Month: May 2011

Shortened classes today so we will watch as much of Cuckoo’s Nest as we can.

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Today we will do our One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest presentations. After that we will talk about the portfolio which is your CCA for this course and worth 20% of your overall mark.

If you were absent on Friday you will need to come in at lunch to watch the first half of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The notes for the first half of the film are evaluated as part of your portfolio.

I’ve decided to postpone presentations until Monday.

Instead, today we’ll start watching One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and take notes which will be the first activity of your CCA.

If you are absent today, you will need to watch the movie and take notes on Monday at lunch in order to get caught up.

Last day to work on Cuckoo’s Nest presentations. We will be in the library today. Presentations start tomorrow.

We’re working on our presentations in the computer lab today. First I’d like you to have a look at one of my presentations I did for a conference to get a sense of the types of slides I’m looking for. Remember, the slides are not your presentation. They support your presentation. And you’re shooting for a max of 5 minutes.

Here is a search engine that allows you to search for creative commons licenced images. That means you have the right to use them without copyright infringement. http://search.creativecommons.org/

Also, instead of using a program that you only have access to on school computers, consider using something like Prezi. Or use the presentation app in Google Docs. That way, you don’t have to save anything to a flash drive or email anything to yourself. You can work on your project anywhere you have internet access.

Your memos (writing in role as Nurse Ratched) are due today.

We are going to start with a quiz on Act 2 to make sure you finished the play.

Then we’ll move on to our culminating task for the play which will involve the creation of a power point or prezi arguing either that McMurphy is a hero or a villain.

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I have your memos to return. Please make necessary corrections/changes and submit good copy on Tuesday. Today we are going to read Act 2 and see how far we get.

Yesterday we finished reading Act 1. Today we are going to look at the short report format and then you’ll prepare a report as though you are Nurse Ratched writing about your recommendations for dealing with McMurphy. The rough draft is due at the end of the period.

We’ll start today with the journal entry posted yesterday. You will have 30 minutes to write this and you may use your notes and your copy of the play, but you may not talk to each other. A level 4 entry will have the following characteristics:

• demonstrate control of spelling, grammar, and punctuation (given that this is a first draft)
• demonstrate understanding of plot, character, and theme
• make connections between text and world
• develops ideas completely using support from the text
• Is approximately 2 pages double spaced (handwritten)

When you’re finished, we will continue to read the play and hopefully finish Act 1.

1) Is McMurphy a hero or a villain? Create a t-chart and find evidence for both sides before drawing a conclusion.

2) Describe the “therapeutic community”. What does Dr. Spivey say it’s purpose is? How is it like a “pecking party” according to McMurphy?

3) Identify at least 3 ways in which McMurphy tries to steal power away from Nurse Ratched. How successful is he?

Research reports are due today. Please ensure I have a paper copy and a copy submitted to edmodo by the end of the day.

Today we’re going to start by looking at the theme of the American Dream. Start by brainstorming all the ideas, images, words, etc. you associate with the American Dream. Then we’ll take down a short note.

Expect a quiz at sometime this week on the intro to Cuckoo’s Nest including note on the American Dream.

Then you’re going to break into groups and continue reading through the play, taking turns playing different roles. You may have to double up. Remember, if writing is in italics and brackets, it’s a stage direction so you don’t need to read it out loud.

When I tell you to stop, each group will have a task to complete and an individual journal reflection.
Group 1: Create a character sketch for each of the following: Ratched, McMurphy, Bromden, Harding, Bibbit
Group 2: Create a web illustrating the relationships between the different characters.
Group 3: Draw a sketch of the ward based on the stage descriptions.

Individual Journal: Using specific references from the text, explain how the invisible forms of oppression operate in this section of the play. What connections can you make between the way the patients are “controlled without being aware of it” and the way you’ve seen or experienced control and oppression?