The Laramie Project: Extra Credit

If you went to see (or worked on!) The Laramie Project and would like to earn extra credit in this class, write a one page (typed, double spaced) reflection on the show. What angle you take is up to you (potential connections to this class?), but I look forward to hearing your reactions ... there's a lot to process with this performance, and writing is a great way to do it.

Deadline is the end of the week: Friday, November 21st.

Kudos to everyone who worked on the show! I went Friday night and was blown away. Thanks for your hard work in bringing this important piece to Arlington High School.

Class Calendar: November 17th to November 26th

Monday, November 17th (M)
• Due: Blog post due at midnight tonight.
• Class: The “mix it up” breakfast with Ms. Konstandakis’s class.

Tuesday, November 18th (T)
• Class does not meet today.

Wednesday, November 19th (W)
• Due: Six more post-it notes in your literature circles; read to assigned point.
• Class: Literature circles meet; photography timeline (1933-1945).

Thursday, November 20th (H)
• Due: Work on next literature circle assignment.
• Class: Documentary: “Chaos and Consent.”

Friday, November 21st (F)
• Due: Blog post due at midnight tonight.
• Class: Town hall discussion: “The Nazis Come to Power.”

Monday, November 24th (S)
• Due: Work on next literature circle assignment.
• Class: Propaganda and media literacy.

Tuesday, November 25th (U)
• Due: Six more post-it notes in your literature circles; read to assigned point.
• Class: Literature circles meet.

Wednesday, November 26th (M)
• Due: Work on next literature circle assignment (blog post due midnight on Monday after the vacation, but there’s no need to wait until the last minute!).
• Class: Wrap up propaganda and media literacy.

Class Calendar: November 10th to November 17th

In class, we'll be alternating between literature circle meetings and a whole class study of the Nazi rise to power. Smaller homework assignments will be announced as needed, but your primary responsibility between now and Thanksgiving is to your literature circle book. You've set the specific assignments with your group, but I'll review the basic deadlines here:

• Monday, November 10th: Blog post #1 due by midnight tonight
• Wednesday, November 12th: Six post-its spanning the assigned reading due in class 
• Monday, November 17th: Blog post #2 due by midnight tonight
• Wednesday, November 19th: Six post-its spanning the assigned reading due in class
• Friday, November 21st: Blog post #3 due by midnight tonight
• Tuesday, November 25th: Six post-its spanning the assigned reading due in class; books should be finished unless your group has made other arrangements with me 
• Monday, December 1st: Blog post #4 due by midnight tonight

Click here to review the requirements for blog posts and sticky notes. 

Reading Hitler

Click here for a plain text version of Mein Kampf. Note that you can skim around using the side bar, or use Control-F to search for particular words or phrases.

Click here for a form to record your observations. Save a copy to your folder so you can save your work as you go!

If you have some extra time, click here for Hitler's earliest known political writing.

Note: Homework for Wednesday is to (1) finish anything on today's exercise not completed in class and (2) complete six post-its or double-column note entries for your literature circle book, reading to the agreed upon page.

Acceptance Speech

Any quick Google search will yield plenty of sources for this historic speech. My favorite is the really cool integrated video and transcript site at the New York Times.

Note: Look for his victory speech on election night, not the acceptance of the nomination at the DNC this summer. My apologies!

Then you can click here for transcript and video of McCain's concession speech, which has also gotten rave reviews for its gracious tone.

Update: The Boston Globe has this really cool photo collection of Obama shots. Check out our shiny new President Elect!

Class Calendar: November 3rd to November 10th

Monday, November 3rd (U)
• Due: Good luck with early college admissions! Bring back your graded essays.
• Class: Campaign advertising and literature circle selections.

Tuesday, November 4th
• No classes for students today. Enjoy the day off!

Wednesday, November 5th (M)
• Due: Hope you had a very happy Election Day! If you are not in class, send me your literature circle preferences before class on Wednesday.
• Class: Set up literature circles; final segment of A Class Divided; papers and grades and other first term housekeeping.

Thursday, November 6th (T)
• Class does not meet.

Friday, November 7th (W)
• Due: Reader response paper to Barack Obama’s acceptance speech. See blog for links to video, audio, or text (though I strongly recommend listening or watching for full effect!). Requirements: one page, typed, double spaced, and carefully proofread; use at least two brief quotations. I will leave it to you to determine exactly how you want to respond … rhetorical analysis, thematic analysis, and (meaningful) personal response are all acceptable.
• Class: Share responses; set up literature circles; begin study of the Nazi rise to power.

Monday, November 10th (H)
• Due: First literature circle assignment (to be explained).
• Class: Literature circles meet; continue historical study.

Note: There is no school on Tuesday, November 11th (what’s the deal Tuesdays and November?), so if you are for any reason absent on Monday, check the class blog so as not to fall behind: http://kitsis.blogspot.com.

Class Calendar: October 27th to November 3rd

Monday, October 27th (T)
• Class does not meet today. Enjoy the long weekend!

Tuesday, October 28th (W)
• Due: Email me a sample of your paper using a quotation; bring a draft to class.
• Class: Quotation integration workshop and practice.

Wednesday, October 29th (H)
• Due: Final paper on When the Emperor Was Divine, in perfect MLA format.
• Class: Reading poetry; using “scope and sequence” to frame the internment.

Thursday, October 30th (F)
• Due: Review choice books on blog. If you are absent from class today, email me your preferences or risk a random assignment! Sorry for any confusion; we're not ready to pick books yet. Take the night off!! Catch up on college apps and election coverage; get to sleep early.
• Class: Wrapping up our look at identity with “A Class Divided”; choice book options.

Friday, October 31st (S)
• Due: Reaction to “A Class Divided” (see above).
• Class: Wrap up “A Class Divided”; presidential campaign ads.

Monday, November 3rd (U)
• Due: Analysis of advertising (details to come). Get those early college applications out the door already! Bring back your GRADED college essay to include in your writing folder.
• Class: Presidential campaign ads; propaganda and history.

Note: Have a spooky (and safe!) Halloween. There are no classes on Tuesday, November 4th, so if you are for any reason absent on Monday, check the calendar on the blog so as not to fall behind: http://kitsis.blogspot.com.