Coach Carter Writing Prompts (11/12 English)

In Friday's class, a very persuasive young man convinced me to let us watch more of the 2005 movie Coach Carter so that we would have lots to write about in our next writing prompt. First, bravo for showing me your persuasive speaking and listening skills! I love how you showed our class we were part of a team making a group decision.

Now the time has come to discuss what we've learned in our most recent viewing. Please pick one of the following prompts and answer in your journals. If you finish early, please go back and answer my most recent questions, or pick another prompt!

Questions:
1) Why does Coach Carter ask, "What's your deepest fear?" to his athletes? Does this motivate them? Why or why not?

2) Is a Coach's job just "to win basketball games" like Carter's principal suggests?

3) How does a Coach know to give a player a second chance?

4) What does it mean to act like winners? Cruz: "Coach, we undefeated; we won the Championship. Isn't that what you wanted? Winners?"

11/12 English: The Coaches that Inspire Us

Writing Prompt:
Over the last couple of weeks, I've really enjoyed getting to read your journals from the Freedom Writers activity.  I've learned a lot about each of you, and one thing has become pretty apparent: some of the most influential people in your lives are teachers and coaches.

For the next week, we will be exploring this topic--the importance and impact coaches have on us--and looking into the ways you have been motivated and inspired to do your best.

While you can write any anything about the scenes we saw from the movie today, here are two writing prompts to get you started. Please pick one of the following and write in your personal journals.

1) Compare Coach Carter with one of your coaches (e.g., basketball, baseball, soccer).

2) Why does Coach Carter's players do what he says? They're resistant at first, but begin to follow his rules and instructions. Why is that?

11/12 English: Freedom Writers Journaling Activities

As we continue to discuss the work Erin Gruwell has done with Freedom Writers, I am increasingly interested in what stories you have to tell. For each day this week, you are going to keep a journal that gives me some idea about the story of your lives.

Pick one of the following prompts and write in the journals I gave you today.  Please leave them in my classroom in the box I have set aside.  No one will see these but me!

Writing Prompts:

1. Write about a time when you made a snap-judgment about someone, thinking they were different than who they actually were.  Discuss who you thought they were and who they ended up being when you got to know them. Think: Mrs. Gruwell before her students understood her—who did they think she was before they go to know her? Who did they think she was after they saw the real Mrs. Gruwell?
2. Consider some interaction you have had with a person from the “wrong” race, religion, or part of society. Tell a story about your interaction. Stretch your imagination and try to tell the same story from their point of view.
3. Write about a period in your life when you felt stuck behind a façade (an outward appearance that was hiding who you really were), in which others saw you differently than you saw yourself. Write a story about taking off that mask.
4. Write a story about a person who made a difference in your life.
5. Write a story about an event that made a difference in your life.

11/12 English: Overcoming Adversity in Freedom Writers

Discussion Question: 
Ms. Gruwell’s students endure a number of hardships in their personal lives. Many of the students come from broken families, in which they have endured physical and/or emotional abuse, substance abuse, poverty, homelessness, gang violence, and deaths of close relatives and friends. How do the assigned class books relate to the students’ lives? What are some common themes that run throughout the books they read (for example, The Diary of Anne Frank) and their lives?

Respond to the questions above in the comments section with at least 3-5 sentences.

Note: please read over your post and check spelling, punctuation, and grammar before you hit "publish." This is a summative exercise on L2, "I can demonstrate grade-appropriate command of the English language including spelling, capitalization, and punctuation."

L2 Rubric (click here)

11/12 English: Teaching Tolerance through Freedom Writers, Day 2

Teaching Tolerance: Day 2
Respond to the questions below in the comments section with at least 3-5 sentences.

Note: please read over your post and check spelling, punctuation, and grammar before you hit "publish." This is a summative exercise on L2, "I can demonstrate grade-appropriate command of the English language including spelling, capitalization, and punctuation."

L2 Rubric (click here)

Discussion Questions:
Think about your own school or out-of-school activities. Are youth respectful of each other’s differences? Are there problems similar to those in Wilson High? If so, what steps can you take to initiate change?

11/12 English: Freedom Writers and Intolerence

Instructions:
Rewatch the powerful scene in which Mrs. Erin Gruwell teaches her students about the "most famous gang in history," the Nazis.

Then, pick one question below and respond in the comments section in at least 3-5 sentences.  Note: please read over your post and check spelling, punctuation, and grammar before you hit "publish!" This is a summative exercise on L2, "I can demonstrate grade-appropriate command of the English language including spelling, capitalization, and punctuation."

L2 Rubric (click here)

Discussion Questions:
At the beginning of the school year, Erin is deeply disturbed by a racial caricature of one of her students that she finds being passed around the room.

1. Why does Erin compare this drawing of an African-American student to the drawings of Jewish men during the Holocaust? 
2. Why do you think Erin refers to the Nazis as the most famous gang in history? Why does this comparison make the students begin to listen to her? 
3. Why are the students so unwilling to associate with anyone outside their ethnic/racial groups? Where does this intolerance come from? 

11/12 English: What Is Brain Hacking?

While watching today's featured video, please 1) take notes on anything important, interesting, or compelling to you, 2) define the key terms below, and 3) answer the essential questions.

When you are finished, make sure to write a position statement as well as level 1, 2, and 3 questions to include in tomorrow's Socratic Circle.

Key Terms:
1) Brain Hacking
2) "attention economy"
3) "neurological response"


Essential Questions: 
1) How are companies "constantly tweaking your online experience to make you come back for more?'
2) Do you find yourself "going back for more" on certain apps? Which ones? Why?
3) Have any of the apps you use frequently changed in ways that make you want to check them more?

11/12 English: Writing an "A" Newsletter Article

Writing Warmup:
Today you will begin writing your newsletter articles with your partner.  To get you started, watch the video above and then answer the questions below.


1) What do you think you know about writing an article?
2) What puzzles (confuses) you about writing an article?
3) What do you want to know more about?

Writing Warmup: "How To Fall in Love with Yourself" by Andrea Russett

Writing Warmup:

Andrea Russett starts off this video explaining how you can learn to love yourself and build confidence. Andrea Russett is such a huge role model to many young adolescents and teenagers, lots of different viewers would consider this a huge inspiration. This video emphasizes on why it's so important to be comfortable with the skin you're in.

Two-Three discussion questions.
1) Why is there more than one person in the video other than Andrea Russett?
2) What is the purpose?
3) What was the first thought that came to your mind after watching this?

Writing Warmup: "Epic Trick Shot Edition" by Dude Perfect

Writing Warmup:
Dude Perfect is a group of five guys that make YouTube videos. In this video they are making unbelievable sports trick shots.


1. Who is the audience? Who do you think enjoys these videos?
2. What do you think the title "Dude Perfect" means?
3. Did you enjoy the video? Why or why not?

Writing Warmup: "Neature Nuggets, Episode 1" by vicscrappyvideos

Writing Warmup:
This video is made to teach people how to be safe out in the wilderness. It also shows people some of the neat things that can be found while walking through the woods.  After watching the video, please answer the following discussion questions below.

Two-to-Three discussion questions.
1) Who is the audience?
2) What is the purpose of this video?
3) Do you think this video could possibly be educational for someone that has never been in the woods?

Kurt Cobain on identity

Kurt Cobain is a famous influential singer songwriter and guitarist, best known for being the lead singer in the group, Nirvana. Blank on Blank is a channel that has interviews on various famous people talking about specific topics. On this episode of Blank on Blank Kurt talks about his story, personal beliefs, and some of his musical techniques.

Discussion questions:

1. Have you ever had a friend that you weren't able to hang out with anymore based on what your parents thought?

2. Do you think some of the music you listen to is built on sexism?

3. What audience do you think Cobains music speaks to?

Writing Warmup: "Key & Peele - Andre and Meegan's First Date - Uncensored" & "Key & Peele - Meegan, Come Back" by Comedy Central

Writing Warmup:
Key and Peele are two comedians who created characters named Andre and Meegan. They make a lot of funny videos on Comedy Central's YouTube channel. These videos are called, "Andre and Meegan's First Date," and "Meegan, Come Back."

Two-to-three discussion questions:
1) Who are Meegan and Andre?
2) Why does Meegan act the way she does?
3) Why would people want to keep watching these characters on Comedy Central?
4) Why did Andre chase Meegan so far?
5) Why does Meegan keep leading Andre on?
6) Are there couples like Meegan and Andre in the real world?

Writing Warmup: "Tempt Tales Halloween special Andrew the Seals revenge " by

Writing Warmup:
  O-chang Comics has a series of shows representing people in Maine with a number of different characters. In this episode the creators show "Donny the Grumpy Maine Dad" who expresses his feelings towards kids and power lines.

1)Who is the audience?
2) How would you describe Donny?
3)How does this relate to the way parents act?

Writing Warmup: "DIY SNAPCHAT FILTERS!" by Miranda

Writing Warmup: 
This video is of a woman who named herself "Miranda Sings." Miranda is youtube famous for her very humorous and immature videos. In this video Miranda is showing everyone how to make DIY snapchat filters.

Two-Three discussion questions.
1) Who is the audience?
2) What is the purpose?
3) How does this appeal to you or other viewers?

Writing Warmup: "How to Make Your Own Kylie Jenner Lip Kit!!" by Miranda Sings

Writing Warmup: 

Coleen Ballinger created a YouTube star named Miranda Sings who brings out a lot of humor in the YouTube world. Miranda's character can best be described as immature, sassy, rude, and childish. In this video, she is going to show people how to make the Kylie Jenner lip kit in her own "unique" way. 

1) Who is watching her videos?

2) Why did she make this video? 

3) What adjectives describe how she acts?

Retakes and Do-Overs? What Do YOU Think?

Bell-Ringer Activity:
Dr. B has been taking a class on Proficiency-Based Education (PBE).  One of the topics that has recently come up is the nature of retaking assessments and what that means.

This got me to thinking: when a student (you, for example) take an assessment in this class, what are you thinking about during that assessment? Are you thinking about things like, "I had better do my best! I better show Dr. B what I know!" Or, are you thinking differently? Asking questions like, "Oh, I can always re-do this in the future."

Here is an awesome video from an educator named Rick Wormeli. In this video, he discusses why it's so important that students have a chance to re-take their assessments. Wormeli argues that learning is a progression, an ongoing part of your lives, and that what you know today may not necessarily represent what you will know as your learning process continues.

For today, please watch Wormeli's video, then, in the comments section below, discuss anything that seems important, relevant, or interesting to you.  If you can find how it connects to your own life as a student or in this classroom, we would love to hear it!

11/12 Writing Warmup: Think - Puzzle - Explore

Writing Warmup:
In Wednesday's and Thursday's classes, we spent a lot of time discussing introduction paragraphs for your essays. In order to analyze the argument you picked, you need to assume your reader knows nothing so that you, the writer, can clearly explain your topic to them.

This got me to thinking: what do you think you know about the topics you picked for your essays? Is there anything you're unsure of? Is there anything you want to know more about?

In the comments section below, answer the following questions.

1) What do you think you know about your topic?
2) What puzzles (confuses) you about your topic?
3) What do you want to know about your topic?

When you are finished, be ready to discuss your answers with the class. Also be ready to share your intro paragraphs with the class.

11/12 English: Donald Trump's Election Speech (THURSDAY)

Thursday Bell Ringer:
In Tuesday night's historic election, Republican candidate Donald J. Trump was elected president.  Today, we will watch his election speech and discuss what his main claims for the presidency will be moving forward.

In the comments section below, identify he following:

1) Who is Trump's audience?
2) What is his main claim?
3) What rhetorical appeals (ethos, logos, pathos, and/or logical fallacies) do you hear in his speech? WHERE?

11/12 English - The Butterstick

For 11/12 English, we made a rhetorical commercial using ethos, logos, and pathos. We chose the "butterstick," because we wanted our commercial to be humorous, and to make people interested in our product. We were going to do a commercial on a wishbone but we wanted it to be more interesting. The "butterstick,"is a very practical product and something that everybody can use. 

Logos- This commercial is logical by showing how well the product works, especially when you don't have knives and soft butter. 

Ethos- Our commercial is credible because we thought of the idea, "butterstick," and we show how helpful it is, which will make people want to buy our product. 

Pathos- Our commercial is a good example of pathos because it is meant to be funny, which will entertain people in a way where they will want to purchase it.