//www.ephschool.com/apps/classes/1036436/assignments/ Class Name: Pd6/ELA11/Blair/EES86-3-Term 2 - Academic Writing - 2021-22 Instructor(s): Laura Blair en-us SchoolSitePro //www.ephschool.com/homeworkItem8758939 //www.ephschool.com/apps/classes/1036436/assignments/ Aim:  Students will point out transparency and reflection when discussing the context of Spoken Word poem.

1. View the Windows and Mirrors description in the attachment and think about what "windows" means and what "mirrors" means.

2. Take a look at "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDwgnWE6jW8

We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile
And mouth with myriad subtleties,
Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
     We wear the mask.
We smile, but oh great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile,
But let the world dream otherwise,
     We wear the mask!

3. Answer the following based on "We Wear the Mask" and what you know about windows and mirrors:

Pick 1 line and write a short analysis of how the poet reflects windows (looking out at experiences very different than your own).
Pick 1 line and write a short analysis of how the poet reflects mirrors (reflection of your own experiences).
]]> Mon, 06 Jun 2022 10:19:37 PDT //www.ephschool.com/homeworkItem8751677 //www.ephschool.com/apps/classes/1036436/assignments/ Aim:  Students will use vehicles of reflection to express observations through speaking, drawing and/or writing.

Read the attached rubric.

Task:
Make an observation of three things that you see (either outside of your window at this current time or that you remember seeing at any given time throughout your day).
Record your verbal description of your observation (approximately 20-30 seconds total).

Ensure that you include everything on the attached rubric, in reference to style, literary devices and performance.

For Recording (vocal instructions attached):
1. Open Vocaroo.com.
2. Click the mic to record. Click to stop recording when complete.
3. Use the Replay circular arrow to listen to your recording.
4. Click Save and Share, then click on the Copy button (double-page icon) to copy the link and paste into this assignment.
]]> Thu, 02 Jun 2022 22:30:27 PDT //www.ephschool.com/homeworkItem8751678 //www.ephschool.com/apps/classes/1036436/assignments/ Aim:  Students will use vehicles of reflection to express observations through speaking, drawing and/or writing.

Vehicles for Reflection - watch the following videos for insight:
Stream of Consciousness Writing (video) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2scdO4M9FN8
Drawing as Thinking (video) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hntHGr8JR7o&t=6s
It’s time to reflect:
If you are using stream of consciousness writing, compose your writing in the answer box.
If you have chosen to illustrate, upload a picture of your reflection (consider using AutoDraw or a similar program).
REFLECTION PROMPT: This year, the world has been like... (or choose your own prompt)

Just like the video states, do not worry about rambling on or whether your drawing is intact--as long as you have a reflection using your conscious mind and illustration.
]]> Thu, 02 Jun 2022 22:30:31 PDT //www.ephschool.com/homeworkItem8748067 //www.ephschool.com/apps/classes/1036436/assignments/ Aim:  Students will explain the underlying messages in Spoken Word.

Watch “Somewhere in America”

Give a good explanation as to whether you agree or disagree with the message in the poem “that students learn more about life outside of the classroom than inside of it."
(Be sure to use "quotes" to make reference to some of the lines that are recited.)
]]> Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:55:30 PDT //www.ephschool.com/homeworkItem8745116 //www.ephschool.com/apps/classes/1036436/assignments/ Aim:  Students will identify the use of imagery in Spoken Word poems.

Inaugural Poet Amanda Gorman—“The Hill We Climb” (video)

Refer to the Literal/Figurative imagery reference attached to guide you when answering the questions.

Nearpod: PCVQ5
]]> Tue, 31 May 2022 16:32:26 PDT //www.ephschool.com/homeworkItem8745117 //www.ephschool.com/apps/classes/1036436/assignments/ Aim:  Students will identify the use of imagery in Spoken Word poems.

Today we’ll be reviewing imagery so that we can apply it to some creative, descriptive writing.

PART A.
Review: Imagery - Literal (five senses) and Figurative (metaphor, personification, hyperbole)

PART B.
1. Observe the attached scenery "Like a Mountain."
2. Use creative writing to describe what you see. So essentially, you will try to create images with words (maybe even in a poetic style).
(Hint: Describe what things look like, what they possibly sound, smell, or feel like based on the picture.)

Bonus: In your description, try comparing things in the photo to other things that are not in the photo.
]]> Tue, 31 May 2022 16:32:31 PDT //www.ephschool.com/homeworkItem8731923 //www.ephschool.com/apps/classes/1036436/assignments/ Learning Objective/Aim: Students will sketch out a script that creates different outcomes for the characters in a storyline while discussing in reading circles.

YOU MAY COMPLETE THIS ASSIGNMENT AS A GROUP; BE SURE TO RECORD ALL GROUP MEMBERS ' NAMES AND THE PARTS THAT THEY PLAYED IN THIS ASSIGNMENT.

TASK: Pick one of the following projects and create the item based on the overview of The Coldest Winter Ever:  Use poster paper to create this project (or create electronically on your device).

Reality TV: Take the characters and themes of The Coldest Winter Ever and create a reality TV show. What would the purpose of the show be? Write a short script for one episode. (You may choose a reality show that would help the characters, or one that might bash them.)
Create a Newscast: Using the events from The Coldest Winter Ever, write a script for a newscast. The tone can be serious or humorous, but it should accurately describe what you know about the events from the novel. It can include reporters on the scene and weather, to make it fun.
Movie Poster: Make a poster advertising The Coldest Winter Ever as a movie. Use symbols, concepts, and themes from the novel on your poster. Think about who would star in the movie. What would the movie be rated!?
Playlist: Make a playlist of 8-12 songs for Winter (or any of the characters). Choose songs that would accurately portray their feelings and the events or songs that would help the characters out of their situations. Explain why you chose the particular songs.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT (OVERVIEW)
The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah, is a work of urban and literary fiction, published in 1999. The novel chronicles the life of Winter Santiaga, the young daughter of a prominent and extremely wealthy drug lord.

Much urban fiction deals with themes such as prison, drugs, and violence, and is no different. Selling drugs is what makes Winter’s family wealthy, but it’s also what leads to her family’s ultimate downfall. Inherent to the drug-dealing lifestyle comes a level of violence and the constant threat of prison time. Early in the novel, Winter’s mother is shot in the face by a rival drug-dealing gang, and her father is imprisoned. By the end of the novel, Winter ends up sentenced to 15 years in prison for helping her drug dealing and illegal gun selling boyfriend. In this way, it’s clear that drugs, violence, and prison are inextricably linked in the novel.

While the novel is a work of fiction, the author makes herself a nonfiction character. Both on and off the page, Sister Souljah is a prominent activist. In the novel, Souljah is the antithesis of Winter. While Winter thinks only of herself and what she can do to individually survive, Souljah thinks of the Black community as a whole and what she can do to bring unity to her people. In this way, the author makes a larger commentary about the nature of poverty and life in the projects. On the one hand, people, like Winter, feel individualistic, like they must do what they need to survive, even if it means selling drugs to a neighbor. But on the other hand, Souljah points out that if only everyone in the projects united, what little they had could amount to a lot collectively. While Winter’s point of view, like so many others throughout the novel, perpetuates the cycle of drug selling, violence, and prison time for the people living in the projects, Souljah’s ideas demonstrate that there is a better way, but it takes a collective change of mind.

The novel ends with Winter in prison, just like her father. After she’s imprisoned, she briefly sees one of her little sisters, Porsche, during their mother’s funeral, and it’s clear that her sister is following in her footsteps. Just like Winter, Porsche is concerned with wearing the most expensive designer clothing and driving the most luxurious car. And like Winter, Porsche is getting her money from her boyfriend, who is presumed to be engaged in illegal activities. In this way, the novel’s ending seems to be commenting on the cyclic nature of life in the projects.

https://www.supersummary.com/the-coldest-winter-ever/
]]> Wed, 25 May 2022 18:57:25 PDT //www.ephschool.com/homeworkItem8729676 //www.ephschool.com/apps/classes/1036436/assignments/ texts?
Learning Objective/Aim: Students will develop their analysis of the connection between the abstract of a book and the underlying theme while in reading circles.

Step 1: View the attached video for review of theme.
Step 2: Read the following abstract (overview) of the book.
Step 3: Choose one of the themes and explain how it makes connection to the abstract.

ABSTRACT:
The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah, is a work of urban and literary fiction, published in 1999. The novel chronicles the life of Winter Santiaga, the young daughter of a prominent and extremely wealthy drug lord.

Quote from the book: “Brooklyn-born I don’t have no sob stories for you about rats and roaches and pissy-pew hallways. I came busting out of my momma’s big coochie on January 28, 1977, during one of New York’s worst snowstorms. So my mother named me Winter.” (Chapter 1, Page 1)
-- This is the beginning line of Chapter 1 and sets the tone for the rest of the novel. Winter is the first-person protagonist, and her mother was 14 when she gave birth to her. During this time Santiaga, her father, was just rising to drug lord fame, which meant Winter was born into luxury.  

While the Santiaga family originally lives in the Brooklyn housing projects, they soon move to a mansion in Long Island. Winter is used to living a life of opulence; she wears the latest designer fashions, gets her nails and hair done every few days, and drives her mom’s luxury car. However, after federal agents arrest her father and take all the family’s belongings and mansion, Winter is left with little money and nowhere to call home. With her little sisters in foster care, her father sentenced to life in prison, and her mom roaming the streets looking for crack, Winter is left alone and attempts to make a name for herself. 

Told from Winter’s point of view, the language in the novel often reflects hip hop and street culture colloquialisms. Winter is best described as self-absorbed and highly carnal. She is acutely aware of her sexuality and how best to use it to get what she wants. As a result, much of the novel details Winter’s most intimate thoughts and moments with men; she doesn’t shy away from describing men’s genitals or her physical sensations during sex. In this way, Winter’s sexuality is as much a focus of the novel as her family’s involvement in the dealing of drugs.

https://www.supersummary.com/the-coldest-winter-ever/

THEMES: 
1. It is assumed that true change in urban ghetto culture must come from within that culture itself. What specific steps might constitute a beginning?
2. A person can be described as amoral, that is, one who has not developed a conscience, or a sense of right and wrong. Do you believe that people can easily switch between being moral and amoral?
3. During the course of a person's life, there are some opportunities to make positive choices. How might one be affected if they do not take advantage of opportunities?
4. How realistic is it for people to change in order to maintain integrity (honesty and decency) 100% of the time?

Note: everyone is responsible for this assignment, even if "The Coldest Winter Ever" is not your reading circle text.  You may work in groups to analyze this assignment but your answers to the questions should be from your own analysis.
]]> Tue, 24 May 2022 23:03:21 PDT //www.ephschool.com/homeworkItem8721094 //www.ephschool.com/apps/classes/1036436/assignments/ Learning Objective/Aim: Students will sketch out the ideologies and behaviors of characters encountered in text while discussing in reading circles.

Note: everyone is responsible for this assignment, even if "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" is not your reading circle text.  You may work in groups to analyze this text but your answers to the questions should be from your own analysis.

The text is three of three lessons from Chapter 6 -  Detroit Red (lines 115-240).
Read and listen in Actively Learn and prepare for the writing task at the end of the reading.
]]> Fri, 20 May 2022 18:53:01 PDT //www.ephschool.com/homeworkItem8716320 //www.ephschool.com/apps/classes/1036436/assignments/ Learning Objective/Aim: Students will sketch out the ideologies and behaviors of characters encountered in text while discussing in reading circles.

Note: everyone is responsible for this assignment, even if "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" is not your reading circle text.  You may work in groups to analyze this text but your answers to the questions should be from your own analysis.

The text is two of three lessons from Chapter 6 -  Detroit Red (lines 55-115).
Read in Actively Learn in groups, listen to the summary (attached) and analyze the characters.
]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 18:45:39 PDT