Blogtastic

Word.

As an English teacher, I feel this particular colloquialism is kinda catchy.

The blogs are looking sweet--word up.

I am especially enjoying reading your comments, aside from the posts, though these are equally superlative examples of deep and effective reflection and collaboration. Very 21st century, grade 10s. Keep up the effort and try to improve your "formative assessment" skills.

For those new to this blog (I hear there are some teacher/librarian readers out there- hi there), check out the student posts on the blogrole to follow their study of Persepolis. Awesome stuff here, despite some wobbly writing here and there.

Enjoy!

Welcome Back!

OK- I had a great break! Lots of BBQ, reading, boardgames and snowboarding: good times were had by all. I hope you also enjoyed your well deserved but temporary respite from the trials and tribulations of MYP life and once again feel like normal human beings.

I am particularly excited to return to Persepolis with you and would like to help you amplify your blog work.

The quality of ideas has been excellent and is good preparation for DP English/Self-Taught; however, the frequency leaves me bitter and existentially confused. :)

So, if you can't beat 'em, change the rules.

You now need to make only 3 entries per week. 2 can be on any of these categories: snippets, feedback, class act, or literary feature hunt.

The third post should be a comment on another student's post. Try to comment on a different person's work each week and sign your comments.

The wiki character web work is not optional, while failing the course is. I'd like to see this look more like a web that links characters intelligently and creatively.

We will be highlighting blogs each week to give credit and spark discussions.

We are starting at page 183 and will be moving up to 223 this week. The reading will not take that long, so my expectations for your blog and wiki work remain as high as your superlative potential.

Satrapi Interview

Check these out:
Marjane Satrapi is interviewed at the New York Film Festival.





*In the second clip, she explains the choice to make the movie with animation rather than real people. She talks about the universality of the characters and setting afforded by the comics/cartoon form. This exact concept is discussed by Scott McCloud in his book Understanding Comics (the one I showed you in class) in chapter two.

Class Act: Week 2

Nice class today... I was impressed by the attention to illustrations and how different panels interacted to create meaning. Good comments about links to 1984. You are also using literary features well in your discussions. I was very happy to hear from people who don't always volunteer opinions--more of that, please.


I was really excited to be able to introduce a topic like existentialism to relatively young students: that's a tricky, modern concept and one which I'd like to get into when looking at The Godfather. For those interested, might I suggest the very strange but famous "Waiting for Godot"?

Happy blogging!

Get on the Blogroll!

English 10,

Please email Mr. Guigan with the following information:

1. Your blog URL (address). This is so we can add you to the blogroll. ("Following" doesn't count - we want you on the 'roll.)
2. Your Google account username (one for each student). This is so we can "share" the GoogleDoc with you.

Please get on this! We will not chase you.

**Don't forget to comment on some other classmates' blogs. Ask questions, agree, disagree (respectfully). Let's get this party started!

Spark your thinking

Here are some ideas/aspects of Persepolis to think about. They may provide you some stimulus when thinking about your posts or your classmates' posts.

Wikieality (a la Stephen Colbert):

• Compare and contrast Orwell's and Satrapi's views of outsiders, power, love, rebels, friendship, womens' roles, oppression, education, self awareness, etc.

History:

• Iran/ Persia
• Shah
• Revolution
• Islam

Autobiographical Nature

• Title?
• Bio of Satrapi
• History
• Use, power and limitation of personal voice
• NOT a diary --> writing from/with wisdom, 20/20
• Juxtaposition: persective then/now

Graphic Storytelling:

• How are the panels/transitions effective?
• Scan panels to blogs and explicate
• Literary features and comics-specific devices
• Juxtaposition: words to pictures

Medium and Message:

• Picasso - flatness

Comics Vocabulary PPT

Here is the Comics Vocabulary ppt. May it guide you well, my young paduan learners.