class feb. 11th

1. first we got our midterms back. there was a 20 point (10%) curve. before the curve there were 0 As, 3 Bs, 6 Cs, 3 Ds, and 7 E/Fs. After the curve there were 3 As, 6 Bs, 3 Cs, 4 Ds, and 3 E/Fs. any questions on it can be asked during independent time.

2. tomorrow's the last day for notebooks, they will be turned in and the next part will be assigned. there's no specific number for how many is appropriate but to shoot for more than 14.

3. we talked more about the paper due february 20th. some things he clarified: it should compare 2 performances, bringing in a third is strongly not recommended. it should be double spaced, about 12 point font with a standard font and margins. the audience we're writing for is "reasonably adept, have seen films and understand text."

4. we talked about hamlet for the remainder of the period. some important points:
- at the end of Act II, Hamlet's excited about putting on the play and finding out
the truth
- the "to be or not to be" soliloquy is his first lines in the third act which is
weird because he's talking about suicide. possibly bipolar?
- people were then picked to read from Act III scene i.
- claudius says spying on hamlet can be rationalized because trying to help him
- we finished our discussion talking about sugar coating, rationalizing, and the
theme of appearance vs. reality

5. the homework is to read Act III scene i thoroughly, finish with notebooks, and to be working on the papers.

meg k