HW January 13

Actively read chapter 7 of The Kite Runner. Then, write one page in which you discuss how the literary techniques (characterization, irony, symbolism) work to develop the themes (redemption, trust, loyalty, forgivenss, family, envy, ect.)

Use vocabulary from units 2 & 3 for maximum points!

If you are having trouble with any of the terms in this assignment, see your notes and the list of common literary themes, located both at the bottom of this blog, and in your take-home folder).

H.W. for Friday, January 9

Actively read chapters 4 & 5 of The Kite Runner. Then write a one page paper in which you discuss the significance of 3 out of the four symbols we have been studying in class (tree, mirror, hard-wood chiseled doll, smoke).

You score for the writing piece will be based on:
- Content / Meaning
- Evidence from the text
- Use of vocabulary from Unit 2 Vocabulary List

Announcement Test Friday, January 16. See separate posting for details and study guide.

Homework for W/H Blocks 1/7 &1/8: Characterization

Actively read chapter 3 of The Kite Runner. Then, write a one page essay in which you discuss the characterization of Amir. Discuss characterization in terms of:

a) personality
b) values & beliefs
c) background information
d) motive
e) physical description

This assignment is worth 25 points and must be turned in typed or on loose leaf.

** Reminder Vocabulary packets due Friday, January 9

Grade 9 Winter Break Assignment: December

DUE MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2009

Afghanistan Information Hunt
Choose 20 questions from the list the answer on loose leaf.

1. Where do Muslims go to worship in Afghanistan?
2. What holidays do Afghani people celebrate?
3. For what reasons can a man beat his wife?
4. What is flagellation?
5. How is flagellation used as a punishment and for whom?
6. What is the significance of the “-stan” endings in many Middle Eastern countries?
7. What will happen to a woman who does not wear her birka?
8. Are women permitted to work in Afghanistan? What kinds of jobs do they have?
9. Are there any groups of people who go against traditional Afghan customs?
10. Is Afghanistan an independent country?
11. What is the population in Afghanistan?
12. How can couples get married if they can’t see each other first?
13. What is the poverty rate in Afghanistan? How is it defined?
14. What languages are spoken in Afghanistan?
15. How are children educated?
16. Why do women have less rights than men?
17. What are the mythical religious groups? What does this mean?
18. Are foreigners expected to follow the same customs as citizens?
19. Where can we see Soviet influence in Afghanistan today?
20. What does a traditional house look like in Afghanistan?
21. Is Afghanistan a democracy? Does it work like our government?
22. What traditional customs are stilled followed today?
23. How did the tradition of couples not seeing each other before marriage begin?
24. What is Ramadan?
25. What is Halal food?
26. What religion do the other 1% of people practice?
27. What is the student teacher ratio?
28. How are boys and girls educated differently?
29. Who are the Shiites?
30. Who are the Sunni’s?
31. Why can’t men and women shake hands with one another?
32. Why is eye contact something to avoid with women?
33. Why can’t women wear tight-fitting clothing?
34. Why can’t women show their feet when they are in public?
35. What are the major differences between the two Muslim groups?
36. In which month is Ramadan celebrated?
37. What are the Five Pillars of Islam? What do they mean for Muslims?
38. What is Islam?
39. What is a Mullah? What are his responsibilities?
40. Can a woman be a Mullah?
41. What are the rules for consuming alcoholic beverages?
42. After a woman is married, is she then permitted to look at other men in the eyes?
43. Are Afghans free to vote? What is the voting process like? Who votes?
44. Which wars has Afghanistan been associated with and taken part in?
45. What is the ‘jirga’ system? When and how is it used?
46. Who was Mohammed Zahir Shah? What was his place in Afghani history?
47. Who was the “founder” of modern Afghanistan?
48. What conquering nations and armies came into Afghanistan and it’s surrounding areas?
49. What types of governments were present throughout the history of Afghanistan?
50. Do husbands give their wives money?
51. Where do Afghanis buy groceries? Who goes shopping?
52. What is the structure of the family? What roles do family members play?
53. Has the number of political parties increased or decreased with history?
54. What is the military like?

Scholarly and Academic Sources
Feel free to search any website you like to find the answers, but definitely check out the following:

www.scholastic.com
http://www.afghana.com/Education/News.htm
www.britannica.com
www.nationalgeographic.com
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1569826.stm
www.nytimes.com

Mad Libs

Mad-Libs Vocabulary Assignment
Ms. Walsh

1) Go to the blog page
2) Click on the Mad Libs gadget
3) Choose a topic from the dropdown menu
4) Fill in the appropriate parts of speech, using vocabulary words and other necessary words
5) Email yourself and one other person when you are done
6) Check your email, open the document from Mad Libs
7) Copy the story into your notebook.
8) In your notebook, translate the story underneath the copied version. Replace vocabulary words with synonyms, and add story elements to make it make sense.
9) Underneath your translation, reflect on your thinking process as you worked to make your vocabulary story make sense.
10) Title your vocabulary story

Sample:
Daniel Walsh, alias Johnny Cool, hated to make decisions even when his adage depended on it. He headed in the direction of an all-night bonanza nestled between a self-service citadel station and a decree parlor. He pushed open the diner excerpt but didn't enter. The only street lamp on the dark laggard illuminated the fear on his toenails. He was coming to another decisive moment, and as always, it scared the plaudits out of him. He took a deep rubble and entered the diner. It was almost servile. Johnny slumped into a/an discordant leather booth. He was very tired. Every wrangle in his body ached. His vigil was trembling. He needed coffee silently.

*The bold words are the words and phrases I selected for the Mad Libs.

Sample Tranlation:
Title: Early Bird J. Cool Needs Rest: The Desire to Run

My brother, who also goes by the name Johnny Cool, didn’t like to make decisions even when his proverb depended on it, and he lived by the old adage, “the early bird catches the worm.” He went towards an all-night money-making diner, located between a self-service protective tower for citizens, and a rules and regulations parlor. It’s tough living in the future. He read the passage written in the diner menu posted on the wall, but he didn’t go in. The only street lamp on the slowpoke lit up the fear on his toenails. He was coming to another decision, and as usual, it scared the applause out of him. He took a deep breath of the debris from recent construction outside the building and entered the diner. The place was like a servant itself, waiters running back and forth without stopping, bells ringing, orders being taken. Johnny, or Daniel, sat down heavily in a booth that shrieked out loud and made a grating sound when his body hit the seat. He was exhausted. Every argument in his body ached- his racing mind verses his sleepiness, his hunger verses his will to keep walking. His ability to keep watch over his target had been reduced to a tremble. He needed to sit silently with a cup of coffee and think for a while.

Mad Glibs: Extra Credit Opportunity

Hello Students,

Check out these awesome mad glib links. They used to be called Mad Libs. For Extra Credit, complete a mad glibs story online, copy it onto looseleaf when you are done, make any changes necessary to make your story make sense, and submit.

Links
http://www.eduplace.com/tales/
http://madlibs.org/
http://www.funbrain.com/brain/ReadingBrain/ReadingBrain.html

Due Date for Extra Credit: Friday, October 17, 2008

Happy writing,

Ms. Walsh

New Link For Creative Writers

Hello Students,

I have created a blog site for the creative writers among us. It's set up as a link under "School Information." If you want to be able to post your own creative writing or comment on someone else's, send me an email and I will invite you as an author.

Ms. Walsh

Interior Monologue for Sundjata Characters

Remember that some of the characteristics of the interior monologue we brainstormed in class included:

-self-affirmations
-I wish...
-I hope...
-facts about what happened
-ask questions about other characters
-ask questions about yourself
-state your immediate plans
-state your long-term plans

*Don't forget to write your real name, too!

Happy blogging,

Ms. Walsh

Things Fall Apart
Literal, Interpretive, and Applied Questions

Directions: In your notebook, respond to the following questions for chapter one of Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Write in complete sentences, and label each question with an (L) for literal, (I) for interpretive, and (A) for applied.

1. How might bringing honor to one’s family affect a character’s personality?

2. How long did the wrestling match last between Okonkwo and Amalinze the Cat?

3. Explain the metaphor found on the first page: “Okonkwo was as slippery as a fish in water.”

4. Why did Okonkwo have “little patience for his father”?

5. What was the purpose of Okoye’s visit to Unoka, Okonkwo’s father?

6. List three facts about Unoka’s background history.

7. Does a person’s family history determine the type of person he or she is, or will become?

8. A proverb is defined as a metaphorical phrase that is used to make a point. Write down the proverb found on page 8 of the text.


Evaluating Your Thinking Process
Now that you have thought about, answered, and labeled the questions, evaluate the thinking process you just used for the task. How does it help you to recognize the different types of questions you are being asked? What do you think is the benefit of stopping to ask your own questions while you are reading a text? How does answering questions about a text help you to develop a deeper meaning for a text? Write one paragraph to explore these questions and discuss your experience with this task. Do this part of the assignment as a post comment to this blog.

*Remember to sign your first name, last initial, and period number
(EX: MariF.p1 )

Our Reading Profiles

Dear Students,

Hooray! Harrah! Haroo! You made it! Below, you will see the Reading History Questionnaire we worked on in class. Only this time, you can see all of my answers!

Your Task:
1) Read through my responses
2) Highlight the Reading History Questionnaire
3) Press CTRL C or right click and select “copy”
4) Click on “comment” (located below the survey)
5) Place the cursor in the body of the blog and press CTRL P or right click and select “paste”
6) The survey should appear in the space. Delete my answers, but leave the questions.
7) Now it’s your turn to complete the survey! Use complete sentences, of course.
8) Add one question (to make 25 questions) and answer it.
9) Delete the original title and create a personalized title. Post your comment, and do not forget to select "name" and write your first name, last initial, and period.
10) Now it’s time to explore each other’s comments. Choose three of your peers to write five interesting reading facts about. Do this part in your notebook.

Happy blogging,

Ms. Walsh

P.S. While you’re on here, it wouldn’t hurt to vote on the polls I have on the right.

P.P.S. Don’t forget to familiarize yourself with the information contained in the links.

English Frogs Hop from Book to Book: Ms. Walsh’s Reading Profile
1. How old were you when you learned how to read?I am not sure how old I was when I learned how to read, but I do remember that the first sentence I read aloud was, “stand up to be tall and sit down to be small.” I was so proud!

2. Were you a big reader growing up?I was definitely a big reader growing up. I didn’t enjoy classics much, though, until I was a bit older. As a teenager, I was obsessed with the writer Lois Duncan, and I loved Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley High series. I also read the heck out of the Nancy Drew books.

3. Are there any books that left a big impression on you as a kid?In Cold Blood by Truman Capote gave me nightmares, Steven King’s Rose Madder inspired me to write, and J.R.R. Tolkien made me dream. As a really small child, I loved these books that had the best cartoon pigs dressed in uniforms- I don’t know who wrote them or what they were about, but I loved them so much!

4. Do you have favorite genres? (Example: Do you read mainly fiction or non-fiction? Do you have a soft spot for horror, science fiction, or romance?) I would have to say that I really love historical fiction books. I have a soft spot for fictitious novels that are set in ancient times.

7. Where do you prefer to read?I love to read in the park, under a tree. In the summer, I like to read at the beach. If it’s raining, or cold, I like to sit on my couch, near the window. I always read on the train.

8. Do you like to eat or drink something while you read? If so, what are your foods and beverages of choice?For me, the best reading snack is chips and guacamole.

10. On average, how many books do you read a month?At some times during the school year, I have read up to six books in a month. On average, I probably read two books per month.

11. How do you get hold of the books? Do you buy them at a bookstore, visit an online store, borrow from a friend or family member, or do you use the library?I love collecting books to share with students, friends, and family, so I often buy books.

12. Paperback or hardcover?I prefer paperback because it’s nice to be able to fold a soft book in half when you are in a crowded space and have to read with one hand holding onto a metal rail (the train).

13. At what point do you give up on a book? I try to get through all of the books I pick up, but if I get halfway through a book and I don’t care about the characters, I put the book down.

14. How do you find out about new books and authors?I like to read books based on recommendations, best. I also check out the New York Times bestselling list. My mom often tells me about good books she has read and then I read them so we can talk about them.

15. Best reading-related memory?Reading the final book in J.R. Rowling’s Harry Potter series gave me dreams of the Hogwarts Castle every night until I was done with the book.

16. Worst reading-related memory?One time, in college, I had to read three thick novels in one week. I procrastinated (teachers are human, too) and didn’t have time to finish one of the books. I had to go to the discussion group and admit to the class (when I got called on) that I didn’t finish the book. I was mortified.

17. What was the last book(s) you read?The last book I read was Jeanette Wall’s memoir, titled The Glass Castle. It was awesome.

18. What was the last book you checked out from the library?The last book I checked out from the library was Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible.

19. On average, how many hours a week do you spend reading?Aside from reading at school with my students, I spend at least five hours a week reading.


20. Are you a fast or a slow reader?
I read at a fast pace only if I’m reading for pleasure. If I am reading a book with my students, I read at a slower pace, so that I can think about what the hidden messages are and figure out what is most important to teach about.

21. Do you sometimes read more than one book at a time?I often read more than one book at a time. Sometimes, I confuse the characters and the stories. I find that if I make a character list for each book, it makes it easier to keep the stories straight.

22. Are you what Stephen King refers to as a Constant Reader, or are there periods where you do not read at all?
I am a “Constant Reader.”

23. What is the longest you have gone without reading?The longest I have ever gone without reading was one week, when I stayed with my best friend at her parent’s lake house. I had forgotten to bring a book, and the town was so small, we would have had to drive an hour for the nearest bookstore or library!

24. Why do you read? (This is a tough one, I know)I read because it helps me to understand the world around me. This helps me to change, as a person, which I think is very important.