THS Lit 10

Friday, May 2nd, 2008

Blog Post #6 - Silent Questions 

Choose a minimum of three of the following questions to answer.  Devote sufficient time and thought to each of the questions you answer in this blog entry; these should be high quality responses.  Make each of your three responses at least 4 sentences, but for high quality reflection, I’d like to see 5.

1.  In the novel we are about to read, an adult narrator is looking back on an event that happened to her when she was a child.  Even though she is only six years old at the beginning of the story, the narrative voice is far from childish.  In fact, the story is told from a very grown-up perspective, but manages to be funny and innocently honest about her thought processes as a child.  Think back to a definitive moment in your early childhood (something funny, frightening, or significant), and re-tell the story in your adult voice.  Be descriptive and imaginative.

2.  What is the derivation of the word “prejudice”?  (pre-judge)  What does it mean?  Have you ever experienced or witnessed prejudice?  How did you feel?  What did you do?  What would you do if heard a classmate use a racial or sexual slur?  What would you do if you saw one classmate harass another classmate because of race, religion, or sex?

3.  The setting of the novel we are about to read is extraordinarily important to understanding the events contained within.  Describe your neighborhood or a neighborhood you once lived in.  Explain what it looks like, where it is located, and what the people in it are like.  What are their attitudes and fears?  What do you think about growing up there?  Again, be descriptive and imaginative.

4.  Empathy:  What is empathy?  When is the last time you felt empathy for someone?  Is it always good to be empathetic?  Can you feel empathy for someone as well as anger or dislike?  What would the world be like if no one felt empathy for any one else?

5. Define justice in your own words.  What is the most unjust occurence you’ve ever heard of?

6.  Consider your own life.  Have you ever found that your personal differences have caused you friction with others?  Are you ever intolerant of the personal differences of others?  If someone were intolerant of a friend of yours, would you defend your friend?

7.  Look up the definitions of these terms and write them down: racism, sexism, ageism, classism.  How does racism play a role in human destructiveness?  What about sexism?  Ageism?  Classism?  Can you think of other “isms”?

Friday, April 25th, 2008

Blog Post #5 - Memoir

For this post, you simply need to share your memoir. If you’ve already typed it somewhere else, you should be able to copy and paste the writing into a new post, otherwise, you’ll need to type up the final draft for this post. After hearing the memoirs during Group Share today, I know that there is a great deal of interest in hearing the rest of your memoirs.

Remember, I’m also asking you to read and respond to the posts of your peers in intelligent, thoughtful ways. Please read and respond to a minimum of two posts written by your peers, including at least one who is enrolled in a different class period. Use the blogroll at the right to find blogs written by students in Lit 10B.

Friday, April 11th, 2008

Blog Post #4 - Text Messaging… Does it help or hinder student writing?

I recently received the following e-mail, and thought that it would make for a thought provoking blog topic:

One of the most intriguing announcements came from a grader of the state wide reading assessments. FTR, she claims that for the first time ever, a significant number of students are starting to be graded down for using nonstandard English (i.e. text message slang and acronyms) on their writing samples. She urged building reps to encourage teachers to be vigilant in rooting out text message slang from student writing to prevent this from becoming an even bigger problem in the future. As a person who can barely operate a cell phone (ESO), I thought that I’d better do my part in educating the staff against this pernicious evil. BTW, you might be surprised to know that there are lots of text messaging dictionaries, translators, etc., on line to help us OFs figure out what the SNERTS are talking about.

There are also numerous examples of schools, in the United States and abroad, that have had the same type of conversation about the impact of texting on student writing. It turns out that there isn’t a clear consensus, some of the reports tend to support text messaging as a path towards improved writing (read thie articles, Text Slang Aiding Children’s Language Skills)while others denounce texting as dumbing down the English language (read this article, Text Message Essay baffles British Teacher). Read what other students have to say about text messaging here: Should Txt Speak Be Allowed in School?

I’d like to hear your thoughts on the issue, after all, it is the young people of the world that are said to speak this language. Use the following questions as a guide as you write your reflection:

1. What are your general thoughts about text messaging?

2. On average, how many text messages do you send a day? How many people do you regularly text message?

3. Does text messaging make a difference in terms of your ability to write well? How does text messaging impact your own writing?

4. What place, if any, does text messaging have in schools? In our language? In popular books, television advertisements, political campaigns, and movies?

5. How is text messaging changing face-to-face and spoken communication? What impact does text messaging have on communication?

Make this reflection at least 8 sentences, but for high quality reflection, I’d like to see 10.

Friday, April 4th, 2008

Blog Post # 2 - Blogs? What’s a Blog?
So I want you to begin by telling me what you think about all this. Use the questions below to fuel your writing about the beginning of the year.

• What is a blog?
• Where have you ever heard of blogs?
• How comfortable are you with computers?
• What kinds of things do you do with computers typically?
• What is your opinion of writing?
• What kind of writing do you like to do?
• Why are people so concerned about kids’ safety when they’re using the Internet?
• Is the Internet dangerous?
• What do your peers generally do with computers and the Internet?
• What do you think/how do you feel about the year ahead, knowing that you will be using a blog a lot in English class?

Write this reflective paragraph to give me a feel for how you feel today. Make it at least 10 sentences, but for high quality reflection, I’d like to see 12.

Blog Post #3 - Independent Reading - New Understandings

In 2-4 sentences, describe one new understanding or insight that you have gained through your independent reading. Include at least one specific quote (cite appropriately with title, author, and page number) from the text itself that highlights this new understanding.

Friday, March 21st, 2008

Blog Post #1 - Independent Reading - Book Selection
First, give your post a title, the same title I used above, Blog Post #1 - Independent Reading Book Selection. Next, tell us about the book you choose, include in your post the title and author of the book. In the post, explain why you choose to read this book. Make it at least 8 sentences, but for high quality reflection, I’d like to see 10.

What about this particular work caught your attention? Did you choose this book yourself? Did someone recommend it to you? If so, who?

Finally, include in your post a picture of the book cover. Simply find the image, write down the URL for the page, and then click img at the top of your Posts screen to copy the URL for the image. Amazon.com has a good selection of book images if you need a starting point.