English 12 with Mr. Goss

Ciao, Poetry!!!

2007-01-08T04:24:00.000-08:00

Ah, poetry.
Two posts,
you have to complete two posts for today:
1.) Post the 'news story' poem then read and comment on your classmates.

AND

2.) Go to the following link and find a new 'favorite' poet,
and create a post about her/him and his/her poetry:
poets.org

Have fun... please... have fun!

This is the New Year

2007-01-02T04:46:00.000-08:00

Today, reflect for a moment on the past year, and look forward
to the new year. Create a post that discuss the past and the future.
Did 2006 meet your expectations?
What about yourself would you like to change in 2007?
What resolutions have you made?
Do you make resolutions (or think they are useful, etc).
How will this year be different from the last?
What are your hopes, fears, etc?

The Luxury of Giving

2006-12-18T04:30:00.000-08:00

Please read the following post from G-town Talks,
and respond.
Pass It On
"One must be poor to know the luxury of giving."
-George Eliot

The blind see

2006-12-10T16:18:00.000-08:00

Please read the following article. Write a post in response to the story. To add depth to your post, please use the various search engines at your disposal to investigate similar cases.
Buffalo News
Once you have read and responded to the article, please read and respond to your classmates posts.
Be sure to:
-directly refer to the Buffalo News article
-capture your reaction to the story
-investigate other cases
-answer the question "Would you donate your organs?"

Community of Learners

2006-11-27T04:29:00.000-08:00

Today, I would like you to read through your classmates' blogs until you find something that makes you think, something that is thought provoking and inspires you to write (i.e. until you find something you feel passionate about). Then, cut and paste an excerpt (block quote) from your classmate’s blog into your blog and write your own thoughts regarding that excerpt.

WWII vs. Vietnam

2006-11-12T20:42:00.000-08:00

Compare and contrast World War II and the war in Vietnam. Take into account the roll each war plays in Slaughterhouse-five. And discuss Kurt Vonnegut's possible opinions of each war, and how they relate to your opinions (tell whether you agree or disagree).
Some points to ponder:
- what was the roll of the U.S.
- how does history remember the conflicts
- how does popular culture remember the conflicts
- how does Kurt Vonnegut compare the conflicts
- discuss page 135 from the text

IMPORTANT! Today is the last to for you to make sure I have the link to your blog. Please check that the link from the mother blog to your blog works. If it does not please see me!

The Time Draws Near

2006-11-06T03:43:00.000-08:00

By this Thursday you are expected to have completed a minimum of six well written posts, each several paragraphs in length. For today's assignment, I would like you to either work on past posts that need to be completed, or complete an on-line assignment that you were never able to start.

Make sure your blog:
-is well written
-is easy to use
-is insightful
-is interesting (reflects you as a individual)
-contains posts that make you proud

After, go to the blogs of your classmates and read and comment.

The Secret Letter

2006-10-30T19:17:00.000-08:00

Today, go the the following link and read the article titled, "The Secret Letter from Iraq." It is three pages long. Please read each and every word.

Then in your own blog, create a post (with a link to the article) that discusses your thoughts on the article and also how it relates to Slaughterhouse-Five.

Consider the following points as you write your post:

How does the soldier's experiences in, "The Secret Letter", compare to Billy Pilgrim's experiences in Slaughterhouse-Five?

In chapter one, Vonnegut writes about the difficulties of writing a true war story. Is the author of "The Secret Letter" successful in his attempt to capture the truth? In which ways is he successful? And in which ways is he not successful? Does he encounter similar hurtles as Vonnegut?

What is the author's purpose for writing the, "Secret Letter"? Is the author pro or anti war, or neither?

Again, please include a link to the article and remember that your post need to be well written and at the very least 2-3 paragraphs in length.

Getting yourself out 'there'

2006-10-30T04:34:00.000-08:00

Today, Set up an account on Technorati.com.
Technorati.com is a site designed for bloggers as a way to get their blogs out there on the web. Basically, by setting up an account, more people will have access to your blog.

Once this is complete, write a post on a topic of your choice (as requested by many of you). Feel free to write about Slaughterhouse-Five, but if you would like, write about a subject that is important to you, a subject that your readers will find interesting. Remember, the post needs to be well written and school appropriate.

If you need ideas go to the following sites (remember to credit sources and utilize links for your readers):

Quotations Page
Blogger Gone Wild
CNN Student News

IMPORTANT: Next Friday (NOV. 3rd), I will be checking your blogs. Make sure that you have a minimum of 6 posts, that your blog is connected to the mother blog, that you use links in your posts, that you are writing to a vast audience, you have set up a freestats.com account, and that your blog is easy to use and read.

Tracking Stats

2006-10-23T06:06:00.000-07:00

One of the nice thing about keeping a blog is that you can check how many people are reading or visiting your blog each day, week, month and year. To keep track of these numbers go to freestats.com and create an account. Be sure to write down your user name and password. Once you have created an account you will be given html code. Paste that code into the bottom of your blog template.

Follow these directions, to keep track of statistics:

1. Sign into Blogger.com
2. Select your blog
3. Click, the "Template" tag
4. You will see a text field with HTML, scroll to the bottom of this field
and paste the HTML code from your freestats.com account.

Life in 4D

2006-10-15T18:38:00.000-07:00

Tralfamadorians view the universe in a way that is vastly different from our own. In your blog, please explain how the tralfamadorians view the universe and the consequences associated with it. Discuss pros and cons, and whether or not Billy's mission to educate the public would be beneficial to society.
Points to consider:
-free will
-accountability for ones actions
-motivation to better ones self

Mary O'Hare on 'War'

2006-10-10T07:53:00.000-07:00

"You'll pretend you were men instead of babies, and you'll be played in the movies by Frank Sinatra and John Wayne or some of those other glamorous, war-loving, dirty old men. And war will look just wonderful, so we'll have a lot more of them. And they'll be fought by babies like the babies upstairs" (Slaughter-House-Five, p. 14).

In your blog, please respond to the above quotation. Do you agree or disagree? Do movies help promote war? Were films more likely to promote war in the past? Please explain your position.

Discuss the two or three war films that you have seen. Which ones would you consider pro-war and which ones would you consider anti-war?

For a list of the top war movies of all time go to the link below. You then can click on individual films and read a plot overview. For many of the films, you can watch the trailer using the Media Player.

Top 50 War Movie Links

P. S. Feel free to write about other facets of the media if warranted.

Making Your Blog 'Your Blog'

2006-10-01T17:54:00.000-07:00

Today, two tasks must be completed.

First, please leave your URL (your blog address) as a comment to this post. To leave a comment, click the comment link at the bottom right of this post.

Second, write a post on a topic of your choice. The post must be a reflection of you as an individual. That is, make sure you write about something that you like (or better yet love), or write about an event in your life or in society that you feel is important. Remember, this is your blog! The post must be meaningful and well thought out.

One option is to go to another blog or web site and create a post in response to
an article or post from the other web site. Go to the following links for
some ideas (remember to credit sources and create links):
cnn.com
Writing Prompts
If you finish early, explore your blogs settings on blogger.com, and visit and comment on your classmate's blogs.
Today's Tips:
Use Firefox
Try to create a link
Write from your heart
Think through your ideas

Head-on: Apply directly to your web-blog

2006-09-19T09:20:00.000-07:00

Students that have completed all other online assignments and have commented on your
classmates blogs, please watch the following clip and write a post discussing its qualites (both positive and negative). So that others can view the clip, please paste the following link into your post: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOvFIxUz2XY

Points of discussion:
What is the product?
Does the commercial work?
Why does it work or not work?
What devices (literary) are used and why?

Poem, Poem, Poem...Response...Comment!

2006-09-15T05:46:00.000-07:00

For today's project you are to go to the poets.org website
and find a poem that you would like to comment on and discuss.
Once you have found a poem, cut and paste the poem,
or a section of it, into your blog (remember to credit both the author and source). Then, write a response.

Follow these procedures:
1.)Go to the following link: http://poets.org/page.php/prmID/86
2.)Read through the poems listed in the middle section of the page, under the heading "Poems on Poets.org".
3.)Pick a poem that you connect to, and find particularly interesting and/or thought provoking.
4.)Cut and paste a section of the poem (or better yet, create a link to the poem) into a new post on your personal blog.
5.) Write an in-depth and illuminating response to the poem that you picked.
6.) Next week you will be responding to your classmate's posts.

Remember, this is your blog and others will be reading it. Please do your best work. Take pride in what you are publishing for the world to see. Your opinions and ideas matter!

Mr. Goss's Mega-Tips for Reading and Understanding Poems
-Read the poem through two or three times.
-Think about your background knowledge that will help you connect to the people, animals, and/or objects in the poem.
-Try to make a metal picture of what takes place in the poem.
-Create a personal theory regarding the poems meaning and message.
-Know that there are billions of poems, and that it is mathematical fact that you will love at least one if not two.

Check List

2006-09-15T05:16:00.000-07:00

Before starting Friday's project you should have:
1.) Created a blog through Blogger.com
2.) Accepted the e-mail invitation from our master blog, english12withmrg
3.) Responded to the poem, Shooting Rats at the Bibb County Dump
4.) Visited two or three of your fellow student's sites, and commented on their responses. All comments should be well thought out and meaningful.

Student Blogs

2006-09-14T17:36:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note: all students must become a member of the English 12 blog for their
pages to link to it. An invitation was sent to your e-mail address.

Shooting Rats and Writing Posts

2006-09-14T08:12:00.000-07:00

Please go to the following link.
Shooting Rats at the Bibb County Dump

In your own blog, I would like you to respond to the poem
Shooting Rats at the Bibb County Dump, by David Bottoms.

Please title your blog and include a quotation from the poem (be sure to credit Mr. Bottoms).

Be sure to:
-Read through the poem two times or more.

-Think about any background knowledge that you have that will help you connect to the people, animals, and/or objects in the poem.

-Make a picture in your head of what is happening in the poem.

-Write down in your blog what you think the poem is discussing.

-Discuss theme, plot, and irony (and again, be sure to include textual evidence and any background information you might have.

Remember, this is your blog and many other will be reading it. Write something that makes you proud.

Lastly, read and respond to at least two posts your classmates wrote.

Introduction to Blogging

2006-09-13T08:08:00.001-07:00

In the upcoming days, weeks and months, our English 12 class is going to use this blog as a means of communication. We will read, discuss, explore, interprete and critique literature. We will create posts and respond to the post of other students. To richen our learning, we will take relevant information from a wide range of sources. Many future assignments will be completed through this online community of learners that we are creating.

Before the end of class, be sure to give me your e-mail address so you can be added as a member of this blog.