S+Johnson,+Richard


 * Teacher:** Mr. Johnson
 * Office:** The Courtyard
 * Office Hours:** Monday - Friday (12AM - 4AM)
 * E-mail:** richard.austen.johnson@maine.edu


 * Summary of Unit:**

//This unit is based around the novel “Ethan Frome” written by Edith Wharton, and is designed to ultimately teach the significance of characters and settings in stories, as well as the ability to support opinions with textual evidence. Students will be taught this unit through a number of lessons, each designed to match a number of different learning styles and strengthened intelligences. Checking for understanding throughout the unit will be done in a number of ways, including methods like “exit-tickets” and “thumbs-up.” The final project will be used in way of assessing whether or not students are beginning to recognize the importance of character and setting development and relativity.//


 * Establish Goals:**

Common Core State Standards: Content Area: Reading Domain: Literature Standard: Key Ideas and Details


 * Students will understand that:**

• textual evidence is necessary when developing and expressing opinions of a novel • the setting Edith Wharton created in "Ethan Frome" has an impact on the way in which individual readers perceive the story • the way in which Edith Wharton chose to introduce and develop characters plays a significant role in the structure and underlying theme of the story


 * Essential Questions:**

• How can I use textual evidence to effectively and appropriately support my opinion? • Why does the setting of "Ethan Frome" effect my perception of the story? • How does character development play a role in creating a story?


 * Students will know:**

• Textual Support: how to use textual evidence to support their opinions; summarize story in way of supporting thesis • Relationship/Relativity: how to recognize relationships in the story and their significance; relate to a character- put themselves in the characters "shoes" • Character Analysis: how to analyze characters; what is the significance of their role in the story?


 * Students will be able to:**

• Consider character's positions • Evaluate character's roles int he story development • Analyze the significance of story settings while reading • Recognize how their own environment impacts their perception of the story • Describe how character development factors into story creation • Apply their understanding of character development to their own work


 * Performance Task Overview:**

The king and queen of Morrowton have fallen in love with the novel "Ethan Frome" by Edith Wharton. After reading the story, they had a feast and reflected on all of the characters and settings within. The conversation progressed, and soon the royal couple were set on the idea of creating a comic of each and every character from the story to publish through their comic company, Royal Multimedia Co. In fact, the king was so excited that he declared that he would hire the best graphic novelist he could find to adapt characters from "Ethan Frome" to comic form. To do just that, the king has sent out invitations to graphic novelists from all over the world, asking them to compete in a contest. You have received an invitation! The contest requires you to demonstrate that you thoroughly understand the importance of character and setting relationships in stories. You will devise a series of questions to interview a character from "Ethan Frome" with, and record the conversation. From the information you gather, you will create a short graphic novel, using Comic Life, that represents the interviewee's character and their environmental setting. Thankfully, the king welcomes creativity, and as so encourages participants to think outside of the normal realm! He has stated that he would be particularly interested in comics that blended information from "Ethan Frome" with imaginative and appropriate settings/contexts. Now is your chance to show that you have got what it takes to be an accomplished graphic novelist!


 * Expectations:**

//Absences:// Make that stuff up! You will be expected to make any missions up that you miss. I will be available during office hours to help you, or by scheduled appointments! You will also be required to write me a brief paragraph (by email or otherwise) explaining why you were absent. Accepted answers include: illness, family matters, travel*, and others by case, and each accepted answer will result in an excused absence**.** For excused absences, we will negotiate an alternative due date for missed missions. Absences that are not excepted will result in unexcused absences, which mark down your participation grade! Students who have an unexcused absence will also not be granted an alternative due date!


 * As I encourage you to travel and explore, as school buildings are not capable of providing you with everything there is to learn, I accept absences when you were gone for traveling. However, you are still expected to make up the missions you missed (I will gladly help you!), as well as write me a paragraph or two about what you saw, what you learned, etc. during you expedition!

These "excused" absences are strictly between you and I, and have nothing to do with whether or not the school has recognized your absence as excused or not.

//Tardiness:// Hurry! If you are tardy, please do not disrupt the class upon entrance. Sit quietly, and I will catch you up as quickly as I can. However, if you are often tardy, you will receive a verbal warning that states that if you continue to be tardy, you will lose class participation points!

//Due Dates:// You are expected to have your missions completed for the assigned due date. Exceptions are given to those who plan an alternative due date with me personally. Missions that are handed in past the due date will be marked down*.


 * Exceptions to this rule are a possibility, and will be assessed case to case.

//Plagiarism:// It's a crime! Any plagiarized work will be recorded as a zero in the grade book. If you ever have any questions regarding citations, please ask me, as I would be more than happy to help!

//Total Points for this Unit: 1,999,999//
 * Benchmarks:**

//Participation, Respect:// 133,333! If you attend class regularly, complete all of the assignments, and respect yourselves, each other, and myself, you will earn all of these points!

//MISSIONS!: 1,200,000 Points!//...

//Comic Life:// 200,000 Points! Your task is to develop your own character using the program Comic Life, and depict this character both visually and verbally. Attention to the character's detail and setting is key! What really matters is that you demonstrate your knowledge of how character development factors into story creation to the best of your ability- you will not be graded based off of your artistic skills, duh! The character does not necessarily have to be a realistic one, but all aspects of the comic must remain appropriate! Otherwise, humor is welcomed! Get creative and think outside the normal realm!

//Blog:// 200,000 Points! The mission of this assignment is for you to create a short response that evaluates Zenobia's impact in "Ethan Frome." It is important that you really interpret her character here, and consider her position! While opinions will naturally form throughout the reading (as they ought to!), and you will likely feel strongly about specific characters in one way or another (as you ought to!), it is essential that your response is not totally biased. I want you to put yourself in Zenobia's shoes, and try to recognize what it is that makes her the way she is. Textual evidence should be used to support your opinions, of course! Your response will be posted on Glogster, along with pictures, quotes and other media that is relevant to "Ethan Frome." After you are finished, you will read some of your classmates blogs and "reblog" and comment on those that you agree or disagree with; start discussions!

//Movie:// 200,000 Points! You will represent your understanding of the importance of character development with a partner in creating a short movie, or movie trailer that depicts an imagined character. In order to demonstrate that you understand the significance of character development, the movie must represent a basic and applicable plot. This assignment is intentionally left vague and open, so as to encourage creativity and a wide range of results, but I would gladly help and guide any team who asks!

//Google Earth:// 200,000 Points! You and a partner are to visit a small town that reminds you both of Starkfield, MA through the use of Google Earth! Obviously, the town you choose to look at must be small in size and population- a list of suggestions is included below! I found them simply by researching the "smallest towns in the United States" on Google, and you may do the same.

//Email//: 200,000 Points! You will develop thoughts regarding the choices Ethan has to make throughout the novel, and discuss whatever opinions and thoughts you create with a partner via email. What are some tough decisions Ethan is faced with? Does he always make the right choice? In what sense is he trapped? Think deeply and have a profound conversation! Take it to the next level! I also encourage you to include any useful or relative or interesting links, videos or audio files in your emails!

//Audio//: 200,000 Points! Partners will record and interview each other about one another hometown. You will all then individually record your reflection on how your own environment may impact the way you perceive "Ethan Frome" and the characters and environment within it. Be as creative as possible with your interview and reflection!

//UNIT PROJECT!:// 666,667 Points!

//Graphic Novel:// 666,667 Points! The king and queen of Morrowton have fallen in love with the novel "Ethan Frome" by Edith Wharton. After reading the story, they had a feast and reflected on all of the characters and settings within. The conversation progressed, and soon the royal couple were set on the idea of creating a comic of each and every character from the story to publish through their comic company, Royal Multimedia Co. In fact, the king was so excited that he declared that he would hire the best graphic novelist he could find to adapt characters from "Ethan Frome" to comic form. To do just that, the king has sent out invitations to graphic novelists from all over the world, asking them to compete in a contest. You have received an invitation! The contest requires you to demonstrate that you thoroughly understand the importance of character and setting relationships in stories. You will devise a series of questions to interview a character from "Ethan Frome" with, and record the conversation. From the information you gather, you will create a short graphic novel, using Comic Life, that represents the interviewee's character and their environmental setting. Thankfully, the king welcomes creativity, and as so encourages participants to think outside of the normal realm! He has stated that he would be particularly interested in comics that blended information from "Ethan Frome" with imaginative and appropriate settings/contexts. Now is your chance to show that you have got what it takes to be an accomplished graphic novelist!

**A** (93 -100), **A-** (90 - 92), **B+** (87 - 89), **B** (83 - 86), **B-** (80 - 82), **C+**(77 - 79), **C** (73-76), **C-** (70 - 72), **D+**(67 - 69), **D** (63 - 66), **D-** (60 - 62), **F** (0 - 59).
 * Grading Scale**