After the Iowa Caucus...

Hi gang,

We discussed chapter 5 - Opportunity - and began the movie "By the People". We will continue to watch and read about Obama on Wednesday.

We have watched through the Iowa Caucus, which is the first election day to vote for Democratic candidancy. This is not the Presidential election, yet. This movie documents the campaign trail through his eventual election as 44th President of the United States.

I want you to write a 1-1.5 page essay on the following two questions/thoughts/ideas from the movie.

1) Does Obama warrant (deserve) all of the hype, attention, adoration that he receives? Or, does he happen to be in the right place (a polarized and frustrated America) at the right time? What insight does this documentary give you into the world of the campaign trail?

2) During several interviews bystanders were asked if they thought Obama could be the next president. Many replied that, "America is not ready." What does this mean exactly? Why might they say this? What is your reaction to this idea that America is not ready.

Please remember that your essays should be free of error. Please proof read your work. Do not turn in an essay with careless errors. Please write in 12 font, Times New Roman style, single spaced, no funky margins. Also, be prepared to discuss chapter 6 of Audacity of Hope.

See you Wednesday!

For the SENIORS...

Dear Tobias, Cloe, and Goncalo, and Renaud,

I hope yous have an awesome time working with Habitat. This week in class we will be covering chapters 5 and 6 of Obama's Audacity of Hope. Please write a 1-1.5 page essay reflection on each chapter - in editorial or letter response.

Highlight what stood out to you as significant and/or meaningful for each chapter. Emphasize how this work may or may not have altered your perception or opinion of Obama and how each chapter relates to the American people. How might the American people perceive this work?

You may turn this in by next Wednesday!

Have fun!!!

Mr. P

Thoughts on the Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass...

Hi gang,

Here is your writing prompt for essay number 2:

Much of the first three chapters (and the book in entirety) discusses the situation of the slaves. Discss in detail how Douglass' people, the slaves are controlled physically, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically. Give insight into how the slave owners, masters, slave-holding families may also be affected. How might this affect future generations on economical and psychological levels? Use text to support your answer.

Remember: 12 font, Times New Roman, single space, regular margins (no funky margins), 1 - 1.5 pages in length

Also, I can't encourage you enough to think about how you and our school can support the people of Haiti. Brainstorm ideas and let's do something!!!!

The Autobiographical novel...

Hi gang,

We are cruisin' with Obama and Frederick. These two autobiographies differ much in style and purpose, but each give us a unique look into the heart, mind, and soul of each author. I am captivated by Obama's ease with the reader and his openness to not only share humanizing antecdotes, but to also consider and criticize his own political thought process. I am completely engrossed by the world in which Douglass lived and his unrelenting drive to share with the world the devastating reality of a slaved people and backward nation. Without his words this reality may have been swept under the mental rugs of the American people.

I want to remind you all that your cooperation and participation is impertinent to our classroom. A class with one speaker is not a class. Share your thoughts, ideas, concerns, emotions...I'd love to hear them.

For Wednesday you will write an essay. You have two choices:

1) Select a controversial topic of your choice and discuss your opinion. Explain how your values led you to this opinion. What has influenced your thought process and how did your value system take shape? Try to observe this objectively.

OR

2) Discuss some of your most cherished values. How did you come to hold these values and discuss how you live by them. Give real life experiences and examples to support your response.

Please:
-12 font
-Times New Roman
-single space
-1 - 1.5 pages
-no funky fonts

*anything outside this will be penalized!!!!

This is due Friday!!! See you then!!!

For break my mind awaits, but still, there's work...

Hi gang,

That's right, you read correctly - that line is written in iambic pentameter style - da dum, da dum, da dum, da dum, da dum - with 10 syllables.

And, it's true we are all ready for a break. And, we all deserve a break. Let's finish with a bang, not a flop. We still have 5 tasks to complete!

1) You will present your play parts on Friday December 11!

2) You should turn in your reflection paper no later than Friday December 11!

3) We will finish reading Macbeth. This will happen probably on Tuesday December 15. We will also finish Polanski's movie on Tuesday. I suggest you read the modern English version (see sparknotes) ahead of time if you have trouble understanding the language.

4) You will write your own sonnet - same style as Shakespeare - in iambic pentameter, 14 lines, same rhyme scheme. This should be turned in on Thursday December 17!

5) You will have one more informal essay on Shakespeare's Macbeth - you will have 4 options:

-Is Macbeth a moral play? Does it teach a lesson? If so, what is it?

-Shakespeare uses a technique called elision in which certain key events take place off stage (ex. Duncan's murder, the battle scene). Why might have Shakespeare used this? What are the advantages/disadvantages of using this?

-Who is the hero of the play? Is there one? Is Macbeth the villain? Discuss.

-Do the aparitions, the witches trick Macbeth? Are Macbeth's actions his fault or were they caused because of something greater than him?

This final paper should be 1-1.5 pages in length, 12 size, Times New Roman font, single spaced. Use text support when needed.

Finish up the year with a bang, folks. Next Thursday you will receive your winter reading - Obama's Audacity of Hope.

Peace

It's been a while...

Hey gang,

With regard to our study of Shakespeare tonight we are going to read a few of his sonnets. First, reserach, what is a sonnet. Why might have Shakespeare written these?

Visit Shakespeare's sonnets and select 3 to read. Select three that you like. Discuss the theme and tone of each. Turn this in on Monday on loose-leaf paper.

Remember Wednesday we will present our plays and Friday we will finish Macbeth in class.

I have decided to postpone the book talk projects until after the winter holiday. I will give you more details soon.

Moodle muddles my mind...

Foul is fair and fair is foul...

Man, moodle be trippin'...In past Moodle-Philen battles, Moodle has always prevailed. And, today folks, Moodle prevailed once again.

I need some serious Jappale with Moodle...So, here are you essay topics:

1) Discuss how Shakespeare sets the tone in Act one.

OR

2) By the end of Act 1, who has "control" of the plot? Is it Lady Macbeth? the witches? the king? Macbeth? Fate? Who do you think Shakespeare would want us to believe has control? (The movie and my preaching were quite different if you were close attention this was evident).

OR

3) How do stage directions differ between movies and plays? Think about both movies and plays that you have seen. How would you change the play Act 1 of Macbeth to become a movie?

These short essays are due on Friday. They should be between 1 and 1.5 pages in length, 12 font size, Times New Roman font, single spaced. No late essays will be accepted.

I'm OUT!!!