Blog #6: Starting My Nonfiction Project

Due: Tuesday, December 17 at the end of the class.
Words: 300-350
Minimum Links: 1

Welcome to your first post on your nonfiction project.

You've been thinking of topics for the past few days, and most of you have settled or nearly settled on a topic to start researching. Use this post to help you chronicle your thoughts at the onset of this project and work through the steps you'll need to take first. Remember, you have a whole quarter to work on this, but your first steps are very important and should be taken soon.

Some questions to get you thinking:

• What topic (or perhaps what two topics) are you considering?


• How will you share your project. Think about videos, presentations, Podcasts, websites, VoiceThreads, interactive multimedia, or other options. Don't say "PowerPoint." Describe different ways your finished project could look.


• How could you turn this topic into a question or two?
  
  
  
  • For example; If you are studying the impact of grades on learning, you may have questions like "When can grades be harmful and helpful?", "Are grades fair?", "What do grades really reflect?"


• What are your thoughts or preconceptions on this topic at the start of it. What would you imagine you'd find out about the topic? Go ahead and make assumptions and hypotheses here and don't worry about being right or wrong.


• What kind of research can you do about your topic on the Internet or through print resources?


• What kind of first-hand research could you do?


• What experts or professionals do you hope to contact? Where and how can you start looking for these people?


• What questions you do have at this point or what roadblocks/setbacks are you anticipate?


• Do you have any links or sources that you have already consulted or are planning on using?

Post #5: Happiness and the American Dream

Due: Monday, November 25
Minimum Words: 400
Minimum Links to outside sources: 3

We all want to be happy, right? But, what happens once we get there?

Happiness is a huge topic. It's the subject of movies, books, music and countless conversations. You think about it when you pick your friends, your hobbies, and how you relate to others.

Writing this blog prompt is difficult for me, because my friends came up with over 100 important questions about happiness, and the class generated over 60.

So, here's what I'd like for you to do this week. Consider what we've done in class; the stories we've read, the conversations you've had, and the activities we've done. After that, come to a conclusion about the pursuit of happiness and share it here.

Reference what we've done, your own thinking and experiences, and outside sources that connect to what you're thinking about.

I'll try not to ruin this one by asking too many questions.

Good luck.

 Things you can and should reference in your blog:

• "The Euphio Question" by Kurt Vonnegut
• "The Birthmark" by Nathaniel Hawthorne
• Walden passages by Henry David Thoreau
• Emily Dickenson poetry
• Self Reliance by Emerson
• Our American Dream activity with magazine ads
• Our discussions about happiness
• Your observation activities

Blog #4: The Stranger

Due: Sunday, October 13 by 5 p.m.

Your blog post this week will be based on a creative response to The Stranger by Camus. You can pick from the following options or pitch a different idea to McCallum before writing. These prompts will evolve over time, so make suggestions, corrections, etc.

Your response should be at least 350 words long.

Do not do more than one of these prompts.

1. Write a critical piece of an alternate ending for The Stranger considering one of these two paths:

• Meursault does not shoot the Arab.
• Meursault is found not guilty of murder.
  
  • Note: If you think there is another pivotal moment in the book that could create an excellent alternative storyline, feel free to explore that in your writing. Some examples that were suggested were Meursault's interaction with the Magistrate, his decisions surrounding his friendship with Raymond, or his choices made about his career and love life.
• It could be an actual passage from the “novel” or a detailed plot outline of key events.
• Keep an absurdist slant to the resolution you create.

2. Meursault is intriguing, puzzling, and infuriating to those around him, but many people tend to give him the benefit of the doubt and even make excuses for his behavior. Write a detailed character description of Meursault from the perspective of Marie, Raymond, or The Magistrate. It could be from any point on the timeline in the novel or set after the events of the novel have taken place.

• Your writing can include dialogue and actual events from the novel.
• Your writing should reveal something about both the characters who are narrating and Meursault.
• Your character is free to ask questions, speculate, make assumptions, and be wrong.
• Try to stay “in character” during this writing.

3. Imagine Meursault attended BCMS or was a teacher at BCMS in the year 2013. Describe something unique to this place or this time from the perspective of Meursault that stays true to the style and the internal monologue of The Stranger.

• How would an absurdist teenager or teacher react to the world around him? How would an absurdist react to technology, school, assignments, Wal-Mart, or other things?
• Your Meursault could be male or female.
• How would his family, bosses, girlfriend/boyfriend, and friends react to him?
• Note: You should NOT make comparisons between Meursault and any real students or teachers at BCMS. You can, however, compare his reactions with yours.

4. Which modern heroes or villains could Meursault best be compared to? You could compare him to characters in plays, movies, comic books, video games, and other novels.

• The Stranger is an incredibly influential work of literature and many modern directors and authors have studied it. It wouldn’t be surprising if many characters, both heroes and villains are modeled after Meursault.
• Have any modern heroes or villains personified absurdist philosophy?
• Back up your assertions with evidence and details.
• Remember that your audience may be unfamiliar with the work you are referencing, so provide some sort of explanation or context for the work or characters in your writing.
  
  • For example, if I were compare Meursault with The Misfit from Flannery O'Connor's short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find," I would want to make sure to explain exactly who The Misfit is and what about his character reminds me of Meursault.
  • Hey Look! Somebody did it.

Here's one interesting example of a comparison to a modern villain. Don't look at it if you don't want to be influenced.

5. Illustrate Meursault's reaction to or relationship with nature at crucial points in the novel.

• In your blog post, Include the passage or moment you are illustrating and explain the significance of your illustration. This is the part of your blog that demonstrates the critical thinking work behind your work of art.
• Your illustration to could show positive feelings and relationships, negative feelings and relationships, or both.
• All the following criteria can be ignored if you have a better idea:
  
  • Pick a medium you'll work well with. Your options include, but are not limited to; painting, photography, drawing, online art tools, etc.
  • Your illustration does not have to be literal or realistic. You can be abstract. You should take risks.
  • Your illustration can represent feelings and emotions.
  • You could include a series of illustrations rather than a single work.

Blog #3: Meaning

So, today's essential question is a tiny one.

What is the meaning of life?

That's it. You have 40 minutes to blog. Go.

Just kidding. Sort of. Here's a couple of different ways to look at this question that makes it easier to write about:

• Does life have meaning? If so, what gives life meaning?
• Everyone finds some things to be meaningful to them.  Where does meaning come from?
• Where does true happiness come from?
• Why do people seek adventure? Why would a person risk his or her life for adventure?
• How does one find freedom in a world that seem to value conformity?
• How does a person's reactions toward life define who that person is?

Pick any of those questions and come up with something meaningful to write about on your blog. 

This blog entry will be different from your first entry, because it is based on your initial conception of meaning and happiness, not any summary or extensive research. 

You can certainly bring yourself and your experiences into this blog and write more personally if you need to. I know these are big questions and you have a time constraint, so do the best you can. This will come in handy later.

Blog #2: Autobiography of Self as Reader

Due: Monday, September 24 before school
Word Count: 300
Required: Include a link to your autobiography or, if you are able, embed it in your post using HTML.

Introduction

Over the past two weeks, you've thought a lot about your development as a reader, not just as a young adult, but also as a small child. You've considered your parents' involvement in your reading life as well as some of the most positive and negative experiences you've had with literature. Just as importantly, you've come to see something about the reading lives of the people around you - your teachers, your parents, and your peers.

Questions to Consider

You may answer any, all, or none of the following questions and prompts. Do not treat these questions as a quiz. If you're answering more than one question, focus on blending multiple prompts into a seamless response.

The best responses will bring in links to outside sources, including videos, cartoons, photographs, and articles.

• What conclusions can you come to about yourself as a reader?


• What role did reading or story play in your life as a young child and what affect (if any) do you think it had on your development as a reader?


• What do your positive and negative experiences with reading have in common?


• If you were to create a program that would encourage people to read for enjoyment and personal growth for their entire lives, what would you do?


• Why do you think people stop reading or fall "out of love" with reading as they get older?


• What did you learn about your classmates' reading journeys? Can you come to any tentative conclusions based on your observations?


• What do you think you'll discover in your research on reading?


• How can reading be social?


• What have you noticed about books you dislike? What have you noticed about books you really like?


• What single book or story can you attribute with the key moment in your development as a reader?

Samples of Student Work:

• Prezi
• Glogster
• TimeToast
• Google Presentation

Remember, these examples are of work done last year and represent only one possible way of completing the assignment. This is not the only way to do it. In fact, these are products of the first time this assignment was done and your project can be different and better than these models. 

What is Truth?

“Fiction is the lie that helps us understand the truth.”
― Tim O'Brien

Due date: Friday, September 6.

We know that writers, especially non-fiction writers, are supposed to be loyal to the truth. That idea seems simple at first, but as we examine the concept more fully, it becomes apparent that truth is a difficult concept to define.

Here, Ken Burns, a respected American director of documentary films, talks about the difficulty storytellers can have with the truth and how film makers tell 24 lies per second to bring an audience closer to the truth.

Ken Burns: On Story from Redglass Pictures on Vimeo.

For the first week of Quest 8 English, we're discussing and expanding on your interpretations of the meaning of Truth. We'll come up with a wide variety of possible definitions and characteristics for the concept of truth, but we were unable to come up with a broad definition that could satisfy everyone. Your first blog entry should tackle this difficult situation.

Take a look at the following questions and respond in any way you choose on your blog. Try to include the word "Truth" somewhere in your post's title.

1. What is truth to you?
2. What should all readers and/or writers know about the truth?
3. What does it mean to be loyal to the truth?
4. In what ways can a writer best find and report the truth?
5. Can you find or link to a story/video/podcast that exemplifies the pursuit of Truth.

Your response should be thorough and personal, capturing your unique voice and perspective. Try to write at least 300 words. A true blog will contain links to outside sources or responses to the thoughts of the other blogs in the class. 

Good luck.

Due date: Friday, September 6

My Journalism class tackled this subject last year. Here's a look at what a few of them had to say after the second day of class. They may be able to help you think about this topic, but their form is much more informal than yours should be.

• Here's one example from last year.
• Here's another one.
• Here's a third.

Blog #10: Reader's Notebook Entry 3

This entry should cover the end of the book
Due Date: Tuesday, April 9 by the end of class.
Minimum Words: 400 of your own words, not counting quotations.
Note: Be sure you are using a lens and continually returning to the text. Feel free to refer to class discussions.

Helpful links: Sample Reader's Notebook from CIS Literature* | Critical Lens notecards |  Reading Schedule | Reader's Notebook Instructions | Spark Notes

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For this blog, try to move beyond just the reader response lens - just your reactions to the text. Instead, try to connect your reactions to something else, make observations and predictions, comparisons and contrasts, or use a different lens to shape your entry.

The most important thing to remember is that you should constantly refer to the text. Quote passages and paraphrase scenes.

Here are some questions or ideas you can look at tho get started if you are stuck:

• Why is the book even called "To Kill a Mockingbird"?


• Analyze Boo Radley's role in the novel.


• What makes Atticus the way he is. What is his role in Maycomb?


• How do characters change throughout the novel? How do they remain the same?


• What's the role of family in the novel? Pay attention to Ms. Alexandra.


• Take a look at these Book Club questions if you're really stuck.

 

Blog #9 - Reader's Notebook 2

This blog post should cover the events of Chapters 11-19 of To Kill a Mockingbird.
Minimum Words: 400
Minimum Text References and Citations: 4 (Including works outside of To Kill a Mockingbird)
Due Date: Sunday, March 31 at midnight. It must be done before large group discussion.
Note: You are very welcome to include references to other works, including books, stories, videos, music, and other things.

Helpful links: Sample Reader's Notebook from CIS Literature* | Critical Lens notecards |  Reading Schedule | Reader's Notebook Instructions | Spark Notes

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Take a look at the comments I left on your last blog before you start. Most of you got off to tremendous starts, and all of you have several ways you can make improvements and grow in this second entry.

Again, you can and should make these entries from your own reactions and thoughts. Try and keep your blog centered on the new information and events in Chapters 11-19. However, you can connect what you're reading to earlier chapters and discuss changes in tone, characters, and thinking from the first 10 chapters.

For this blog, try to move beyond just the reader response lens - just your reactions to the text. Instead, try to connect your reactions to something else, make observations and predictions, comparisons and contrasts, or use a different lens to shape your entry.

The most important thing to remember is that you should constantly refer to the text. Quote passages and paraphrase scenes.

Here are some thoughts that may help you:

• Perspective and Empathy - considering someone else's struggle - are constant themes throughout the book. How have you seen this develop? How has it shaped the book? Cite specific scenes or events.


• What is this book about? Who is this book about?


• The idea of progress is pretty constant in this book. How is it framed?


• Try on the Gender lens. If any book lends itself to this, it's this one. Many of you even thought Scout was a boy for several chapters.


• Stretch yourself and try on the Marxist lens. There are plenty of opportunities to do this throughout this portion of the novel.


• Here are some pictures of America during the time frame in which the novel is set. What connections can you make to the text?


• Take a look at some of the actual artifacts from the Jim Crow era in America. How does this affect your reading or your perceptions of the novel.


• The trial is the most gripping suspenseful and, arguably, the most important part of the book. It's also a major shift in tone. Provide some thoughts, reactions, analysis, etc. What does it mean?


• You may find this information on Robert E. Lee interesting in light of recent revelations. Here's more from PBS.

Blog #8 - Reader's Notebook Entry 1

This blog post should cover the events of Chapters 1-10 in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Minimum Words: 400
Minimum Text References and Citations: 4 (Including works outside of To Kill a Mockingbird)
Due Date: Tuesday, March 19 at midnight. It must be done before large group discussion.
Note: You are very welcome to include references to other works, including books, stories, videos, music, and other things.

Helpful links: Sample Reader's Notebook from CIS Literature* | Critical Lens notecards |  Reading Schedule | Reader's Notebook Instructions | Spark Notes

This notebook entry is supposed to be 100% dictated by your own analysis and relationship to the text. If you can, try to do this without looking at the suggested questions below. However, for those of you who need a little push to begin this voyage, please feel free to consider the following questions or statements:

• Try to apply a critical lens to your reading, the characters, or Harper Lee.


• Who is the protagonist in the novel? Who is the antagonist? How does the opposition of these two characters help develop the drama and the unfolding of the tale?


• How would this story be narrated, in the third person, from the point of view of Dill’s fabulous imagination?


• How would Boo Radley describe Jem, Scout, and Dill?


• What motivates the primary characters?


• What kind of teacher is Miss Caroline, Scout’s first grade teacher?


• Here are some pictures of America during the time frame in which the novel is set. What connections can you make to the text?


• Take a look at some of the actual artifacts from the Jim Crow era in America. How does this affect your reading or your perceptions of the novel.

Please cite page numbers and specific passages from the novel to support your inferences and conclusions. We will be using these questions and your conclusions, questions, and insights to spark classroom discussion on Wednesday.

Example citation:

Scout says that " Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it" (Page 4). She seems to be trying to emphasize not just the age of the town, but also the slowness of the town, the values of the people, and the way that summer heat made everything drag on.

or

This isn’t the first time we see one of the Price women choosing materialism over God, despite Nathan’s harsh beatings and warnings. On page 363, Rachel reaches for her mirror instead of for her Bible, explaining “[ . . . ] it didn’t seem worth saving at that moment, so help me God. It had to be my mirror.” Whether this shows rebellion or just the simplistic mindset of a 15-year-old teenage girl, I’m not sure. Perhaps she was, in her own, small way, rebelling from Nathan. But maybe she just wanted to make sure that no matter where she went in Africa, she would always know the state of her appearance. That seems pretty likely.

* The sample reader's notebook above is done by a senior in high school with a lot of experience writing these notebooks. It is also over 600 words longer than the entry you are expected to create. No pressure.