Week 5: Tall Tales & Myths Continued

To help you better exaggerate your tall tale or to make your myth sound more mythical, you will want to use figurative language.

Task 1:  Define and find 10 examples of each of the following:

·        Simile

·        Metaphor

·        Personification

·        Hyperbole

Task 2: 

A. Watch the video: "Punctuating Dialogue:" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS2b4N8aiVU.

B. If you still are confused about the conventions of writing dialogue, visit this website: http://www.be-a-better-writer.com/punctuate-dialogue.html

C. Rewrite (you can copy & paste then edit) the following dialogues with correctpunctuation, capitalization, & paragraphing: Dialogue Exercises.

D. Write a dialogue between two characters (real or fictional) in which each character says at least five different things.  It doesn't necessarily need to have a beginning, middle and end--so you can start the conversation at any point or you can end it abruptly (after ten total quotations).  The point is for you to practice writing dialogue correctly.  Submit it as a comment below.

Task 3:  Write a draft of your own tall tale or myth. See requirements below.  

Option A: Tall Tale: 

-->a protagonist who is a real person, either historical or modern, but who you add details that describe him/her as having super-human abilities in some way that helps people and has to do with their job  (ex.  Paul Bunyan's size, John Henry's strength, Johnny Appleseed's ability to communicate with nature).  For example, you may choose to write a tall tale about Paul Revere's superhuman ability to ride faster than the wind to warn that "the British are coming," or you may write a tall tale about Mariah Carey's superhuman ability to break glass with her voice, or Martin Luther King, Jr.'s superhuman ability to 

-->at least 3 historic/realistic details

-->at least 3 exaggerations

-->a story with some sort of conflict that gets resolved/solved by the protagonist

-->an exposition, rising action, climax (conflict is at a breaking/turning point), falling action, and a resolution

-->at least 4 instances of simile, metaphor, personification, and/or hyperbole (you don't need to use all four devices, but you need for instances, so if you skip one, for example, you need to have at least two instances of another)

-->use some dialogue

Option B: Myth: 

-->clear cultural setting

-->cultural values

-->spiritual elements (gods, etc.)

-->natural elements

-->MUST explain the creation of something

-->an exposition, rising action, climax (conflict is at a breaking/turning point), falling action, and a resolution

-->at least 4 instances of simile, metaphor, personification, and/or hyperbole (you don't need to use all four devices, but you need for instances, so if you skip one, for example, you need to have at least two instances of another)

-->use some dialogue

Famous Psychological Experiments

• Milgram Obedience Experiment: YouTube Video
• Halo Effect: Jacob Young
• Marshmallow Experiment: Drew Mollica
• Standford Prison Experiment: Henry Cook
• Asch Conformity Test: Jade Pawlowski

Saving and Investing Notes

View the Saving and Investing PowerPoint to fill in your guided notes about saving and investing.

Week 4: Tall Tales & Myths

1. First, finish your rough draft of your fractured fairy tale. Remember to review the directions and expectations for your fractured fairy tale here.

2. Read the following information about TALL TALES

 

What Are They?

      Tall tales are stories written from someone’s imagination.  The story can be funny or silly.  They are filled with exaggerations, similes, metaphors, and lots of descriptive language.  It is always told as if it were true, even though the listeners know that the story could never really happen.

      Some of the characters were real heroes and heroines whose stories got exaggerated a lot, others were characters such as cowboys, railroad workers, loggers, sea captains, and firefighters.  Tall tales told information that really happened at the time and combined it with a wild tale full of fantasy.

      In general there were some bad things about tall tales.  They were negative towards Native Americans, African Americans, women, and animals.  The tales were about people who were trying to conquer the American Wilderness.  Most of these tall tales were written back in the 1800s when the pioneers were trying to conquer the wilderness of America.  It was a way for the pioneers to make the taming of America a little easier to handle.

History

      Many settlers originally came west because someone made many optimistic claims, those which told only of the good things.  They were told the climate was perfect and that there was plenty of water.  They were convinced that crops would spring up overnight.  It was said that the soil was so fertile that even footprints would grow!

      In real life, living on the plains was a lot tougher that the settlers had been told.  After they found out what life on the plains was really like, they had to face many hard times.  It was easier to do that if a person used humor.  One farmer is reputed to have said, “It could be so hot one day that the corn popped, and so cold the next day that a bucket of water would freeze so fast that the ice would still be warm."

      The settlers loved to exaggerate when they told tales about the huge animals, the incredible weather extremes and the monstrous fish that got away.  We can thank the pioneers for tall tales.  Tall tales have been associated with America’s past.

      Tall Tales are part of our nation’s oral history.  We can make many connections between such tall tales and events in history.  Among these are John Henry and the expansion of the railroads, Paul Bunyon and the timber industry, and Johnny Appleseed and agriculturalism.  Tall tales were stories told and passed down from generation to generation. 

Ref: School District of Greenville County, 2012, http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/stone/staff/lessons/bennett/tales.asp

3. Read/listen/watch  the following tall tales:  John Henry, Paul Bunyon, Johnny Appleseed.  As you read/listen/watch, make a 2-column list.  One column should list the realistic/historical aspects of the story, and the other column should list the exaggerated portions of the story.  Try to include at least 3 items in each column for each story.

4. Read the following information about Myths

 

What Are They?

 

Myths are among the oldest stories ever told.  They are present in all cultures and often explain some aspect of nature or human existence.  According to PBS, “For thousands of years, people all over the world have told stories to pass down the history, culture, and morals of their society to each new generation. One type of traditional story is the creation, or origin, story. Creation stories, also called ‘creation myths,’ describe the origin and nature of the universe, and often convey particular belief systems or values.”

5. Read, listen to, and/or watch 3 of the following myths: The Raven Story, Prometheus, Izangi and Izanami, and Genesis 3.  Record the following information for each myth:

Title of Story	Culture & Geographic Area	Explains the creation of…	Major Characters	Cultural Values	Setting: mostly human, spiritual, or natural world?
"The Raven Story"
“Prometheus"
"Izangi and Izanami"
"Genesis 3"

Senior Yearbook Information!

Class of 2015 Yearbook Information

All of the information below is due by October 24^th, 2014. 

Items submitted after this date will not be guaranteed inclusion in the yearbook.

 Senior Pictures:

Please upload all photos directly to the Yearbook Website:

-Go to: www.replayit.com  Password: redstorm

*You will need to register with the website and create your own log in and password.  Once registered please upload your senior picture directly through this link.  The pictures should be of HIGH quality. All pictures will be printed in black and white for the yearbook.

 “Looking Back” Photos:

Looking Back Photos are not baby pictures.  Yearbook is NOT excepting baby photos.  Looking back photos should be from elementary school, middle school or early high school. Photos should be of groups of students at different events (sporting events, dances, birthday parties, etc.)  Submit the Looking Back Photos the same way you submit your senior picture.

 Senior Write Up:

Your senior write up needs to be submitted in Times New Roman size 8 font and can be no more than 625 characters (including titles and spaces).  Senior write up’s that are inappropriate or do not meet the character limit will be edited by the yearbook staff as seen fit. Please email your senior write up to shsyearbook14@gmail.com.  See example of senior write up below.

EXAMPLE:

John Doe

Senior Name: Seriously John Doe Nickname(s): Johnny, Johnny D, DoeDoe, JD, etc. Activities: Key Club (14), Speech and Debate (3,4), Lacrosse (14, Capt. 4) Fondest Memories/Hangouts: Drive-in with KC, Prom 2006 w/ HG, Homecoming football game w/ GC, KS, SE, MG, EC, working at the Dairy Corner. Quote: "Chemistry is a class you take in high school or college, where you figure out two plus two is 10, or something." –Dennis Rodman Thank You: Mom and Dad for everything, my little sister for staying out of my way, my friends for being there for me.

 Senior Will Items:

Each senior may submit 2 Senior Will items.  Senior Will items that are inappropriate or do not meet the limit set by the yearbook staff will be removed or edited as seen fit.  Please email senior will items to shsyearbook14@gmail.com.  See an example of a senior will below:

EXAMPLE:

I, John Doe, leave endless laps in the pool, swim team bus rides, and State meets to A.M, B.P, E.G and A.T.

                     

Questions????  See Mr. Huntington in room C107 or call at (207)730-5079

Week 3: Fractured Fairy Tales

1.    View/read the following fractured fairy tales.  A fractured fairy tale uses familiar fairy tale (sometimes fable/legend) stories, but subverts some elements, such as characters, setting, points of view, and/or plot points.  They are usually humorous and satirize the genre or modern life in some way.

a.    The Ugly Duckling

b.    The Frog Prince Revisited

c.    The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

2.    Write a brief explanation about how each of the fractured fairy tales that you viewed/read subverts the original and what humorous commentary the tale seems to make.

3.    Write a rough draft of your own fractured fairy tale, using a different fairy tale than the above mentioned.  It should have:

a.    A clear conflict

b.    A developed protagonist and at least one other character

c.    A setting: time and place

d.    An exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and a resolution

e.    Obvious references to the original fairy tale

f.     Obvious differences from the original tale.  You may consider telling the story from the point of view of the “villain” or writing a sequel or prequel to the story or making the story updated (the female saves the man, for example)

*Fairy tales to consider:  “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Cinderella,” “Hansel & Gretel,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Rumpelstiltskin,” “Goldilocks & the Three Bears,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Snow White.”  You may use other fairy tales, of course, but this list should give you some ideas…

Of Mice and Men Vocabulary

Use this PowerPoint to fill in your vocabulary words and their definitions on your vocabulary packet for John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men.

Creative Writing Week 2: Fables

1.    Read the stories: "The Tortoise and the Hare" and "The Lion and the Mouse." For each of the stories, find and record: the characters, the setting, and the theme. Then, explain which genre these stories are and why you think so.

2.    Write your own fable.  Remember, a fable should be short, have animal characters and provide a lesson to the readers, often stated at the end of the story as “the moral of the story.”

3.    Edit your fable.  There should be no spelling or grammatical errors.  If you need assistance, see Ms. Kappelman or another teacher for editing tips.  You should turn in at least two (1^st & final) drafts of your fable so that I can see your editing.

4.    Find a fairy tale to read/study.  Read it, and complete this Fairy Tale Analysis worksheet to analyze the story.

5.  If time allows, read your free read book and journal for a bonus point or two!

Five Approaches to Psychology

You have learned about the five major approaches to psychology--behavioral, biological, cognitive, humanistic, and psychoanalytic.
To review, watch the video and take the quiz from the lesson taught by Polly Peterson!

Creative Writing Week 1: Fiction Elements & Genres

1.    Complete this worksheet about the elements of fiction. You will need to use theReadWriteThink link to find your answers. Please note, the elements are in a different order on the website than they are on the worksheet.

2.    Learn about the different types of literary genres with this slideshare presentation. As you go through the presentation, take notes answering the following questions:

1.    What is a genre?

2.    What are the main genres of fiction?

3.    What are the defining characteristics of each genre?

4.    Which genre do you find most appealing and why?

3.    Focus in on some of the oldest forms of fiction: myths, legends, fables, folktales, and fairy tales.

1.    In a few sentences, write down what you think the similarities and differences between these terms are.

2.    Visit the following websites and create a good definition for each of the terms (myths, legends, fables, folktales, and fairy tales):http://www.ability.org.uk/mytholog.html,http://classiclit.about.com/cs/10th14thcentury/a/aa_definemyth.htm.