- Just a reminder, we will probably only have 4 English periods next week due to the IOWA Testing Schedule
- You should be finished with the book by now!
- Final Exam will include Vocabulary, Plot, Characters, & Essays all based on what we've done in the fourth quarter
- You should be memorizing your lines for your drama presentation of Monster
- Tuesday May 6th we will go for an English Awards Lunch from 11:00 to 14:30 - Bring money for your lunch and dress to impress
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Announcements
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Extra Credit - Book Review
For up to 40 extra credit points (equivalent to 40 points on a standardized test) you can read a book and write a review of it.
What to do:
Writing a book review is actually similar to writing a restaurant review. It's not a 'book report' where you just say who is who and what happens in the book. You must actually evaluate the book and form an opinion on how good it was, just like with the restaurant. Here are some helpful links to get you started
How to Write a Book Review
Interactive Online Book Review Tool - by Scholastic
How to Write a Book Report (to compare)
Book Reviews written by Middle Schoolers
Please do not even THINK about plagiarizing. Academic dishonesty is very disappointing and will certainly be reported to the office.
If you're having trouble finding a good book, look on Listmania! sites like this one
Best Middle School Books
What to do:
- Choose a book appropriate for your reading level. Bring it in to school and I will approve it.
- After completing the book, write a two page (double spaced, font 12) book review
Writing a book review is actually similar to writing a restaurant review. It's not a 'book report' where you just say who is who and what happens in the book. You must actually evaluate the book and form an opinion on how good it was, just like with the restaurant. Here are some helpful links to get you started
How to Write a Book Review
Interactive Online Book Review Tool - by Scholastic
How to Write a Book Report (to compare)
Book Reviews written by Middle Schoolers
Please do not even THINK about plagiarizing. Academic dishonesty is very disappointing and will certainly be reported to the office.
If you're having trouble finding a good book, look on Listmania! sites like this one
Best Middle School Books
Q3 Grades Available
Today was the Parent Teacher Conference which means your grades are ready! I know you've all been waiting a month for these report cards, so make sure that if your parents didn't come today that you send someone to pick up your marks soon.
Announcements:
Announcements:
- If you missed Friday's Standardized Test, please bring a note of application for a re-sit. Be prepared to take it the first day you are back at school. Once I have the note and the permission from the office then I'll grade. Until then you will have a ZERO.
- Read to page 259 by next Friday
- 8A- Why do I only have proposals from 3 students? This was due a long time ago! I don't care if you get it to me by carrier pigeon but it must get to me soon if you want to get any credit for it.
- 8S - Your reading quiz grades on average are very low. Let's see an improvement for this week.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Review of Bombay Dreams
Riveting and Provocative Theatre- right in the heart of Lahore
With 75 cast & crew members, over 20 costume changes, tantalizing sound and light effects, Bollywood style dance numbers and Bollywood glam all live on stage, this was one of the best productions I've seen. This bold production takes a stab at many of the cultural taboos that are pervasive in this society and seeks to widen people's world views and understanding of those considered "least" among us. For anyone living in Lahore I definitely recommend you check out Shah Sharahbeel's latest: Bombay Dreams.
The plot revolves around a young slum dweller names Akaash (Zac Khar) who dreams of becoming a Bollywood star. His friends and family hope that in going to Bollywood he could make enough money to save the slums from the hands of the greedy developers Honey Singh (Omar Iqbal) and Money Singh (Kamran Rangeela) . Right when the Singhs give the slum dwellers a 30 day eviction notice, a pro-bono lawyer, Vikram (Gohar Rasheed), and his pretty fiance, Priya (Rudaba Nasir), show up to save the day. Priya agrees to introduce Akaash to her father Madan Chopra (Abdullah Farhatullah) who is a famous Bollywood filmmaker.
Once Akaash sets foot in Bombay he starts to realize that Bollywood isn't all glitz and glamor, but hard work, heartbreak and conflicts too. Is Bollywood too big for him, or will he become a superstar?
You're guaranteed to be on the edge of your seat as you share in Akaash's journey from the slums, to Bollywood, and back to the slums again. Choreography by Wahab Shah and Alyzay Sultan Ali will have you moving your shoulders, ready to jump out of your seat and join in with the bhangra beat. You'll get to see the two masterminds behind the dance scenes themselves during the number, "How Many Stars." An entourage of male and female dancers seem to appear in different costumes every other scene. I don't know how they can do so many high energy dance numbers all in one night!
Although it's a musical, you won't find any live singing this time. I assume part of that is because it would quite hard to sing well while doing all those Bollywood dance numbers. And, well in Bollywood, they usually don't do their own singing anyway! Hands down, Priya (Rudaba Nasir) is the best lip syncer of the cast, while others were not as convincing. The choreography will keep your eyes busy during most musical numbers, although it would have made it a little more intimate if some of the other main characters looked as if they were singing their songs.
Rudaba Nasir as Priya was not only good at the lip sync, but an excellent dancer and outstanding actress. There were only four women with speaking parts, but all were well chosen for their roles. Faiza Mujahid will crack you up as Shanti, Akaash's aging mother from the slums. The superstar Rani, played by Arfah Khawaja, is a character the boys will wish was on the stage more. And finally, Enshe Ahmed plays Paro who is a girl from the slums pining for Akaash's lost love. Among the male actors, many of the cast were excellent, but I'd have to say that Yasir Rehmat Hussain as Sweetie would win my "best actor" award, with Shams Aftab as Dolly at a close second.
As someone who has participated in musical dramas myself (as a dancer, choreographer, set designer, and backstage crew), I must give props to the costume designers, set designers, backstage team, and everyone who helped with lights and sound. It takes a lot to create the effects that they managed to pull off flawlessly despite the constant threat of loadshedding.
Bombay Dreams is directed by Shah Sharahbeel and produced by Umer Hameed, not only a manager but also a black belt and fight scene choreographer.
As Lonely Planet says, India will "whirl you mind and dazzle your eyes." Bombay Dreams will do all that more. Go see it for yourself!
**Bombay Dreams will be performed every night until April 20th at 8:30pm at Al Hamra Centre, Mall Road. Buy Tickets at Gloria Jean's (Hussain Chowk), Cafe Zouk, Marble Stone (Lalik Chowk, Defence), Mini Golf (Centrepoint) or the Al Hamra box office (Mall Road). Tickets are 500 Rs each.
Be sure to buy tickets 2-3 days in advance and arrive early and people start queuing at 7:00pm. Doors open at 8:00pm and close at 8:25. Go EARLY if you don't want to sit on the stairs or be locked out! Yesterday even the aisles were completely full with people sitting on the steps and the floor. At least 50 people came too late and were locked outside!
The original musical was written by Meera Syal with music by A.R. Rehman and lyrics by Don Black. It was first produced in London in 2002. Here in Lahore it is being produced with amateur actors and actresses from the city's universities.
The plot revolves around a young slum dweller names Akaash (Zac Khar) who dreams of becoming a Bollywood star. His friends and family hope that in going to Bollywood he could make enough money to save the slums from the hands of the greedy developers Honey Singh (Omar Iqbal) and Money Singh (Kamran Rangeela) . Right when the Singhs give the slum dwellers a 30 day eviction notice, a pro-bono lawyer, Vikram (Gohar Rasheed), and his pretty fiance, Priya (Rudaba Nasir), show up to save the day. Priya agrees to introduce Akaash to her father Madan Chopra (Abdullah Farhatullah) who is a famous Bollywood filmmaker.
Once Akaash sets foot in Bombay he starts to realize that Bollywood isn't all glitz and glamor, but hard work, heartbreak and conflicts too. Is Bollywood too big for him, or will he become a superstar?
You're guaranteed to be on the edge of your seat as you share in Akaash's journey from the slums, to Bollywood, and back to the slums again. Choreography by Wahab Shah and Alyzay Sultan Ali will have you moving your shoulders, ready to jump out of your seat and join in with the bhangra beat. You'll get to see the two masterminds behind the dance scenes themselves during the number, "How Many Stars." An entourage of male and female dancers seem to appear in different costumes every other scene. I don't know how they can do so many high energy dance numbers all in one night!
Although it's a musical, you won't find any live singing this time. I assume part of that is because it would quite hard to sing well while doing all those Bollywood dance numbers. And, well in Bollywood, they usually don't do their own singing anyway! Hands down, Priya (Rudaba Nasir) is the best lip syncer of the cast, while others were not as convincing. The choreography will keep your eyes busy during most musical numbers, although it would have made it a little more intimate if some of the other main characters looked as if they were singing their songs.
Rudaba Nasir as Priya was not only good at the lip sync, but an excellent dancer and outstanding actress. There were only four women with speaking parts, but all were well chosen for their roles. Faiza Mujahid will crack you up as Shanti, Akaash's aging mother from the slums. The superstar Rani, played by Arfah Khawaja, is a character the boys will wish was on the stage more. And finally, Enshe Ahmed plays Paro who is a girl from the slums pining for Akaash's lost love. Among the male actors, many of the cast were excellent, but I'd have to say that Yasir Rehmat Hussain as Sweetie would win my "best actor" award, with Shams Aftab as Dolly at a close second.
As someone who has participated in musical dramas myself (as a dancer, choreographer, set designer, and backstage crew), I must give props to the costume designers, set designers, backstage team, and everyone who helped with lights and sound. It takes a lot to create the effects that they managed to pull off flawlessly despite the constant threat of loadshedding.
Bombay Dreams is directed by Shah Sharahbeel and produced by Umer Hameed, not only a manager but also a black belt and fight scene choreographer.
As Lonely Planet says, India will "whirl you mind and dazzle your eyes." Bombay Dreams will do all that more. Go see it for yourself!
**Bombay Dreams will be performed every night until April 20th at 8:30pm at Al Hamra Centre, Mall Road. Buy Tickets at Gloria Jean's (Hussain Chowk), Cafe Zouk, Marble Stone (Lalik Chowk, Defence), Mini Golf (Centrepoint) or the Al Hamra box office (Mall Road). Tickets are 500 Rs each.
Be sure to buy tickets 2-3 days in advance and arrive early and people start queuing at 7:00pm. Doors open at 8:00pm and close at 8:25. Go EARLY if you don't want to sit on the stairs or be locked out! Yesterday even the aisles were completely full with people sitting on the steps and the floor. At least 50 people came too late and were locked outside!
The original musical was written by Meera Syal with music by A.R. Rehman and lyrics by Don Black. It was first produced in London in 2002. Here in Lahore it is being produced with amateur actors and actresses from the city's universities.
English news
- We will finish the Monster collages on Monday, so bring any finishing touches, pictures, headlines, glue, scissors, etc. that you need
- Reading quiz through page 159 on Monday
- Email me any LATE proposals about the prison system in Pakistan, I don't want to give so many zeros as this counts for an assessment
- In other news, check out the following article on BBC
Hopefully that means this blog won't be blocked any more!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
New Definition of Monster
People as monsters:
Serial killers
Monsters - Wikipedia
8S - Remember you need to bring in your research about monsters throughout history tomorrow
Serial killers
Monsters - Wikipedia
8S - Remember you need to bring in your research about monsters throughout history tomorrow
Monster Collage
On Friday we will be working in partners to make our collage of the different perceptions of "monster" throughout history.
You can bring in pictures or words describing monsters from different time periods/literary periods
Examples: Roman mythology, Greek mythology, Hinduism, Medieval times, "freaks of nature," Sea Monsters, urban legends (Big Foot, Lochness Monster), cute and friendly monsters, people considered as monster (serial killers, etc.)
Click here for a list of legendary creatures on Wikipedia, although not all are monsters
Use Google Images to find pictures of different monsters and print them out
Print out newspaper headlines or words that describe monsters
Remember, you and your partner have a whole posterboard to fill! Half should show the traditional view of monsters while the other half should show the newer social concept of monsters.
You can bring in pictures or words describing monsters from different time periods/literary periods
Examples: Roman mythology, Greek mythology, Hinduism, Medieval times, "freaks of nature," Sea Monsters, urban legends (Big Foot, Lochness Monster), cute and friendly monsters, people considered as monster (serial killers, etc.)
Click here for a list of legendary creatures on Wikipedia, although not all are monsters
Use Google Images to find pictures of different monsters and print them out
Print out newspaper headlines or words that describe monsters
Remember, you and your partner have a whole posterboard to fill! Half should show the traditional view of monsters while the other half should show the newer social concept of monsters.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
What's due this week?
- Proposals for Prison Reform due on Friday
- Read to page 159 by Friday...there might be a quiz!
- Research about 'monsters' due tomorrow (Weds)
- Keep up to date with your journals
Friday, April 4, 2008
Blog is Unblocked!
Hey everyone! The blog is unblocked for now so here's the latest announcements:
- Journals due on Monday April 7th - Each class should have six entries. Make sure you spend time and thought on your journal entries
- Prison Proposals (group project) due on Friday April 11th
- Read to page 159 by Friday - you should always be ready for a reading quiz
- 8S - you need to get reading. Your quiz results were very bad! 8A was somewhat better, but there were still some of you who haven't read. Remember all your grades for this quarter are coming from what we do based on Monster
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