Saturday, March 13, 2010
4th Quarter
Friday, September 4, 2009
Vampire Books
Fang Tales: A List in Progress
(YA-HS and Adult Titles)
revised June 24, 2010
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter -- Seth Grahame-Smith
Blood Oath -- Christopher Farnsworth
Bluebloods series -- Melissa de la Cruz
- Bluebloods
- Masquerade
- Revelations
- The Van Alen Legacy
Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series -- Heather Brewer
- Eighth Grade Bites
- Ninth Grade Slays
- Tenth Grade Bleeds
- Eleventh Grade Burns
The Dracula Story Continues -- Elaine Bergstrom
- Blood to Blood
- Mina
The Historian -- Elizabeth Kostova
House of Night series -- Cast & Cast
- Marked
- Betrayed
- Chosen
- Untamed
- Hunted
- Tempted
- Burned
Mr. Darcy, Vampyre -- Amanda Grange
Once Bitten, Twice Shy -- Jennifer Rardin
The Passage -- Justin Cronin
Pride and Prejudice's Vampires -- Jane Austen & Ann Hassell
Queen Betsy Vampire series -- Mary Janice Davidson
- Undead and Unwed
- Undead and Unemployed
- Undead and Unappreciated
- Undead and Unreturnable
- Undead and Unpopular
- Undead and Uneasy
- Undead and Unworthy
- Undead and Unwelcome
Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire series -- Charlaine Harris
- Dead Until Dark
- Living Dead in Dallas
- Club Dead
- Dead to the World
- Dead as a Doornail
- Definitely Dead
- All Together Dead
- From Dead to Worse
- Dead and Gone
- Dead in the Family
Twilight series -- Stephenie Meyer
- Twilight
- New Moon
- Eclipse
- Breaking Dawn
- Vampire Academy
- Frostbite
- Shadow Kiss
- Blood Promise
- Interview with the Vampire
- The Vampire Lestat
- The Queen of the Damned
- The Tale of the Body Thief
- Memnoch the Devil
- The Vampire Armand
You Suck: A Love Story -- Christopher Moore
Monday, March 30, 2009
Course Closure
Snaps to all students who completed their personal vampire assignments. Your vampire images were creative and provocative. Too cool! You have melded your personal style with the images of folklore, fiction, and film in your vamps. May they live throughout eternity as you have created them.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Reading Schedule for Dracula
Third Quarter 2008-09
Reading assignments are for the afternoon and evening of the dates noted. Students are expected to have read the pages for the following class period to ensure strong discussion.
F 2/20 p. 0-56
M 2/23 p. 57-79
T 2/24 p. 80-124
W 2/25 p. 125-152 / Group Work #1 due
R 2/26 Parent Confs.
F 2/27 p. 152-203
M 3/2 p. 203-230
T 3/3 p. 231-275
W 3/4 catch up
R 3/5 p. 276-290 / Group Work #2 due
F 3/6 p. 291-305
M 3/9 p. 306-318
T 3/10 p. 319-333
W 3/11 catch up
R 3/12 p. 334-347
F 3/13 p. 348-363
Closure of Text for Tuesday 3/17 / Individual Chapter Artifact Assignment #3 due
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Old World Vampirism Curiosity Questions
- Why did Lilith get excluded from the Bible but was included in the Talmud?
- Why were vampires believed to be obsessive compulsive in Transylvanian folklore?
- Why does a large black dog with a painted set of eyes on its forehead repel a vampire?
- Did the Roman interpretation of the vampire stem from conflicts with the indigenous, barbarian European tribes (i.e., the Gauls)?
- If one was targeted as a living vampire in his/her community, did they then lead an isolated existence?
- What is it about human nature that causes us to create blood-sucking and often immortal beings?
- How do historical examples of individuals bathing in human blood align or contrast with Deuteronomy 12:33 ("The blood is the life.")?
- Why does one need to bury a vampire at a crossroads to induce a "final" death?
Monday, February 16, 2009
What Are We Doing Today? February 16 - 20
Week Four Agenda- M -- Work Time on Polidori
- T -- Share and Discuss Polidori vocab and "Guardian Warnings"
- W -- Background on Bram Stoker's Dracula
- R -- Introduce Groups and Group Assignment /distribute books /Reading time
- F -- Reading time (read to page 56 for Monday)
Monday, February 9, 2009
What are we doing today?
Week Three Agenda -- Feb. 9 - 13- Monday -- Murnau's Nosferatu
- Tuesday --Murnau's Nosferatu / discussion of film images
- Wed. -- The Gothic tradition in literature
- Thursday -- Polidori's "The Vampyre"
- Friday -- Polidori's "The Vampyre"
Friday, January 30, 2009
What Are We Doing Today?
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Week One -- January 27 - 30
Tuesday, Jan. 27 - Course Guidelines, Info Forms, Goals Pages
**You need a notebook for this course. Bring it ASAP.
Wednesday, Jan 28 -- Collect Goals Pgs., Vampire Characteristics Brainstorm
Thursday, Jan. 29 -- Vampire Folklore and Myth Video (A&E)
Friday, Jan. 30 -- Finish video & Journal Entry, Read cultural folklore chapter HW
(Assignment Journal on Cultural Folklore due on Monday)
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Finalized Course Guidelines -- Quarter Three -- 2008-09
Q3 - 2008-2009 -- Period Three
In this class, students will study portrayals of the vampire image in folklore, fiction, and film. Students will have the opportunity to explore the cultural, mythological, and historical origins of this popular and long-lasting persona and why this image is so appealing. Students will delve into the literary roots of the vampire by reading and discussing elements of the European Gothic tradition starting with Polidori's "The Vampyre." As a class, students will closely analyze Bram Stoker's Dracula, focusing on themes, character development, and the historical context of the novel's entry into the literary canon. To visually complement the themes and images presented in the written texts, students will view Murnau's 1922 Nosferatu, Ford Coppola's 1992 film version of Bram Stoker's Dracula, and if time permits--Merhige's The Shadow of the Vampire. Other film clips will also be used to study the various portrayals of the vampire in the last century.
General Class Requirements:
Warning: this class requires a large amount of reading with required homework.
- Each student will be required to read and analyze Bram Stoker's Dracula in small and full group discussions. Reading on schedule and participation in group projects/discussions is required to earn credit. Individual and group work will consist of standard literary analyses, vocabulary work, reader response discussions, and creative assignments. Although some reading days will be scheduled, it is expected that students complete the majority of their novel reading outside of class time. Please plan accordingly.
- Students are expected to read and respond to short stories, folklore samples, and historical context chapters on the gothic tradition and vampire image.
- The class will also have the opportunity to analyze the genre through contemporary film. Response journals and discussions in reaction to the story, production, characterization, or other film characteristics will be required.
- Respectful and appropriate use of class time is expected from all students on all days. Any students who disrespect their classmates/instructors, quiet film viewing, silent reading time, or focused discussion sessions will simply be marked absent for the class period.
Evaluation Breakdown:
Students will be assessed on :
Attendance and Consistent Participation – 20%
Dracula Quizzes and Final Individual Project – 40%
Group Work / Reading Roles – 20% (group members have input on this assessment)
Journal Entries & Other Assignments – 20%
Missing and Late Work:
* This is considered a college-prep. class; guidelines and work load are established accordingly. Assignment due dates must be firm. Students will lose 25% of an assignment value for each day it is late. If a student has a FT or a partial day absence, they are still responsible for meeting assignment due dates. (The only exceptions to this guideline may occur for students with documented special education writing concerns. Those students must have a dialogue with me about those concerns in the first week of the course. Permission for extensions must be in line with a student’s IEP and requested in advance of the due dates.)
* All students are responsible for knowing the due dates on assignments. Look at your assignment handouts, the whiteboard reminders, and the class online site. Ask a classmate.
Attendance Requirements:
* If you are absent, you are still responsible for what you missed in class. Ask a fellow classmate what was done the day before and check the assignment basket for handouts or assignments.
* The Shabazz attendance policy will be strictly enforced in this class. Students will be dropped after their 6th absence. Remember that all tardies are accounted for (3 tardies = 1 absence). If an emergency arises, inform Denise and the office immediately.
Book Returns:
Students must return all books and materials checked out for class to be eligible for credit. If a book is lost, talk with Denise about where you can find a replacement copy or arrange for payment of the text.
Tentative Quarter Outline
Week One January 27 – 30 (4 days)
Introduction to Course / Brainstorm on Vampire Image / Vampire Folklore and
Myth (video)
Week Two February 2 - 6
Vampire Folklore / Creative Vamp Project / Historical Vampires
Week Three February 9 - 13
View Murnau's Nosferatu / The Gothic Tradition / Polidori's "The Vampyre"
Week Four February 16 - 20
Discuss Polidori’s Vampyre / Historical Context of Stoker’s Dracula / Begin Dracula Reading, Group Work, and Discussions
Week Five February 23 – 27 (3)
Mid-Q Reports / Parent Confs / SWEIO Reading and Dracula Groups
Week Six March 2 - 6
Dracula Groups and Discussions / Quiz #1
Week Seven March 9 - 13
Dracula Groups and Discussions / Quiz #2
Week Eight March 16 – 20 (4)
Finish Dracula / Quiz #3 / Individ. Projects
Week Nine March 23 - 26
View Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Coppola)
Friday, November 21, 2008
A Few Comments on Video Vamps
Monday, November 3, 2008
Tentative Course Guidelines
The Vampire Image in Fiction and Film
Tentatively Planned for Quarter Three 2008-09
In this class, students will study portrayals of the vampire image in folklore, fiction, and film. Students will have the opportunity to explore the cultural and historical origins of this popular and long-lasting persona and why this image is so appealing. Students will delve into the literary roots of the vampire by reading and discussing elements of the European Gothic tradition. We’ll begin this exploration with Polidori’s The Vampyre. As a class, students will closely analyze Bram Stoker’s Dracula, focusing on themes, character development, and the historical context of the novel’s entry into the literary canon. To visually complement the themes and images presented in the written texts, students will view Murnau’s 1922 Nosferatu, Ford Coppola’s 1992 film version of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and if time permits—Merhige’s The Shadow of the Vampire. Other film clips may be used to study the various portrayals of the vampire in the last century.
General Class Requirements
Warning: this class requires a large amount of reading with required homework.
Each student will be required to read and analyze Bram Stoker’s Dracula in small and full group discussions.
Short stories, historical context chapters, and essays on the horror genre and vampire image will be read as a group. Students may need to read and respond to these pieces as homework.
The class will also have the opportunity to analyze the genre through contemporary film. Response journals and discussions in reaction to the story, production, characterization, or other film characteristics will be required.
Creative projects also will be assigned throughout the quarter. (For example, during the first week of the quarter we will create the image of the vampire we already hold in our minds.) We may also try our hands at producing our own Gothic characters and stories later in the quarter if time permits. Students will have choices in how to articulate their own vampire personas.
Respectful and appropriate use of class time is expected from all students on all days. Any students who disrespect their classmates/instructors, quiet film viewing, silent reading time, or focused discussion sessions will simply be marked absent for the class period.
Missing and Late Work:
Students must complete all assignments in this course to be eligible for credit.
Students will have a short grace period following each major assignment due date to allow for unanticipated emergencies and time constraints. Missing a due date will also generate a contact home (either email or phone call) to update families of outstanding assignment obligations and determine if additional support is needed. If students miss the grace period deadline, they might lose eligibility for class credit. Grace period length will vary by class and assignment. Students must pay attention to each assignment’s dates. Students are expected to participate in sharing sessions and may not use those days for writing or project work time.
All students are responsible for knowing the due dates on assignments. Look at your assignment handouts and the whiteboard reminders. Ask a classmate.
If you are absent, you are still responsible for what you missed in class. Ask a fellow classmate what was done the day before and check the assignment basket for handouts or assignments.
The Shabazz attendance policy will be strictly enforced in this class. Students will be dropped after their 6th absence. Remember that all tardies are accounted for (3 tardies = 1 absence). No make-up time opportunities will be given. (If an emergency arises, inform Denise and the office immediately.)
Book Returns:
Students must return all books checked out for class to be eligible for credit. If a book is lost, talk with Denise about where you can find a replacement copy or arrange for payment of the text.
Tentative Quarter Outline:
Week Two: Folklore / Creative Vamp Project / The Comedic X-File Vampire / Historical Vampires
Week Three: View Murnau’s Nosferatu / The Gothic Tradition / Polidori’s “The Vampyre”
Week Four: Discuss Polidori’s Vampyre / Historical Context of Stoker’s Dracula / Begin Dracula Reading, Group Work, and Discussions
Week Five: Mid-Q Reports / Dracula Groups
Week Six: Dracula Groups and Discussions
Week Seven: Dracula Groups and Discussions / Projects
Week Eight: Finish Dracula /
Week Nine: View Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Coppola)
Week Ten: View Shadow of the Vampire (Merhige)
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Basic Course Description -- The Vampire Image in Fiction and Film
Basic Course Description -- Horror Fiction & Film
If you like reading ghost stories, horror fiction, or studying "weird" and "scary" stuff, this may be the right course for you. Students will have the opportunity to explore why these types of stories have been so appealing over time by reading a variety of classic works from the last two centuries, with emphasis on the "gothic" roots of the genre. Each student will be required to read and analyze one full "classic" novel in a group format and at least one other complete text from the genre. Students will also have the opportunity to analyze the gothic horror concept through film. We will use responses papers, creative projects, and group discussions to understand the pieces presented in class. Warning: this class requires a large amount of reading. You will be expected to complete reading and writing homework outside of class time.
