A Favourite Popular Song

Post a link to a favourite song (YouTube will have many available) before you come to class. After the link, briefly say why you like the song. Mention a lyric (words) that you prefer. Be sure to identify the performer or band by name.

NOTE: If you would like to share your final draft of the narrative essay with other students, please send a copy in Word format to Brad before class next Wednesday. I can create a special blog post to help you share the results of all your hard work.

Writing a Well Supported Example

Each pair of students should post four short examples (40 to 50 words maximum) before Friday's class. Two examples should come from "Child, Dead, in the Rose Garden" and two from "A Spoiled Man." It is not necessary to name the story in your answer. Each example must contain a quotation (or two) but quotations should not take up more than half of any one example.

We will review examples on the screen this Friday.

Show, Don't Tell

Choose from "jealous" or "foolish" or "fearful." Write about 150 words in multiple paragraphs. Use dialogue. Do not use the word (or any variation) in your writing. Post your writing here before next week's class.

NOTE: Please remember to bring a copy of "Child, Dead, in the Rose Garden" and "A Spoiled Man" to class next Wednesday.

Metaphor or Simile

Provide two descriptive sentences using metaphor or simile (that you will use in your narrative essay). We will discuss the effectiveness of each one next Wednesday.

Dash and Parenthesis

Share the sentences from your essay where you use a dash and a parenthesis. Submit the two sentences as a comment here for us to see in class next Wednesday.

Making the Dash Work for You (includes sample writing to illustrate)

Definition and Examples of Parenthesis (about.com)

Uses of Parenthesis (Cliff Notes)

Recommend or Not? Ghost World

The assignment is simple (150 to 200 words). Would you or would you not recommend the film, Ghost World, to a friend? Give your reasons clearly and please refer to the events and characters in the film in your comment.

Official Ghost World Web Site (Production notes; original trailer; videos of filming; cast and crew lists)

Yale Film Analysis Resource

Click only on the left side links. Don't use the drop down on top left of page. A bit clunky with small photos, but includes a number of good video examples and all is explained simply and clearly.

Yale Film Analysis Resource

Film: A Favourite Scene

Write a short paragraph (150 words) that describes a favourite scene (five minutes or fewer of screen time). Name two techniques the filmmaker has used (how the scene is framed, for example. Are actors shown in closeup or far away?) Why did he or she use the technique in your opinion? It may be to make us laugh (as in the "spinning sign" in Romeo and Juliet) or to create a mood (the empty, ice-bound train we see in The Ice Storm).

If you have a copy of the film, bring it to class next week. If not and you know the URL for YouTube, put it in your answer. We will watch and discuss as many scenes as we can next Wednesday.

DOCUMENT: Examining Mis-en-scene (the basic vocabulary of film)