ENG1D

Mr. P. Vriend

Project Day 4, November 11, 2011

Due Monday, November 14

The Task Options:

1. Create a graphic novel or comic book of your favourite section of one of the novels you're reading outside of class. Make sure that your drawings are very carefully done: include a variety of distances, settings, and perspectives. Depending on the detail in your drawing, do between twenty and thirty drawings. (Think of this a comic book making b/c it's about the same thing. In fact, if you want to make a comic book or graphic novel, then do that.)

2. Do a 4 to 5 minute radio play based on a portion of a book you read outside of class. Include lots of sound effects and voices. This can be done on Garage Band or on Audacity (a free download). Choose music for the sad parts, the tense parts, and the happy parts. Make sound effects to help your listeners visualize each passing dramatic moment.

3. Do a 5 minute photography montage of a journey you or some your characters have taken. Write and speak the script to go with the montage that explains the trip's significance, the things you expected, the things you've learned, the unique challenges you've experienced, and the places you've arrived. (I have had students tell the story of an illness, a great loss, a journey from loneliness to friendship, from being a part of a nuclear family to being part of a blended family. A few years ago, one of my students wrote the story about her losing her hair and showed pictures of her journey over the last five years. Write at least 600 words and include at least 20 pictures. Your narrated montage should last about three to four minutes. (This can be done on Picassa (a free download) iMovie, or on Movie Maker). There are other ways to make a montage. Maybe you'll figure one out.)

4. Create a poster that reveals the characters and themes of novel you're reading. Find images in magazines or create your own to include on the poster. Do characterizations, thematic explanations, and descriptions. Include objects valuable to the character and be prepared to make a speech to the class. Write a eulogy, a tribute, a rant, or some other speech and deliver it to the class when you present your poster. As much as possible reveal the essence of character and ideas with the pictures and labels you choose.

5. Create a time capsule (or box) for a character or group of characters. Include letters, items that might be found in his or her wallet (license, ownership, memberships, ID cards), notes to self, and objects that represent important aspects of a character. Label each object and find a way to display the capsule. Be prepared to explain each to the class.

6. Make a 3 -4 minute movie based on a part of a novel you're reading outside of school. Make it good; apply all the best practices we've used and seen in the class.

Skills to apply:

1. Show don’t tell. Pay close attention to simple verbs and nouns.

Try to write in active voice. Make your verbs do the work. “Johnny threw the ball” is better than “The ball was thrown by Johnny.” Also, avoid the usual words: to be, started to, began to, which is, who was, that was, that is, there is, there was, etc. Use simple verbs; state things in the active voice.

2. Include dialogue, sound effects, music. Edit cleanly. Lay things out with balance. Write your letters evenly.

3. Be tidy. Format carefully.

4. Be prepared to make a format presentation of your project. This will be good practice for your presentation of learning.

Evaluation:

Thinking/Inquiry: (15 points) how carefully do you show the world of your characters? How thoughtful are your words and ideas; how much complexity and invention are revealed in your work?

Communication:(25 points) to what extent do you show not tell? How fluid are your sentences? How concise and varied are your constructions? Does your dialogue fit well with the narrative? Have you used active voice? Is the diction interesting? Is the description specific and concrete, appealing to the senses? Is your grammar under control? Is the poster, movie, radio play, etc. Clearly written and laid out. Do you speak fluidly about it? Is the whole piece easy to hear, follow, or understand?

Application: (25 points) to what extent is the formatting under control? Is the medium well managed (sound, video, objects, poster, doesn't matter) Is the writing well presented? Do you punctuate well? Spell well? Do you format and punctuate dialogue correctly?