wife of Bath Writing Due Monday!
Hey kids,
Don't forget that the Wife of Bath writing is due on Monday. The prompt asked you to determine who, in your opinion according to the story, "wins" in the end - i.e. who has control in the relationship, the Knight (manhood) or the hag (womanhood).
You need to start off with a strong, straightforward thesis statement (remember - don't waste space with one of those "According to Webster's Dictionary blah blah blah" introductions) that declares your opinion and then defend your thesis, using 3 properly blended direct quotes as evidence.
Remember what my smart friend Strachan says regarding your opinion: "No matter which side you take, there are good people who will agree with you, so make your decision based on what YOU think, not what you think WE want you to think".
Who are the so called "good" people, you ask? Well, they are scholarly critics with published credentials and believe me, no matter how far out there you may think your opinion is, there is someone who has probably published a 50 page dissertation on that topic!
Also - in each class, if every student hands in a paper on Monday, I'll add a point to everyone's paper in the class; the paper is worth 15 points. However, if one student fails to hand in a paper in his/her class, no one in that class will get the extra point (and of course, the only person who will lose a point for not turning it in on time is the person who doesn't bring it on Monday!).
Don't forget that the Wife of Bath writing is due on Monday. The prompt asked you to determine who, in your opinion according to the story, "wins" in the end - i.e. who has control in the relationship, the Knight (manhood) or the hag (womanhood).
You need to start off with a strong, straightforward thesis statement (remember - don't waste space with one of those "According to Webster's Dictionary blah blah blah" introductions) that declares your opinion and then defend your thesis, using 3 properly blended direct quotes as evidence.
Remember what my smart friend Strachan says regarding your opinion: "No matter which side you take, there are good people who will agree with you, so make your decision based on what YOU think, not what you think WE want you to think".
Who are the so called "good" people, you ask? Well, they are scholarly critics with published credentials and believe me, no matter how far out there you may think your opinion is, there is someone who has probably published a 50 page dissertation on that topic!
Also - in each class, if every student hands in a paper on Monday, I'll add a point to everyone's paper in the class; the paper is worth 15 points. However, if one student fails to hand in a paper in his/her class, no one in that class will get the extra point (and of course, the only person who will lose a point for not turning it in on time is the person who doesn't bring it on Monday!).
THE SCHOLASTIC ART and WRITING COMPETITION
Here's another opportunity for artists and writers! The Scholastic Art and Writing Competition is the foremost in the country of its kind. Here's a link to information - make sure to click on the PDF files to see the categories... there are so many to choose from! Winners of this competition are eligible to compete for scholarships reserved only for winners. It's a national competition and colleges give its winners careful consideration!
http://www.artandwriting.org/how_to_apply.htm#categories
The deadline for submission is December 19th!
http://www.artandwriting.org/how_to_apply.htm#categories
The deadline for submission is December 19th!
Do You Want to Get Published as a Writer?
If so, you should check out Susquehanna University's "The Apprentice Writer" publication, a literary magazine devoted to the work of high school students.
I grew up near Susquehanna and it's a beautiful campus and a fantastic liberal arts college. It's creative writing summer program for high school students is one of the top 3 in the nation!
Here's information on its summer institute, which is highly competitive and prestigious:
Advanced Writers' Workshops
in Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Nonfiction
"Every year I am amazed by the enthusiasm of the faculty in the Susquehanna program. Their passion is contagious; by week's end the students have not only learned much about the craft of writing, but are also energized to continue the exploration of their own creativity."
-Susan Perabo, author of Who I Was Supposed to Be and The Broken Places
Tentative Dates: June 28-July 4, 2009 (Program Details)
Request an Application for the Advanced Writers' Workshop
"Through the Writers Workshop, I learned many skills that helped me become a more accomplished writer. By rooming on campus with the other kids in the workshop, I got to experience the feel of college life and in the process made friends that I still consider to be my nearest and dearest nearly two years later." -Charlie Riccardelli '09
An exciting weeklong experience now in its 20th summer, the Writers Workshop at Susquehanna University provides America's most talented high school writers with the opportunity to work in intensive, small-group workshops headed by nationally recognized authors. One of only 27 programs selected by Early College Programs 2003 as a Best Value in Summer College Programs for High School Students, the Writers Workshop features workshops in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Class sizes are limited to 15 students in order to ensure close supervision and individual conferencing.
The Writers Workshop is open to experienced writers entering 11th or 12th grade in the fall of 2008. Writers Workshop attendees are chosen based on teacher/counselor recommendations and portfolio submissions, and each applicant is required to submit 5-6 poems or 6-8 pages of fiction/creative nonfiction. Portfolios and applications must be postmarked or e-mailed by May 1, 2008, to be considered for review.
"While attending the Writers Institute week-long workshop, I wrote some of my best work and feel that, in the short period of time I spent there, I improved immensely. My positive experience at the workshop is the main reason why I am at Susquehanna." -Yvonne Harris '09
And here is information on submitting:
The Apprentice Writer
Submission Requirements
1. Manuscripts must be typewritten and double-spaced on 8 1/2 x 11 pages. The writer's name, address, and appropriate teacher must appear on each page. Please be sure to affix sufficient postage.
2. We do not return written submissions. Please keep a copy for yourself. All rights return to the writer after publication. We will ask students whose work is chosen to send an electronic copy.
3. If you are submitting photographs and would like them returned, please include an adequately sized, stamped, self-addressed envelope. You must include your name and address on the back of each photograph. All other work will be destroyed.
4. There are no restrictions on style, subject matter, or length (up to 30 pages). We are looking for the best written work and photography/graphics by high school students (grades 9-12) from the United States.
5. Categories for submissions are:
Fiction
Poetry
Essay
Photography
6. We send copies of The Apprentice Writer to accepted contributors and their teachers.
7. We are unable to acknowledge those works which are not accepted for publication. If you have not heard from us by May 10, 2008, you work has not been accepted.
8. Submit individually or have your teacher send to:
Gary Fincke
Writers Institute Director
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, PA 17870-1164
Submission Deadline: March 1, 2009
Acceptance announcements will be mailed by May 1, 2009
Publication and Distribution: September 2009
It's never too late to think about the future!
I grew up near Susquehanna and it's a beautiful campus and a fantastic liberal arts college. It's creative writing summer program for high school students is one of the top 3 in the nation!
Here's information on its summer institute, which is highly competitive and prestigious:
Advanced Writers' Workshops
in Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Nonfiction
"Every year I am amazed by the enthusiasm of the faculty in the Susquehanna program. Their passion is contagious; by week's end the students have not only learned much about the craft of writing, but are also energized to continue the exploration of their own creativity."
-Susan Perabo, author of Who I Was Supposed to Be and The Broken Places
Tentative Dates: June 28-July 4, 2009 (Program Details)
Request an Application for the Advanced Writers' Workshop
"Through the Writers Workshop, I learned many skills that helped me become a more accomplished writer. By rooming on campus with the other kids in the workshop, I got to experience the feel of college life and in the process made friends that I still consider to be my nearest and dearest nearly two years later." -Charlie Riccardelli '09
An exciting weeklong experience now in its 20th summer, the Writers Workshop at Susquehanna University provides America's most talented high school writers with the opportunity to work in intensive, small-group workshops headed by nationally recognized authors. One of only 27 programs selected by Early College Programs 2003 as a Best Value in Summer College Programs for High School Students, the Writers Workshop features workshops in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Class sizes are limited to 15 students in order to ensure close supervision and individual conferencing.
The Writers Workshop is open to experienced writers entering 11th or 12th grade in the fall of 2008. Writers Workshop attendees are chosen based on teacher/counselor recommendations and portfolio submissions, and each applicant is required to submit 5-6 poems or 6-8 pages of fiction/creative nonfiction. Portfolios and applications must be postmarked or e-mailed by May 1, 2008, to be considered for review.
"While attending the Writers Institute week-long workshop, I wrote some of my best work and feel that, in the short period of time I spent there, I improved immensely. My positive experience at the workshop is the main reason why I am at Susquehanna." -Yvonne Harris '09
And here is information on submitting:
The Apprentice Writer
Submission Requirements
1. Manuscripts must be typewritten and double-spaced on 8 1/2 x 11 pages. The writer's name, address, and appropriate teacher must appear on each page. Please be sure to affix sufficient postage.
2. We do not return written submissions. Please keep a copy for yourself. All rights return to the writer after publication. We will ask students whose work is chosen to send an electronic copy.
3. If you are submitting photographs and would like them returned, please include an adequately sized, stamped, self-addressed envelope. You must include your name and address on the back of each photograph. All other work will be destroyed.
4. There are no restrictions on style, subject matter, or length (up to 30 pages). We are looking for the best written work and photography/graphics by high school students (grades 9-12) from the United States.
5. Categories for submissions are:
Fiction
Poetry
Essay
Photography
6. We send copies of The Apprentice Writer to accepted contributors and their teachers.
7. We are unable to acknowledge those works which are not accepted for publication. If you have not heard from us by May 10, 2008, you work has not been accepted.
8. Submit individually or have your teacher send to:
Gary Fincke
Writers Institute Director
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, PA 17870-1164
Submission Deadline: March 1, 2009
Acceptance announcements will be mailed by May 1, 2009
Publication and Distribution: September 2009
It's never too late to think about the future!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
experiencing technical difficulties...
Hey kids! I've been experiencing difficulties posting to the blog from school - I just noticed that several posts I submitted from my classroom computer have not posted! Fortunately, they were not posts outlining assignments however they were posts full of exciting information about reading!
I'll try to re-post the content tomorrow; until then, enjoy your evening and have a good time at hall decorating in the morning!
Also, thanks to all of the parents who have stopped by the past few days during teacher conferences. It's great to meet face to face and if you ever have any questions, feel free to email me at aweiss@ebnet.org or readwriteweiss@gmail.com.
Ms. W.
I'll try to re-post the content tomorrow; until then, enjoy your evening and have a good time at hall decorating in the morning!
Also, thanks to all of the parents who have stopped by the past few days during teacher conferences. It's great to meet face to face and if you ever have any questions, feel free to email me at aweiss@ebnet.org or readwriteweiss@gmail.com.
Ms. W.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Finish Reading The Prologue for Thursday
Make sure you finish reading "The Prologue" for tomorrow (Thursday). Remember - don't stop looking up unknown words and make sure to continue reading and applying the annotations in order to gain insight!
Reading difficult texts is tough - it's not as simple as reading a contemporary young adult novel written in an accessible narrative voice - so remember to apply the skills necessary for success and ask the questions necessary to unlock meaning. It may take longer than expected now, but it's meaningful work and it will pay off!
Reading difficult texts is tough - it's not as simple as reading a contemporary young adult novel written in an accessible narrative voice - so remember to apply the skills necessary for success and ask the questions necessary to unlock meaning. It may take longer than expected now, but it's meaningful work and it will pay off!
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