| Quarter | Current Project | Book/Readings | Writing & Support Projects |
| 1 | ComacAdaptations (Show dates 11/10 and the magical 11/11/11) |
Short Story Reader O'Brien, The Things They Carried |
Adapted short story (as a group -- adapted into movie or play) |
| 2 |
|
Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby American Literature Novel of Choice |
Original Short Story |
| 3 |
(Docs premier on the "love hangover" dates of 2/16-17) |
video: Albee, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? |
Revise Original Short Story Original Screenplay or Play (May be Adapted from Original Short Story) |
| 4 |
5/23-25 |
Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse 5 c choice: Dashiel Hammett, The Maltese Falcon, or Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye |
Group Revision of Original Script 5-10-minute Speech and Visuals (Choice of: Original Research/How-to/Comedy Routine/ Theme & Narrative) |
Tuesdays/Wednesdays are when reading
is due. Expect book quizzes, discussions, writes, activities and/or reading time (so bring the book).
Thursday and Fridays are when writing
is due. Students should have (typed) work printed before class starts,
in order to do peer edits in class. For lab work in the second half of class,
they should have work accessbile electronically --
saved on their i-drive, on a flash drive or disk, or successfully e-mailed
to themselves. Also, Thursdays or Fridays will begin with a grammar
lesson.
There is an ongoing opportunity to do Extra
Credit.
For my grading policy for late work for ComAcad, click here.
In the table below, items in green refer to school or all-ComAcad activities or due dates; items in black refer to this class.
| Day, Date | Due | Do |
| Wed 8/19 | (Monday Schedule) | Watchmen video excerpt. Staff Introductions. Interview partner (name game part one). ComAcad overview: mission statement; everybody teaches, everybody learns; learning cycle; this year's projects; weekly schedule. Present interviewee (name game part 2). Junior/Senior Q&A. Call for stories for adaptation project. If time: share summer moments. |
| Thurs 8/20 | Forms. Group Dynamic Roles. Brown bag skits: criteria, prep, performances, debrief. |
|
| Fri 8/21 | Field trip/insurance, driving forms. | Bonding game. Story reader and adaptations project more detailed overview, with video examples. Get readers. Form boot camp groups. If time: storytime (from reader). |
| Mon 8/24 | Field trip/insurance, driving forms -- last day due. | Boot camp day 1: Divide into Split A and Split B for the week (coin toss for letter. ID sister group in other split). In 5-person groups, do all pre-production today: script, storyboard, locations, acting/directing roles, etc. Split A: work in McCormick's and Michael's. Split B: in Doherty's and David G's. Get checked off by teacher for completed work. . |
| Tue 8/25 | preproduction complete. | Boot camp day 2: production. 12:05-1:40: Split A check out equipment, shoot, get equipment to sister group in Split B at end. Split B rehearse, or read in Doherty's. 1:45-3:20: Split B get equipment, shoot, and return at end. Split A use the lab. |
| Wed 8/26 | Boot camp day 3: production. 1:10-1:55: Split B in lab, Split A shoot. 1:55-2:40: Split A in lab, split B shoot. |
|
| Thurs 8/27 | Boot Camp day 4: post-production. |
|
| Fri 8/28 | Boot camp day 5 of 5: post production 1:10-1:55: Split A lab, split B w/Doherty. 1:55-2:40: Split B lab, split A w/McCormick |
|
| Mon 8/31 | Read half of story packet: Split A: 1st half Split B: 2nd half Bring story to pitch for Adaptation project if you have one. |
5th period: Show movies. 6th period: debrief Boot Camp Week. 7th Period: Pitch stories for adaptation. Begin to choose. |
| Tue 9/1 | 5th period: All Projects: Finish choosing adaptation stories, requesting groups. 7th period: if finished: academics: Split A to Doherty, Split B to McCormick, for whole period; go to other one on Wednesday. |
|
| Thurs 9/3 | Personal statement show don't tell write |
1st day of splits for adaptation project. Grammar recap: commas Share show don't tells Groups work on scripts |
| Mon 9/7 | (No School: Labor Day) | |
| Tue 9/8 | Quiz on Reader |
|
| Thurs 9/10 | Grammar recap: semi-colons; avoiding comma splices Personal Statement Work: admissions committees, choosing subjects, choosing moments, "Look Again," sample structure, expert's eye, show don't tell |
|
| Mon 9/14 | Project work: preproduction Read, write scripts, write personal statements |
|
| Tue 9/15 | Read The Things They Carried pp. 1-61 | quiz on weight and lightness in-class essay discussion script check-in |
| Thurs 9/17 | Show-don't-tell scene of you doing something that reveals your best qualities (for personal statement) Friday: Senior Challenge Day |
Grammar recap: punctuating around quotes Personal Statement: Reflection (7 Whys, etc.) Write |
| Mon 9/21 | (No School: Staff Development Day) | |
| Tue 9/22 | Read The Things They Carried pp. 62-118 | quiz in-class essay discussion |
| Thurs 9/24 | Show don't tell plus REFLECTION for personal statement | Grammar: Parallelism Personal Statement: putting it all together, and adult edit Peer edit, Write |
| Mon 9/28 | Gallery Raw Work, Public Relations | Project Work: Gallery polished work |
| Tue 9/29 | Read The Things They Carried pp. 119-180 personal statement finished, ready for adult edit |
quiz in-class essay discussion |
| Thurs 10/1 | personal statement plus adult edit feedback form | Grammar: Agreement share personal statements: 3-person groups to 9-person groups to full class Things They Carried-related extras: "Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" Molly Fisk's poem "Explanation" Hendrix's "Star Spangled Banner" plus banner facts, Flaming Lips' "Fight Test" video and lyrics John McCain talks about being a POW (from 4:32), Generation Kill segment; begin Letters from War documentary |
| Mon 10/5 | Project Work and classwork | |
| Tue 10/6 | Finish The Things They Carried | In-class esssay; discussion finish Letters from War |
| Thurs 10/8 | Grammar Begin original short story: character(s), dramatic need, voice/thoughts, opening, scene elements (dialogue, setting and character descriptions), conflict/plot, ending... write and share 1st person opening paragraph, then first scene |
|
| Mon 10/12 | ||
| Tue 10/13 | Begin The Great Gatsby: Get books, Gatsby webquest, Reading... |
|
| Thurs 10/15 | Production (shooting) complete short story 1/3 done |
Grammar: phrases and clauses overview Storytime: illustration of 3rd person thoughts: Saunders, "Victory Lap" Short Story Work |
| Mon 10/19 | (No School: Staff Development Day) | |
| Tue 10/20 | read The Great Gatsby ch. 1-3 | quiz in-class essay discussion |
| Thurs 10/22 | short story 2/3 done | Grammar: appositive phrases Introducing characters like Fitzgerald Dialogue formatting (slight return) Short Story Work |
| Mon 10/26 | ||
| Tues 10/27 | read The Great Gatsby ch. 4-6 | quiz in-class essay discussion |
| Thurs 10/29 | short story all the way done | Grammar: participial phrases Short Story sharing Begin Rushmore |
| Mon 11/2 | ||
| Tue 11/3 | read The Great Gatsby ch. 7-9 (END) | quiz in-class essay discussion set up American Literature book of choice: book list |
| Thurs 11/5 | revisions to short story | Grammar: absolute phrases Finish and discuss Rushmore |
| Mon 11/9 | ||
| Tues 11/10 | bring American Literature book of choice | Begin Book of Choice: Book list (slight return), library visit, reading |
| Thurs 11/12 | Grammar: prepositional phrases | |
| Mon 11/16 | ||
| Tue 11/17 | book of choice 1/4 done |
mentioning vs. describing
practice with music, writing intro to 400-word non-book review: assignment, examples, pitches Reading and note-taking: categories, description with quote, opinion |
| Thurs 11/19 | Grammar: adverb and adjective clauses Sample critical essays More reading and note-taking |
|
| Mon 11/23 | ||
| Tue 11/24 | book of choice 1/2 done | components of style metaphors in criticism more sample critical essays "Alice's Restaurant" Reading and note-taking |
| Thurs-Fri 11/26-27 | No School: Thanksgiving Holiday | |
| Mon 11/30 | ||
| Tues 12/1 | book of choice 3/4 done 400-word critical essay (not on book) |
Orient the reader; opinion as simile Begin video |
| Thurs 12/3 | Grammar: phrases and clauses practice quiz Video part 2 |
|
| Mon 12/7 | ||
| Tues 12/8 | book of choice finished | Finish and discuss video Lab 104: write critical essay |
| Thurs 12/10 | Critical Essay | Grammar: Phrases and clauses quiz |
| Mon 12/14 | ||
| Fina Exam: TBA |
All Mondays are devoted to project work unless otherwise indicated.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays have the same plans. Typically, reading
is due and there may be book quizzes
and discussions.
Thursday and Fridays are typically when writing is due.
Students should have (typed) work printed before class starts, in order to
do peer edits in class. For lab work in the second half of class, they should
have work accessbile electronically -- saved on their i-drive, on a flash drive
or disk,
or successfully
e-mailed
to themselves.
There is an ongoing opportunity to do Extra Credit.
| Day, Date | Due | Do |
| Tue 1/8 | Break moments. |
|
| Thurs 1/10 | Adapted Shorts Critical Friends Bring American Lit book of choice |
Grammar: Style elements: POV shifts (with double
line breaks) Library: pick books... Read Critical Essay Critera: Outline, Rubric, Examples, Note-Taking Prompts |
| Mon 1/14 | Project Work: final work; whole-venue focus | |
| Tue 1/15 | bring book, notes on pp 1-25 | Read, take notes. (Ungraded) Note check: |
| Wed-Fri 1/16-18 |
Adapted Shorts Presentations | |
| Thurs 1/17 | Grammar: Style elements: choosing
the significant detail Read, take notes (40 minutes) Orient Reader (15 minutes) Short Story revision work (35 minutes) |
|
| Mon 1/21 | (No school: MLK Day) | |
| Tue 1/22 | No Academics today. 5th Period: Debrief Shorts.
7th Period: Choose History Doc subjects, form groups. |
|
| Wed 1/23 | Go to regular class. At half, switch academic classes. bring book, notes > one-third done |
Read, take notes Begin video Take category notes for video |
| Thurs 1/24 | 5th Period: All Projects. 7th: Academics Revised short story |
Grammar: Style elements: Use of illustrations or
graphics essay (review) intro read, take notes continue video, notetaking write book and movie/play/CD reviews |
| Mon 1/28 | (No School: Staff Development) | |
| Tue 1/29 | bring book, notes > two-thirds done | finish video write book and movie/play/CD reviews |
| Thurs 1/31 | 400-word movie/play/CD review draft | Grammar recap: incorporating quotes finish video if not done yet book review conclusion: identify audience peer edit movie/play/CD reviews write book and movie/play/CD reviews |
| Monday 2/4 | Project Work: Raw work | |
| Tue 2/5 | finished book and book notes 400-word movie/play review |
"instant" music reviews |
| Thurs 2/7 | book review draft | Grammar recap: colon practice for setting up quotes
and information peer edit book review "news reports" (oral presentations) write book review |
| Monday 2/11 | Project Work: Raw work | |
| Tue 2/12 | Begin The Things They Carried read aloud... read w/ Main Idea List (MIL), tellbacks... work on book review |
|
| Thurs 2/14 | book review bring your short story |
Grammar recap: colon practice for equivalent or
explanatory phrases in memoir or fiction turn in book review begin story adaptation to play/screenplay format |
| Mon 2/18 - Fri 2/22 |
(Winter Break) | |
| Tue 2/26 | Things pp 1-62 | valentines quiz In-Class Essay discussion |
| Thurs 2/28 | History Docs raw work, public relations work complete Original play/screenplay title page and first one-third (act 1) |
Grammar recap: semi-colon practice peer edit write adaptation |
| Tue 3/4 | Things pp 62-118 | documentary: Letters from War letter to man you killed or from war; share |
| Thurs 3/6 | original play/screenplay first two-thirds | Grammar/writing: Quizmaking 101 peer edit write |
| Monday 3/10 | Project Work: Polished Work | |
| Tue 3/11 | Things pp. 119-180 | quiz In-Class Essay discussion |
| Thurs 3/13 | History Docs Critical Friends finish original play/screenplay |
Grammar/Argument: Rhetorical Strategies according
to Toby on The West Wing peer edit revise if necessary turn in |
| Monday 3/17 | (Saint Patrick's Day) | Final Project Work; Focus on venue roles |
| Tue 3/18 | Things pp. 181-End (Bring book to return) | quiz In-Class Essay discussion |
| Wed-Fri 3/19-21 |
Local History Documentaries (Thursday Night's shows during Open House) |
|
| Thurs 3/20 | Grammar/writing: list making select movies to make form revision groups; group-revise scripts |
|
| Mon 3/24 | (No School: District meetings) | |
| Tue 3/25 | No Academics today. 5th Period: Debrief Docs. 7th Period: Choose Original Shorts subjects, form groups. |
|
| Wed 3/26 | Go to regular class. At half, switch academic classes. | Begin Slaughterhouse 5 Preview Time Travel Game Read |
| Thurs 3/27 | 5th Period: All Projects. 7th: Academics. group revision: 1st of 2 drafts |
Grammar: Strong verb vs. extra adverbs group scriptwork |
| Mon 3/31 | Project Work: Group script revision, storyboarding; Raw work phase 1 | |
| Tue 4/1 | S5 ch. 1-3 (pp. 1-71) | watch Harold and Maude |
| Thurs 4/3 | final group revision: "working script," storyboard |
Grammar: Simpler verb tense is stronger; Present
tense has immortal power finish Harold and Maude begin speech unit: choose genre and subject, make prop and research to-do list |
| Mon 4/7 - Fri 4/11 |
(Spring Break) | |
| Tue 4/15 | S5 ch 4-5 (pp. 72-135) | quiz In-Class Essay discussion |
| Thurs 4/17 | Original Shorts raw work phase 1 complete Speech written |
Grammar/Writing: The Glory of Titles; Titles vs.
Lables Rehearse, edit and develop speech |
| Mon 4/21 | no class: STAR testing | Project Work: Raw Work Phase 2 |
| Tue 4/22 | no class: STAR testing Finish S5 (pp. 136-215) |
quiz In-Class Essay discussion |
| Thurs 4/24 | Speech ready to perform | Grammar/Style: Voice = Point of View + Tone Choose unoriginal monologues, rehearse Begin writing original monologues |
| Mon 4/28 | Project Work: Raw Work Phase 2 | |
| Tue 4/29 | Begin Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? revised plan: Doherty absent. Begin watching Who's Afraid |
|
| Thurs 5/1 | be ready to perform unoriginal monologues | Grammar/Style: Voice (part 2) Exercise revised plan: perform speeches. |
| Mon 5/5 | Original Shorts raw work phase 2, public relations complete | Project Work: Polished Work |
| Tue 5/6 | finish performing speeches revised plan: |
|
| Thurs 5/8 |
|
Grammar/style: Hodgman's 55 Dramatic Situations revised plan: |
| Mon 5/12 | Project Work: Polished Work | |
| Tue 5/13 | Who's Afraid act 1 | Who's Afraid Quiz In-Class Essay Discuss |
| Thurs 5/15 | Grammar/Style: Hodgman's 6 Literature Essentials;
Failed Palindromes |
|
| Mon 5/19 | (No School -- Portfolio Scoring) | |
| Tue 5/20 | Who's Afraid act 2 | develop, write comics |
| Thurs 5/22 | Original Shorts Critical Friends text and/or "storyboard" of comic due |
Grammar/Style: point of view exercise develop comics continue/finish Who's Afraid begin "concept is king" creative project of choice |
| Mon 5/26 | (No School: Memorial Day) | |
| Tue 5/27 | Who's Afraid finished | Who's Afraid acts 2-3 quiz In-Class Essay discussion work on comics work on creative project of choice |
| Wed-Fri May 28-30 |
Original Shorts Performances/Screenings | |
| Thurs 5/29 | comics due | Grammar/Style: voice exercise share comics continue original creative project of choice |
| Mon 6/2 | Original Shorts debrief |
|
| Tue 6/3 | what to expect on the final exam; review |
|
| Thurs 6/5 | End of Year/Senior Awards BBQ | |
| Mon 6/9 | original creative (small) project of choice due |
share project of choice |
| back to Doherty home |