Friends, Romans, Countrymen...

Extra Credit Assignment

2011-04-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

Ok, friends! Here are is an optional assignment for you!

First of all, brainstorm a couple of words that apply to everyday life for you. These could be words like "napping", "schoolwork", "being with friends", "holidays", "family time", "eating", "shopping", etc.

Once you have settled on a word or two, go to the following website:
US Holocaust Memorial Museum
Should be fixed now...

(This is, by the way, a great resource for all Holocaust study!)

Click on the upper bar (research), then collections and archives, then on the sidebar go to photo archives.

Under photo archives, click on Search Online catalog.

Then, put the word you selected in the Search bar.

Look through several pages of pictures until you find some that you really like. (Make sure the date at the bottom is prior to 1939.) Once you have found two different ones that you really like, print them out.

The last step is to look through your own family photos and find a picture from your own family archives that is similar to one of those that your printed from the website. Arrange both photos in an artful way that can be hung on the wall.

Last of all, write a reaction to this assignment. What did you notice as you looked through the photos? What conclusions can you draw about life prior to the Holocaust? What similarities and differences did you see between your own photos and the photo you selected? What feelings did you have as you completed this assignment?

This is due by Friday. 25 points extra credit if well done.

The Iliad

2011-03-14T05:45:00.003-07:00

We took notes over the characteristics of an epic. What examples can you point out from The Iliad that fit the criterion?

Try Your Hand

2011-03-14T05:45:00.001-07:00

Iliad Game Here is an Iliad Game on the Internet. It's pretty fun. Give it a try and post any comments you have about it.

Back and Better than Ever.

2011-03-14T05:37:00.000-07:00

What is that light filtering through the clouds and trees? The blogs are BACK!

After a LOOOOOONG bloggy hiatus, my class blogs are back... and better than ever before. We are going to finish the semester with a bang, interacting virtually with each other and having some enrichment stuff on here, some extra credit, some commentary, some planning... It's going to be GREEEAAATTT!!!!! :)

I Do Apologize.

2010-05-03T18:36:00.002-07:00

Well, friends, I have to tell you... you can look at this whole blog debacle this semester in one of two ways. You can either view it as an example of the fact that even adults sometimes just plain mess up, or you can view it as a life lesson that sometimes, you take on more than you can handle and when you do, you just have to choose to let some things go. Since I love learning, I choose to see it as the second. The blog died this semester. For that, I apologize. Maybe you can take another of my classes and we can blog in that class? :)

However, while we are apologizing, the thing that does not require an apology is this semester with this class! I have had, honestly, the BEST semester with you guys. I tend to have a little bit of an effusive personality and sometimes I like to use hyperbole (look it up!) :), but I am being completely plain in this. You all have been an absolute JOY. I have felt so incredibly blessed throughout this entire crazy, stressful semester. I have had all great classes, but you all were just such a refuge for me. It was so... comfortable, I guess... to come in to fourth period with you guys. You showed enthusiasm for learning, respect for me, kindness for each other, and passion for life. (That, by the way, is an example of grammatical parallelism. Just so you know.) I have soooo enjoyed getting to know each and every one of you. You have made teaching the true pleasure that I genuinely view it as being. Thank you so much, and nothing would make me happier than to see any one of your names on my rolls in the future, whether it be Holocaust Literature or English IV AP. I hope you all have an incredible summer, and I can't wait to hear your names in the next two years at Cleveland as you accomplish much and wow more teachers. Love you!!!

Mrs. Davis

Opening of "Troy"

2010-02-19T20:57:00.001-08:00

Odysseus: [voiceover] Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity. And so we ask ourselves: will our actions echo across the centuries? Will strangers hear our names long after we are gone, and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved?" These are powerful first lines. The opening lines, opening scenes, in movies really set the tone for the movie. What reactions do you have to these lines, knowing the epic characteristics and the text of The Iliad as you do?

The Iliad

2010-02-19T20:56:00.002-08:00

We took notes over the characteristics of an epic. What examples can you point out from The Iliad that fit the criterion?

Try Your Hand...

2010-02-19T20:56:00.001-08:00

Iliad Game Here is an Iliad Game on the Internet. It's pretty fun. Give it a try and post any comments you have about it.

Week of February 8

2010-02-08T06:44:00.000-08:00

I am really sorry that, due to the snow day, our Inferno unit got a little off-kilter. However, I bet you were soooo glad to have the day off, huh? :) For that reason, this week will be a little crammed so that we can try to catch up. We'll get it worked out, though.

Monday, 2/8
Inferno Catch-up
Illiad Intro, notes

Tuesday, 2/9
Books 1-10, notes

Wednesday, 2/10
Books 11-15, notes
"Love" activity

Thursday, 2/11
OFF!!!
(Parent conferences 12-7)

Friday, 2/12
OFF!!!

Week of February 1

2010-01-30T16:17:00.000-08:00

Well, guys, what with the unexpected snow, we missed hearing the rest of the cantos presented. I did not have time to revise my sub plans, so I just told the sub to have you all go ahead and take the test, doing the best you can, and I will sort it all out later. We will also finish the cantos when I get back, as well as watch the clips from "What Dreams May Come". I think it will help you visualize it. I hope you all have a wonderful, productive week!

Monday, 2/1
Define Unit 2
Inferno Test
Inferno Seminar

Tuesday, 2/2
Watch "Camelot", questions
Arthurian legends notes
Get codes
Read for homework

Wednesday, 2/3
Watch "First Knight", filling out chart

Thursday, 2/4
Finish "First Knight"

Friday, 2/5
Vocab quiz
??? (I forgot) :)

The Power of Writing

2010-01-30T16:16:00.002-08:00

We talked about this a little bit in class, but you have now read some pieces of The Inferno. What do you think about the power Dante had as a writer to create this fictional hell and place people in it from his contemporary culture? Do you think it was ethically correct for him to do this? Would you enjoy a chance to have this sort of power in writing? What are your thoughts on this text?

Dante's World

2010-01-30T16:16:00.001-08:00

http://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/utopia/index2.html For further reference on your cantos, check out this link from the university of Texas. This is not intended as a replacement for your reading, however.

Link to Inferno resource

2010-01-25T11:03:00.000-08:00

Here is the link I showed you in class. It might be very helpful in obtaining your information. :)

Week of January 25

2010-01-22T11:11:00.000-08:00

I seriously had such a great time during the All Quiet unit with you guys! Your discussions were wonderful, the seminar went well... I have SUCH a good feeling about this semester! This week, we will start The Inferno. I am interested to see your reactions to it. It's a book I love to teach sophomores because the reactions are so varied.

Monday, 1/25
Inferno notes, intro, activity

Tuesday, 1/26
Work in pairs on cantos

Wednesday, 1/27
Work in pairs on cantos

Thursday, 1/28
Present cantos

Friday, 1/29
Present cantos
DUE: Journals

"Memphis Belle"

2010-01-22T06:49:00.000-08:00

We have/will talk in class about comparisons and contrasts between "Memphis Belle" and All Quiet. One line from the movie was "Those that I fight I do not hate, those I guard I do not love." (It was from the poem he read.) What are your feelings about that quote? Are there other things you want to say or point out about the movie? INFERNO MONDAY!!! This picture is of the historical people who flew this mission, not from the movie.

Week of January 19

2010-01-19T09:01:00.000-08:00

Well, I told you we would fly! :) This week will end our first unit, the All Quiet unit. I hope you all enjoyed the book and I am so looking forward to a wonderful seminar with you on Wednesday!

Tuesday, 1/19

Define Unit 1

Symbolism activity in groups

Wednesday, 1/20

All Quiet Seminar

Compare/contrast paper

Thursday, 1/21

"Memphis Belle"

Friday, 1/22

"Memphis Belle"

Vocab Quiz 1

The Man He Killed

2010-01-14T10:57:00.003-08:00

Below is the text for another of my favorite poems. This one speaks to the theme of people being enemies because of a word of command, instead of personal conflicts. Respond to this poem and relate it to both the book as well as any other war literature or movies. The Man He Killed ~Thomas Hardy "Had he and I but met By some old ancient inn, We should have sat us down to wet Right many a nipperkin! "But ranged as infantry, And staring face to face, I shot at him and he at me, And killed him in his place. "I shot him dead because – Because he was my foe, Just so – my foe of course he was; That's clear enough; although "He thought he'd 'list perhaps, Off-hand like – just as I – Was out of work – had sold his traps – No other reason why. "Yes; quaint and curious war is! You shoot a fellow down You'd treat if met where any bar is, Or help to half-a-crown."

Poetry Response

2010-01-14T10:57:00.001-08:00

Read the poem below by Wilfred Owen. Respond to it in some way and then make a connection between this poem and All Quiet. DULCE ET DECORUM EST by Wilfred Owen Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs And towards our distant rest began to trudge. Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind. Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling, Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time; But someone still was yelling out and stumbling, And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime . . . Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. If in some smothering dreams you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori. 8 October 1917 - March, 1918 If you liked this poem, search out other WWI poetry. Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Rupert Brook are all good places to start. Poetry from this era is very interesting and realistic.

The War We Forgot

2010-01-14T10:56:00.001-08:00

Newsweek article

Click on the link above to read an article from the February 18, 2008, edition of Newsweek. What are your thoughts?

Week of January 11

2010-01-11T06:59:00.000-08:00

We are ready, set, and GOING!!! This week will begin our first unit, All Quiet on the Western Front. I hope you love it as much as I do, but I will try not to have my feelings hurt if you don't. :)

Monday, 1/11

WWI Notes

Prepping to Read Questions

Read chapters 1-3

DUE: Parent letter

Tuesday, 1/12

1-3 Quiz

Discuss 1-3

Character activity

Read 4-6

Wednesday, 1/13

4-6 Quiz

Discuss 4-6

Read 7-9

Thursday, 1/14

7-9 Quiz

Discuss 7-9

Read 10-12

Friday, 1/15

10-12 Quiz

History Quiz

Discuss 10-12

DUE: Journals

Welcome to the Spring '10 Group!

2010-01-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

Welcome, welcome to my new batch of English II Honors students! I am very much looking forward to this semester with you. I really and truly love this class and this curriculum and I just can't wait to share some of my favorites (and the work of some truly great writers!) with you! Two days into it, and you all seem like some really nice, bright people. :)

We will have to get a new picture up on that header soon of you all, and ditch those other yahoo's. :)

Week of November 30 for 4th period

2009-11-30T07:05:00.001-08:00

I had to switch things up a little due to a limited number of books for The Things They Carried. You guys are going to do the debate unit first, then do the Vietnam Lit unit at the end. I cannot believe we are this close to the end!!! I have enjoyed this semester and I am especially looking forward to hearing you all in your debates.

Monday, 11/30
Research debates

Tuesday, 12/1
Research debates

Wednesday, 12/2
Plan with team

Thursday, 12/3
Debates

Friday, 12/4
Debates
DUE: Journal

Week of November 30 for 3rd period

2009-11-30T06:30:00.000-08:00

We are going to be reading excerpts from one of my very favorite books this week, The Things They Carried. I am excited about this, as well as hearing your oral presentations and seeing your visual projects. I can hardly believe that we only have 15 days of school left together. It has been a good semester thus far and I am really looking forward to the two units we have left!

Monday, 11/30
Define Unit 6
Lab to research Vietnam topics

Tuesday, 12/1
Lab to research

Wednesday, 12/2
Oral Presentations

Thursday, 12/3
Notes
The Things They Carried

Friday, 12/4
Vocab Quiz
The Things They Carried
DUE: Journals

Week of November 16

2009-11-16T10:50:00.000-08:00

I have felt really good about your discussions in this unit. You all (both classes) did an outstanding job in the seminar. Both had depth and focus. I am proud of you. This week we will finish that unit, then head into poetry (which I love and I bet you hate!). :)

Monday, 11/16
"Life is Beautiful"

Tuesday, 11/17
Culminating Activity
DUE: Essay packets

Wednesday, 11/18
Poetry terms

Thursday, 11/19
Read and analyze

Friday, 11/20
Write poems

*** Don't forget to blog over the Holocaust by 11/18 and that your extra credit creative projects are due Wednesday as well.

Awesome Caesar Projects... Late, Late, Late!

2009-11-10T19:00:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of the amazing Caesar Projects. Sorry I am so late putting them up!

Thank You, American Heroes.

2009-11-10T17:26:00.001-08:00

Thank You, American Heroes.... from CHS English II Honors, Fall 2009:

"Superheroes may not be real, but the closest to a superhero is you protecting us and fighting the bad guys."

"I think a true hero is someone who puts their life on the line for what they believe in."

"The thought of someone risking their life so I can sit here, free, today, is an incredible thing to me. Thank you. You are the reason why I can hold my own religion. You are the reason why I can dance. You are the reason I have free speech to writ this. You are the reason I am the girl I am today. I will probably never meet you, but despite this, in a sense, you have saved my life."

"I think we citizens take for granted our rights and freedoms and forget who is helping to protect these freedoms."

"In this life, there are always the people who take chances, who take what they have and try to make something out of it. There are also people who take all that they have for granted and just live until they die, leaving nothing behind. But in the end, it's all possible thanks to the people who are willing to serve before being served. People that sacrifice all they have so that their children have time to play and never worry about their lives and whether or not they are going to make it through. This great life we have is thanks to people like you."

"I know it takes a lot of courage to call yourself and be a soldier and people should realize that you fought for them and their future generations. Without you, brave soldier, I can honestly say that I might not be here to enjoy the wondrous joys of freedom that I have today."

Honor to Whom Honor is Due

2009-11-09T18:50:00.001-08:00

You all might have noticed that I changed the song on the blog. I just thought that with Veteran's Day coming up this week, and the Holocaust unit, this would be a great time to reflect on the honor we owe our veterans and current armed forces personnel. You guys have seen as we have gone through this unit how blessed we are to live in America. The rights that we enjoy (the same rights which were taken from the Jews in Nazi Germany) are protected by our military personnel. Your political persuasions don't come into play, your personal opinions about our current war don't matter, and your like or dislike for the way our country is run has nothing to do with the fact that we are a blessed people. Today, you wrote a thank you letter to a veteran. I would like for you to spend some time between now and Wednesday and reflect on what it means to be American, and what kind of a debt of gratitude we owe to people like that.

*Note: Feel free to comment on this (I would love it if you did), HOWEVER, it does not count as your Holocaust unit comment.

Week of November 9-- Is it starting to feel like a balancing act???

2009-11-09T18:43:00.000-08:00

I am enjoying this unit with you all so very much. I am proud of your maturity and your insightful comments. There have been so many things stated this semester that feel much more in depth than what I have heard in previous semesters. Thank you for taking the topic seriously and for respecting me during this unit.

Monday, 11/9
Rescue/Resistance/Liberation Notes
Responsibility
Triangle
DUE: HEL Paper

Tuesday, 11/10
Night

Wednesday, 11/11
Night

Thursday, 11/12
Night
Seminar/Test

Friday, 11/13
"Life is Beautiful"
DUE: Journals
Essay Packet

Your Cause

2009-11-09T18:41:00.000-08:00

In some of my previous classes, Sonja DuBois challenged them to pick one cause to devote their time, energy, and resources to. As you age, there will be lots of requests and demands of you for social causes and charities. One lesson of the Holocaust is that "The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to stand by and do nothing." (Edmund Burke) We are responsible, throughout our lives, as citizens of a democracy, of a society, for doing our best to correct injustices around us. Too often we do one of two things: we either ignore these problems or we try to give a little to everything to ease our guilty consciences. As Sonja so eloquently pointed out, imagine if each person chose ONE cause and devoted him or herself to it for life?

Obviously my passion is respect for your fellow man. I have devoted myself as an educator to a study of the Holocaust in the hope of educating those around me about making the world a safer place. I feel that every human being deserves respect. As far as my "cause", beyond being a Holocaust educator, I am committed to a ministry for abused and neglected children called Royal Family Ministries. My church does a camp every summer for nearly forty children in the foster care systems of Bradley, Hamilton, and McMinn counties. I have served as a counselor at that camp almost every year since its inception in 1999. This is our tenth year for Royal Family Kids Camp, and we have expanded that ministry to include a middle school retreat about five years ago. I serve on the Royal Family board at my church, Kraig and I are both counselors, and we have chosen to make this ministry the source of our financial support. You know that I try not to ask you to do anything I would not/am not doing, so I wanted to answer the question that follows before I asked you to.

My question to you is, what is your cause going to be? What are you passionate about? What do you see as something that merits your time, energy, and resources? Or are YOU going to stand by and do nothing?

Kristallnacht-- the November Pogram

2009-11-09T18:40:00.003-08:00

If you are interested in learning more about Kristallnacht, check out the link above to the USHMM online exhibition. Again, feel free to leave any comments. For example, why were their places of worship attacked? Can you think of other examples in history where places of worship were attacked?

Father Patrick DesBois

2009-11-09T18:40:00.001-08:00

I read this afternoon about a French priest who has taken on the mission of discovering every mass grave of Jews in the Ukraine. It is a pretty interesting story and the link to the NY TImes article is below. I am also linking a podcast (below that) from the USHMM about it.

NY Times article:

Podcast:

If you read the article or listen to the podcast, I would love to hear your thoughts on it. These would have been the victims of the mobile killing squads we talked about today.

What is the importance of knowing where someone is buried, of having an actual grave to visit? Why do people return to the scene of accidents and deaths? Why are these things so important to us as humans?

For Chuck :)

2009-11-09T18:38:00.001-08:00

"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself."
~Joseph Campbell

Campbell has done a lot of research on heroes, legends, and quests, the stuff that the Arthurian Legends are made of. We also have talked about rescuers in the Holocaust unit. What reactions do you have to this quote?

As a side note, I chose the picture at the top because it is a photograph of the Holocaust survivor who spoke to us last semester at Vanderbilt. This photo was taken the day she left on a ship for the United States to her new adoptive family (her aunt and uncle). Her name is Frances Cutler, and her parents put her in an orphanage in Paris to save her. Her mother was murdered in Auschwitz and her father died as a French resistance fighter. I don't think I need to make the connection for you between this quote and this picture. I will say that, though Frances is certainly a hero for telling her story to student groups around the country, I cannot imagine being in a situation where the best scenario for my child to live is for me to have to give her up and leave her with strangers.

Photo Activity

2009-11-03T08:12:00.000-08:00

I did not book the computer lab in enough time, so I need you all to do something for me between now and Monday, the 10th.

First of all, jot down three words that you relate to every day life. These words might be eating, sleeping, shopping, playing outside, playing sports, reading, school, etc.

Then, please go to this website.

At this site, you will find a place to enter a search term into the field and hit search. Enter one of the words you jotted down. It will pull up a list of photos with thumbnails. Scroll through the photos until you find one that really speaks to you. (Please don't just pick the first one you come to!) You might want to search each of your three words. Pick TWO photos that you really like. You need to pick photos that were taken PRIOR TO the camps and ghettos, of everyday Jewish life. (There are descriptions on most of the photos that will let you know that information.)

Once you have selected two that fit the above requirements, please copy and paste them onto a sheet of paper and print them out (they will be black and white). I typically have some questions for you to answer, but since you are doing this at home, we will skip that part.

Bring these printed photos with you on Thursday. This is for a grade.

Week of November 2

2009-11-02T11:20:00.001-08:00

So far I have been impressed with your interest and participation. I am anxious for us to further delve into this topic together.

Monday, 11/2

Expert Groups

Propaganda

Tuesday, 11/3

Nazi Germany notes

Photo activity

Wednesday, 11/4

Children/Butterfly

Thursday, 11/5

Final Solution notes

Finish photo activity

Friday, 11/6

Responsibility

Rescue/Resistance/Liberation

Triangle

Week of October 26

2009-10-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

HOW fast in October flying by??? Love it. This week we are going to frantically start and finish the essay unit (except, of course, for all that work you will be doing at home on this unit!), then get to one of my own educational passions, Holocaust education. Our unit will begin next Friday. I am anxious. And eager. I am always nervous about your reactions, nervous that I will fail to do a unit this important justice. And I am always eager to take part in discussions with you, to hear your response to Night, to hopefully do my part in making you a more thoughtful member of our society. So that's me for those three weeks-- nervous and eager. That sums it up!

Monday, 10/26

Essay notes

Read and analyze essays

Peer groups for creative essays

DUE: Creative essays

Tuesday, 10/27

Satire

Work on packets

Wednesday, 10/28

Work on packets

DUE: Creative essay final draft

DUE: Satire

Thursday, 10/29

Essay test

Work on packets

Friday, 10/30

Intro to the Holocaust

Notes, Chronology

DUE: Journals

Unit 5 Vocab (with assignments for 3rd period)

2009-10-19T10:34:00.000-07:00

Your job is to define your word on a sheet of paper, then illustrate your definition. You can either draw, use magazine cutouts, photoshop, or whatever. We will hang the sheets up around the room and see if that helps us on the vocabulary quiz.

This is due tomorrow.

accomplice-Dylan, Fernando

annihilate-Rachel B., Victoria

arbitrary-Meghann B. ,Kylee

brazen- Amber, Chad

catalyst- Brandon

exodus- Cody

facilitate-Casey

incorrigible- Tyler

latent-Emma

militant-Megan D.

morose-Anne

opaque-Tara

paramount-Conor

prattle-Becky

rebut-Stella

reprimand-Alex

servitude-Marissa

slapdash-Jake

stagnant-Drew

succumb-Robert

Week of October 19

2009-10-09T08:58:00.000-07:00

Everything got pretty shifted with the unexpected days off (which we don't mind AT ALL), so here are the new and improved plans for the week!

Monday, 10/19

Recitations

Define Unit 5

Tuesday, 10/20

Research Library and Lab (HEL)

DUE: Caesar projects

Wednesday, 10/21

Research (HEL)

Thursday, 10/22

Research (HEL)

SUB

Friday, 10/23

Vocab Quiz

Essay notes

Assign packet

Assign creative essay

Fall BREAK!!!

2009-10-09T08:23:00.000-07:00

Yay!!! I know that you all are as ready as I am (but I guarantee you that you aren't more so...) for some days of rest and relaxation! I know that the upcoming nine days will be awesome for all of us to recharge. I hope that you have a great break and are careful and safe. I also want you to use this break to reflect. When we come back, the nine weeks ends. Some of you are probably happy with your grade but many of you probably would like to see improvement. (I am of the opinion that there is always room for improvement unless you have a 100 average...) Think back on the past nine weeks... think about your study habits... your class participation... your vocab scores... your organization... your attitude... your writing... your test-taking... Decide what you have done really well and capitalize on that. Keep it up! Decide where you can stand to improve and make some plans to do just that. Come back refreshed and invigorated and ready to really make your grade whatever you want it to be. If it's your attitude, make some changes in your thought processes. If it's study skills/organization, get an organizer and use those time management skills you learned in Connections in September! If it's ability (writing, vocab, tests), vow to yourself to try a little harder and put a little more into it after break. You usually get out of something what you put into it. I plan to do the same for you. Enjoy Fall Break!!! :)

Week of October 5

2009-10-04T18:11:00.000-07:00

We are running toward the finish of Caesar. I am going to be sad to see it end, but how happy are we all going to be to see FALL BREAK!?!?!? Yay!!! I have been very impressed by how much you all seem to be understanding on your own with Caesar. You all clearly have a strong background from your Shakespearean study last year.

Monday, 10/5

Character activity

Tuesday, 10/6

Act IV

Wednesday, 10/7

Act V

Thursday, 10/8

9 Week Test

Friday, 10/9

Character analysis

Politics...

2009-10-04T18:09:00.000-07:00

In America, we think and discuss leadership, politics, and government very often. Without discussing anything specific from our own political parties and without making any points by name, please think for a few minutes and comment on the following questions that this play raises. What makes a good leader? Is it okay to sacrifice the rights of an individual for the good of many, the way that Brutus and the conspirators sacrificed Caesar for Rome? What would the perfect government look like? Brutus, one could argue, is in favor of a democratic leadership. He fears the total power Caesar wanted to assume. With that being said, is it ironic at all that Brutus chose a VERY undemocratic method of finding a solution to the problem? Are there any contemporary world events-- or any in recent history-- which parallel Brutus' taking of Caesar's life? Do such comparisons help you understand Brutus' position or the world in the play?

Reaction

2009-10-04T18:08:00.001-07:00

Hey guys, I hope you all are enjoying Caesar as much as I am. Below is a posting for you to comment on...

Literary critic T.S. Dorsch said that Caesar makes "such extravagant expressions of arrogance that all sympathy for him is alienated, and the action of the assassins is for the moment almost accepted as justifiable."

What do you think?

Tragedy

2009-09-29T18:43:00.000-07:00

What is your definition of a tragedy? A tragic hero? Cite a work of literature that you have not studied in school that you think would qualify as a tragedy. Please elaborate on how it is a tragedy and which character you feel is the tragic hero of that work. (This can certainly be modern or contemporary literature...)

Week of September 28

2009-09-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

Yay! It's my second favorite unit of the semester!!! It's time for Julius Caesar. I cannot wait to read this with you. It is a play of high intrigue, betrayal, murder, and personal conflict. The characters are well-developed and the discussion is usually interesting. You will love it. (And if you don't, don't tell me.) :)

Monday, September 28

Notes

Extra credit activity

Tuesday, 9/29

Act I

Wednesday, 9/30

Act II

Thursday, 10/1

Sub-- Shakespeare video, questions

Friday, 10/2

Act III

DUE: Journals

Week of Setember 21

2009-09-25T07:55:00.000-07:00

Finishing The Iliad this week, starting Julius Caesar (sort of). Busy week. Late getting this up. Sorry.

Monday, 9/21

Define Unit 4

Books 16-20, notes

Tuesday, 9/22

Go over questions

Books 21-24, notes

Wednesday, 9/23

Watch "Troy"

Thursday, 9/24

"Troy"

Friday, 9/25

Vocab Quiz

Opening of "Troy"

2009-09-23T11:19:00.001-07:00

Odysseus: [voiceover] Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity. And so we ask ourselves: will our actions echo across the centuries? Will strangers hear our names long after we are gone, and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved? These are powerful first lines. The opening lines, opening scenes, in movies really set the tone for the movie. What reactions do you have to these lines, knowing the epic characteristics and the text of The Iliad as you do?

The Iliad

2009-09-17T20:24:00.002-07:00

We took notes over the characteristics of an epic. What examples can you point out from The Iliad that fit the criterion?

Try Your Hand...

2009-09-17T20:24:00.001-07:00

Iliad Game Here is an Iliad Game on the Internet. It's pretty fun. Give it a try and post any comments you have about it.

Week of September 14

2009-09-11T06:26:00.000-07:00

The Inferno unit was an interesting one for us. I enjoyed reading your comments on the work and your opinions on it. I also enjoyed seminaring with 3rd period over it. This week, we are going to tackle another work that we are reading for exposure. Remember when I explained the difference in reading for exposure and doing a close reading? This is another classic that is pretty difficult. It is, however, a different kind of difficult than The Inferno.

Monday, 9/14

Finish "First Knight"

Arthurian Legends test

Tuesday, 9/15

Iliad intro

Notes

Books 1-5 for homework

Wednesday, 9/16

Notes over 1-5

6-10 for homework

Thursday, 9/17

Notes over 6-10

11-15 for homework

Friday, 9/18

Notes over 11-15

16-20 for homework

DUE: Journals

September 11

2009-09-11T06:23:00.000-07:00

If you wish, I would like to hear some of your memories of that day. I was teaching (my fourth week of my teaching career, in fact) an English II Honors class of 12 people. We were in a little closet of a room during 2nd period when Mr. Rockholt came on the intercom and announced that our country had been attacked. He told us that two planes had hit the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. He said that we don't have a lot of information at the time, but that we needed to remember the victims. I had first lunch, so at lunch we found out that a plane had hit the Pentagon as well. At some point someone heard that a fourth and fifth plane were inbound. (We later learned about the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania.) There was just a lot of chaos and nerves. We did not have TV's at the time and I was a floating teacher so I didn't even have my own computer. My junior English class was fourth period and we went on and worked on our lesson, though no one's minds were on it, including mine. During 4th period (my planning period), I went to an empty room with my fellow teachers and watched the coverage. At that point, some stations were still showing the gruesome images of people jumping from the buildings. It was horrific to watch and there was some element of disbelief about it all. I remember waking up the next morning, how it took a minute for it to sink in that the world was a different place than it had been the previous morning. I was not a mom yet at that time, and I can imagine even now how much more terrifying the whole thing would have been if I had already had children. For some reason, nothing in this world is so scary when it is just you and your spouse. It's when little people depend on you that the fear reaches a whole new level. My daughters were born into a post-9/11 world. They don't remember what it was like to get to airports 30 minutes before your flight, to not have to take off your shoes when you go through security, and to live without the knowledge that our security is a precarious thing. September 11 changed a lot of things for the United States, but the freedom we all share remains the same and we should be forever grateful for that.

Week of September 8

2009-09-08T20:15:00.000-07:00

Finished with the Inferno, almost! Your presentations have been pretty good, overall. And hooray for FOUR DAY WEEKS!!!!

Tuesday, 9/8

Vocab unit 3

Finish presentations

Watch "What Dreams May Come" clips

Wednesday, 9/9

3rd: Test, Seminar

4th: Finish Presentations, Test

Thursday, 9/10

Arthurian Legend notes, codes

Legends

Friday, 9/11

Vocab Quiz

"First Knight"

"What Dreams May Come"-- 3rd period ONLY

2009-09-08T20:14:00.000-07:00

Even though we only watched three five minute excerpts, I am curious about your opinions about the movie compared to the book. Was seeing the visual image more horrific than reading it, or is your imagination more graphic than the movie-creators? Do some of you think you will plan to watch the entire movie?

IrfanView HTML-Thumbnails

2009-09-03T08:54:00.000-07:00

IrfanView HTML-Thumbnails

The Power of Writing

2009-09-01T08:25:00.001-07:00

Dante's World

2009-09-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

Week of August 31

2009-09-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

INFERNOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are moving right along! This is usually a really different, interesting work for sophomores. It's a little difficult, but people usually enjoy it.

Monday, 8/31

Inferno intro, notes, activity

Tuesday, 9/1

Work in pairs on Cantos

Wednesday, 9/2

Work in pairs on Cantos

Thursday, 9/3

Present cantos

Friday, 9/4

Present Cantos

DUE: Journals

"Memphis Belle"

2009-08-30T11:56:00.001-07:00

We would have talked in class about comparisons and contrasts between "Memphis Belle" and All Quiet. One line from the movie was "Those that I fight I do not hate, those I guard I do not love." (It was from the poem he read.) What are your feelings about that quote? Are there other things you want to say or point out about the movie? INFERNO MONDAY!!! This picture is of the historical people who flew this mission, not from the movie.

Week of August 24

2009-08-24T05:31:00.001-07:00

And then you stopped to breath and we were finished with All Quiet! :) This week will involve the evaluations of the book and the culmination of the unit. I hope you liked it. Your discussions were pretty good. We'll get better as we go!

Monday, 8/24

Define Unit 2

10-12 Quiz

10-12 Discussion

History quiz

Symbolism in groups

Tuesday, 8/25

Compare/contrast in class essay

Wednesday, 8/26

All Quiet Seminar

Thursday, 8/27

"Memphis Belle"

Friday, 8/28

Vocab Quiz 2

Finish "Memphis Belle"

The Man He Killed

2009-08-19T08:29:00.001-07:00

Poetry Response

2009-08-19T08:28:00.002-07:00

The War We Forgot

2009-08-19T08:28:00.001-07:00

Newsweek article

Click on the link above to read an article from the February 18, 2008, edition of Newsweek. What are your thoughts?

Week of August 17

2009-08-17T05:44:00.000-07:00

I hope you guys are ready to go with some literature and writing! :) This is one of my favorite books to teach and I hope you all like it as much as I do.

Monday, 8/17

Define Unit 1

Intro to All Quiet notes

Preparing to Read Questions

Read Chapters 1-3

DUE: Parent Letter

Tuesday, 8/18

1-3 Quiz

Discuss 1-3

Characterization Activity

Read chapters 1-4

Wednesday, 8/19

4-6 Quiz

Discuss 4-6

Read chapters 7-9

Thursday, 8/20

7-9 Quiz

Discuss 7-9

Read chapters 10-12

Friday, 8/21

Vocab Unit 1 Quiz

10-12 Quiz

Discuss 10-12

Welcome to My Whole NEW BATCHES!!!!

2009-08-14T10:56:00.000-07:00

Time has a way of passing very quickly and I again find myself in a sea of new faces, frantically trying to memorize almost one hundred names, back to trying to figure out personalities and what makes my students tick! It can be frustrating at times to have to do all of this again twice every year, but there is just something exciting about change and something refreshing about a blank slate! What other job in the WORLD do you get to have a fresh start two times every year? None, I tell you. I am very excited about my two sections of English II Honors this fall. I hope you all will use this blog, enjoy this blog, and maybe even keep following this blog once you are ~~out of my clutches~~ gone on to bigger and better things! :) Anyway, welcome to the class. I know we are going to have a great semester and I am excited! Take deep breaths this weekend, get some sleep, because starting on Monday we are hitting the ground running.

Week of April 27

2009-04-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

I am excited about moving forward with the Holocaust Unit this week. I hope you can really get a lot out of Night.

Monday, April 27

Read Night

Tuesday, April 28

Read Night

Wednesday, April 29

Test over Holocaust notes

Seminar over Night

DUE: Character Analysis for Independent Reading

Thursday, April 30

Watch "Life is Beautiful"

Friday, May 1

Finish "Life is Beautiful"

To What Cause will You Commit?

2009-04-23T09:07:00.000-07:00

In your class, Sonja DuBois challenged you to pick one cause to devote their time, energy, and resources to. As you age, there will be lots of requests and demands of you for social causes and charities. One lesson of the Holocaust is that "The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to stand by and do nothing." (Edmund Burke) We are responsible, throughout our lives, as citizens of a democracy, of a society, for doing our best to correct injustices around us. Too often we do one of two things: we either ignore these problems or we try to give a little to everything to ease our guilty consciences. As Sonja so eloquently pointed out, imagine if each person chose ONE cause and devoted him or herself to it for life?

Obviously my passion is respect for your fellow man. I have devoted myself as an educator to a study of the Holocaust in the hope of educating those around me about making the world a safer place. I feel that every human being deserves respect. As far as my "cause", beyond being a Holocaust educator, I am committed to a ministry for abused and neglected children called Royal Family Ministries. My church does a camp every summer for nearly forty children in the foster care systems of Bradley, Hamilton, and McMinn counties. I have served as a counselor at that camp almost every year since its inception in 1999. This is our tenth year for Royal Family Kids Camp, and we have expanded that ministry to include a middle school retreat about five years ago. I serve on the Royal Family board at my church, Kraig and I are both counselors, and we have chosen to make this ministry the source of our financial support. You know that I try not to ask you to do anything I would not/am not doing, so I wanted to answer the question that follows before I asked you to.

My question to you is, what is your cause going to be? What are you passionate about? What do you see as something that merits your time, energy, and resources? Or are YOU going to stand by and do nothing?

What Did You Think?

2009-04-23T09:05:00.001-07:00

Pictures to Come!
You all had an opportunity on Thursday to do something that very few people in your generation have gotten to do, and fewer and fewer people in the future will do. You (Holocaust Lit and English II) got to hear the story of Sonja DuBois, a survivor of the Holocaust. I really don't want to post a bunch of questions on here or put words in your mouths. I mainly want to hear your response to her story.

I will tell you that I was so interested in what she said about the moment that she decided to start sharing her story with others was when she saw the Bible study about Esther and realized that she, too, lived a double life. And just like Esther, there were lots of people involved in saving Sonja. I, as a parent, cannot imagine what her parents must have felt when they left her at the station, her mother who put the necklace around her neck, and then walked away. Even if I KNEW, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Emma and Kelsey would be safer left behind (and her parents didn't KNOW), I cannot fathom what it would feel like to put them in the arms of a stranger to them and walk away, not knowing what would become of them. The pain they must have suffered at that moment probably hurt so much more than the death they encountered later. I also was staggered by how much we take for granted with our own lives, in that we all have people who can tell our life stories, who we look like, act like, and so on. She has no one in her life who can do that for her.

I said I wasn't going to put words in your mouths and I guess I did. I could probably write forever about my response to her story and the feelings it stirred in me. She was so arresting, such a powerful speaker, yet so approachable. But now, the responsibility lies with you and me. We are among the few people who have heard first hand the story of a Holocaust survivor. What, now, will we do with it? Sonja's story lives on with us. Her parents live on in us, because we know the sacrifice they made so that she could live to tell. It is your duty, your obligation, to bear witness when the time comes that no one is alive to say, "I was there. It happened to my family. I saw the camps. I lived it." YOU will have to stand up and say, "I heard the story of a survivor. I saw the necklace her mother left her, saw the one surviving photograph of her parents." It did happen, and we have to make sure that the lessons learned are applied to our daily lives.

I guess that's my sermon for the day.

LATE LATE Great Caesar Projects!

2009-04-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

Sorry I am so late in posting this projects. There were so many great ones, but I only posted those that a picture would do justice for. I was so impressed with them! Please remember, you are not going to get credit for a comment on this post but you are more than welcome to comment anyway!

The New Song

2009-04-21T03:27:00.001-07:00

I know that some of you probably are not nuts about the new song I have put on here. However, I specifically selected that song for a reason. An excerpt from the lyrics to that song are posted below. We will be hearing this week from an eye witness to history. You will become an eye witness to an eye witness. Your children will never have this opportunity. These people, and their stories, are kept alive through you and I.

REMEMBER ME
(James Horner/Cynthia Weil)
(Performed by Josh Groban with Tanja Tzarovska)

Remember:
I will still be here
As long as you hold me
In your memory

I'm with you whenever
You tell my story
For I am all I've done

Kristallnacht-- the November Pogram

2009-04-21T03:26:00.000-07:00

Father Patrick DesBois

2009-04-21T03:25:00.000-07:00

Reaction

2009-04-21T03:24:00.000-07:00

"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself."
~Joseph Campbell

Campbell has done a lot of research on heroes, legends, and quests, the stuff that the Arthurian Legends are made of. What reactions do you have to this quote?

As a side note, I chose the picture at the top because it is a photograph of the Holocaust survivor who spoke to us last semester at Vanderbilt. This photo was taken the day she left on a ship for the United States to her new adoptive family (her aunt and uncle). Her name is Frances Cutler, and her parents put her in an orphanage in Paris to save her. Her mother was murdered in Auschwitz and her father died as a French resistance fighter. I don't think I need to make the connection for you between this quote and this picture. I will say that, though Frances is certainly a hero for telling her story to student groups around the country, I cannot imagine being in a situation where the best scenario for my child to live is for me to have to give her up and leave her with strangers.

Week of April 20

2009-04-17T11:43:00.000-07:00

We are SO nearing the end!!! I am so excited about this unit! I can't wait for you all to hear Sonja on Tuesday. It is a real privilege to hear a Holocaust survivor and it is one that not many people in the future will get to do.

Monday, April 20
Nazi Germany notes
Final Solution notes
DUE: Photos

Tuesday, April 21
Special guest, Sonja DuBois

Wednesday, April 22
Children/Butterfly activity

Thursday, April 23
Responsibility Discussion
Rescue/Resistance/Liberation
Triangle

Friday, April 24
Night
DUE: Journals

Photo activity

2009-04-16T05:51:00.001-07:00

I did not book the computer lab in enough time, so I need you all to do something for me between now and Monday, the 10th.

First of all, jot down three words that you relate to every day life. These words might be eating, sleeping, shopping, playing outside, playing sports, reading, school, etc.

Then, please go to the below website:
http://www.ushmm.org/research/collections/search/ph_catalog.php

At this site, you will find a place to enter a search term into the field and hit search. Enter one of the words you jotted down. It will pull up a list of photos with thumbnails. Scroll through the photos until you find one that really speaks to you. (Please don't just pick the first one you come to!) You might want to search each of your three words. Pick TWO photos that you really like. You need to pick photos that were taken PRIOR TO the camps and ghettos, of everyday Jewish life. (There are descriptions on most of the photos that will let you know that information.)

Once you have selected two that fit the above requirements, please copy and paste them onto a sheet of paper and print them out (they will be black and white). I typically have some questions for you to answer, but since you are doing this at home, we will skip that part.

Bring these printed photos with you on Friday. This is for a grade.

Week of April 14

2009-04-09T19:41:00.000-07:00

This week is more "little of this, little of that". However, I am SOOO excited to introduce you to the unit that I am most passionate about at the end of this week. We will begin the Holocaust unit.

Tuesday, April 14

Watch "First Knight"

Wednesday, April 15

Finish "First Knight"

Thursday, April 16

Intro to the Holocaust

Friday, April 17

Propaganda, Victim Groups

Week of April 6

2009-04-03T04:55:00.001-07:00

This week is going to be pretty scattered, and I do apologize about that.

Monday, April 6
Animal Farm test, discussion
Watch "Camelot"
DUE: History of the English Language paper

Tuesday, April 7
Camelot notes
Codes
Reading for homework

Wednesday, April 8
Poetry terms
Read and analyze poetry

Thursday, April 9
Write poems
DUE: Journals
DUE: Essay packet

Then we are off for Friday and Monday!!! Don't you just love breaks?!?!?!

Clean Slate

2009-03-30T18:36:00.000-07:00

The first nine weeks is now behind us. All grades are starting over, completely fresh and new. Everyone has a clean slate, if you will. Now is the time to decide to change the habits from last grading period, if you weren't happy with your grades. Now is the time to reinforce the good habits and attitudes from last grading period, if you are pleased with the results. But whatever you choose to do for the next nine weeks, there are still nine more weeks of school. Nine more weeks of assignments, tests, projects, and grades... I don't know about you, but I am happy to have nine weeks left with you guys. You all are such an interesting class because, quite frankly, you seem to display a different personality from day to day! :) Thanks for making my job fun, if not always easy! You might have heard it said, "Choose a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life." I can testify to that statement and I can say to you that it is the best advice I could give as far as your future and your career.

Week of March 30

2009-03-29T14:04:00.000-07:00

Well, I know that you are all ~~very sad~~ thrilled to be back at school this week after a long week of break time. I am ~~disgusted~~ excited with you!!! :) The unit we are doing this week is going to involve a lot of work. I am warning you in advance. This is a unit that I had previously saved for close to the end of the semester and after numerous comments on the course evaluations, I decided to move it to this point in the semester. People felt like there was a lot of other requirements at the end in other classes (and outside responsibilities) and that they could do better to do this unit earlier. Hence... here it is!!! It is an essay unit. We will read (and write!) numerous essays this week. The good news is that you do get some class time to work on them. (You can all thank me later.)

Monday, March 30
Essay notes
Assign packets
Assign creative essay
Define Unit 5

Tuesday, March 31
Read and analyze essays
Peer groups over creative essay
DUE: Rough draft of creative essay

Wednesday, April 1
Satire
Work on packets

Thursday, April 2
Work on packets
DUE: Satire

Friday, April 3
Essay test
Vocab quiz

Week of March 16

2009-03-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

SPRING BREAK is upon us!!! It's finally here! A well-deserved, much needed rest. Ahhhh....

But first...

Monday, March 16
1st Nine Week Test. STUDY!!!
DUE: Caesar projects

Tuesday, March 17
Library for Research over History of the English Language

Wednesday, March 18
Library (HEL)

Thursday, March 19
Library (HEL)
DUE: Journals

You will need to read Animal Farm over the break. We will have a test and discussion over it in April. Be ready...

2009-03-07T19:10:00.000-08:00

This year in our political cycle, we have no doubt thought a lot about leadership, politics, and government. Jjust four short months ago, we elected a new president of our country. Without discussing anything specific from our own political parties and without making any points for any candidate by name, please think for a few minutes and comment on the following questions that this play raises. What makes a good leader? Is it okay to sacrifice the rights of an individual for the good of many, the way that Brutus and the conspirators sacrificed Caesar for Rome? What would the perfect government look like? Brutus, one could argue, is in favor of a democratic leadership. He fears the total power Caesar wanted to assume. With that being said, is it ironic at all that Brutus chose a VERY undemocratic method of finding a solution to the problem? Are there any contemporary world events-- or any in recent history-- which parallel Brutus' taking of Caesar's life? Do such comparisons help you understand Brutus' position or the world in the play?

Reaction

2009-03-07T19:09:00.002-08:00

Tragedy

2009-03-07T19:09:00.001-08:00

Week of March 9

2009-03-06T11:48:00.000-08:00

Well, as I expected, I am loving teaching Julius Caesar to you all. I hope you are enjoying it as well. I do think you all are working hard to understand it (and doing well at it!).

Monday, March 9
Finish Act III
Character activity

Tuesday, March 10
Act IV

Wednesday, March 11
Act V

Thursday, March 12
Recitations
Character analysis

Friday, March 13
Caesar test

(Projects due next Monday.)

Week of March 2

2009-02-27T09:17:00.001-08:00

Finally, finally, finally! Julius Caesar is here! Remember what I said about paying close attention and taking GOOD notes, because this test is a killer.

Monday, March 2
Extra Credit activity
Notes

Tuesday, March 3
Act I

Wednesday, March 4
Act II

Thursday, March 5
Act III

Friday, March 6
Character activity
DUE: Journals

Opening of "Troy"

2009-02-24T05:09:00.000-08:00

Odysseus: [voiceover] Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity. And so we ask ourselves: will our actions echo across the centuries? Will strangers hear our names long after we are gone, and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved?

These are powerful first lines. The opening lines, opening scenes, in movies really set the tone for the movie. What reactions do you have to these lines, knowing the epic characteristics and the text of The Iliad as you do?

Comments

2009-02-23T18:19:00.000-08:00

There are several I have not posted (approved) for several reasons. You all are still being too casual on here with your comments and negativity, so to speak. Also, and I can't believe I have to put a number of sentences requirement on this, but if your comment is not at least a few sentences long (like, five or six), I am not going to count it. Seriously people, this is practically FREE points. Kick it up a notch or two... :)

Week of February 23

2009-02-20T10:38:00.000-08:00

Well, I have to be honest and say that I am kind of glad to be finishing The Iliad this week because we now get to go to my second favorite unit... JULIUS CAESAR!!!!! I cannot wait. I feel like most of the feedback from you all thus far on most of what we have read has been pretty negative. Let's just say that if you don't like Caesar, I am giving up hope that you will like anything. :) I LOVE IT!!! I can't wait. Seriously. (Are you thinking how sad it must be to be an English teacher and get so excited about a play???)

Monday, February 23
Define Unit 4
16-20 Notes
Go over 16-20 Answers
Read 21-24
DUE: 16-20 answers

Tuesday, February 24
21-24 Notes
Go over 21-24 Answers
Watch clean-flicked "Troy"
DUE: 21-24 answers

Wednesday, February 25
Finish "Troy"
Test

Thursday, February 26
Shakespeare video, questions

Friday, February 27
Vocab quiz 4
Extra credit activity
Notes

The Iliad

2009-02-19T05:55:00.002-08:00

We took notes over the characteristics of an epic. What examples can you point out from The Iliad that fit the criterion?

Try Your Hand...

2009-02-19T05:55:00.001-08:00

Iliad Game

Here is an Iliad Game on the Internet. It's pretty fun. Give it a try and post any comments you have about it.

Week of February 17

2009-02-19T05:51:00.000-08:00

Sorry I was so late getting this up!!!

Tuesday, February 17
Intro to The Iliad
Read Books 1-5

Wednesday, February 18
Notes over 1-5
Go over Questions for 1
Read Books 6-10

Thursday, February 19
Notes over 6-10
Go over Questions for 6 and 9
Read Books 11-15

Friday, February 20
Notes over 11-15
Read Books 16-20
DUE: Journals

Your Thoughts on the Seminar...

2009-02-10T11:15:00.002-08:00

What are your thoughts at its completion? How did you feel about the book? Like it? Hate it? How did you like it compared to All Quiet (understanding, of course, that they are COMPLETELY different!)?

I thought the seminar today went well. However, I am still baffled at the lack of participation. I can't imagine not talking to get an easy grade!!! Some of you need to step it up a bit!

"What Dreams May Come"

2009-02-10T11:15:00.001-08:00

The Power of Writing

2009-02-10T11:14:00.001-08:00

Dante's World

2009-02-10T11:13:00.000-08:00

http://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/utopia/index2.html

For further reference on your cantos, check out this link from the university of Texas. This is not intended as a replacement for your reading, however.

Week of February 9

2009-02-10T10:51:00.000-08:00

SHORT WEEK!!! SHORT WEEK SHORT WEEK SHORT WEEK!!!!!

:)

Monday, February 9
My notes on The Inferno
Define Unit 3

Tuesday, February 10
Inferno Test
Inferno Seminar

Wednesday, February 11
Vocab Quiz 3
"Love" Activity
Intro to The Iliad

Enjoy your VERY long break while we are here slaving away...

Week of February 2

2009-02-03T08:14:00.000-08:00

INFERNO!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, February 2
Intro to Inferno

Tuesday, February 3
Work in pairs on cantos

Wednesday, February 4
Work in pairs on cantos

Thursday, February 5
Present cantos

Friday, February 6
Present cantos
DUE: Journals

Extra credit Inferno project due next Monday!!! Have a good week! Be good for the sub!

"Memphis Belle"

2009-01-30T05:16:00.000-08:00

We talked in class about comparisons and contrasts between "Memphis Belle" and All Quiet. One line from the movie was "Those that I fight I do not hate, those I guard I do not love." (It was from the poem he read.) What are your feelings about that quote? Are there other things you want to say or point out about the movie?

INFERNO MONDAY!!!

This picture is of the historical people who flew this mission, not from the movie.

"Defiance"

2009-01-23T08:57:00.000-08:00

When Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel was asked why Jews did not fight during the
Holocaust, he replied "...the question is not why all the Jews did not fight, but
how so many of them did. Tormented, beaten, starved, where did they find the strength-spiritual
and physical-to resist?"

Just a reminder, I am going to see "Defiance" on Monday at 4:20 PM at Premiere Theater. If you want to go, you are welcome to. It is certainly not required. If you do go, or if you have seen the movie on your own, I would love to hear your thoughts on it.

Week of January 26

2009-01-23T08:43:00.000-08:00

We will finish All Quiet this week. You guys have been pretty impressive in discussion, I have to say.

Monday, January 26
Define Unit 2
Compare/contrast paper in class

Tuesday, January 27
All Quiet seminar

Wednesday, January 28
"Memphis Belle"

Thursday, January 29
Finish "Memphis Belle"

Friday, January 30
Vocab Quiz 2

We are moving right along!!!

"The Man He Killed"

2009-01-23T08:17:00.001-08:00

Below is the text for another of my favorite poems. This one speaks to the theme of people being enemies because of a word of command, instead of personal conflicts. Respond to this poem and relate it to both the book as well as any other war literature or movies.

The Man He Killed ~Thomas Hardy

"Had he and I but met
By some old ancient inn,
We should have sat us down to wet
Right many a nipperkin!

"But ranged as infantry,
And staring face to face,
I shot at him and he at me,
And killed him in his place.

"I shot him dead because –
Because he was my foe,
Just so – my foe of course he was;
That's clear enough; although

"He thought he'd 'list perhaps,
Off-hand like – just as I –
Was out of work – had sold his traps –
No other reason why.

"Yes; quaint and curious war is!
You shoot a fellow down
You'd treat if met where any bar is,
Or help to half-a-crown."

Response to WWI Poetry

2009-01-21T13:54:00.000-08:00

Read the poem below by Wilfred Owen. Respond to it in some way and then make a connection between this poem and All Quiet.

DULCE ET DECORUM EST by Wilfred Owen

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.

Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling,
And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime . . .
Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est
Pro patria mori.

8 October 1917 - March, 1918

If you liked this poem, search out other WWI poetry. Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Rupert Brook are all good places to start. Poetry from this era is very interesting and realistic.

Week of January 21

2009-01-21T13:21:00.001-08:00

First of all, can anyone say THREE DAY WEEK!?!?! We are seriously the luckiest people on the planet. :)

Wednesday, January 21
Vocab Unit 1 quiz
History Quiz
Homework: Read 10-12

Thursday, January 22
7-9, 10-12 Quizzes
Discuss 7-12
Poetry activity

Friday, January 23
Symbolism in groups
DUE: Journals

Things are about to start hopping! Stay on top of things!