English 2: "West Side Story" Extra Credit

No one ever comments *sniff*

Extra Credit Opportunity
Spring Break 2010

In 1957, Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein, and Arthur Laurents (American stage artists) decided they would try to write an updated version of “Romeo and Juliet,” set in New York City. They succeeded by writing a play about the Jets and the Sharks, two street gangs who were always in conflict over their turf. It was called “West Side Story,” and the musical became a huge success. In 1961, the play was made into a successful film that won 10 Oscars, including the award for Best Picture.

If you’d like to earn some extra credit during this break, watch the film in your free time. You’ll enjoy finding all of the similarities between the movie and Shakespeare’s play, and you’ll also have the benefit of watching one of the most important films of the decade.

To receive the extra credit, answer the following questions and turn it in on Wednesday, April 7th, 2010.

1. What were 3 major differences between the play and the movie?
2. Which was your favorite song or dance number? Why? If you didn’t have a favorite, write about your least favorite :P
3. Describe the movie’s ending. In your opinion, was it as effective as the ending to Shakespeare’s play? Was it more effective? Explain.
4. Would you recommend this movie to freshmen who read “Romeo and Juliet” next year? Why or why not?

Total number of extra credit points: 10 points ≈ 4%

English 1: Elizabethan England

http://www.pbs.org/shakespeare/locations/location153.html

English 1: Student Metro Cards

Hi class,

Below is an article from today about the state of the student MetroCards. It's AM New York, though, so...

http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/state-pledges-to-save-student-metrocards-but-service-cuts-still-a-reality-1.1689772

We'll be using this website in class tomorrow:

http://council.nyc.gov/html/home/home.shtml

Ms. Gonzalez

Mis Tamales

English 1: Writing a "Works Cited"

Hello English 1,

Remember to include a works cited for your research paper. Why do you need to write a works cited? You need to cite the words of other authors that you use in your research. At the end of the research, you need to make a list of all the authors that you cite. This is called a "works cited" page.

Here are some links to help you write a works cited page for your research pape. The first page contains examples of how to do in-text citations, as well as how to write a works cited page. It includes a list of types of resources and how to cite them. The second link presents it in color codes to easily see which type of infomation goes where.

http://www.library.cornell.edu/resrch/citmanage/mla

http://www.liu.edu/CWIS/CWP/library/workshop/citmla.htm

Ms. Gonzalez

English 1: Photograph Website

Hello Class,

Use this website as you begin your Great Depression/Dust Bowl Creative Writing project.

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/fsowhome.html

Ms. Gonzalez

HI Class,
I'm hoping that you all had a relaxing Thanksgiving and are enjoying the break. Remember that your HW is to finish reading Brave New World and to answer the reading questions for chapter 16 and 17.

See you all Monday!

Ms. Gonzalez

Ch. 16:
1. Why are old things prohibited?
2. Hwos is stability achieved in the BNW (what is sacrificed?)
3. Why not make everybody an Alpha?
4. What happened when they tried making everybody an Alpha? WHy?
5. HOw is science dangerous?
6. Why does MOnd consider being sent to an island a reward?

Ch. 17
1. WHy is the concept of a God useless to people in BNW?
2. What is John's point when he argues in favor of tears?
3. What is the right to be unhappy?