SUMMER SCHOOL - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Discussion

Please copy and paste the following discussion questions and essay questions over into a GoogleDoc.  Respond to each question with details and examples from the story.  Each response should be at least two sentences.  When your responses are complete, please share the doc with me.  It is due by 2:30 PM TODAY...obviously! Happy LAST Day of Summer School!

1. What is the setting of the story?

2. What is the occupation of Benjamin’s father?

3. What type of child (male or female) does Benjamin’s father hope for?

4. What outfit does Benjamin’s father end up purchasing for him (from the store)?

5. What does Benjamin’s father refer to Benjamin as? Why does he make this reference?

6. What university does Benjamin first attend? Why does he get kicked out?

7. Why does Hildegarde choose Benjamin? Explain.

8. Which university does Benjamin attend later in his life? What sport does he excel at? Which 
team does he help “destroy”?

9. What does Benjamin dislike about Kindergarten?

10. Who ends up taking care of Benjamin? What does he have trouble remembering?

Choose one of the following topics for your essay. Essay length 250-400 words.

1. Age plays a pivotal role in the story The Curious Case of Benjamin button. Based on what you have read, argue as to whether you think age has more to do with the human mindset rather than anything physical. Or, argue the opposite.

2. What does "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" teach us about the nature of age?

3. F. Scott Fitzgerald makes a bold commentary about class and social standing in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Explain whether you believe it to be the story of society’s refusal to accept anyone who is different.

SUMMER SCHOOL - What was left unsaid - Gatsby's Letter to Daisy

My Darling Daisy....

Imagine the novel continues and as Nick is going through Gatsby's belongings, he comes across a letter (that was never mailed) that Gatsby wrote to Daisy on the day before his death.  What would that letter say?  What dreams, hopes and ambitions would he share?  What emotions would he express?  What regrets might he have?  What actions did he have planned?

In no less than 200 words and in a GoogleDoc, reconstruct that letter.  Be sure your letter follows the proper personal letter format.  Share it with me when complete. 

SUMMER SCHOOL MLA info

Links to directions for MLA Works Cited page

http://www.studyguide.org/MLAdocumentation.htm
Information on how to properly cite your sources in MLA format.

http://www.libs.uga.edu/ref/mla2009.pdf
Another helpful website for proper MLA format citation.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/05/
Purdue Online Writing Lab

http://easybib.com/
Easy Bib - MLA format

SUMMER SCHOOL Research Project website sources

http://www.1920-30.com/

o        This is a great website that covers all areas of the 1920s such as architecture, fashion, literature and sports.

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1564.html

o        This site focuses more on the historical aspects of the “Roaring Twenties”.

http://www.pbs.org/jazz/time/time_roaring.htm

o        The history of Jazz music in the 1920s

http://www.trailend.org/dow-jazzage.htm

o        This site provides information pertaining to the Jazz Age including “Flappers” and music and dancing of the 1920s.

http://www.snowcrest.net/jmike/20sdep.html

o        This site provides links to various sections of the 1920 decade including: women, the economy, famous people, inventions, timelines, prohibition, historical movements, etc.

http://www.chenowith.k12.or.us/tech/subject/social/depression.html

o        Another website with expansive coverage and links to a variety of helpful resources of the 1920s, between the wars, and the decade to follow.

http://www.kidskonnect.com/subject-index/16-history/279-roaring-twenties.html

o        Provides many different links to other helpful resources related to the Roaring Twenties.

1. The Roaring Twenties

http://www.1920-30.com/

2. The 1920s Experience

http://www.angelfire.com/co/pscst/index.html

3. Schmoop: The Roaring Twenties

http://www.shmoop.com/1920s/

4. Info Please: 1920-29 World History

http://ph.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005247.html

5. ThinkQuest: The 1920s

http://library.thinkquest.org/C005846/The_1920/the1920.htm?tqskip1=1&tqtime=1017

6. Digital History: The 1920s

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/resource_guides/content.cfm?tpc=23

7. Roaring 20s: History Channel

http://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties

8. 1920s: Gilder Lehrman Institute

http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/module.php?module_id=460

SPECIFIC TOPICS

Flapper

http://www.fashion-era.com/flapper_fashion_1920s.htm

Prohibition

http://prohibition.osu.edu/

Capone/Organized Crime

http://www.chicagohs.org/history/capone/cpn1.html

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/al-capone/al-capone

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dillinger/peopleevents/p_gangsters.html

Movies

http://www.filmsite.org/20sintro.html

Jazz Music

http://www.pbs.org/jazz/time/time_roaring.htm

Harlem Renaissance Writers

http://faculty.pittstate.edu/~knichols/jazzage3.html#harlem

Scopes Trial

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~UG97/inherit/1925home.html

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/evolut.htm

Sacco and Vanzetti

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/SaccoV/SaccoV.htm

Famous People of the 1920s

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/greatWarGreatDep/

Slang

http://local.aaca.org/bntc/slang/slang.htm

SUMMER SCHOOL '13 - 1920s Scavenger Hunt

                         

The 1920's is oftened referred to as the "Golden Age."  Click on this link and follow the directions to take a trip through the Roaring 20's

SUMMER SCHOOL '13 - GATSBY'S GREEN LIGHT

Please read the following article entitled "Gatsby's Green Light  Beckons a New Set of Strivers"

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20080220wednesday.html


Then copy and paste the following quiz into a GoogleDoc; complete it and share it with me - gtjsmom@gmail.com.  You're not done...see below!

Take a quiz to see how well you understood the article "Gatsby's Green Light Beckons a New Set of Strivers." For each question, choose the best answer. Good luck!

---

1. The primary purpose of this article is to _________________________________.
	describe what makes a classic novel indicate the success of film versions descibe the novel's contemporary appeal among urban teenagers discuss the various ways the novel is taught in Boston-area high schools explain the novel's depiction of the American dream	Jodi Hilton for The New York Times
Hint: Read this article from the section.

2. The article uses the symbol of the green light from the novel to represent students’ _______________.
	goals illusions fears morals ideals
Hint: Read this article from the section.

3. According to the article, many high school students can relate to this novel's _____________.
	setting tone similes dialogue characters
Hint: Read this article from the section.

4. When they discussed the focus on __________ in the novel, several of the Fenway School students interviewed for this article disagreed on the lessons learned by the the protagonist.
	idealized love professional success materialism competition honesty
Hint: Read this article from the section.

5. In the 17th paragraph of the article, which starts with 'These teachers take pains…,' the word 'stratified' most nearly means ________________.
	depressed thriving stable class-based success-driven
Hint: Read this article from the section.

6. Which best describes the perspective of students in Kay Moon’s American literature class?
	They believe the American dream is unattainable. They maintain that there was greater social mobility during the time period of the novel than today. They perceive their lives as vastly different from their parents’. They see the United States as a land of limitless possibility. They view the American dream with skepticism.
Hint: Read this article from the section.

7. Based on the article’s depiction of Boston Latin, the school could best be described as __________.
	ancient segregated elitist prestigious private
Hint: Read this article from the section.

8. Jinzhao Wang's observation at the end of the article that 'The journey toward the dream is the most important thing' most likely demonstrates ___________________________________________.
	a personal reflection on the themes of this novel a rejection of the American dream, as illustrated in the novel a comparison between Dutch settlers in the New World and the character Jay Gatsby her belief that she will not get into Harvard her aspirations to work in her home country of China
Hint: Read this article from the section.

9. The article shows that students relate to this novel for all of the following reasons except that __________________________________.
	they appreciate the book’s honesty they understand the materialism of Gatsby's dream they relate to idealized love they identify with its themes of racial and ethnic diversity they appreciate the desire to achieve
Hint: Read this article from the section.

10. The article most likely offers information on the background of each student mentioned in order to ______________________________________.
	evoke a sense of compassion in the reader show that privileged students can relate to the American dream illustrate the book’s appeal among students from immigrant and working class backgrounds demonstrate the diversity of today’s public high schools reveal the sense of alienation many adolescents experience in high school
Hint: Read this article from the section. WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED THE QUIZ AND SHARED IT WITH ME - PICK UP A PIECE OF GREEN CONSTRUCTION PAPER AND WITH ALL THE CREATIVITY YOU HAVE...ILLUSTRATE YOUR GREEN LIGHT! WEALTH...A NEW CAR....A COLLEGE EDUCATION...TRAVEL THE WORLD...GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL...CURE FOR CANCER...OWN A BOAT...WHATEVER!!!

Click on the link below to complete your final WOW word quiz - 

http://www.vocabtest.com/vocabulary_word_test.php?tid=158724

Choose either Learning Definitions or Reverse Definitions.  Take the quiz. Follow the instructions at the end of the quiz in order to email your results to me.  Be sure to include your first and last name.

Best of luck!
Mrs. Ellis

Research Project info...

Just a FYI to all English II students...

All of the papers and directions for the 2013 English II Research Project are not posted on the English II website.  Just click on the link (on the right)  - 2013 Research Project.  

In addition, if you are researching Genetically Modified Food or Obesity as the greatest health risk in America, here is the link to an infographic that might be helpful as a source

http://publichealthonline.gwu.edu/cost-obesity-infographic-nphw#.UVyqAmGUHX4.twitter

If I find any other

links that relate to any of the topics I will post them here on the blog.

Happy Research!
Mrs. Ellis

Journal #5 - Wise words?

Describe the meaning of these two classic similes - "Life is like a box of chocolates" and "Stupid is as stupid does."  How do these analogies apply to your life?  Please respond in no less than 100 words. 

Journal #4 - What do you think?

For your next journal assignment, you are to go back to Journal #3 and read the comments posted by your classmates.  They are so impressive!  Choose three of them and write a three sentence (at least) response to each of those three!  Tell them what you think about their descriptive feelings regarding a phenomenon of nature.  

Journal #3 - Wordsworth's Words

British poet, William Wordsworth once wrote, "My heart leaps up with I behold a rainbow in the sky."  Think about a phenomenon of nature that moves you.  Using sensory, descriptive language, write a description of your feelings caused by this phenomenon of nature."

Journal #2 - "I Have a Dream"

In the "I Have a Dream" speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. says, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

Do you believe his "dream" has been achieved or is there still work to be done?  Why?

Your entry should be at least 100 words and it needs to be posted by 10 PM on Friday, January 18th.

Journal #1 - It's NEW!

Welcome back English II students! Starting this semester, we will have a NEW way of journaling, communicating and responding to the literature we read and discuss. We are going to BLOG! I know many of you are familiar with this from Coach Houp's class and this blog will operate very similarly. However, I need to get everyone included. So please comment below (in no less 50 words)...

Winter Break was ..... (i.e. Winter Break was tiring because I played basketball just about every day. However we won most of our games so it was awesome.  I wish it would have snowed so we could go sledding... OR Winter Break was great! I saw all of my cousins and we had three dinners at my grandma's house. She makes the best cinnamon rolls....  OR Winter Break was too short. I need more time to play Madden and Halo 4 and COD and Skyrim! I am...)

Your comment should be posted at the end of the 10 minutes I'm going to give you.  Your time starts....NOW!

Thanks and HAPPY BLOGGING!!

Mrs. Ellis