Essential Understandings

Resource English – This class focuses on improving reading, reading comprehension, writing, and creative writing skill through Daily Language Workouts writing activities, developing understanding and use of literary elements through By the Dozen, practicing creative writing with a variety of subject matters, and character and self-development by reading from diverse novel and self-help titles.
  Term I

• Daily Language Workouts 1-22
• By the Dozen – Setting, Characterization, and Conflict.
• Writing Responses from The Little Book of Chinese Proverbs, Moving Forward – Keeping Still, The Book of Questions, and On Success.
• Read as a class – Lord of the Flies

Term 2

• Daily Language Workouts 23-44
• By the Dozen – Plot, Climax, and Theme.
• Writing Responses from The Little Book of Chinese Proverbs, Moving Forward – Keeping Still, The Book of Questions, and On Success.
• Read in two groups – Of Mice and Men and A River Run Through It.

Term 3

• Daily Language Workouts 45-66
• By the Dozen – Foreshadowing, Flashback, and Point of View.
• Writing Responses from The Little Book of Chinese Proverbs, Moving Forward – Keeping Still, The Book of Questions, and On Success.
• Read in pairs a classic novel – Tom Sawyer, Treasure Island, Journey to the Center of the Earth, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, etc.

Term 4

• Daily Language Workouts 67-92
• By the Dozen – Imagery, Symbolism, and Irony.
• Writing Responses from The Little Book of Chinese Proverbs, Moving Forward – Keeping Still, The Book of Questions, and On Success.
• Read on their own a self-help book – Leadership and Self Deception, The Anatomy of Peace, Keep Going, How Full is Your Bucket, etc.

 

Film I – This class focuses on film history, critical analysis of film, and film production.
            Term 1

• The study of Pre-Film History up to 1900 as outlined in textbooks Film Art: An Introduction by Bordwell and Thompson and The Art of Watching Films by Boggs and Petrie.
• The critical analysis of film elements, outlined in the textbook The Art of Watching Films by Boggs and Petrie, of ‘Slice of Life’ films produced by Thomas Edison preserved on the Smithsonian website.
• Production of a ‘Slice of Life’ film by going through the Pre-Production process of Brainstorming, Outlining, Rough Drafting, Scripting, Storyboard, and Scheduling, then producing the film by filming and editing the story.

Term 2

• The study of Early Film History from 1900 to 1925 as outlined in textbooks Film Art: An Introduction by Bordwell and Thompson and The Art of Watching Films by Boggs and Petrie.
• The critical analysis of film elements, outlined in the textbook The Art of Watching Films by Boggs and Petrie, of silent films produced by Marey, Porter, Chaplin, and others.
• Production of a silent film by going through the Pre-Production process of Brainstorming, Outlining, Rough Drafting, Scripting, Storyboard, and Scheduling, then producing the film by filming and editing the story.

Term 3

• The study of the Golden Age of Film History from 1925 to 1950 as outlined in textbooks Film Art: An Introduction by Bordwell and Thompson and The Art of Watching Films by Boggs and Petrie.
• The critical analysis of film elements, outlined in the textbook The Art of Watching Films by Boggs and Petrie, of films produced by Hitchcock, Curtiz, Ford, Capra, and others.
• Production of a Short Story Adaptation film by reading six short stories from the Read Magazines or their choice of short stories, then selecting one and going through the Pre-Production process of Brainstorming, Outlining, Rough Drafting, Scripting, Storyboard, and Scheduling, then producing the film by filming and editing the story.

Term 4

• The study of the Continue History of Film from 1950 to Present as outlined in textbooks Film Art: An Introduction by Bordwell and Thompson and The Art of Watching Films by Boggs and Petrie.
• The critical analysis of film elements, outlined in the textbook The Art of Watching Films by Boggs and Petrie, of films produced by Lucas, Spielberg, Zemeckis, and others.
• Production of an original film by going through the Pre-Production process of Brainstorming, Outlining, Rough Drafting, Scripting, Storyboard, and Scheduling, then producing the film by filming and editing the story.

Film II – The class focuses on careers in film, major players in those careers, analysis of their films, and creating films for festivals and competitions using the techniques they have learned from the major players in the film industry.
            Term 1

• A study of a screenwriter of students’ choice and creating a power point to show the up-bring, education, training, experience, and works of their selected screenwriter.
• A critical analysis of films their screenwriter has written compared with researched critics analysis of the same films.
• Production of an original film for one of the categories of the Utah High School Film Festival.

Term 2

• A study of a director of students’ choice and creating a power point to show the up-bring, education, training, experience, and works of their selected director.
• A critical analysis of films their director has directed compared with researched critics analysis of the same films.
• Production of an original commercial for the ‘Spot On’ competition sponsored by the Utah Film Commission.

Term 3

• A study of a producer of students’ choice and creating a power point to show the up-bring, education, training, experience, and works of their selected producer.
• A critical analysis of films their producer has produced compared with researched critics analysis of the same films.
• Production of an original film from another category not previously done from the Utah High School Film Festival.

Term 4

• A study of a career in film of students’ choice and creating a power point to showing the up-bring, education, training, experience, and works of their selected career and person.
• A critical analysis of films their person in film has been involved with compared with researched critics analysis of the same films.
• Production of an original film.