November 6, 2008: Responding to Chapters 6-7, Maggie November 7, 2008
Consider what happened tonight in Chapters 6 and 7 tonight.
- What are you reactions to Chapter 6-7?
- What events, attitudes, or plot developments stood out to you our reading from tonight?
- What was most surprising to you in tonight’s reading? Why?
- Look back at each chapter. What do you think was the most important thing that happened in EACH chapter? Why?
- In your opinion, what was the most interesting expression or quote? (give the quote and page number) Why?
- Who is the most vivid character to you so far? Why? Describe that character and explain why he/she is so memorable to you at this point in the novella.
- How did tonight’s reading make you feel? Why?
- What do you predict will happen next?
Please organize your responses to these questions in a paragraph of 10-15 sentences. Think deeply and thoughtfully!
November 5, 2008: Responding to Chapters 4-5 of Maggie, A Girl of the Streets November 6, 2008
Reflect on what we have read tonight in Chapters 4 and 5. Consider these questions:
- What are your impressions of Jimmie? What do you think of him?
- What are your impressions of Pete? What do you think of him at this point?
- What are your impressions of Maggie? What do you think of her at this point in the novella?
Share your impressions and responses in a paragraph of 10-12 sentences.
Responding to Chapters 1-3: Maggie, A Girl of the Streets (November 3, 2008) November 4, 2008
Consider these questions:
- What was your first reaction to our reading? Explain.
- What events, attitudes, or plot developments stood out to you in the first three chapters? Why?
- What was most surprising to you in tonight’s reading? Why?
- Look back at each chapter. What do you think was the most important thing that happened in EACH chapter? Why?
- In your opinion, what was the most interesting expression or quote? (give the quote and page number) Why?
- Who is the most vivid character to you so far? Why? Describe that character and explain why he/she is so memorable to you at this point in the novella.
- How did tonight’s reading make you feel? Why?
- What do you predict will happen next?
Please organize your responses to these questions in at least two paragraphs of 5-10 sentences. Think deeply and thoughtfully!
October 28-29, 2008: Responding to Emily Dickinson Poetry October 29, 2008
Look back over the Emily Dickinson poems you have read this evening. Choose TWO of the poems to analyze (in paragraph format). Please answer all of these questions about EACH poem you have chosen to explore. Respond in paragraph format.
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What is your first reaction to this poem? Feelings about it? Possible meanings?
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What ideas, thoughts, impressions, and/or images stand out for you after reading this poem?
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What was most the most interesting, intriguing, or favorite line from this poem? Why?
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What line, lines, stanza, or stanzas were most confusing to you? Why?
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What words in this poem seem especially important to you? Why?
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What seems to be the mood or feeling of this poem? What words create this mood?
- What literary devices or poetic devices (if any) did you notice about this poem?
- What are your impressions of the way the stanzas and line breaks are organized and presented? Do you think these choices were intentional? Why might the poet organize the poem as she has?
- Would you recommend this poem to someone else? Why or why not? How do you feel about the poem?
- What connections can you make with this poem? How do you relate to this poem? Or if you do not connect with this poem, why do you think this is?
- What qualities of this poem seem unique to Dickinson’s style of writing and choice of themes?
- What is one question or a point of confusion you have about this poem?
Thursday, October 23, 2008: Responding to “The Gettysburg Address” October 23, 2008
Listen to “The Gettysburg Address” (click on the Windows Media link):
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1512410
What was your reaction to this speech? What words, phrases, or passages did you think were most memorable or most important? Why? What literary devices did Lincoln use to convey his message? What feelings or emotions did you feel as you read this speech? What words/phrases/lines evoked these feelings? Why do you think this speech is revered as a great work of American literature?
Please share your thoughtful responses in a paragraph of 8-10 complete sentences. Be sure to check out these very cool websites about this great speech at http://del.icio.us/hamilton_11th/gettysburg_address .
Mrs. Hamilton 
Resources for Researching Spirituals October 22, 2008
Access and read these resources before we read tonight’s selections. Complete the graphic organizer I have provided you with the 5 most important facts about each article you learned from your reading of all four articles in YOUR OWN words.
- “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” Article
- GVRL Article on Spirituals
- Reading Notes: “Follow the Drinking Gourd” and http://quest.nasa.gov/ltc/special/mlk/gourd2.html .
- Reading Notes: “Go Down, Moses“
For more info, I recommend this website; click on the links on the left sidebar:
Now I recommend you listen to these songs as you read the verses in your textbook.
- Listen to “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” at http://www.rhapsody.com/fiskjubileesingers
- Listen to “Go Down, Moses” at http://www.rhapsody.com/album/tuskegeeinstitutesingers19141927?artistId=art.11290039; you may also enjoy this more modern version.
- To hear yet one more version of each song, try this link.
- Listen to these two songs and “Follow the Drinking Gourd” at this link.
Responding to “Owl Creek Bridge”, October 22, 2008 October 22, 2008
Consider the text of “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” that we read last night as well as the video version. Please respond to the following questions below in a paragraph of 10-12 complete sentences.
- What was your reaction to the short story? Why?
- Which did you enjoy better: the text of the story or the video version? Why?
- Why do you think Bierce entitled this story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”?
- What did you think of Bierce’s use of flashback in the story? Was it effective? Why or why not?
- If Bierce would alive today and writing this story in a modern/contemporary setting, what event do you think he might choose as his subject matter? Why?
