Assessment One, Progress Report Period One

We have just spent two weeks reading, thinking about, and writing about The Crow. We have talked about the importance of using details in our analysis, and we've practiced deconstructing (breaking down) the images and connecting them to the story. We have also learned the difference between a good and a bad blog post.  

Today, you will bring all those 

components together in one EXCELLENT blog post. In that post, you will discuss how The Crow is a story of despair. Use details from the text and images in your analysis, and be sure to think seriously about your writing style. THIS IS BEING GRADED AS AN ASSESSMENT!!!! 

PS: Using a large font to make it look like you wrote a lot is not fooling anyone. It just means my mom doesn't have to put on her reading glasses before reading the one sentence that you posted.

Good morning!

Today we're looking at the role of despair in "The Crow." 

You can get started by downloading the document titled, "despair." When you've downloaded it, answer the first question about despair.

Today we're going to.....

get started by completing your blog entries from yesterday. If you go into your comments section (and you actually wrote something yesterday), you'll see a question. ANSWER it. Remember to refer back to the text, especially the visuals, in answering your question.

We're going to take some time to look and comment on each others' blog entries.

Last, but not least, we're going to take some time to talk through the text.

Today's assignment...Thursday September 22, 2011

Hey all!.. To totally confuse you, today's assignment can be found back at the Graphic Novel website under worksheets.  You will need to download 2 (that's two) worksheets.  The worksheets are named Continuous Myths and Crows and Ravens.  You need both to complete the assignment.  Your answer should be posted ON YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL BLOG.  This blog you are reading has two functions:

1. You will find directions to warm ups and activities posted here.
2. You will post the answer to warm ups and reflections here.

So get started will ya...

Why this blog, and how will we use it?

After just two weeks of teaching Graphic Novels, we already have 250+ email messages in our inbox, most of which are lacking subject lines. As The Dude in The Big Lebowski says, "The Dude cannot abide."

We can't abide the amount of email we're getting. We can't read it; we hate grading it. In many cases, we can't even figure out what question you're responding to because you didn't use subject lines

You all complained--especially Chris--when Frances wanted to set up Twitter as a way of dealing with the volume.  And so, this blog. When there is a question for a warm-up, it will be posted here. When there is a reflection, you will post it here (unless we specify that it should be in the body of an email that has an assignment attached to it, or in your blog).

Here's how it's going to work:
1. The blog will be open, with the question posted.
2. Click on "comments."
3. Sign in (using your gmail account). 
4. Respond to the question in the comment.
5. Keep calm and carry on.

So, let's experiment a bit. In a comment, please answer the following question: What's good about the new system? What problems might we experience? You have five minutes to figure out how to sign in, and to post your response.