Now Trying to Stay UPDATED

It has been requested that I keep the blog up again. So I am going to do my best to update it every B Day and every weekend for those parents and students who would like to use it to keep up with assignments. So, I want to do a brief update of where the classes are at so that we can start over fresh. :)

NINTH GRADE: Right now, the main thing that we are focusing on is the students' personal narratives. Most of the assignments that they have been completing have been geared toward getting their rough drafts ready. We have given credit for the opening paragraph, a rewrite of the opening paragraph, the second paragraph, and an outline of their entire narrative.
The rough draft of their personal narrative will be due October 6th (B Day) or 7th (A Day).
The final draft of their personal narrative (WHICH WILL BE GRADED AS TMT #3) is due on October 13th (A Day) or 14th (B Day). I will accept A Day papers on the 14th as well. It is imperative that the personal narrative is not late, as it is a TMT and if it is late, it will NOT pass. Most of the homework from now until then will be working on the narrative.
TMT #2 is this Thursday or Friday. It is on Plot Structure and how conflict, character, and plot work together.

TENTH GRADE: The next few class periods, the students' homework will continue to be reading pages from "The Crucible." They should either have a book checked out or be reading it on the internet. Everyday we have a short quiz to check that they read. On October 12th (B Day) and 13th (A Day), we will have TMT #2 on "The Crucible." It will involve application and ideas rather than regurgitation of events. On October 13th (A Day) or 14th (A Day), the students will have an essay due on "The Crucible." As this is an Honors class, this first essay (WHICH WILL BE GRADED AS TMT #3) will be pretty loose as far as guidelines go. I am trusting the students' prior teaching about essays and papers. I will judge what some things are that we need to review or teach based on these first essay scores. So "The Crucible" from here on out during this term.

FILM LIT: The students have picked a clip that they will analyze a total of five times. They will look at the same clip and analyze the five different elements that we have focused on during the term. After we cover each element fully in class, then they have a one page analysis due. In that analysis they should discuss how that element has been used to affect the meaning of the movie. They have already turned in cinematography and writing. The next three will be Production Design, Music, and Acting. The due dates will depend on when we finish each element in class. We have TMT #2 on Friday, this week. It is on the Six Traits of Writing, writing in film, and production design in film.

Please feel free to email if you need clarification or have questions. I hope this has helped catch up and I will try to keep updating for those that want to keep up.
Thanks.
-Mr. Durham