Diction

In order to encourage independent work on writing goals, I have created this post for students to reflect on what makes diction strong or weak etc. This is a good place to discuss strategies for improving your diction etc. These responses can be used as "proof" that you are independently finding strategies etc. Keep revisiting this post as people update it.

H

Decisions, Decisions

(submitted by student" In The Absolutely True Life of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Arnold decides to leave his school on the reservation to attend class in a nearby "white" town. His friends resent him for it, even though it is clearly the best thing for him. Have you ever made a decision that was right for you but considered wrong, or perhaps traitorous, by people close to you?

Popularity

(submitted by student) Listen to the song "Popular" from the musical Wicked. Some of the important lyrics are "celebrated heads of state or especially great communicators, did they have brains or knowledge? Don't make me laugh, they were popular," and "It's not about aptitude, it's the way you're viewed..." What is the theme of this song? Do you agree with the message? Can you connect to it personally? After you reflect on the song and theme, think about this. What gets you farthest...brains, beauty, or charisma?

The Ashleys

(submitted by student) In my book, The Ashleys, a girl named Lauren wants to get into a popular clique (The Ashleys). Lauren tries everything to be included in their group, including hiding her personality etc. Have you ever lied about who you are to be accepted by a group?

Speed

(submitted by student) In the movie Speed, the main character has a choice to either save his own life, or risk his life to save a girl he just met. If you were in his position, what would you do and why?

Live Life

In Kris Allen's song Live Like We're Dying there are some pretty intense lyrics. All songs have meaning. I am wondering what you guys think the meaning of this song is. Don't forget to prove what you are saying.

Self Sacrifice

In the book The Hunger Games, Katniss's sister is chosen to compete in a game that will ultimately result in her death. Katniss volunteers to take her place out of a sense of love and duty. Think for a moment and then answer...could you sacrifice your life for someone you love?

"Bad Romance"

In the song "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga, she says, "I want your love and I want your revenge." She also says that she wants his "psycho", his "ugly", and his "disease". This says that she is willing to accept everything that comes with being with him. Why do you think she associates these things with a "Bad Romance"? Also, she says she only wants these things "as long as it's free," meaning she wouldn't give anything up to love him. Why?

For One More Day

The book For One More Day by Mitch Albom is a thematic story based on the struggle of a man who tries to commit suicide. As he crosses the border from the living to the dead he encounters his dead mother who convinces him he needs to forgive himself of his past and move on. In short, he needs to change his mind and decide to live. The idea of forgiveness...especially forgiving oneself is central to this book. Have you ever read anything with a similar theme? Does the theme relate to your life in any way?

Fireflies

Check out the song Fireflies. Listen to the lyrics closely, especially the chorus..."I'd like to make myself believe...". What do you think the meaning of the lyrics is?

The Red Badge of Courage

Use this post as a basis for discussion, questions, any communication that needs to happen around the novel. We will come together after finishing reading the text to have a roundtable discussion of literary elements, themes, connections etc, but in the meantime you can help build an understanding of the book here.

The Dark Knight

In the film, The Dark Knight, the characters are forced to contemplate how to live a good and decent life when they are surrounded by evil and crime. Batman, played by Christian Bale is forced to choose between saving the life of the girl he loves and saving the life of another character, Harvey Dent, who can help make things better for everyone in Gotham City. Batman must choose between his own happiness and the safety of citizens he barely knows. How would you react? Would you do what is good for you...or sacrifice what is good for you for the good of everyone else?

Conflict in Found

The basic premise for Found by Margaret Haddix is that society has found a way to save poor children from the past and bring them to the future to be adopted. The company that does this soon gets greedy and starts to steal children from the past and sell them in the future...a kind of time-travel kidnap and slavery idea. Jonah is one of those stolen children. However circumstances allow him the opportunity to return to his home. After living in the 21st century for 13 years, can he go back to life in the past, poor but with his real family? What would you do?

I Heart You, You Haunt Me

In the book I Heart You, You Haunt Me, Ava has a boy problem. Her boyfriend dies tragically but comes back...as a ghost. Ava learns that he needs to resolve some issues before his soul can be released. She cannot move on with her life until she helps figure out what he needs to do to be free. What would you do in her situation?

Create an Avatar

Click here to make your own personal avatar for the blog. Do me a favor and make sure that the appearance of the avatar remains school appropriate.

Improve Your Sentence Length

http://www.kristisiegel.com/variety.html
Found a great short article on analyzing and improving sentence length. See if this helps you to improve your writing. Feel free to comment below on anything you have learned or would like to clarify.

Great Work

Just figured I would drop a quick post to you bloggers who are doing such a wonderful job responding and thinking critically. You are making this Blog a wonderful addition to the class. You should all be proud of yourselves. Now the next step...I need some ideas on what else to incorporate into the blog. Bear in mind we can use online content, video, audio, polling etc. We can talk reading, writing, movies, question and answer for class...whatever you want. After seeing how well you have done in MP1 I want to see your input on this blog. Please post any ideas on how to incorporate this blog further...Thanks -H-

With a Little Help From Your Friends

In Lisi Harrison's novel Boys R Us , Massie gets left out by her "clique" of friends. Is this something you worry about? How would you react if your friends all turned against you?

The Uninvited

Mimi has left New York to escape from her crazy ex-lover. She left to go to Canada where her absentee father has a house he owns but does not use. Upon arrival Mimi realizes that the craziness she thought she left in New York has followed her all the way to Canada. She meets a brother she never knew she had, she is stalked by a strange local and is bothered by a neighbor. Have you ever felt like you can't run away from some craziness? What about if you found out that you have a brother that you have never met before?

Theme

Remember in class when we discussed theme in regards to art...look at the following painting and write a people statement for it. Check out some other people statements and respond to them...are they explicit? related? do you agree with them?

Forest of Hands and Teeth

The book The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan is about a girl named Mary who lives in a village surrounded by a fence, protecting them from the Unconsecrated (zombies). Mary has a crush on Travis, though she has been promised to marry his brother instead. The people in charge do not like her crush on Travis as he is also engaged to someone else. If you were in Mary's situation, what would you choose to do?

Identical

The book Identical is about twins that look exactly alike. Reanne thinks that her dad is picking a favorite twin...and it is NOt her. She gets so upset that she turns to drugs and alcohol. If you were Raeanne how would you react to this situation?

Twilight

In Twilight, a clumsy girl named Bella Swan finds herself in an amazing adventure. She is shown that vampires live among the people of her town. If you were Bella, how would you react to finding out vampires exist? How would you feel if you knew the person right next to you, the one you kind of like, is a vampire?

Whodunnit? The Baker?

The hit-and-run driver in "A Small Good Thing" is a flat character. What do you think he looks like? Also, is there a chance that the driver could be the baker? Explain.

Moving on in A Twenty Boy Summer

In the book, A Twenty Boy Summer , by Sarah Ockler, Anna has been best friends with Frankie for years. Anna has always had a crush on Frankie's older brother, Matt. On her birthday, her longtime wish of kissing Matt comes true. This blossoms into a relationship where Matt and Anna meet late at night, behind the back of Frankie. One day the three of them are in a car and get hit head-on by a truck. Frankie and Anna are fine but Matt is not. He passes away and Anna spends the next year dealing with her loss. She wants to move on, but does not want to lose the memories she has of Matt. How would you deal with a loss like that?

Small Good Thing Revisited

In "A Small Good Thing", was it right for Scotty's mother to yell at the baker and go into his bakery and be so mad at him?

Can You Handle the Games?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins has proven to be an amazing book. It is intense and thrilling. The main character, Katniss Everdeen, is in peril. "The Games" have started and I can't help but wonder what I would do if I were Katniss. Starving, unable to trust anyone and trying to stay alive would be more than I could handle. What about you? How would you feel? How would you act and react in the Arena?

Katsa's Grace in Graceling

In the book, Graceling, Katsa has a "grace", a special skill that makes her different than others. Katsa's grace allows her to be an unbelievably skilled and seemingly undefeatable killer. Her best friend Po, who also has a Grace, notices that not only does she excel in combat, but that she never tires, doesn't need to sleep, and barely needs to eat. Katsa discovers that killing is NOT her grace. What do you think it could be? Why?

Stealing Heaven

In the book Stealing Heaven, Danielle (18) and her mother go from state to state stealing to survive. In one chapter Danielle is at a grocery store getting couhg medicine for her mother (buying, not stealing it). At the store she bumps into Greg, a police officer. They chat and Greg ends up asking her to go on a ferry ride with him. Danielle thinks that Greg is cute, but is it worth risking having him learn who she is and what she does? Should Danielle go on the ride....would you?

Dealing With Loss

Recently I read a book called Letting Go of Lisa . It was about a boy, Nathan, who lost his sister years ago. He has grown up now and has developed feelings for a biker chick, Lisa. But Lisa has a secret, she has been diagnosed with brain cancer. Soon , Lisa dies, leaving Nathan alone again to deal with his loss. Have you ever read, experiences, or written about the loss of a loved one?

A Small Good Thing

In "A Small Good Thing", Scotty is hit by a car and is in the hospital. He hasn't woken up and his mom is worried. Do you think he will wake up? Also, the man from the bakery keeps calling, do you think this has anything to do with Scotty being hit by a car?

Lamb to the Slaughter

After reading the story, many of us focus on the calculated manner in which Mary Maloney acts in order to escape detection. I would like you to ponder this question "Was Mary guilty?" Think about our discussion of whether there was ever a "good enough" reason for murder. Was it the right thing for Patrick to leaver Mary (knowing she was 6 months pregnant with his child)? Was this betrayal enough of a reason to excuse Mary's emotional reaction to his news? In short...would you convict Mary Maloney of murder...why or why not? Remember, you may respond to my post or to any response by one of your classmates.
- H