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?

6th--Equality's "This I believe"

Think about the "This I believe" essays we've heard, and the ideas you read about in Anthem. In thinking about Equality,
1. What would you say he believes?
2. What has he learned about life and how does this influence his beliefs?
3. Jackie Robinson said one must be willing to fight for what is good. What is Equality fighting for? Will it be a losing fight, do you think?
4. What will sustain him in his fight?
5. What will he do for others, do you think?
6. What other questions do you have, from your reading last night?

5th Equality--what does he believe?

Think about the "This I believe" essays we've heard, and the ideas you read about in Anthem.

In thinking about Equality,

1. What would you say he believes?
2. What has he learned about life and how does this influence his beliefs?
3. Jackie Robinson said one must be willing to fight for what is good. What is Equality fighting for? Will it be a losing fight, do you think?
4. What will sustain him in his fight?
5. What will he do for others, do you think?
6. What other questions do you have, from your reading last night?

What America Means to Me

Using your "What America Means to Me" collage, open a word document and write down words, phrases, images, and emotions you were trying to convey. Then, write a topic sentence that answers: What does America mean to me? Continue on your EEE's writing your paragraph that explains in detail, using your images and words, what America means to you.
1. Use a topic sentence,
2. a thoughtful, spell-checked, properly punctuated, specific example-listed discussion,
3. and a concluding sentence.
***Do this in Word first and then copy and paste it onto this blog.

6th hour "Cask of Amontillado"

As we finish our short story unit, please show me what you've learned about reading strategies. Finish reading "Cask of Amontillado."
On this blog post, please post your final thoughts and a group topic sentence.
I'll come around and assign each of you a color.
On the post, put your color, then your final reactions, inferences, and observations.
Then, write your group's topic sentence.
Your question: What did Montresor most value? How do you know?

5th hour "Cask of Amontillado"

As we finish our short story unit, please show me what you've learned about reading strategies.
Finish reading "Cask of Amontillado." On this blog post, please post your final thoughts and a group topic sentence. I'll come around and assign each of you a color.
On the post, put your color, then your final reactions, inferences, and observations.
Then, write your group's topic sentence.
Your question:
What did Montresor most value? How do you know?

Ibis 6th hour: Questioning while we read

While we read "The Scarlet Ibis," we'll practice good questioning techniques. As you have a question, please post it to this blog. When another finds the answer to the question or has a follow-up question, or an idea that relates to the question, he/she will post those thoughts.
Please use the handout from the webpage to guide your thinking. Be respectful and specific on this blog--use predictions, background knowledge, and inferences to come to your conclusions. Link your ideas back to the text.

Ibis--Questioning as we read

While we read "The Scarlet Ibis," we'll practice good questioning techniques. As you have a question, please post it to this blog. When another finds the answer to the question or has a follow-up question, or an idea that relates to the question, he/she will post those thoughts.

Please use the handout from the webpage to guide your thinking. Be respectful and specific on this blog--use predictions, background knowledge, and inferences to come to your conclusions. Link your ideas back to the text.

Ibis Blog--anticipating the story

Please answer both questions in a thoughtful way. Interact with your peers here by commenting on their ideas and challenging their thinking.

1. Think about your relationships with people you love, especially in your family. Can love and cruelty co-exist? Why or why not?

2. Should you try to change someone you love, or should you make changes for someone you love? Why or why not?

Childhood: Playground Memories

This weekend, please visualize yourself on your elementary school playground. Describe a specific memory you have in this place. Then, think about what's common, good and bad, about a child's experience on the playground. Explain at least one of those common experiences here.

I encourage you to interact with your peers on this blog. Ask questions, respond to thinking, make connections with others here.

Summer Reading

Tonight, please post a comment about one of your summer reading books. Please include the author, the title, and
1. one interesting idea you remember from this text.
2. consider one lesson that teenagers might learn from your book.
3. recommend it to another student--what type of person would enjoy this book?