Propp’s Propaganda

I recently read a blog of another 11th grade English teacher going through the research paper process with her students.  I was relieved to read that other teachers struggle with this assignment.  Over the past few years I have really fine tuned my teaching of this unit, my collegue and I created a manual for each student that we are very proud of.  What amazes me:  It doesn’t matter how much time I give them to work on it, 85% are doing it the night before.  Using index cards for source cards and notecards makes the entire process so much easier, yet students have trouble telling the difference between the two.  Lastly, no matter how many times I may give directions in class there seems to always be that one person who five minutes later asks:  “So, what are we supposed to do?” Ugh!

Hamlet: I have been teaching this wonderfully deep play for several years.  Each year, I find something different in the text or how I explain something or new meaning and questions raised by my students.  This year I have a really great group who are, mostly, engaged in the discussions we have in class.  They are asking questions and making predictions, it is really enjoyable, yes, class is fun!  I created this exercise for each act called: The things that make you go hmmm….  Thought provoking questions for each act that stimulates thoughts and then discussions.  This year has been exceptional with this assignment.  I look forward to their final project when they present a scene from the play.  This year, thanks to Dana Huff and her amazing blog, I have added a new twist to the assignment. I look forward to seeing how they turn out.

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