(no subject)

[swim_the_sea]

The start of the year is coming up soon, so here's a heads up to all your procrastinators to make sure you have your work done for the first day of English class.

In case you happened to 'misplace' your assignment, juniors need to read The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri and seniors need to read Brave New World by Aldous Huxley for the first day of class.

Also, don't forget to bring your papers written for the two books you read of your own choice. At least two pages, single spaced, at most 12 point font, on how you feel the plot and themes of the books are relevant to events today, whether it's on a global, local, or personal level. I will be checking the page lengths of your books, so unless you already cleared your reading selection with me, you will get points docked if your book selections are less than 200 pages.

And now that I've totally put a downer on everyone's day, I hope everyone has fun at the carnival and enjoys their last days of freedom.

Comments

[sugarandice]

Out of curiosity, will we be watching the movie version of Brave New World?

[sugarandice]

Also, is that two pages total, or two pages for each book?

[swim_the_sea]

If you mean the one with Leonard Nimoy, I was planning to as long as I could acquire a copy.

Two pages for each book. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

[sugarandice]

I don't actually know which one I mean. I just remember seeing part of it on television a while back. I don't even remember if it was any good.

Thank you for the clarification. I guess I know what I'll be doing in the early part of next week.

[swim_the_sea]

That was likely the newer one with Leonard Nimoy in it. There was one made in 1980 and one made in 1998. And actually one in production if it all goes through. If I could find video of the German rock musical they did of it, I would likely have you guys watch that, but video of musicals is always hard to find.

[sugarandice]

I suspect our comprehension of said musical might be impeded by the fact that I'm not sure any of us speak German. Cymraeg a Saesneg, ie. Almaeneg, dim.

[swim_the_sea]

Another stumbling block in the plan of course, as finding a copy of it that is properly subtitled will likely be just as hard as finding a copy of it.

[sugarandice]

You could always collaborate with Ms. Wulfe and have us make up our own musical, for those so inclined.

[rev_me_up]

Ruining the kids'summer again?

[swim_the_sea]

Hey, it's not that bad and you know it. You should see some of the summer reading lists they do for the school in New York City.

[rev_me_up]

Just giving you a hard time, Mr. Moreau.

[swim_the_sea]

Har har har, Mr. Blythe. How long are you going to keep the mister business up this time?

[private to mr. moreau]

[rev_me_up]

Depends... are we making a bet?

[private to mr. blythe]

[swim_the_sea]

You do remember how well that whole Kenneth mess went, right? Are you sure you want to go down that road again?

[private to kc moreau]

[rev_me_up]

Feels odd to be calling you KC on these things in front of students.

[dareme]

You know, Mr. Moreau, reading is a lot more fun and interesting when I don't have to try to explain why I'm doing it.

[swim_the_sea]

Be glad you get to chose those books. Trust me, it could be worse. Just need to make sure you guys aren't pulling the wool over my eyes about the books you read.

[dareme]

Oh right, as if I could do that. Oh! Oh! If Shane claims he read the Hunger Games trilogy, he totally got them from me. He thought they were all girly and boring until I told him what they were about. AND no we didn't work together on our papers. Even though we read the same books.

[swim_the_sea]

Don't worry, I am able to tell your styles apart well enough to know when you're doing your own work. Also, good choice in books. I had actually been considering them for the required reading portion.

[dareme]

I'm so glad you didn't use them for that, so I can use them for the choice part instead. They were really good. Although if you were going to pick them, I'm guessing that means you think we ought to think about them even more than the whole OMG I NEED A HUG gut reaction part, huh?

[wulfe]

I could almost envy you. I don't get to give my students work for the summer. Music just doesn't quite work that way.

[swim_the_sea]

You could always make them read books on musical theory or history. Autobiographies. Or require listening to a certain genre or something.

And here we go. I'm going to make all your students hate me even more.

[wulfe]

Nah, I actually have more fun doing that in class, or pulling them in for out of hours viewing/listening. They hate me enough for all the extra time they put in, but the ones who are serious enjoy it. I think.

[swim_the_sea]

Just as long as you aren't taking too much time from their studies of English. Otherwise, pull them out as much as you want. There's only so much whining I can deal with about how the horrible Big, Bad Wulfe is taking up too much of their precious time that they can't actually crack open a book.

[wulfe]

I think the problem you're running into is that what I ask them to do is fun. How can any kid resist music?

We should do a combined assignment, maybe have them come up with an original soundtrack to a book they're reading for you.

[not_quite_there]

I still think you should consider accepting an interpretive fingerpainting instead of an essay.

[swim_the_sea]

Sadly this is English class, not art class.

Although if you were to have an essay to go along with the fingerpaints, that might be an entirely different story.

[not_quite_there]

I could write the essay in fingerpaints..

[swim_the_sea]

I will be quite impressed if you can actually write in 12 point font in fingerpaints.

[not_quite_there]

I've got to attempt to have some fun with this assignment, sir.

[redwoodresonance]

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only tyrant.

[swim_the_sea]

The plight of the young. Always expected to do some sort of work over the summer. I still think they luck out here really. Maybe I should give them a reading list from one of the public schools around here one summer just to show them how good they have it.