Good morning, decathletes! Please accept my sincere apologies for not posting an assignment last week...I was out of town and unexpectedly had no internet access. But, onward and upward! For this week, please note that you should have now read ALL of Part One of Dr. Zhivago, if that wasn't clear before, I am making it clear now :).
Your assignment this week goes back to that other event we had discussed this summer...SPEECH. Your assignment is to write and post here your speech's introduction. You should have already chosen a topic, if not, see the previous speech assignment and choose one. A speech is really nothing more than a spoken essay, so tap into all those years of essay-writing I know you all have under your belts; just remember that this is a spoken essay, so it has to be even more interesting! Your introduction should include:
-an attention-grabber: you need to hook the judges, so this could be a story, a fact, something odd that makes them want to continue listening to you. What you want to avoid: "Today I am going to talk about...".
-A road map of where you are going: kind of like that ever-dreaded-by-students thesis statement in an essay...tell your listeners where you are going so that they can follow along.
Your introduction, when read aloud slowly, should take about 30 seconds.
You can search YouTube for Academic Decathlon nationals speeches and see winning examples, or just use your own creativity. Remember, you want to be memorable and interesting in your speech, and that starts with hooking the judges in with your introduction. If you can't grab their attention in the first 30 seconds of your speech, it will be very difficult to grab it later, so this is the most important part.
At the end of the week, come back and comment to your teammates' posts and help them make their introductions more fascinating.
I am only asking for introductions this week, but know that I will be asking for the entire speech relatively soon, so if you get into a speech-writing groove and want to write the whole thing before school starts, I am certainly happy to read and help with that too!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Been super Busy!
Sorry everyone, my life has been pretty hectic lately, but I am going to try to catch up this week. I'm so sorry I haven't been on in a long time, I just haven't had the time to sit down and complete the assignments! My most sincere apologies, I promise to get it all done by the end of this week! :)
Weekly Assignment: 7/16-7/23
Hello again, Decathletes! I hope your summers are being daily filled with awesomeness!
We will use this week as a bit of a catch-up: if you missed reading a part of Dr. Zhivago, do it now. If you did not think about and refine your idea for a speech, do it now. This week's questions (below) are summative for Part One of Dr Zhivago. Next week, you will be reading the first two chapters of Part Two, but let's make sure we are understanding the major themes of Part One. No quiz this week, but there will be one next week.
1. What is changing about Russian society? Last week, Mr. Riggs asked you about changes in family and wealth, think about those things as you answer, but also think about social position and hierarchy and any other potential changes you see. How does Strelnikov symbolize the change in social position?
2. What is the Russian revolution all about? (you may be able to glean this information from the novel, but if not, you have the internet at your disposal). Who was fighting for what? Who were the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks?
3. Is this novel meant to be romantic in any way? What has been said/implied about love so far? What is the relationship in this novel between marriage and love?
4. What do you predict will happen in the second part of the novel?
5. What have you not understood in this first part? Is there anything you would like eplained to you? What things do you understand better now than you did in the beginning?
We will use this week as a bit of a catch-up: if you missed reading a part of Dr. Zhivago, do it now. If you did not think about and refine your idea for a speech, do it now. This week's questions (below) are summative for Part One of Dr Zhivago. Next week, you will be reading the first two chapters of Part Two, but let's make sure we are understanding the major themes of Part One. No quiz this week, but there will be one next week.
1. What is changing about Russian society? Last week, Mr. Riggs asked you about changes in family and wealth, think about those things as you answer, but also think about social position and hierarchy and any other potential changes you see. How does Strelnikov symbolize the change in social position?
2. What is the Russian revolution all about? (you may be able to glean this information from the novel, but if not, you have the internet at your disposal). Who was fighting for what? Who were the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks?
3. Is this novel meant to be romantic in any way? What has been said/implied about love so far? What is the relationship in this novel between marriage and love?
4. What do you predict will happen in the second part of the novel?
5. What have you not understood in this first part? Is there anything you would like eplained to you? What things do you understand better now than you did in the beginning?
Monday, July 9, 2012
Weekly Assignment 7/9 - 7/16 (Part 2)
Instead of a Quiz this week, I thought we should have a chance to express a little creativity, while still exploring the complexities of Doctor Zhivago.
As a comment attached to this post, write a short paragraph describing a character’s thoughts at a certain point in the story so far. You may choose any character and any situation. Write as the character would think, and make it specific to a situation or event you've read in Doctor Zhivago. Try and match their language and tone as best you can, but don't worry about being perfect.
After other people have posted, read their paragraphs and try and accurately guess who the character is and what the situation is by commenting on their posts.
As a comment attached to this post, write a short paragraph describing a character’s thoughts at a certain point in the story so far. You may choose any character and any situation. Write as the character would think, and make it specific to a situation or event you've read in Doctor Zhivago. Try and match their language and tone as best you can, but don't worry about being perfect.
After other people have posted, read their paragraphs and try and accurately guess who the character is and what the situation is by commenting on their posts.
Weekly Assignment 7/9 - 7/16 (Part 1)
Here we are, on the precipice of Part Two of Doctor Zhivago. Read Chapters 5 and 6, then come back here and answer the following questions. (Instead of a quiz this week, don't forget to check out Part 2 of the Weekly Assignment...)
1. What is the significance of the "mystical" deaf-mute? The villagers see him as a sort-of folk hero or legend, capable of great power. Zhivago, however, is more inclined to be skeptical of him, his role, and his power. How does this relate to the oncoming revolution?
2. Does Zhivago "love" Lara? Or are there other, more complicated emotions involved? He certainly is drawn to her, to the point that Tonya recognizes Lara's sway over Yury even via his letter, but Yury himself does not seem to understand the specifics of her lure. Why is he drawn to her?
3. With the first stirrings of revolution, all the old institutions of Russian society are changing. For example, Galiullin's mother is worried she will be judged by the actions of her son and begs Yury to keep her secret. How has the role of family changed in these trying times?
4. How has the revolution affected the role of wealth in Russian life? How does Zhivago feel about these changes?
5. What questions/concerns do you have? What doesn't make sense? What do you like/dislike about Doctor Zhivago so far?
1. What is the significance of the "mystical" deaf-mute? The villagers see him as a sort-of folk hero or legend, capable of great power. Zhivago, however, is more inclined to be skeptical of him, his role, and his power. How does this relate to the oncoming revolution?
2. Does Zhivago "love" Lara? Or are there other, more complicated emotions involved? He certainly is drawn to her, to the point that Tonya recognizes Lara's sway over Yury even via his letter, but Yury himself does not seem to understand the specifics of her lure. Why is he drawn to her?
3. With the first stirrings of revolution, all the old institutions of Russian society are changing. For example, Galiullin's mother is worried she will be judged by the actions of her son and begs Yury to keep her secret. How has the role of family changed in these trying times?
4. How has the revolution affected the role of wealth in Russian life? How does Zhivago feel about these changes?
5. What questions/concerns do you have? What doesn't make sense? What do you like/dislike about Doctor Zhivago so far?
Monday, July 2, 2012
Weekly Assignment 7/2-7/9
LET'S TAKE A DR ZHIVAGO BREAK! (Although don't forget Yuri and Lara--we'll be back for the next two chapters next week.)
Let's talk about another of the exciting Academic Decathlon events...yes, you know it, you love it--SPEECH!
I was going to try to make some corny allusion to the 4th of July and how our nation's independence was orchestrated by strong orators (speakers) who used their awesome speaking skills to convince others to rebel against Britain and create the United States of America (I'm sure that is what you are all pondering as you watch the fireworks, right? right?)...but I won't go there...I will say that speech (or public speaking) is one of the most important life skills you will acquire from participating in Academic Decathlon. When I participated in AD, one year, our overall topic was the 1980s (you know, shoulder pads, big hair and synthesized music)...I honestly almost never use anything I learned about that topic in everyday life, but I do use the public speaking skills I got that year everyday in my profession (and no, that's not just 'cause I'm a teacher...most adults have to speak in front of others in their jobs). So, while it sounds scary, we are going to jump in.
Mr. Riggs and I have been privileged to give, judge and listen to many, many speeches in Academic Decathlon at all different levels, from our own team to nationals, and I think one thing at least I can say about this is that the topic is not particularly important to your overall outcome. I've heard speeches on many topics including: Tetris, music, sleep, truth, love, personal quirks, Sherlock Holmes, healthcare reform, duct tape, New Mexican culture, non-athletic extra-curricular activities, lapdesks, etc. I have given AD speeches on American mythology and the benefits of the space program. What is more important than the topic is that you speak with conviction, passion and polish. VVHS has won medals in speech at competition before (even a gold one!), let's continue that tradition!
The speech event is unique in AD in that you are in control of what happens. You may read Dr. Zhivago 8 times (and I know you will ;) ), and still not know EVERYTHING about it, but in speech, you walk in with the topic, all the points are available to you based solely on what you bring into the room, not what someone writing multiple-choice questions thinks is important. So, with that in mind, we want to present at competition very polished, professional and passionate speeches, and in order to get them polished appropriately, we need to start now. Your coaches and teammates can help you with the polishing, but you alone can select a topic about which you are passionate.
With all that in mind, your assignment this week is to answer the following questions:
1. What do you think makes a great speech or speaker? (A speech is nothing more than a unit of talking that attempts to inform or persuade; your teachers do this everyday, your parents probably give speeches, you may have seen or heard political, religious or cultural leaders give speeches as well, think about the best, most convincing and memorable speech you've ever heard...what were its characteristics?)
2. Choose a (tentative) speech topic. It can be a thing, an issue, an idea, about which you are passionate enough to speak for 3.5 minutes. Write one paragraph to explain what the topic is and why you are passionate about it.
Please come back later in the week and comment back to a classmate about their topic.
NO QUIZ THIS WEEK! Happy Independence Day!
Let's talk about another of the exciting Academic Decathlon events...yes, you know it, you love it--SPEECH!
I was going to try to make some corny allusion to the 4th of July and how our nation's independence was orchestrated by strong orators (speakers) who used their awesome speaking skills to convince others to rebel against Britain and create the United States of America (I'm sure that is what you are all pondering as you watch the fireworks, right? right?)...but I won't go there...I will say that speech (or public speaking) is one of the most important life skills you will acquire from participating in Academic Decathlon. When I participated in AD, one year, our overall topic was the 1980s (you know, shoulder pads, big hair and synthesized music)...I honestly almost never use anything I learned about that topic in everyday life, but I do use the public speaking skills I got that year everyday in my profession (and no, that's not just 'cause I'm a teacher...most adults have to speak in front of others in their jobs). So, while it sounds scary, we are going to jump in.
Mr. Riggs and I have been privileged to give, judge and listen to many, many speeches in Academic Decathlon at all different levels, from our own team to nationals, and I think one thing at least I can say about this is that the topic is not particularly important to your overall outcome. I've heard speeches on many topics including: Tetris, music, sleep, truth, love, personal quirks, Sherlock Holmes, healthcare reform, duct tape, New Mexican culture, non-athletic extra-curricular activities, lapdesks, etc. I have given AD speeches on American mythology and the benefits of the space program. What is more important than the topic is that you speak with conviction, passion and polish. VVHS has won medals in speech at competition before (even a gold one!), let's continue that tradition!
The speech event is unique in AD in that you are in control of what happens. You may read Dr. Zhivago 8 times (and I know you will ;) ), and still not know EVERYTHING about it, but in speech, you walk in with the topic, all the points are available to you based solely on what you bring into the room, not what someone writing multiple-choice questions thinks is important. So, with that in mind, we want to present at competition very polished, professional and passionate speeches, and in order to get them polished appropriately, we need to start now. Your coaches and teammates can help you with the polishing, but you alone can select a topic about which you are passionate.
With all that in mind, your assignment this week is to answer the following questions:
1. What do you think makes a great speech or speaker? (A speech is nothing more than a unit of talking that attempts to inform or persuade; your teachers do this everyday, your parents probably give speeches, you may have seen or heard political, religious or cultural leaders give speeches as well, think about the best, most convincing and memorable speech you've ever heard...what were its characteristics?)
2. Choose a (tentative) speech topic. It can be a thing, an issue, an idea, about which you are passionate enough to speak for 3.5 minutes. Write one paragraph to explain what the topic is and why you are passionate about it.
Please come back later in the week and comment back to a classmate about their topic.
NO QUIZ THIS WEEK! Happy Independence Day!
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