Learning is Change

Please comment on the following speeches in this post.

Please write your feedback for these speeches into the comments of this post.

Core 1:

1. Share-on: Share your 3 quotation rich examples of persuasion with one other person. Have your partner pick your best example and tell you why it is the best one.
2. Revise a few examples with the document camera (revise yours along with the group).
3. When you already have a powerful thesis (what you want to prove) and great examples to back it up including quotations, what else is there?
4. What is revision in persuasion?
   • Why did the founding fathers make the changes that they did?
   • How has their persuasion benefited society?
     • How do you give that kind of importance to your own writing about a book.
5. Extensions:
   • Come in tomorrow with your thesis on your blog, ready to be worked into an entire piece of persuasive writing.

Core 2:

1. Quiz-on: Why did the author print out exactly who had had Cassie’s book before she got it? What is the significance of this information?
2. 
   • How does this picture make you feel?
3. 
   • What is different about the way you get to school and the way Cassie gets to school?
4. From what you know of Cassie, draw her in her ideal environment.
5. Extensions:
   • Start reading Chapter 2 (Due Friday)

Core 3:

1. Write-on: In your opinion, which is more life-changing: love or hate?
2. Read through Act I, Scene III.
   • How does the relationship between Bassanio and Antonio develop?
   • What is our first impression of Shylock?
3. 
   • In terms of the value of a human life, draw out how you believe Shakespeare would weigh out his characters.
4. Extensions:
   • Due Thursday: Write out what you believe the boundaries of Shylock’s life are?

Core 4:

1. Perform-on:
   • Perform four speeches (see the previous speeches at the bottom of this post).
2. Grapple with Persuasion and Change notes from your books.
   • From all of your notes, how did you character grow?
   • From all of your notes, what were the heaviest influences on your character (pieces of persuasion)?
   • From all of your notes, what is the one generalization that you could make about your character, the author, or you as a reader.
3. Extensions:
   • Comment on one of the speeches through this post.

Cores 1, 3, and 4:

1. Discuss-on: What is the best way to add someone to your personal learning network? To show someone that you respect their writing and are listening to them?
2. Use the Blogging Buddies handout in order to choose the right buddy for you. blogging-buddies.pdf
   • Go to http://mrmayo.edublogs.org
   • Use Periods 1, 2, or 6 ONLY.
3. Check with Mr. Wilkoff when you are done with your handout.
4. Work on your next Academy Authentic which will be due at the end of next week.
5. Extensions:
   • Finish the handout if you have not completed it (by Thursday).
   • Continue your work on your Academy Authentics.
   • Finish your regular class extensions from Monday (if you had any).

Core 2:

1. Discuss-on: What is the best way to add someone to your personal learning network? To show someone that you respect their writing and are listening to them?
2. Use the Blogging Buddies handout in order to choose the right buddy for you. blogging-buddies.pdf
   • Go to http://mrmayo.edublogs.org
   • Use Period 5+7 ONLY.
3. Check with Mr. Wilkoff when you are done with your handout.
4. Work on your next Academy Authentic which will be due at the end of next week.
5. Extensions:
   • Finish the handout if you have not completed it. (By Thursday)
   • Continue your work on your Academy Authentics.
   • Finish your regular class extensions from Monday (if you had any).

Core 1:

1. Quarter 2 question: How do we continually push the boundaries of what is possible?
   • Watch what is possible when you don’t let the boundaries bind you:
     • Space and Time
     • Second Life
2. How can you use another author’s words to prove your point?
   1. What are the attributes of a good quotation?
   2. How do you plug that quotation into a persuasive paper?
   3. How do you use those words to weave your own theories and ideas?
3. Extensions:
   • Practice proving a point with someone else’s words by writing out 3 quotations from any book and then proving something about the book (characters, plot, theme, etc.) with them (for Wednesday).

Core 2:

1. Quarter 2 Question: How would you define “us vs. them?”
2. What does “Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry?” mean to you?
3. Read chapter 1.
   • Use the five types of characterization to explore Cassie.
4. Extensions: finish the five types of characterization quick character sketch (10 actions and 5 of the other four categories) and finish reading chapter 1.

Core 3:

1. Quarter 2 Question: What are the boundaries of what is possible?
   • In our Language Arts classroom?
   • In Merchant of Venice?
2. “Perform” your MOV podcasts.
   • What do we learn from this summary that we did not learn from any other?
   • How does this format lend itself to the rest of our work with MOV?
3. Read 2 more scenes in MOV
   • How does the relationship between Bassanio and Antonio develop?
   • What is our first impression of Shylock?
4. Extensions:
   • Due Thursday: Write out what you believe the boundaries of Shylock’s life are?

Core 4:

1. Quarter 2 question: How do we continually push the boundaries of what is possible?
   • Watch what is possible when you don’t let the boundaries bind you:
     • Space and Time
     • Second Life
2. Finish the persuasive speeches (and recordings) and debrief.
   • What were some of the most persuasive things you heard?
   • What were some of the best uses of language?
   • Did these things intersect?
3. Extensions:
   • Make sure you have your multi-cultural novel finished and your persuasion and change notes for our discussion.

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Core 1:

1. Write-on: Take a look at your thesis. Is it provable? If so, how will you prove it? If not, rewrite or rethink it until it is provable.
2. (You will keep your MLK handouts until after break so that we can address the concept of speech when we have a little bit of time.)
3. How can a thesis be the basis for your outline?
4. Outline the paper you would write for this thesis.
5. Talk about Start Me Up Sentences: start-me-up-sentence.doc
6. Extensions:
   1. If you would like to get a jump start on your next book, take one and read it over break. If not, put a pause button in your thesis work and enjoy.

Core 2:

1. Write-on (on a sheet of paper to be turned in): What did you accomplish yesterday during your authentic writing and commenting time?
2. Discuss expectations.
3. Discuss-on: Can racism ever be a matter of life and death?
4. Read the interview withe Tookie Williams.
   • How true do you believe Tookie’s claims are of the trial’s racial bias?
   • How could we change our current system of law to make it more equal?
5. Extensions:
   • Have a great break. Write on your blog if you get a chance about what you are doing (or not doing).

Core 3:

1.  Ready-on: Get ready to “perform” your MOV podcasts. (Make sure your file is in the right folder so that we can listen to them.)
2. “Perform” your MOV podcasts.
   • What do we learn from this summary that we did not learn from any other?
   • How does this format lend itself to the rest of our work with MOV?
3. Read 2 more scenes in MOV
   • How does the relationship between Bassanio and Antonio develop?
   • What is our first impression of Shylock?
4. Extensions:
   • Enjoy your break. Put MOV on pause; Write on your blog if you get a chance about what you are doing (or not doing).

Core 4:

1. Ready-on: Get ready to give your speech (print it out, finalize verbage, etc.)
2. Give speeches (record them for later podcast).
   • Did the speech give sufficient evidence?
   • Did the speech hold my attention?
   • Did the speech prove something?
   • Did the speech use visual language or metaphor?
   • Did the speech use precedent?
3. Extensions:
   • Have a great break. Write on your blog if you get a chance about what you are doing (or not doing).

I was out today for a meeting about online learning environments.

Here are my sub plans:  101007.doc

You can also read about our discussions regarding perfect learning environments here.

Core 1:

1. Write-on: How do you prove something about a book?
   • Just think about this question: What do you think that your change and persuasion notes would help you to prove about your character?
2. How do you show character development and change in piece of writing without resorting to plot summary? (Lord of the Flies Example)
3. Thesis writing as an art form:
   • How do you choose something that you want to prove?
   • How do you state it so that you will be able to prove it in multiple ways?
4. Extension:
   • Write out your idea of a perfect thesis for what you want to prove in your book about change, persuasion, or character development.

Core 2:

1. Write-on: What do you think a name like “Donald Duk” implies?
2. Read “Donald Duk.”
   • How does his race affect his story?
   • How does his gender affect his story?
   • How is this story written?
     • How do the mechanics of the writing influence the ways in which we see the characters?
   • Why is Fred Astaire important to Donald?
3. Extensions:
   • How do we separate ourselves from those that are different?

Core 3:

1. Write-on: How do you think that reading Shakespeare’s plays is different than reading nearly any other book or play?
2. Read and/or act out the first three four scenes of the play.
   • How do you see Shakespeare’s language working in your mind?
   • Why is Antonio sad?
   • Describe Antonio and Bassanio’s friendship?
   • What kind of love do you believe Bassanio has for Portia?
3. Extensions: Continue to work on your script for your two minute podcast summary.

Core 4:

1. Write-on: Now that we have fully explored a great speech from modern America, answer the question on the back of the MLK handout: Which is more persuasive, written or spoken persuasion? Why?
2. What is it that you could speak with authority about? What would have confidence is giving a speech on? What injustice would you be willing to speak out about in your life?
3. Based upon I Have a Dream, what are the elements that a good speech requires.
4. Emulate MLK’s speech using your own sphere of knowledge.
5. Extension: Continue to work on your speech about injustice or personal experience to be given on Thursday.

The laughs, jeers, snickers and sidelong glances cut to the core. They didn’t need to say those things, to spout those stupid lines they learned on television.

My dancing was exemplary, singing impeccable.  Was there anything wrong with that? No. My swift ankle turns and soaring musical crescendos were felt across the room, felt wrongly, I guess.

Every exact step was an exemplary motion. Mrs. Coyle even said so.  So, why did they smile their knowing smiles.

“You are so GAY.”

That is all I heard, echoing in my head for the rest of the evening.