Othello - Day 4

Today we'll finish watching the film.

For the weekend, you will be reading scenes 1 & 2 of act II - and writing a journal response!

Othello - Day 3

Today we watched more of the film, with several key events:

• Cassio getting drunk and Othello removing him from his position
• Iago telling Cassio to speak with Desdemona, to try to get back into Othello's favor
• Iago suggesting to Othello that the conversations between Cassio and Desdemona are not innocent, that they are having an affair
• Desdemona accidentally leaving her handkerchief behind - the one Othello gave to her
• Iago's wife, Emilia, finds the handkerchief - Iago uses it to further suggest Cassio is guilty
• Othello responds to these accusations by going into epileptic fits
• Othello declares he will murder Desdemona - Iago suggests he do it be strangling her in their bed - and that Cassio will be killed

Tonight, read and write in your journal about scenes 2 & 3 of Act I.

Next class, we'll finish the film!

Othello - Day 2

Today we'll meet in E116 and start watching the film version of Othello.  We'll have time to talk about the main actions of the play and discuss a little of what we see today.

Tonight, please finish reading Act I, scene 1 as best as you can - and don't forget about that journal entry!

Othello - Day 1!

Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving break!

We'll start off today with some improv role-playing games.

Then, we will take our first look at the play.

I'll share the calendars with you, and go over the nightly journal assignment.

• 1st period Othello calendar
• 3rd period Othello calendar

We'll look at the book, noticing these items:

• list of characters
• scene summaries
• notes on the left hand side of the page
• how the play is formatted - who is speaking; how to use the line numbers

Tonight you'll try it out! Read lines 1-88 of Act I, scene 1 and write a journal response.

Tomorrow, and the next two class periods, we will meet in E116 to watch the film!

Othello preview - theater games!

We'll play a few theater games today to get us ready for Othello.

Here is a link to the handout you'll need for the second part of the period.

Argument Essay - Final Reminders

A few quick reminders for your essay:

• It is due on Monday by the start of class, submitted to turnitin.com
• You can include images if you'd like, but that is not required.
• 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!

Persepolis - Day 11 (Wednesday) - Counterclaims

First a few quick matters of business:

• Please be sure to own a copy of Othello by Monday ($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

Tonight's homework is to complete an outline for your counterclaim paragraph, using either of the two possible structures named in the handout.

Persepolis - Day 10 (Tuesday)

First of all - it is time to buy our next book!  Please own a copy of Shakespeare's Othello for class on Monday. You can buy a copy at the bookstore for $9.

Last night you made some decisions about your thesis and your topics.

• At this point you should know where you land on the question: do visual images help or hinder understanding of complex issues?
• At this point you should have a sense of two reasons why your thesis is true or be able to name two ways of how visual images impact understanding.
• At this point you should have a sense of a counterclaim - an opposing view to your thesis.
• Thesis clarification - the counterclaim is not a part of the thesis statement, but the two reasons / topics for your first two body paragraphs will be part of it.

We'll pause to work with a partner to share what you have, and to see if they think it works - and for you to give them feedback!

Then, it is time to turn our attention to the body paragraphs and the analysis of the evidence.

• Persepolis body paragraph activity

After that, you'll look at a full length example of an argument essay

Lastly, here is a link to the homework for tonight - you are continuing to build your outline. Although this form has spaces for all of the body paragraphs, you only need to complete and submit one for tomorrow.

Persepolis - Day 9 (Monday)

Happy Monday!

English department course offerings

Our work for today is about structure and evidence. Use this handout for class and homework:

• Shaping your argument

The homework is to complete the basic outline (on handout) and submit your work to turnitin.com by the start of class tomorrow.

Persepolis - Day 8

Today we have three main tasks:

• Complete and share the posters you started two classes ago
• Discuss the end of the book, based on the homework responses you wrote
• Assign the essay
• Persepolis - Argument Essay Assignment

The homework for the weekend is listed at the end of the assignment sheet

Persepolis - Day 7

Today we'll watch the film version of Persepolis.

For homework tonight, please choose three questions from this handout to respond to in your journal.

• Persepolis closing questions

Persepolis - Day 6

Today you will be working in your groups.  Start off by sharing your journal responses you wrote for homework - I will be checking these in as well.

Here is a link to your group work for the day.

Your homework for tonight is - to finish the book! Please write a journal response to the reading - I suggest focusing on the ending and what it leaves you thinking about (but you could write about whatever you want).

Persepolis - Day 5

How do we respond to tragedy?

Today we'll spend most of the time writing, thinking about the many tragedies, disasters, political controversies, and social issues impacting our daily life.  We'll consider the ways in which our responses to these are similar to / different from Marji's, and why that might be.

For homework tonight you will write a journal response to pages 103-125. There is no particular prompt and you are now turning it in just yet. Focus on a topic or idea or question you have from these pages. You may want to click here to refer back to the journal response rubric in case you forgot what a great journal response could include.

Persepolis - Day 4

Today you will be back with your group to discuss the three chapters you read for today: "Moscow," "The Sheep," and "The Trip."

• Persepolis group work - day 4

After your group has time to work through these questions we'll turn to a whole-class discussion based on what you find - and more!

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For Monday, you will read and annotate p. 80-102