Mindset

Remember as you experience the joys and horrors that are Day 5 that the point of this project wasn't simply to drive and succeed and be happy. The point was to experience something like what the Joad's felt, going the other way in the 1930's. So failing might even be a desired end in terms of feeling the hardship and disappointment that folks like the Wilsons knew. So don't dwell on the fact that you failed (if you did) or be overly impressed if it was relatively easy. The point is to feel what's there, whether sadness, longing, disappointment, even fear (how will we ever get there?) or joy and fulfillment and reconnecting with your family who have been waiting for you. This was a fiction, and the "you" writing is a character. Inhabit that character.

A Required Bit in Your Last Posting

If you've read the previous posting about Day 5, you know that each of you has the assignment of doing a full reflection on not only the final day, but also the whole experience. As a way of doing that, and as a way of doing it in a more literary style, I want you to make the heart of your final posting (250 words) a description of something "as seen by" your imaginary self at that moment. You may choose one of the following suggestions or choose something on your own that you know would be something in the area you end up in, and that you imagine suiting this purpose beautifully. My suggestions: The moon, a river, the highway itself, an 18-wheeler or your own car. Whatever your state of mind, don't name it. No "I'm disappointed." or "I'm so relieved." Just let disappointment or relief color what your fictional self sees in the object. More in class next time, or ask me for more in tutorial today.

Day 5 Approacheth

D Block, you are staring straight at the last day of your journey, when you will either reach your destination, or end up somewhere out on the road, out of money, out of gas, out of luck. C Block, you've still got Day 4 as well, but the end is in sight for you as well. The required posting for the final day, whenever you reach it, is a little different than what you're used to. Since you have the whole experience to look at, in total, I want each partner in the car to write a full 500 words and to focus on the whole experience. It of course should include some context: what happened the last day, either success or some kind of failure. But it should also look at the whole journey and the lessons you learned about being on the road on your own. How might you approach the daily ritual differently now that you've done it once? What surprised you? What kinship with the Joads did you feel?

Character: A New Wrinkle

Many of you are doing a great job of cataloging the nuts and bolts of your journey: the meals, the gas, the lodging, the miles, etc. Yesterday I urged you to use Google Earth to SEE the landscape you are passing through, and comment on it as well. It's not all fast food and sleeping. Today I want to add another element: You meet someone. The Joads meet many people on their journey: both folks going west like themselves and others going east. And they meet some others who are distinctly unsympathetic. I want you to imagine that you meet someone and have some kind of interaction with him or her, resulting in dialogue. Remember to see them as well as hear them, though. Remember the characterization exercise and bring some of those ideas to bear. Have fun!

Partnering: If the Shoe Fits. . .

Hi all, I'm aware of at least a couple of pairs where one partner feels he or she is doing all or most of the reflective writing. Image posting is another matter, and I'm really not talking about food, gas and lodging records either. Bottom Line: The 500 word reflection needs to be equally shared. Whether you do that by alternating days, and sharing the final day, "when all the cards are dealt and there's nothing left to see" or by sharing the 500 equally each day of the journey, each member of the team must pull his or her own weight. Look in the mirror, guys. I'll check in with you (and your partner) soon. "If the shoe fits. . . ."

Making Your Travel Blog Available etc.

Hey all, I've been looking at and commenting on the blogs that I have access to and I've noticed some things. First, not all of you have sent me the link to your blog, so I can't see it to comment. Do that right away. Second, the blogs from C Block that I have looked at seem to be missing most of the Day 1 material required on the rubric and which I would have thought you accomplished during class yesterday, at least in part. Remember that EACH DAY you need 4-6 images, 500 words of reflection (either shared or done on alternate days) plus accounting for meals, lodging, gasoline, and ongoing budget. The "random hardships" are challenges for your journey, AND they are sources of experience you should be posting about on your blog. So don't get behind or you'll find yourself with too much to do at any one sitting. If you need to, check in with me about what I'm seeing on your Blog. Day 2 is upon us!

Day 0 Tasks

Before the Trip Begins: Day 0 (Will count as “Blog Set Up” when I grade) After you’ve gotten the partner blog created and published so I and everyone can see it, there are a few more things I’d like you to do before we hit the virtual road. Some of you have done some of these already, at least in some form. Some of you haven’t yet. Before you start your road trip you must complete one blog entry with: • an image of your vehicle, the correct year and model, or as close to it as you can get; • an “image” of the home you're leaving behind—inside or out. The kitchen? Your room? D-Block: Make this a written description if you don’t have a photo in class today. Or you can make a note to edit this posting later and complete it then. • an image of your destination; • what you're bringing in your carry-on sized suitcase; (maybe actually pack a real one and take a picture?); Make this more than “clothes” and even “5 pairs of pants. Unless you have only five pair, you had to make some choices here. Jeans? Dress pants (for the new school that might require them? A favorite pair? And what shirts? A hoodie you love? What are your “signature” clothes, and can you bring all of them? • some hope and fears about your trip, including some reference to your trip buddy. (You should have already done this as homework!)

Sharing Authorship of a Blog/Blogging in General

A few of you have had trouble posting because your partner actually created the Blog from his or her account. Here's Mary Collie's instructions on her Blog. I hope this helps.

How to share blog authorship:

To share authorship of the blog go to Settings --> Basic. Scroll down a bit to Permissions. You'll see a section called "Blog Authors". Click on "Add Authors", and send your partner an email to invite her/him to be an author. S/he'll register in some way and then you'll both have writing abilities.


I also have another helpful guide for posting, including posting images, listed in Essential Documents. If you haven't yet created a shared Blog with your partner you need to do that immediately, either with your existing know-how, or by using these documents.

Tomorrow in D block we will officially begin the Journey, starting with the Rubric for what you need to do each day. C Block will officially begin on Monday.

See you all soon!

2015 Hits the Road!

The much anticipated Travel Odyssey Project is now uploaded and available for your investigation. Find it in Essential Documents. The schedule is folded into the syllabus, too.

This is going to be fun!

Literary Festival

You are all newbies when it comes to Literary Festival. I've said some things in class, but I want to post something you can read so I know you all were listening and can look back if need be.

Literary Festival is an annual (this is the 20th one!) celebration of the written and spoken word. Events happen every period from Tuesday, Feb 7 to Friday, Feb 10. Events are generally open to all community members. If you have a free you can most likely drop in (check with me if you want to be sure). Some of your classes may attend. If there is an event during a class meeting which is not attending altogether, you may ask your teacher for permission to go. Understand that your teacher has final say as always. Try as best you can to look at the schedule (on the MA website) far ahead of time and give your teacher as much notice or opportunity to consider letting you go as possible. Requests that pop up five minutes before the session are generally scorned. Rightly so.

These sessions are often small (unlike Conference on Democracy) and generally interactive. In other words, come prepared to write. Have materials with you. Even if you are not asked to write, you might find yourself inspired to jot down some notes: a book to read, a story to write later, etc. Most events are in the BBLC Lecture Hall. Some are in the Black Box Theater, and some are in the Main Theater. The all-school assembly on Thursday is as always in the New Gym. There will be a schedule in the lobby of the BBLC, and one is available right now on-line at the MA website.

Now and in years to come, you can participate in Lit Fest as a reader or even as a presenter. If you have something you'd like to read during our Community Readers time (Monday lunch in the BBLC Lecture Hall) let me know! You can read just one poem if you like. A very short story or essay! In future years, you could lead a session. Echoes, our Literary Magazine always sponsors a writing workshop. There have in the past been other student-led activities. Think about what you could do!

Bottom line, enjoy Lit Fest. Some of the writers are folks you may never see again, and these experiences can be life-changing. I hope they are for you!