I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings By Maya Angelou

Please write a thoughtful blog for each option below about your impressions of the book. All 3 due by end of Quarter 3.

OPTION 1-Reflect on some of the THEMES below in a detailed paragraph.

INDEPENDENCE- There are several times in the book when Maya asserts her independence. Explain 3 and explore how these moments are important to her overall development.

EDUCATION- What is the traditional concept of family? What is the more realistic definition of family? What are some other types of families that fall outside of the traditional concept that are explored in Cannery Row? Although the traditional families in Steinbeck's tale are few (one might think of Sam Malloy and Mrs. Malloy as traditional, except that they live in a boiler), there are numerous family relationships in the story. All of Cannery Row is an extended family. Each of its residents looks out for the others.

RACISM- What role does racism play in her life? What episodes of racism are most memorable to you? How does she react? How do these moments ultimately affect who she becomes?

COMING OF AGE-What moment in her life do you think are most powerful in helping her to grow up into a strong woman? How does she feels about these times while in the midst of them? How about after? What events have helped to shape you? Are they similar?

OPTION #2- Ask others reading the book a QUESTION and respond to their questions.


OPTION #3-Share PASSAGES or QUOTES that inspire, move, horrify, frighten or please you. See if other feel similarly.

Please sign every post with full name, assigned English Block and date. Also save blog posts in Google docs.

Cannery Row By John Steinbeck

Please write a thoughtful blog for each option below about your impressions of the book. All 3 due by end of Quarter 3.

OPTION 1-Reflect on some of the themes below in a detailed paragraph.

THINGS & PEOPLE RE NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM- In the final paragraph of the introduction Steinbeck writes: "How can the poem and the stink and the grating noise - the quality of light, the tone, the habit and the dream - be set down alive?" In chapter two he writes: "Lee Chong is more than a Chinese grocer. He must be. Perhaps he is evil balanced and held suspended by good." Also in this chapter he first calls Mack and the boys, "the Virtues, the Graces, the Beauties." Can you think of other examples where people seems at once evil and good? Is this true in our community as well?

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS- What is the traditional concept of family? What is the more realistic definition of family? What are some other types of families that fall outside of the traditional concept that are explored in Cannery Row? Although the traditional families in Steinbeck's tale are few (one might think of Sam Malloy and Mrs. Malloy as traditional, except that they live in a boiler), there are numerous family relationships in the story. All of Cannery Row is an extended family. Each of its residents looks out for the others.

HUMANITY- Steinbeck creates characters who care about each other far more than they care about a steady job or material possessions. In spite of their poverty, lack of social graces, and outcast status, they attempt to help each other. Although their plans are frequently ill-conceived and poorly executed, their actions come from the heart, creating both the warmth and pathos of the story.What scenes will you remember as the best examples of true humanity? Even with as little as they have, do they have things we lack in our community?

OPTION #2- Ask others reading the book a question and respond to their questions.


OPTION #3-Share parts or quotes that inspire, move, horrify, frighten or please you. See if other feel similarly.

Please sign every post with full name, assigned English Block and date. Also save blog posts in Google docs.

Ironman By Chris Crutcher

Please write a thoughtful blog about your impressions of the book.

OPTION 1-Reflect on some of the themes below in a detailed paragraph.

Anger-When Bo learns that he must join Mr. Nak's Anger Management Group in order to avoid being expelled from school, he is upset (p. 19). What did Bo gain from being in Mr. Nak's group? How did Bo contribute to the well-being of the other members? How would the outcome of the Yukon Jack's Triathlon have been affected if Bo had never been a member of Anger Management?

Courage and Honor (Fear)-Mr. Nak tells Bo that anger is a cover for fear (p. 143). He said to "think of fear as a person who's going to be around whether he's invited or not (p. 144)." What does Bo fear? To what degree Bo has conquered his fears by the end of the novel? Can you relate to showing anger when you are really afraid? Why do you think people often do this?

Trust-Compare Bo's understanding of trust at the beginning of the novel with his understanding at the end of the novel. Bo mentions publishing a self-help manual for teenagers entitled Teens Who Trust Too Much (p.18). What might Bo warn teenagers about in this pamphlet? What suggestions would he offer for developing and recognizing trust in a relationship? What do you think are the most important elements of trust?

Family and Relationships-Bo's father thinks that Mr. Nak has "no sense of what a father-son relationship truly is; how tightly the band between the two needs to be stretched so that the son does not take over" (pp. 158-159). To what lengths does Mr. Brewster go to make sure that his son does not take over? Compare Mr. Brewster's behavior to that of his own father. What actions do you appreciate as good parenting? What are the worst of his actions? How might you be the same or different as a parent?

Prejudice-When Mr. Serbousek reveals to Bo that he is homosexual, Bo turns his back on him. How does Bo come to terms with this discovery? What does he learn about prejudice and bigotry from Mr. Nak and from Mr. Serbousek? What other examples of prejudice are found in the novel? What steps can teenagers and teachers take to make prejudice less prevalent in their schools?

OPTION #2- Ask others reading the book a question and respond to their questions.


OPTION #3-Share parts or quotes that inspire, move, horrify, frighten or please you. See if other feel similarly.

Please sign every post with full name, assigned English Block and date.

Different Seasons Steven King

Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption

Andy Dufresne was jailed for the murder of his wife, but he is innocent. Andy helps the prison and inmates with financial matters, and is in turn a protected asset, but when he finds out the truth about the murder, he is ignored. Determined to get out from Shawshank one way or another, he begins the slow process of digging a tunnel out.

Please add your reflection on this story to the blog.
OPTION 1-Reflect on one of the themes below.

Friendship-

There are several acts of friendship done by different characters in the story. Although they may have been done with different motives, most of them brought the characters closer as friends. Cite three characters and give details about their acts of friendship. Include reasons for why it was important for characters to make friendships in prison.

Persistence-

Andy Dufresne is a truly persistent individual. Cite three examples of how he refused to give up until his goal had been met. What does it mean to be persistent? What were his goals and what did it take for him to undertake them? Can you relate to him?

Redemption-

In The Shawshank Redemption. Who do you think was saved, as one of the definitions of the word means. Cite three examples of things that happened in the plot to save the character from an unwanted fate. Do you believe everyone deserves redemption?

OPTION #2- Ask others reading the book a question and respond to their questions.

OPTION #3-Share parts or quotes that inspire, move, horrify, frighten or please you. See if other feel similarly.

Please sign every post with full name, assigned English Block and date.