200 words:
Do you think Frankenstein went too far in his quest for knowledge? Or, more interestingly, is it possible to learn too much? What should Frankenstein have done differently? In a larger context, how should we protect and safeguard the advancement of knowledge?
Friday, May 8, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
1984, Book 2
All blogs must be posted prior to the start of class. All should be 200 words or more in length. You are expected to use proper mechanics and a formal tone. If you have difficulties with Blogger, this is not an excuse for not posting—email it to me or print it off and hand it to me instead. You may receive half credit if you post a day late; no credit will be received after that.
Post #4: due Wednesday, April 8
Look at Julia and Winston’s conversation at the end of Chapter 2. One statement that really stands out is when Winston, “I hate purity, I hate goodness. I don’t want any virtue to exist anywhere.” Think of John’s defiant speech to Mustapha Mond at the end of Chapter 17 of Brave New World. Do these statements relate in any way? What is Winston saying here? And are there other notable statements here that you feel you should bring up?
Post #5: due Thursday, April 9
Describe the relationship between Winston and Julia. Focus particularly on their different worldviews. How are they different from each other? How are the similar?
Post #6: due Friday, April 10
Pay careful attention to the last paragraph in Chapter 6, which begins “He knew sooner or later…” What does Winston seem to know? What is being foreshadowed here? Also, what do you think of O’Brien up to this point?
Comment #2: also due Friday, April 10
You must comment on at least one classmate’s blog, on post 4, 5, or 6. This needs to be an intelligent, thoughtful response to their post. Extra comments can earn you extra credit.
Post #7: due Monday, April 15
Orwell spends a great deal of time discussing Winston’s dreams. Discuss and analyze the dream sequence in Chapter 8. What does this dream suggest about Winston’s psychological state? Why might this dream be important to an understanding of Winston’s character? To the book as a whole?
Post #8: due Wednesday, April 15
After his meeting with O’Brien at O’Brien’s home, Winston receives a book, ostensibly written by Emmanuel Goldstein. The book is supposed to explain how the society in which Winston now lives evolved. Focus on these passages. Look particularly at the theory of the High, Middle, and Low classes. If true, what does this theory mean about the proles? How might it alter Winston’s hopes for the proles? Does this theory of history make sense to you?
Comment #3: due Thursday, April 16
You must comment on at least one classmate’s blog, on post 7 or 8. This needs to be an intelligent, thoughtful response to their post. Extra comments can earn you extra credit.
Post #4: due Wednesday, April 8
Look at Julia and Winston’s conversation at the end of Chapter 2. One statement that really stands out is when Winston, “I hate purity, I hate goodness. I don’t want any virtue to exist anywhere.” Think of John’s defiant speech to Mustapha Mond at the end of Chapter 17 of Brave New World. Do these statements relate in any way? What is Winston saying here? And are there other notable statements here that you feel you should bring up?
Post #5: due Thursday, April 9
Describe the relationship between Winston and Julia. Focus particularly on their different worldviews. How are they different from each other? How are the similar?
Post #6: due Friday, April 10
Pay careful attention to the last paragraph in Chapter 6, which begins “He knew sooner or later…” What does Winston seem to know? What is being foreshadowed here? Also, what do you think of O’Brien up to this point?
Comment #2: also due Friday, April 10
You must comment on at least one classmate’s blog, on post 4, 5, or 6. This needs to be an intelligent, thoughtful response to their post. Extra comments can earn you extra credit.
Post #7: due Monday, April 15
Orwell spends a great deal of time discussing Winston’s dreams. Discuss and analyze the dream sequence in Chapter 8. What does this dream suggest about Winston’s psychological state? Why might this dream be important to an understanding of Winston’s character? To the book as a whole?
Post #8: due Wednesday, April 15
After his meeting with O’Brien at O’Brien’s home, Winston receives a book, ostensibly written by Emmanuel Goldstein. The book is supposed to explain how the society in which Winston now lives evolved. Focus on these passages. Look particularly at the theory of the High, Middle, and Low classes. If true, what does this theory mean about the proles? How might it alter Winston’s hopes for the proles? Does this theory of history make sense to you?
Comment #3: due Thursday, April 16
You must comment on at least one classmate’s blog, on post 7 or 8. This needs to be an intelligent, thoughtful response to their post. Extra comments can earn you extra credit.
Friday, March 20, 2009
1984, Book 1
All blogs must be posted prior to the start of class. All should be 200 words or more in length. You are expected to use proper mechanics and a formal tone. If you have difficulties with Blogger, this is not an excuse for not posting—email it to me or print it off and hand it to me instead. You may receive half credit if you post a day late; no credit will be received after that.
Post #1: due Wednesday, March 18
Every novel, no matter how realistic it seems, creates its own unique world. In High Fidelity, the world resembled our own so precisely that we barely noticed the process. In Brave New World, nearly the first eight chapters are spent establishing a picture of the World State before John is introduced and the action really gets started. This is because, in a futuristic or fantasy novel, the creation of the world is even more complicated and more important to pay attention to than in a regular fiction piece, precisely because it’s like nothing we’ve experienced before.
The first three chapters of 1984 invite us into the world of Airstrip One (formerly England) in the fictitious year of 1984. Read these chapters carefully and describe this world as completely as you can. In your answer, you should consider the following: What is the government like? What are people’s lives like? How did things get this way? Do you not any characteristics of a dystopian society? What are they?
Post #2: due Thursday, March 19
Already this year, we have seen many characters contemplate the importance of language. Rob (High Fidelity), Kip and Almasy (The English Patient), and Helmholtz (Brave New World) have all given speechs on this subject. In Book 1 of 1984, we again get a discussion of the importance of language and how it relates to freedom. To begin, think about why Winston is writing in his diary and why this is a crime. In what way is writing things down a threat to the Party? Why is Winston drawn to this activity? Now consider Syme’s job of destroying words. Discuss the control of language as a method of controlling individuality.
Post #3: due Monday, March 23
In the second half of Book 1, we learn quite a bit about the methods of control used by the government. The most effective are language (which you have already discussed) and changing the past. Discuss the concept of “controlling the past,” both as a concept and the specific methods the Party uses. Why is this method so devastatingly effective?
Comment #1: due Wednesday, March 25
You must comment on at least one classmate’s blog. This needs to be an intelligent, thoughtful response to their post. Extra comments can earn you extra credit.
Post #1: due Wednesday, March 18
Every novel, no matter how realistic it seems, creates its own unique world. In High Fidelity, the world resembled our own so precisely that we barely noticed the process. In Brave New World, nearly the first eight chapters are spent establishing a picture of the World State before John is introduced and the action really gets started. This is because, in a futuristic or fantasy novel, the creation of the world is even more complicated and more important to pay attention to than in a regular fiction piece, precisely because it’s like nothing we’ve experienced before.
The first three chapters of 1984 invite us into the world of Airstrip One (formerly England) in the fictitious year of 1984. Read these chapters carefully and describe this world as completely as you can. In your answer, you should consider the following: What is the government like? What are people’s lives like? How did things get this way? Do you not any characteristics of a dystopian society? What are they?
Post #2: due Thursday, March 19
Already this year, we have seen many characters contemplate the importance of language. Rob (High Fidelity), Kip and Almasy (The English Patient), and Helmholtz (Brave New World) have all given speechs on this subject. In Book 1 of 1984, we again get a discussion of the importance of language and how it relates to freedom. To begin, think about why Winston is writing in his diary and why this is a crime. In what way is writing things down a threat to the Party? Why is Winston drawn to this activity? Now consider Syme’s job of destroying words. Discuss the control of language as a method of controlling individuality.
Post #3: due Monday, March 23
In the second half of Book 1, we learn quite a bit about the methods of control used by the government. The most effective are language (which you have already discussed) and changing the past. Discuss the concept of “controlling the past,” both as a concept and the specific methods the Party uses. Why is this method so devastatingly effective?
Comment #1: due Wednesday, March 25
You must comment on at least one classmate’s blog. This needs to be an intelligent, thoughtful response to their post. Extra comments can earn you extra credit.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Brave New World: Is It Really So Bad?
You will need to post your response to the following question during class today (2/26/09). Your response should be at least 250 words. Points will be deducted if your response is too short.
One of the most difficult questions to answer about this book is why all of this is so very bad. Many people have described Huxley’s vision of the future as “horrifying.” However, the fact remains that everyone in the society is really happy, really content, really without war, or pain, or suffering. So what’s so bad about it, “really”? It’s often an easy answer to feel but a difficult one to verbalize. Respond to this issue. If you want to say it’s not so bad, and you really mean it, that is all right, too. Just be specific and thoughtful.
One of the most difficult questions to answer about this book is why all of this is so very bad. Many people have described Huxley’s vision of the future as “horrifying.” However, the fact remains that everyone in the society is really happy, really content, really without war, or pain, or suffering. So what’s so bad about it, “really”? It’s often an easy answer to feel but a difficult one to verbalize. Respond to this issue. If you want to say it’s not so bad, and you really mean it, that is all right, too. Just be specific and thoughtful.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Brave New World: Predicting the Future
You will need to post your response to the following question during class today (2/20/09). Your response should be at least 250 words. Yes, points will be deducted if your response is too short.
Obviously, none of Huxley’s predictions have come true exactly. For that matter, none of The Jetson’s or Back to the Future’s predictions have come true exactly. Predicting the future is a tricky business, whether done seriously or in jest. However, there are elements of truth in Huxley’s vision of the world. Discuss some of these. Which aspects of Brave New World’s society seemed most relevant in 2009? Which most far-fetched? Why?
Obviously, none of Huxley’s predictions have come true exactly. For that matter, none of The Jetson’s or Back to the Future’s predictions have come true exactly. Predicting the future is a tricky business, whether done seriously or in jest. However, there are elements of truth in Huxley’s vision of the world. Discuss some of these. Which aspects of Brave New World’s society seemed most relevant in 2009? Which most far-fetched? Why?
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Macbeth Blogs
As we read Macbeth, we will be focusing on the imagery in the text. As you read, look for these images (or near variations of them):
Blogs for the entire week will be checked on Friday afternoons at 3:00 (or Thursday at 3:00, if we don't have school on Friday). You will also need to leave a minimum of one comment for a classmate each week. Extra comments translate to extra credit, up to 15 points per semester.
Schedule of blog homework:
Friday, October 31: read Act 1, Scenes 1-3 and blog
Monday, November 3: read Act 1, Scenes 4-7 and blog
These two blogs will be graded on Thursday, November 6 at 3:00.
Thursday, November 6: read Act 2 and blog
Wednesday, November 12: read Act 3, Scenes 1-3
These two blogs will be graded on Friday, November 14 at 3:00.
Thursday, November 13: read Act 3, Scenes 4-6 and blog
Monday, November 17: read Act 4, Scenes 1-2 and blog
Wednesday, November 19: read Act 4, Scene 3 and blog
Thursday, November 20: read Act 5, Scenes 1-4 and blog
These four blogs will be graded on Friday, November 21 at 3:00.
- sleep
- disease
- clothing/sewing
- planting
- doubles
- shadows/darkness
- strangeness
Blogs for the entire week will be checked on Friday afternoons at 3:00 (or Thursday at 3:00, if we don't have school on Friday). You will also need to leave a minimum of one comment for a classmate each week. Extra comments translate to extra credit, up to 15 points per semester.
Schedule of blog homework:
Friday, October 31: read Act 1, Scenes 1-3 and blog
Monday, November 3: read Act 1, Scenes 4-7 and blog
These two blogs will be graded on Thursday, November 6 at 3:00.
Thursday, November 6: read Act 2 and blog
Wednesday, November 12: read Act 3, Scenes 1-3
These two blogs will be graded on Friday, November 14 at 3:00.
Thursday, November 13: read Act 3, Scenes 4-6 and blog
Monday, November 17: read Act 4, Scenes 1-2 and blog
Wednesday, November 19: read Act 4, Scene 3 and blog
Thursday, November 20: read Act 5, Scenes 1-4 and blog
These four blogs will be graded on Friday, November 21 at 3:00.
Blog Guidelines
Guidelines:
• You will post a blog response for each reading assignment.
• Your topics will be posted to our class blog at http://tgibritlit.blogspot.com.
• Posts should be 200 words or more.
• All entries for the week must be posted by 3:00 pm on Friday.
• If you for any reason post after 3:00 pm on Friday, you must email me to let me know to check your work. You should also be aware that your work will be graded as late.
• You will respond to the entries of your classmates—at least one per week. This should be a well-developed, thoughtful response.
• You will receive credit for the quality of your posts, as well as your responses.
Basic Reminders:
• You must reflect on the reading and develop significant ideas, not simply recount the reading.
• Be aware that all posts are public domain. Anyone can see what you write. Accordingly, if you should have a personal or sensitive response to a certain portion of reading or assignment, you may email me that day’s entry instead of posting it to the Internet.
• Because this is a classroom assignment, please be respectful and adhere to the core values of University High School.
Extra Credit:
• You may earn extra credit for posting additional comments to your classmates’ blogs.
• Your responses must be to entries which have been posted in the current week.
• In this manner, you may earn up to 15 extra points per semester.
• You will post a blog response for each reading assignment.
• Your topics will be posted to our class blog at http://tgibritlit.blogspot.com.
• Posts should be 200 words or more.
• All entries for the week must be posted by 3:00 pm on Friday.
• If you for any reason post after 3:00 pm on Friday, you must email me to let me know to check your work. You should also be aware that your work will be graded as late.
• You will respond to the entries of your classmates—at least one per week. This should be a well-developed, thoughtful response.
• You will receive credit for the quality of your posts, as well as your responses.
Basic Reminders:
• You must reflect on the reading and develop significant ideas, not simply recount the reading.
• Be aware that all posts are public domain. Anyone can see what you write. Accordingly, if you should have a personal or sensitive response to a certain portion of reading or assignment, you may email me that day’s entry instead of posting it to the Internet.
• Because this is a classroom assignment, please be respectful and adhere to the core values of University High School.
Extra Credit:
• You may earn extra credit for posting additional comments to your classmates’ blogs.
• Your responses must be to entries which have been posted in the current week.
• In this manner, you may earn up to 15 extra points per semester.
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