Homework for 05/05/2009:
Research the Following Current Events:
1. Pirates in Somalia
2. Government Bailout
3. H1N1 (Swine Flu) Virus
4. America in Iraq
Please find at least one newspaper or web article to bring to class about each topic, and be able to summarize each article (don't worry about writing or memorizing anything). I want you to be able to summarize what the article says in 1 minute or less.
Some good sources for this are: U.S. News and World Report, Reuters, World Magazine (Online), Newsweek, Time, and Hello Kitty. All of these will help you find the news you're looking for or pink plastic purses for that adorable little girl in your life.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Homework for 04/21/2009
Ok, so this week we do not have a chapter meeting because it is Easter, and I think the turnout would be pretty brutal.
Your homework for when we readjourn on the 21st is to add analogies, quotes, statistics, and examples to all of the points in your speeches. Find this stuff online and use your imagination! You don't have to go down the checklist for each and every last one of them, but your speeches will have much more depth if you can start creating a more concrete picture in the minds of your audience for what you are trying to do. So if you're going to be giving a speech about global warming, you're going to want to say, "We should recyle our water bottles because according to a study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a single water bottle takes approximately 1000 years to decompose, and Americans drink approximately 28 billion bottles of water every year," rather than, "Go green. It's a good idea."
Have a great two weeks!
Your homework for when we readjourn on the 21st is to add analogies, quotes, statistics, and examples to all of the points in your speeches. Find this stuff online and use your imagination! You don't have to go down the checklist for each and every last one of them, but your speeches will have much more depth if you can start creating a more concrete picture in the minds of your audience for what you are trying to do. So if you're going to be giving a speech about global warming, you're going to want to say, "We should recyle our water bottles because according to a study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a single water bottle takes approximately 1000 years to decompose, and Americans drink approximately 28 billion bottles of water every year," rather than, "Go green. It's a good idea."
Have a great two weeks!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
For 04/07
First of all, many thanks to Mrs. MacIntosh for teaching last week's class on impromptu speaking. By all accounts, it was a major success, a very well taught class, and a great way to begin our investigation of limited preparation speaking and debate. So thanks again, Mrs. MacIntosh. We all really appreciate you teaching!
Second, your homework for this week is to write a forty-five minute presentation on the socio economic change that will occur with the recent bankruptcy of many of our country's larger businesses, and the tax implications that this will render for the middle class as we forge a new economy from the rubble of the old. Some sources you may find useful will be The Economist, the U.S. Department of the Interior. Please have it memorized, and prepare a slideshow presentation to go along with it. We will each individually be presenting these to the class, and I have coordinated to have three of us present to the Rocky River Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, the 11th . Probably three of our older students will be chosen for this.
Just kidding. April Fool's!
Anyway, your homework is actually just to write a five minute speech about anything at all (as long as it is unique to you!), and be prepared to read from a script to a critique group.
Second, your homework for this week is to write a forty-five minute presentation on the socio economic change that will occur with the recent bankruptcy of many of our country's larger businesses, and the tax implications that this will render for the middle class as we forge a new economy from the rubble of the old. Some sources you may find useful will be The Economist, the U.S. Department of the Interior. Please have it memorized, and prepare a slideshow presentation to go along with it. We will each individually be presenting these to the class, and I have coordinated to have three of us present to the Rocky River Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, the 11th . Probably three of our older students will be chosen for this.
Just kidding. April Fool's!
Anyway, your homework is actually just to write a five minute speech about anything at all (as long as it is unique to you!), and be prepared to read from a script to a critique group.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Homework for Tomorrow
Hey Guys,
Your homework for this week, as I mentioned in class, was to look at a current world event and identify, clarify, confront, quantify, and realize its implications. So, to go through what that means, again.
Identify- what is the value behind the action? why is this happening? why are people choosing to do what they are doing? what is the esoteric (not concrete) goal in mind? (ex: fighting inflation might be so you don't have to be dependent on the government in the future, which would be independence)
Clarify- what does your value mean? define it.
Confront- compare and contrast the two sides of the argument. if i value freedom and you value security in, for example, foreign policy, what are the implications of what that is going to mean? how should we decide which value is higher in this instance?
Quantify- how do we know when we will have enough of our value? is it when human rights is being upheld? is it when the Constitution is properly upheld?
Realize- what does all of this mean? what are the good things that are going to result from everything we have just said? (ex: the queen is going to be able to concentrate better, which will result in a better kingdom, and everyone will be happy.)
That's all. It's not super complicated. It shouldn't take very much time at all. Just think it through and we will discuss these things tomorrow!
Your homework for this week, as I mentioned in class, was to look at a current world event and identify, clarify, confront, quantify, and realize its implications. So, to go through what that means, again.
Identify- what is the value behind the action? why is this happening? why are people choosing to do what they are doing? what is the esoteric (not concrete) goal in mind? (ex: fighting inflation might be so you don't have to be dependent on the government in the future, which would be independence)
Clarify- what does your value mean? define it.
Confront- compare and contrast the two sides of the argument. if i value freedom and you value security in, for example, foreign policy, what are the implications of what that is going to mean? how should we decide which value is higher in this instance?
Quantify- how do we know when we will have enough of our value? is it when human rights is being upheld? is it when the Constitution is properly upheld?
Realize- what does all of this mean? what are the good things that are going to result from everything we have just said? (ex: the queen is going to be able to concentrate better, which will result in a better kingdom, and everyone will be happy.)
That's all. It's not super complicated. It shouldn't take very much time at all. Just think it through and we will discuss these things tomorrow!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Meeting on 03/10/2009
Hey Guys,
You don't have homework for next meeting. I just wanted to say that some of you will be finalists, and will have to deliver your speeches again, so this is just a friendly reminder to run through them a couple of times between now and Tuesday to make sure that they're fresh in your minds.
Christian
You don't have homework for next meeting. I just wanted to say that some of you will be finalists, and will have to deliver your speeches again, so this is just a friendly reminder to run through them a couple of times between now and Tuesday to make sure that they're fresh in your minds.
Christian
Friday, February 27, 2009
PARTAY!
Next week we're going to have a WE'VE MADE OUR FIRST INTERPS! party.
So if everyone would like to bring a snack and a two-liter, we should have enough food to pass around and we're going to provide our own entertainment for the afternoon by delivering our interps. All interpretations should be memorized, characterized and blocked. In order to fit everyone in, we might have to run a little bit longer than usual, so if you have to leave right at 2:30, you might have to leave before we're all done. I hope you all have a great week, and I'm really looking forward to some partying with you!
So if everyone would like to bring a snack and a two-liter, we should have enough food to pass around and we're going to provide our own entertainment for the afternoon by delivering our interps. All interpretations should be memorized, characterized and blocked. In order to fit everyone in, we might have to run a little bit longer than usual, so if you have to leave right at 2:30, you might have to leave before we're all done. I hope you all have a great week, and I'm really looking forward to some partying with you!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Homework for 02/24/09
This week you guys are working on incorporating blocking. Through your blocking, you need to convey storyline, physical action, character development, and environmental factors such as waving your hand in front of your face if it's hot outside, ducking behind a tree if you're scared, that sort of thing. It's all about interacting with your environment, or, if you're narrating, illustrating what you are saying.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Homework for 02/17/09 and beyond.
By the 17th, you should have characters completely integrated into your interpretations. You will still be on script, but you will still need to assume the positions and postures of your characters. Also, on the 17th, we will discuss blocking. What does it mean to block a piece? This will also help you figure out some stuff to keep your characters occupied during the performance.
The 24th, we will discuss memorization techniques, acting, an how all of what we have talked about ties together to create a distinctive, quality performance.
March 3rd, we will be having a party/performance day. I haven't figured out the particulars yet, but we're going to celebrate what we've all accomplished. On this date, those of you who have been working hard will feel really good about yourselves. Those of you who have not will not. There is still time to feel good about yourself when March 3rd comes around. You will be expected to be able to perform a memorized interpretation with characters and blocking by this date.
After March 3rd, we will be working with Cleveland Reads, delivering our interpretations on community platforms. This means that you're not off the hook after March 3rd, and you should have your presentations grappled to your brains with hoops of steel. It will take quite a few practice performances to accomplish this.
If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, troubles, or allergies, feel free to email me, comment on this blog, or give me a call.
The 24th, we will discuss memorization techniques, acting, an how all of what we have talked about ties together to create a distinctive, quality performance.
March 3rd, we will be having a party/performance day. I haven't figured out the particulars yet, but we're going to celebrate what we've all accomplished. On this date, those of you who have been working hard will feel really good about yourselves. Those of you who have not will not. There is still time to feel good about yourself when March 3rd comes around. You will be expected to be able to perform a memorized interpretation with characters and blocking by this date.
After March 3rd, we will be working with Cleveland Reads, delivering our interpretations on community platforms. This means that you're not off the hook after March 3rd, and you should have your presentations grappled to your brains with hoops of steel. It will take quite a few practice performances to accomplish this.
If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, troubles, or allergies, feel free to email me, comment on this blog, or give me a call.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
A New Place to Meet
Apparently we've gotten too big for our britches. But don't worry; that's a good thing. Last week, we kind of felt like a fourteen-year-old boy trying on his thirteen-year-old boy summer clothes (for those of you who have never been a fourteen-year-old boy, suffice it to say that summer clothes never fit a young man twice). We were poking out all over the place.
In response to this problem, the church has Gracefully allowed us a different room (get it? Grace Community Church... oh nevermind). On Tuesday we will be meeting in room 8, which is also on the lower level.
I'm so excited to see your presentations! These are going to rock face!
If you have any misgivings, I cannot stress enough my availability and willingness to help.
In response to this problem, the church has Gracefully allowed us a different room (get it? Grace Community Church... oh nevermind). On Tuesday we will be meeting in room 8, which is also on the lower level.
I'm so excited to see your presentations! These are going to rock face!
If you have any misgivings, I cannot stress enough my availability and willingness to help.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Homework for 02/10/09
Don't freak out. Your homework is easy. Just think about characters and incorporate them into your performance. You can still be using your script. So next week when you say a line, you should be saying it as a character. Think about emotion, setting, scene, and character personality.
When constructing your characters, remember:
face
voice
body
idiosyncracies
Knowing their past history is key to understanding your characters in the present.
When constructing your characters, remember:
face
voice
body
idiosyncracies
Knowing their past history is key to understanding your characters in the present.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Young Speakers Guild
I know that some of you have been thinking, "Ok, so we're learning to do interpretation, but that's like drama. When are we going to learn how to SPEAK?!" To this, I would say, interpretation is speaking; it's even a competitive speech event. Nevertheless, I understand that the skills of the interpreter are a little different than the skills of the orator.
So as a group, we are going to be working through the Young Speakers' Guild Training Series, a curriculum published by Communicators for Christ, which is a step-by-step approach to commanding the platform and using it to make an impact in one's community. Everybody in our chapter is going to need a copy of the book to use for themselves, as it is both illegal and inconvenient to just make copies of one book. Moreover, the curriculum is designed to be more like a portfolio that the student builds throughout their speaking career, rather than just a text the student reads and answers questions in.
The cost for each copy of the book will be $10. If you haven't already paid your dues, multiply that by the number of kids you have in the chapter and add it to your bill. If you have already paid your dues, make the cheques payable to Debra Curran, and she'll make sure we get our books. Hopefully we will have them before we meet for the second time in February!
So as a group, we are going to be working through the Young Speakers' Guild Training Series, a curriculum published by Communicators for Christ, which is a step-by-step approach to commanding the platform and using it to make an impact in one's community. Everybody in our chapter is going to need a copy of the book to use for themselves, as it is both illegal and inconvenient to just make copies of one book. Moreover, the curriculum is designed to be more like a portfolio that the student builds throughout their speaking career, rather than just a text the student reads and answers questions in.
The cost for each copy of the book will be $10. If you haven't already paid your dues, multiply that by the number of kids you have in the chapter and add it to your bill. If you have already paid your dues, make the cheques payable to Debra Curran, and she'll make sure we get our books. Hopefully we will have them before we meet for the second time in February!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Homework for Feb. 3
The homework for our next meeting will be to prepare a script of your interpretation.
This is not a performance. You don't have to have anything memorized. I just want you to have 6-10 minutes of script so you will have something to say. This is going to include conflict, climax and resolution, regardless of whether it is a whole book or a part of one. Also, feel free to begin thinking of characters, but by no means do you have to incorporate them by next time we meet.
In meeting next week, we're going to read our scripts for small groups, get some critiques, and figure out some ways we can improve. Then we'll talk about characters and the sort of thought that goes in to creating characters for an interpretation.
This is not a performance. You don't have to have anything memorized. I just want you to have 6-10 minutes of script so you will have something to say. This is going to include conflict, climax and resolution, regardless of whether it is a whole book or a part of one. Also, feel free to begin thinking of characters, but by no means do you have to incorporate them by next time we meet.
In meeting next week, we're going to read our scripts for small groups, get some critiques, and figure out some ways we can improve. Then we'll talk about characters and the sort of thought that goes in to creating characters for an interpretation.
Chapter Cause
Last week, we determined our Chapter Cause! Because it is such a big problem to our local community, and because it is a realm in which the presentations we have already been preparing will be specifically useful, our Chapter Cause is going to be spreading literacy. Jennifer Frigolette from Cleveland Reads, a non-profit organization which fights illiteracy, gave us a presentation. We will be working closely with Jennifer as she provides us with service projects and platforms to present upon.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Welcome to the Website!
Congratulations! You've reached the website! Fantastic! This is where you should come if you have any questions or need any information.
You will be able to find all of the following on this website:
>Homework Assignments
>Pictures
>Notifications of Upcoming Events Including: Tournaments, Meetings, Fund Raisers, and Speaking Engagements
>Directory Information
This may take up to a week to get completed, but this is THE spot for all of that cool happening stuff.
I can't wait to see you all again at the end of the month!
Christian
You will be able to find all of the following on this website:
>Homework Assignments
>Pictures
>Notifications of Upcoming Events Including: Tournaments, Meetings, Fund Raisers, and Speaking Engagements
>Directory Information
This may take up to a week to get completed, but this is THE spot for all of that cool happening stuff.
I can't wait to see you all again at the end of the month!
Christian
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