5/29

Not sure if I was supposed to blog or not due to the previous post, but today we took a test and it was very difficult. Remember to vote for a book for our class to read the last two weeks of class.

-Marci w

Here are your suggestions

The following are the text titles you suggested. To provide a greater degree of flexibility and potential interest, I have combined the suggestions of both classes. The list proceeds in order, starting with those texts mentioned by the most students.

Top Contenders:

I Am Legend
Jurassic Park
(both are excellent choices - I have frequently considered finding ways to work them into my teaching. And both have film versions that deviate significantly from the original work, which would give us even more to discuss. Matheson is hailed by modern horror writers--included King--as a major influence. Crichton has become a bit hackneyed in his choices of plotlines as of late, but I think JP stands as an excellent example of his style and most oft-used theme. I applaud both as potential texts)

Runner-Up:

Fight Club
(another excellent choice - but one I have yet to read, although it's on my Big List. I am certainly a fan of the film, and C.P. is certainly a popular and influential modern writer.)

The Pack:

Something Wicked This Way Comes
East of Eden
Aesop's Fables / Grimm's Fairy Tales
The Inferno (by Dante)
The Picture of Dorian Gray
1001 Arabian Nights
The Count of Monte Cristo
War of the Worlds
Dracula
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Angels and Demons
(These are all quality texts--literary classics, pulp classics, and fun stuff. The Inferno may be more than you want to handle right now...the fables and fairy tales would be much fun, but perhaps a little lighter than I'd like to go...we'd only be able to do selections from the Arabian Nights, I think. But otherwise, all worthy choices)

And the Rest

The Alchemist
The Last Lecture
Bless the Beasts and the Children
The Lovely Bones
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Watership Down
Lolita
Water for Elephants
(again, phenomenal choices. I ADORE Watership Down--read it for the first time in my senior year, long ago--if you never thought a bunny could be a hero, think again! I also adore The Alchemist--a short novel, but so profoundly meaningful and inspirational--I have suggested its inclusion on the curriculum many times! The Lovely Bones is already making appearances on school curricula across the nation, so it's also a fine choice. It's brilliant, but I would likely be fired for teaching Lolita to high school students. Again, really great things to choose from here.

This post will be duplicated on both blogs. Record your comments, and let's achieve consensus! Once we have, you may get your copy, and commence reading immediately!

LAZ

Test Question

Who were all the kings in power during the English Civil War?


M Frost

May 28

Today we reviewed in class for the test tomorrow and went over some possible books to read for the end of the year. Remember, the twelve hour extra credit read-a-thon is sunday june 8th at 10 am!
-samantha schaeffer

Thurs May 23

as everyone knows, today was a half day (and prom) so our periods were shortened. Class began with a discussion concerning the extra credit, 12 hour read-a-thon. The 8th of June is set in stone for the date and the location has yet to be determined. We have also decided on a 247 page section beginning at the end of the fellowship and ending after the first portion of two towers. We are therefor required to come prepared with a copy of both books (obviously) and a general understanding of the plot up to where we will begin reading. we then ended our discussion of Andrew Marvell's "Bermudas" and ended the class by going over the details of the upcoming test. Start studying...It's a week from today!!!
-danielle radey

Class May 21,2008

Today in Class we went over Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress" and "Bermudas."
We talked about the extra credit opportunity; the date that has been chosen to have this event is June 8. We are still deciding on which section to start on. Mr. Lazarow has offered up the beginning, the middle which will involve the first book and the second, and the ending as starting sections.

On Thursday May 29 we will have a unit test on the poetry packet and the English civil war. There will be a section on the civil war, the poetry, the biography of the poets, and Paradise Lost.

Lydia P.

Philly Book Festival

What are we supposed to do at the philly book festival for the extra credit??


M. Frost

John Milton: Paradise Lost

Is it not contradicting that while many humans vote for the underdog(Devil) to win that we believe in God,or some kind of structure/ law? "Lucifer" is a rebel, the opposite of what we trust. As humans do we not like some kind of structure? What do you think?

Lydia P.

5/8

Today in class we talked about the blood drive that the Interact Club is running on May 20. After that we talked about the meanings within the poem Delight and Disorder. Then had a deep discussion on whether people thought that a person that isn't considered to be perfect still be attractive......especially during the time of prom.


-M Frost

Delight In Disorder

What does, "An erring lace, which here and there Enthralls the crimson stomacher:" mean?


Lydia P.

Writing Assignment

Post any questions here about the writing assignment!
-k fahey

5/7/08

Today in class we took a quiz on Life of Herrick. After the quiz we discussed Life of Herrick, and went over questions we did not understand on the quiz.
Dance-a-thon
Final deadline: May 9th (or it gets canceled).
Blood Drive
May 20th
7am- 8:30pm

new paper!

Today in class we continued to talk about the "what they carried" poem but took it one step farther. We did a hands on activity where we took inventory of our own items we were carrying at that very moment. From the clothes you were wearing to the deepest corner of your backpack, we listed on a piece of paper what was there. Recording took alot of time out of class. After the last person had finished Mr. laz told us the second part of the assignment. After looking at everything that you carry you must pick 1 to 3 things that say something about you. Why are you carrying those objects, what do they tell about who you are. After you have decided on the objects of your choice you have to write a paper about those choices. Write a paper about the things you carry and why you carry them. Pick the objects that mean the most to you and that really do mean something to you and explain it.

We also spent time to discuss the up coming last sign ups for the Dance-a-thon. which helps a local charity so it would be a good thing to get the word out to people around school.

As class was ending, we discussed the connection between Jesus Christ and James Cross. Cross carried the burden of grief and guilt for his men when Ted Lavender died. So, do you think that the connection had anything to do with carrying the burdens for others and sacrifice?

--Laura C

May 1st

Today in class, we did not have a quiz. We discussed the background of the poet, Ben Jonson. We also analyzed the poem "Come my Celia, let us prove" from one of Ben Jonson's satirical plays. The poem had a similar theme to "The Flea" by John Donne. We also started to discuss the poem "Clerimont's Song," which is also from one of Jonson's plays. It is about a person who suspects that the woman he is with is hiding something from him because she is so overdressed.

--Laura C