Good Morning!
  For this week's blog, I'd like you to think about your approach to the holidays; are you a grinch or a Who from Whoville?  If you're not sure of the reference, please use Google to look for the movie (or book by Dr. Seuss) The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and describe your feelings about all of the holidays coming up and being celebrated in the next month or so.  Decide whether you're a "Grinch" or a "Who" (yes, you must choose ONE) and then write about how your family celebrates or, if they don't, how you feel seeing all of the celebrations going on all around you.  What do you particularly like or dislike about the holidays?  We need at least 300 words for this one.  Have fun, be creative, be sentimental.. whatever works best for you!  Please see me if you have questions.  Thanks!
 Ms. Mott

Post #6: Comedy and Myth

Our next book, Gene Luen Yang's American Born Chinese, is a comedic, coming-of-age story that offers a humorous parody of the traditional Chinese myth of the Monkey King. As we discuss myth and its comic potential, come up with your own comedic myth for Deposit, NY. It can be a creation myth, or it can be a myth about a hero/heroine involved in the Ancient History of the area. You can even incorporate parodies of popular myths, tall tales, folk heroes, and mythological figures ( from Achilles, Hercules, Aphrodite, etc. to Paul Bunyan, John Henry, etc.).

Be creative! Your posts must be between 200-400 words and are due Friday, 12/16 by 3pm. 

Tragedy or Comedy; Your Choice!

Journalism is a style of writing used to report news and current events.  The basics of good journalism come down to grabbing the readers’ attention,  being descriptive, and answering the “big” questions that everyone wants to know, the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, AND HOW of an event.  For this week’s blog, I’d like you to describe either a tragic or comedic event you witnessed or heard about over the break using a journalistic style.  That means, you must answer the big questions above to tell your readers what happened.  You also have to write it in a way that will capture our attention; perhaps using a big headline or an interesting first line.  If I start a story with, “On Tuesday, the dog was barking…” my reaction would be, who cares?  However, if I start with, “The barking of the dog woke her from a sound sleep and interrupted her dreams of vacation” I think that might just be a bit more interesting to read so I’d continue on with it. 

This blog should be no more than 400 words, but has to be at least 250.  It is due on Friday this week (the 2^nd) by 3:00.  Please see me if you have questions.

Ms. Mott

Post # 4 Critical Lens on Hate

"We hate some persons because we do not know them; and will not know them because we hate them."  ~Charles Caleb Colton

1. In your own words, explain what the quote means.

2. Explain whether or not you agree or disagree with the quote.

3. Support your opinion by describing a certain character, conflict, or theme from  William Golding's Lord of the Flies or Arthur C. Clarke's 'Hate'.

Your responses should be at least 250 words and are due at 3pm, Friday, 11/11. 

Blog #3; due Friday 10/21/2011 by 3:00PM

Hi Everyone!

For your blog this week, I'd like you to consider who life on the island would have been different if the children who were refugees there had been girls rather than boys.  Please think about their personal interactions, their systems of leadership, food gathering, obtaining shelter, etc.

Please write at least 250 words.  Remember that MS Word has a word count feature as well as spell check and grammar check.  Please skip a line between each paragraph and be sure to sign each post.  Good Luck!

Ms. Mott

Hi Everyone,
  Just a couple of quick reminders before you begin the new blog:
     1. Spell check and grammar check each post; both the main post and your response to a peer.
     2. Skip a line between each paragraph you write.
     3. Sign each post; first and last name or initial if you think there will be any confusion.
     4. Use your imagination and sense of humor as you write, that makes it much more interesting for everyone reading your work.

All that said, here's your topic for this week:

For your blog this week, you will go to amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or any other online bookseller's website and browse through the books to find a title that interests you.  You will provide us with at least two reviews (found on the website) of your book (properly citing them) and then write a paragraph of your own explaining why the book you found is interesting to you.  I have done this assignment as well and the first comment is my submission to the blog.  Please use that as an example and see either Mr. Tombasco or me if you have any questions.

This blog is due Friday, October 7th by 3 PM.  You don't have school that afternoon, so you will need to be sure you either do it early or have online access at home.  Good luck!

Ms. Mott

Post 1: Deserted Island Items

Imagine that you are stuck on a deserted island, much like the characters in William Golding's Lord of the Flies. What three things do you wish you would have with you in this situation? Explain what three things would be most important to you and why they are important. For example, is there a certain item that you would want that would help ensure survival, or is there anything else you can think of that would help make life on a deserted island a little more comfortable/enjoyable?

Be creative in your responses, and of course, be sure to follow the rules of standard written English. Your responses must be at least 200 words. This post will be due Friday, 9/23, by 3PM.

Welcome Sophomores!

Welcome to English 10 Blogging Project

Mr. Tombasco and I will continue using blogger.com for our classroom blogs; this is the same site you will use next year in English 11.  As this is the third year of our blogging project, many of you should have gmail accounts already established.  If not, please follow the instructions below on how to create one. 

Writing for our blog requires you to follow the same guidelines used in any other formal classroom writing.  You will be graded on the content, form, spelling, and mechanics of your writing; please be aware of the following guidelines and refer to your “Taboo List” if you have questions. The easiest way to obtain a good grade is to write your blog response in MS Word, use the spell check and word count functions and then copy and paste your response in the comment section of the blog.  We will help you get started.

1. Only post things that you would want everyone (in school, at home, etc.) to see.
2. Do not share personal information that would let someone outside of school find you. While this is a moderated and restricted blog, we want to ensure that you remain safe.
3. Think before you post; what could be the consequences of your post?
4. Know who you're communicating with; who will be reading this and how will they interpret what you've written?
5. Anytime you use information, media, photos, etc. from another site, be sure to properly cite the creator of the original work.
6. Use appropriate language and spelling. YOU GUYS ALL KNOW IT MAKES ME CRAZY TO SEE THINGS LIKE "HOW R U?" Treat every posting as if it will be graded for spelling and grammar.
7. Only post information you know is true; NO GOSSIP!


Responding to others' blogs:
1. Be constructive not destructive. WE'RE BIG ON RESPECT IN HERE!
2. Make sure your response is always related to the blog you're commenting on.
3. Include, when you can, a personal comment or suggestion that will allow others to join a “conversation”.  It’s great when many members of the class begin to write to each other in the blog.

4. A simple, “Good job!” is not enough to receive a grade for your peer response.  Generally we will post suggestions for response in the posting of the topic; please be aware of these to receive the maximum grade.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A GOOGLE (GMAIL) ACCOUNT:
1. Go to google.com
2. Click on the gmail link.
3. Click on Create an Account
4. Go through the steps to create an account. You will need to come up with a user name and password and provide them with an alternate email address too. We will not have access to your passwords or your gmail accounts; only to the content you post on the blog.

WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR GMAIL ACCOUNT:

 1.Please send me an email (4162.anita@gmail.com) and I will invite you to join the blog.
 2. Respond to the first assignment posted on the blog.  You respond to the blog by hitting the “comment” button at the end of the assignment.  Please do not create a new comment; that messes things up for everyone and will delay your grade.  Please come talk with either Mr. T. or me if you have any questions.
We look forward to reading you online!
Ms. Mott and Mr. Tombasco