Monday, February 28, 2011

Celebrity Letter: Final Draft Layout

Your Name
Your street address
Your city, state and zip
(skip two lines)

Today’s Date
(skip two lines)

Celebrity Name
Celebrity street address
as it appears on the list or online
City, State and Zip
(skip two lines)

Dear ____________________ , (Refer to them as Ms. or Mr. and make sure to use a comma)

Paragraph 1 should explain who you are.
(My name is _______________ and I am student at…. )

Paragraph 2 should be THE LONGEST. This is where you tell
them WHY you admire them. Did you see them in a movie?
What did you think about their performance? Why do you think
they make a good role model for students like you?

Paragraph 3 is your conclusion. You can also request (politely)
that they send you an autographed picture.


Make sure to thank them!

Closing (sincerely, always, etc.),

Leave space to sign your name in ink here!
Type your name beneath the space.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Feb 23: Peer Editing Notes

Today we had a quiz on TECH THEATER. Make sure to schedule a make up time (before school or lunch) if you missed it.

Notes from today will be graded.

Power Peer Editing
Step-by-Step for Editing Writing in
Theater I

Power Peer Editing
Always remember these lessons:
A good peer editor makes a better self-editor because you learn by correcting other peoples’ work!
Treat your peer’s paper like you’ll be graded on his/her errors and weaknesses.
Power Peer Editing
Step One:
Read your peer’s whole paper aloud. (You can have them read it, but you need to HEAR it.)
This can be very quiet, but the point is to hear whether the words flow or are awkward.
Plug your ears and read aloud to block out other people around you.
Power Peer Editing
Step Two:
Read the first paragraph again, aloud and...
Double check that paragraph has a good:
Hook- make your letter stand out with a catchy hook (the first line should make you want to read more!)
Why (This is the thesis – “I’m writing to you because…”)
Elaboration (detail)
Mark convention errors.
Save time: don’t re-word sentences. Put “awk” by awkward areas and move on.
Don’t fix the spelling- just circle the word and write “sp”
Don’t fix punctuation – just circle it and write “punc”
Power Peer Editing
Step Three & Four:
Read second paragraph (repeat third)
Double check:
Introductory sentence
Elaboration
Concluding sentence
Mark convention errors
Save time: don’t re-word sentences. Put “awk” by awkward areas and move on.
Don’t fix the spelling- just circle the word and write “sp”
Don’t fix punctuation – just circle it and write “punc”



Power Peer Editing
Step Five:
Read conclusion
Double check:
Did the writer include a thank you?
Did the writer restate the “why” (“I wanted to write to you because…”)
Mark convention errors
Save time: don’t re-word sentences. Put “awk” by awkward areas and move on.
Don’t fix the spelling- just circle the word and write “sp”
Don’t fix punctuation – just circle it and write “punc”


Power Peer Editing
Step Six:
Talk to the writer:
Suggest to peer what their greatest area of weakness is: ideas/content, organization, sentence fluency, voice, or word choice.
Suggest what your peer’s greatest weakness on conventions (spelling, grammar, punctuation) is.
On the additional editing paper, write at least ONE positive comment for each paragraph. Positive feedback makes writers happy.
Add “peer edited by: ____________________” at the end of the editing paper. Sign your name!

Do this THREE times, and you’re done!!!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Celebrity Letter Assignment

Celebrity Letter Writing Assignment

Objective:
Students will understand and practice business letter format while writing to a LIVING celebrity (musician, artist, actor, producer, director, athlete, etc.) of their choice. Students will also make discoveries about the concept of role models and admiration of people in the public eye.

Step One: Tuesday, February 22 (DUE) – 100% FORMATIVE

You will write a ROUGH DRAFT of a letter to a celebrity. You must write today’s date, the subject area, and the writing prompt (“Letter to a Celebrity Role Model”) at the top of the page. Each paragraph should be at least 5-7 sentences, but can be more.
• Paragraph One explains who you are and why you are writing. It’s okay to tell them you are writing for a class assignment, but you don’t have to. (30%)
• Paragraph Two is the longest, most in-depth paragraph. Use this paragraph to tell the celebrity why you admire them and why you think they are a good role model to you. You can mention movies or events you have seen them in, or any of their work that you like. (30%)
• Paragraph Three is your conclusion. Wrap things up. You can ask (politely) for a response, or an autographed photo. Make sure to thank them for reading your letter! (30%)
• Sign your letter with an appropriate closing. (10%)
In the rough draft, points will NOT be deducted for spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors.
This rough draft must be handed in at the end of today’s class, even if it is not complete. You will have the full class period to write.

Step Two: Wednesday 2/23 and Thursday 2/24 – PEER EDITING – 100% FORMATIVE

You must have at least three people edit your rough draft (have them sign it) and you must edit at least three rough drafts of your classmates. (16.6% per edit – theirs and yours!) Use your time wisely and make your letter the best it can be!

Step Three: Monday, February 28 (DUE AT END OF CLASS, CLASS HELD IN LIBRARY)
100% - SUMMATIVE

On this day, class will be held in the library. A typed (10-12 pt font) FINAL DRAFT of your letter to the celebrity is due at the end of class today.
• Letters must be formatted correctly – see reverse side of this form. (35%)
• Letters must include celebrity’s CORRECT address (if it’s not on my list, you can find MOST addresses at: http://www.fanmail.biz/ ) Also, you must format both your address and the celebrity’s address correctly. (35%)
• Letters must use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Spell check is your friend. Please use it. The tone may be conversational, but everything must be correct otherwise. (30%)
If you wish me to mail your letter, you must provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope to include with your letter (i.e. like you’re mailing a letter to yourself). I will provide envelopes/postage to mail out your letter if you provide this. Who knows? You may get a response!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

2/17: Technical Theater Notes

Intro to Technical Theater
The Basics
•Theater depends on people working TOGETHER.
•The people who work behind the scenes are called “technicians.”

Technicians
•Create the environment & effects.
•Usually OUTNUMBER the performers!
•Create the environment & effects.
•Usually OUTNUMBER the performers!
•Work in several areas of focus…

1.SET
2.PROPS
3. LIGHTS
4. SOUND
5. COSTUMES
6. MAKEUP

Technicians may also include the RUN CREW and stage managers.

SET DESIGN
•Set designers come up with the initial concept of a set.
•SET CREW will BUILD the set.

PROPS
•Properties crew is in charge of gathering & organizing PROPS.
•Props may have to be RENTED,
BORROWED,
BOUGHT,
or BUILT.

LIGHTS
•LIGHTING can establish the mood, time, and place of a play.
•Lighting designers decide:
WHAT, WHERE, and WHEN.
•WHAT type of lights to use.
•WHERE to focus them.
•WHEN to turn them on.

SOUND
•Sound designer decides on music & sound effects.
SOUND also includes any amplification!



COSTUMES
•Costume designers create or choose the clothing that the actors will wear.
•Costumes may be RENTED, BORROWED, BOUGHT or BUILT/SEWN.

MAKEUP
•Makeup refers to wigs, hairstyles, and false features AS WELL AS cosmetics.
•Actors typically do their own makeup in live theater.
•When there’s something SPECIAL, though, they need help!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

2/2: Music & Picture

Watch a video clip with the sound off.  As you watch, write a list of emotions you see portrayed.  What type of music do you think is being used?  What type of music would you use if you were the music director?  Why?

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

1/31 and 2/1

In notes/journal:

What song do you listen to when you feel sad?  Excited?  Worried?  Angry? 
Why?


Sound Design Project/Assignment:

In your notes or on a separate sheet of paper, make a list of 5 songs that you like and that have some deeper meaning beyond the surface (the lyrics are there to make you FEEL something).  Circle ONE song that you want to work with.  Make sure that this song has some meaning to you.
Write out the lyrics, or find them on the internet.  (Make sure to use the RADIO EDIT version!)
Underline any important stuff in the lyrics -- important phrases, words, etc.
Write down the THEME of the song.
Make a list of CHARACTERS that exist within the song.
Write a paragraph that sums up what the song is about to you.