Romeo and Juliet

Below are several assignments you may submit for extra credit points that will be factored into your final grade for the 2nd marking period.  Each assignment, and you may complete as many as you like, will count as one homework grade.

Soooo…if you have completed all of my homework assignments to date, you stand to receive an above  perfect score for the homework component of your grade, which will certainly be helpful.

If you have not completed all of my homework assignments to date, now is a good time to make up for those missing assignments. For each of these assignments you submit, you will have replaced a zero for a homework that you did not submit.

Guidelines:

1. Each assignment must be submitted to me in class, upon our return on January 5th. *Please do not submit your assignments online via the blog or via email. This will ensure that no assignments is lost  in cyberspace.
2. With each submission, please include a heading  or title indicating which assignment(s) you are submitting.
3. Be sure to check grammar, spelling and legibility of your submissions.

Romeo and Juliet, Act I, Extending and Evaluating

Although the action of this play takes place in Italy in the fourteenth century, we can recognize similarities between the culture of that time and that of our own. Which conflicts could you imagine taking place today?

*Hint think of both internal and external conflicts and elaborate with a specific example that puts you at the center of the conflict.

(Minimum 2 paragraphs, at least 5 sentences each)

Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene Design

Elizabethan playwrights created their scene designs mostly from words rather than the scenery, props, and lighting that might be used today. Pick a scene from Act II, and decide how you would design and stage it. If there is a wall or balcony in your scene, where would you place it? Where would the characters stand? Would you add furniture, trees and other props? Would you include a backdrop showing a city street, a garden, a forest, or a castle? How would you light your scene? Make a drawing of your scene.

*Hint:  Add labels and descriptions or make a 3-D version worth 3 homeworks.

Romeo and Juliet, Poetry

Pick one passage in Act II that especially appeals to you, and explain the poetic and literary devices involved. Is there rhyme, rhythm, or alliteration? What do the figures of speech mean? What senses do the images appeal to?

*Hint: include the definitions of the literary devices for clarity.

(Minimum 2 paragraphs, at least 5 sentences each)

Romeo and Juliet, Monarchies

Research the monarchs that reigned during Shakespeare’s lifetime. Find a connection about their influence on English theater during that time.

*Hint: you may choose any one of the monarchs you find reigned during his lifetime and discuss how his (or her) beliefs influenced theater at that time.

(Minimum 2 paragraphs, at least 5 sentences each)

Vocabulary Practice

Cube 5 of the ten vocabulary words listed. *Words with an asterisk can also be illustrated for extra points.

Cubing Technique

Define the word
Find its origin
Write something personal it reminds you of
Write a synonym
Write an antonym
Use it in a sentence

Vocabulary Bank

1. Coherent
2. Arrogate
3. Incendiary
4. Talisman*
5. Pejorative
6. Verdant*
7. Flotsam*
8. Pecuniary*
9. Derelict*
10. Diatribe

*Hint: Use a dictionary and a thesaurus

Honestly, these sorts of conversations are my favorite because I get to know more about you, and the more I hear, the more I like. So I’m going to start this post with a story about some of the funny nicknames I earned in school, and I hope you’ll make me laugh with your stories.

When I was in middle school, some of my classmates noticed (or thought) that I have an unusually long neck, so they began to think of all the animals with long necks.

I was:

Jay-Jay the Giraffe

Ah-Ah the Ostrich and…

Tu-Tu the Turtle

…and the names never really bothered me. In fact, I looked forward to their creativity and laughed at the names myself. It was fun to laugh at myself then and it is fun now. (But try not to make fun of my neck in our next class)

What are some of your stories?

I’ve gathered a few resources which I hope you will find helpful as you continue to write, edit and revise.

Please feel free to try these, or post and share ideas of your own!

Freewriting:

One of the easiest ways to generate new short story ideas…Here’s How:

Developing Characters:

Write short character sketches about people you meet who interest you, and read them when
you need inspiration. Could you build a unique story around one or two of those characters?
Perhaps you could even combine two character sketches into one fascinating personality,
helping to make a great short story.

Peruse the phonebook, especially the yellow pages. An interesting name or occupation can spark a story idea.

Don’t make the mistake of writing what you think other people want to hear. Dig deep and get
to know yourself, and write from your own point of view.

A website:

Short Stories: 10 Tips for Novice Creative Writers

It doesn’t matter what the holiday is, but I’d love to hear from you =]

Think carefully about the issue presented in the following quotation from American writer Anais Nin.

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”

What is your view about the above statement? Support your stand with examples from your studies or experiences.

Post your pet stories for an extra 5 points in Participation!

GOVERNING PRINCIPLES

• I choose to be here-what I am doing is important.
• I am dedicated to my own growth, enthusiastic about education, and am willing to take academic risks.
• Through learning, I will gain personal and academic power.
• I am committed to make a significant improvement to the human condition at home and abroad.
• This is my school…I make it shine!

ROUTINES

Student Planners

• Students must bring their planners to each class, record all assignments and scheduled tests and carry the books as hall passes.
• They should also record their test, quiz and project grades in the Achievement Tracking section.
  

More To Be Announced…

TESTING DAYS AND FREQUENCY

Tests will be scheduled at least four days in advance; Quizzes may be given on any day.
I will indicate both the format and what material will be tested.

Monday:	Math, Computer Technology
Tuesday:	Foreign Language
Wednesday:	English, Art
Thursday:	Science, Health Education
Friday:	Social Studies

Per quarter, students may expect the following:

***Refer to the Student Handbook regarding the make up policy.

GRADING SCALE

Please refer to the ‘Syllabi’ page for grading and weighting regarding:

The School District of Philadelphia Grading Scale

A	90-100
B	80-89
C	70-79
D	65-69
F	0-64

HOMEWORK POLICY

• Homework is assigned a minimum of four times per week for each major subject.
• *When no written homework is given, students should review class notes and prepare for upcoming tests.
• Students are also expected to make up all homework missed due to excused absences (time frame for which student has to complete missed homework assignments should be discussed with me).

ABSENCES/ MAKE-UP POLICY

• Please refer to the Student Handbook for specific guidelines regarding excused and unexcused absences.
• Arrangements to make up tests for excused absences must be scheduled with me, which may include before or after school, or during the student’s lunch period.