Awesome banned words list

Okay, if it were up to me, I'd add the word "awesome".

Read about the banned words list here.

Write your essays!

Okay, it looks like we are out for a three week vacation.

So for all my students, seniors and sophomores, this is my message: write your best rough draft over the break. Bring it in on the first day back to do a self/ peer review. Typing it would be a good idea-- you've got three weeks to do it! I'm hoping to collect the final draft by the end of the first week of January. If you have questions or need help, email me. Don't ask for essay help in the comments section here. Email me directly: mwilson2@ttsd.k12.or.us.


Spread the word to all your classmates. Send them the link to this blog if you need to.

Ewan McGregor talks about Iago

You might recognize Ewan McGregor from the Star Wars films.

Othello directed by Alan Parker

Shakespeare in the ghetto, Othello

Othello: Iago (Ian McKellen) tells of a handkerchief, 2/2

Ian McKellen from Lord of the Rings and X men as Iago.

Othello (Anthony Hopkins): Iago tells of a handkerchief

The worst Othello ever? You be the judge.

Thur 12/11

Seniors
1. vocab warm up: quiz tomorrow
2. essay workshop: RD due next Tuesday

Sophomores
1. grammar warm up
2. essay workshop: gather evidence, outline/ graph essay
3. HW: grammar 14, work on essay

Othello video study guide

Here is the link to the Rocket Book video study guide. You can do the whole study guide or simply take the scene quizzes to prep for the test. To see the entire video study guide you will have to register (for free) as a user, but you can at check out the guide for the first act without registering.

Othello video study guide

Wed 12/10

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. Things Fall Apart test
3. essay preparation: decide on topic, search for textual evidence

Sophomores
1. finish Othello film
2. grammar 12
3. HW: grammar 13, decide on essay topic, study for test

Tue 12/9

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. end of Things Fall Apart: gut reaction, Achebe's purpose
3. teacher notes on irony
4. essay topics
5. HW: study for test, choose an essay topic

Sophomore
1. vocab quiz
2. essay topics, questions
3. film
4. HW: start deciding on an essay topic

Mon 12/8

Classes were short this day because of assembly

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. semi-pop quiz
3. ch 18-21 questions
4. read Happy Meal article
5. HW: finish Things Fall Apart
Note: Things Fall Apart test on Wednesday

Sophomores
1. vocab review
2. grammar 11
3. essay topics
4. continue Othello film
5. HW: grammar 12
Note: Othello test on Thursday

Fri 12/5

Seniors
1. vocab quiz
2. share Ibo proverbs
3. ch 13-17 semi-pop quiz
4. passage response: (pages 1125-128) A. gut reaction; B. What is Achebe's purpose with this passage? What does he want to show us? What is he trying to get us to think or believe?
5. HW: read ch 18-21, test next week the day after we finish the last chapter

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar 10
3. Othello Act V-- perform!
4. HW: grammar 11, pick an essay topc
Note: we will watch Othello film next week; the test will be the day after we finish the film, probably Wednesday or Thursday

Thur 12/4

Seniors
1. vocab review
2. Things Fall Apart ch 11-13 questions
3. Ibo proverb illustration-- 10 pts, due tomorrow

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar #9
3. review Emilia's speech, Desdemona's response
4. journal review: possible essay topics
5. cast Act V: extra participation, learn your part, be ready to act!
6. film clips
7. HW: grammar #10

Wed 12/3

Seniors
1. semi-pop quiz for participation
2. quickwrite: tradition-- When are they good and when are they bad?
3. ch 8-10 questions
4. HW: complete proverb illustration for 10 points
5. HW: read ch 11-13

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar #8
3. Othello Act IV
4. HW: grammar #9, paraphrase Emilia speech from end of Act IV

Othello and Islamic textiles

So, is the handkerchief just a "trifle light as air" as Iago suggests? Well, actually textiles are quite important to the Islamic culture Othello comes from. These textiles come in the forms of rugs, drapes, clothing, and yes, handkerchiefs. They often use geometrical shapes, and include fine embroidery and scripture from the Qua ran. So you could imagine how upset Othello would be to think that his wife Desdemona has given away what is essentially a family heirloom.

Here are various pictures of Islamic textiles to give you an idea of how important textile art is in Islamic culture. See if you can spot the fine embroidery or scripture on the textiles. Hint: the scripture is in Arabic calligraphy.

Tue 12/2

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. Things Fall Apart ch 4-7 questions
3. HW: complete Freshman proverb for tomorrow, read ch 8-10

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar #7
3. journal discussion
4. finish Othello Act III, handkerchief paraphrase, magic in the web
5. HW: grammar #8; Othello journal #6: How is the handkerchief symbolic?