Final Exam Schedules

Monday-Columbia Comp II from 2-3:50

Tuesday-Shoals Comp II from 5:30-7:30 pm

Wednesday-Comp I from 12:30-2:30
and Comp II from 3:30-5:20

Thursday-Comp I from 7-9 pm

Good Luck to everyone. Also, Shoals students need to turn in essays to me on your exam night. I must have these papers before I can give you your final grade. Do not forget.

Preparing for Finals

OK Guys, we are nearing the end of the semester. Here are the final assignments for students. On Sunday, I will post the final exam schedule for both schools so you can check here for times....

Columbia-Comp I you are turning in your last essay, the Definition essay. I will be going over final exam topics in class today.

Comp II- We are reviewing the second part of Speaker for the Dead today and also going over possible topics for the final.

Shoals
Comp I-We will meet tom. night for averages and group work grades. Remember to study the novel for your final exam.

Comp II-You will be submitting your last essay-Poetry tom. night. Please remember to study all poetry terms and authors for the final exam!

Must Reads!

So, when Ms. Shelton told me that I needed to read the book The Hunger Games, I was like OK, I'll read it. And so I did. I wasn't thinking I would like it because it is a book for young adults. I was soooooo wrong. This is the best young adult novel I have read since Twilight! It is adventure, drama, and post apocalyptic world all rolled into one. If you like reading about a future world filled with controlling forces and a protagonist that is far from perfect, then this is the novel for you! You will be enthralled from beginning to end. I know I was. It took two days to read the first one, and thank goodness there is a sequel called Catching Fire. It was a three day read, only because I was grading papers lol!
Now the best news yet! They are making Hunger Games into a movie.....The rights have been purchased by Lionsgate and the cast is supposedly being put together as I write this. They are planning a 2011 release date. I guess I can wait that long, but only because the third book in the trilogy comes out in August of this year! Thank Goodness, because the second book totally leaves the reader in a cliffhanger. AHH!

Mark Twain Comes to Flo Town!

FLORENCE, Ala. – Fans of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer can see their creator, Mark Twain, at the University of North Alabama for a one-night show later this month. UNA alumnus Will Stutts, one of the nation’s premier one-person show actors, will perform “Mark Twain’s America” at 7 p.m. April 23 in Norton Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.



“Mark Twain’s America” is being presented by the UNA Distinguished Events Series and the public libraries of the Shoals as part of The Big Read. The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest. This project has been made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Stutts’s “Mark Twain’s America” is the show that started his career in theatre in 1968, when, as a student at UNA, he was asked to perform the character in an American literature class. Within two years, Stutts had extended the material and performed the show numerous times for college, high school and community groups throughout the Southeast.

After graduating from UNA, Stutts left his native Alabama, attended the prestigious Yale University School of Drama, then went on to live in New York and Los Angeles, beginning an eclectic career in theatre throughout the country.

And yet, his Mark Twain has remained a regular touring vehicle in his roster of one-person plays for 42 consecutive years, amassing more than 1,000 single engagements in 40 states and Canada. The historic steamboat the Delta Queen, the New Orleans World’s Fair and the national television commercial for Olivetti typewriters are just a few of the stages where he has performed as Twain.

Several years ago, attendance counting for “Mark Twain’s America” ceased when the count crossed 1 million who had seen the show.

Stutts has performed in scores of roles in addition to directing at most of America’s regional theatres. He has also performed on Broadway with Colleen Dewhurst in “Queen and the Rebels,” George C. Scott in “Present Laughter,” Agnes Moorehead and Will Geer in “Spoon River Anthology,” Richard Chamberlain in “Night of the Iguana” and “Richard II,” and Eva Marie Saint in “Summer and Smoke.”

An Alabama native, Stutts performed the role of Atticus in the stage version of “To Kill a Mockingbird” on national tour in addition to 12 other productions of the play across the country.

As producing artistic director, he has led the Los Angeles Shakespeare Company, Actors’ Theatre of Philadelphia, South Jersey Regional Theatre and the Gateway and Mt. Gretna playhouses. He is currently serving in the same capacity at UNA for the university’s Summer Theatre Program.

As a playwright, Stutts has written 16 one-person plays, including “Frank Lloyd Wright,” which was nominated for the Barrymore Award for Best New Play of 1996.

His multi-character plays include “The Gift” (about Harper Lee and Truman Capote and the origins of “To Kill a Mockingbird”) and “Oscar Wilde’s Lover,” which was selected for inclusion in “Best Plays” in 1999.

Stutts lives in suburban Philadelphia.
This is a great opportunity to support the arts of the area. Look forward to going!

Shoals Comp II-Remember we are meeting in front of Norton Auditorium at 6:45 pm. See you guys there.
Comp I-Please make sure you have your group presentations ready for Tuesday night. Each person will receive credit for their participation and presentation.

Columbia!

Comp I--Please remember that your research papers are due tom. at the beginning of class. You will need all of your information in a Manila folder. You must submit your paper to turnitin.com before you turn in the paper. If you do not submit it, I will not grade it (loving the rhyme).

Comp II-For both classes (2pm and 3:30 pm). We will meet at the Hickman building at ten til two. The presentation will be in room 122 for those of you who come late. If you want your extra credit, please make sure you let me know you are there!

Fun Fact:
John Milton composed the greatest epic in the English language Paradise Lost after he was blind (between 1658 and 1664). He claimed that he received nightly divine inspiration, and during the day he composed his epic. Paradise Lost is packed with biblical and mythological allusions—attesting to Milton’s vast knowledge and incredible memory.

Reminder of Greatness

It is with great excitement that I am reminded of the greatness of television.
Sometimes a show comes along that makes you very very happy.
For me, that show since the beginning has been Supernatural. It is a horror film, detective show, and family drama all rolled into one. If you have not watched it, please tune in. I am happy to report that the show has been picked up for a season 6! This is wonderful news, since from the beginning the show was only intended to have five seasons. I was speaking with Ramona (Mrs. Shelton) the other day and discussing the fact that I often introduce others to great books and television. Since I have discussed books previously, I will now fill you all in on the best television had to offer.
1. Supernatural
2. Glee
3. Lost
4. Sons of Anarchy
5. The Vampire Diaries
6. Fringe
7. House
8. Smallville
9. The Tudors
10. Dexter
And for shows that are no longer on but that everyone should watch:
Jericho
Veronica Mars
Moonlight
Being Human
SEINFELD!!!
October Road
7.

Shoals Comp I Groups

For those of you who missed class tonight, the following are your group assignments. Please bring any and all information on your character to share with your group Tuesday night!

Lenina
Elizabeth Baldwin
Amanda Creekmore
Sabrina Howell
Jessica Reach
Jessica Woods

Bernard Marx
Randall Hester
Marlene Coots
Ashley Ricks
Kaylee Kelley
Andy Pounders

The Savage (John)
Paula Busquets
Stacy Dawson
Libby Johnson
Kim Smith
Amil Williams

Mustapha Mond
Taylor Clayton
Todd Gibbs
Matthew McCluskey
Jeremy Turpen
Leslie Thompson

Hemholtz Watson and The Director (Tomakin)
Adam Deaton
Brittany Gautney
Matthew Melton
Kadie Yarber
Carlos Clayborn

Tax Day--UGH!

Albert Einstein
[on filing for tax returns] This is too difficult for a mathematician. It takes a philosopher.

Amen Brother! Of course, not only do we all have to pay taxes, but the stupid forms that must be filled out require us to pay more to hire an accountant each year. If you get a refund, the process becomes a bit more bearable, but if not, the entire process just sucks. Here's hoping each of you at least get something back from dear Ole' Uncle Sam...

Comp I-essays due at the end of the night tonight. We will be meeting in the lab.
Comp II-Come prepared to talk about poetry. Tonight we leave our subject of death and enter something a bit more scandalous!

Books and Business

So, being a huge Ole Miss fan, when the movie The Blind Side came out, I had to go see what all the hype was about. If you havn't seen it, put it on your list. The movie is great. Even Sandra Bullock's southern twang becomes enduring after twenty minutes or so. However, I heard the book was much different from the story they tell in the movie. So....you know me. I just love an investigation. I bought the book, and I am now almost finished with it. In case you live on another plantet, the book is the true story of Michael Oher, an African-American kid from the streets (literally) of Memphis, TN. He has no home, he is considered ignorant by the school and his teachers, and at first, he has no idea what to make of the game of football. He ended up being adopted by a rich white family from the suburbs of Memphis. He played football at Ole Miss and was a first round draft pick to the NFL. The story is one football lovers everywhere must check out. While the novel gives more insight into Michael's life, I do not believe the story was changed in the movie enough to matter. It is still a great story. A must read!

Shoals-Comp II-Poetry tonight. Be ready for in class discussions. Comp I-We begin your last paper. Also, please finish reading Brave New World. Just two weeks until the final. Yes, I put it in bold just like you guys requested.

Columbia-Comp I-work on your research papers!
Comp II-Hopefully you guys are bringing me snacks for Avatar.

Columbia on Monday

Comp I-Please be thinking of what you want to write your research paper on. We will be discussing this tom. and we will have a speaker from the library in class to teach you how to use resources.

Comp II-Remember, we go to the lab tom. for our one and only day to discuss the final 2,000 word research paper.

Fun Fact Day

Epitaph
At age 22, while working as a printer, Benjamin Franklin wrote the following epitaph for his grave:

“The body of Benjamin Franklin, Printer (like the cover of an old book, its contents torn out and stripped of its lettering and gilding), lies here, food for worms; but the work shall not be lost, for it will (as he believed) appear once more in a new and more elegant edition, revised and corrected by the Author. He was born Jan. 6. 1706. Died 17—.”

Many years later, he changed his mind. Today the following inscription is on his grave: “Benjamin and Deborah Franklin: 1790.”

What's up with that Ben? The first epitaph was soooo much better. Anyway, for those of you keeping up with my reading selection, as of now I am finishing Nefertari by Michelle Moran. While her first book Nefertiti was good, this one I find to be wonderful. Check it out if you havn't already.

Shoals-For Tom. Comp one-your research papers are due at the end of class.
Comp II-Read poetry selections as we head into a new section.

Back in Town!

Well....after an amazing trip, I am now back and I must say it is good to be home. I love to see the sights, but nothing is better than quiet time in my own home. If you know me, then you know I adore traveling. I will go anywhere, anytime. No excuse is to small to see how others live and experience their culture. New York was no different. The culture in the city is endless and the sights are amazing. I highly recommend it to those who have the opportunity.However, I will say, avoid the Empire State building at all costs! Four hour waits are crazy! Next on my U.S. list is Boston or Washington, D.C. Anyway, for now it is back to work! We are winding down to the end of the semester. Please check the previous blog to be ready for class on tues or wed. See you there.

New York State of Mind

Today, I leave for New York for a vacation. It is just me and my sis in the Big Apple. Needless to say, I cannot wait. We are scheduled for sightseeing, shopping, and the Broadway Show Wicked!!!! I previously saw Phantom of the Opera there so I am anxious to see how Wicked stacks up against the great legend. Anyway, I will be thinking of you all while I am away.

Columbia-Comp I be ready for your test on Maisie Dobbs when we return on Wed. Comp II-Please remember to read Utopia for Wed. and be working on a rough draft of your Rogerian essay.

Northwest Shoals-Comp II-Have your drama essay ready to turn in on Tuesday night and remember to study for your drama test. Comp I-please be working on your research papers. Remember, we are in the lab tuesday night.

Meanwhile, here is a New York fun fact--The Big Apple is a term coined by musicians meaning to play the big time.