Exploring New Genres

Genres of literature are important to learn about. The two main categories separating the different genres of literature are fiction and nonfiction. There are several genres of literature that fall under both categories. We are going to start by exploring fiction. 


Your Task: 
Choose a genre of fiction that you have not tried this year. Find information on the Internet, read books/stories, and learn as much as you can about your genre. Write a short story (3-5 pages) in that genre. Due dates for your magazine project and this assignment are forthcoming.


Genres of Fiction
The genre of Fiction can be defined as narrative literary works whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact. In fiction something is feigned, invented, or imagined; a made-up story. A brief explanation of some genres of fiction you may consider are listed below. You are not limited to these choices if you have a different idea.



Drama is the genre of literature that’s subject for compositions is dramatic art in the way it is represented. This genre is stories composed in verse or prose, usually for theatrical performance, where conflicts and emotion are expressed through dialogue and action.


Fantasy is the forming of mental images with strange or other worldly settings or characters; fiction which invites suspension of reality.

Humor is the faculty of perceiving what is amusing or comical. Fiction full of fun, fancy, and excitement which meant to entertain. This genre of literature can actually be seen and contained within all genres.

A Fable is a story about supernatural or extraordinary people Usually in the form of narration that demonstrates a useful truth. In Fables, animals often speak as humans that are legendary and supernatural tales.

Fairy Tales or wonder tales are a kind of folktale or fable. Sometimes the stories are about fairies or other magical creatures, usually for children.

Science Fiction is a story based on impact of potential science, either actual or imagined. Science fiction is one of the genres of literature that is set in the future or on other planets.

Realistic Fiction is a story that can actually happen and is true to real life.

Folklore are songs, stories, myths, and proverbs of a person of “folk” that was handed down by word of mouth. Folklore is a genre of literature that is widely held, but false and based on unsubstantiated beliefs.

Historical Fiction is a story with fictional characters and events in a historical setting.

Horror is an overwhelming and painful feeling caused by literature that is frightfully shocking, terrifying, or revolting. Fiction in which events evoke a feeling of dread in both the characters and the reader.

A Tall Tale is a humorous story with blatant exaggerations, swaggering heroes who do the impossible with an here of nonchalance.

Legend is a story that sometimes of a national or folk hero. Legend is based on fact but also includes imaginative material.

Mystery is a genre of fiction that deals with the solution of a crime or the unraveling of secrets. Anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown.

Mythology is a type of legend or traditional narrative. This is often based in part on historical events, that reveals human behavior and natural phenomena by its symbolism; often pertaining to the actions of the gods. A body of myths, as that of a particular people or that relating to a particular person.

Magazine Brainstorming

Please type up the following by the end of class:

1. Who is in your group
2. What is the main topic of your magazine?
3. What are the subtopics you plan to address in your magazine?
4. Assign a subtopic to each person in your group.
5. Brainstorm as many ideas possible for your magazine.

Finished early? Begin your magazine content!

Don't forget you have a homework assignment due at the beginning of class tomorrow!

Steel Magnolias

Please read the study guide provided and answer the given questions in complete sentences. Remember to highlight and take notes. You will be responsible for the information and terminology given.

Study Guide Questions are due Wednesday, 1/29/12


Test: Tuesday, 3/6/12

Extra Credit Assignment

Telling Stories

Inspiration for stories often can come directly from experiences that have a profound effect on people’s lives.

Reginald Rose, who wrote Twelve Angry Men, was deeply moved by his own experience of jury duty in a manslaughter case in New York City. At first, he had been reluctant to serve on a jury, but he wrote, “The moment I walked into the courtroom … and found myself facing a strange man whose fate was suddenly more or less in my hands, my entire attitude changed.” Rose was greatly impressed by the seriousness of the situation, the somber activity of the court and the “absolute finality” of the decision that he and his fellow jurors would have to make. He also thought that since no one other than a jury had any idea of what went on in a jury room, “a play taking place entirely within a jury room might be an exciting and possibly moving experience for an audience.”

In Cold Blood, the book written by Truman Capote, details the slaying of Herbert Clutter, a wealthy farmer from Holcomb, Kansas, his wife and two children. When

Capote learned of the quadruple murder before the killers, Richard Hitkock and

Perry Smith, were captured, he decided to travel to Kansas with friend and fellow author, Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird). Together they interviewed local residents and investigators, taking thousands of pages of notes. Truman Capote spent six years working on the book.

The film, The Runaways, is a 2010 American biography about the 1970’s all girl hard rock band of the same name. The film was written and directed by Floria Sigismondi, who based her screenplay on the book Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway by the band’s original vocalist, Cherie Currie. The film depicts the formation of the band in 1975 and focuses on the relationship between Cheryl Currie and rhythm guitarist/vocalist Joan Jett until Currie’s departure from the band.

Your Task:

Everyone has a story to tell from his or her own personal experiences.

Write your own story based on an event that made a strong impression and impacted your life. For this assignment, there are no wrong ideas, only possibilities. Personal stories can be written in the first person, or they may be inspired from a personal occurrence and adapted accordingly.

Uploading Your iMovie Digital Poetry Project

You should be at a place to finish and upload you iMovie digital poetry movie project. 

To upload, follow this tutorial:

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B1015hZr-WuROTY2ZjJhMWUtMjEzNi00NGVlLTk0N2EtZTg3NTVlZTgzZmRl&hl=en

Once you have uploaded your video project, please copy and paste the link on this post as a comment.

Extra Credit

If you are interested in exchanging letters with an Italian student, this is a great extra credit opportunity.

Please write your first letter by Thursday, February, 9th! Here are some tips:

1. Be sure they know who the letter is from and why you are writing it. The clearer you are, the better.
2. Tell them your nickname or first name, age, gender and the country you live in.
3. Let your potential pen pal know your hobbies and interests. This opens the flood gates to communication and lets them see if you have similar interests.
4. Be specific. Don't say you like to read. Tell them what you like to read.
5. Ask them questions!
6. Never, never, never demand that your pen pal write you back. That is not friendly and very rude. Invite them to write you back instead. For example, "Looking forward to hearing from you", "I can't wait to hear all about your camping trip", etc.  
7. Remember to keep the language simple. These students are in the process of learning English!

Pleased do not write a pen pal letter if you are not interested in writing back! Thank you for considering this opportunity!

Deadlines

Monday, February 6th: Act One of 12 Angry Men should be read.

Tuesday, February 7th: Annabel Lee assignment due at the beginning of class (if not handed in last Friday.)

Wednesday, February 8th: Come to class having read the packet and Act Two. Study Guide Question are also due at the beginning of class!

Thursday, February 9th: Robert Frost assignment due at the beginning of class (if not handed in Tuesday, 2/7.) Rough draft of iMovie due at the end of 4th period.

Friday, February 10th: Act Two Study Guide Questions due at the beginning of class.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Monday, February 13th: Act Three of 12 Angry Men and Study Guide Questions are due at the beginning of class.

Tuesday, February 14th: Early Deadline for One Act Play (extra credit!)

Wednesday, February 15th: Nothing due as of now! Work on iMovie!

Thursday, February 16th: Final Deadline for One Act Play (NO LATE WORK ACCEPTED!)

Friday, February 17th: iMovie should be complete! We will work on uploading after break.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Please make sure all of the work listed above is done before February Recess! I will not accept any late work this marking period.

iMovie Tutorial

If you are still struggling with iMovie, try some of these links:

Don't find what you are looking for? Do your own search! That is what I have been encouraging you to do from the beginning. It is very important to have effective research skills. If you find a useful video that may help the class, please share it as a response!

iMovie Tutorial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YbA-g1meCg&feature=related

iMovie for Beginners
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CasdFU_t80Q&feature=related&noredirect=1

iMovie Tips and Tricks: Photos and Music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHBORc6ioAk

Advanced iMovie Tips
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgGeV4suwiM&feature=related

iMovie in Under 5 Minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J79_0h3ozS0&feature=related

Adding Background Music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unZCxLtdo_M&feature=related

Mac 101: iMovie
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2479

eHow
http://www.ehow.com/how_4838996_use-imovie-apple.html

Now look back to Wednesday's post for this class. I suggested you do this search on your own. Please get in the habit of reading the blog and following instructions. I should not have had to do this research for you.

Writing a One Act Play

Introduction
A one act can have as few as one character or as many as fifteen. It can be set in any time, cover any theme, be in any language and tell any type of story. The only real definable feature is that a one act play simply has only that, one act. It is like a short story told only with dialogue.

Assignment

Your assignment

Guidelines

• Your play should be 7-10 pages long
• 12 pt. font
• Follows proper dramatic format (see handout)

I will provide a handout in class to help with getting started and following the proper format.

iMovie Help

Many of you have been asking questions about iMovie. Here is a link to a helpful tutorial.

http://itc.gsu.edu/tutorials/imovie.pdf

I have also found that searching your specific question on youtube.com and ehow.com is a great way to get concise answers.

Still have questions? Please ask!