Summer Reading, Book II

This summer you had the unique opportunity to choose both of your summer reading books for English class.

• Is this a better alternative to having books assigned to you?  Why or why not? 
• What was your favorite book of all the books you read this summer?  Explain in detail.
• Explain why your favorite book  should be assigned reading for next year's freshmen. 

Please respond to all three questions above, dedicating at least one paragraph to each.  You may want to draft your response in Word first so that you do not lose your text.  DUE BY THE END OF CLASS.

What makes a hero?

Everyone has a hero or two who inspires them.  Describe one of your heroes.  It can someone real or fictional, mortal or immortal.  Do you best to detail their heroic traits.  What makes them a hero?  What is their quest or objective?  What weaknesses or imperfections do they possess?  One paragraph.   DUE 9/11/14 BY 7 A.M.

How to write a book by Mark Twain

For PERIOD C- DUE SEPTEMBER 11, 7:00 A.M.

Widely regarded as the greatest American writer of his time, Mark Twain was often asked for advice on the art and craft of writing. Sometimes the famous humorist would respond seriously, and sometimes not. Here, in remarks drawn from his letters, essays, novels, and speeches, are ten of Twain's most memorable observations on the writer's craft.

1. Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.
2. Use the right word, not its second cousin.
3. As to the Adjective: when in doubt, strike it out.
4. You need not expect to get your book right the first time. Go to work and revamp or rewrite it. God only exhibits his thunder and lightning at intervals, and so they always command attention. These are God's adjectives. You thunder and lightning too much; the reader ceases to get under the bed, by and by.
5. Substitute damn every time you're inclined to write very; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.
6. Use good grammar.
7. Damnation (if you will allow the expression), get up & take a turn around the block & let the sentiment blow off you. Sentiment is for girls. . . . There is one thing I can't stand and won't stand, from many people. That is, sham sentimentality.
8. Use plain, simple language, short words and brief sentences. That is the way to write English--it is the modern way and the best way. Stick to it; don't let fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in.
9. The time to begin writing an article is when you have finished it to your satisfaction. By that time you begin to clearly and logically perceive what it is that you really want to say.
10. Write without pay until somebody offers pay. If nobody offers within three years, the candidate may look upon this circumstance with the most implicit confidence as the sign that sawing wood is what he was intended for.

Read ten tips shared by Mark Twain during his lifetime.  Some of these will not be relevant to you as a freshman in high school, but most of them can directly impact your experience in English class.  Which one might you disagree with?   Which tip is most surprising?  Which one of these are most important to your writing this year and why? ONE PARAGRAPH.

Creative Blast, September 8

Read the quote below:

“And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” 
― Sylvia Plath, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

Interpret this quote.  What does it mean?

Apply it to your own experiences as a writer.  When you are asked to write about yourself, does it relate to the way you feel?

Go the extra step:  What is the most difficult thing about evaluating another student's writing?


You may post as "Anonymous" but be sure to start your response with your own name.

Romeo and Juliet - what does it mean?

Consider this a Socratic Seminar online.  You may respond to other student's ideas.  In fact, I would like you to post your answers first, then express agreement or disagreement at least once with another classmate, making certain that you clearly state your reasons for agreement or disagreement.  Any abuse of this blog will result in a grade of zero.  That means no fooling around.

Read the text below.  THE ORIGINAL VERSION is shown first.  The same passage, in more MODERN VERSION follows (in a different font) to help you understand the conversation.  After reading, answer the questions in a post.  In the event that a post is not possible, please email your response to me.


Lady Capulet 
Enough of this; I pray thee, hold thy peace.
Nurse
Yes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh,
To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay.'
And yet, I warrant, it had upon its brow
A bump as big as a young cockerel's stone;
A parlous knock; and it cried bitterly:
'Yea,' quoth my husband,'fall'st upon thy face?
Thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age;
Wilt thou not, Jule?' it stinted and said 'Ay.'
Juliet
And stint thou too, I pray thee, nurse, say I.
Nurse 
Peace, I have done. God mark thee to his grace!
Thou wast the prettiest babe that e'er I nursed:
An I might live to see thee married once,
I have my wish.
Lady Capulet 
Marry, that 'marry' is the very theme
I came to talk of. Tell me, daughter Juliet,
How stands your disposition to be married?
Juliet It is an honour that I dream not of.
Nurse An honour! were not I thine only nurse,
I would say thou hadst suck'd wisdom from thy teat.
Lady Capulet
Well, think of marriage now; younger than you,
Here in Verona, ladies of esteem,
Are made already mothers: by my count,
I was your mother much upon these years
That you are now a maid. Thus then in brief:
The valiant Paris seeks you for his love.
Nurse
A man, young lady! lady, such a man
As all the world--why, he's a man of wax.
Lady Capulet 
Verona's summer hath not such a flower.
Nurse 
Nay, he's a flower; in faith, a very flower.
Lady Capulet
What say you? can you love the gentleman?
This night you shall behold him at our feast;
Read o'er the volume of young Paris' face,
And find delight writ there with beauty's pen;
Examine every married lineament,
And see how one another lends content
And what obscured in this fair volume lies
Find written in the margent of his eyes.
This precious book of love, this unbound lover,
To beautify him, only lacks a cover:
The fish lives in the sea, and 'tis much pride
For fair without the fair within to hide:
That book in many's eyes doth share the glory,
That in gold clasps locks in the golden story;
So shall you share all that he doth possess,
By having him, making yourself no less.
Nurse
No less! nay, bigger; women grow by men.
Lady Capulet
Speak briefly, can you like of Paris' love?
Juliet 
I'll look to like, if looking liking move:
But no more deep will I endart mine eye
Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.

------------------------------------------------
LADY CAPULET

Enough of this. Please be quiet.

NURSE

Yes ,madam. But I can’t help laughing to think that the baby stopped crying and said, “Yes.” I swear, she had a bump on her forehead as big as a rooster’s testicle. It was a painful bruise, and she was crying bitterly. “Yes,” said my husband, “Did you fall on your face? You’ll fall backward when you grow up, won’t you, Jule?” And she stopped crying and said, “Yes.”

JULIET

Now you stop too, Nurse, please.

NURSE

Peace. I’m done talking. May God choose you to receive his grace. You were the prettiest baby I ever nursed. If I live to see you get married someday, all my wishes will come true.

 LADY CAPULET

Well, marriage is exactly what we have to discuss. Tell me, my daughter Juliet, what is your attitude about getting married?

JULIET

It is an honor that I do not dream of.

NURSE

“An honor?” If I weren’t your only nurse, I’d say you had sucked wisdom from the breast that fed you.

LADY CAPULET

Well, start thinking about marriage now. Here in Verona there are girls younger than you—girls from noble families—who have already become mothers. By my count, I was already your mother at just about your age, while you remain a virgin. Well then, I’ll say this quickly: the valiant Paris wants you as his bride.

NURSE

What a man, young lady. He’s as great a man as any in the whole world. He’s as perfect as if he were sculpted from wax.

LADY CAPULET

Summertime in Verona has no flower as fine as him.

NURSE

No, he’s a fine flower, truly, a flower.

LADY CAPULET

(to JULIET) What do you say? Can you love this gentleman? Tonight you’ll see him at our feast. Study Paris’s face and find pleasure in his beauty. Examine every line of his features and see how they work together to make him handsome. If you are confused, just look into his eyes. This man is single, and he lacks only a bride to make him perfect and complete. As is right, fish live in the sea, and it’s wrong for a beauty like you to hide from a handsome man like him. Many people think he’s handsome, and whoever becomes his bride will be just as admired. You would share all that he possesses, and by having him, you would lose nothing.

NURSE

Lose nothing? In fact, you’d get bigger. Men make women bigger by getting them pregnant.

LADY CAPULET

(to JULIET) Give us a quick answer. Can you accept Paris’s love?

JULIET

I’ll look at him and try to like him, at least if what I see is likable. But I won’t let myself fall for him any more than your permission allows.

Describe the relationships between the 3 women (Juliet and the Nurse; Juliet and her mother; the nurse and the mother).  What do you find surprising or unusual? 

Who's the Bully?

Piggy brings order and civilization to the island.  It is his idea to have a meeting, use the conch to avoid chaos, and to worry about the littluns.  But he is not treated kindly by the other boys.  Give three examples of how Ralph and Jack treat him unfairly, then determine whether or not you consider their actions as bullying.  You have 15 minutes to respond.  Please start with your name on the top of the post. 

What are we willing to do for love?

Would you, as King, leave your throne to marry a woman who doesn't meet the royal expectations of your country?

Would you give up a glamorous career as a film star, to join your soul mate in a world that is so insulated, no one remembers one movie you've done?

Would you give up your parents, friends and siblings to go off with someone they consider undesirable?

If you had to choose between your parents and a love interest, who would win?

What kinds of sacrifices are reasonable when it comes to love?  Is there a limit on what you are willing to give up for your true love?

Share your thoughts before Thursday, February 27, 12 noon.