6th hour: "Witness" final discussion

In this online discussion, you should comment on the blog at least three times. Here are a few questions to get you started. You can also post the questions you have, now that we're done with the text.

1. Look at the image to the right. Notice the teaser, and then think about the title. What symbolic significance does the title Witness have? Think about the synonyms for this word: observer, spectator, bystander, onlooker, eyewitness, watcher. How do these words apply to various characters? What about the outcome of this text?

2. How does the title connect to the theme of the text?

3. Think about Merlin. What does this text teach about bullying, and its relationship to a lack of role models and economic strife?

4. How do emotions like jealousy and fear and problems like ignorance influence one’s prejudice?

5. Are we responsible for protecting our friends, neighbors, and even acquaintances?

"Witness" final discussion

In this online discussion, you should comment on the blog at least three times. Here are a few questions to get you started. You can also post the questions you have, now that we're done with the text.

1. Look at the image to the right. Notice the teaser, and then think about the title.
   What symbolic significance does the title Witness have? Think about the synonyms for this word: observer, spectator, bystander, onlooker, eyewitness, watcher. How do these words apply to various characters? What about the outcome of this text?


2. How does the title connect to the theme of the text?


3. Think about Merlin. What does this text teach about bullying, and its relationship to a lack of role models and economic strife?


4. How do emotions like jealousy and fear and problems like ignorance influence one’s prejudice?


5. Are we responsible for protecting our friends, neighbors, and even acquaintances?

Position Paper: Rough Draft Thesis

For this weekend, please add your rough draft thesis statement to this blog. To create a thesis for this paper, change your should question to a should statement and give three reasons to explain your statement.

Example:
"Should high schools change graduation requirements?"

BECOMES

"High schools should change graduation requirements to meet the expectations of colleges, the growing demands of the business world, and their students' changing needs."

DUE: by midnight Friday night, 3/5.

6th: Odysseus character revealed by Circe

In your pods today, please brainstorm answers to these questions. After you've come up with ideas, please post them to the blog. If there's time, please respond to other people's ideas, too.

1. What new impressions of Odysseus did you get from this part of the story?

2. In what ways is Circe a danger to Odysseus and his men? Is she more or less dangerous than the Cyclops? Support your opinion with text from the epic.

3. Eurylochus' character contrasts sharply with Odysseus' in this episode. What aspect of Odysseus' character are revealed through this contrast?
*Consider:
~how each feels about Circe
~what each wants to do after Circe has transformed his first group of men
~how Eurylochus criticizes Odysseus
~how Odyssesu reacts to Eurylochus' criticism

4. What heroic (or anti-heroic) qualities does Odysseus reveal in this episode? Explain your thinking.

5. As a metaphor, what does Circe suggest Odysseus needs to learn or overcome?

5th Odysseus--character revealed by Circe

In your pods today, please brainstorm answers to these questions. After you've come up with ideas, please post them to the blog. If there's time, please respond to other people's ideas, too.

1. What new impressions of Odysseus did you get from this part of the story?


2. In what ways is Circe a danger to Odysseus and his men? Is she more or less dangerous than the Cyclops? Support your opinion with text from the epic.


3. Eurylochus' character contrasts sharply with Odysseus' in this episode. What aspect of Odysseus' character are revealed through this contrast?
   *Consider:
   ~how each feels about Circe
   ~what each wants to do after Cice has transformed his first group of men
   ~how Eurylochus criticizes Odysseus
   ~how Odysseus reacts to Eurylochus' criticism


4. What heroic (or anti-heroic) qualities does Odysseus reveal in this episode? Explain your thinking.


5. As a metaphor, what does Circe suggest Odysseus needs to learn or overcome?

What's the Perfect Adventure?

If you were writing a recipe for the perfect adventure, what would you include?

Be creative; use accurate measurements and appropriate cooking verbs: mix, chop, saute, broil, bake, etc.

Set this up like a recipe, ingredients first and directions next, the yield (product) last.

Example:
Ingredients:
1 cup of danger
1 tsp of romance
etc.
Directions:
Chop danger into small pieces. Sprinkle romance evenly over the danger pieces... etc.

Yield: one perfect adventure

"City of Ember"--reflection

Now that we've finished this movie by director Gil Kenan and screenwriter Caroline Thompson, do some reflection about its argument--what would you say is the creator's concern about the future? Our society? Remember the definition of dystopia: the worst type of society

With your pod, create a topic sentence that makes an argument about the creator's response to one of these questions:

Why is there so much concern about the future?
What role might technology play in creating a dystopic society?