S+Douglass,+Leah

**Teacher:** Ms. Leah Douglass **Office Phone:** 779-7121 ===Email:  leah.douglass@maine.edu ===
 * Office:** 111 South Street
 * Office Hours:** 1-pm-4pm

= Unit Summary: = What do you think is possible to learn from a single novel? One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a beloved classic as not only a book, but also as a movie and a play. In this unit we will be delving into the world of an insane asylum, and placing ourselves in the shoes of the patients, the nurses, and the staff. We will learn and discuss such concepts as: topics, themes, plot structure, literary elements, themes, and topics. You will learn how to construct a script, and eventually will be writing a script incorporating the themes from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Through this unit you will learn how qualities of a character create and influence the conflict and learn about what dynamic and static characters are.

Establish Goals:
Maine Learning Results: English Language Arts A. Reading A2: Literary Text Grades 9-Diploma: //One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest// Students read fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry, within a grade appropriate span of text complexity, and analyze the characteristics, noting how structural features and common literary devices help shape the reader's response. d.) Analyze the literary devices that define a writer's style and use those elements to interpret the text.

= = = Students will understand that: = = = = = = Essential questions: =
 * Students will understand that themes are how writers communicate on common ground with their audiences, and that there is a difference between topic and theme.
 * Not all literature uses every literary device, but all works include some.
 * The qualities of the main characters often create the plot and result in the resolution.
 * Why do the qualities of the main characters bring about and result in the resolution of the plot?
 * How did Ken Kesey use literary elements and devices to enhance One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?
 * How can you identify themes of a literary work?

= = = Students will know: =
 * Literary Devices: metaphor, simile, topic, theme.
 * Important people and events: McMurphy, Nurse Ratched, Chief, the boat trip, electroshock, schedule.
 * Topics and Themes: Racism, Women as Castraters, Insanity as Freedom, Oppression, Conformity, Sanity

= = = Students will be able to: = = = = Performance Task Overview:= You have gone to college and decided that your dream career would to be a screen writer. The only problem is that you have not been able to fine a production company to cover the cost of your films. You hear about 20th Century Fox's search for a new film to produce. You are to write a script for a film that will dazzle the producers. Unfortunately you understand that you can't undertake this task alone, so you gather friends to create this film. Your group decides to incorporate themes from an old classic One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest into your film. To further illustrate how great your film will be you create a movie clip, or a trailer to show to the producers. Once you and your group have refined the movie clip you will present it to the producers and pitch your movie idea with all the enthusiasm you can muster. Remember, you need this movie deal to pay the bills, buy food, and not get evicted.
 * Describe recurring themes that appear throughout the novel.
 * Evaluate structural elements of the plot and the way in which the conflict is resolved.
 * Invent a narrative of their own using the literary devices exhibited in the novel.
 * d. Analyze literary devices that define Ken Kesey's writing style and use those elements to interpret the text.
 * Consider the qualities of a character and relate them to their lives.
 * Recognize dynamic and static characteristics about themselves.

=Expectations:=
 * Late Work:** All work should be handed in on time. If you have not passed in work three days after it is due you will receive a sixty.


 * Absentees:** In the case that one is absent on the day something not written on the agenda is assigned they will have to pick up the assignment the next day they are in school regardless of whether they have this class that day or not. They will then be given the same time frame to complete the work. If work is not passed in within three days of the due date it will get an automatic sixty. Come speak to me if you have extenuating circumstances around you tardiness of your work, or if you know that you are going to be absent.


 * Respect:** It is an expectation that every member of this classroom be treated with respect. It's important that everyone feel comfortable in this learning environment. Encourage your peers to ask questions; don't put them down for not knowing something. There will be no tolerance for name calling or any form of harassment in this classroom.


 * Citation:** Students will be expected to give credit by citing the sources of information for any project or work they do. Plagiarism is illegal and easily detectable, so please see me if you have any questions about citing. Remember, when in doubt cite it.

Be on time for class, and please bring materials that are needed. Always bring a writing utensil and something to write on.

=Benchmarks= You will have a chance to collect points towards your final grade in this class. This grading system may seem foreign to you but as each assignment is graded it will become more clear. You have a chance to earn a total of 999 points. You can easily keep track of your points by writing them down in a chart.

__Film Clip Project (250)__
Students will work together to write a film script that apply the themes and overarching metaphors of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest to a new plot. This will be the final unit project, and the movie should encompass all the material taught in class. You will be using iMovie to show case the knowledge and mastery of the skills you learned in this unit.

__Blogs (__249__)__ Students will be asked to write blog entries frequently if not for every class. These blogs will help students reflect on work in class and apply knowledge.

__Wikis (150)__ You will be expected to post products of your projects onto the class wikispace account. You will also be asked to create good test questions with regards to plot structure and conflict. You will vote on which questions you think pertain most to the material we have covered and those questions will be added to your test.

__Graphic Organizers (100)__ You will be given many graphic organizers to clarify and write down ideas and data. The graphic organizers will be graded on completion of their and accuracy of content. You will be receiving a graphic organizer for each lesson, these will be great tools for reviewing and clarifying material, so please fill them out in detail and put them in a safe place.

__Participation (50)__ Taking part of class discussions is an essential part of the learning process. Students will be assessed each day on their class participation. Graded by the quality of the information they share with their peers and the classroom environment.

__Comic life (50)__ You will be asked to illustrate the concept of dynamic and static characters by creating a comic life. You will create a super hero that is either a dynamic or static character. You will provide an explanation of why a dynamic or static character would make a good hero.

__Tests and Quizzes (50)__ You will be asked to create questions that you think reflect what you need to know about plot structure. You and your peers will vote via a pole on the wiki and those questions will be incorporated into your test. The test will be graded with an answer key and short answer questions will be graded by content.

__Narrative__ (100) You will be asked to write a narrative of your own using what you know about qualities of characters and their effect on the conflict of a story. You may use both dynamic and static characters. =Grading Scale:= **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)