Tuesday, March 27

In class, students completed the journal entry posted yesterday. Any students who will be missing class on Thursday must view the following Alfred Hitchcock episode (link below). There is no additional homework over Spring Break.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/34680/alfred-hitchcock-hour-the-monkeys-paw----a-retelling

Mon, March 26

In class today, students discussed alternative endings to short stories. Students who missed class need to submit a short write-up of their alternative ending via email or to my mailbox.


On Tuesday, students will complete an in-class journal entry on the following prompt. Missing students will also need to complete this.

 

Usually, people look to others around them—ordinary people—for their heroes. They define heroes as decent citizens who make sacrifices or try to make a difference. For example, people name streets after local war veterans, parks after teachers, bridges after local politicians. Rejecting historical, literary, or national figures as heroes, people tend to believe that anyone can be a hero. A hero does not have to be superhuman.

--Adapted from Peter H. Gibbon, A Call to Heroism

Should ordinary people be considered heroes, or should the term "hero" be reserved for extraordinary people? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Thursday, March 22

In class, students discussed elements of suspense in The Monkey's Paw. Students who missed class must read this story and complete the assignment below.


HW due Monday: If you are in class, you need to have a list of ideas related to the topic below. If you will be missing class on Monday, you must submit either to my box or via email a paragraph on the topic.

Select either "The Lottery" or "The Monkey's Paw" and conceive of an alternative ending to one of the two stories.

Monday, March 19

In class, students discussed the elements of suspense in film and writing. Students who missed class must complete homework in time to participate in class tomorrow.

READ: "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson either online or pick up copy from desk in classroom.

Read the story twice. On the first, read solely for entertainment purposes and to follow the plot. On the second, take notes on specific lines from the story or techniques the author uses to establish suspense. After reading the second time and taking notes, write up to 1 paragraph evaluating the effectiveness of the development of suspense in this story.

All work on "The Lottery" due for Tuesday's class. A second story will be distributed in class and posted here Tuesday due in Thursday's class.

Thurs, March 15

In class, students completed a journal entry on the following prompt:
"A man who waits to believe in action before acting is anything you like, but he is not a man of action. It is as if a tennis player before returning the ball stopped to think about his views of the physical and mental advantages of tennis. You must act as you breathe." -Georges Clemenceau

Is is true that acting quickly and instinctively is the best response to a crisis? Or are there times when an urgent situation requires a more careful consideration and a slower response? Plan your response, and then write an essay.

On Monday, we will begin a unit reading and analyzing short stories. The stories will be posted to this blog on Monday for access if you are traveling. Check back then.

Tues, March 13

In class, students performed and submitted dialogues between Socrates and Meursault. Performances continue Thursday for any students who are in class with their partners. We will also complete a journal entry on Thursday.

Mon, March 5

In class, students worked on their dialogues between Socrates and Meursault that illuminate understanding of each character's position on at least 3 overlapping themes in Plato's Crito and Camus' The Stranger.

Students will have class time on Tuesday to continue working.

Draft due Thursday for peer review. Final draft due Monday, March 12 for rehearsal with partners. Presentations of dialogues take place March 13th onward as students are present in class.