ELA10 - Spoken Language (2 credit), CSS, Seipp

Here is a quick overview of the assignments for this unit.  However, be sure you read over the specific assignment instructions that follow for each one.  Review the marking rubrics for the assignments before you start.

ASSIGNMENT 1: Effective Conversation

 Celeste Headlee has worked as a radio host for decades, and she knows the ingredients of a great conversation:  Honesty, brevity, clarity, and a healthy amount of listening.  In the following TED talk, she shares 10 useful rules for having better conversations.  Watch this TED talk and write down the top 10 list demonstrating your own active listening.

ASSIGNMENT 2: Dialogue

    Record a conversation and write an expository paragraph explaining how the conversation follows or doesn't follow Headlee's tips for effective conversation.  Make sure you read over the explanation of good expository writing in the summary chart on the next page. It is important to know how to communicate clearly and effectively.  Expository writing should be concise and accurately state your main idea. 

ASSIGNMENT 3: Writing a Movie Scene

    Here is your chance to write a conversation between characters that you create. Writing about characterization involves how characters are revealed through action, dialogue, and thoughts.  A successful character analysis will discuss values and traits of a particular character, how the character undergoes change, and/or what he or she might represent.   Review the different types of characters found in fiction and movies and learn about characterizing them.  Then write a scene that SHOWS who they are as revealed by their dialogue.  Be sure to correctly punctuate the dialogue.

ASSIGNMENT 4: Conflict

     Conflict is a driving force in narrative writing.  Create 2 characters and have them play out a conflict (or many conflicts), as you will read about in this lesson.

ASSIGNMENT 5: Dramatic Reading

   You get to practice your own oration and dramatic skills now.  Create a dramatic recording of your reading of an excerpt from Romeo and Juliet. 

ASSIGNMENT 6: Interview

   There are 2 options for this assignment.  The purpose of this assignment is to provide students with a practical exercise in information-gathering interview skills while at the same time providing them with some information about possible career choices.

ASSIGNMENT 7:  Editing FORUM

    Practice your editing skills by re-writing the paragraph prompt in dialogue format.

ASSIGNMENT 8: PROJECT:  Advice from an Author

Listen to a Canadian author read a selection from his work.  Then write a personal response to his work, his conversation, or his suggested reading list. Do the writing assignment he suggests but we’re going to put a collaborative twist on his upside-down poem.