Love at first sight??

Discuss your feelings about the speed of Romeo and Juliet’s romance. On the one hand, it is a two-hour play meant for the stage, and Shakespeare obviously had to scrunch the timeline. On the other hand, does this kind of “love at first sight” romance (which again, is constantly referred to even in today’s culture) help reinforce a false expectation in young people (girls maybe more than boys?)?

As always, support your thinking with evidence from the text.

Romeo and Juliet

Discuss your feelings about the personalities of Romeo and Juliet thus far.

Romeo
Romeo is the classic romantic hero–even modern songs use the image of Romeo (“Love Story” by Taylor Swift) to represent what every girl hopes to one day find. However, after having read two scenes of Act I, is Romeo the stuff of dreams? Do you think the love-sick characteristics of the Romeo we currently see in the play is the kind of romantic hero we imaged him to be? Explain your answer and refer to the text with Act, Scene, lines: (i.e.1.2.5-10).

Juliet
So far, most of you have met Juliet. Discuss whether or not you find her personality flattering (intelligent and charming) or insulting (conniving and impatient).

Antigone Question #2

Now that we have finished reading both plays, discuss your feelings about the use of suicide in the plays. Do you feel that audiences in 500 BCE felt differently about life than a contemporary audience might feel? Can you think of any contemporary movies that utilize suicide to convey tragedy?

Antigone Question 1

How do you think Sophocles felt about the role of women in Ancient Greece? Do you feel the drama support’s society’s view of women? Or, do you feel that Sophocles was making a bold statement against Greece’s view of women by making Antigone the heroine? Use the text to support your answer and same writing criteria applies.

Oedipus Question 2

Now that we have finished reading the first drama, discuss Sophocles’ potential motivation for this play. Do you believe Sophocles sought to re-strengthen man’s belief in the existence of an all-knowing, all-powerful character of the gods? Or, do you believe Sophocles was attempting to cause audience members to question their understanding of the gods?

In other words, according to the play, was it man’s unquestioning belief in the gods that caused the characters’ tragedy? Or, was it man’s attempt to prevent the god’s will that caused their tragedy?

Live Portal will begin 7:00 p.m. Tonight (Tues., Mar. 30th)

Deadline for response is 9:00 p.m. Wed., March 31st

Same writing criteria as previously. This post is worth 20pts

Oedipus Question 1

Discuss the character of Oedipus so far. What is he like? How has his hubris been shown thus far? Or, do you think he is in fact justified in his reactions thus far?

3 complete, thought-provoking, grammatically correct/spelling error-free sentences:  =C

5 complete, thought-provoking, grammatically correct/spelling error-free sentences AND response to at least one peer:  =B

8 or more complete, thought-provoking, grammatically correct/spelling error-free sentences AND responses to at least two peers: =A

Lord of Flies Paragraphs

Please post your first paragraphs (attention grabber, thesis, essay map, etc.)  The deadline to post is 3:15 tomorrow (Jan. 28th) and the deadline to respond is Friday (Jan. 29th) 8:00 a.m.

Animal Farm Discussion Wk 3

Do you think the animals purposely and openly confessed of being an accomplish accomplice with Snowball? Or do you think Napoleon killed them in private and told the other animals that they did confess just so he could eliminate the threat.

Do you think that Snowball was behind the attacks on the farm? Why or why not?

What change could have happened drastically if Snowball hadn’t been chased by the dogs? State you answer in 2-3 sentences.

Animal Wk 2 Discussion

Where is the fine line between communism and democracy?

At first when Farmer Jones still owns Manor Farm he treats the animals like slaves. After this, when the animals drive Farmer Jones out, the animals are self governing and get off to a good start. After a while, when Snowball proposes the windmill, the second rebellion starts. The windmill debate ends when Napoleon drives out snowball with the dogs. This is the turning point in the story because Napoleon takes over the farm and makes himself the leader, or more appropriately, dictator. (Posted by Period 4)

Who do you think would be a better leader Napoleon, Snowball, or Squealer. Explain your reasoning. (Posted by Period 6)

In 1917, the first battle of the Bolshevik Revolution had taken
place but it was not the first battle of Russia’s rebellion. In 1905 one battle was so bloody it was called Bloody Sunday. In Animal Farm, the battle of the cowshed happened about a month after they took control. Looking at the following source, decide if these battles are  similar or not. (Period 3)

http://depts.washington.edu/baltic/papers/russianrevolution.htm

Animal Farm Discussion for Oct. 15th – 21st

Everyone must participate in the blog discussion by 9:00 p.m. Monday Evening. The “Live Discussion” will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Monday (Oct. 19th). At that time, as you refresh the page, you will see responses from other classmates.

While you do not have to participate in every thread of the discussion, the more you participate, the better your chances for doing well on the Reading Quiz on Tuesday.

____________________________________________________________________________

What’s the difference between communism and socialism?  How does it affect the ideals of the animals in the book? (Dead Neon Ice Cubes, Period 3)

How is the Animal Rebellion related to the Bolshevik Revolution?  (Posted by the Quaggas, Period 6)

Symbolism of the Novel
Animal Farm is full of great symbolism of the Bolshevik Rebellion. Before this rebellion, Czar Nicholas the second was the king of Russia. He was overthrown by the Bolsheviks, which put Vladimir Lenin in charge. In World War II, Stalin soon became the leader of the Soviet Union. Find two symbolic similarities between this war and the novel, and respond to two other comments.  For example, Snowball was like Vladimir Lenin and Nepolean was like Stalin. Be sure to describe them in detail, and respond to other comments. (TEEDCTDJ, Period 4)

Find Some Support

Look for one good quote and one paraphrase (remember that a paraphrase maintains the idea of the original author and deserves credit for that idea; however, you do not use their exact language).

Re-post your thesis and below it, add your quote and paraphrase. Be sure to include in-text citation.  Below that, create a Works Cited citation for those sources. YOU MAY NOT USE WIKIPEDIA; If you use a dot com, be sure you can verify the validity of the information (is there an author?  is there a last updated date? is the information hosted by a well known organization?)

*EXAMPLE:

My revised thesis:  Ice cream  is much more successful in treating heartbreak than is the more commonly used cure now being used–Facebook bulletins.

Quote:  According to Freud, “people’s egos make them lash out when they are in pain” (45).

Paraphrase: Using Facebook to flash hurtful bulletins on the friends of all the former lover’s pages usually makes things worse (“The Hidden Danger of Facebooking”).

Works Cited

Freud, Sigmund. Id versus Ego. New York:  Bloomsday Press, 2003.

“The Hidden Danger of Facebooking.” New England Herald Online. 3 May 2003.

*This information is all fictional

What are you interested in????

Please post three potential thesis statements concerning a topic(s) of interest. Remember to avoid use of “I think, I believe, In my opinion.” Your thesis statements can be claims of fact (true/false), value (wrong/right, good/bad), or policy (should/should not).  The topic is up to you, but remember that it has to be a topic that is appropriate and is of enough interest to you that it will keep you going because this is a relatively lengthy project ahead.

You must post these statements by 9:00 p.m

You must also respond to other people’s thesis statements by 7:00 a.m. Please respond to THE WAY THE THESIS IS WRITTEN not whether you agree or disagree with one another’s claims.  All of these claims (if they are strong claims) will have agreement or disagreement to them.

History Present in the Novel

D day occured June 6, 1944–the day the Allied invasion of Normandy began.  Throughout the rest of 1944, the Allies advanced across Europe toward Germany. In late 1944, Hitler took a stand along the French and Belgian border. This battle is known as the Battle of the Bulge, and the Allies nearly lost it. However, it also took a toll on Hitler’s armies and ultimately played a significant role in the Allies’ cause. The war in Europe ended nearly a year after D-day. As revelations were made about the extent of the killings that took place in Europe, reactions by Jewish Americans were severe and varied.

Why do you think the author chose to place the novel at this time period?

Does it really impact the story?

Could he have created the tension between the two different Jewish sects without placing the novel in the time period of the war?

Support your answer and be sure to respond to one another’s ideas.

The Chosen Discussion (3 Comments – Leaders Only this round)

Possible prompts (if you have other ideas, feel free):

What were your first impressions of Danny and Reuven?

Why did the author decide to have Danny and Mr. Malter already have an established relationship by the time Danny and Reuven met? How did this impact the characters in the novel?

*Don’t forget to respond to other’s comments and ask questions of your own

“Seven Ages of Man” and “Pain for a Daughter”

Use this space to discuss the two poems we read in class. Your assignments requires you to submit at least three comments total. You may respond to my prompts or you may respond to what others have said, but please remember the classroom expectations.

First names, last initials ONLY. Complete Sentences. Be POLITE when responding to or disagreeing with a fellow classmate. No text jargon (i.e., lol, omg, etc.) Check your spelling and use complete sentences.

Possible Prompts (Defend your answers) You do NOT have to answer all of them:

What is the tone of each?

Do you feel as though Pain for a Daughter expresses a beautiful thing despite its use of figurative language?

Which stage of man, according to the poem, is the most favorable stage?

Which line(s) from each are the most powerful?

Which poem do you like better?

Which poem more accurately describes the “human condition”?