Trimester Two: Blog #3 (due 12/14 at midnight)

Take some time to reflect on the Hamlet Project. What worked well? What didn’t? What strengths did each group display? Overall, what are your thoughts on this project, and what might you change for the future?

Trimester Two: Blog #2 (1st hour, due 12/7 at midnight)

Shakespeare’s works are considered to be “for all time.” What themes or topics in Hamlet might be considered timeless? In other words, what themes or topics might appeal to today’s audience? Explain your answer. In fact, as you explain, you might consider making connections between the themes of Shakespeare’s masterpiece and the themes of today’s modern theatrical or cinematic “masterpieces”.

Trimester Two: Blog #1 (1st hour, due 11/23 at midnight)

Comment on a tragic hero outside of Hamlet and Shakespeare’s plays. Identify the tragic hero and include some thoughts on what qualifies that character as a tragic hero. If you choose not to identify your own tragic hero, you may comment on another student’s choice through support or disagreement.

Trimester One: Blog 8 (due 11/2 at midnight)

I would like for you to summarize for us a news story that you’ve encountered recently—one you read in the newspaper, one you heard on the news, one you found on the internet,etc. When I say “news,” I mean that it should be a nonfiction account of an event—the genre (personal interest, crime, politics, etc.) does not matter.

After you’ve summarized this story, analyze it. Think about why it caught your attention, why it stuck with you, and why you think it’s important enough to share with us. What was particularly effective about the way in which it was delivered? You can also go one step further to provide us with your reaction to this story. I want to see what types of events in the world around you are capturing your attention and making you think about issues.

Please respond in some way to at least one other person’s blog. This blog should be more conversational in nature than past blogs have been.

Trimester One: Blog Seven (due 10/19 by midnight)

This week’s blog provides a break from material that we’re covering in class. I think it is one that will provide entertaining content. Remember that it will be graded according to the 6+1 Writing Traits rubric. This does not mean that you must write more than you usually do! Rather, make the answer that you do provide as effective as possible.

Let’s pretend for a few minutes that all of us have some extra free time on our hands—time to watch a compelling movie or read an insightful book! Provide me and your classmates with a movie or book recommendation. Support your recommendation with several specific reasons. This movie or book may be a classic, a new release, or something in between. Feel free to respond to your classmates’ recommendations with affirmation or disagreement if you are familiar with the work he/she is recommending.

Trimester One: Blog Six (due 10/12 by midnight)

Think about the critical reading skills you’ve practiced this year (or should have been practicing) throughout the poetry unit and throughout The Awakening unit. Many of you indicated—via the last blog’s goals—that you wish to further develop these skills by annotating, fondling the details, etc. How have those skills helped you read through the research materials you’ve found? Do you find yourself reading the research materials differently? Have you researched for this essay differently than you have for other essays after hearing the research tips that Mrs. Bontrager presented? Reflect upon your growth as a reader and as a researcher.

Finally, let the rest of the class know what topic you're researching! Feel free to comment on others' topics.

Trimester One, Blog Five (due 10/5 at midnight)

YES! You all have made it through your first six (but really almost seven) weeks of AP English. A lot of you have displayed the desire to challenge your own thinking and to take responsibility for some aspects of your education. I've spent the first six weeks evaluating you through quizzes, essays, discussions, etc. Now, I want to give you an opportunity to evaluate some areas of this class and to set goals. Please answer both prompts below.

1. Please post any and all comments--positive and/or negative--that you have regarding different aspects of the class. You can focus on items such as what's being taught, specific assignments, classroom procedures, and grading practices. If you have suggestions for how I could do things differently to help your learning, please comment.

2. Set at least two specific goals for yourself in regards to what you’d like to accomplish in the next six weeks. Consider your weaknesses and strengths, and set your goals accordingly. These goals should relate specifically to critical reading and/or critical writing.

Trimester One, Blog 4 (due 9/28 by midnight)

After reading the different sections of Beowulf and reflecting on the concepts of an epic hero, discuss what you believe to be Beowulf’s finest hour. Include textual evidence as you explain this great warrior’s highest achievement.

Next, post to another student’s response that either upholds the argument or points out the argument’s flaws.

OR

Make a nomination for a modern epic hero/heroine (serious nominations only). You must cite evidence to support your assertions here. Compare your nomination to Beowulf. Do you believe that your hero/heroine is more heroic, just as heroic as, or less heroic than Beowulf. Justify your points of argument.

You should respond to another student’s work as well.

Trimester One, Blog Three (due 9/14 by midnight)

#1: Respond to the following prompt using one of the four methods described in your blog handout: Continue our class discussion about the identity of the speaker in The Canterbury Tales assumes. Think about the tone as he comments on particular individuals. Do you pick up on any biases? Does this make him reliable/unreliable?

OR

#2: Choose a character from The Canterbury Tales, and compare him or her to a modern figure. Make your comparisons specific, detailed—and appropriate. Feel free to agree or disagree with your classmates’ comparisons.

Poetry Practice Test Comments--no response required

Here are some strengths/weaknesses for each group’s essay to consider as you prepare for tomorrow’s test:

Tori & Elysia:
Starting your writing with a unique introduction is always a good idea. They began with a story that served as a launching board for their analysis.
Referring to specific lines is a must. Cite the lines by number.
Don’t forget to address the structure of the poem if it is unique—this one is.
Got into a bit more detail with some of your points.

Kaley, Ben, & Tyler P.:
Because each of you projected a different interpretation, it was difficult to assess this one.
Say more about the structure—good job at least mentioning it.

Tyler, Trent, Austin:
As noted in class, your intro. was fine but unnecessary as an interpretation of the poem.
You did a nice job of addressing the lines as they occur chronologically.
Include a thesis statement that tells me where you’re going with your smaller points of interpretation.
Good job incorporating quotes into your answer.

Chaz, Derek, & Brandon:
Include a more overt introduction for organizational purposes.
Nice job annotating before writing.
Include some more specific details concerning the assertions you made.

For all groups:
Include a clear thesis statement. For example, “The author’s use of line structure and diction contribute to the poem’s emphasis on the feeling of loss one has when a relationship is broken.
Then, go on to discuss how line structure and diction do just that.

Trimester One, Blog Two (due 9/7 by midnight)

As a change from last week’s blog, please respond this week using option #2, #3, or #4 on your blog guidelines. This allows you some room for creativity in your answer, especially option #4, which directs you to draw your inspiration from class discussion (perhaps you want to further elaborate on the worms in "To His Coy Mistress"). Reread the blog options!

Here’s a thought to add (moment of brilliance for Stump): Consider finding your own cartoon—political or otherwise—and include the link to it. Then, pose your own questions for the class.

Trimester One, Blog One (due 8/31 by midnight)

You have two choices for this week’s blog response:

#1: Respond to the following prompt using one of the four methods described in your blog handout: Continue our class discussion of good readers by explaining how your view of a good reader has evolved over the week. Reflect upon the notes you took and the points we discussed in class to provide a detailed response here.
OR
#2: Visit the link below to view a cartoon from The New Yorker. Then, respond to the following questions: 1) How do the details of the cartoon contribute to the humor it evokes? (That’s right—fondle the details.) 2) What comment does this cartoon seem to be making about our society or about an aspect of society? 3) Why might an editor have chosen to include this particular cartoon in the August issue of The New Yorker?

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/issuecartoons/2007/08/27/cartoons_20070820?slide=5#showHeader