Good afternoon, everyone, and Happy Friday!! Congratulations on completing the first half of the school year--only one school day left to the semester now!! :-)
For this week's blog post, please reflect on your performance in this class, during the past six weeks and over the course of the fall semester. Consider both your academic performance and your behavior in class. What did you do well? In which areas might you improve? Did your performance reflect your best efforts? And finally, what goal might you create for yourself, to accomplish during the spring semester?
Your comments will count as the final homework assignment of the fall semester.
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET THAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO HAND IN ANY AND ALL MISSING/INCOMPLETE CLASSWORK AND/OR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS BY MONDAY, JANUARY 24TH, IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE REFLECTED IN YOUR FINAL REPORT CARD GRADE.
Showing posts with label LC1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LC1. Show all posts
Friday, January 21, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Period 8, Post 17: Fighting Fires
Hi guys. I know that this was an "off" week for a bunch of different reasons, but let's not let it break our stride academically!!
In My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult uses the metaphor of "fighting fires" to describe Brian Fitzgerald's efforts to hold his family together. This week, I'm asking you to make a text-to-self connection; what "fires" are you trying to "put out" in your own lives? What have been the effects of these "fires" on your lives? Do you think you'll be successful at fighting these "fires"?
Your comment will count as a homework assignment for the third marking period of the semester.
In My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult uses the metaphor of "fighting fires" to describe Brian Fitzgerald's efforts to hold his family together. This week, I'm asking you to make a text-to-self connection; what "fires" are you trying to "put out" in your own lives? What have been the effects of these "fires" on your lives? Do you think you'll be successful at fighting these "fires"?
Your comment will count as a homework assignment for the third marking period of the semester.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Period 8, Post 16: Simple vs. Complex Characters
Hi, guys!! We've made it through our first week back from Christmas break--no small achievement!! ;-)
We've spent the past week discussing simple, or one-sided, and complex, or many-sided, characters. Which do you believe to be more realistic? Why? Choose a one-dimensional character from My Sister's Keeper and one whom you believe to be two-dimensional in nature; explain why you think these characters are simple or complex, using examples from the text.
Your comment will count as a homework assignment for the third marking period of the semester.
P.S.--Don't forget about your opinion papers!!!!! :-D
We've spent the past week discussing simple, or one-sided, and complex, or many-sided, characters. Which do you believe to be more realistic? Why? Choose a one-dimensional character from My Sister's Keeper and one whom you believe to be two-dimensional in nature; explain why you think these characters are simple or complex, using examples from the text.
Your comment will count as a homework assignment for the third marking period of the semester.
P.S.--Don't forget about your opinion papers!!!!! :-D
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Period 8, Post 15: Sympathetic to Sara?
Well, we've made it to Christmas break, and can be proud of that accomplishment. :-)
Many of you ended the week very unhappy with Sara's character, and the way she handled her entire birth and pregnancy. You liked Brian better for his excitement over baby Anna as an individual, rather than merely as a means to save Kate's life. Why do you think Sara didn't react to her pregnancy and birth the same way? Do you think Sara bonded with her younger daughter after Anna was born? Explain using textual examples.
Your comment will count as a homework assignment for the third marking period of the semester.
Enjoy your vacation from school, and have a safe and happy holiday season. Don't forget about your homework!! :-)
Many of you ended the week very unhappy with Sara's character, and the way she handled her entire birth and pregnancy. You liked Brian better for his excitement over baby Anna as an individual, rather than merely as a means to save Kate's life. Why do you think Sara didn't react to her pregnancy and birth the same way? Do you think Sara bonded with her younger daughter after Anna was born? Explain using textual examples.
Your comment will count as a homework assignment for the third marking period of the semester.
Enjoy your vacation from school, and have a safe and happy holiday season. Don't forget about your homework!! :-)
Friday, December 17, 2010
Period 8, Post 14: The Need for Control
In My Sister's Keeper we see, through Jodi Picoult's use of flashbacks, how Sara, Kate's mother, fights back against her feelings of helplessness against the disease raging through her daughter's body; she tries to control what she can, by believing that she has power over whether Kate lives or dies.
How is her resolve good for the family? How does it give her family strength? How is it detrimental (i.e., how does it hurt her family)?
Your response will count as a homework assignment for the third marking period.
How is her resolve good for the family? How does it give her family strength? How is it detrimental (i.e., how does it hurt her family)?
Your response will count as a homework assignment for the third marking period.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Period 8, Post 13: The Right to Your Body
This week, we've started reading Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper, in which the main character, Anna, files a lawsuit against her parents over her right to her own body.
Is Anna a sympathetic character (i.e., do you feel sorry for her, about what she's going through)? Do you think that she should donate her kidney to her sister? How does your opinion change, knowing the other treatments to which her parents have subjected her? What would you do if you were in her situation? Why?
Your comments will count as a homework assignment for the third marking period.
Is Anna a sympathetic character (i.e., do you feel sorry for her, about what she's going through)? Do you think that she should donate her kidney to her sister? How does your opinion change, knowing the other treatments to which her parents have subjected her? What would you do if you were in her situation? Why?
Your comments will count as a homework assignment for the third marking period.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Period 8, Post 12: Second Marking Period Reflections
Hello, all. The second marking period is over; we're now starting the third marking period of the semester--the one that will be reflected on your transcripts.
For this week's blog post, please reflect on your academic performance in this class over the past six weeks. What were your your strengths? In what areas do you need to improve? Taking all of this into account, what grade do you think you deserve for the first marking period? Why?
Your comment will count as a homework assignment for the third marking period.
For this week's blog post, please reflect on your academic performance in this class over the past six weeks. What were your your strengths? In what areas do you need to improve? Taking all of this into account, what grade do you think you deserve for the first marking period? Why?
Your comment will count as a homework assignment for the third marking period.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Period 8, Post 11: What You're Thankful For
Hey, all. I hope everybody is enjoying their long weekend. I certainly am. :-)
That said, I'd like to take a break from text-related responses this week. With Thanksgiving upon us, I'd like for us all to remember what the holiday really is supposed to be: not a day for gorging oneself with food, but a reminder to remember the many blessings in our lives, for which we should be grateful.
Therefore, please take this opportunity to say what you're thankful for in your lives.
This will be the last blog post for the second marking period.
That said, I'd like to take a break from text-related responses this week. With Thanksgiving upon us, I'd like for us all to remember what the holiday really is supposed to be: not a day for gorging oneself with food, but a reminder to remember the many blessings in our lives, for which we should be grateful.
Therefore, please take this opportunity to say what you're thankful for in your lives.
This will be the last blog post for the second marking period.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Period 8, Post 10:
Despite the fact that Thanksgiving is fast approaching, we're still deep in the middle of the semester; don't stop working now!!
This week, we talked about how, in The Lovely Bones, characters have used Susie's picture to say goodbye to her, as they begin to move into the acceptance stage of grief. Using the text and your notes, discuss one of the three instances from the book. Explain its importance for the character, and to the story. How does saying goodbye allow this character to move forward with his/her life?
Your comment for this week's post will count as a homework assignment for the second marking period.
This week, we talked about how, in The Lovely Bones, characters have used Susie's picture to say goodbye to her, as they begin to move into the acceptance stage of grief. Using the text and your notes, discuss one of the three instances from the book. Explain its importance for the character, and to the story. How does saying goodbye allow this character to move forward with his/her life?
Your comment for this week's post will count as a homework assignment for the second marking period.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Period 8, Post 9: Coming Together or Being Driven Apart?
Hi, guys!! We've almost made it to Thanksgiving break--just a week and a half of classes, and midterm exams, to go!!
This week we've talked about how tragedy in The Lovely Bones brings some characters together, while driving others apart. For this week's comment, please give one example of EACH from the text, and explain how it affects the other characters in the book.
Your comments will count as a homework for the second marking period.
This week we've talked about how tragedy in The Lovely Bones brings some characters together, while driving others apart. For this week's comment, please give one example of EACH from the text, and explain how it affects the other characters in the book.
Your comments will count as a homework for the second marking period.
Reminder: Midterm Schedule
This note is to remind you all that midterms will be given in all subjects during the week of November 22-24, before we go on Thanksgiving break. Information regarding the specific date for the English midterm will be forthcoming.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Period 8, Post 8: Letting Go
Hello, everybody. I hope you all had a nice week. Certainly, it was a much calmer one, after the craziness of the past two!!
This week, in class, we've discussed how the candlelit vigil in the cornfield on the one-year anniversary of Susie's murder serves as a way to "say goodbye" for both Susie and those she left behind through death. What does it mean, for the mourners to "let go" of Susie? How is Susie "moving on," as well? How does her father's reaction show that he has entered the final stage of grief, acceptance, as well?
Your response will count as a homework assignment for the second marking period.
This week, in class, we've discussed how the candlelit vigil in the cornfield on the one-year anniversary of Susie's murder serves as a way to "say goodbye" for both Susie and those she left behind through death. What does it mean, for the mourners to "let go" of Susie? How is Susie "moving on," as well? How does her father's reaction show that he has entered the final stage of grief, acceptance, as well?
Your response will count as a homework assignment for the second marking period.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Period 8, Post 7: The Influence of Childhood Experiences on Adult Personality
Hi, all. Sorry that this post is late; I gave the new dog a bath when I got home--and then spent the rest of the night cleaning up the bathroom. LOL
Anyway, this week's blog post focuses on George Harvey's flashback in Chapter 15 of Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones, in which he remembers both his mother's compulsion to steal and about how he learned that being a child or a woman were "the two worst things to be." In your comment for the week, please offer your ideas as to how the events depicted both in this flashback and in the first one have helped to transform Mr. Harvey into a serial killer as an adult.
Your response will count as a homework assignment for the second marking period.
Have a happy--and safe--Halloween tomorrow!! :-)
Anyway, this week's blog post focuses on George Harvey's flashback in Chapter 15 of Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones, in which he remembers both his mother's compulsion to steal and about how he learned that being a child or a woman were "the two worst things to be." In your comment for the week, please offer your ideas as to how the events depicted both in this flashback and in the first one have helped to transform Mr. Harvey into a serial killer as an adult.
Your response will count as a homework assignment for the second marking period.
Have a happy--and safe--Halloween tomorrow!! :-)
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Period 8, Post 6: First Marking Period Reflections
Hello, all!! Congratulations on making it through the first marking period of the school year. :-)
For this week's blog post, please reflect on your academic performance in this class over the past six weeks. What were your your strengths? In what areas do you need to improve? Taking all of this into account, what grade do you think you deserve for the first marking period? Why?
Your comment will count as your first homework for the second marking period.
For this week's blog post, please reflect on your academic performance in this class over the past six weeks. What were your your strengths? In what areas do you need to improve? Taking all of this into account, what grade do you think you deserve for the first marking period? Why?
Your comment will count as your first homework for the second marking period.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Period 8, Post 5: "Letting the Light Back In"
Hi, everyone!! I'm sorry that I'm late posting this week's question; I'd planned on posting it before leaving for my cousin's wedding on Friday, but I ran out of time, and then yesterday was crazy-busy, too.
Anyway, this past week we were introduced to Grandma Lynn, and how she "lets the light back in" to the Salmon family's house after Susie's death. We also began exploring the metaphors of light and dark for life and death, respectively. For this post, I want you to think of one example from the text of The Lovely Bones that illustrates members of the Salmon family being stuck in their grief over Susie's death, and one example showing them moving on with their lives. Give an explanation of how each example accomplishes this.
This will count as the last homework for the first marking period.
Anyway, this past week we were introduced to Grandma Lynn, and how she "lets the light back in" to the Salmon family's house after Susie's death. We also began exploring the metaphors of light and dark for life and death, respectively. For this post, I want you to think of one example from the text of The Lovely Bones that illustrates members of the Salmon family being stuck in their grief over Susie's death, and one example showing them moving on with their lives. Give an explanation of how each example accomplishes this.
This will count as the last homework for the first marking period.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Period 8, Post 4: Growing Apart
Hey, everybody. I hope that everyone is enjoying the long Columbus Day weekend!! :-)
Over the past week, we've seen Lindsey and Buckley begin to rediscover happiness, and a sense of normality, since Susie's death. Lindsey has "come alive" through the love and support of Samuel Heckler; Buckley is the only one who can happily remember the good times with Susie. Their parents aren't so lucky; they have developed unhealthy coping mechanisms for dealing with their grief, and are drifting apart, seeking comfort with other people.
Why are the Salmon children handling their grief better than their parents? Why are the parents finding it difficult to comfort each other? What can they do to become closer again?
This will count as a homework assignment for the first marking period.
Over the past week, we've seen Lindsey and Buckley begin to rediscover happiness, and a sense of normality, since Susie's death. Lindsey has "come alive" through the love and support of Samuel Heckler; Buckley is the only one who can happily remember the good times with Susie. Their parents aren't so lucky; they have developed unhealthy coping mechanisms for dealing with their grief, and are drifting apart, seeking comfort with other people.
Why are the Salmon children handling their grief better than their parents? Why are the parents finding it difficult to comfort each other? What can they do to become closer again?
This will count as a homework assignment for the first marking period.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Period 8, Post 3: Vengeance vs. Justice
Hey, everybody. This week, I'd like to continue with our exploration of the theme of "vengeance vs. justice" in The Lovely Bones.
We've seen Susie attempt to move from a position of weakness (a victim) to one of power (the huntress), as she tries to guide her father to those clues that would implicate Mr. Harvey in her murder. But we start to see that her motivation is not totally selfless, but vengeful as well.
What is the difference between vengeance and justice? Why does our society advocate (encourage) justice, rather vengeance? Give one example from the text that shows how Susie wants justice for herself and the other victims. Give one example showing how Susie wants vengeance against Mr. Harvey. And finally, what do you think should happen to Mr. Harvey?
We've seen Susie attempt to move from a position of weakness (a victim) to one of power (the huntress), as she tries to guide her father to those clues that would implicate Mr. Harvey in her murder. But we start to see that her motivation is not totally selfless, but vengeful as well.
What is the difference between vengeance and justice? Why does our society advocate (encourage) justice, rather vengeance? Give one example from the text that shows how Susie wants justice for herself and the other victims. Give one example showing how Susie wants vengeance against Mr. Harvey. And finally, what do you think should happen to Mr. Harvey?
Friday, September 24, 2010
Period 8, Post 2: Your "Heaven"
Hi, all. So, we've made it through two full weeks of classes, as well as the beginning of fall. Quite an accomplishment, don't you think? :-)
In our first whole-class text of the semester, The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold, the narrator, Susie, tells us what her version of heaven looks like, and how it reflects both the life on Earth that she's left behind, and what she misses or wishes she had.
I know that we're all very different, and have our own ideas about what happens after we die. However, let's put ourselves in Susie's place for a minute. Assuming what Susie tells us is real, what would your "heaven" look like? What places/things/people would be there? Where would your roads lead to?
Be sure to include your name, and to write in complete sentences. Pay attention to spelling and grammar.
This will count as a homework assignment for this marking period.
In our first whole-class text of the semester, The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold, the narrator, Susie, tells us what her version of heaven looks like, and how it reflects both the life on Earth that she's left behind, and what she misses or wishes she had.
I know that we're all very different, and have our own ideas about what happens after we die. However, let's put ourselves in Susie's place for a minute. Assuming what Susie tells us is real, what would your "heaven" look like? What places/things/people would be there? Where would your roads lead to?
Be sure to include your name, and to write in complete sentences. Pay attention to spelling and grammar.
This will count as a homework assignment for this marking period.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Period 8, Post 1: Introductions
Hi, guys. Welcome to the first blog post of the school year for our class!! :-)
Please introduce yourself to the class by commenting on this post. In your response, tell us your name, where you're from, what you like to do in your free time, and your favorite subject.
This will count as your second homework assignment for Marking Period 1.
Please introduce yourself to the class by commenting on this post. In your response, tell us your name, where you're from, what you like to do in your free time, and your favorite subject.
This will count as your second homework assignment for Marking Period 1.
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