May 26 to May31

Think back over your four years of high school English classes. List three things you would like to have learned more about during those four years of English classes. Give specific details for each item.

May 18 - 25 Looking at Art

In a respectful way, describe the presentation you thought was most successful. Give reasons for your evaluation.

May 11 - May 16 Wagner

What are your favorite three Wagner operas and why? Give details to support your choices.

May 4-May 10 Project

Briefly describe what your "Looking at Art" project will be about.

April 27-May 3 Marriage of Figaro

If you haven't attended the opera yet, write about the movie and what you learned about Marriage of Figaro during the movie.
Otherwise, write about your reactions to the opera. Choose some aspect of the performance/production and talk about that. Please don't write about something someone else has already written about.
Pick something that you could debate. For example:
1. What other setting besides the 18th century could the opera be placed in? Defend your opinion.
2. A woman makes as good of a teenage boy character as a boy might. Defend your opinion.
3. If the opera seemed long, what techniques have you developed to help yourself stay focused?
4. The ensembles really didn't help advance the action of the play. Defend your opinion.
5. The music does clearly distinquish one character from the another. Explain.
Or pick your own debatable point and defend it. Mix it up and make it fun to read.

April 20 to April 26 Swan Lake/Jonathan-Seneca

This week's blog has two parts:
1. Describe your reaction to Swan Lake. Give concrete, specific details to support what you say.
2. Describe three important things you learned from Jonathan or Seneca about The Marriage of Figaro. Try to discuss different topics than topics someone else has talked about.

Spring Break

Enjoy spring break. Be good and be safe. Come back rested and ready to go. See you in a week.

March 30 - April 2 Midsummer, the opera

Note: This blog must be posted by midnight Thursday night, April 2. Then you are free to have a relaxing spring break.
Write about your reactions to the performance we saw on Sunday of A Midsummer Night's Dream. There is much to write about, so don't write the same thing that someone else writes about. Examples of debatable points you might make:
"Operas in English work better than other languages."
"I love the sound of the counter tenor."
"The setting in the school was very effective."
"Puck works well as a spoken part."
"Operas in smaller theaters are better than in big theaters."
These are only a few examples of a point you might make and then use specific details to support your point of view. Create your own debatable point and defend it. Make it interesting.

March 23 -March 29 A Midsummer Night's Dream

Discuss the differences between the movie we watched this week and the previous one we watched. Which one seemed more effective? Give specific details when comparing each movie, maybe compare and contrast the same scene in each movie.

March 16-22 Ballet and Jonathan/Seneca

This week's blog has two parts:
1. Write about your reaction to the ballet. Give specific details and avoid sweeping generalities.
2. Write about several things you learned from Jonathan or Seneca that were new and interesting to you. Be specific.

March 9-16 Midsummer Night's Dream

Write a quote from the play Acts III to V and tell how that quote relates to the rest of the story in terms of plot or character development.

March 2- 8 Ballet or Midsummer Night's Dream or Opera House Tour

Write about one of the following three prompts:
Write about the music we listened to for the ballet.
Or, write a quote down from A Midsummer Night's Dream and discuss the quote in terms of what it means in the play.
Or, write about what you liked about the tour of the opera house.

Feb 23 to March 1 Art History or Music

Choose one aspect of Art History Part II and discuss why you think this is important to modern art. Or, reflect on some of the music we have listened to in preparation for attending the ballet.

Feb 9 to Feb 22 No blog this week or during Break

Before Friday, Feb 13, you must have your typed bulleted list and your picture from each style approved by me. Final Art History II project is due the week after break on Wednesday, Feb 25.

Feb 2-Feb 9 Art History

Choose one picture from one period and talk about it. Tell why the picture is representative of the style it is an example of. Include the picture on the blog or a link to the picture on the internet.

Jan 26-Feb 2 Review or Art History

This week again you can write either one of two responses.
1. If you did not review the play on last week's blog, you may write about the production of The Servant of Two Masters we attended. OR
2. Write about one of the art history movements that you particularly like and tell why.

Jan 20-Jan 25 Servant or Final

Write one of two things this week:
1. Write two questions you think will be on the final and give the correct answer. Or,
2. Write a review of the play, giving specifics and details, not generalized statements.

Jan 12- Jan 18 Servant of Two Masters

Write about a scene from The Servant of Two Masters and describe how you think the director and actors will perform it.

Jan 5- Jan 11 The Pearl Fishers

Write a review of the opera. In your review give specific examples of choices made by the director, singers, or conductor and discuss the effectiveness of those choices. I need examples, not generalized statements.