Marigolds

Please answer one of the following questions and then respond to the conversation that is being had by the rest of your classmates.

1. There are several metaphors used throughout the story “Marigolds.” Choose one and explain how the two things compared are alike using examples from your life or the story to explain.

2. Choose one image in the story that is explained in detail and explain how the details of that image contribute to the mood of the story. What is the overall message the author is trying to communicate and how does the image you chose fit into that message?

3. Explore the theme of waiting in this story? Why is it such a part of the narrator’s life? Why might the narrator still be waiting?

4. How is the theme in this story similar to the theme in “Through the Tunnel?” How is it different? In other words do you think the overall message the author wants to communicate is the same or different, and how?

Through the Tunnel

A theme is a general insight or truth about life that an author tries to communicate through his or her story. What do you think the theme of the story "Through the Tunnel" by Dorris Lessing is? Use specifics from the plot to prove your position. Include a quote or particuliar passage in your response. Please also respond to others demonstrating you have read your classmates' post and are able to reflect on them.

Harkness Reflection: Period 6

After looking at the Harkness Evaluation sheet on your first class conference, please assess your class's performance in the summer reading Harkness. What did you do well as a class and what could you do better next time. After you post your own reflection read your classmate's reflections and get a sense for what the group as a whole felt. Respond in another post.

Harkness Reflection: Period 1

After looking at the Harkness Evaluation sheet on your first class conference, please assess your class's performance in the summer reading Harkness. What did you do well as a class and what could you do better next time. After you post your own reflection read your classmate's reflections and get a sense for what the group as a whole felt. Respond in another post.

This Boy's Life

As readers of This Boy’s Life we get a one-sided view of what Toby’s life is like because everything is told to us through Toby’s point of view. We have to be careful as readers therefore, not to take everything he says as the only truth. Rather it is one version of the truth. For this blog, choose one other character in the book that has a lot of contact with Toby. How does that person view him? How might Toby be presented as a different character to us if the story was told through that character’s point of view? Please provide at least one quote (good quote!!) in your response and other specific examples to support your ideas. Then, respond to two of your classmates posts.

The Pigman

Please respond to the following question in about one page of writing (less is fine, but it should be at least a long paragraph). Explain your ideas with examples about your own life and from the book. Then respond to two of your classmates posts.

1. What do you have in common with the main characters (either John or Lorraine or both)? How are you different than that same character? HINT: Think about what the characters care about, how they change over the course of the book, what they learn, their friendship with each other, their family situation and their school situation.