Journal 1: Not wanting to be featured in a writing seminar

Since so many of you fear having your future writing assignments featured as a class exercise, I am going to post a new thread for each journal.  Dialogue with one another so that you can ask grammatical, stylistic, mechanical, and content questions of each other....or just converse for moral support.

Topics for Journal 1: 

a)  Discuss the thematic concept of outsiders in To Kill a Mockingbird.

b)  Were Atticus's actions regarding the death of Bob Ewell hypocritical, immoral, or illegal.  NOTE: If you choose to do this one (a persuasive essay), you may do an introductory paragraph, one con paragraph and one pro for practice.

Random Musings Quarter 3

Please use this forum to ask questions about an unclear assignment, to ask for help from your classmates, or to continue a discussion from class.

How Can I Help?

Please take a moment and reflect on the activities and lessons from the first semester. Then share what you think we need to have more practice in (obviously grammar, but what specifically?). Do you feel weak in writing introductions? topic sentences? embedding (ICE'ing) quotes? finding those tiny nuances and symbols in your reading? vocabulary?

Then consider what activities and procedures / routines we have in class that do work for you so we can continue (or do more). For example: participation points (believe it or not, some people do not like them); vocab LINGO, walkaround reviews; mailbox system; agendas; what type of extra credit would you like to see?

Use this forum to OPENLY and HONESTLY share your ideas, concerns, questions, and goals for the upcoming semester.

Favorite Classroom / Literary Moments

This thread has been neglected for so long and I wonder if it is because it is buried under so many other posts....let's see what happens now that I've moved it up!

It happens to everyone: words get jumbled between the brain and mouth, we enter into a conversation a moment too late... or we are simply confused. Ironically, these are the moments that help us remember the important information from class; laughter is a powerful learning tool. This is an opportunity to remember the special moments, lessons, activities, characters, and, of course, the miscommunications from our class. Help me to keep track of them and I will compile these into a booklet at the end of the year. Please remember that class rules apply: I will not tolerate any malicious attacks on any student or teacher. This is not meant to poke fun at anyone; it is meant in a spirit of reliving the occasional happy moment in our very special circle of hell :-)

Did the children truly give Boo, "nothing"?

At the end of the novel, Scout remarks that “Boo gave us a broken watch, two dolls, and our lives ...neighbors give in return. We never put back into the tree what we took out of it: we had given him nothing, and it made me sad” (320). In fact, they never even got to put the thank you note inside the oak tree.
Is this true, however? Did they realize give nothing to Boo? Please support your response.

Is Atticus a Criminal?: Bob Ewell's death

In class, we have begun to discuss if Atticus can be called a hypocrite. Let's push this further. In failing to arrest Boo Radley at the end, Sheriff Tate is breaking the law, as is Atticus, who knows the truth of Ewell's murder. Do you agree with some critics that Atticus's actions are hypocritical, immoral, as well as illegal? Support your position.

Random Musings for TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD...and SYMBOLS!

I have really been impressed by some of the insights you have shared in class. As we cannot possibly devote enough time, in my opinion, to this novel and we only have a short time left in which to discuss it, please continue to share your scholarly brilliance here:

Have you thought of another meaning for a symbol? Have you found some significance in a particular passage or event? Would you like to continue, amend, augment (add to), or dispute an interpretation of a symbol or passage discussed in class? Do you have a question about our discussion ...or do you need clarification?

I look forward to having you continue to dazzle me!

From mockingbirds to mad dogs to mobs to geraniums at the Ewell "house": let's talk!

Epiphanies: Learning Something New Every Day

Last year, one of my 9th grade students adorably said, "I want to read Mockingbird again; I think I read a different book this summer!". Currently, some of you have expressed that you feel you have missed some of Harper Lee's more subtle points (MARSHMALLOWS!) when you read the book before. Some of you have even begun to hop up and down in your seat when something "click's" for you. Soooo........

After discussing TKM in class, what is your favorite epiphany or revelation? What symbol, motif, or stylistic device have you found the coolest ? What passage did you reread for class that you missed the meaning of before? Which passage, event, moment, character, or quote now has a deeper meaning for you or has evoked a new emotion from you?

Share with the rest of us, please!

To Kill a Mockingbird - Debate #2: What caused it?

When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow [...] When enough years had gone by to enable us to look back on them, we sometimes discussed the events leading to his accident. I maintain that the Ewells started it all, but Jem, who was four years my senior, said it started long before that. He said it began the summer Dill came to us, when Dill first gave us the idea of making Boo Radley come out." (Lee 3)

A strange way to open a book, for certain. But who is correct? Did the events leading to Jem "[getting] his arm badly broken at the elbow" (and PLEASE look at the sentence structure there! How do we normally phrase that!) begin with the Ewells or with Dill & Boo?

Would the course of events have remained the same if Dill had not entered the picture?

Debate #1: Name that Protagonist!

Obviously, Jean Louise Finch narrates the story...but is she the protagonist? Which character does Harper Lee put the most emphasis on in terms of character development and growth? Dialogue with each other...just remember to be courteous with your classmates!