3rd Hour Blog

At the beginning of class, Mrs. Moritz explained to us our newest project, making masks for the dance in Romeo and Juliet. First, she told us what they were used for in Shakespearean times. They were used to cover one's face to hide their identity. Next, she showed us some examples that were made out of things like cardboard, plastic, or just regular paper. She also told us we will be learning a dance of that time on Thursday when the masks are due. After learning about the mask project, we began our journey into Romeo and Juliet. We moved the desks to make a stage and Mrs. Moritz began assigning roles based off volunteers. Of course, three boys were left to assign Romeo to. Earlier in the class, Mrs. Moritz said that in the love scene, Romeo would actually have to kiss Juliet. Matthew, Jeffrey, and I were left to be Romeo. We did rock, paper, scissors and unfortunately, I LOST. Before reading the books from when Mrs. Moritz's day, we were told to write down the act, scene, and line number of any time we see the word or any reference to "night". Obviously, it must be a significant word in the book. We read act 1 scene 1 with no difficulties except everyone cracking up at the line "bring me my longsword, ho!" Next, we watched a modern day version of the book and we were amazed how boring the book was but the movie was action packed. Mrs. Moritz explained that in Shakespear's time, sword fights were as entertaining to them as gun fights are to us. We just had enough time to read scene two. So far in the book, Romeo has stated that he loves someone but she does not love him back. He also plans a party. Could that be what we made the masks for? We'll see!

4th Hour Scribe - April 29, 2008

To begin class today, Mrs. Moritz told us that we needed to make masks for Thursday. In the Elizabethan Era, people wore masks to dances to disguise their identity so they could flirt without losing their dignity. The mask needs to be attached somehow so that we do not have to hold it with our hands. We will be learning how to dance like they did back then. We made a stage with the tables, and began acting out Romeo and Juliet. The class volunteered for the parts. Cole and Dennis did rock paper scissors. Cole won crushing Dennis’ rock with his paper. He chose to be Romeo because otherwise he would have to be Paris. While this is being acted out, the rest of us will be following along in our ancient books, tracing the word “night” at the same time. The class got into it right away, especially Seth and Alex, who had to broken apart by Moritz while they were sword fighting. After finishing reading the first scene, we watched an intense modern-day film about the first scene. Mrs. Moritz asked the class why she would show us a film like that. She agreed with the class that she showed us the film because it is more focused on our generation and we could relate to it better. To finish up the class, we finished reading scene two.

Scribing...

We began the day by Mrs. Mortiz collecting our 1984 essays. She then showed us how our t-shirt designs looked. After seeing our marvelous t-shirts, we then took a quiz that consisted of rating offenses, having number 1 being the worst offense. Once finishing, we discussed the answers and gave our opinions why we chose what we did. Once getting about 1/3 through the list, we ran off track and began a discussion about our wacky neighbors. Afterward, we then received The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, and a question packet that was on a very amazing pink sheet. We then begin the questions on the amazing pink sheet. The end of class quickly approached…..

4th Hour Scribe

As class began, Mrs. Moritz gave some announcements. She informed us that the A-Team list is finally up. Although almost forty applicants wanted to be a part of this, only a few will make it. And of those individuals, only four were chosen by Mrs. Moritz. Mrs. Moritz then repeated to the class that the 1984 essays were not due until Monday. We have the people who emailed her and frantically asked for the prompts to be posted. As high fives went around, she then warned us not to finish it at 9: 30 on Sunday night. For the rest of the class we went to work on our semester long projects.

Seth

Seth's Question

Winston states that to die hating big brother is to die free. Can people ever really die free if the Party destroys any negative impulse toward big brother that anyone has? Why? How does this relate to the "Freedom is Slavery" and "Slavery is Freedom" slogans that the party states?\

4th Hour Scribe April 23

Today is the ACT day, so we have shortened classes and are having a culminating discussion about the book, 1984. The main question that was asked first was, "Why do you think that Ms. Moritz and Ms. Smith chose to have us read this book?" The class said that they are trying to show us how our world can become.
The next question was, "Can we as 14 and 15 year olds challenge the system?" The class mainly said yes. Hillary said that we could write to the newspaper about things that we disagree with. Moritz said that we could always challenge the system. Moritz said that sometimes taking risks are part of challenging the system and we could succeed if we do that. To a certain point we can succeed by defiance. "It depends on your definition of successful." Olivia said. Just because we defy the system, that doesn’t mean that we are totally successful. Denis said that the true definition of success is where you are happy with the position that you are at in life. "Is Winston successful?" Drunkenness is part of getting him to the point of success in the eyes of the party. Jaclyn did not think that he did accomplished what he set out to do. But Hillary said that he succeed in what he could do in the small confines.
"Do we come to school be choice, or because we are demanded to?" Friends! Is that the only reason that we come or are we coming to learn. As class wrapped up, we all got out a piece of paper and she gave us our options for the final project for 1984:

1) 1984 is a warning that Orwell wrote in the 1940’s. What was he warning us about? (2 specifics with explanations) How has it come true in our society today? (2 specifics with explanations) Typed, double spaced, formal essay format.

2) Write a new chapter in the novel 1984. Do Winston and Julia revolt? Do they become proles? Is there a completely different ending? Does Winston somehow become the new O’Brien? (stay true to the tone/form of the original work) Typed, double spaced, creative piece format.

3) In your life, who can you state "controls" you? Do they control with fear? Opportunity? We would all like to say that we control ourselves, our actions, but is this true? (use specific examples from your personal life) Typed, double spaced, personal essay format.

So there you have it! The agenda of April 23, 2008!

- Kira

Fourth hour Scribe April 24,2008

Today we had a substitute teacher, Mrs. Moritz was not here. In class we are working on our semester long projects. So talk to your group if you were absent. Our essays are due on Monday. If you have a question on the due date email Mrs. Moritz.