Wednesday 11/30/11

In Class:

• Starter - make a list of subject verb pairs you could use in your story, working on active, exciting verbs.
• Mini-Lecture, using quotations in a story.
• Work on writing your story, conferencing with your group, and completing independent research.  

Homework:

• Finish your story beginning to end.  This draft can be over 1000 words if you need it to be.  You can cut it later. 

Tuesday 11/29/11

In Class:

• Vonnegut's short story rules starter
• Active and exciting verbs and verbal phrases
• Finish story sketch in class
• Work on your story with your group
• Independent research
• Write your story

Homework

• 350 - 500 words of your story written (rough draft only) 

Monday 11/28/11

In Class:

• Lecture and practice - identifying subjects and verbs in sentences.
• Research conference activity - discuss how you will incorporate the pillars into your stories with your group
• Complete story sketch and go over details with your group
• Begin writing your story

Homework

• Write at least 50 - 100 words of your story.

Tuesday 11/15/11

In Class:

• Latin Roots Quiz
• Work on civilization research notes from the activity list

Homework:

• Finish around 25% of your research 

Monday 11/14/11

In Class:

• Group work activity
• Research tools and tips lecture
• Country research activity (begin today for the rest of the week).

Homework:

• Study for roots quiz tomorrow 

Friday 11/11/11

In Class:

• NPA Review
• Finish seminar reflection
• Finish civilization overview from Thursday

Homework

•   Finish seminar reflection and civilization overview BOC Monday.

Thursday 11/10/11

In Class:

• Socratic seminar on Julius Caesar
• If you missed the seminar, write a 2 page paper on the following main question: How does the play Julius Caesar bring the history to life?
• Remember, this essay should be about the book, and you should quote the book in your writing.
• Here are some additional questions you might address in your essay.

• Begin country research.
• Make an annotated timeline with a symbol for each event, or write a short essay to include the following information:
• The rise of your civilization, including the approximate dates and 2-5 reasons your civilization rose
• 5 people, places, events, structures, or inventions that you think might be interesting to base a story around
• The fall of your civilization, including the approximate dates and 2-5 reasons your civilization fell

• Seminar reflection
1. What did you do well during this seminar?
2. If you could go back a couple of days, what could you have done differently to help you improve your seminar performance/
3. What was one thing someone else said in the discussion that you found interesting.  React to that comment.
4. What can you learn from Shakespeare to help you write your own historical fiction?

Homework:

• Optional - Begin seminar reflection or work on country research if you want more project time in class.

Wednesday 11/9/11

In Class:

• Coaching Julius Caesar - If you are absent, please complete this before seminar tomorrow.

• Finding your civilization resources:
• Click on the tiny globe on this BBC overview to see a list of potential civilizations to choose from
• Click on one of the square images on this site to learn about ancient civilizations from India, the near east, Greece, China, early Islam
• This Fordham site is the most challenging because it includes a variety of sources, including many primary sources, but it also has by far the largest number of ancient civilizations to choose from.

Homework:

• Finish seminar pre-write (last 4 questions on the coaching document) 

Tuesday 11/8/11

In Class:

• Finish acting scenes from acts IV and V
• Project handout
• Quick story arc review

Homework:

• Read creative historians project assignment sheet and write one question on it about the project 

Monday 11/7/11

In Class:

• Finish Caesar Movie
• Begin acting scenes from acts IV and V.

Homework:

• Finish close reading activity - due beginning of class tomorrow.  

Friday 11/3/11

In Class:

• Finish close reading
• Watch Caesar movie

Homework:

• Finish the play by Monday 

Thursday 11/3/11

In Class:

• Latin Roots Presentations
• Introduction to tone and style
• Close reading of Julius Caesar

Homework:

Finish Caesar by Monday 

Wednesday 11/2/11

In Class:

• Act out scenes from Julius Caesar
• Introduction to Iambic Pentameter

Homework:

• Finish the meter section of the close reading activity 

Tuesday 11/1/11

In Class:

Latin Roots Presentations

Acting scenes from Caesar - prepare for tomorrow.

Homework:

Finish reading acts 2 and 3.

Finish 10 voacbulary words on the grid.

Rehearse your lines for performance tomorrow.