Thursday, January 31, 2008: Responding to Equiano January 31, 2008

Take a look at this great website about Equiano:  http://school.discovery.com/schooladventures/slavery/equiano.html .  Click on each of the links on the timeline to find out more about each phase of his life.

After you reflect on the excerpt you read tonight and the information you have explored at the website above, share your reactions to his work and his life.  What stands out to you?  What seems important?  Why do you think we still study Equiano in 2007?  What important lessons can be learned by reading and studying Equiano’s life?

Share your ideas, reactions, and reflections in a thoughtful and well-written paragraph of 10-12 sentences. 

Researching Romanticism in American Literature September 25, 2007

Task:  To research the social, historical, and literary context of Romanticism in American Literature.

We will use the following resources to ponder these questions; you may use this graphic organizer to help you ponder these questions.

• What are the defining qualities and characteristics of Romanticism in American literature?
• What historical and social events are tied to this literary movement in American literature?
• Who are the major writers associated with this literary movement in American literature?  What are the major works of these writers?
• What is the importance of this period in American literature?

You will work with a partner and post your findings on PBWiki.  We will talk more about how to create a PBWiki account (it is free)!  You should organize your work by the questions above.

• A “sample” PB Wiki page:  http://3rdperiodpractice.pbwiki.com/
• Go here to start your PB Wiki Account:  http://pbwiki.com/ 
• If you want to use Slide to do some sort of multimedia presentation within your Wiki, you can go to http://www.slide.com and set up your account.

 Resources You May Use for This Research Project

• Books in the media center
• Your textbook
• http://del.icio.us/creekview_hs_library/romanticism_american_literature (some of the sites will require a password—see me!)

Responding to The Crucible September 24, 2007

Please consider these questions:

• What did you think of the video version of The Crucible?    Which character did you like most and why?  Which character did you like least and why?  For which character did you have the most sympathy?  Why?
• In your opinion, what was the most dramatic or important part of the story?  Why?
• Look up the definition of the term crucible; in your opinion, what WAS the “crucible” of this play?  Explain.
• Do you think something of this nature in which mass hysteria or fear could overcome logic and reason could happen in the United States today?  Why or why not?  Exaplin.
• What would you have done if you had been in John Proctor’s shoes?  Why?  Do you agree with his decision at the end of the story?  Why or why not?
• Why is this historical event worth knowing about?  Why do you think Arthur Miller chose this event as a parallel to McCarthyism?  What can we learn from these tragic events in history that can help us in the present?

Explain your answers to these questions in multiple paragraphs of 4-7 sentences each.