English 12B Honors

Claire Dickey, Room A-212
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Unit Breakdown

Unit 4 - Stage Voices:

You will read a play and examine the voices presented to you by the playwright. Not only will you examine the characters' voices, but you will examine the past culture from which the play is written and presented in order to fully understand the voices presented by the playwright.

Text:

• Shakespeare - Hamlet
• Dir. Branaugh - Hamlet

Common Tasks:

• Prompt Script
• Staging of a Scene
• Shakespeare Literary Criticism Research Assignment

 Unit 5 - Reel Voices:

You will view two films and analyze both the technical and thematic elements in the films. You will evolve from being mere watchers of film to being analytical and creative participants in viewing film; you will become "readers" of film text. You will learn to recognize cinematic conventions, identify techniques of filmmaking, and analyze the creative choices made by the directors.

Texts:

• Bierce - "The Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" (short story)
• The Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (film)
• Dir. Hitchcock - Rear Window (film)
• Dir. Burton - Edward Scissorhands (film)

Common Tasks:

• Critical Essay on Film Techniques (log entry for comparing Rear Window to Edward Scissorhands)
• Student-produced film (45-90 seconds)

 Unit 6 - Media Voices:

You will explore a critical event, either one from the past or a currently breaking story, which is treated extensively in the news. You will learn what kinds of information are conveyed by the different media sources. You will look at differences in treatment, or in slant, in presentations by the same types of sources. You will study the way in which the information available and the issues addressed change as the coverage unfolds over time. Finally, you will gain insight on how you reach conclusions and interpret the news. You will also reflect on the way that finding and communicating their own voices on news strengthens and develops both your interest in the news and your understanding of your own voice.

Texts:

• TBA

Common Tasks:

• Group Analysis of Coverage for One Event