Upper Prep English

"Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros

2008-10-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

What does the narrator mean when she says "when you're eleven, you're really ten, and nine, and eight, and seven, and six, and five, and four, and three and two and one," ? Use an example of something that has happened to you when you felt like you were an age different than the one yu were really were. Why did you feel that way? What do you think it means to be the age you are now? How is it different than the ages that came before it? Please use new blog rules (i.e. proofread and use specific examples) in your answer. You do not need to respond but I would like you to skim over some of your classmates responses after you respond to my post.

A Secret For Two

2008-10-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

A theme is a general insight or idea that the author tries to communcate to the reader through the story. Often we find out what the theme is by asking ourselves what the main character in the story learns by the end. In some cases we know what the theme is because of what we as readers learn at the end. Based on this definition, what do you think the theme of the story "A Secret For Two" is? Make sure to include SPECIFIC examples from the text to support your answer. Please also check your answer for grammatical mistakes, spelling etc.

THEN, respond to an idea or observation made by one or more of your classmates in a second post. You may also choose to build on something someone else has said or contirbute another original idea that comes to you through your reading of your classmates posts.

Thank You Ma'am

2008-10-02T13:19:00.001-07:00

Please respond to one of the following questions. Then respond to something you are seeing in other’s posts.

What do you think the boy’s home life is like? How do you know/ Why do you think that this is important to the story and why doesn’t Mrs. Jones ask him about it at dinner?

What do you think the boy learns from his encounter with Mrs. Jones? How do you know? (Note: that “nothing” is an acceptable answer as long as you provide evidence to support it).

Why is it significant that Mrs. Jones doesn’t say “but” after she tells the boy that she was young once and I wanted things she could not get?

Why do you think Mrs. Jones helps the boy? Explain why you think so.

The Devil's Arithmetic

2008-09-08T13:24:00.000-07:00

What does this book show its reader about why remembering one’s past is so important? How is it particularly important for Hannah? What would life be like if we didn’t know anything about our past, or where we or our ancestors came from? Please use specific examples from the book and your life to support your ideas. Then, respond to two of your classmates posts.

Rascal

2008-09-04T12:28:00.000-07:00

Please respond to one of the three questions below in a complete paragraph. Then, respond to two other classmates responses before Wednesday, September15th

1. What do you have in common with Sterling North? How are you different than he is? Explain. HINT: Thik about what Sterling does for fun, what he cares about, his family situation, where and when he lived.

2. Have you ever had a friend or pet like Rascal? Have you ever had to make a decision like the one Sterling has to make at the end of the book? Do you agree or disagree with his decision? Why