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First, second, and sixth periods spent time planning their persuasion projects.

Fourth period went over meter: “iambic pentameter” finally makes sense to them now, as does “dactylic tetrameter” and any number of combinations. We also decided — rather, I decided and announced today — to change the poetry unit major project. In short, we’re simplifying and unifying it: students will be required to

• memorize and recite (old school, but good for fluency and textual wrestling) one of  Shakespeare’s sonnets and
• write a sonnet of their own.

Others who’ve tried to write a sonnet in class have declared, “Mr. Scott, this is the hardest thing I’ve ever written.” We’ll begin in earnest tomorrow.

Homework

• First period:
  • three potential propaganda topics;
  • four indicators for project rubric, with criteria for highest scores.
• Second and sixth periods: none.
• Fourth period:
  • research Shakespeare’s sonnets;
  • choose a sonnet for memorization/recitation;
  • update sonnet selection wiki (check wiki before making a choice: we don’t want any repetition).