Hamlet – Day One

Today, we started off by talking about memorable lines from movies. We heard everyone’s favorite lines, and wrote a bit about what makes these quotes so memorable.

Then, we worked with some of the most famous lines from Hamlet, pairing up to create two-line performances.

I handed out the calendar for Hamlet, and discussed expectations for journals and discussions throughout the unit (see bottom of the calendar). Be sure to reference the calendar for assigned readings. Readings are due on the day that they are listed.

College Applications and Essays

First of all, congratulations on completing your first major assignment for this class. Our work with Antigone led to several good discussions and raised powerful ideas. I am looking forward to reading your interpretations of it all.

Second, you need to purchase a copy of William Shakespeare's Hamlet and have it in class for Thursday. The bookstore has them available, and I know Half-Price Books in town has copies too. I recommend having the same copy of the play as we will be using in class. Although there are no new scenes, there are different versions based on different original sources (the First or Second Folio, the Quarto, or others).

For today we will focus on those of you who are completing applications for college. Obviously there are many different things people will be doing next year. Furthermore, if you are filling out applications and writing essays, you will be at a different stage than others in the classroom. I am devoting this day to discussing the college application process to  do a few things: help demystify it, realize others are doing it, and learn strategies to help you write the best possible essay.

I started by sharing the chart on this page, showing which factors play the most important role in the decision-making process in the college admissions office.

I shared these examples of especially powerful and effective essays. Many colleges and universities publish successful essays on their website - do some Googling to find others!

I showed you this handout, including three sample essays and a helpful list of thoughts to keep in mind to help with your writing.

I also gave you this fun example of a totally different approach to the essay.

Antigone - Day 6

In class we discussed how to structure your essay. I gave you detailed descriptions of each section of the essay, naming what to make sure you include.

• Here is a link to a digital version of the notes

Here are a few highlights:

• Single-text analytic essay
• Introduction does not include a dictionary definition, rhetorical question, or random quotation
• Arguable thesis - not just a re-statement of ideas present in the text
• Topic sentences for each paragraph - also called a sub-claim - a component of your thesis to be addressed in this section
• Extensive use of evidence from all parts of the play
• Analysis of all evidence including a sense of the literary features (tone, word choice, structure, etc.) as well as a clear sense of why this evidence matters to help prove your thesis
• An overall organization clearly flowing from one point to the next
• Avoid using first person or second person
• Conclusion re-states the thesis and main points from the paper and then thoughtfully suggests further implications or alternate perspectives within the text
• Personal / Hybrid essay
• Select one story / example as your focus - something that happened to you, a current event, another text, etc. - not a variety of smaller connections
• Have a clear topic and focus for the essay - this does not necessarily have to be in the form of a thesis. This is an exploration of an idea, not an argument about it.
• Create a structure that places your story next to the text during each section of your essay. The closer the two are to each other, the more opportunities you have to make connections, comparisons, and contrasts.
• Use detailed evidence from both stories
• Analyze and explain what the evidence is meant to show
• Creative project
• Remember you are still creating and proving a thesis about the play with your project
• The reflective writing is an important component of the project - be sure to read the details about it

Please let me know if you have further questions - good luck with it!

Antigone - Day 5

At the start of class today you received back the paragraph you wrote in class yesterday about Tieresias. It included feedback based on the same rubric we've been using to guide our work with explications. After that I shared this example paragraph with you - it is a paragraph I put together using some of the best comments I saw in your work:

• Sample Antigone explication

Then you wrote short explications about the description of the deaths of Antigone and Haemon. We shared these in class as a way to discuss the end of the play.

For tomorrow, I recommend you do these things:

1. Make sure you've carefully read (and re-read) the entire play.
2. Make sure you read the critical essay I shared with you yesterday.
3. Decide which type of essay you want to write: single-text analytic, personal / hybrid, or creative. Make sure you know the expectations for each one.
4. Read through this list of suggested questions for discussion. Select a few that might be of interest to you - ones you might want to write about for your essay. Be prepared to discuss them tomorrow.
• Antigone discussion questions

Antigone - Day 4

Welcome back! I hope you had a great weekend. If you celebrated the holiday, I wish you a sweet and healthy new year. If you aren't celebrating the holiday, I wish that for you too!

As we get into this short week, please keep in mind your first major essay for this class. It is about Antigone and it is due Monday for 1st and 6th periods, and Tuesday for 8th period.  Remember your choices are between a single text analytic essay, a personal / hybrid essay, and a creative project. You can find detailed descriptions of those here.

We'll get back into things with a return to the dialogues you read with a small group at the end of last week. We'll then have a short in-class writing assignment about the play, again using the explication rubric you've seen over the past few weeks.

For tomorrow, please read this essay in preparation for class.

Lastly, don't forget your journal entries. They are due on the day the essay is due next week.  Here is a link to the rubric I will use to evaluate them.

Antigone - Day 3

In 6th and 8th period classes, we spent some time talking about 9-11 and the meanings of this day. We shared personal reflections and read a poem from Billy Collins.

Then we turned our attention to the different essay options you have for this semester. I reviewed the ones you can find on the blog under the "General Handouts" tab - Notes on Essay Options

Lastly, we looked at some of the developments in the play. We re-read Creon's opening speech and added him to the chart of characteristics and values. Then you worked in small groups to read an assigned section of the play.