In Cold Blood Socratic follow-up

Goonies -
If you were out last Thursday for our Socratic seminar over the first two sections of In Cold Blood, please respond to one of the following questions with an answer of approximately 300-400 words.  Evidence from the text is preferred (read: better for your grade).

- Discuss Perry Smith and Dick Hickock's emotional health.  Are they mentally ill?  If not, what do you perceive motivates them to do such horrible acts?  (The answer may be different for each of them.)

- In what ways have the townspeople of Holcombe reacted and changed since the Clutter murders?  What is it about the Clutters that made such an impact on their community, both in life and in death?

- Comment on Truman Capote's bias.  Is it fair or right for him to give so much air-time to the murderers?  Do you feel sympathy for Dick and Perry?  Why or why not?

August 1 Essay Responses Go Here

Hello, hello.

Under this thread you should post a reaction to a second piece from the essay anthology (distinct and different than the first). 

Remember that in addition to this anthology, you are expected to read one of the following:

a) Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
b) The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
c) Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

For the first 1-2 weeks of school, be prepared to discuss anything from the anthology, as well as your spiritual text of choice.

Be well, read well.
LAR

July 1 Essay Responses Go Here

Greetings, Class of 2015!

If you are looking for where to put your responses to the essays in your summer reading packet, this is the place.  Remember they are due here by 11:59 p.m. on July 1.  Refer to your summer assignment for content and length requirements.  I hope you're enjoying summer, as well as some good books.

LAR

Follow up to Slaughterhouse-Five Socratic seminar

Please choose at least 3 questions below and elaborate.  You may also respond to something that was said during the seminar, expand on something you already said in seminar, or respond to what has been written in this space.  How much you enjoy your grade is directly correlated to how much effort you put into this.

Possible questions:

• How in control of our lives are we?
• Billy Pilgrim is a hero, a victim, or what?
• Is peace possible?
• Did KV succeed in bearing witness to the bombing of Dresden by using the unorthodox structure he chose?  Why/why not?
• Where on the spectrum of "Rage, rage against the dying of the light" and "So it goes" do you fall?
• Poo-tee-weet?  (Since nobody touched that one in either class today, I will be especially excited to see answers to that one.)

Welcome, Class of 2014.

Rising seniors,
This is the place to post your entries for your summer reading anthology!  I've already heard from one student who's ready to post, so I'm updating the site.  Leave your posts as a comment to this one.

If you're looking for any good movies to watch over the summer, allow me to recommend (in no particular order or categorization):

The Godfather Trilogy
Better Off Dead
The Book of Eli
Lars and the Real Girl
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
As Good as it Gets
Rain Man
Stand By Me
The Shawshank Redemption
The Joy Luck Club

Please welcome the Creative Writing kiddos

This year, I have a ninth period Creative Writing elective with 13 writers from the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades.  Four boys, nine girls.  They're an eclectic mix of personalities and temperaments, and you will not have to take my word for it.  They are creating their own blogs this unit that will soon be linked to this one.  They will be required to write three blog entries each week until mid-April; if they continue to blog after that is entirely up to them. 

So, coming soon, the Individual Blogs of:
Damian
Daniella
Juana
Sophia
Delvia
Ana & Miranda
Jahaziel
Valeria
Anthony
Alexia
Allison
&
Jorge

A Raisin in the Sun -- Viewing Questions

Answer both of the following questions to receive extra credit on a quiz grade.  Please complete this by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, October 30.

Who is the main protagonist of "A Raisin in the Sun?"  In other words, which character do you most want to see achieve his/her dreams, and why?
 

Consider the qualities that each actor contributed to the interpretation of his/her character.  How did your opinion or understanding of a character change after seeing a live version of him or her?  In other words, did you become more or less sympathetic to someone, and if so, why?  Cite particular scenes or lines that impacted your opinion the most.