Macbeth Act 2, Scene 2 – Is this A Dagger?
Is this a dagger which I see before me? This period’s work is to review the video explainer attached to this post and then complete a paragraph exploring the language Shakespeare uses to give us a deeper insight into Macbeth’s state of mind in Act 2, Scene I.
Weekly Outline – Term Two, Week One
This week we are going to hit the ground running by getting straight into the reading of Macbeth. We’ll be working together online in our class hangouts – reading aloud, and analysing what we hear.
Lesson 26 March – Act 1, Scene 5: Language Analysis
Today you’re asked to re-watch my video explainer in relation to Lady Macbeth’s first soliloquy. We do not have a class conference today, but I will remain online and available to speak to anyone who wants individual or small group feedback. This post contains everything you need to get on with your work.
Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 5: Unsex Me Here
In Act 1, Scene 5 of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is introduced in full command of her power of evil persuasion. “unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty!”
Shakespeare: Macbeth
Our first text in our study of Dire Ambition is William Skakespeare’s “Macbeth”. One of the world’s most famous studies of the corrupting effects of ambition and power.
Weekly Outline – Term Two, Week Two
After watching the film version of Act 1, we’re back to working together online to read the play in each others’ company – reading aloud, and analysing what we hear.
Friday 27 March – Act 1, Scene 5 Analysis: Let’s Share
We’re meeting again today during our normal English period to read through your analysis paragraphs. Really looking forward to seeing you all and going through this great work.
Lesson: 25 March – Act 1, Scene 5
Welcome to the first daily lesson outline for Wednesday 25 March. It’s time for us to switch to our planned videoconferences for English – which will run when you normally have your English lesson on your timetable. Here’s what we’ll be doing today.
Macbeth Act 1, Scene 4: Black and Deep Desires
Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires:
NCEA 1.5 – Formal Writing – Spoken Language Study
This task is a culmination of our study of our own spoken and text language. This is an opportunity to explore the techniques of language, structure and conventions of oral language that underpin the rapid and innovative changes we’re seeing in our interpersonal communication
Podcast
Listen to this course's companion podcast to help make sense of everything you find published here
Course Content
Choosing Dire Ambition as your English programme for Level 1 means that you probably like the world to see you as a political, more socially-conscious type; you’re probably irritated by injustice and your ironic humour has probably got you into trouble on more than one occasion… This programme will explore way ambition can destroy or empower groups and individuals. You’re not here to study English for the sake of it, you’re acquiring a set of skills that you will immediately put to use in life. You’ll need to think fast, question everything and be willing to speak up. You will be asked to challenge yourself as well as others, take risks and show ambition.
We’ll explore modern text communication and online language and compare this with your own speech to learn why, in spite of social attitudes to the contrary, these modern idiolects thrive.
We’ll read Macbeth and you’ll have the option to explore the impact of unfettered ambition in Lord of the Flies as well as the moral injunctions presented in the film Gattaca and its meditation on the consequences of human ambition. Throughout, you will be practising the key skills required to succeed in the NCEA examinations. In parallel to this everyone will be completing for homework their own longitudinal inquiry by investigating links between self-selected books, films and art and presenting these in written form.