The Resignation of General David Petraeus

For starters, watch this video.

Having watched that, make an argument for whether or not Petraeus should have resigned. Was it necessary given the potential security risk? Or should his personal life not impact his professional life?

Please use at least two examples from the video (or any additional articles you may choose to read) to support your argument.

Make sure you publish your post (with your name) by 4:30pm on Friday.

Digging a Hole...

Scenario: You are offered a full-time job with the following description:

For the first six hours of the day, you must dig a very deep hole with a shovel and a pick (you do get a 30 minute lunchbreak around noon).  For the final two hours you must fill it back in.  It is grueling work.  You repeat this process every working day, and always on the same plot of ground.  The hours are 8am-4pm, the pay is very good (100k), with annual raises and performance bonuses, excellent health insurance, weekends and major holidays off, as well as three weeks of paid vacation time.  If you accept this job, you must agree to work it until you are aged 62; failure to do so will result in a prison sentence until you are of retirement age. 

Do you take this job?  Why or why not? 

Structure your answer as follows:

1. Thesis Statement that clearly identifies your position
2. Body Paragraph #1 that supports your thesis 
3. Body Paragraph #2 that supports your thesis
4. Body Paragraph #3 that supports your thesis
5. Conclusion that restates your thesis and reflects back on the issue

Due Friday by 4:30pm 

Take the week off...

No blog post this week because you have your William Blake analysis questions to answer.  Use your time wisely!

T-Shirt Drama!

First, watch this video:

Then read these articles:

• Philly.com: Philly student's Romney T-shirt likened to KKK sheet
• Students heckle parents of Philadelphia teen over T-shirt incident
• Bullying is the Issue in Romney T-Shirt Episode
• Editorial: Use T-Shirt Tale to Teach Lesson

Finally, describe how you would handle this situation if you were the principal of Carroll High School in Philadelphia.  Structure your analysis into three paragraphs that address the following:

• Key information that is already known.
• Key information that would have to be investigated.
• Decisive steps to be taken (you may want to consider multiple scenarios here).

As always, your response is due by Friday at 4:30pm.  

"Find Your Greatness"

Watch the video below from Nike that aired during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.  

Then, read the following article from Time Magazine: http://healthland.time.com/2012/08/13/does-nikes-greatness-ad-featuring-an-obese-boy-exploit-fat-people/

Finally, make a post in the comments section of this blog entry that includes the following:

1. Your name.
2. A clear thesis that identifies whether or not you agree with the premise of this article.
3. Two arguments in support of your thesis.  

*Note: You are encouraged--but not required--to make other posts responding to what your classmates are saying.

ALL RESPONSES ARE DUE BY 4:30pm ON FRIDAY, 9/28.

Second Reading: Native Son, by Richard Wright

Native Son, by Richard Wright

Native Son Essay Question

Native Son

Native Son Essay Question: Essay must be a minimum of FIVE PARAGRAPHS in length.  Cite specific evidence from the novel to support your argument.

Essay:

Who are you?  Are you who you are because it was your nature at birth to be that way, or is it because your environment nurtured you to become the person that you are?

Do not fret if this question perplexes you; the Nature vs. Nurture debate is one of the oldest in psychology: http://psychology.about.com/od/nindex/g/nature-nurture.htm

In this essay, analyze the Nature vs. Nurture question by arguing what you feel is the ultimate cause of identity.  Support your argument by analyzing what Native Son has to say about this debate, particularly as seen through the experiences of its protagonist, Bigger Thomas. 

Native Son Short Essay Question

Native Son Short Essay Questions- Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.  Each answer must be a minimum of TWO FULL paragraphs in length.

1.) What message does Native Son deliver on religion?

2.) Why do the Communists (Max and Jan) take a particular interest in Bigger?

3.) Does Native Son endorse violence as a way of overcoming racism?  Explain.

4.) Why does Bigger feel as though white society is “blind”?

First Reading: The Crucible, by Arthur Miller

The Crucible, by Arthur Miller

Act I Questions:

1.)   Why is Rev. Parris really concerned about his daughter Betty’s involvement in witchcraft?

2.)   Describe John Proctor and Abigail’s feelings for one another. 

3.)   What does Mrs. Putnam hope the existence of witchcraft in Salem can explain for her?

4.)   What is Rev. Parris the first minister in the history of Salem to demand?

5.)   How does Rebecca Nurse attempt to explain the strange behavior of Betty Parris and Ruth Putnam?

6.)   What does Rev. Hale warn Parris and the inhabitants of Salem that they must be able to accept before he begins his investigation for witchcraft?

7.)   How does Giles Corey accidentally make his wife, Martha, a suspect in the witch hunt?

8.)   If you could use one word to describe Abigail, what would it be?  Support your choice with examples from Act I.

9.)   What makes Tituba an ideal scapegoat for the likes of Abigail and Parris?

10.) Why do all of the girls confess to witchcraft at the end of Act I, especially when they were innocent of it?

Act II Questions

1.     What type of women do Abigail and company first accuse of witchcraft?

2.     What does Proctor mean when he says to Elizabeth that “It’s winter in here yet”?  What does his metaphor imply about their relationship?

3.     Why is Proctor hesitant to tell Elizabeth what Abigail confessed to him about there being no witchcraft among the girls, only foolish dancing in the woods?

4.     Why does Mary Warren, who is timid and shy by nature, suddenly discover courage and tell the Proctors that they will not control her?

5.     Why hasn’t Proctor had his third son baptized yet?

6.     Why is Rebecca Nurse charged with witchcraft?  Be specific.

7.     Which commandment does John Proctor forget when Rev. Hale asks him to recite the Ten Commandments?  Why is this an example of irony?

8.     Explain how Abigail makes use of the poppet that Mary sewed in court.

9.     Why does Mary say that Abigail will do to Proctor if he tries to defend Elizabeth?

10.  What does Proctor mean when at the end of Act II when he says about Salem, “We only what we always were, but naked now”?

Act III Questions

1.     What is ironic about the petition that Francis Nurse had 91 Salem villagers sign?

 

2.     What does Giles Corey accuse Thomas Putnam of doing?

3.     Which character repeatedly claims that anydefense offered by Proctor is “an attack upon the court”:   

4.     What does Judge Hathorne ask Mary Warren to do in order to prove her innocence? (Hint- she tries, but is unable to do it.)

5.     What does Proctor mean when he says “I have made a bell of my honor!  I have rung the doom of my good name—you will believe me, Mr. Danforth!

6.     What causes Mary to snap at the end of Act III and accuse Proctor of being “The Devil’s Man”?

7.     Rev. Hale denounces the proceedings and quits the court at the end of Act III.  How is this foreshadowed in Act I?

8.    How does Abigail once again control the court at the conclusion of Act III?

Act IV Analysis

Analysis:

Analyze Aristotle's definition of a Tragic Hero.  Based on this definition, do you believe that John Proctor is an example of one?  In 4-5 paragraphs, support your analysis with citations from the text.   

                                                Definition of a Tragic Hero:

Aristotle

A tragic hero has the potential for greatness but is doomed to fail. He is trapped in a situation where he cannot win. He makes some sort of tragic flaw, and this causes his fall from greatness. Even though he is a fallen hero, he still wins a moral victory, and his spirit lives on.

TRAGIC HEROES ARE:     BORN INTO NOBILITY: RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN FATE ENDOWED WITH A TRAGIC FLAW DOOMED TO MAKE A SERIOUS ERROR IN JUDGEMENT EVENTUALLY, TRAGIC HEROES   FALL FROM GREAT HEIGHTS OR HIGH ESTEEM REALIZE THEY HAVE MADE AN IRREVERSIBLE MISTAKE FACES AND ACCEPTS DEATH WITH HONOR MEET A TRAGIC DEATH FOR ALL TRAGIC HEROES THE AUDIENCE IS AFFECTED BY PITY and/or FEAR