Tag: Rocketbooks

Rocketbook: 1984

~ Scott W. Baker ~ 3 Comments

Let’s face it, a one-hour video summary and analysis is not the way to experience classic literature.  I am probably robbing myself of some of the joy of reading and experiencing these novels by getting them spoonfed to me in indigestible lumps.  On the other hand, who can read a novel in an hour?  Not me.

I was already familiar with a lot of 1984’s symbolism and ideology.  Big Brother, 2+2=5 (or as Picard would say: “There…are…four…lights!”), even The Party’s influence over history.  I find the details of Newspeak fascinatingly horrifying.  I feel like I have a better idea how to answer the 3 questions for 1984 than for Great Gatsby.  A lot of what made Gatsby a great book was in the actual writing whereas more of 1984’s greatness comes from the ideas.  I’ll prep responses for both.  I want to start doing 3 a week so I’ll have a good 9 or 10 to draw from when I reach the actual test.  I really suspect I’ll be writing about Shakespeare since it’s pretty well guaranteed to have something of his on the list, but we’ll see.  It would be nice if I could write on Orwell or Tolkein instead.  But as long as I don’t have to B.S. something about Pride and Prejudice, I’ll be happy.

I think this technique is proving effective.  If I get a block of free time (hahaha), I’ll watch 1984 over the computer with Netflix.  I also plan to nose through a few SparkNotes online since Rocketbooks’ selections are limited.

Next up: Frankenstein.  I read it the summer before 9th grade; it was on a required reading list.  I didn’t get it then.  No time for the reread right now, but I can Rocketbook it.

I hear mixed comments regarding the accuracy of different film adaptations of Frankenstein.  Which is more accurate, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein with DeNiro or the made-for-TV version with Luke Goss?  Input from scholarly types appreciated.  (You too, Tracie.  🙂

My First Rocketbook

~ Scott W. Baker ~ 1 Comment

I thought I already wrote this post.  Senility in my middle age.

Anyway, I watched the first Rocketbook video from Netflix: The Great Gatsby.  Let’s face it, it wasn’t earth-shattering by any account.  It wasn’t especially entertaining.  It wasn’t more clear than Cliff’s or Spark Notes are.  The illustrations were only mildly helpful and only mildly decent.  It was late when I watched it and I nearly fell asleep a few times.

On the upside, it was quicker than trying to read a text-based study guide and Mach speeds faster than reading the book.  I got a much deeper sense of the literary elements than watching the movie would have given.  I effectively went from zero to test-ready with The Great Gatsby in an hour.  Not bad.

But am I really ready for the pedagogy test?  (The content knowledge will be too broad to fully cram for.)  Well, let’s see.  You English-teachery types out there, keep me honest.

The Praxis pedagogy test will ask three questions about a list of high-school-relevant literature.  The questions are always the same, but the list of works changes.  They are (abbreviated):

  1. describe two literary features important to the work (with examples);
  2. describe two obstacles to student understanding (specific to this work); and
  3. describe two assignments that address answers from 1 and 2.

I considered trying to answer these questions here, but they were long, boring, and woefully incomplete.  I need the full story to go with the nice tidbits I gleaned from the Rocketbook.  Sure, the doctor’s eyes on the billboard symbolize the judgment of God, but what was he judging?  The green light symbolizes Gatsby’s misguided and illusory goal of getting Daisy, but why was that misguided again?  Nick’s rejection of Jordan symbolized his rejection of high society, but what led to that?  Was it the hit and run?

Question 2 is probably the hardest to answer with the knowledge I have now.  The twenties time period might be an obstacle.  Maybe the gray characters rather than raw good and bad?  Tom’s racism might catch a few kids off guard.

I think a nice, loyal-to-the-book video would make a nice companion to the Rocketbook.  Yeah, yeah, reading the book would be better, but I take the test in a few weeks.  I just don’t want to spend too much time on Gatsby because there’s no guarantee it will even make the list!  I’m trying to troll the waters for potential tidbits.  I’ll be okay if a Shakespeare piece I know hits the list of works: Romeo & Juliet, Julius Caesar, or MacBeth.  I know Midsummer Night’s Dream okay, but I doubt it will be included.  Animal Farm, Beowulf, Scarlet Letter, a couple Poe shorts, The Hobbit — those I can do.  (What would it take to sneak Ender’s Game or Fahrenheit 451 onto the list?)

The good news on this test is that half of it comes from an analysis of student writing.  That I believe I can do.  (Thank you, Critters!)  A passing score can reportedly be ALMOST achieved from just one of the two parts.  So if I can squeak out half the literature points, I’ll be in good shape.

I plan to fully write responses for a few different works (maybe including Gatsby, R & J, MacBeth, Hobbit…just to be indulgent, Scarlet Letter, Frankenstein, Beowulf?) so I can push through them faster on the test.  It seems the smartest approach, not unlike the exhaustive study process I used to prepare for college history tests.  *shiver*  As long as I pass it, the school will reimburse the cost of the test.  Big incentive to study hard.  Fingers crossed.

Rocketing through classics

~ Scott W. Baker ~ 1 Comment

A little browsing on Netflix brought me to a series of DVDs called Rocketbooks.  They seem to be some combination of onscreen text, audio text, and commentary of the form of Cliff’s Notes or Spark Notes.  I’m not 100% sure on that; it could just be text on the screen and reading aloud, but one DVD doesn’t seem long enough for that.  I am recording my pre-viewing commentary here for posterity.  Tomorrow I’ll provide a follow-up post with more accurate descriptions as well as some commentary on the quality.

I received the first of the Rocketbooks in the mail today: The Great Gatsby.  It’s a book I always heard great things about but never got around to reading.  I intend to view it after my wife goes to bed (as she has no interest in reviewing literature or teaching English classes).  I am eagerly curious about what mysteries this DVD will unlock.  I hope it’s worth the effort.