Merry merry merry!

 Grade 8's -- looking forward to seeing all your dynamite performances today!  I will reconfigure your preliminary marks that you saw on the progress reports because I'm sure all your performances will be terrific.  I will post the marks on the bulletin board outside the drama room on January 4 when we return from holidays.  Unfortunately for me, you will all be going off to Art on that day and we won't have any more drama classes in Grade 8, but I hope to see lots of you in Drama  9.

Grade 9's -- if you feel ambitious, practice your Seinfeld monologue over the holidays.  I always love to learn a new monologue!

Please take care of yourselves over the holidays and find joy in the small things.  I am looking forward to spending lots of time with my dear old dog, Daisy.  She is one of my favourite things in the whole world.

Breakfast with Santa!

 Everyone -- remember -- school starts tomorrow at 8:30, so don't be late!

A Block -- you will get the chance to see the video of all your friends at SLSS performing for the holidays.  The teachers have two songs to sing for you and there will be all sorts of other great acts.

8:30 - 10:45 - A Block

10:45 - 11:15 Snack break

11:15 - 1:30 - B Block -- Grade 8's will perform their Aesop Fables

1:30 -- Dismissal -- last dismissal of 2020!

Holidays until January 4, 2021!  Have a wonderful time away from all your responsibilities at school.  Read a good book, watch a funny video, go for a long walk along the mighty Fraser River, write in a journal about what you're grateful for, cook a meal for your family, listen to some music you like -- the world is your oyster (there's a lazzi, Grade 9's.)

Have a safe, restful and happy holiday, everyone!  See you in 2021.

Lazzi fun!

 For your final commedia dell'arte scenes, you must include:

1)  a spoof of popular culture

2) a spoof of current events

3) stock characters (including the costumes that characterize the character, like red pants for Pantalone)

4) physical comedy

5) love and money plot

6) 20 jokes

7) a lazzi for each character (the lazzi should be funny)

You should be working on that monologue from the tv show, "Seinfeld", that I gave you a while back -- choose either Mary Contardi or George and memorize the lines and deliver the monologue with lots of energy.

The above photo is from the show -- Liz Sheridan as Jerry's mom, Barney Martin as Jerry's dad, Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Elaine and Jerry as himself.  In this scene, Elaine is under the influence of painkillers she is taking for a bad back and she keeps imitating the great Marlon Brando in "A Streetcar Named Desire" in which he yells "Stella!"

Food Drive

 Drama 9 - A Block!

Could someone bring a cardboard box to Drama class on Monday morning?  Also, the school is moving the food drive to classrooms, so please bring any non-perishable food to class to donate!!  Pass it on to others in the class!

Drama 8:  Learn your lines for Aesop's Fables!

How you doin'?

 Journals!  

Drama 9:  How did your love/money play go?  What went well?  What could have been improved?  Did the performance surprise you in any way?  (Did people think certain parts were funny or not funny?  Did the story somehow change as you performed?)  Which character did you play?  What was your lazzi?  Will you change it at all when you create your final performance?

Drama 8:  Which of the lessons taught in the Aesop's fables should you learn?  Explain why.  Which story did you like the best?  Say why.  (I like "The Wolf and the Lamb" best because I like the dramatic contrast between the two animals and how the lamb tries to defend itself even though it knows that the wolf will kill it.)

Remember that we are holding a food drive to help the Richmond Food Bank.  Imagine what it would be like not to have enough food and not know if you were going to be able to get any.  We should share our good fortune with others -- if we have extra, we should make sure no one goes without.

The International Issues club is having a blanket drive.  Donate your clean blankets and give someone a bit of warmth in these cold, wet days.

Next week is Spirit Week!  Let's have some fun!  Use your imagination!

Monday - Winter Wonderland

Tuesday - Toque Tuesday

Wednesday - Ugly Sweater Day

Thursday - Holiday Headgear

Friday - Pajama Day!

Stock Characters

 Drama 9: 

Make sure you include some of the following characters in your love/money scene:

Pantalone (the "pants") --  usually wears red pants; old, loves money, wants a trophy bride or husband

Capitano (the Captain) -- puts on a brave, blustering front, but is a snivelling coward underneath (wears brown)

Dottore (the Brain) -- uses big words, likes the sound of their own voice, thinks of self as very intelligent but is actually not very bright (wears black and white)

Pulchinella (little rooster) -- two faced, takes the side of the winner (wears baggy white clothes and always a hat)

La Signora (the lady) -- very materialistic, greedy for everything -- money, food, riches, popularity -- overdressed and overly made-up

clever servants (Columbina or Arlecchino) -- much smarter than their employers, witty, conniving - wear hand-me-downs

innamorata and innamorato -- the young lovers -- naive, sincere, witty -- we want them to succeed in getting together against the machinations of the other characters -- fashionable clothes

You each need a lazzi, a comic bit that we associate with your character.

Drama 8:

Learn your lines for "Creation of the World".  You need to stage the story so that we can all see everyone.  Plan exits and entrances, where you will stand on stage, interesting stage pictures throughout.  You must each wear a costume that represents your character -- use your imagination on this.  You need at least one of the following:  mime, tableau and choral speaking.  You need to write your plans for lighting on the story itself.  You will have time to run the play with lights before you perform.

Improv Day!

 Good work on the improvs today, everyone!  I know improv is scary, because you have no idea what is going to happen, but that's why it's fun, too.  Remember when you used to pretend, you didn't worry about what people thought -- improv is the same thing.  If you are having fun, we will have fun, too.  Today, we saw one scene in Drama 9 in which a caterpillar tried to eat a couple of people.  The group broke every rule, but it was very entertaining, nevertheless.  We won't remember what the rules were or what the particular game was, but we'll probably remember how much fun we had watching it.

We are so lucky to have our three classroom helpers in our drama classes.  Make sure you tell them how much you appreciate their efforts.  Having them in class to encourage us makes the day that much more pleasant.  Thanks a lot, girls!

Drama 8:  You should think of an appropriate costume for the character you are playing in Creation of the World.  Use your imagination!  (It's too bad we can't use our props and costumes in the theatre, but we can't because of the COVID rules -- so be creative with your own wardrobe!)

Drama 9:  Think of something you might be able to use as a lazzi (a comic bit).  It could be a catch phrase (like Joey always says "how you doin'?" on "Friends"), or it could be an action, like a special handshake or a gesture that you often use.

Spoon River cast!  Please read Taylor's emails carefully.  We are getting to the end of filming and you need to come to your appointment for your scene with the proper costume and with your speech ready to go.  Crew:  I would like to have a crew meeting next week -- it looks like we'll be editing over the holidays and it would be good to touch base before we stop classes for the year 2020.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

If it bleeds, it leads -- Journals for December 4

 That's an old saying in the world of newspapers, that suggests that stories about violence and mayhem should be on the front page, to attract readers!

Drama 9:  Why is violence so popular in dramatic presentations? (Give an explanation.)  Way back in the Greek theatre, people wanted to see plays about people in extreme circumstances (although they did not show violent acts on stage).  Shakespeare starts "Romeo and Juliet" with a brawl in the streets.  Quentin Tarantino is a very popular director of films now and he loves frequent gory violence (have you seen "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" or "The Hateful Eight"?) Do you like to see violence in films or on stage?  Explain your answer.  What would provoke you to get in a fight?  Do you think you would "win"?  Have you ever been in a fight?  Describe it as if it was a scene in a play.

We will see your "fight" scenes today in class.

Drama 8:  Which fairy tale mime was your favourite (not your own)?  Explain why.  What was the best thing about your own fairy tale mime?  What needed improvement?  Explain how your group functioned.  Was anyone a leader?  Did anyone hinder the progress of the group?

How do you think the world was created?

We will be working on "The Creation of the World" in class today -- I think you'll be ready to perform on Tuesday.

Remember!  If you want to redo your Shakespeare recitation, try to practice with my feedback in mind and present your new and improved version on Monday!

Recitation Time

 Be prepared to recite your Shakespeare passage tomorrow in class.  The best way to prepare is to speak it out loud and perhaps present it to someone you trust and ask for their feedback.  Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and speak as clearly and strongly as you can.  Be sure you understand what you're saying and use expression in your voice.  DON'T MIME IT!   

Grade 8's -- you should have incidental (instrumental) music for your fairy tale mimes.

Grade 9's -- make sure you know your lines for your current events scene.  You should have a clear idea what the set looks like and create stage business (natural activities) that makes your scene seem real.  Try to think about what your character would act, sound and dress like.  Do you need lighting?  Tell Tima what you want.  If you need sound effects, she will be able to create simple sound for you.

Journals are due today.  Don't let this part of the course slide!

Journal time!

Make sure you are comfortable with your Shakespeare recitation.  We will be reciting on Wednesday of next week (that's December 2!)

If you haven't done so already, please ask your parents which format they would prefer for Meet the Teacher Night.  I can post a video or we can have a Zoom meeting.  A Block parents would meet from 7 p.m. till 7:15 and B Block parents would meet from 7:15 to 7:30.  The video would be accessible on December 3.  The format will be a presentation about our class and will not be focused on individual students.  Progress reports will be issued on December 17.  Winter break is coming up.  Our last day of class for 2020 is December 18.

If you are interested in helping with "Spoon River Anthology", the fall play presentation, please let me know at my email address.  I will be sure to schedule you in a scene or two.  We cannot have people just showing up at the theatre these days, because of the increase of COVID infections in the province and the stricter rules about people gathering.

Journal #2 - Grade 9

What is the funniest movie you have ever seen?  Give the title and the director.

I think one of my favourite funny movies is "Start the Revolution without Me", directed by Bud Yorkin.  Second place would go to either "Sleeper" (Woody Allen) or "Young Frankenstein" (Mel Brooks).

What is funny about it?

For my choice, I think there are lots of funny elements.  It is the classic story about twins separated at birth and it is so fun to see Gene Wilder and Donald Sutherland playing both sets of twins -- one duo is from the lower class and one from the upper class.

What is the plot (two sentences at most)?

The story is set during the French Revolution and two halves of a twin set (the lower class half) are mistaken for aristocrats and become embroiled in the chaos of the Reign of Terror.

Describe one funny scene.

The court of Louis and Marie Antoinette is having a ball.  Marie doesn't care for Louis and wants to humiliate him so she tells him it's a costume party and Louis arrives dressed as a chicken.  He keeps saying plaintively, "I thought it was a costume ball".  There is lots of intrigue and people are passing notes asking other people to kill different leading figures -- "kill the queen", "kill Escargot" (Escargot is a courtier) and the reactions of people as they read the notes is hilarious.

Which actor impressed you the most?

They are all good, but Victor Spinetti is very superior and slinky as Escargot and Hugh Griffith is pathetic and memorable as the King.  Billie Whitelaw is also very nasty (in a good way) as Marie Antoinette.  And Gene Wilder and Donald Sutherland play both twins with so much energy and are such a contrast (to themselves, if that makes sense.)

Some of you got to watch "The Gold Rush" (Charlie Chaplin) and "The General" (Buster Keaton) last year during the lockdown.  If you haven't seen them, they are classic comedies and silent films, so perhaps worth a look on that basis alone.

Journal #2 (Grade 8)

On a scale of 1 - 4, with one being "not good" and 4 being "excellent", how would you rate yourself as a group member?  Explain your rating.  What are you good at?  How could you improve?

Are you a good leader?  Explain.

Describe a time when you had to work in a group (it doesn't have to be drama).  What did you learn from the experience?

Journals are due on Tuesday.  If you missed last week's journal, check the previous post and do it and hand it in with this week's journal.

First Things First!

English 12 and Drama 8 (First Quarter)

Report cards:  I must submit report cards at noon today and they will be posted on the portal.  For English 12, I marked your poetry projects and many of them were really terrific!  One important thing -- if you use a quote from another source, you MUST cite the source of that quote.  If you do not, that is plagiarism and is a serious case of academic misconduct.  If you do that when you go to university, you could face expulsion!  On the other hand, if you cite the source of your poem once, then you do not need to continually cite it.  Once is enough.  I will put the marked projects in a box outside the theatre on Monday in case you want to pick them up.  Drama 8 (Quarter 1 - Rotation 2) -- I will put any leftover journals in a box outside the theatre doors.  

Drama Club:

Because of the new orders by the provincial health office, we will not be able to welcome members of the club into the theatre unless you are scheduled to attend rehearsal.  Taylor will send out the rehearsal schedules and you must come if you are scheduled.  If you are interested in helping with filming -- either as an actor or a crew member, please let Ms. Kosar or Taylor know and we will include you in the schedule.

First Journals:

Make sure the handout is at the front of your journal.  Make sure you share the handout with your family, so they know what we're up to in Drama.

Drama 9:

Write a brief scene (1/2 page or so) with at least two characters discussing a current event.  Here's my example:

Bonnie Henry:  Oh, the covid cases are going through the roof!  We've got to do something!

Minister of Health Adrian Dix:  Yes, Dr. Henry.  We need to stop the spread.  What shall we do?

Bonnie Henry:  The important thing is to flatten the curve.  We don't want the hospitals to be overrun!

Minister of Health Adrian Dix:  Absolutely right.  Do we have a plan that can make that happen?

Bonnie Henry:  Yes, Minister!  I found just the people who will save the whole province!

Minister of Health:  Really?  Who?

(Ghostbusters music.)

Bonnie Henry:  It's the Virus Busters!  (A group of people in Hazmat suits dance in handing out masks to everyone.  They mime the elbow touch with Dr. Henry, but from a proper distance.)

Virus Busters (in unison):  Who you gonna call?  Virus busters!  (Dr. Henry and Minister Dix join in.)

Okay, it's not great -- I'm sure you can do better.

Drama 8:

What should Ms. Kosar know about you?  These are things to include:  have you ever done Drama before?    (in elementary school, in an outside class, at camp, with your friends); do you have stage fright (which is more common than you might think)? what do you expect to get from Drama class?  do you do any performance-based activities (like music, dance, sports)?

Remember, your journals are due on Tuesday.

One very last thing!

I forgot to mention that you need to return all the books you've been given.  Inside Stories, Hamlet, Inside Poetry!  (And if you have a copy of The Wars, that, too!)

Last post! English 12

I have really enjoyed our time together, Grade 12's.  What a contrast between you guys and my other class in the quarter, which was Drama 8!!

This is what our last day will look like:

Question of the day.

Practice your Hamlet scene for 20 minutes (know your lines)

Present your play.

I hope we will have enough time for each of you to present one of your poems to the class, so be prepared to do so.  

You will need to hand in your Hamlet folder and your poetry project!

No more be done!

English 12:

We are fast approaching the end of the quarter.

Make sure you have your poetry project to hand in ON TIME.  If we have time, perhaps some of you can share a poem with the class and talk briefly about your theme.

Tuesday and Wednesday will be our last days!  We will see your performance of the scene you have chosen from Act 4 or 5 of Hamlet.  Make sure you bring whatever you need and prepare whatever you need to prepare to make your last presentation fantastic!  I will want to collect your finished folders on Hamlet as well.

The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail . . . There; my blessing with thee! 

Flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!

 Soon, we will be done the first quarter of this very strange school year.

Grade 8 Drama!  Make sure you complete your journals!  I am still concerned about audience behavior for some of you.  That is an important component of your achievement in drama.

Journal:  Which of the Aesop lessons should you try to learn?  Tell a story about why you should learn that particular lesson.  Make sure your journal is in the bin by Tuesday at the latest!

English 12:

We continue to work on the presentation of a scene from Act 4 or 5 in Hamlet.  Use the handout I gave you as a checklist to make sure your group has covered everything.  Make sure you have answered all the Hamlet questions and that your folder is ready to hand in on your last day.

Your poetry project is due on November 18 AT THE VERY LATEST!  

These are the scenes we watched:

Laurence Olivier https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ks-NbCHUns

Paapa Essiedou  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dZMJM-LGzQ

Kenneth Branagh  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK8am5ur7Ck

Mel Gibson  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf2TpWsPvgI

In your folder, write about the similarities and differences in the four performances.  Think of where the soliloquy is set, what the actor is wearing, how he deals with the bodkin (the knife),  what words he emphasizes,  what facial expressions he uses, how the soliloquy is filmed.

Which one is the best, in your opinion?

Answer this final question:  What is Hamlet's fatal flaw?  Discuss in your group and record the discussion (everyone should have an opinion).  Make sure you have reasons for what you suggest.

The Play's the Thing

 Great performances today.  A2, you will perform your Ophelia scenes on Monday.  It seems like you are all well on your way with the questions, so I would like each group to choose a 1 - 2 minute section of Act 4 or 5 to perform for our final scene.  There are lots of good choices -- Ophelia's mad scene, the big swordfight, Laertes fighting Hamlet in the graveyard!  I will give you lots of time in class to prepare -- it would be nice to think of every aspect of the performance -- costumes, music, lighting, acting, even props!

You should have submitted your bildungsroman to me by now!  If you haven't, get that done.  

Reading logs are due either today or Monday.

Have a great weekend -- it is supposed to be sunny and crisp!

Maybe by Monday, we will know who the president of the United States will be.  

Journal number three -- grade 8's

 Which fairy tale mime was your favourite?  Say the fairy tale name and the actors in the group.  Describe how they showed the story and highlight any particular aspect of the presentation that impressed you (this could be a tableau, an actor, a scene, the music, whatever you want to describe).

How did your presentation go?  Describe the rehearsal process briefly (who was the leader, if there was one; did anyone not help?)  What was good about the presentation?  What could have been improved?

What role did you play?  What did you do well?  What could you improve?

Poetry Project info

 Hi, everyone!  I am taking a break from watching the American election (sigh!)

Here is the low-down on the poetry project.

You must choose a theme and find five poems that deal with the theme.  You should write two poems about the theme.

For the poems you select, include:

Name of poem.  (If it does not appear in our poetry book, please include a copy of the poem.)

Name of poet, with a brief (three sentences at most) bio.

How does this poem fit your theme?  What does it say about the theme?  Does the poem tell a story?  What is the story (if it tells one)?  What is it about (if it doesn't tell a story, does it describe something, is it arguing a point or expressing an emotion)?

Why did you choose this particular poem?  What do you like about it?

What form does the poem take?  (sonnet, lyric, limerick, ballad, ode, etc.)  What poetic devices does it use?  (include examples)

You do not have to explain your own poems (you are to write two).  Just include them.

I would like you to include an introduction explaining why you chose your theme, and some sort of visual element (drawing, collage, photograph -- it should be your own work!)

I hope you will be able to share one of your poems (either one you chose to suit the theme or your own work) with the class and talk a bit about it. 

I posted marks for A2 today and will post updated marks for A1.  I realize some of you might have wished for higher marks, but the quarter is not over yet, and you have three big assignments upcoming -- the poetry project, the bildungsroman and the Hamlet group project, so there are lots of opportunities to improve.  In addition, you need to think about what your mark says -- if you are getting an "A", that means you are doing excellent work.  A "B" indicates "very good".   A "C+" is "satisfactory".  I know you all want to do your best and that is to your credit, but your mark won't change just because you're disappointed.  You need to absorb my suggestions for improvement and proceed accordingly.

Steveston-London's Theatre and me!

 I understand that some of your parents would like to see the classroom in which we work and also that some parents might want to see me, just to see what I look like!

So here we are!

This is the stage right part of the stage!

This is stage left including the door to my office!

This is the audience area with the booth in the background.  (And all our social distancing waggies to keep us entertained and apart!)

And this is me!  I am so used to wearing a mask now, that when I look at my photograph, it looks like my upper lip is very large!

O cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right!

 Have you ever had to do a task that you knew needed to be done, but that you just didn't want to do and that you didn't know how to do?  That's Hamlet's situation at the end of Act 1.  

Here is an outline of what we will be doing over the next few days in "Hamlet".  You DO NOT need to finish all of this by Monday or Tuesday.  It is just here to give you an idea on some things you might focus on as you read.

By Wednesday (A1) or Thursday (A2), you should have read both the last few scenes in Act 1 and then, Act 2.  The more times you read it, the clearer it will become.

After you read Act 1, scene 2, your group should do one of the four activities suggested on page 40 in the copy of Hamlet.  Ask someone who likes to write to choose either a, b, c or d in Question 1 -- you should all contribute ideas, and your group reporter should give me an idea of who is doing what and who is contributing (you can point out to the daily reporter that you have contributed and tell them in what way).  The piece of writing (a,b,c or d) should go into your folder.

In scene 3, we meet Polonius's family.  How does it compare to Hamlet's family?  Are they a loving family?  They give advice to each other.  Whose advice do you agree with?  Do you listen to the advice of your parents?  Do you get advice from your siblings?  Do you give them advice?  Is it good advice?

In scene 4 and 5, Hamlet meets the ghost.  Would you trust it and believe what it said?

Act 2, scene 1:  What is Polonius like?  Would you like to have a father like this?  In your group, make a list of his personal attributes.  Accompany each attribute with a quote from the play.  You may use things he says himself, or things that people say about him.  You can add to your list as you continue to read the play.

Prepare a mime (with Ophelia's voice over) of the scene she describes in lines 76 - 100.

Act 2, scene 2:  Different people arrive in Denmark.  Make a list of who arrives and describe why they come and what significance they have to the play.

Hamlet is excited to see the players arrive.  He asks one of the actors to recite for him.  (How much do you know about the Trojan War?  It is often referenced in Western literature -- why do you think that is?)  What famous person would you be excited to see come to Steveston-London?  Survey your group and write down a list of the famous people they would like to see and explain why.

If you were doing a production of Hamlet, you would likely not set it in Elizabethan England (the period in which Shakespeare himself lived).  What would be a good place and time in which to set the play?  Have someone who likes to draw sketch costumes for two of the characters that show how you would use colour and style to show the period in which you have set your production and also what the characters are like (for example, if you think Gertrude is behaving like a "strumpet", perhaps she would wear provocative, revealing clothing or, if you think Claudius is evil, perhaps he would dress in black or purple, or even red).  Include your sketches in your folder.

Your group should work through Acts 2 and 3.

In Act 3, scene 1 -- Answer the questions posed in Question 5 after the scene (on page 146).  You do not need to pretend to be a reporter or director.  This scene contains the most famous soliloquy of the play.  

At the beginning of scene 2, Hamlet gives advice to the actors.  Do you think his advice is appropriate?  What advice would you give to actors?  (You can choose a specific actor, if you like.)  Answer question 2 on page 174.

In scene 3, what is Claudius's dilemma?  What is the solution to his problem?  

After Act 3, scene 4, write an obituary for Polonius that would be featured in the Danish Times (the national newspaper).  Be sure to include his age, his achievements, and who is left to mourn for him. 

 Keep the answers to the questions in your folder.  Remember, you should be looking for images from each act to decorate the folder with.  You all need to contribute to the group.  The person keeping the diary should include things like who volunteers to do the writing or the sketching.

Also remember, you should be doing a reading log every off day.  I will collect reading logs on November 6 and November 9.

Your poetry project is due on November 18!  This is the last day of classes, so you cannot be late!

 

Team players

 Drama 8:  Remember, you will be reciting your Shakespeare passage on Monday and Tuesday.  If you're not sure of the lines, practice over the weekend.

Journal #2:  On a scale of 1 - 4, with 4 being excellent and 1 being not good at all, how would you rate yourself as a group member?  Explain your answer.  What qualities do you have that make you a good group member?  In what areas do you need to improve?  Are you a good leader?  Explain why or why not.  Write about a time when you worked in a group (it doesn't have to be in this class and it doesn't have to be a positive experience) and what you learned from it.

All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances

And one man, in his time, plays many parts.

How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable/Seem to me all the uses of this world!

 Have you ever felt like poor Hamlet?  That the world is empty of meaning and purpose?

You were to have read Act 1, scene 1.  In your group, describe what the men in this scene think about ghosts. (Use the following quotes to come up with specific ideas.)  Do you agree with them?

PARAPHRASE (write in your own words) the following passages:

1.  'tis but our fantasy (I, i, 23)

2.  Thou art a scholar (line 42)

3.  This bodes some strange eruption to our state (line 69)

4.  A little ere the mightiest Julius fell,

The graves stood tenantless and the sheeted dead

Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets. (lines 114-116)

5.  If thou art privy to thy country's fate,

Which, happily, foreknowing may avoid,

O, speak! (lines 133-135)

6.  We do it wrong, being so majestical,

To offer it the show of violence;

For it is, as the air, invulnerable (lines 143-145)

7.  It faded on the crowing of the cock.  (line 151)

8.  Upon my life,

This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him. (lines 171 - 172)

We meet Claudius, who is running the affairs of state.  What do you think of him?  

We meet Hamlet, who is dressed in black and in mourning for his father's death.  What do you think of him?

What is Claudius's advice to Hamlet?  Is it good advice?

What is one contrast between Laertes and Hamlet?

What does Hamlet think about his mother?  (Quote the play.)

Have your group perform two of these short exchanges:

Act 1, scene 2

(Lines 118-121)

Queen:  Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet:

I pray thee, stay with us; go not to Wittenberg.

Hamlet:  I shall in all my best obey you, madam.

King:  Why, 'tis a loving and a fair reply.

(Lines 175-177)

Horatio:  My lord, I came to see your father's funeral.

Hamlet:  I pray thee, do not mock me, fellow-student;

I think it was to see my mother's wedding.

(lines 188 - 190)

Horatio:  My lord, I think I saw him yesternight.

Hamlet:  Saw!  Who?

Horatio:  My lord, the king your father.

Hamlet:  The king my father!

(Lines 224 - 233)

Hamlet:  Hold you the watch tonight?

All:  We do, my lord.

Hamlet:  Arm'd, say you?

All:  Arm'd, my lord.

Hamlet:  From top to toe?

All:  My lord, from head to foot.

Hamlet:  Then saw you not his face?

Horatio:  O yes, my lord, he wore his beaver up.

Hamlet:  What, look'd he frowningly?

Horatio:  A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.

...

Hamlet:  I would I had been there.

Decorate your folder with images from all five acts!

Oh, that this too too solid flesh would melt, thaw and resolve itself into a dew!

 Guess who wrote that?  Yeah, you guessed it.  Shakespeare!  Here is the famous "Swan" drawing of a Shakespearean style theatre!

In A1, we started on our study of Hamlet -- we created theatre companies and saw the first scene presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company.  Remember each group is responsible for keeping a diary of what you do each day.  It must not fall to one person in the group to do this.  Each of you should lend a hand!

We discussed "The Yellow Wallpaper", which we will do tomorrow in A2.

We agreed that your final bildungsroman story is due on November 4.  For A2, we agreed that it would be due on November 3.  Try to think about what you learned from the two stories we read.  How did Margaret Lawrence create the impression of the characters?  (Think of the grandfather.)  How does Charlotte Perkins Gilman use unusual words to help us get inside the protagonist's mind?  The story arc that we discussed can be very helpful to structure your story.  Introduce the characters and setting.  The emotional loss can provide an inciting incident.  The struggles the protagonist faces can create rising action.  You reach the climax and then wrap things up quickly.  Try not to philosophize too much!  Let your reader do that.  We are finished with the short story book, so you can return that.  Too bad the quarter is so short, because there are lots of great short stories in that book.  Two I would recommend are "The Painted Door" by Sinclair Ross and "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson.  "The Rocking Horse Winner" (D. H. Lawrence) is also terrific.

You should be continuing to work on your poetry project and also be reading twenty minutes a day and writing in your reading log.

A1 -- Read Act 1, scene 1 out loud at home.  Remember, punctuation is your friend!

Tomorrow, Cail will ask the question of the day.  On Thursday, Travis will ask it in A1.

Care and respect at Steveston-London

 Drama 8:  You are getting into the swing of things here at Steveston-London, but this is a strange year, in which you are not able to meet a lot of students just hanging out in the common areas of the school.  It is going to be a challenge this year to create a strong school community, which is one of the hallmarks of our school.  In the Drama club, we always welcome newcomers to our midst enthusiastically because we know that they will continue the great traditions of our theatre and of our school.

The idea of treating each other with care and respect has long been a motto of Steveston-London.  This is something we want all of you to practice each and every day.  It is essential in Drama where people are asked to take creative risks all the time.  You must strive to demonstrate to your classmates that you care for and respect each of them, and that means that you listen to their ideas and take them seriously.

Sometimes you can be insensitive without meaning to be.   But this is not an excuse for poor behavior.   Don't discount someone's idea with a joke or a mean remark.  One of the goals in Drama 8 is to become a better listener and to try to be considerate of others.

Being accepting of the diversity in our student population is one way of demonstrating your care and respect for others.  It is exciting to be able to share our vastly different perspectives and in the theatre, we need to embrace the idea that everyone should have a voice and deserves to be treated with the utmost care and respect.

English 12:

We will be starting our study of "Hamlet" next!  This is obviously very exciting for me, because I love Shakespeare and I'm always eager to share his amazing work with everyone.  "Hamlet" is (arguably) his greatest (and longest) play.  Like a number of works we have read this quarter, "Hamlet" could be called a coming of age story.  Hamlet is a young man who is struggling with many of the issues that face all of us, but especially young people.  He faces intense family pressures -- dealing with the loss of his father and his mother's sudden marriage to his uncle.  He feels required to take action, but cannot seem to take the first step.  He is struggling with his relationships with his friends, his elders and his companions.  He feels like he can't trust anyone.  He struggles with his mental health -- sometimes, he wonders if he is crazy and sometimes, others wonder the same thing.

This is a play, so it is meant to be seen and experienced.  Shakespeare always starts things out with a bang!  In the first scene of the play, we meet a ghost on the foggy battlements of the castle of Elsinore!  Perfect for Hallowe'en!

Fun Facts about Shakespeare:

1.  He died on his birthday (we think) -- April 23.  I usually celebrate with a cake on that day.  He was born in 1564 and died in 1616.

2.  He is said to have played the ghost in "Hamlet".  He was an actor, a theatre "director" and producer and made a good living in London in the theatre before retiring to Stratford, the town where he was born.

3.  His wife, Anne Hathaway, was 26 when he married her.  He was 18.  They had three children -- Susanna, born 6 months after their wedding day and then twins, Judith and Hamnet in 1585.

4.  His son, Hamnet, died in 1596.  Some suggest his son's death plunged him into a dark time during which he might have written his darkest, bleakest plays.

5.  His first play was likely "Titus Andronicus" which is a very violent and gory play.

6.  His shortest tragedy is "Macbeth" -- also quite gory.  His shortest play is the comedy "A Comedy of Errors" which is about two sets of twins!

7.  He wrote 37 plays in all - tragedies, comedies, romances and historical plays.

8.  This is his epitaph:

Good friend, for Jesus' sake, forbear

To dig the dust enclosed here.

Blest be the man that spares these stones,

And curst be he that moves my bones.

He is buried in Stratford-upon-Avon.

9.  He likely went to grammar school in Stratford, where he would have learned Latin among other subjects.  He would have begun attending school at 7 and stopped when he was about 14.

10.  In addition to his plays, he also wrote poetry, especially when the theatres were closed because of outbreaks of the plague.

11.  We don't know a lot about Shakespeare's private life, because people didn't keep records about "ordinary" people in those days.  Most of the things we hear are not verified or verifiable.

Update for A1 -- The Yellow Wallpaper (redux)

 Now I am assigning you the happy task of reading "The Yellow Wallpaper" and the following article in which the author describes why she wrote it.  

These words might be new to you:  felicity, querulous, delirium tremens, undulating, melancholia.  If you aren't sure what they mean, you will find them in the story and article.  You might look them up or you might be able to figure them out by looking at the context in which they are used.

Here are some questions you might want to consider after you read the story:

Are you like John? (How is he described?)

What is her situation?  Do you envy her at the beginning?  Do you sympathize with her?

Do you agree with her that “congenial work . . . would do [her] good”?

What unusual word and phrases does she use to describe the wallpaper?

Why won’t John let her fix up the room?  Why does he insist that they use the room with the wallpaper?

Why is she afraid to be “caught” writing?

How does the story end?  (There is some controversy about this.  What do you think?)

 Could this story be written today, in the 21^st century?  Would the situation and the characters be believable?  

Drama 8 - First journal

 Try to get this finished by Tuesday of next week (October 27).

What should Ms. Kosar know about you?  Include if you have done any sort of drama before -- public speaking, performances, improv, elementary school presentations, classes at Gateway, etc.)  Do you have stage fright?  (Lots of your classmates do, too, but some of them are really good at hiding it.)  Have you ever done any sort of performing (music, dance, sports)?  What do you expect to get out of Drama class?  Also mention any other concerns you might have.

MAKE SURE YOU ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS!

ON MONDAY, JOEL WILL LEAD THE CLASS -- ASKING THE QUESTION OF THE DAY AND INTRODUCING A WARM-UP GAME.  MAKE SURE YOU CAN SAY WHY THE ACTIVITY IS APPLICABLE TO DRAMA.

The Yellow Wallpaper - English 12

 Great debates today, A2.  I am so impressed with all of you and how well you argued your points.  There were no weak sides -- kudos to all of you!

We will be reading a strange short story next called "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.  In our short story book, there is an article after the story called "Why I Wrote 'The Yellow Wallpaper'" (also by Charlotte Perkins Gilman).  We will read both (you can also find both online, if you prefer.)  It is a weird story and perhaps appropriate for this time of year as we approach Hallowe'en.  I am not officially assigning you to read it for the next class, but if you find yourself at loose ends and want to give yourself a little tweak of Gothic creepiness, this might be just the thing.

You should all be starting to plan out your poetry project.  Here are the questions I would like you to answer about each poem.  It would be nice if you could frame the answers in a paragraph, rather than question #1:  answer, etc.

Name of poem.  (If it does not appear in our poetry book, please include a copy of the poem.)

Name of poet, with a brief (three sentences at most) bio.

How does this poem fit your theme?  What does it say about the theme?  Does the poem tell a story?  What is the story (if it tells one)?  What is it about (if it doesn't tell a story, does it describe something, is it arguing a point or expressing an emotion)?

Why did you choose this particular poem?  What do you like about it?

What form does the poem take?  (sonnet, lyric, limerick, ballad, ode, etc.)  What poetic devices does it use?  (include examples)

You do not have to explain your own poems (you are to write two).  Just include them.

I would like you to include an introduction explaining why you chose your theme, and some sort of visual element (drawing, collage, photograph -- it should be your own work!)

I hope you will be able to share one of your poems (either one you chose to suit the theme or your own work) with the class and talk a bit about it.

Voting Days!

 Election fever is in the air!  In English 12, we are having some exciting debate days and of course, have discussed all the debates we've been enjoying in the last few weeks!  On Saturday, our provincial election will be held, but in these strange days of the pandemic, lots of people (including me) are voting in alternative ways -- I have always waited for Election Day to vote in the past (I calculated that I have voted in every election held since I was 18 -- that's a LOT of elections!!  I have never missed one) but this year, I wanted to avoid crowds, so my sons and I voted yesterday at the advance poll.  It was very orderly and only took us about 5 minutes.  My youngest son voted for the first time, so that was very exciting.  The people working at the poll applauded for him and gave him a sticker that said "lst time voter" -- he felt a bit embarrassed, but it is a big moment in a person's life and everyone was proud of him.  I remember my first time voting -- both my parents were very interested in politics and my mother was working at the poll and my dad took me there to vote and they were both very proud of me.  I was so excited that when I went into the voting booth, my hand was shaking and when I got out and thought about it, I wasn't sure I had voted the way I had planned!  So I am always careful to "check my work" when I vote nowadays.

We are having our student vote today and Thursday at the school.  Grade 8 and 9 students will vote at our onsite voting place in the C Lounge.  Grade 10, 11 and 12s will vote online.  Here is a link to introduce you to the candidates in the riding of Richmond-Steveston:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT2nIUDLWG8&t=4s  It is a privilege and a responsibility to inform yourself about the issues and the candidates and to exercise your franchise, which people in the past have struggled to attain.  Choose wisely.  You might not think it matters, but the people you choose to represent you have a great deal of influence on your life!  They are responsible for deciding about how schools are run, about how our hospitals take care of us, what laws we must obey, where we build roads, how we take care of our air and water, how many buses are on our bus routes, so many things we count on day to day.

Happy voting!

Debating update! Drama 8 -- welcome to the theatre!

English 12 -- A1 -- Great work today on the debating.  I was very impressed with how well you prepared for your presentation and how enthusiastic you were about your topics!  It would be nice to be able to argue over it for longer.

Bildungsroman outline is due next day (A2's, if you have it done, give it to me tomorrow because that will give me the weekend to read them).

A2 -- we will debate tomorrow!  Looking forward to another round of convincing arguments and counter-arguments!

If you have not done so already, please hand in your copy of The Wars with your stickies inside.  (Your name helps me, too!)

You should be continuing to write reading logs and read and you should be putting together your poetry project on your off days.  You should all have chosen a theme at least by now.

Drama 8:

Good class today!  I was very impressed with the stories your open and closed mimes told.  If you are wondering what to do at the dinner table with your family, why not try a round of the geography game?  When my sons were younger, we always used to play drama games at dinner!  When they were really small, we played the geography game, but we didn't eliminate anyone -- everyone could keep playing!

We will do journals this week on Thursday, so make sure you have paper, something to write with and the drama handout in a duotang.

Update for A2

 We did much of the same thing that the A1 class did, so look there for your homework.  It is very important that you read the short story, "Horses of the Night" and that you create a chart which compares it to The Wars.  Bring the chart to class next day.

If you are overwhelmed with the debate prep and the bildungsroman outline, you may put off the outline till the class after the debate!

Here lies John Yeast/Pardon him for not rising!

 Update for A1:

We set up your debate teams.  We will have the debates on October 20.  You should be thinking about how to strongly present your points.  A little humour never hurts.  Try to appear confident.  Make sure you stick to the topic.

You should read "Horses of the Night" by Margaret Laurence.  Create a chart that shows the similarities and differences between The Wars and "Horses of the Night".  One thing that is similar is that they are both Canadian stories.

Be prepared to hand in your copy of The Wars with its stickies.

Write your own epitaph.  (Or, if that makes you feel a bit uncomfortable, you can write someone else's.)

Your bildungsroman draft is due next week.  You should be reading some poetry to prepare to create your poetry project.  If you read poetry for twenty minutes, you may use that as your reading log reading, but be sure to respond to what you read.

Next day:  Jack will ask the question of the day.  (Be on time!)

Character list for Spoon River

Thanks to all of you who attended the meeting after school today to get started on thinking about scenes we can create to flesh out the monologues.  Taylor will be sending out requests for rehearsals this week.  I hope lunch works for most of you.

Here is a list of the characters we will be performing.   Is there someone who would like to play the very sleazy Lucius Atherton?  His monologue is quite short, but he is mentioned by several of these characters.

Update - English 12 (A2)

 Next day (October 15):  Finish The Wars.  Let's see if your predictions were right.

Your draft of your bildungsroman will be due on October 21 (for A1, October 22).  It should be MUCH LESS than 5 pages, more like 2 pages (500 words, or so).

Think of debate topics.

Start thinking of a theme for your poetry project.  Perhaps if you find a poem you like, that will help you choose a theme.

The question of the day will be asked by Wesley and Tiffany will present her book report.

Keep reading 20 minutes a day and writing in your reading log.

*******************

A1 -- Aya, you need to do your book report.

Jack will ask the question of the day.

Due date for rough draft of bildungsroman - October 22 (see above)

Finish The Wars.  Did you guess what would happen?

Think of debate topics.  Start thinking about a theme for your poetry project.  (see above)

ACTUAL Rubric!

 I understand that my attempt at recreating the rubric might be a bit vague, so this is the actual rubric from the BC Provincial government.  As I said previously, the provincial exams are a thing of the past, but I believe the rubric is an effective way of making a judgement of a piece of writing created under somewhat stressful circumstances!

ENGLISH 12
SCORING GUIDE FOR STAND-ALONE TEXT

6

The six response is superior and may draw upon any number of factors, such as depth of discussion, effectiveness of argument, or level of insight. It exhibits an effective writing style and a sophisticated use of language. Despite its clarity and precision, the response need not be error-free.

5

The five response is proficient and reflects a strong grasp of the topic and the text. The references to the passage may be explicit or implicit and convincingly support a thesis. The writing is well organized and demonstrates a strong command of the conventions of language. Errors may be present, but are not distracting.

4

The four response is competent. The assertions tend to be simplistic; there are no significant errors in understanding. References are present and appropriate, but may be limited to only part of the text. The writing is organized and straightforward. Conventions of language are usually followed, but some errors are evident.

3

The three response is barely adequate. Understanding of the topic and/or the text may be partially flawed. Support may consist of long references to the text which are not clearly connected to a central idea or may be meagre or repetitive. The response may show some sense of purpose, but errors may be distracting.

2
The two response is inadequate. While there is an attempt to address the topic, understanding of the text or

the task may be seriously flawed. Errors are recurring, distracting, and often impede meaning.

1
The one response is unacceptable. Although the response attempts to address the question, it is too brief or

there is a complete lack of control in the writing.

0

The zero response reflects a complete misunderstanding of the text and/or the task, is off-topic, or is a restatement of the question.

This is a first-draft response and should be assessed as such. The use of paragraph structure is assessed holistically with reference to the clarity of expression and organization.

*Any zero paper must be cleared by the section leader.

NR

A blank paper with no response given.

Ministry of Education - 1 - 2018/19 School Year

English 12 Scoring Guides