Welcome!

This is a blog for the purpose of keeping you up to date on assignments, journal entries, essays, and other important dates regarding Nuth's 9th Grade English class at Fortuna High. If you have any questions, feel free to email me directly at nuthenglish@hotmail.com.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Romeo and Juliet Prequel Assignment


Prequel to Romeo and Juliet
How did the ancient feud begin, anyway?  Write the narrative of how the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets began.  Although you get to be as creative as you would like, leave the setting intact.  That is, you are still in northern Italy in the 1300s or 1400s.  (You will be able to mess around with the setting later this unit.)  Your narrative should be original, 4+ paragraphs in length, and full of interesting “showing” details and characterization.  It does not have to be written in iambic pentameter (you’re welcome).  You will hand-write your prequel (mostly in-class), and you will hand in a Pre-Write, a Rough Draft, and a Final Draft. 

Step One, Pre-Write:   Worth 10 points.  Plan your story before you write.  You may use an outline, idea web, plot chart, or any other organizational tool to plan your story.  You will attach your Pre-Write to your final draft.  Due:  Wed. 3/21

Step Two, Rough Draft:  Worth 10 points.  Write a 4+ paragraph draft of your prequel.  Please remember to what we’ve learned about characterization (think Steinbeck), plot structure (think short stories), and diction (think poetry).  On your final draft, spelling and grammar count.  If you are unsure of the spelling of a word, look it up.  DueThurs. 3/22

Step Three, Revision and Final Draft:  Worth 20 points.  Re-read your paper.  Where can you add more “showing” details?  Do you have any irrelevant information?  Have you fixed all run-ons, fragments, and spelling errors?  Do you have an original title? MLA format heading?  Neatly compose your final draft on a clean sheet of paper in your best penmanship.  Due Friday 3/23.

You will hand in your Pre-Write, your Rough Draft, and your Final Draft stapled together with your Final Draft on top. 

Friday, March 16, 2012

Romeo and Juliet, Friday 3/16

Please read through Act 1, Scene 1 and complete Study Guide Prologue and Scene 1 Questions.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Journal #19: Romeo and Juliet Prologue

Do your best to "translate" the Prologue of Rome and Juliet into words you can understand (100%).  Use a dictionary to help, as well as your notes on Shakespeare's language.  Every line should be translated into modern English for full-credit.  If you have no clue, take your best guess.

Journal #18: Love at First Sight?

We are now continuing with your original Journal, so fold over two pages to separate your Regular Journal entries from your Poetry Journal entries. 

Write one paragraph about whether you think love at first sight is possible or not.  Please explain completely. 

Monday, March 5, 2012

Poetry Journal # 13: A Poem About a Painting

Write a 15 line poem with TONS of imagery about one of the following two paintings:

Picasso's "Guitarist" or Jackson Pollock's "Stenographic"

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Journal #12: Whimsical Poem

Write a poem that is simply a collection of images of one of your favorite memories.  Throw together a bunch of images, and don't worry about expressing anything deep.  Some examples of whimsical poems include E.E. Cummings' "In Just-" and Meryn Cadell's "The Sweater."

Journal #11: Implied Metaphor Poem

Write a poem that includes an implied metaphor, or a comparison that is not directly stated.  Examples of implied metaphor poems include Robert Frost's "Fire and Ice" and Carl Sandberg's "Fog."