The Chocolate War - What Would Jerry Do? 7th Period

Pretend you are Jerry. How would you handle the same situation? Write a well developed response using the same format as yesterday. You must respond to three classmates today.

Your assignment is to respond to the above prompt.  You must write a well developed paragraph consisting of at least 10 sentences.  Please make sure that you use correct grammar, proper punctuation, and common sense in your response.  Once you write your response, you must respond to at least three classmates.  Make sure that you include your first name and last initial in your posting and that you tell which classmate you are responding to.  If your posting is deemed to be inappropriate, it will be removed, and you will not receive credit.   

The Chocolate War - what would you do?

Pretend you are Jerry. How would you handle the same situation? Write a well developed response using the same format as yesterday. You must respond to three classmates today.

The Chocolate War - Courage in the Face of Adversity - Seventh Period

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.”
                                                                                      --Ambrose Redmoon

In The Chocolate War, Jerry is given an assignment by the Vigils, the not-so-secret society at his school.  Although he is given a choice to accept the assignment, he is not really able to refuse.  Or is he?  Can Jerry refuse to do the assignment given to him?  In your experiences as a high school student, can students refuse to do things when told by a group?  Is peer pressure so great that students feel that they have no other choice?  Jerry is not selling chocolates because the Vigils told him not to.  Is negative peer pressure such a big issue for students?


 Your assignment is to respond to the above prompt.  You must write a well developed paragraph consisting of at least 10 sentences.  Please make sure that you use correct grammar, proper punctuation, and common sense in your response.  Once you write your response, you must respond to at least two classmates.  Make sure that you include your first name and last initial in your posting and that you tell which classmate you are responding to.  If your posting is deemed to be inappropriate, it will be removed, and you will not receive credit.  

The Chocolate War - Courage in the Face of Adversity

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.”
                                                                                      --Ambrose Redmoon

In The Chocolate War, Jerry is given an assignment by the Vigils, the not-so-secret society at his school.  Although he is given a choice to accept the assignment, he is not really able to refuse.  Or is he?  Can Jerry refuse to do the assignment given to him?  In your experiences as a high school student, can students refuse to do things when told by a group?  Is peer pressure so great that students feel that they have no other choice?  Jerry is not selling chocolates because the Vigils told him not to.  Is negative peer pressure such a big issue for students?
 Your assignment is to respond to the above prompt.  You must write a well developed paragraph consisting of at least 10 sentences.  Please make sure that you use correct grammar, proper punctuation, and common sense in your response.  Once you write your response, you must respond to at least two classmates.  Make sure that you include your first name and last initial in your posting and that you tell which classmate you are responding to.  If your posting is deemed to be inappropriate, it will be removed, and you will not receive credit. 

Intellectual Freedom

"Intellectual freedom can exist only where two essential conditions are met: first, that all individuals have the right to hold any belief on any subject and to convey their ideas in any form they deem appropriate, and second, that society makes an equal commitment to the right of unrestricted access to information and ideas regardless of the communication medium used, the content of work, and the viewpoints of both the author and the receiver of information."

Intellectual Freedom Manual, 7th edition

Almost since the first book was published, there were people saying that the content was inappropriate for certain audiences.  Children's books have been banned as have books normally taught as part of courses in schools across the country.  Is this right?  Necessary?  Permissible? 

• Does intellectual freedom exist in our society?  
• Should it exist?  
• Does anyone have the right to restrict what we read?  Write?  Draw? 
• When did it become okay for someone else to tell you that you cannot read something that is of interest to you.  
• As a student, should you be able to read what you want?

Your assignment is to post your thoughts on the questions posed above.  You will need to fully explain your answers in two well written paragraphs.  Each paragraph must be at least 5 sentences.  You will also need to respond to at least two of your classmates.  If you do not follow the rules regarding blog posting, your post will be removed, and you will not receive credit for this assignment. 

All work must be completed by Tuesday, October 18, 2011 by 5:00 PM.  

A Prayer for Owen Meany - Who is the book really about?

As you you have read the novel, you have probably wondered if the book is about Owen or John.  This is your chance to decide and prove if the main character is Owen or is it his best friend John.  Which boy is the main character/protagonist of the novel?  You MUST cite specific examples from the book to prove your point.  You MUST write at least 3 paragraphs proving your point.  You MUST write using correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, etc.  If you do not follow the guidelines, you will not receive credit.  This is not the place for you to make silly comments to your classmates; if you do, they will be removed, and you will not receive credit. 

This is due by the end of the class period today.  Once you are finished, you must respond to two classmates. 

A Prayer for Owen Meany - Discussion Posting #2

Your assignment for today is to answer the following question.  You are to thoughtfully respond to the question and then respond to at least two of your classmates.   Make sure that you include your name in your posting.

Would you be able to forgive Owen for what happens at the baseball game if you were John? Why might it be important that John forgive Owen?  Please make sure that you use specific examples from the novel. 
 

Writer's Workshop - I Am What I Am...

Who are you?  What makes you you?  Your assignment for this week is to post a blog on who you are.  I want to know what makes you tick.  You must use Standard American English, correct punctuation, grammar, capitalization, etc.  Although I am asking to write about you, be mindful that this is the internet.  If I deem your posting to be inappropriate or offensive in nature, I will remove your posting, and you will receive a zero.  You will not be able to make up the assignment.  This assignment is due by Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 11:00 PM. 

Writer's Workshop - Blog 1

Please write your weekly blog in the space below.  It is due by Friday, March 11, 2011 at 6:00 PM.  This week's blog topic is Censorship.  How do you feel about censorship?  Do you think that the government should interfere with a person's right to read whatever they want?  Do you think that parents should limit what their children read?  Is censorship right or wrong?  As a budding author, how do you feel about censorship?  This is your opportunity to tell us exactly how you feel about censorship.

Please be mindful that this is a public forum.  As such, you need to use polite language, correct grammar, and be respectful of the fact that someone may have an opinion that is different than yours.  You will also need to respond to the posting of one other person in the class.

Writer's Workshop - The Most Important Event in the History of the World

The world as we know it is about to end.  You are going to write an article about the ONE event that is most important and needs to be preserved in a specially made time capsule.  Your article can only be about one thing.  You will need to answer the 5 Ws in your article and make sure that you have plenty of supporting details.  Make sure that your article has at least five paragraphs or more if needed. 

A Prayer for Owen Meany - Is there really a divine plan?

Owen Meany is a rather odd fellow.  He doesn't look like the other kids, they pick on him, and yet he takes it all in stride.  Is that normal to be so accepting of others when they are not accepting of you?  In John Irving's novel, A Prayer for Owen Meany, the main character is so vastly different from the other children in his town but he is able to overcome the obstacles in his life.  Owen has a very strong belief that his life is as it is because that is the will of God.  In the novel, Irving (87) states, "GOD HAS TAKEN YOUR MOTHER.  MY HANDS WERE THE INSTRUMENT.  GOD HAS TAKEN MY HANDS.  I AM GOD'S INSTRUMENT." 

Using specific examples from the novel, please discuss whether or not Owen could possibly be God's instrument.  Is there a divine plan for each of us?  If so, how?  If not, why not?   You will respond to these questions as well as to at least two of your classmates.  Your responses must add to the discussion and be thoughtful in nature.  Please be mindful of the differing opinions of your classmates and do not attack the beliefs of anyone else.

Providing assistance to Tiffany and John as they work on their blog responses.

Answering Destiny's question about how to respond to her classmates on the blog.

Do You Believe in Me?

I really liked this video.  It serves as a reminder of why we do what we do.

Too Many Books?

I am doing what I said I would not ever do again.  Last school year, I had five preps - four different English classes and the debate class.  I foolishly thought that I could have each of my English classes read a different novel, and I would be just fine.  I can't recall the logic behind that decision except that since I taught 9th, 10th, and two different 12th grade classes, I really didn't have much choice.  Well, that only lasted first semester because I was nearly crazy trying to keep up with mockingbirds, stranded boys on an island, burning books, erstwhile hounds, and to be frank, I really can't recall much about Pride and Prejudice.  Anyway, I swore to myself that I would not attempt to teach that many novels at one time.

Fast forward to second semester of this school year.  My Honors English 9 students are reading A Prayer for Owen Meany, a personal favorite of mine although I have never taught the novel. I am a bit apprehensive about teaching it.  My College Prep English 9 students are reading To Kill a Mockingbird.  This will be the 4th year that I have taught it, and I am looking for new insight and activities for the students.  My College Prep British Literature students are reading Frankenstein.  I was introduced to Frankenstein in graduate school.  I was supposed to read it, but chose not to since I did not find the premise of the novel appealing.  Well, a fellow English teacher convinced me to give it a try; I did; I love it.  I am looking forward to introducing my students to the novel, and hope that they fall in love with it as I did.  My newest project, my Writer's Workshop class is also reading a novel.  They are reading Finding Forrester.  I have seen the movie several times, but have not read the novel.  I want them to read more so that they will become better writers. 

I am sure that I will be worn out before spring break, but I think that in the long run, I will be okay.  I have been reading since I was 4 years old, and I seriously enjoy losing myself in a book and imagining myself as the main character in the novel.  I want my students to feel the same way about reading, and I love the discussions that we have about the books that we are reading.  I am especially interested in their perspective on A Prayer for Owen Meany.  I want to hear their thoughts on God's diving plan for each of us. 

Let's see how I feel in the next couple of weeks.  There are only 47 days left until the London/Paris trip.  I have a lot to do between now and then.  I also will have a lot to write about between now and then and a whole heck of a lot to write about after seeing the home of Shakespeare.  Can't wait.