Annie Leibovitz Blog

Annie Leibovitz says, "In order to be a good photographer, one must become a part of what is going on."  With her eye and vision, Leibovitz exquisitely captures images that tell stories about all kinds of people, places, things, and ideas.  Google "Annie Leibovitz,"copy the link to one of her pictures, and answer the following questions in your analysis of the photograph.

1.  What story does the photograph tell?
2.  How would you best describe the subject being photographed (in as many descriptive adjectives as possible)?
3.  How has the photographer changed the perspective of the image from an everyday vision?
4.  What aspects of the work do you like or do you identify with?
5.  If you could ask Annie Leibovitz to photograph an image in your life, then what would you choose?

No fewer than 10 sentences.  Due Thursday, 4/19/12, before class.  Thank you.

Newsie

Please find the most interesting article by any major news outlet.  Please tell why the article is so interesting to you, how it affects you, and to what extent it affects the greater world in no fewer than 10 sentences, and please copy the link at the beginning of your response.  The more tailored to your interest the article is, the better.  Due at the end of class today, 4/13/12.  Thank you, and have a great weekend.

Jim Gaffigan "King Baby" Blog

Why is Jim Gaffigan so good at his job?  It seems like all he's doing is having a discussion with the audience about food, idiosyncrasies, and other random things. 

It seems like comedians have unlocked some sort of secret to connecting with the outside world that "normal" people have not.  They can effortlessly share their lives and embarrassing topics with others, and we almost marvel at them for this skill.  

Why can't WE do this with people?  What holds us back from taking a stage, looking out to the masses, and discussing our lives and weird behaviors with the public. 

1.  Please, write no fewer than 10 sentences for your answer to this completely open-ended subject/to any of the questions above.
OR
2.  Please, write no fewer than 10 sentences about something funny in your life or about some seemingly embarrassing subject that is actually very normal and funny.  Simply put, be funny if possible, and do it like Jim Gaffigan.  

Take this wherever you want.  Like Gaffigan, no cussing allowed.  Due before class on Thursday, April 12, 2012.  Thank you.

The Letter from "The Book"

After reading Rodrigo Rey Rosa's "The Book," notice that the man is handed a letter from his friend.  What does the letter say?  That is up to you.  Honoring the integrity of the story, with the details we are given about the plot, please write the short letter that the man is given.  It should be between 7-10 sentences, and it should be as creative as possible.  Due before the beginning of class, Thursday, 4/5/12.  Thank you.

You Are a NYT Short Story Reviewer

In your initial short story review for the New York Times, you write in the style of the following review.  We will discuss the format and style of Alex Berenson's review of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo before you all write your reviews.  These should be 1-1.5 pages, double-spaced.  Please copy and paste your entries to the blog before class on Friday, 2/24.  Leave your initials at the end of your post.  Thank you.

BBC Day in Pictures Story 2/13/12

After viewing the following link, please write a short story that involves 4 of the images from the Day in Pictures from the BBC News link.  Everything about this story should be fictional, including the names.  The story must be written in the 3rd person omniscient.  Please write a double-spaced story in Word format, and copy and paste the story as your blog entry.  It should be 2 pages in length.  Try to create round characters as well.  Follow the Freytag Pyramid however you want.  Due before class on Thursday, 2/16.  Thank you.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-17011468

Advise Like Jamaica Kincaid

After reading Kincaid's "Girl," we can easily spot the didactic tone in the speaker's voice.  Obviously, the narrator is trying to impart knowledge on the reader and the girl to whom she is speaking.

Seniors, in your infinite wisdom, please impart some knowledge on our freshmen.  In Kincaid's speaker's style, tone, and point-of-view, write a page of advice to the young people, the future of Episcopal High School.  Type your advice in Word, and copy/paste your entries.  Please leave your initials at the end of your post.

Due before Tuesday's, 2/7's, class for 2nd period and before Wednesday's, 2/8's, class for 7th period.  Thank you.

BBC Day in Pictures Story 1/30/12

After viewing the pictures from the following link, please write a short story with an exposition, conflict, climax, and conclusion with a resolution at the end.  Entries need to be typed in a page, double-spaced, in Word format; then, you all can copy and paste the entry into your blog post.

Make at least FOUR of the pictures speak to each other.  Have fun, and be creative.

Leave your initials at the end of your post.  Due at the end of the period.  Thank you.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-16786939

333 Follow-Up/Analysis

Pick a partner, read his/her 333 story from last night, and analyze the following things in a brief written report:

1.  Pick 3 adjectives to characterize the story's character in the story.  List them.

2.  Does the writer's story follow the Freytag Pyramid?  How?  Please analyze the plot in brief sentences.

3.  What is unique about the story or the character?

4.  Do you identify at all with this story?  How?

5.  Give the writer 2 constructive tips that you think might help his/her story.

333 Short Story Exercise

We are trying to flesh out a fictional character in this exercise, and we will end by using this created character to tell a story.

1.  List 3 things he/she secretly resents and why
2.  List 3 things he/she would like to do before he/she graduates from college, but won't
3.  List 3 things that could happen so that he/she could in fact do one of the above

Pick the best combo (one from each category), and please write a short story.

Due at the end of the period on 1/24.  Thank you!