WEEK THREE / FOUR POST-Benjamin Franklin

You should be finishing TSB, and starting Ben Franklin's autobiography. This assignment counts for you for both Honors English AND, if you are taking it, Honors History. You have this week and next to complete this assignment.

When you get to the part in the book where Franklin writes to his son about attaining moral perfection, I would like you to read it and do the following:

Franklin epitomizes good old New England common sense. He chose to master one virtue at a time and he kept a little log in which to do so.

On MY blog, I would like you to go ahead and explain which of the virtues you still think are applicable to American society, and, also, explain if any of them are "outdated." For instance, carefully read Franklin's definitions of "justice" and "moderation." Do these definitions hold true today, or do they need new definitions for the modern world? Do you see any glaring holes in his list? Are there different virtues we should practice in these times?

On YOUR blog, please do the following: I want YOU to give "a week's strict attention" to one virtue. It can be one that is the SAME as one of Franklin's, or it can be one that you choose. Franklin thought he could only attain moral perfection if he followed a method. You will choose a virtue, practice it, and keep track of your progress by maintaining your record keeping every day. You'll ask yourself, how did I do with my virtue today? You can post on your blog every day, or you can keep track on a separate piece of paper, and post it all at the end of the week. Your post on your blog must explain the following: (1)The virtue you chose to practice, why you chose it, (2) if it is similar to Franklin's definition or entirely different and why, (3) your plan to master that virtue, and, finally, (4) summarize how you did. Did you do well? Did you find it hard to practice your virtue? Don't forget to post on each other's blogs! You'll see that I have put hyperlinks below for everyone's blogs.

ENJOY!

Sample post:
The virtue that I chose was Tranquility. I like Franklin's definition, because I think he's getting at not getting all excited about the little things over which you have no control . I have been extra tired this summer, partially due to heat, partially due to a baby who likes to get me up four times a night on average, and it seems like I have been kind of impatient and anxious about things. I want to work on being calmer, and, well, more tranquil. My plan is to blog my progress each day, and, then when the week is up, I will go ahead and summarize my thoughts on this virtue and whether I think, with this kind of practice, that I could be more tranquil!

Monday-Today I did pretty well, although I am pretty sure that my kids wouldn't agree. I got kind of upset about the messes in the kitchen and livingroom and the lack of help in the garden, but then I calmed down and decided to let it go for now. I think I need to make my expectations clearer and not just expect the kids to read my mind and clean up things that look messy to me.

Tuesday- Is it me, or is it too hot to be tranquil? Being hot makes me grumpy, but I do feel better about the house. Mr. V and I sat down and made a list and designated chores, and it IS easier to be tranquil in a clean house. And, today, I was annoyed because a check that I was supposed to get in the mail LAST THURSDAY at the LATEST, STILL DIDN'T COME, and, rather than get all upset, I just went ahead and placed another call to the company. They explained the hold up, and that was a lot better than fuming all afternoon about how I was going to afford my next box of diapers! Plus, I worked with a lot of Adult Ed students on their essays, and, rather than be surprised and upset when they got bogged down finding evidence for their main points, I tried really, really hard to make the whole thing easy going and fun, and I think that was a good step.

Wednesday- Today I chose to listen to some really calming music (Regina Spektor) while I worked with Summer School kids, worked on my honors post, worked on my regular English syllabi, and my Adult Education folders. This was a good way to be tranquil. Sometimes you forget that you have a great CD on your shelf, and it's a great, almost new discovery all over again!

Thursday--Today was a pretty tranquil day. I had a lot to do, and I thought it would be crazy, but it wasn't. I took Liam to the doctor, and he was NOT tranquil when he was given those four shots!

Friday-- Today was the last day of summer school, and then we celebrated with Pizza Hut, shopping and swimming. That was pretty relaxing, but I spoiled it all by getting uptight at my parents' house. I didn't want to saying anything in front of my parents, so I stewed the whole time we were there. Bad.

Saturday--Well, today was a little different. Today I totally was not tranquil at all. I was trying to clean the house, get ready for Boston, work in my garden, do 1,000 things at once, and it was just not working and I was getting really frustrated.

ENGLISH 11 BLOG: Here are the blogger addresses that I do have.

honors10-alex.blogspot.com/
abbyhonors.blogspot.com/
cocomajoboisprobablynotdoinghiswork.blogspot.com/
ashleeplawrence.blogspot.com/
shylo10.blogspot.com/
english11ljl.blogspot.com/
history-07aln.blogspot.com/
dshonorsenglish11.blogspot.com/
emilyshonorsblog.blogspot.com/
http://christinehonors80.blogspot.com/
varsitysoccer16.blogspot.com/
nokomis2010.blogspot.com/
humanities-for-jules.blogspot.com/
izapayne.blogspot.com
http://honors-11.blogspot.com/
http://nokofootball39.blogspot.com/

Here are the blogger addresses that I do have.

See above for the links I have gotten for your class. I am still missing Ethan B's & Jacob R's. Please email me at evigue@msad48.org asap if I don't have a link for you. Mrs. V

Week Two

This week’s blog response will also be done in two places. YOUR BLOG you must post on a topic that you have researched and applied to the book, and then I would like you to post your opinion on ONE of the two following topics RIGHT HERE: Don't forget to respond to eachothers' posts!
(1) At the end of Chapter 15 of Touching Spirit Bear, Garvey says, “We still believe in you and think there’s hope…because of that, we’ve stuck our necks out so far, we feel like two giraffes. Last night we convinced the Circle to release you to our custody.” After everything Cole has done, would you, as a member of that circle, make the same decision? Why or why not? Support your answer with details from the story.
(2) One of the themes of Touching Spirit Bear is “Justice should heal, not punish” (12). Do you agree with this theme? Why or why not? How could or should this principle be applied in mid-Maine?

Happy Fourth of July!

Dazed and Confuzed

Hi. Thanks for all of the emails. As you may know, we are switching over to FIRST CLASS, a different email program, so I have been exporting my mail, trying to save all of yours into a separate folder, and putting together the data for the class.

When I have everyone's emails, I will send you all an email with everyone's blogspot address and emails so that you can correspond with confidence. HOWEVER, when you respond on my blog each week, please add your blogspot address as a hyperlink for your buddies, okay? Good idea? Yes, GREAT IDEA.

Here's whom I believe I have heard from, in alphabetical order, and I will also tell you if there is any information missing: I asked for: 1. your email address, 2. your blog address, 3. the name your posts will appear under on my blog, and the 4. name of the contemporary novel you were going to read.

Alexandra B.: I am waiting for you to post on my blog. In answer to your question about a novel, please write to me about the kinds of books you like to read and I will email you some suggestions. I have your email and blog address, but I don't know yet what name your posts will appear under on my blog.

Abby E.: I need you to post on my blog, and email the name under which your post shows on my blog. I also haven't heard which novel you plan to read. Otherwise, great post on your blog.

Cory K.: Thank you for posting on my blog and thank you for the funny email. I have your email address, your blog address, your posting name and your novel. WOW! Good job!

Ashlee L: You also are all set, and I will be sure to post a list of everyone's blog addresses for you guys when I have them.

Shylo L. I will be emailing you soon with suggestions for your novel; thanks for the info. You haven't posted yet on my blog, though. When you do, please make sure that you let me know it's you by emailing me or identifying yourself.

Laura L: I haven't heard from you about your book, nor do I believe you have posted on my blog, but otherwise you're all set!

Ashley N: You're all set, Ben!

Whitney P. I need to know the name of the author you intend to read, but you are otherwise all set. Go see Ms. N about getting registered for this class, though; you aren't on my list.

Emily T.: Send me an email about the kind of books you like, and I will get right to you! Please post on my blog and send me the name under which your posts will appear on my blog. Otherwise, you are all set.

Christine W.: You're all set except that you haven't posted on my blog or told me which name your posts on my blog will appear under.

Heidi W.: You're all set except that you have not told me yet which novel you are planning to read for the your choice book.

Did I miss anyone? Ethan times two, Julianna, Justin, Julia, Jacob, Doran? Where ARE you?

A Sample Mini Report for You

Here’s what a sample mini report from you might look like including properly cited sources:

I thought I would get us started by researching the at.oow. It’s obviously going to be an important symbol in the story. In our story, the at.oow given to Cole by Garvey is a blanket, but, apparently an at.oow is not always a blanket. One site I looked at run by Tlinglits from Sitka, Alsaka, defined the at.oow as “clan regalia… owned by the clan or house group.” Regalia means an item that shows your affiliations, such as costumes native to your ethnic group. It could also be a family crest, passed down through the years. I was wondering why the author chose to make this at.oow a blanket. Is it because blankets suggest warmth and comfort? I don’t think this particular at.oow is going to provide much of that for Cole in the pages to come, since he’s already tried to burn it, but that might change, if his attitude changes. Here’s what I found out about the importance of an at.oow to Tlinglit culture. The following picture is not labeled as an at.oow, but it is from a reliable source, and seems to be similar to what is described in the book: http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/features/croads/tlingit.html One site I looked at said that at.oow “can refer to land or sacred sites, celestial bodies such as the moon and sun, names, stories, songs, spirits and crests” (Worl). Own the moon? Wow! It then said, “The ownership of a clan's at.oow is validated through ceremonies most often referred to as "potlatches” (Worl). So, one way or the other, this gift from Garvey was more meaningful (to give away an heirloom so precious to his tribe) than Cole, or us, as readers might expect.) Another thing that I read about was that many at.oows were taken away by white people and placed in museums for their protection, but, today there is a movement to return these precious items to the people to whom they belong. I know that Cole is pretty angry. I wonder if he will do something to destroy this valuable item; it's clear that he doesn't understand the value of many things--he's been given so much in the way of material items, but, perhaps never before something so valuable.

Works Cited:
Brady, Isabella. "Our Culture." Sheet'ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi: A House for the People of Sitka. 2000.
Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center. 15 Jun 2000
.

Worl, Rosita. "Introduction to the Tlingit Culture and Repatriation." 1899-2001 Harriman Expedition
Retraced: A Century of Change. 2001. PBS. 15 Jun 2007
http://www.pbs.org/harriman/explog/lectures/worl.html.

WEEK ONE: Welcome Junior Level Honors Students for 2008--2009!

Hello and WELCOME, and I look forward to getting to know you through your blog posts!

Instructions for the first week of summer reading:

First, please email me at evigue@msad48.org with the following information: (1) your name, (2) your blogspot username -NOT THE PASSWORD, however- and a link to your blog, and (3) your book choice for the contemporary American novel and how you think it will relate to one of our essential questions. It can be a volume of poetry or a fiction work.

Second, please post your mini report, on your blogsite. Wait until a few more people have posted their mini reports on their blogs, and then go ahead and post at least one response on at least two of your peers' blogs to their mini-reports. I will demonstrate the latter for you, to give you an idea of how to respond to your peers (as soon as someone has posted). PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO CITE YOUR SOURCES.

A mini report takes off from a concept that relates to your book. If you look up the Tlingit Indians, then you should explain how the Tlingits play a role in the book and how the theme of the book relates to the Tlingit philosophies or practices based on what you found in your research. I would suggest the following theme for the book: justice should heal, not punish (p. 12). If you look up Kermode Bears, you should share what you found about them, and what role they play in the book. Why did the author choose that particular breed of bear? What is special about them that might relate to Cole's circumstances?


(3) Question for the week. Please post a response to this question RIGHT HERE. Do you think that Cole should be excused for his behavior based upon the circumstances in his home? Why or why not? Answer this question and respond, on my blog, to at least two of your peers' responses.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Check out this MGS done online!

http://theamazingj.googlepages.com/douglasperston

FINAL SUMMER POST--YOUR SUMMER READING PROJECTS

Hello! Weeks 9 & 10 were taken up by your responses to the poetry of Langston Hughes. Be ready, as the summer reading guidelines warned, to be read to present your summer reading projects due THE FIRST DAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF CLASS, OR SEPT. 10.

Here is the assignment again, just in case:
Finally, you will be doing a hands-on project to complement either Touching Spirit Bear, Huckleberry Finn or the poems of Langston Hughes. I WANT TO LEAVE THIS PROJECT OPEN TO YOU. THE GRADING CRITERIA WILL SIMPLY BE WHETHER YOU DID IT, WHETHER YOU CAN EXPLAIN HOW IT TIES TO THE SUMMER READING AND WHETHER OR NOT THE PROJECT SHOWS EFFORT AND INGENUITY. You may wish to make a totem pole for yourself after Touching Spirit Bear. You might want to build a little model of a raft like the one in Huckleberry Finn. You might want to bring traditional African American food to school after reading Langston Hughes. You could also write an essay about the themes in Touching Spirit Bear, or you could make a little scrapbook of the symbols favored by Langston Hughes. You could make a map of the trip that Huck makes with Jim. The way you approach this project will be completely up to you; your own strengths, the reading that most piques your interest, and your own level of creativity will guide your choice. Your projects will be due on the first day of the second week of class, but I STRONGLY suggest that you complete them (unless it’s food;) before that time! You can turn them into me at any time (again, unless it’s food) before that. If you complete them early and want to post a picture, you can do that on the blog or you can send the picture or file to me and I’ll post them for you!

Langston Hughes

I would like you to go to the following page: http://myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=langstonHughes

There you will find a mercifully succinct biography of our final summer reading author, Langston Hughes, by Jeff Trussell. This site is a part of the My Hero Poetry Project. This project is interesting. (In fact, if you scroll to the bottom of the page, you'll see lots of other poets described, and you might find someone you already like, or find a new favorite.)

Just under Mr. Trussel's writeup, you will see a link to the poetry project, http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/83, and from there you will want to click on two poems: I, Too, Sing America, and The Negro Speaks of Rivers.

I would like you to blog your response to those two poems on my website.

To get you thinking, not that you have to answer these exact questions, look at the first poem, (I, Too) and ask yourself what does it mean to be an American for the person in this poem? When you look at the second poem, ask yourself what is the symbolism of the river? What did the river symbolize in Huck Finn? What about the locations that are mentioned in the second poem?

Week 7: post a link to the essay on your blog here!

August 4-August 10: Read Chapters 32-43—do a short essay about your concept on your own blog; post a link on my blog to yours. Respond to each others’ essays.

Where does that short essay material come from? As you read Huckleberry Finn, I am going to ask you to notice that the four following ideas keep cropping up: freedom, religion/superstition, education and nature. Please choose one concept to pursue throughout the book. As we read through Huckleberry Finn, I would ask you to keep a list of references to one of the above mentioned concepts. Each time you come across a reference to that concept, jot down the page, and give a brief summary of the reference. By brief, I mean a sentence or two at the most. If you own the book, you could just put “stickies” on those pages. Meanwhile, keep your ear open to the news. As you get attuned to looking for that particular concept, see if any of those concepts are in the news, or if you hear them talked about. You should post this second week about how you see that same concept addressed in today's society. What concepts, issues, concerns crop up today in connection to these same themes? By “short,” I mean a couple of well-developed paragraphs.

Nature in Huckleberry Finn: What does the attitude of Americans toward nature seem to be in Huckleberry Finn, or how does Huck (or any other character) seem to percieve or relate to nature? What knowledge of nature does Twain portay in this book?

Week 6

July 29-August 3: Read Chapters 22-31—do a short essay about your concept on your own blog; post a link on my blog to yours. Respond to each others’ essays.

The last two weeks of reading (July 29ff and August 4ff), you will NOT have a research topic due. Instead, you will post a link on my blog to YOUR blog, where you will have posted a short essay on the concept you chose from Huckleberry Finn. To get credit for those two weeks, what you should do is post the first week (July 29ff) about how you see the concept used in Huckleberry Finn, and the second week (Aug 4) about how you see that same concept today. What concepts, issues, concerns crop up today in connection to these same themes? By “short,” I mean a couple of well developed paragraphs.

Religion/Superstition:
Wow, this summer is flying fast. Caleb started us on "superstitions" a week or so ago. In the beginning of the book, they are trying to instill religion in Huck. Several characters have their own take on religion, and it might be helpful to write down the comments they make relating to the concept of religion/superstition. Twain even inserts his OWN take on religion. What do you think Twain's is?

Education:
The age old debate between book learning and life experience is played out throughout the book. Which do you think is more important? Which characters think schooling is more important? How do you know? Which characters think life experience is more important? What do you think Twain thought?

Huckleberry Finn: Week Five

Read through Chapter 21 and please do your usual mini-report.

Week Four Post; Yes, it's Really Early. It's not due until the 20th!

Introduction to Huckleberry Finn

Hi, I am posting this Week Four prompt early (ordinarily I would post this on Monday, the 16th, but I am going to be gone camping.) You won’t post to this prompt until July 20th.

Follow this schedule to pace yourself through HUCKLEBERRY FINN: (Read at your own pace, but be sure to do the assignments on time.)
July 13-20: Read Chapters 1-11—do a mini research project as you have been. Respond to each others’ mini research projects.
July 21-28: Read Chapters 12- 21—do a mini research project as you have been. Respond to each others’ mini research projects.
July 29-August 3: Read Chapters 22-31—do a short essay about your concept on your own blog; post a link on my blog to yours. Respond to each others’ essays.
August 4-August 10: Read Chapters 32-43—do a short essay about your concept on your own blog; post a link on my blog to yours. Respond to each others’ essays.

Where does that short essay material come from? As you read Huckleberry Finn, I am going to ask you to notice that the four following ideas keep cropping up: freedom, religion/superstition, education and nature. Please choose one concept to pursue throughout the book. As we read through Huckleberry Finn, I would ask you to keep a list of references to one of the above mentioned concepts. Each time you come across a reference to that concept, jot down the page, and give a brief summary of the reference. By brief, I mean a sentence or two at the most. If you own the book, you could just put “stickies” on those pages. Meanwhile, keep your ear open to the news. As you get attuned to looking for that particular concept, see if any of those concepts are in the news, or if you hear them talked about. The last two weeks of reading (July 29ff and August 4ff), you will NOT have a research topic due. Instead, you will post a link on my blog to YOUR blog, where you will have posted a short essay on the concept you chose from Huckleberry Finn. To get credit for those two weeks, what you should do is post the first week about how you see the concept used in Huckleberry Finn, and the second week about how you see that same concept today. What concepts, issues, concerns crop up today in connection to these same themes? By “short,” I mean a couple of well developed paragraphs. Each week, I am going to post a little blurb about one of the concepts. I’ll start with freedom.

Okay. One of the Essential Questions that we are going to be talking a lot about this year is “What does it mean to be an American?” Do you know or think about this concept very often? Many of my students will say, very quickly, “Well, yes, to be an American means that we have freedom.” Hmmm. Well, yes, I suppose that’s true. But what is freedom? Is freedom the same to each individual? I think that you will find it demonstrated in Huckleberry Finn that there are many kinds of freedom, and that freedom means different things from one character to another, or from one person to another. Does freedom to Huck mean the same as freedom to Jim? What about in the news? Have you see that word lately? How about Operation Iraqi Freedom? Where else have you seen that term used or implied? Is freedom a quintessentially American trait? You don’t have to answer these questions now, but they may help you start thinking if “freedom” is the concept you chose to map throughout the book.

ENJOY!

Week Three Post

Hello! This week, you are:
(1) finishing Touching Spirit Bear
(2) sharing your last research project for this book
(3) responding to the following prompt:
A--page 12, “Justice should heal, not punish.”
B--page 31, “This banishment was the ultimate hurt—worst than his father’s fists, worse than his mother’s never caring. This was the hurt of being alone and unwanted.”
C--page 196, “How to help Peter heal is something that will haunt you and stay under your skin. The harm you did to him will fester and pain you all of your life unless you’re able to make up for it.”
Do you think that any of these quotes represent the main theme of the book? If so, explain, please. If not, please find the passage that best represents the theme of the book and explain why that one fits the best.
A note about next week’s work: my family and I are going camping on Thursday or Friday of this week, and we won’t be back until next Wednesday. I’ll leave an early prompt for your first week of Huck Finn, but your feedback will be seriously delayed. ;) In fact, you don’t have to post until next Tuesday night if that’s better for you. Have a great week!

Please read and respond to this main post for WEEK TWO.

WEEK TWO POST


First of all, excellent work, everyone who blogged for the first week. I’ve made a chart with the names of each one of you who has contacted me regarding summer work. Behind each name are ten spaces, one for each week. For those of you who responded and commented during Week One, there’s a score (and they were very good, btw). For those of you who didn’t, there’s a zero (yikes!). Remember, however, that you get two “passes”; I am only averaging your eight best scores. You might want to post all ten weeks so that you are ensured of a very good grade. You might want to use your passes if you vacation. It's up to you, but remember: combined with your summer reading project score, the final summer reading blogging score will be a significant percentage of your S1 grade. In fact, the blogging is ¾ of your entire summer reading score, with the project comprising the other fourth. So, contact me soon if you haven’t already, and contact me soon if you have any questions about the Week One Feedback.

Here is the remaining summer reading schedule: Week Two, June 30 to July 6; Week Three, July 7 to July 13; Week Four, July 14 to July 20; Week Five, July 21 to July 27; Week Six, July 28 to August 3; Week Seven, August 4 to August 10; Week Eight, August 11 to August 17; Week Nine, August 18 to August 24; and Week Ten August 25 to August 31.

During Weeks 2 & 3, I would still like you to focus your blog responses on Touching Spirit Bear. (I’ve set Week 4 as the time to start Huck Finn. ) During Week 2, I recommend that you read at least as far as up to Chapter 16, in Touching Spirit Bear which is through pp. 134 in my edition.

This week’s blog response (you will respond to this post) must contain a topic that you have researched and applied to the book, and then I would like your opinion on ONE of the two following topics:
(1) At the end of Chapter 15 of Touching Spirit Bear, Garvey says, “We still believe in you and think there’s hope…because of that, we’ve stuck our necks out so far, we feel like two giraffes. Last night we convinced the Circle to release you to our custody.” After everything Cole has done, would you, as a member of that circle, make the same decision? Why or why not? Support your answer with details from the story.
(2) One of the themes of Touching Spirit Bear is “Justice should heal, not punish” (12). Do you agree with this theme? Why or why not? How could or should this principle be applied in mid-Maine?

Happy Fourth of July!

Restorative (Circle) Justice-- please don't send your Week One Response to this post

Hey, Guys! If you're interested in the concept of Circle (more commonly known in today's parlance as) "Restorative" Justice in connection to Touching Spirit Bear and particularly in connection to today's world...go to the downloads page on my website and you can look at a Power Point presentation on the concept. Here's the link: http://msad48.me.k12us.com/evigue/DOWNLOADS%20Page

First Post Due by June 29--Who WILL be first? Please don't send your Week One Response to this post.

Please post your first response (which should include one researched topic from Touching Spirit Bear) beneath my Friday, June 15, 2007 AT 1:03 PM post entitled Welcome to 2007 Summer Reading for Mrs. Vigue's Honors English 11 . I've heard from many of you (9 or 10 of you), but don't forget that I've also asked you to email me at evigue@msad48.org to let me know what your blogger name is combined with the requested information about yourself. Please use that opportunity to tell me a little about you, your interests AND about the sorts of things you like to read and write. It would be a nice time to ask me any questions you might have for me, and you could also tell me if you already know an American author you might like to spend your 11th grade year researching.

URGENT (But, don't respond to this post)

FOLLOW THIS LINK TO MY WEBPAGE. When you get to my webpage, please click on the Downloads button on the left hand menu to see your blogging rubric and blogging instructions.

http://msad48.me.k12us.com/evigue

BE SURE to scroll past the rubric for final blogging instructions.

Hello! You're doing great! (but don't respond to this post)

Hi, guys! You're starting to send me your personal introductions and usernames, but make sure your chosen passwords work before you confirm them with me--otherwise, very nice! Thanks to those of you who already are introducing yourselves as I requested, and you've also raised some good questions. Here are some answers for the benefit of everyone involved: (1) for the first week--which technically does not start until the 22nd, let's try ONE post from Touching Spirit Bear on one researched topic (see my example), and please post at least TWICE in response to the posts of others in your class. (2) Please respond to my blog; use your google username from Grade 10 to sign into blogger if you wish. I am very much looking forward to working with you guys!