Ethos: Documentary

Karina:

https://prezi.com/jpyjo2pty13p/courage-the-cowardly-dog/

Carina:
http://prezi.com/ixjivn01rhvx/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
Jocelyn & Isabella:
http://prezi.com/-f9jwel0u1qf/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
Tamaron:
http://prezi.com/cc3sda244vge/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
Ellie & Nasmere:
https://prezi.com/_l681igrafbf/snapchat/
Azana:
https://prezi.com/ju17g023lxaa/edit/#4_24309637
Thalia:
https://prezi.com/7kj9hbdrw-2e/edit/#79_24309637
Liana:
https://prezi.com/y6pe3acckxqz/16-amp-pregnant/
Isiah & Sammy:
http://prezi.com/saop9_ytd8hy/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
Alexis:
https://prezi.com/q9c5ylurbgiy/the-kardashians/



Dan'nae:
http://prezi.com/heozjflyfnlb/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
Serita:
https://prezi.com/q-sjxrncndzm/here-come-dat-boi/#







Ethos Documentary (2011) written and directed by Pete McGrain with Woody Harrelson as host.


Ethos website
Resources from the Ethos website (including green apps)

As you watch the film, please take notes on what you deem most important. Hand in these notes at the end of the film for participation credit.

HOMEWORK:
Television

How much do you really know about that flat screen you have hanging on your wall? Read the article and take a look at this link: VintageTV Commercials. Identify, explain, or answer the following:

• Describe the early invention that became television
• Who was Philo Farnsworth and what did he accomplish?
• When did television growth truly "explode"?
• Describe television in the 1950's
• Name at least 5 different television shows from the 1950's
• Which president "embraced" television during his office?
• Name at least 5 different television shows from the 1960's
• Describe Nixon's "relationship" with Television
• What were some key moments in 1970's and 1980's television?
• Compare television now with what you see and read about it here! How is it different/similar?

Finally, please select a tv script from this database. You may choose a script for a tv series you watch (or pick something you are not familiar with...) Read the script. You will be asked to analyze this script next class. Please READ the script and take notes on typical creative writing information: characters, premise, plot, dialogue, setting, conflict, etc.

Prezi Projects

Today during period 7, please complete your Prezi Projects on mass media.


During period 8, we will begin presenting our projects to the class.


IMPORTANT: Make sure you SHARE your prezi (make it viewable by the PUBLIC). You can change this permission after we show these to the class if you want. Send me a link to your public prezi at the bottom of this page in the comment section.


HOMEWORK: None. Any presentations not completed today will be shown Tuesday, next week. If, for some reason, you did not complete your project, please do so.


Kyra:

http://prezi.com/vfnwply4kzku/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Alexander:
http://prezi.com/xtxseees43zb/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
Karina:

https://prezi.com/jpyjo2pty13p/courage-the-cowardly-dog/

Carina:
http://prezi.com/ixjivn01rhvx/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
Jocelyn & Isabella:
http://prezi.com/-f9jwel0u1qf/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
Tamaron:
http://prezi.com/cc3sda244vge/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
Ellie & Nasmere:
https://prezi.com/_l681igrafbf/snapchat/
Azana:
https://prezi.com/ju17g023lxaa/edit/#4_24309637

Technical Writing: How Stuff Works Project

Technical Writing:  a genre of writing that helps provide directions, instruction, or explanations on a particular subject. Technical writing should be straightforward, easy to understand, and provide clear and efficient ways of explaining something and how it works.

The subject can be either:

• Tangible: something that can be seen or touched. A computer guidebook, how to assemble a piece of furniture, or instructions on how to use a blender.
• Abstract: Something that involves a series of steps that aren't related to a tangible object. Steps, for example, on how to accomplish a task.

Examples of technical writing include:

• Instruction, Assembly, or User manuals
• Policy & Process manuals 
• Analysis or Business reports 

Technical writing should be well written, clear & precise. A technical writer should know his/her audience, use a non-personal style of writing, and be able to complete extensive research on the topic in question.

Like it or not, technical writing can get you the profession you wanted! Most "creative" writing in the workplace today comes from people (just like you!) who have the skill to write.

• Resources for all kinds of technical writing

TASK:
Please take a close look at this website:
How Stuff Works

Prezi Projects

Today during period 7, please complete your Prezi Projects on mass media.


During period 8, we will begin presenting our projects to the class.


IMPORTANT: Make sure you SHARE your prezi (make it viewable by the PUBLIC). You can change this permission after we show these to the class if you want. Send me a link to your public prezi at the bottom of this page in the comment section.


HOMEWORK: None. Any presentations not completed today will be shown Tuesday, next week. If, for some reason, you did not complete your project, please do so.

Media Prezi Project

Media Studies Prezi


Media is defined as the main means of mass communication (the internet, radio, film, television, books/printing, video games, etc.)

Alone or with your assigned partner (students who want to work with a partner should sign up with me before starting--I will assign and group students for this project if you want to work with a partner!), peruse one of the media topics below for an idea (come up with one of your own) and create a Prezi examining the effect of this media topic on Popular Culture.

Aim to examine something that has some "legs"--or has been around for a while to influence our culture. Specifically, you should answer what this media item is, and how it has affected our culture.

Here are some areas you might examine in your Prezi:

• A specific television program or icon: Scooby Doo, The Simpsons, The Brady Bunch, Full House (gag), Fat Albert & the Cosby Kids, the Boondocks, etc.
• A specific band, musical artist, or musician: Kanye, Beyoncé, The Beatles, Tim McGraw, The Who, Kurt Cobain, David Bowie, Michael Jackson (or the Jackson 5), etc.
• A specific video game or computer program: Call of Duty, Tomb Raider, Resident Evil, Candy Crush, Microsoft Office, etc.
• A specific company or product: McDonalds, Apple, Enron, Netflix, Xerox, etc.
• A specific radio program or podcast: This American Life, A Prairie Home Companion, etc.
• A specific publisher or public relations topic: Scholastic Press, Penguin books, Dell Publishing, Oxford University Press, Harper Collins, etc.
• A specific film (or series): Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Godfather movies, Star Wars, Star Trek, The Avengers, The Sound of Music, etc.
• A specific technology: Hoverboards, a blender, TiVo, Mitsubishi, iPhone, etc.
• A specific internet meme or site: TedX, performing cats, Facebook, etc.
• A specific ad or ad campaign for a product: Oscar Meyer hotdogs, Wendy's "Where's the Beef" commercials, the Energizer Bunny campaign, etc.

In brainstorming a topic, you will need to be able to find REVIEWS (from journalistic or internet sources). Here are a few helpful sites: Consumer Reports, Endgadget, New York Review of Books, Pop Matters, Metacritic, or any other site you can find...


Your Prezi should include:

• A title slide that grabs our attention, with your name and the title of your presentation.
• A slide or two that explains: WHAT is the media source/subject?
• A slide that summarizes the review on the subject/topic (with attribution)
• A slide or two that explains how the media subject/topic has influenced American culture
• A video clip (no longer than 3 minutes in length)

Prezi's are VISUAL presentations that allow media. Keep text (writing) short and to the point (concise). Use your own words (don't paste and copy other people's words...), and include JPG's or graphics, film clips, etc. to help you present your topic. You will be expected to share this presentation to the rest of the class.

HOMEWORK: None. Please turn in any missing or late work/assignments.

X-men Synthesis; Comic Script Due; Intro to Media Studies Prezi Project

Today by the end of class please turn in your comic book script and X-Men synthesis article. These two assignments are due at the end of today's class. Deadlines were extended previously.

Remember: there is extra credit available if you create 1 page of your comic book script. This extra credit assignment is not due until the end of the marking period.

If you finish early, please begin considering a topic for our next class assignment. See below for details.
Media Studies Prezi
Media is defined as the main means of mass communication (the internet, radio, film, television, books/printing, video games, etc.)


Alone or with your assigned partner (students who want to work with a partner should sign up with me before starting--I will assign and group students for this project if you want to work with a partner!), peruse one of the media topics below for an idea (come up with one of your own) and create a Prezi examining the effect of this media topic on Popular Culture.


Aim to examine something that has some "legs"--or has been around for a while to influence our culture. Specifically, you should answer what this media item is, and how it has affected our culture.


Here are some areas you might examine in your Prezi:

• A specific television program or icon: Scooby Doo, The Simpsons, The Brady Bunch, Full House (gag), Fat Albert & the Cosby Kids, the Boondocks, etc.
• A specific band, musical artist, or musician: Kanye, Beyoncé, The Beatles, Tim McGraw, The Who, Kurt Cobain, David Bowie, Michael Jackson (or the Jackson 5), etc.
• A specific video game or computer program: Call of Duty, Tomb Raider, Resident Evil, Candy Crush, Microsoft Office, etc.
• A specific company or product: McDonalds, Apple, Enron, Netflix, etc.
• A specific radio program or podcast: This American Life, A Prairie Home Companion, etc.
• A specific publisher or public relations topic: Scholastic Press, Penguin books, Dell Publishing, Oxford University Press, Harper Collins, etc.
• A specific film (or series): Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Godfather movies, Star Wars, Star Trek, The Avengers, The Sound of Music, etc.
• A specific technology: Hoverboards, a blender, TiVo, Mitsubishi, iPhone, etc.
• A specific internet meme or site: TedX, performing cats, Facebook, etc.

In brainstorming a topic, you will need to be able to find REVIEWS (from journalistic or internet sources). Specific details about what should be included in your Prezi will happen next class.


HOMEWORK: None. Please turn in any missing or late work/assignments.

College/Guidance Assembly; Script & Synthesis

Please attend the college assembly today. When you return to class, please complete and turn in your comic book script draft.


Then, please work on your X-Men Synthesis article. See previous posts for instructions and details. The synthesis deadline has been extended until Friday, May 20. It will be due then.


HOMEWORK: None. Please turn in any missing or late work/assignments.

Comic Book Script Project

Today, please spend period 7 (or part of it) to discuss Maus by Art Spiegelman. Use the discussion questions to conduct a socratic seminar on the book. Turn in your socratic seminar discussion sheets at the end of the session.

Period 7/8: After our discussion, please go next door to continue working on your Comic Book Script projects. See instructions below:

Comic Book Script Project

Use the handouts to help you create your comic book script. See sample pages of a script, (see handout from previous classes).

Your script draft should be at least 1 page long. It may need to be more than that to develop a story line or plot for your issue. Stories have a beginning, middle, or end. Comics can be as short as 1-page gags. Our goal is to try this, not to make a 20 page script--although, if you have an interest in this sort of writing, feel free to work on developing your idea. You can gain extra credit for projects that go above and beyond the minimum requirement.

Also for extra credit you may choose to illustrate 1 page of your script in Comic Life.

Extra credit opportunities are due by the end of the course. 

Turn in your comic book script today by the end of class.

X-Men Review/Synthesis: Due Wednesday at end of class!

• Prepare for your X-Men synthesis paper (read and take notes on) the X-Men articles and comic book issue. The Synthesis Review/Analysis is due WEDNESDAY, May 18. You will have time to complete this assignment during our lab time next class.

If you finish early, please move on to the X-Men Review/Synthesis assignment:

X-Men Synthesis: Please read the articles & review of X-Men (2000). Read or peruse the comic book draft as well. You will need these materials and your notes to write your review and analysis for X-Men.

Argue in a persuasive review of the film X-Men (2000) that there is societal value (or no value in society) in the film X-Men. You should use the articles from your synthesis, your notes, the comic book issue and other researched resources to persuade your reader that X-Men (the film and franchise) has societal merit (or is simply a silly fantasy that wastes our productive time...).

NOTE: You must hold a firm position (no "either/or" or "it depends"!) Use evidence to support your position. Textual and film evidence must be attributed in your article. Your introduction should review the film. It is helpful to include a good hook, a lead-in that summarizes the film quickly, and move to your position/thesis/claim. When using the film as evidence indicate actor and character, director, cinematographer, composer, writer, etc. within your body (it doesn't need to clutter up your intro).

HOMEWORK: None. If you are missing work, please attend to that. Review your X-Men materials so that you will be able to fluently write and complete your X-Men synthesis assignment Wednesday.

X-Men (Day 2)

Comic Book Script Project

Use the handouts to help you create your comic book script. See sample pages of a script, (see handout from last class).

A draft of the script is due Monday, May 16. It must be at least 1 page long. It may need to be more than that to develop a story line or plot for your issue. Stories have a beginning, middle, or end. Comics can be as short as 1-page gags. See handout for samples of this kind of thing.

For extra credit you may choose to illustrate 1 page of your script in Comic Life.

X-Men Synthesis: Please read the articles & review of X-Men (2000). Read or peruse the comic book draft as well. You will need these materials and your notes to write your review and analysis for X-Men.


X-Men Review/Synthesis:
Argue in a persuasive review of the film X-Men (2000) that there is societal value (or no value in society) in the film X-Men. You should use the articles from your synthesis, your notes, the comic book issue and other researched resources to persuade your reader that X-Men (the film and franchise) has societal merit (or is simply a silly fantasy that wastes our productive time...).


NOTE: You must hold a firm position (no "either/or" or "it depends"!) Use evidence to support your position. Textual and film evidence must be attributed in your article. Your introduction should review the film. It is helpful to include a good hook, a lead-in that summarizes the film quickly, and move to your position/thesis/claim. When using the film as evidence indicate actor and character, director, cinematographer, composer, writer, etc. within your body (it doesn't need to clutter up your intro).

HOMEWORK:

• Complete Maus and the reading questions. We'll chat about this book Monday. Homework reading questions from last class are due Monday. Please bring your books to class for our discussion.
• Prepare for your X-Men synthesis paper (read and take notes on) the X-Men articles and comic book issue. The Synthesis Review/Analysis is due WEDNESDAY, May 18.
• Design and continue to write your graphic novel script (these are due Monday, May 16).

Comic Book Script Project

Comic Book Script Project

• Check out this website. Create a superhero. You may also use the graphic organizer handout for help designing your character.
• Give the character a special "power". Save & print out the graphic.  If you're having trouble with HM 3.0, check out earlier versions: Hero Machine 2 or Hero Machine 1 (the simplest version to use). NOTE: (optional) at home check out Champions Online. You can design your own superhero concepts for this online game.
• Use your character creation to create a short comic book script for this character. All films, plays, stories, comics, etc. start with a premise. What is this issue going to be about? Briefly sketch out an idea for your story.
• Most stories begin with a speculative idea: a "what if..." premise. Ex. What if the super villain Auntie-Establishment planted a bomb in the local Mall or at City Hall? How would a superhero stop her in time?
• Use the handouts to help you create your comic book script. See sample pages of a script, (see handout from last class).
• A draft of the script is due Monday, May 16. It must be at least 1 page long. It may need to be more than that to develop a story line or plot for your issue. Stories have a beginning, middle, or end. Comics can be as short as 1-page gags. See handout for samples of this kind of thing.
• For extra credit you may choose to illustrate 1 page of your script in Comic Life.

Period 8:
X-Men Synthesis: Please read the articles & review of X-Men (2000). Read or peruse the comic book draft as well. You will need these materials and your notes to write your review for X-Men.

 

We'll go next door to work on the synthesis and the X-Men film. You will be expected to write a review of the film.
HOMEWORK:

• Complete Maus and the reading questions. We'll chat about this book next class (or Monday). Homework reading questions are due when we have our discussion. 
• Prepare (read and take notes on) the X-Men articles and comic book issue.
• Design and continue to write your graphic novel script (these are due Monday, May 16).

Graphic Novel/Comic Book Vocabulary

Graphic Novel/Comic Book Vocabulary

Splash Page: Usually the first page of a manuscript, with one or two images, including the title, logo, credits, etc. for the comic. 

Full-page shot: One panel that takes up the entire page.

Panel: One box or frame.  One picture, also known as a shot.

Gutter: The negative space between each panel.  Can represent lengths of time.

Speech balloon or word balloon: The bubble containing words to let a reader know that a character is talking.

Thought balloon: Usually a scalloped balloon that indicates the character is thinking, rather than speaking out loud.

Burst: A balloon with jagged edges to indicate volume, stress, or sound effects; also broadcasting or electric transmission.

Whisper balloon: A balloon whose outline is broken into small dashes; this indicates that the character is whispering.

Pointer/Tail: The part of a balloon that points to whichever character is doing the talking, thinking, whispering, etc.

Caption: A sentence or fragment that appears in the panel, but not in a balloon.  Usually captions are enclosed in a rectangle or box.  They are used to indicate a shift in time or place or for the narrator’s commentary.

Establishing shot: A picture indicating where an action is taking place.

Long shot: Shows the entire person from feet to head in the shot.

Medium shot: Usually shows a person from the waist up.

Close-up: Shows a person’s face or about that much of their body.

Extreme close-up: Shows a single small detail that might go unobserved if not focused on.

Story Spine: The plot.  The sequence of actions that lead to a conclusion.

Story Arc: A story that takes several issues to tell.

Graphic Novel: A long story, usually in a special format (better painting, bigger pages).

Synthesis, X-Men

Today, during period 7, please complete your synthesis. Read the articles on comic books from last class and write a 300 or more word persuasive editorial about the value or non-value of comic books in education.


Due by end of 7th period.
With time remaining:

Comic Book Script Project

• Check out this website. Create a superhero. Give the character a special "power". Save & print out the graphic. NOTE: (optional) check out Champions Online. You can design your own superhero concepts for this online game. If you're having trouble with HM 3.0, check out earlier versions: Hero Machine 2.
• Use your character creation to create a short comic book script for this character. All films, plays, stories, comics, etc. start with a premise. What is this issue going to be about? Sketch out an idea for your story.
• Use the handouts to help you create your comic book script. To see sample pages of a script, check here.
• A draft of the script is due Monday, May 16. It must be at least 1 page long. It may need to be more than that to develop a story line or plot for your issue.
• For extra credit you may choose to illustrate 1 page of your script in Comic Life.

X-Men Synthesis: Please read the articles & review of X-Men (2000). Read or peruse the comic book draft as well.

Period 8:


We'll go next door to work on the synthesis and the X-Men film. You will be expected to write a review of the film.



HOMEWORK: Continue reading Maus. Aim to complete the graphic novel by Tuesday. We will be discussing the book in class after we screen X-Men.

Comic Book Analysis & Cultural Synthesis

This afternoon, please complete the following tasks:

1. Comic book analysis from the Golden/Silver Age. Analyze your chosen comic book. Complete the handout/questions using your comic book vocabulary sheet.

2. Synthesis. Read the articles on comic books and write a 300 or more word persuasive editorial about the value or non-value of comic books in education.

Both materials are due by end of class today.

With time remaining:

Please continue reading Maus by Art Spiegleman.

HOMEWORK: Continue reading Maus. Aim to complete the graphic novel by Tuesday.

Maus (intro); End of Autobiography Reading Project

Today, please gather in your autobiography groups for 15-20 minutes. Finalize your discussion. Say your last opinions, etc. If you have not completed parts of your reading group guide project, please turn those into the in-box along with your homework from last class:  The KWL and Cornell notes on Comic History (1-9). See below for details.


Use your notes and what you learned from them as you read a comic book from one of these sites. Download (or PREVIEW) and read. Apply what you read about. You will be asked next class to review your chosen comic, including the plot/story/characters appearing in the issue, the writers, illustrators, the historical/social context, etc. Make sure you turn this work in today--I'll hand materials back to you by Wednesday.

• The Digital Comic Museum
• Comicfest

MAUS by Art Spiegelman

Art Spiegelman was born in Stockholm, Sweden and immigrated to the US with his parents during his early childhood.  He is one of the most well-know artists of Graphic Novels, and has greatly contributed to their acceptance as valued works of art in society today.  He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1992 for Maus I--a Holocaust narrative of his father's survival.  

Spiegelman went against his parents' wishes for him to be a dentist and began drawing professionally at age 16. After college, he became a part of the underground comix movement. He took on various pseudonyms and contributed to the publishing of many underground comics. He also taught a Comics Seminar at Colombia University in 2007.

"Spiegelman has become one of The New Yorker’s most sensational artists, in recent years drawing illustrations for covers that are meant not just to be plainly understood but also to reach up and tattoo your eyeballs with images once unimaginable in the magazine of old moneyed taste ... From his Holocaust saga in which Jewish mice are exterminated by Nazi cats, to the The New Yorker covers guaranteed to offend, to a wild party that ends in murder: Art Spiegelman’s cartoons don’t fool around."

.

— The Los Angeles TimesPlease begin reading Maus today with Ms. Sloane. She'll guide you from there.


Homework: None