Creative Writing for To Kill A Mockingbird:
Using the account of the trial in chapters 16-21, make one or more new texts by adapting the original. Please post this on your ePortfolio and you may want to submit it to the website fanfiction. Here are some suggestions:
- Write an account of the events of a chosen day, or a summary of the trial after the verdict for a local or regional newspaper, such as the Maycomb Tribune, the Montgomery Advertiser or the Mobile Register. (All these newspapers are named in the text. While Maycomb is a small [fictitious] town, Montgomery is the state capital of Alabama and Mobile is another large city in the same state.)
- Script and present a short item on any part of the trial for a news broadcast on an Alabama radio station.
- Write a scene for a play (stage or TV) or cinema screenplay of some part of the trial. You may wish to edit the original text to make your version shorter.
- Prepare a list of bullet points for Atticus to use in presenting his appeal against Tom’s conviction.
- Write one or more monologues, showing how various people experienced or witnessed the trial. These could be participants or observers. You may wish to choose some of the following: Judge Taylor, Mayella Ewell, Calpurnia, Helen Robinson, Mr. Gilmer, Heck Tate, Dill. Decide how open and truthful you want to be.
Reading Schedule for this week:
Monday/Tuesday March 8 & 9: for HW read chapters 22-24
Wednesday/Thursday March 10 & 11: for HW read chapters 25-28
Monday/Tuesday March 15 & 16: complete the novel ch. 29-31
As you begin to analyse the different characters from To Kill A Mockingbird, please use your worksheet from class and see our notes from class. Then complete the following activity in class.
To Kill a Mockingbird - Drawing a Character Based on Textual Support
Task: To create a drawing of one of the characters from To Kill a Mockingbird, based on textual evidence. You will work in pairs or singles, your choice.
Steps:
- Begin looking in the novel for any thing that describes what your character looks like, acts like, thinks, or feels. Use the STEAL mnemonic device to assist you if necessary.
- Write down these quotes, as you will need to put them on your poster.
- Create a drawing of that character that fills up most of the paper. Around the drawing, write the quotes from the novel that support your ‘vision’ of the character.
- Please provide correct MLA citations for every quote! Also label each of your direct quotes with either: Speech, Thoughts, Effect on Others, Actions, or Looks
e.g.: Looks: “…she was nearsighted; she squinted…” (6).
Although this is not art class, do your best. Your drawings will be assessed based on use of textual support from the novel and your ability to provide correct MLA citations. The drawings will be placed outside on the bulletin board and in the classroom.
You should have a minimum of SEVEN (7) examples of direct textual support; some characters may have more.
Character Options:
Calpurnia Scout Dill
Boo Radley Atticus Jem
Burris Ewell Walter Cunningham Miss Maudie
Grading:
Efficient use of class time /5
Minimum of 7 direct quotes /5
Quotes chosen are effective /5
MLA citations are all correct /5
Each quote is correctly labeled /5
Drawing accurately represents the character, based on the quotes /5
TOTAL /30
Next week “The Odyssey Club” will be promoting its annual short story contest. Details will be outlined during Tuesday’s assembly and on the various posters that will adorn our hallways and bulletin boards mid to late next week. For now, here are the details:
1. 600 word maximum!
2. Must have the prompt (“….and a silent scream split my brain…”)and the theme (“Dreams and Hopes”)
3. All stories must be submitted to Mr. Krocker, room 306, by April 2, 2010
4. Prize Money: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place … (1500, 1000, 500 baht gift certificates for Kinukoniya)
For your ePortfolio (AKA: your blog), chose one of the following topics to write about by next class:
1. Compare your growing up years with that of Scout, Jem or Dill. Are there any similarities? Any differences? Can you relate to any of these kids? Explain.
2. What is “courage”? What makes someone courageous? Use examples to support your definition.
3. What are the benefits of living in a small community? What are the negative aspects? Relate this to your own experience, how you live, where you live, etc.
For class, you should have completed chapters 1-4. Today we will take an in-depth look at the introduction to the novel and go over the Research Presentations from class. There were quite a few misrepresentations that I will clarify.
Homework: Keep reading To Kill A Mockingbirdand add additional books onto your shelfari.com account. Please add “teachwatts” as your friend if you have not already done so.
For Of Mice and Men - Choose one of the following prompts to write about:
- What are the conflicts in the novel? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional) are illustrated in the novel?
- How does John Steinbeck reveal character in Of Mice and Men?
- What are some of the themes in the story? How do they relate to the plot and characters?
- What are some of the symbols in Of Mice and Men? How do they relate to the plot and characters?
- Do you find the characters likable? Are the characters people you would like to meet?
- Why is the novel so controversial? Do you think the book should be banned or censored?
- What is the role of women in the text?
I hope you have had a fantastic break and are well rested for a new semester!
To start off the year, we will begin with a research project to provide you with some background on Of Mice and Men (your independent reading) and To Kill a Mockingbird. More details will come in the next few days and we will discuss this in class.
Click here for the Research Assignment.
Click here for the poem I read you in class this morning: This Day and Probably Tomorrow Also
English 9 Final Exam Study Guide Watts-2009
Power Point Review for final exam
GOOD LUCK!!!
Period 3: Friday, December 11th - 8:00-10:20
Period 8: Monday, December 14th - 11:45-2:05
Here’s our schedule for the next few weeks:
Nov. 26-27: Thursday-Friday: ePortfolios; 55 word short stories
Nov. 30-Dec. 1: Monday-Tuesday: Creative Writing: Short Stories
Dec. 2-3: Wednesday-Thursday: Greek and Latin Roots Quiz #5
Dec. 4-8: Friday-Tuesday: Final Creative Short Story DUE on your ePortfolio
Dec. 9-10: Wednesday-Thursday: Final Exam Review
December 11: Period 3: FINAL EXAM 8:00-10:20
December 14: Period 8: FINAL EXAM 8:00-10:20
