November 29, 2013

Frankenstein

Where are we going with this book? 

1. A presentation/lesson done by a group of students (it will be on a couple of assigned chapters) - notes to give, questions to assign, a task to do, some elements of plot, setting, character, theme to show, connections to real world to make, etc.

1. Make your own exam. It will have material from the above (#1), from Macbeth, and from the short story and poetry analyses we’ve done. 

1. There will be another essay - it will be comparing Macbeth and Frankenstein. It will be assigned PRIOR to the exam and then you will write your essay on the exam day. 

1. You will need to present some kind of multimedia something, BUT it will be about an ISSUE or thematic element that comes up in the novel. Huh? What that means, is that, let’s say you focus on the issue of motherhood (or some aspect thereof), you might create some piece of art that is thematically linked. 

1. Frankenstein notes with mini assignments. (4-5 of these that are worth free marks for doing them well)

Mary Shelley

• this is the girl who wrote the original book back in the early 1800s
• this is a strange little story 
• A competition was arranged between Mary’s famous author husband (Percy Bysse Shelley), one of his writer friends and, Mary, then an 18 year old girl. 
• They were trying to come up with the creepiest story. 
• She won. 
• She based her story on two things:
• 1) a scientific experiment done by a guy named Galvani
• 2) a dream she had (featured a night visitor that was monstrous) 

dreams are crazy random firings of electricity that your brain turns into a story

The idea that they mean something is that YOU are making them with your problems, issues, concerns, etc. It’s YOUR idea of what the dream was that makes it a something.

Dreams are not real, they are reflections of your own ideas, thoughts and FEARS.

Maybe a recurring dream is a recurring FEAR? WORRY? PROBLEM? ISSUE? 

November 28, 2013

Essay Related Something

1. Thesis is about inversion - what about the inversion? 

Point 1 - what about your thesis? what is the point? What is the issue that your subject deals with, solves, points out, shows, illuminates, etc? 

Thesis about supernatural? What about it? 

Manipulation from LM - What about it? 

Almost all of the things that you will be choosing as a subject area end with “and can be considered to be key in the downfall of Macbeth and his wife.”

If your thesis is making you write down a list and show that X or Y is in the play, then your thesis isn’t complete. 

1. Thesis is about karma - 

1. If you are stuck for a starting line in your intro - the classic thing to do (Level 3-ish as an opener)  is to start with a definition of terms.
   

A Level 4 open would maybe start with a wider look at the subject area, ie karma, talk a bit about it in some way that leads to talking about the play. 

1. Macbeth is responsible for his actions - the proof is in his own dialogue - he gives arguments for and against the crimes he commits - he shows the audience that he fully understands what he’s doing, why he’s doing it, and what it means to his conscience and to the world - I have no spur but ambition

1. Inversion - once this world is upside down, all the rules are broken - even the rules of nature - the problems in the play literally come as a result of the different elements of life that get turned upside down

1. One thesis - many theses

1. Macbeth is NOT responsible for his actions

• you need to establish that he is not functioning normally, even though he is able to think about what is right and wrong, something is stopping him from following it
• the supernatural powers aligned against him are pushing and pulling him using hallucinations, visions of a future where he has power, and visions of a future that are threatening to his power - they’re manipulating his existing way of thinking with their visions and so on
• his wife is using his emotion for her, his love for her, to manipulate him - she is also attacking his manhood, and he lives in a culture where honor (and one’s masculinity is absolutely crucial to one’s power and sense of self) - remember, females have little to no power. A man is the definition of power
• both cases are using aspects of his character against him
• prove - even though he knows what he’s doing in wrong, he is unable to stop himself - you need to think about why. 

1. Macbeth is not responsible because he is insane - not fit to stand trial, for example

• you need to find some mental disorders in the real world and apply that same criteria to Macbeth, show the symptoms at work in the play, explain how they work and then show that these symptoms make him fit a definition that would get him off scot free
• ie “not guilty by reason of insanity” 
• research - specific mental disorders must be carefully set up and yo-u need to use references, give citations, etc. (this is very provable)
• Bipolar, paranoid schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, psychotic episodes, etc

Okay, so:

Writing a Smart Character Profile

1. We start by looking at the list: 

1. interactions and relationships
2. POV of narrator (not valid in Macbeth)
3. Character’s Physical/Mental Description (not valid in Macbeth)
4. Characters own words (HUGE in Macbeth) (the only view into thinking)
5. Your view as an observer (valid, important)
6. Symbolic Meaning (potentially HUGE)

1. What did we see in the movie version? 

• this gives us another view on the character - in this case, it’s the director’s vision of the character
• you get some comparison between the two forms of media - noting the differences is often useful

1. Psychology and Motives 

• you play the behaviourist (FBI style) and consider the why of the character’s actions
• looking at all the evidence, maybe referring to it, come up with an analysis of motive, needs, etc
• this motive study is a lot of INFERRING that you have to do
• make some assessments and then try to back them up
• look for possible “hidden triggers” that you can kind of assume or almost make up, but that fit into a pattern that you can discuss
• this is the Level 4 action right up in there!

Some kind of Multimedia Diddley-dew

1. Make a poster for the exciting movie version of the play - making your own with actual art supplies = fun for me to mark

1. Video a dramatic recreation or reading and submit a link to Youtube 

1. Maybe do a dramatic reading, but put the sound over a slideshow of dramatic images (use iMovie) (on an iPad) (it’s easy)

1. Lego or other 3D modeling diorama type stuff (always interesting)

5. Create a social media profile for any character in the play and populate that profile with posts/updates/tweets, etc that show character and plot and so on

Look Fors: 

Use of thematic elements from the play

use of plot/setting/character changes

original, fun ideas to show character

implementing the change to the character through the play in the profile

Thesis Statement work

Group/Process Rough Drafting

First read draft by Lobb

Finish Draft by Lobb (if necessary)

November 27, 2013

Essay Related Something

1. Thesis is about inversion - what about the inversion? 

Point 1 - what about your thesis? what is the point? What is the issue that your subject deals with, solves, points out, shows, illuminates, etc? 

Thesis about supernatural? What about it? 

Manipulation from LM - What about it? 

Almost all of the things that you will be choosing as a subject area end with “and can be considered to be key in the downfall of Macbeth and his wife.”

If your thesis is making you write down a list and show that X or Y is in the play, then your thesis isn’t complete. 

1. Thesis is about karma - 

1. If you are stuck for a starting line in your intro - the classic thing to do (Level 3-ish as an opener)  is to start with a definition of terms.
   

A Level 4 open would maybe start with a wider look at the subject area, ie karma, talk a bit about it in some way that leads to talking about the play. 

1. Macbeth is responsible for his actions - the proof is in his own dialogue - he gives arguments for and against the crimes he commits - he shows the audience that he fully understands what he’s doing, why he’s doing it, and what it means to his conscience and to the world - I have no spur but ambition

1. Inversion - once this world is upside down, all the rules are broken - even the rules of nature - the problems in the play literally come as a result of the different elements of life that get turned upside down

1. One thesis - many theses

1. Macbeth is NOT responsible for his actions

• you need to establish that he is not functioning normally, even though he is able to think about what is right and wrong, something is stopping him from following it
• the supernatural powers aligned against him are pushing and pulling him using hallucinations, visions of a future where he has power, and visions of a future that are threatening to his power - they’re manipulating his existing way of thinking with their visions and so on
• his wife is using his emotion for her, his love for her, to manipulate him - she is also attacking his manhood, and he lives in a culture where honor (and one’s masculinity is absolutely crucial to one’s power and sense of self) - remember, females have little to no power. A man is the definition of power
• both cases are using aspects of his character against him
• prove - even though he knows what he’s doing in wrong, he is unable to stop himself - you need to think about why. 

1. Macbeth is not responsible because he is insane - not fit to stand trial, for example

• you need to find some mental disorders in the real world and apply that same criteria to Macbeth, show the symptoms at work in the play, explain how they work and then show that these symptoms make him fit a definition that would get him off scot free
• ie “not guilty by reason of insanity” 
• research - specific mental disorders must be carefully set up and you need to use references, give citations, etc. (this is very provable)
• Bipolar, paranoid schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, psychotic episodes, etc

November 21 2013

Thesis - THIS is what I see and THIS is what I’m saying about it that is important or meaningful. 

AoD will be the reason why THIS that you saw is important or meaningful

Examples from the play - actual quotations

What is the quotation saying? 

Why is it the one that works to show the importance or meaning? 

How does it mean something? 

How does this go back to my thesis? Explain that link? 

Mr. Lobb is a bad teacher and negative influence that should not be allowed to affect the youth of Ontario. 

AoD - he cultivates a bad learning environment

Ex. 1 - he shouts at students and they become intimidated and cannot ask questions when they are confused - “One time when...”

What is the quotation saying? - when students need help, they can’t get it because this man is shouting and raging and they are paralysed with fear and...

What does this mean? - students can’t get information they need, they are confused, they are frustrated...

How fit thesis? - students are not getting the lessons fully because he isn’t allowing them to participate in their learning - he is all noise and drowning our their side..

Macbeth is not responsible for his actions because he is being manipulated and controlled by external forces that are distorting his view of reality and damaging his decision-making abilities. 

AoD - what does it mean to be responsible, or not, for one’s actions - what situation would make it so that someone in real life is not responsible - mental illness, not guilty by reason of insanity 

Hey! Now we can prove that he’s insane!

References! Easy!

November 19, 2013

The movie version - Macbeth by Roman Polanski -

This movie focuses much more on the power of the supernatural - the play leaves it a little more up in the air in a way - this is strange, since the play was written when people believed in that malarkey.

This movie focuses more on Lady Macbeth being weaker and less vigorous in her manipulation. She is a little more “standard” in her femininity. Again, this seems weird, because in the play (hundreds of years earlier) she comes off a bit rowdier.

Adds a weird twist - Ross is dirty back and forth son of a B! He backstabs, traitorously turns on TWO kings, arranges murders and sets up terrible deeds. In the play, he does none of those things. Something to remember.

The movie makes the witches and those visions much more vivid and more powerful. YES, you may use this information in any essay. This is not unlike the play, but it’s more obvious and understandable.

Same with the battle scene at the end. YES, use any of that in your thinking about Macbeth - his fearlessness, his power in fighting, the way he dies. This is good stuff.

In the movie, we see his back and forth (I AM evil! What have I done!?) and his suicide wish/I will live like this forever! much more overtly, which is also good to use.

Specific Expectations:

One of those areas of focus we discussed - turn one of those into a thesis statement

Process! Remember that list of processes? Group thesis work, research, exchange versions, show me draft, build new draft, submit final, etc...

Intro - with those parts Body - with that Point-Proof-Explanation Conclusion

References - specific - explained - make sense - relevant

Evidence of editing and revising (errors removed)

Show your reasoning - show your logic - WHY and HOW

Three pages seems like a good average - 750 words and up.

No more than 1250 words - 5 pages

Your areas of discussion should be really locked into your thesis - PROVE your thesis

November 18, 2013

This week we have several KEY tasks in which we will engage:

ESSAY - this is a huge mark in this class - it becomes ever more valuable as we move forward (this could be a mark that replaces later marks)

Finish soliloquies (why these are important to plot, character)

Character analysis - Mac or Lady Mac - characterization as per usual - character motivation in detail - psychology - character arc (of change)

Some kind of artistic representation (of any sort) that captures, explores, examines, shows off, exemplifies or reveals some aspect of the play - thematic in particular

5. Macbeth notes have been taken (and will be used for exam prep)

November 14, 2013

Lobb’s Patented Essay Structure Guide

• this may or may not be the greatest thing to help you write an essay
• it may or may not be the most original essay planning tool you can find
• it IS guaranteed to work in this class, however

Intro

Body

Conclusion 

All obvious, everyone knows, no worries. 

Intro - 

-basically, you are stating a thesis and then briefly summarizing the way(s) in which you will prove it to be true

• however, some people have learned that you want to start with a sentence that is a grabber, that isn’t your thesis statement
• some call it a hook. 
• I would call it a “way in” to the subject matter
• eg - if the essay is about Macbeth, and the thesis is a specific aspect of that character’s journey as a tragic hero, the hook statement could be about Macbeth the play, the character, the idea of a tragic hero, or the idea of a hero, etc. 
• what might be a good hook for the “Lobb is a bad teacher” essay? 
• The hook is probably something about teaching in general, or maybe about GOOD teaching, and then you’re going to go ahead and contrast the info about Lobb.
• The hook could also be about the student experience and the needs of young people and then we show how those needs aren’t being met. Another contrast!

Intro then has:

1. hook (some people put at definition in here) *don’t always do that*
2. thesis statement 
3. directional statements (how you will prove thesis as true

Conclusion:

• summarizes the thesis as proven - 
• may sometimes start with a “By looking at...” “After examining...” in terms of logic - you may not actually use those terms, but that’s what you’re doing
• RESTATEMENT is the key - you’re going “See? I did it. Now give me my cookie. Or marks. Or love me, as I have no internal sense of accomplishment.”
• sometimes, the last thing in a conclusion is a capper or a spin into a new area related to the subject matter - this is not easy to explain
• What about the Lobb is a bad teacher example? 
• why wouldn’t we talk about what could happen to a student with a bad teacher? kind of looking at the consequences of the bad teaching? 
• It’s kind of a think about, take away, oh, yeah...

Body:

• we’re at the most challenging part of writing an essay
• this is the whole raison d’etre of doing this
• the body IS the essay
• the body IS the thinking
• the body IS the application of the structure and the implementation of the knowledge

Some body sections have THREE Areas of Discussion 

This is the essay you learned in other grades

Put your best AoD at the end, your second best first and the middle one is weakest

This is okay, but it’s simplistic. It’s a good way to think about an essay, but not the best way to write one.

Better is to think about the structure of writing that goes into each AoD

This is the Pattern:

Make your point. 

Define your point. 

Make the reference from the work - novel, play, story, poem - that shows your point in “action”

THEN - MONEY TIME 

• you need to explain your point, 
• show how it fits into your thesis, 
• make the connection of your logic and reasoning (make your thinking obvious) 
• show how it is important. 

Example - thesis - Mr. Lobb is a bad teacher who harms his youthful students. 

Big AoD - Mr. Lobb creates a negative environment for student learning and achievement. 

NOW WE NEED TO:

POINT - Lobb sometimes leaves the room, which results in chaos when students behave inappropriately and become distracted 

PROOF - November 14, Lobb left the room to get the attendance sheet and Kieran Melady began rubbing everyone, Ally Hulley was tweeting about how much she missed Field Hockey, and, in general, students were unable to focus. 

EXPLAIN, LINK BACK, SHOW LOGIC - show how that situation proves that Lobb is a bad teacher - you say because he left, he wasn’t there to decide how people show act, and they are too immature to decide for themselves

the point inside this stuff might be that he doesn’t know what his students need and what he should be doing to fulfill that need. 

Reasoning? 

Logic? 

Link back? 

Macbeth is crazy. 

AoD - Hallucinations, visions and delusions. 

References. 

Then, show how are those things crazy.  

That’s where the essay is. 

What you’re always looking to do is this:

A + B = C

Soliloquies in Macbeth

1. Translate into YOUR OWN WORDS.
2. Decipher any particularly tricky bits. 
3. Show (briefly) the importance of this soliloquy. 

November 13, 2013

Macbeth

Issues for Essay Writing

Macbeth is being manipulated by___________________

Macbeth is responsible for his actions and deserves what happened to him.

Macbeth is not mentally fit, so it’s not his fault.

Lady Macbeth is the true evil in this play.

The characters are victims of supernatural forces which control them.

The problems in the play come from the inversion of the Natural Order.

How to Proceed?

Find a group of similar essay writing pals. (same area of focus)

Maybe generate a thesis statement in a group.

Do a rough version in a specific order:

thesis - collect notes and research - collect references - make connections - explain ideas - show peers - show Lobb - do a draft - show peers - show Lobb - get marked - do a final

Note - The Process is the Point of this

The mark is not a big deal. You can always resubmit.

Okay - Lobb is a terrible teacher and a bad influence on the young.

Make some rough notes on this for an essay in groups to present.

I will see how well you plan an essay and then I will know what to teach.

Three Points -







Sexist
single girls out and treat them like they’re inconvenient in the class
use girls as examples for negative attributes or situations

Scary and Disturbing
say creepy things - “little girl” “naughty chair” “come see Daddy!”
tell horror stories that might interrupt sleep - Alyssa, for example suffers this
emotionless and possessed of a strange disaffect - sociopath?
shows disturbing images, videos and songs (Aphex Twin “Come To Daddy”)
negative attitude towards holidays

Creates a Bad Grade-Getting Environment (this could be it’s own thesis)
goes off-topic too often and CHANGES the direction of learning -
tends to be cruel to students in a meaningful and guiding way
doesn’t seem to care about student achievement - marks, credit, attendance - TRUE, but shouldn’t YOU care about that?

Promotes Illegal Drug Use
suggest psychedelics as a spiritual gateway
told students to test drugs to “check immunity”
talked about using Ibogaine as a heroin/cocaine stopper

Racist Against White People
points out problems with whites in a predominantly white group
constantly shows other races as “victims” but never does the same for whites

Observations:

Everyone uses the Three Paragraph Body structure.

Which fits into the Five Paragraph Essay - Intro, Three Body, Conclusion

Each body paragraph is under the heading of a “point” and then the body of that paragraph appears to be supports that show the point is true

A “point” could be a one-word idea or a more specific phrase.

Mr. Lobb’s Points on Essays from Observations

You don’t need to have three body paragraphs!

Our “points” may need to be carefully balanced - not too specific and not too wide - you need to really consider what your “points” are - maybe, the best points are a mix between general and specific (tricksy)

Let’s not call them points - let’s call them - Areas of Discussion

November 6, 2013

A feast is set according to rank - close to the king = higher status

Far away, low status.

The group around him is the very group he NEEDS to impress. 

Macbeth is NOT entirely responsible for his actions because he is suffering from emotion and mental problems. 

Lady Macbeth is the key part of Macbeth’s problem. She is the manipulator, she is the planner, she is the decider that leads her husband into his crimes. And, once they’re committed, she keeps him in line to keep going. The way she’s doing all this is by breaking the natural order and attacking the very things that make Macbeth strong. 

Macbeth is being manipulated by external forces that are supernatural in nature. 

1. the witches misleading prophecies
2. IF LM is indeed supernatural, then you could include her (but that would have to proven FIRST)
3. demons, ghosts and vision
4. being WITHOUT the guiding hand of God! (and yet, he is to be the Instrument of God, as the king)

Maybe, there’s an essay that could discuss how the inversion of the Natural Order has led to a complete chaos and destruction of everything, starting the king and going down from there. (how could you do this without just making a list? what would the “so what?” be?) Maybe this play is about keeping the Status Quo. Maintaining the Order. This play is kind of a warning.