This is worth 20 extra credit points. This should be in Humanities 9 format. The entire assignment must be completed for any extra credit points to be awarded.
PLEASE NOTE: Extra credit points will not be awarded if the Projects for the Kite Runner have not been completed!
(For those of you with missing assignments from the first half of the semester, it would be a good idea for you to complete this.)
You must find 4 articles regarding the U.S. and Afghanistan. The article must contain news regarding these 2 countries. (Relationships, conflict, resolutions, etc)
The articles must be cited. At the conclusion of each summary, you must list the web site that you found the article on. I will check to ensure that the article in genuine. Failure to cite the link will cause you to receive 0 extra credit points.
Criteria for EACH article (I suggest you do the article summaries 1 by one)
1. Where did the events in the article take place? ( 3 sentences)
2. What was the article about? ( 5 sentences)
3. Who was in the article and why were they important? ( 4 sentences)
4. Why do you think the event took place in the article? ( 3 sentences)
5. Why did you choose this article? Does it relate to the other articles that you chose? ( 5 sentences)
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Chapter 10 summary
Chapter Ten
When Chapter Ten opens Amir and Baba are being smuggled out of Soviet- or Shorawi-occupied Kabul along with other Afghanis. Their goal was to reach the safer territory of Pakistan. Amir still has carsickness at age eighteen, which embarrasses Baba. The truck stops so that Amir can vomit on the roadside. Amir thinks of how secretly they had to leave Kabul, telling no one, not even their servant. The rafiqs, or Communist comrades, had taught everyone in Kabul how to spy on their neighbors and even their family.
The truck was supposed to have no trouble crossing through the Russian-Afghani checkpoints because of the driver, Karim's connections. At a checkpoint, the Afghani soldiers would have let the truck pass without issue, but one Russian soldier demanded a half hour with one of the refugees, a married woman. To Amir's dismay, Baba defended the woman, telling the Russian soldier that he had no shame and that he would "take a thousand bullets before [he] let this indecency take place." Amir felt ashamed that while Baba would give his life to save someone, he did nothing to save Hassan. The Russian soldier aimed the barrel of his gun at Baba's chest, but the shot that rang out did not kill him. It came from the gun of a more senior Russian soldier, who apologized for the first one, explaining that he was on drugs. The truck passed the checkpoint safely and in the darkness, the woman's husband kissed Baba's hand.
When the refugees finally reached Karim's brother's house in Jalalabad, he told them that his brother, Toor's, truck had broken the week before and could not take them to Peshawar, Pakistan. Baba smashed Karim against the wall and began to strangle him, furious that Karim had lied to them in order to take their money. Only the married woman's pleas stopped Baba from killing Karim. It turned out that there were many other refugees in the house, who had been waiting there for two weeks. Amir, Baba, and the others went into the basement to wait with them. Waiting there with them in the damp, rat-infested basement were Amir's schoolmate, Kamal, and his father. Kamal had a sunken look in his eyes, and his father explained to Baba that his wife had been shot and Kamal had been raped. Because it turned out that Toor's truck was irreparable, the refugees departed in the tank of fuel truck.
Before they left, Baba kissed the Afghani dirt and put some in his snuff box to keep next to his heart. Later, Amir awoke in the fuel tank feeling as though he was suffocating. He comforted himself with the memory of a spring afternoon he spent kite-fighting with Hassan. When they finally got out in Pakistan, they were thankful to be alive. Yet Kamal had suffocated on the fumes and died. In a rage, Kamal's father put the barrel of Karim's gun in his mouh and shot himself
When Chapter Ten opens Amir and Baba are being smuggled out of Soviet- or Shorawi-occupied Kabul along with other Afghanis. Their goal was to reach the safer territory of Pakistan. Amir still has carsickness at age eighteen, which embarrasses Baba. The truck stops so that Amir can vomit on the roadside. Amir thinks of how secretly they had to leave Kabul, telling no one, not even their servant. The rafiqs, or Communist comrades, had taught everyone in Kabul how to spy on their neighbors and even their family.
The truck was supposed to have no trouble crossing through the Russian-Afghani checkpoints because of the driver, Karim's connections. At a checkpoint, the Afghani soldiers would have let the truck pass without issue, but one Russian soldier demanded a half hour with one of the refugees, a married woman. To Amir's dismay, Baba defended the woman, telling the Russian soldier that he had no shame and that he would "take a thousand bullets before [he] let this indecency take place." Amir felt ashamed that while Baba would give his life to save someone, he did nothing to save Hassan. The Russian soldier aimed the barrel of his gun at Baba's chest, but the shot that rang out did not kill him. It came from the gun of a more senior Russian soldier, who apologized for the first one, explaining that he was on drugs. The truck passed the checkpoint safely and in the darkness, the woman's husband kissed Baba's hand.
When the refugees finally reached Karim's brother's house in Jalalabad, he told them that his brother, Toor's, truck had broken the week before and could not take them to Peshawar, Pakistan. Baba smashed Karim against the wall and began to strangle him, furious that Karim had lied to them in order to take their money. Only the married woman's pleas stopped Baba from killing Karim. It turned out that there were many other refugees in the house, who had been waiting there for two weeks. Amir, Baba, and the others went into the basement to wait with them. Waiting there with them in the damp, rat-infested basement were Amir's schoolmate, Kamal, and his father. Kamal had a sunken look in his eyes, and his father explained to Baba that his wife had been shot and Kamal had been raped. Because it turned out that Toor's truck was irreparable, the refugees departed in the tank of fuel truck.
Before they left, Baba kissed the Afghani dirt and put some in his snuff box to keep next to his heart. Later, Amir awoke in the fuel tank feeling as though he was suffocating. He comforted himself with the memory of a spring afternoon he spent kite-fighting with Hassan. When they finally got out in Pakistan, they were thankful to be alive. Yet Kamal had suffocated on the fumes and died. In a rage, Kamal's father put the barrel of Karim's gun in his mouh and shot himself
Mandatory Reading For 12-2-08
The Kite Runner deals with the country of Afghanistan from the 1970s to the year 2002. Like all places, Afghanistan has a long and complicated history, but it came to international attention only after the coup of 1973. In order to orient ourselves, let us look at Afghanistan's geography. The nation is located in Central Asia and is made up of thirty-four provinces. The country's capital is Kabul, which is also the capital of the northeast province of the same name. Afghanistan means "Land of Afghan," Afghan being a name the Pashtun majority used to describe themselves starting before the year 1000. It is bordered by Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and for a short distance, China.
From 1933-1973, Afghanistan was a monarchy ruled by King Zahir Shah. On July 17, 1973, when the king was on vacation, Mohammad Daoud Khan seized power. Mohammad Daoud Khan was Zahir Shah's cousin and a former Prime Minister of Afghanistan. The military coup was nearly bloodless, but as we see through Amir's story, it was still a frightening time for the people of Kabul who heard rioting and shooting in the streets. For six years, Mohammad Daoud Khan was President and Prime Minister of Afghanistan. Then, on April 27, 1978, he was violently overthrown by the PDPA, People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan. Daoud was killed in the coup along with most of his family. Even though Afghanistan had long insisted on maintaining its independence from Russia, the PDPA was a Communist party and therefore held close ties to the Soviet Union.
The PDPA instituted many political and social reforms in Afghanistan, including abolishing religious and traditional customs. These reforms incensed groups of Afghans who believed in adherence to traditional and religious laws. These factions began to challenge the government so rigorously that in 1979, the Soviet Army entered Afghanistan, beginning an occupation that would last a decade. This is the historical point in The Kite Runner when Baba and Amir leave Afghanistan. Throughout the ten years of Soviet occupation, internal Muslim forces put up a resistance. Farid and his father are examples in The Kite Runner of these mujahedins or men engaged in war on the side of Islam. The United States was among the countries that supported the resistance, because of its own anti-Soviet policies. When the Soviet Troops finally withdrew in 1989, Afghanistan remained under PDPA for three more years. Then in 1992, in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union and therefore Soviet support for the government, the mujahedin finally won Afghanistan and converted it to an Islamic State.
In the years following Soviet withdrawal, there was a great deal of infighting among rival militias, making everyday life in Afghanistan unsafe. In The Kite Runner, Rahim Khan describes the fear in Kabul during this time. He remembers, "The infighting between the factions was fierce and no one knew if they would live to see the end of the day. Our ears became accustomed to the rumble of gunfire, our eyes familiar with the sight of men digging bodies out of piles of rubble. Kabul in those days ... Was as close as you could get to that proverbial hell on earth." Then in 1996, the Taliban took control of Kabul. After so many years of insecurity and violence, the people welcomed the takeover. Rahim Khan remembers, "... We all celebrated in 1996 when the Taliban rolled in and put an end to the daily fighting." The Taliban were a group of Pashtun supremacists who banded together and took almost complete control of the country. Despite their warm initial reception, they soon made life in Afghanistan dangerous again. Being Sunni fundamentalists supremacists, they systematically massacred Shiites including the Hazara people. They also enacted fundamentalist laws, most famously those banning music and dance, and those severely restricting women's rights. In The Kite Runner, we see how the Taliban used fear and violence to control the people of Afghanistan, for example at the frequent executions in Ghazi Stadium.
After the events of September 11, 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan and overthrew the Taliban. The end of The Kite Runner occurs in 2002, when a provisional government was in place. It was not until 2004 that the current president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, was elected. Today, there are countless Afghan refugees living in other parts of the world, just like Amir and his family. For those Afghans living in Afghanistan, life is still dangerous. In the South, conflict continues to rage on and the Taliban have managed to reemerge. According to Amnesty International's 2007 report, violence and human rights abuses are still a common reality in Afghanistan due to weak governance.
Be Prepared to Answer Questions regarding this post. *hint hint*
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Chapter Summaries 6- 9
Chapter Six
Chapter six opens in winter. Amir loved the icy season because the school was shut down for its duration. But he loved winter even more because then he flew kites with Baba, the only activity that consistently brought them closer. The pinnacle of winter for every boy in Kabul was the yearly kite-fighting tournament. Every year, Amir and Hassan saved their allowances to buy materials to make their kites, but they were not very good craftsmen. When Baba realized this, he started taking them to Saifo's to buy their kites, always buying the boys equally good kites. In the tournament, contestants used their kites' glass strings to cut others' kite strings until only one triumphant kite remained in the sky. Hassan was Amir's assistant. When kites fell out of the sky, especially the last kite to fall, those not flying their own kites would chase them and try to catch them-they were called "kite runners." Hassan was an exceptionally good kite runner. Once, Hassan convinced Amir to run the opposite way that a fallen kite was floating and sit under a tree with him to wait. While they sat, Amir taunted Hassan a little. Amir was unsettled to see Hassan's face change the way it sometimes did, as though there was an unfamiliar, sinister, hidden face behind his usual expression. After that uncomfortable moment, however, Hassan's face changed back to normal and the coveted kite came floating into his open arms.
In the winter of 1975, Amir watched Hassan run his last kite. That year, there was to be the biggest kite tournament the boys had ever seen. Boys from several neighborhoods would be competing in Amir and Hassan's neighborhood, Wazir Akhbar Khan. One evening, Baba suggested that Amir would win the tournament this year. After that, Amir became determined to win so that he could finally prove to Baba that he was a winner and a worthy son. The night before the tournament, Hassan and Amir huddled under blankets playing cards while Baba, Rahim Khan, and Assef's father met in the next room. Upon hearing that Afghanistan might get television under president Daoud Khan, Amir promised to buy Hassan a television set one day. Hassan responded that he would put it on the table in his and Ali's hut. Amir was dismayed than Hassan had accepted his fate of always living in the hut and being a servant. As though he read Amir's mind, Hassan told him, "I like where I live."
Chapter Seven
The morning of the tournament, Hassan described his dream to Amir. In it, the two boys amazed the people of Kabul by swimming in a lake and proving it contained no monster. Then the boys were lauded as heroes and became the lake's owners. When Amir said he didn't want to fly a kite, Hassan told him, "no monster," and convinced him to proceed. Amir and Hassan were a great team and theirs was one of the last two kites left in the sky. Their hands were bloodied from holding the sharp string, but their hearts were filled with hope of winning the tournament. Amir focused hard and to his surprise, he cut the last, blue kite and won. The true victory for Amir was seeing Baba hollering with pride. Hassan took off to run the blue kite and Amir followed after bringing his kite home. A merchant told Amir that he had seen Hassan running by with the blue kite. He finally found Hassan facing Assef and his two friends, who were trying to steal the kite from him. Assef told Hassan that even Amir considered him worthless, but Hassan defended himself and Amir, saying that they were friends. Amir stood frozen in shock as the fight began.
The chapter is interrupted with Amir's memories, which appear in italics. The first is of Ali's words about his kinship with Hassan because they had the same nursemaid. The second is of Amir and Hassan visiting a fortune teller who gets a look of doom on his face while reading Hassan's fortune. Next is a dream, also in italics. Amir is lost in a snowstorm until he takes Hassan's outstretched hand in his. Suddenly the boys are in a bright, grassy field, looking up at colorful kites.
Amir transports us back to the moment when he hid in the alley, watching Assef and his friends seizing Hassan. He remembers the blue kite and Hassan's pants lying on the ground. Assef told both his friends to rape Hassan, but they refused. They consented to hold Hassan down while Assef raped him. Amir saw "the look of the lamb," the look of defeat, on Hassan's face.
The chapter is interrupted by another italicized memory. Baba, Ali, and their sons gathered in the yard to sacrifice a lamb for Eid-e-Qorban, in honor of the prophet Ibrahim's near sacrifice of his son. A mullah makes the meat halal and the tradition is to give one third to family, one third to friends, and one third to the poor. Baba's tradition is to give all the meat to the poor because he says, "The rich are fat enough already." Just before the mullah slaughtered the lamb, Amir saw its look of acceptance, as though it understood that its death was for "a higher purpose." The look would haunt him forever after.
We return to Hassan's rape. Amir turned away, weeping, still hearing Assef's grunts issuing from the alleyway. Instead of standing up for Hassan the way his friend had for him so many times, he fled. Amir tried to convince himself that he ran out of fear, but he knew that he felt Hassan to be his sacrificial lamb, the one to suffer for him so that he could live happily. In spite of himself, Amir thought, "He was just a Hazara, wasn't he?"
Some time later, Amir found Hassan walking down the streets, holding the blue kite. He pretended that he hadn't seen the rape, but he was terrified that Hassan would know or worse, would show him devotion despite knowing. Hassan said nothing about the rape even though he was bleeding through his pants. The boys returned home and proud Baba wrapped Amir in his arms. Amir was so overjoyed that he momentarily forgot that he had just betrayed Hassan.
Chapter Eight
After the rape, Hassan did not spend time with Amir although he still did his chores. A worried Ali asked Amir about Hassan's torn shirt and bloodied pants the night of the tournament, but Amir pretended not to know what happened. That night, he asked Baba if they could go to Jalalabad; ever since Amir won the tournament, Baba had not denied him anything. When Baba suggested they invite Hassan along, Amir told him that Hassan was sick. Amir looked forward to having Baba to himself, but Baba invited three vans' worth of relatives and friends along. As they drove along in the car, one friend's twin daughters recounted Amir's victory at the kite-fighting tournament. At this, Amir's carsickness overwhelmed him and he vomited. As they aired out the van on the roadside, Amir saw Hassan's bloodied pants in his head.
Finally, they reached Kaka Homayoun's house in Jalalabad. Even though Amir finally had the intimacy with Baba he had wanted all his life, his guilt made him feel emptier than ever. As Amir, Baba, and everyone else slept in the same room, Amir confessed to the darkness, "I watched Hassan get raped." No one heard him. He realized that he was the monster in Hassan's dream and had dragged Hassan to the bottom of the lake. That night, Amir's insomnia began.
A week later, Hassan asked Amir to climb the hill with him and read to him. When they reached their favorite spot, Amir changed his mind and the boys walked back down. After that incident, Amir's memories of the winter of 1975 are unclear. He could not wait for winter to end and school to begin, even though he had fun with Baba. He made sure to never be in the same room as Hassan, although his loyal friend kept trying to make things better between them. One day, after Amir refused to walk to the market with him, Hassan asked Amir what he had done wrong. Amir told Hassan that he should stop harassing him. After that, Hassan left him alone. One day as they were planting tulips, Amir asked Baba if he would get new servants. Baba was furious and threatened to strike Amir if he ever suggested it again. Ali and Hassan were their family, he said.
When school started, Amir was relieved to have homework to keep him busy. Then one day, he asked Hassan to climb the hill with him to hear a new story. Hassan joined him eagerly. After they picked pomegranates, Amir asked Hassan what he would do if he threw a pomegranate at him. When Hassan said nothing, he threw the fruit at him and demanded that Hassan throw one back. As Hassan refused to fight back, Amir threw countless pomegranates at him until he was stained in blood-red juice. Finally, Hassan smashed a pomegranate against his own forehead and asked, "Are you satisfied? Do you feel better?" before leaving.
That summer, Amir turned thirteen. Even though the coldness between him and Baba had returned, his father threw him a lavish birthday party with a guest list of four hundred people. Assef showed up with his parents and charmed Baba. He invited Amir to come play volleyball at his house and to bring along Hassan, but Amir refused. Then Assef offered Amir his gift, a book he picked out himself. After awkwardly excusing himself, he unwrapped the present alone; it was a biography of Hitler, which he threw into the bushes. Rahim Khan found him and told him a story. He had almost married a Hazara woman, but his family was outraged at the proposition and sent her and her family out of town. Then Rahim Khan told Amir that he could confide in him, but Amir could not bring himself to tell his friend what he had done. Rahim Khan gave him his present, a notebook for his stories. Then they hurried back to the party to watch the fireworks. In one flash of light, Amir saw Hassan serving drinks to Assef and Wali. He saw Assef playfully punch Hassan in the chest before, to his relief, the light faded.
Chapter Nine
The morning after his birthday party, Amir opened his presents joylessly. To him, each gift was tainted with Hassan's shed blood. He knew Baba never would have thrown him such an extravagant party if he had not won the tournament, and to him the victory was inseparable from Hassan's rape. Baba himself gave Amir a coveted Stingray bicycle and a fancy wristwatch, but they too felt like "blood money." The only gift Amir could stand to enjoy was the notebook from Rahim Khan. As he considered Rahim Khan's story about his Hazara fiancée, Amir decided that either he or Hassan had to leave their household in order for them to be happy.
When Amir took his new bike for a ride, Ali and Hassan were in the yard cleaning up the mess from the party. Ali stopped Amir to give him a present from himself and Hassan, a new copy of the Shahnamah, the book from which he had so often read to Hassan. When he got home, Amir buried the book at the bottom of his pile of presents so it would not torment him with guilt. Then he began scheming how to get rid of Hassan. Before he went to bed, he asked Baba if he had seen his new wristwatch.
The next morning, Amir hid his wristwatch and a bundle of cash under Hassan's bed. Then he told Baba that Hassan had stolen from him. Baba called a meeting with Ali and Hassan in his office. When they arrived, their eyes were red from crying. Hassan lied and said that he had stolen Amir's wristwatch and money. Amir felt a pang of guilt because he understood that Hassan was sacrificing himself for him as usual. He also understood that Hassan knew everything about the night he was raped, that Amir stood by and did nothing to help him. To his shock, Baba forgave Hassan, but Ali and Hassan had already resolved to leave. From Ali's cold glance, Amir understood that Hassan had told him about the rape and about Amir's nonaction. Despite Baba's begging, Ali and Hassan left. When they were gone, Amir saw Baba cry for the first time. As though echoing Baba's grief, the skies opened up and it stormed during the dry season in Kabul.
Chapter six opens in winter. Amir loved the icy season because the school was shut down for its duration. But he loved winter even more because then he flew kites with Baba, the only activity that consistently brought them closer. The pinnacle of winter for every boy in Kabul was the yearly kite-fighting tournament. Every year, Amir and Hassan saved their allowances to buy materials to make their kites, but they were not very good craftsmen. When Baba realized this, he started taking them to Saifo's to buy their kites, always buying the boys equally good kites. In the tournament, contestants used their kites' glass strings to cut others' kite strings until only one triumphant kite remained in the sky. Hassan was Amir's assistant. When kites fell out of the sky, especially the last kite to fall, those not flying their own kites would chase them and try to catch them-they were called "kite runners." Hassan was an exceptionally good kite runner. Once, Hassan convinced Amir to run the opposite way that a fallen kite was floating and sit under a tree with him to wait. While they sat, Amir taunted Hassan a little. Amir was unsettled to see Hassan's face change the way it sometimes did, as though there was an unfamiliar, sinister, hidden face behind his usual expression. After that uncomfortable moment, however, Hassan's face changed back to normal and the coveted kite came floating into his open arms.
In the winter of 1975, Amir watched Hassan run his last kite. That year, there was to be the biggest kite tournament the boys had ever seen. Boys from several neighborhoods would be competing in Amir and Hassan's neighborhood, Wazir Akhbar Khan. One evening, Baba suggested that Amir would win the tournament this year. After that, Amir became determined to win so that he could finally prove to Baba that he was a winner and a worthy son. The night before the tournament, Hassan and Amir huddled under blankets playing cards while Baba, Rahim Khan, and Assef's father met in the next room. Upon hearing that Afghanistan might get television under president Daoud Khan, Amir promised to buy Hassan a television set one day. Hassan responded that he would put it on the table in his and Ali's hut. Amir was dismayed than Hassan had accepted his fate of always living in the hut and being a servant. As though he read Amir's mind, Hassan told him, "I like where I live."
Chapter Seven
The morning of the tournament, Hassan described his dream to Amir. In it, the two boys amazed the people of Kabul by swimming in a lake and proving it contained no monster. Then the boys were lauded as heroes and became the lake's owners. When Amir said he didn't want to fly a kite, Hassan told him, "no monster," and convinced him to proceed. Amir and Hassan were a great team and theirs was one of the last two kites left in the sky. Their hands were bloodied from holding the sharp string, but their hearts were filled with hope of winning the tournament. Amir focused hard and to his surprise, he cut the last, blue kite and won. The true victory for Amir was seeing Baba hollering with pride. Hassan took off to run the blue kite and Amir followed after bringing his kite home. A merchant told Amir that he had seen Hassan running by with the blue kite. He finally found Hassan facing Assef and his two friends, who were trying to steal the kite from him. Assef told Hassan that even Amir considered him worthless, but Hassan defended himself and Amir, saying that they were friends. Amir stood frozen in shock as the fight began.
The chapter is interrupted with Amir's memories, which appear in italics. The first is of Ali's words about his kinship with Hassan because they had the same nursemaid. The second is of Amir and Hassan visiting a fortune teller who gets a look of doom on his face while reading Hassan's fortune. Next is a dream, also in italics. Amir is lost in a snowstorm until he takes Hassan's outstretched hand in his. Suddenly the boys are in a bright, grassy field, looking up at colorful kites.
Amir transports us back to the moment when he hid in the alley, watching Assef and his friends seizing Hassan. He remembers the blue kite and Hassan's pants lying on the ground. Assef told both his friends to rape Hassan, but they refused. They consented to hold Hassan down while Assef raped him. Amir saw "the look of the lamb," the look of defeat, on Hassan's face.
The chapter is interrupted by another italicized memory. Baba, Ali, and their sons gathered in the yard to sacrifice a lamb for Eid-e-Qorban, in honor of the prophet Ibrahim's near sacrifice of his son. A mullah makes the meat halal and the tradition is to give one third to family, one third to friends, and one third to the poor. Baba's tradition is to give all the meat to the poor because he says, "The rich are fat enough already." Just before the mullah slaughtered the lamb, Amir saw its look of acceptance, as though it understood that its death was for "a higher purpose." The look would haunt him forever after.
We return to Hassan's rape. Amir turned away, weeping, still hearing Assef's grunts issuing from the alleyway. Instead of standing up for Hassan the way his friend had for him so many times, he fled. Amir tried to convince himself that he ran out of fear, but he knew that he felt Hassan to be his sacrificial lamb, the one to suffer for him so that he could live happily. In spite of himself, Amir thought, "He was just a Hazara, wasn't he?"
Some time later, Amir found Hassan walking down the streets, holding the blue kite. He pretended that he hadn't seen the rape, but he was terrified that Hassan would know or worse, would show him devotion despite knowing. Hassan said nothing about the rape even though he was bleeding through his pants. The boys returned home and proud Baba wrapped Amir in his arms. Amir was so overjoyed that he momentarily forgot that he had just betrayed Hassan.
Chapter Eight
After the rape, Hassan did not spend time with Amir although he still did his chores. A worried Ali asked Amir about Hassan's torn shirt and bloodied pants the night of the tournament, but Amir pretended not to know what happened. That night, he asked Baba if they could go to Jalalabad; ever since Amir won the tournament, Baba had not denied him anything. When Baba suggested they invite Hassan along, Amir told him that Hassan was sick. Amir looked forward to having Baba to himself, but Baba invited three vans' worth of relatives and friends along. As they drove along in the car, one friend's twin daughters recounted Amir's victory at the kite-fighting tournament. At this, Amir's carsickness overwhelmed him and he vomited. As they aired out the van on the roadside, Amir saw Hassan's bloodied pants in his head.
Finally, they reached Kaka Homayoun's house in Jalalabad. Even though Amir finally had the intimacy with Baba he had wanted all his life, his guilt made him feel emptier than ever. As Amir, Baba, and everyone else slept in the same room, Amir confessed to the darkness, "I watched Hassan get raped." No one heard him. He realized that he was the monster in Hassan's dream and had dragged Hassan to the bottom of the lake. That night, Amir's insomnia began.
A week later, Hassan asked Amir to climb the hill with him and read to him. When they reached their favorite spot, Amir changed his mind and the boys walked back down. After that incident, Amir's memories of the winter of 1975 are unclear. He could not wait for winter to end and school to begin, even though he had fun with Baba. He made sure to never be in the same room as Hassan, although his loyal friend kept trying to make things better between them. One day, after Amir refused to walk to the market with him, Hassan asked Amir what he had done wrong. Amir told Hassan that he should stop harassing him. After that, Hassan left him alone. One day as they were planting tulips, Amir asked Baba if he would get new servants. Baba was furious and threatened to strike Amir if he ever suggested it again. Ali and Hassan were their family, he said.
When school started, Amir was relieved to have homework to keep him busy. Then one day, he asked Hassan to climb the hill with him to hear a new story. Hassan joined him eagerly. After they picked pomegranates, Amir asked Hassan what he would do if he threw a pomegranate at him. When Hassan said nothing, he threw the fruit at him and demanded that Hassan throw one back. As Hassan refused to fight back, Amir threw countless pomegranates at him until he was stained in blood-red juice. Finally, Hassan smashed a pomegranate against his own forehead and asked, "Are you satisfied? Do you feel better?" before leaving.
That summer, Amir turned thirteen. Even though the coldness between him and Baba had returned, his father threw him a lavish birthday party with a guest list of four hundred people. Assef showed up with his parents and charmed Baba. He invited Amir to come play volleyball at his house and to bring along Hassan, but Amir refused. Then Assef offered Amir his gift, a book he picked out himself. After awkwardly excusing himself, he unwrapped the present alone; it was a biography of Hitler, which he threw into the bushes. Rahim Khan found him and told him a story. He had almost married a Hazara woman, but his family was outraged at the proposition and sent her and her family out of town. Then Rahim Khan told Amir that he could confide in him, but Amir could not bring himself to tell his friend what he had done. Rahim Khan gave him his present, a notebook for his stories. Then they hurried back to the party to watch the fireworks. In one flash of light, Amir saw Hassan serving drinks to Assef and Wali. He saw Assef playfully punch Hassan in the chest before, to his relief, the light faded.
Chapter Nine
The morning after his birthday party, Amir opened his presents joylessly. To him, each gift was tainted with Hassan's shed blood. He knew Baba never would have thrown him such an extravagant party if he had not won the tournament, and to him the victory was inseparable from Hassan's rape. Baba himself gave Amir a coveted Stingray bicycle and a fancy wristwatch, but they too felt like "blood money." The only gift Amir could stand to enjoy was the notebook from Rahim Khan. As he considered Rahim Khan's story about his Hazara fiancée, Amir decided that either he or Hassan had to leave their household in order for them to be happy.
When Amir took his new bike for a ride, Ali and Hassan were in the yard cleaning up the mess from the party. Ali stopped Amir to give him a present from himself and Hassan, a new copy of the Shahnamah, the book from which he had so often read to Hassan. When he got home, Amir buried the book at the bottom of his pile of presents so it would not torment him with guilt. Then he began scheming how to get rid of Hassan. Before he went to bed, he asked Baba if he had seen his new wristwatch.
The next morning, Amir hid his wristwatch and a bundle of cash under Hassan's bed. Then he told Baba that Hassan had stolen from him. Baba called a meeting with Ali and Hassan in his office. When they arrived, their eyes were red from crying. Hassan lied and said that he had stolen Amir's wristwatch and money. Amir felt a pang of guilt because he understood that Hassan was sacrificing himself for him as usual. He also understood that Hassan knew everything about the night he was raped, that Amir stood by and did nothing to help him. To his shock, Baba forgave Hassan, but Ali and Hassan had already resolved to leave. From Ali's cold glance, Amir understood that Hassan had told him about the rape and about Amir's nonaction. Despite Baba's begging, Ali and Hassan left. When they were gone, Amir saw Baba cry for the first time. As though echoing Baba's grief, the skies opened up and it stormed during the dry season in Kabul.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Assignment for Sat. School
1. Summarize each chapter between 1-5.
2. There should be 5 paragraphs.
3. Each paragraph should be no less than 10 sentences.
D. Coles
S. Carter
C. Winston
J. Toland
D. Dunbar
K. Duncan
J. Hodge
G. McLaughlin
A. Vanderbilt
K. White
K. Whitfield
M. Woods
D. Lucas
C. Townsend
Extra Credit Opportunity: ANY OTHER Student who wishes to do the above assignment for extra credit, may do so. (5pts)
2. There should be 5 paragraphs.
3. Each paragraph should be no less than 10 sentences.
D. Coles
S. Carter
C. Winston
J. Toland
D. Dunbar
K. Duncan
J. Hodge
G. McLaughlin
A. Vanderbilt
K. White
K. Whitfield
M. Woods
D. Lucas
C. Townsend
Extra Credit Opportunity: ANY OTHER Student who wishes to do the above assignment for extra credit, may do so. (5pts)
Friday, November 21, 2008
Chapter's 4-5
Chapter Four
Chapter four opens with the story of how Ali became a part of Baba's family. In 1933, the same year Baba was born, two intoxicated young drivers struck and killed a Hazara couple. Only their five-year-old son, Ali, survived. Baba's father was asked to decide the young men's punishment. After sending the young men to serve in the army, he took Ali into his household. Baba and Ali grew up as quasi-brothers, just like Amir and Hassan a generation later. But despite their closeness, Baba never considered Ali his friend just as Amir never considered Hassan his. According to Amir, their ethnic and religious differences kept them from being true friends or family. At the same time, all these years later, Amir says Hassan is "the face of Afghanistan" to him. The boys played and got into mischief together like any other two boys, except that Hassan made Amir's breakfast, cleaned his room, and did all his other household chores. While Amir went to school, Hassan stayed home to do housework with Ali. After school, Amir would read to Hassan, who loved books despite his illiteracy.
One day, Amir pretended to read to Hassan from a book but made up his own story to trick Hassan. When Amir finished, Hassan clapped and told him it was the best story he had ever read him. Amir was so happy that he kissed Hassan on the cheek, and that night he wrote his first short story. It was about a man who had a cup that turned his tears into pearls. The man grew greedy and tried to find ways to make himself cry as much as possible. It ended with him sitting on top of a mountain of pearls, holding his wife's slain body. Amir took the story to Baba, but he refused to read it. Rahim Khan read the story and gave Amir a piece of paper on which he had written "Bravo." The rest of his note explained that Amir had achieved irony in his story, which is something many writers never manage to master. He encouraged Amir to put his talent to use. In the letter, he called Amir his friend, and for a moment Amir wished that Rahim Khan was his father instead of Baba. He was so overcome with guilt that he vomited.
Amir rushed down to where Hassan was sleeping on a mattress with Ali and woke up his friend. After hearing the story, Hassan proclaimed that Amir would be world-famous someday. However, he also pointed out a plot hole in the story. He asked why the protagonist did not just smell an onion to make himself cry instead of killing his wife. Amir was speechless.
Chapter Five
Before Amir could respond to Hassan's criticism of his story, gunfire erupted outside. The boys huddled together with Ali until Baba came home. For the first time, Amir saw fear on his father's face. He was even glad for the violence for a moment, because Baba held him and Hassan close. The events of that night, July 17, 1973, were a precursor to the end of life as Afghanis knew it. What would follow was the Communist coup d'etat of 1978, followed by the Russian occupation beginning in December of 1979. On that July night, the king's brother, Daoud Khan, had seized Zahir Shah's kingdom while he was away. Afghanistan had gone overnight from a monarchy to a republic. Tired of listening to the radio news, Amir and Hassan went to climb their favorite tree. On the way, a young "sociopath" named Assef and his friends confronted them. He taunted Hassan for being a Hazara; Assef also had a habit of taunting Ali, whom he called Babalu. He praised Hitler and then said that he wanted to finish what Hitler started and rid Afghanistan of Hazaras. He called Amir and Baba "a disgrace to Afghanistan" for taking in Hazaras. Just as Assef threatened to punch Amir with his brass knuckles, Hassan pointed his slingshot at the bully and threatened to take out his eye. Assef and his friends retreated, but promised to come back for Amir and Hassan later.
On Hassan's birthday, Baba summoned him to the house as usual to collect his present. To Hassan, Amir, and Ali's shock, Baba had hired a plastic surgeon to correct Hassan's harelip. Amir was jealous that Baba was giving Hassan such special attention. The surgery went well and Hassan could finally smile an unbroken smile. Ironically, Amir explains, it was soon after that Hassan stopped smiling for good.
Chapter four opens with the story of how Ali became a part of Baba's family. In 1933, the same year Baba was born, two intoxicated young drivers struck and killed a Hazara couple. Only their five-year-old son, Ali, survived. Baba's father was asked to decide the young men's punishment. After sending the young men to serve in the army, he took Ali into his household. Baba and Ali grew up as quasi-brothers, just like Amir and Hassan a generation later. But despite their closeness, Baba never considered Ali his friend just as Amir never considered Hassan his. According to Amir, their ethnic and religious differences kept them from being true friends or family. At the same time, all these years later, Amir says Hassan is "the face of Afghanistan" to him. The boys played and got into mischief together like any other two boys, except that Hassan made Amir's breakfast, cleaned his room, and did all his other household chores. While Amir went to school, Hassan stayed home to do housework with Ali. After school, Amir would read to Hassan, who loved books despite his illiteracy.
One day, Amir pretended to read to Hassan from a book but made up his own story to trick Hassan. When Amir finished, Hassan clapped and told him it was the best story he had ever read him. Amir was so happy that he kissed Hassan on the cheek, and that night he wrote his first short story. It was about a man who had a cup that turned his tears into pearls. The man grew greedy and tried to find ways to make himself cry as much as possible. It ended with him sitting on top of a mountain of pearls, holding his wife's slain body. Amir took the story to Baba, but he refused to read it. Rahim Khan read the story and gave Amir a piece of paper on which he had written "Bravo." The rest of his note explained that Amir had achieved irony in his story, which is something many writers never manage to master. He encouraged Amir to put his talent to use. In the letter, he called Amir his friend, and for a moment Amir wished that Rahim Khan was his father instead of Baba. He was so overcome with guilt that he vomited.
Amir rushed down to where Hassan was sleeping on a mattress with Ali and woke up his friend. After hearing the story, Hassan proclaimed that Amir would be world-famous someday. However, he also pointed out a plot hole in the story. He asked why the protagonist did not just smell an onion to make himself cry instead of killing his wife. Amir was speechless.
Chapter Five
Before Amir could respond to Hassan's criticism of his story, gunfire erupted outside. The boys huddled together with Ali until Baba came home. For the first time, Amir saw fear on his father's face. He was even glad for the violence for a moment, because Baba held him and Hassan close. The events of that night, July 17, 1973, were a precursor to the end of life as Afghanis knew it. What would follow was the Communist coup d'etat of 1978, followed by the Russian occupation beginning in December of 1979. On that July night, the king's brother, Daoud Khan, had seized Zahir Shah's kingdom while he was away. Afghanistan had gone overnight from a monarchy to a republic. Tired of listening to the radio news, Amir and Hassan went to climb their favorite tree. On the way, a young "sociopath" named Assef and his friends confronted them. He taunted Hassan for being a Hazara; Assef also had a habit of taunting Ali, whom he called Babalu. He praised Hitler and then said that he wanted to finish what Hitler started and rid Afghanistan of Hazaras. He called Amir and Baba "a disgrace to Afghanistan" for taking in Hazaras. Just as Assef threatened to punch Amir with his brass knuckles, Hassan pointed his slingshot at the bully and threatened to take out his eye. Assef and his friends retreated, but promised to come back for Amir and Hassan later.
On Hassan's birthday, Baba summoned him to the house as usual to collect his present. To Hassan, Amir, and Ali's shock, Baba had hired a plastic surgeon to correct Hassan's harelip. Amir was jealous that Baba was giving Hassan such special attention. The surgery went well and Hassan could finally smile an unbroken smile. Ironically, Amir explains, it was soon after that Hassan stopped smiling for good.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Chapter 3 Summary
Chapter Three
Amir describes Baba as being a huge and intimidating man who stood six feet, five inches tall and was purported to have wrestled a bear because of the long scars on his back. Despite his huge size, Baba was softhearted. He even devoted three years to funding and building an orphanage. Amir was proud to have such a successful father. Together with Rahim Khan, Baba owned several successful businesses and he had also married well; Amir's mother, Sofia Akrami, was a highly respected and educated poetry professor of royal descent. However, Baba's successes took him away from home and from Amir most of the time. When he was present, he was usually aloof.
One day in school, a Mullah or Muslim teacher told Amir and his classmates that drinking was a sin. When he got home, Amir asked Baba, a frequent drinker, about what the teacher had said. Baba told Amir that ultra religious people were not only wrong in their convictions but dangerous. He said, prophetically, "God help us all if Afghanistan ever falls into their hands." Then he explained to Amir that the only sin is stealing, whether a piece of property or a life. Baba knew about having things stolen firsthand; his father's life was stolen by a thief who stabbed him to death while robbing his house. Amir was grateful that Baba spoke to him so personally, but felt a simultaneous guilt for not being more like his father. He always felt that Baba hated him a little for 'killing' his mother as he was born.
Because Baba was aloof and often absent, Amir turned his attention to books. By the age of eleven, he could recite more poetry than anyone in his class at school. Baba wanted Amir to be an athlete like him, but Amir was not talented at soccer and did not have an interest in Baba's choice sport. Once, Baba took Amir to the yearly Buzkashi tournament. Buzkashi is a traditional Afghani sport in which a "highly skilled horseman" called a chapandaz from one team must retrieve an animal carcass from inside the other team's stampede and drop it in a special scoring circle while being chased by chapandaz from the other team who try to steal the carcass from him. As they sat watching the tournament, Baba pointed out Henry Kissinger, who was sitting in the bleachers, to Amir. Before Amir had a chance to ask Baba who Henry Kissinger was, one chapandaz fell off his horse and was trampled to death. Amir cried all the way home while Baba tried unsuccessfully to hide his disgust at his son's weak disposition. Back at home, Amir overheard Baba complaining to Rahim Khan about how Amir was always lost in his books and did not stand up for himself. Rahim Khan told Baba that he was self-centered, but Baba maintained that Amir was "missing something." Amir heard him say, "If I hadn't seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own eyes, I'd never believe he's my son."
Amir describes Baba as being a huge and intimidating man who stood six feet, five inches tall and was purported to have wrestled a bear because of the long scars on his back. Despite his huge size, Baba was softhearted. He even devoted three years to funding and building an orphanage. Amir was proud to have such a successful father. Together with Rahim Khan, Baba owned several successful businesses and he had also married well; Amir's mother, Sofia Akrami, was a highly respected and educated poetry professor of royal descent. However, Baba's successes took him away from home and from Amir most of the time. When he was present, he was usually aloof.
One day in school, a Mullah or Muslim teacher told Amir and his classmates that drinking was a sin. When he got home, Amir asked Baba, a frequent drinker, about what the teacher had said. Baba told Amir that ultra religious people were not only wrong in their convictions but dangerous. He said, prophetically, "God help us all if Afghanistan ever falls into their hands." Then he explained to Amir that the only sin is stealing, whether a piece of property or a life. Baba knew about having things stolen firsthand; his father's life was stolen by a thief who stabbed him to death while robbing his house. Amir was grateful that Baba spoke to him so personally, but felt a simultaneous guilt for not being more like his father. He always felt that Baba hated him a little for 'killing' his mother as he was born.
Because Baba was aloof and often absent, Amir turned his attention to books. By the age of eleven, he could recite more poetry than anyone in his class at school. Baba wanted Amir to be an athlete like him, but Amir was not talented at soccer and did not have an interest in Baba's choice sport. Once, Baba took Amir to the yearly Buzkashi tournament. Buzkashi is a traditional Afghani sport in which a "highly skilled horseman" called a chapandaz from one team must retrieve an animal carcass from inside the other team's stampede and drop it in a special scoring circle while being chased by chapandaz from the other team who try to steal the carcass from him. As they sat watching the tournament, Baba pointed out Henry Kissinger, who was sitting in the bleachers, to Amir. Before Amir had a chance to ask Baba who Henry Kissinger was, one chapandaz fell off his horse and was trampled to death. Amir cried all the way home while Baba tried unsuccessfully to hide his disgust at his son's weak disposition. Back at home, Amir overheard Baba complaining to Rahim Khan about how Amir was always lost in his books and did not stand up for himself. Rahim Khan told Baba that he was self-centered, but Baba maintained that Amir was "missing something." Amir heard him say, "If I hadn't seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own eyes, I'd never believe he's my son."
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Kite Runner Chapter 1-2 Summary
Chapter One
The Kite Runner begins with our thus-far nameless protagonist explaining that the past cannot be forgotten. A single moment in time defined him and has been affecting him for the last twenty-six years. This moment was in 1975 when he was twelve years old and hid near a crumbling alleyway in his hometown of Kabul, Afghanistan. When the protagonist's friend, Rahim Khan, calls him out of the blue, he knows that his past sins are coming back to haunt him even in the new life he has built in San Francisco. He remembers Hassan, whom he calls "the harelipped kite runner," saying "For you, a thousand times over." Rahim's words also echo in his head, "There is a way to be good again." These two phrases will become focal points for the rest of the novel and our protagonist's story.
Chapter Two
The protagonist remembers sitting in trees with Hassan when they were boys and annoying the neighbors. Any mischief they perpetrated was the protagonist's idea, but even when Hassan's father, Ali, scolded Hassan, he never told on the protagonist. Hassan's father was a servant to the protagonist's father, Baba and lived in a small servant's house on his property. Baba's house was widely considered the most beautiful one in Kabul. There Baba held large dinner parties and entertained friends, including Rahim Khan, in his smoking room. Though the protagonist was often surrounded by adults, he never knew his mother because she died in childbirth. Hassan never knew his mother, either, because she eloped with a performance troupe a few days after his birth. The protagonist always felt a special affinity with Hassan because he too was motherless. It was not a surprise that Hassan's mother, Sanaubar, left Ali. The only things these first cousins had in common were being of the Hazara ethnicity and the Shi'a religion. Otherwise, Sanaubar was nineteen years younger than Ali, gorgeous, and reportedly promiscuous. Meanwhile Ali was a pious man afflicted by paralysis of the lower face muscles and a crippled leg. Rumor had it that Sanaubar taunted Ali for his disabilities just as cruelly as strangers and refused to even hold the infant Hassan because of his cleft lip.
One night, after hearing so many insults thrown at Hassan because he was Hazara, the protagonist secretly read a summary of Hazara history. He found out that the Hazara people were descended from Moguls, owing to their flattened, "Chinese-like" facial features. The Hazaras were brutally oppressed throughout their history for being Shi'a instead of Sunni Muslim. His own people, the Pashtun, oppressed the Hazaras. The protagonist wondered why Baba had never told him any of this. He pitied Hassan for being a hated minority because he was an unusually gentle and kind person, "incapable of hurting anyone." In lieu of the boys' mothers, a kindly woman nursed and sang to both of them. Ali used to remind the boys that they were bound together because they had "fed from the same breasts." The boys were indeed like brothers. The protagonist explains that his first word was "Baba" while Hassan's was his name, "Amir." He says that the event that transpired in 1975, to which he alluded in Chapter One, was "already laid in those first words."
The Kite Runner begins with our thus-far nameless protagonist explaining that the past cannot be forgotten. A single moment in time defined him and has been affecting him for the last twenty-six years. This moment was in 1975 when he was twelve years old and hid near a crumbling alleyway in his hometown of Kabul, Afghanistan. When the protagonist's friend, Rahim Khan, calls him out of the blue, he knows that his past sins are coming back to haunt him even in the new life he has built in San Francisco. He remembers Hassan, whom he calls "the harelipped kite runner," saying "For you, a thousand times over." Rahim's words also echo in his head, "There is a way to be good again." These two phrases will become focal points for the rest of the novel and our protagonist's story.
Chapter Two
The protagonist remembers sitting in trees with Hassan when they were boys and annoying the neighbors. Any mischief they perpetrated was the protagonist's idea, but even when Hassan's father, Ali, scolded Hassan, he never told on the protagonist. Hassan's father was a servant to the protagonist's father, Baba and lived in a small servant's house on his property. Baba's house was widely considered the most beautiful one in Kabul. There Baba held large dinner parties and entertained friends, including Rahim Khan, in his smoking room. Though the protagonist was often surrounded by adults, he never knew his mother because she died in childbirth. Hassan never knew his mother, either, because she eloped with a performance troupe a few days after his birth. The protagonist always felt a special affinity with Hassan because he too was motherless. It was not a surprise that Hassan's mother, Sanaubar, left Ali. The only things these first cousins had in common were being of the Hazara ethnicity and the Shi'a religion. Otherwise, Sanaubar was nineteen years younger than Ali, gorgeous, and reportedly promiscuous. Meanwhile Ali was a pious man afflicted by paralysis of the lower face muscles and a crippled leg. Rumor had it that Sanaubar taunted Ali for his disabilities just as cruelly as strangers and refused to even hold the infant Hassan because of his cleft lip.
One night, after hearing so many insults thrown at Hassan because he was Hazara, the protagonist secretly read a summary of Hazara history. He found out that the Hazara people were descended from Moguls, owing to their flattened, "Chinese-like" facial features. The Hazaras were brutally oppressed throughout their history for being Shi'a instead of Sunni Muslim. His own people, the Pashtun, oppressed the Hazaras. The protagonist wondered why Baba had never told him any of this. He pitied Hassan for being a hated minority because he was an unusually gentle and kind person, "incapable of hurting anyone." In lieu of the boys' mothers, a kindly woman nursed and sang to both of them. Ali used to remind the boys that they were bound together because they had "fed from the same breasts." The boys were indeed like brothers. The protagonist explains that his first word was "Baba" while Hassan's was his name, "Amir." He says that the event that transpired in 1975, to which he alluded in Chapter One, was "already laid in those first words."
Monday, November 17, 2008
•The Kite Runner Unit
•Presented By: Ms. D. Fuller M.A.Ed
•Goals For The Unit
•Each student will develop cultural sensitivity to cultures that that are not familiar with.
•Students will learn about Afghanistan’s history and cultures.
•Students will be able to connect the events in this novel to other works of literature that they have read.
•Students will learn new vocabulary words that derive from the English and Arabic languages.
•Themes Explored Within The Unit
•Bullying
•Role of books, literacy
•Friendship guilt and redemption
•Father’s and sons
•Coming of Age
•Resilience of the human spirit
•Man’s inhumanity to man
•Discrimination, prejudice, bigotry, class structure
•Master/ slave relationships: loyalty & devotion vs. duty.
•Project Ideas
•Write a Diary as one of the characters. Tell his/her secret thoughts, motivations, history, ideas for future and thoughts about others.
•Rewrite part of the novel in song or poem form.
•Pretend you’re one of the characters. It’s 20 years from the end of the novel. Write a letter to another character in the book about what you’ve been doing with your life.
•Write a series of letter between any two characters.
•Project Ideas Continued
•Based on research, write news articles or create a newspaper about a section of the novel. Create a timeline of world events.
•In a group select a chapter or scene to dramatize. Write a script, design costumes and props, and perform for the class.
•Write interview questions for the author and/ or for the main characters. Pretend you’re a talk show and have invited guest characters to speak. Stage the show before the class.
•Write a sequel (or next chapter) of the novel.
•Assigned Reading, Homework, and Quizzes
•You will have homework to complete daily.
•You are required to write in your journals about the topic assigned.
•Short quizzes concerning the assigned reading will be administered at the beginning of each class.
•Weekly homework is due every Friday.
•What Are Your Thoughts?
•What do you think this novel is going to be about?
–Take 5 minutes to record your thoughts in your English Binders.
•Words of Advice
•This is a 5 week unit that is packed with information, assignments, and quizzes. It would be wise for you to stay on task and not fall behind. I have expectations of excellence that all of you are capable of meeting. Those of you who may not have performed well 1st Quarter, have a chance to make a change for the better. J
•Presented By: Ms. D. Fuller M.A.Ed
•Goals For The Unit
•Each student will develop cultural sensitivity to cultures that that are not familiar with.
•Students will learn about Afghanistan’s history and cultures.
•Students will be able to connect the events in this novel to other works of literature that they have read.
•Students will learn new vocabulary words that derive from the English and Arabic languages.
•Themes Explored Within The Unit
•Bullying
•Role of books, literacy
•Friendship guilt and redemption
•Father’s and sons
•Coming of Age
•Resilience of the human spirit
•Man’s inhumanity to man
•Discrimination, prejudice, bigotry, class structure
•Master/ slave relationships: loyalty & devotion vs. duty.
•Project Ideas
•Write a Diary as one of the characters. Tell his/her secret thoughts, motivations, history, ideas for future and thoughts about others.
•Rewrite part of the novel in song or poem form.
•Pretend you’re one of the characters. It’s 20 years from the end of the novel. Write a letter to another character in the book about what you’ve been doing with your life.
•Write a series of letter between any two characters.
•Project Ideas Continued
•Based on research, write news articles or create a newspaper about a section of the novel. Create a timeline of world events.
•In a group select a chapter or scene to dramatize. Write a script, design costumes and props, and perform for the class.
•Write interview questions for the author and/ or for the main characters. Pretend you’re a talk show and have invited guest characters to speak. Stage the show before the class.
•Write a sequel (or next chapter) of the novel.
•Assigned Reading, Homework, and Quizzes
•You will have homework to complete daily.
•You are required to write in your journals about the topic assigned.
•Short quizzes concerning the assigned reading will be administered at the beginning of each class.
•Weekly homework is due every Friday.
•What Are Your Thoughts?
•What do you think this novel is going to be about?
–Take 5 minutes to record your thoughts in your English Binders.
•Words of Advice
•This is a 5 week unit that is packed with information, assignments, and quizzes. It would be wise for you to stay on task and not fall behind. I have expectations of excellence that all of you are capable of meeting. Those of you who may not have performed well 1st Quarter, have a chance to make a change for the better. J
Thursday, November 13, 2008
ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES
1. Revised Drafts- Typed and emailed to Ms. Fuller by 11:59pm FRIDAY NIGHT. (Ms. Fuller will make corrections and send them back to you)
2. Final Drafts turned in on MONDAY BEFORE 3:00PM November 17, 2008
3. The Kite Runner by K. Hossieni due IN CLASS
4. Unit 4 Vocabulary Test will be taken DURING CLASS MONDAY November 17, 2008.
Helpful hints:
Check the digital portfolio for help with the test!
2. Final Drafts turned in on MONDAY BEFORE 3:00PM November 17, 2008
3. The Kite Runner by K. Hossieni due IN CLASS
4. Unit 4 Vocabulary Test will be taken DURING CLASS MONDAY November 17, 2008.
Helpful hints:
Check the digital portfolio for help with the test!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Outlines
An outline is like a "skeleton" of an essay.
It shows the "bare bones" or main ideas of the essay structure.
You can use an outline when you are reading or when you are writing.
An outline helps you to organize ideas.
Sample Outline
I. Introduction: What is Y2K?
II. Why people were afraid
III. What really happened on January 1st 2000
IV. How did it affect you?
V.Conclusion: What people will do now.
Practicing Outlines
Outline Your Writing Assignment
Write an outline of the main ideas of the essay.
Practicing Outlines
Now take your own pre-writing notes and organize them into an outline.
From this outline, begin writing the paragraphs of your rough draft.
Tasks For Tonight
Study your Vocabulary Words
Complete Your Outline and Start Your Rough Draft- (5 paragraphs)
Bring Your handwritten Draft to class tomorrow so that you may participate in the peer review.
An outline is like a "skeleton" of an essay.
It shows the "bare bones" or main ideas of the essay structure.
You can use an outline when you are reading or when you are writing.
An outline helps you to organize ideas.
Sample Outline
I. Introduction: What is Y2K?
II. Why people were afraid
III. What really happened on January 1st 2000
IV. How did it affect you?
V.Conclusion: What people will do now.
Practicing Outlines
Outline Your Writing Assignment
Write an outline of the main ideas of the essay.
Practicing Outlines
Now take your own pre-writing notes and organize them into an outline.
From this outline, begin writing the paragraphs of your rough draft.
Tasks For Tonight
Study your Vocabulary Words
Complete Your Outline and Start Your Rough Draft- (5 paragraphs)
Bring Your handwritten Draft to class tomorrow so that you may participate in the peer review.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Extra Credit Assignment
Due to the urgency to post your grades for your report cards, I am giving one final extra credit opportunity. Also, all missing assignments must be in my midnight tonight. In the event that you decide not to submit your missing assignment, it will reflect in your grade.
The Obama paper and the Dead Poets Society Extra Credit will count for Semester 2.
Extra Credit Activity for the night:
Sarah Palin has run into some trouble with the Media. A group of people are smearing her, and making negative statments about her in the media.
Yout task....
What group of people are making the negative statements about her?
Find an article regarding the negative attacks on Palin since the Election Last Tuesday.
Email the link to me along with the answer to the question above.
The Obama paper and the Dead Poets Society Extra Credit will count for Semester 2.
Extra Credit Activity for the night:
Sarah Palin has run into some trouble with the Media. A group of people are smearing her, and making negative statments about her in the media.
Yout task....
What group of people are making the negative statements about her?
Find an article regarding the negative attacks on Palin since the Election Last Tuesday.
Email the link to me along with the answer to the question above.
Class Notes : November 10, 2008
The Writing Process
Pre Writing Techniques
Brainstorming
Discussing
Looping
Free Writing
Words for Today
comely (adj.) – having a nice appearance; pleasing
compensate (v.) – to make up for; to repay for services
dissolute (adj.) – loose in morals or behaviors
Brainstorming
"Brainstorming" means thinking of as many ideas as possible in a short amount of time.
Write down your ideas so that you don’t forget them.
Write down everything that comes to your mind; don’t worry about sorting out "good" and "bad" ideas.
Don’t worry about spelling or grammar.
Example of Brainstorming
Topic: What would I do with one million dollars?
Travel-Egypt, England and Mexico
Pay off student loans
Share--give a scholarship, donate to charities
Buy a lot of books!
Invest/save and let the interest grow
Topics for Practice
Take 5 minutes to brainstorm ideas about the following question:
What are some of the most memorable experiences of your life?
Discussing
Discussing" is similar to brainstorming, but you do it with a partner or group.
Assign one person to write down the ideas.
Write down everything that group members say related to the topic; don’t worry about sorting out "good" and "bad" ideas.
Don’t worry about spelling or grammar.
Free Writing
Free Writing" is like pouring all of your thoughts onto paper.
Don’t take your pen off the page; keep writing for the entire time.
If you don’t know what to write, write "I don’t know what to write" until you do.
Don’t try to sort "good" and "bad" ideas.
Don’t worry about spelling and grammar.
Example of Free Writing
Topic: How was your weekend?
I thought that this weekend would be really bad for me after losing Mary. The funeral was hard, but Aaron took me to the Casino and to Fishbones and I had a great time. I also met a lot of the Redwings fans while I was on the people mover. I had a great time and it was good to get out of the house for a while.
Your Turn
Free Write for 5 minutes.
Looping
Looping" begins with "free writing." It can help you narrow a topic.
Choose the best idea, word, or phrase from what you wrote; underline or circle it.
Take that idea and begin free writing again.
Repeat the process at least one more time.
Follow all the rules for free writing.
Example of Looping
I thought that this weekend would be really bad for me after losing Mary. The funeral was hard, but Aaron took me to the Casino and to Fishbones and I had a great time. I also met a lot of the Redwings fans while I was on the people mover. I had a great time and it was good to get out of the house for a while.
Example of Looping After You Select the Best Text!
Initially when one passes in our families, we expect things will turn out for the worse. I had the chance to support my family members, and pay my respects to Mary. I know that she would want me to move on, so I tried not to be too sad. After the repast, I went out with Aaron. I had more fun, than I have had in months. I know that was Mary’s doing. Even though she is not here in the physical form, she is still looking out for me.
Topics for Practice
Look at what you wrote during the freewriting exercise. Choose the best idea, word, or phrase from what you wrote. Write about this for 5 more minutes.
Homework
Receive the vocabulary homework for this week.
Perform up to the "Looping Process" for your writing prompt.
Begin working on the ACT Vocabulary Words for this week.
Check the Humanities Blog for updates concerning the class.
Record your notes from class today (see above) in your binder.
Pre Writing Techniques
Brainstorming
Discussing
Looping
Free Writing
Words for Today
comely (adj.) – having a nice appearance; pleasing
compensate (v.) – to make up for; to repay for services
dissolute (adj.) – loose in morals or behaviors
Brainstorming
"Brainstorming" means thinking of as many ideas as possible in a short amount of time.
Write down your ideas so that you don’t forget them.
Write down everything that comes to your mind; don’t worry about sorting out "good" and "bad" ideas.
Don’t worry about spelling or grammar.
Example of Brainstorming
Topic: What would I do with one million dollars?
Travel-Egypt, England and Mexico
Pay off student loans
Share--give a scholarship, donate to charities
Buy a lot of books!
Invest/save and let the interest grow
Topics for Practice
Take 5 minutes to brainstorm ideas about the following question:
What are some of the most memorable experiences of your life?
Discussing
Discussing" is similar to brainstorming, but you do it with a partner or group.
Assign one person to write down the ideas.
Write down everything that group members say related to the topic; don’t worry about sorting out "good" and "bad" ideas.
Don’t worry about spelling or grammar.
Free Writing
Free Writing" is like pouring all of your thoughts onto paper.
Don’t take your pen off the page; keep writing for the entire time.
If you don’t know what to write, write "I don’t know what to write" until you do.
Don’t try to sort "good" and "bad" ideas.
Don’t worry about spelling and grammar.
Example of Free Writing
Topic: How was your weekend?
I thought that this weekend would be really bad for me after losing Mary. The funeral was hard, but Aaron took me to the Casino and to Fishbones and I had a great time. I also met a lot of the Redwings fans while I was on the people mover. I had a great time and it was good to get out of the house for a while.
Your Turn
Free Write for 5 minutes.
Looping
Looping" begins with "free writing." It can help you narrow a topic.
Choose the best idea, word, or phrase from what you wrote; underline or circle it.
Take that idea and begin free writing again.
Repeat the process at least one more time.
Follow all the rules for free writing.
Example of Looping
I thought that this weekend would be really bad for me after losing Mary. The funeral was hard, but Aaron took me to the Casino and to Fishbones and I had a great time. I also met a lot of the Redwings fans while I was on the people mover. I had a great time and it was good to get out of the house for a while.
Example of Looping After You Select the Best Text!
Initially when one passes in our families, we expect things will turn out for the worse. I had the chance to support my family members, and pay my respects to Mary. I know that she would want me to move on, so I tried not to be too sad. After the repast, I went out with Aaron. I had more fun, than I have had in months. I know that was Mary’s doing. Even though she is not here in the physical form, she is still looking out for me.
Topics for Practice
Look at what you wrote during the freewriting exercise. Choose the best idea, word, or phrase from what you wrote. Write about this for 5 more minutes.
Homework
Receive the vocabulary homework for this week.
Perform up to the "Looping Process" for your writing prompt.
Begin working on the ACT Vocabulary Words for this week.
Check the Humanities Blog for updates concerning the class.
Record your notes from class today (see above) in your binder.
Friday, November 7, 2008
—Task List 11-06-08
—View Obama’s Victory Speech and McCains concession Speech
—Review the formatting requirements for a friendly letter.
—Begin to compose a letter to Barack Obama
—Save partially completed letter to your flash drive or email it to yourself.
—Barack’s Acceptance Speech
—http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27546870/
—McCain’s Concession Speech
—http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27545964#27545964
—Homework For Tonight
—Journal Entry- How do you feel about the results of the election? How does it affect you?
—Review Unit Three’s Vocabulary Words
—Friday November 7, 2008
—Take the Unit 3 Assessment test.
—Weekend Journal Entry- Now that 1st Quarter has ended, what are some of the things you feel that you could improve upon?
—View Obama’s Victory Speech and McCains concession Speech
—Review the formatting requirements for a friendly letter.
—Begin to compose a letter to Barack Obama
—Save partially completed letter to your flash drive or email it to yourself.
—Barack’s Acceptance Speech
—http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27546870/
—McCain’s Concession Speech
—http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27545964#27545964
—Homework For Tonight
—Journal Entry- How do you feel about the results of the election? How does it affect you?
—Review Unit Three’s Vocabulary Words
—Friday November 7, 2008
—Take the Unit 3 Assessment test.
—Weekend Journal Entry- Now that 1st Quarter has ended, what are some of the things you feel that you could improve upon?
Thursday, November 6, 2008
—Quote of the Day/ Word of the Day
—James Buchanan said “I like the noise of democracy.”
—pace (PAY-see)
—MEANING:With due respect to. (used to express polite disagreement)
lFriendly letters have five parts:
lThe Heading
l The Salutation (greeting)
l The Body
lThe Closing
lThe Signature
lThe Heading
lThe heading can include your address and the date. In casual, friendly letters your address is not necessary.
lThe Salutation (greeting)
lDear_________. The blank is for the name of the person you are writing. After you write the person's name you put a comma ( , ) .
lThe Body
lThe body of the letter is the information you are writing in your letter.
lThe Closing
lThe Closing: In the closing the first word is capitalized and you put a comma after the last word.
Some examples of closings are: Sincerely, Your friend, Love, Very truly yours,
lYour Signature
lThis is your name. It goes under the closing.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
—Tasks For The Day
—Read and respond to the quote of the day, and record the word of the day.
—Retake the Unit 2 Assessment test.
—Quote of the Day/ Word of the Day
—John Quincy Adams said:
—“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
—maugre or mauger (MAW-guhr)
—MEANING: In spite of.
—Read and respond to the quote of the day, and record the word of the day.
—Retake the Unit 2 Assessment test.
—Quote of the Day/ Word of the Day
—John Quincy Adams said:
—“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
—maugre or mauger (MAW-guhr)
—MEANING: In spite of.
Friday, October 31, 2008
TIME SENSITIVE MATERIALS- Humanities Update- Task LIst for Mon-Tues
Retakes for the Unit 2 Vocabulary Test will be on Wednesday November 5, 2008. Please arrive PREPARED to succeed.
Ensure that you review, the grade that you receive on the retake is the grade that will stay.
Monday- Start on Unit 3 vocabulary. The words and the definitions will be in your email inbox . Record the words and the definitions in your binder.
The weekly vocabulary is to be typed and printed out. It is due Friday prior to receieving your test Friday.
Ensure that you review, the grade that you receive on the retake is the grade that will stay.
Monday- Start on Unit 3 vocabulary. The words and the definitions will be in your email inbox . Record the words and the definitions in your binder.
The weekly vocabulary is to be typed and printed out. It is due Friday prior to receieving your test Friday.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Class Today
• Read the “Quote of the Day”, Record it in your binder with your thoughts.
• Record the Word of the Day
• Discuss the format for future Vocabulary Units. `
• Discuss the Vocabulary Test that will take place on Friday October 31, 2008.
• Discuss the class expectations for the following week.
• Complete the Group Papers.
• ANAĂS NIN: We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.
• Copemate/ Copesmate noun:
• PRONUNCIATION:(KOP-mayt)
• MEANING:
• 1. An associate or friend.
• 2. An opponent or adversary.
• "Weigh gentlemen, and consider, whether my affirmations, back'd with reason, may hold balance against the bare denials of ... my copesmate."
Vocabulary Review
• Circumspect- adj : careful to consider everything that might happen
• Commandeer-vb : to take possession of by force especially for military purposes
• Diffuse- diffuse adj 1 : using too many words : VERBOSE • Dilemma- n : a situation in which one has to choose between two or more things, ways, or plans that are equally unsatisfactory
• Opinionated-adj : holding to one's own opinions and ideas too strongly
• Perennial-adj 1 : present at all seasons of the year
• Predispose- vb : to dispose in advance
• Spasmodic- adj 1 a : relating to or affected or characterized by spasm
• Spurious- adj : not genuine or authentic
• Unbridled- adj : UNRESTRAINED
• Record the Word of the Day
• Discuss the format for future Vocabulary Units. `
• Discuss the Vocabulary Test that will take place on Friday October 31, 2008.
• Discuss the class expectations for the following week.
• Complete the Group Papers.
• ANAĂS NIN: We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.
• Copemate/ Copesmate noun:
• PRONUNCIATION:(KOP-mayt)
• MEANING:
• 1. An associate or friend.
• 2. An opponent or adversary.
• "Weigh gentlemen, and consider, whether my affirmations, back'd with reason, may hold balance against the bare denials of ... my copesmate."
Vocabulary Review
• Circumspect- adj : careful to consider everything that might happen
• Commandeer-vb : to take possession of by force especially for military purposes
• Diffuse- diffuse adj 1 : using too many words : VERBOSE • Dilemma- n : a situation in which one has to choose between two or more things, ways, or plans that are equally unsatisfactory
• Opinionated-adj : holding to one's own opinions and ideas too strongly
• Perennial-adj 1 : present at all seasons of the year
• Predispose- vb : to dispose in advance
• Spasmodic- adj 1 a : relating to or affected or characterized by spasm
• Spurious- adj : not genuine or authentic
• Unbridled- adj : UNRESTRAINED
Journal Assignment for Tonight
The Election is rapidly approaching. What are your feelings about the candidates? What have you heard? How would your life change if Obama won? How would your life change if McCain won?
Directions: In the TITLE BAR- leave it blank.
Copy/Paste the topic to your blog and then respond to it.
Ensure that you address all of the questions in your journal entry. Deadline for the journal entries is midnight tonight.
Directions: In the TITLE BAR- leave it blank.
Copy/Paste the topic to your blog and then respond to it.
Ensure that you address all of the questions in your journal entry. Deadline for the journal entries is midnight tonight.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Extra Credit Opportunity- Expires at 9:00pm tonight!
NOW THAT YOU HAVE CREATED YOUR BLOG, GO TO THE HUMANITIES BLOG (HINT, YOU ARE ON IT NOW) AND CLICK THE OPTION TO FOLLOW THIS BLOG.
ALSO, SEND dfuller@plymouthed.org an invitation to your blog, just as you did for Mr. Bosworth.
This is worth 10 extra credit points.
ALSO, SEND dfuller@plymouthed.org an invitation to your blog, just as you did for Mr. Bosworth.
This is worth 10 extra credit points.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Glossary for the Election Unit
Glossary For The Election Unit
Act: Legislation that has passed both Houses of Congress and has been either approved by the President, or passed over his veto, thus becoming law. Also used technically for a bill that has been passed by one House of Congress.
Alien: A person residing under a government or in a country other than that of one's birth without being a citizen of that non-native country.
Amendment: A proposal by a Member (in committee or floor session of the respective Chamber) to alter the language or provisions of a bill or act. It is voted on in the same manner as a bill. The Constitution of the United States, as provided in Article 5, may be amended when two thirds of each house of Congress approves a proposed amendment and three fourths of the states thereafter ratify it.
Anti-Federalists: Opponents to the adoption of the federal Constitution. Leading Anti-Federalists included George Mason, Elbridge Gerry, Patrick Henry, and George Clinton.
Autonomy: Independence or freedom; the right of self-government.
Bill: Formally introduced legislation. Most legislative proposals are in the form of bills and are designated as H.R. (House of Representatives) or S. (Senate), depending on the House in which they originate, and are numbered consecutively in the order in which they are introduced during each Congress. Public bills deal with general questions and become Public Laws, or Acts, if approved by Congress and signed by the President. Private bills deal with individual matters such as claims against the Federal Government, immigration and naturalization cases, land titles, et cetera, and become private laws if approved and signed.
Bicameral: The characteristic of having two branches, chambers, or houses, such as the United States Congress which is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution.
Calendar: A list of bills, resolutions, or other matters to be considered before committees or on the floor of either House of Congress.
Centralized Government: A form of government in which the national government maintains the power.
Checks and Balances: A system of limits imposed by the Constitution of the United States on all branches of a government by vesting in each branch the right to amend or void those acts of another that fall within its jurisdiction.
Citizen: A native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection.
Cohesive: The state of uniting or sticking together.
Commerce: The traffic in goods, usually thought of as trade between states or nations.
Concurrent Powers: Duties shared by both the national government and state governments, such as collecting taxes, building roads, and making/enforcing laws.
Confirmation: Action by the Senate approving Presidential nominees for the executive branch, regulatory commissions, and certain other positions.
Decennial: Occurring every ten years.
Delegate: A person designated to act for or represent another or others; a deputy; representative, as in a political convention.
Democratic: Characterized by the principle of political or social equality for all.
Dual Federalism: A system of government where the states governed the people directly and the national government concerned itself with issues relating to foreign affairs.
Elastic Clause: A statement in the U.S. Constitution granting Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper for carrying out the list of powers it was granted.
Enrolled Bill: Legislation that has been passed by both houses of Congress, signed by their presiding officers, and sent to the President for signature.
Federal: A union of groups or states in which each member agrees to give up some of its governmental power in certain specified areas to a central authority.
Federalism: A union of states in which sovereignty is divided between a central authority and the member state authorities.
Federalists: A group of people who supported the adoption of the Constitution. Leading Federalists included Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.
Fiscal Year: A twelve month accounting period used by the Federal Government that goes from October 1st to September 30th. Currently, the Government is in FY07, which goes from October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2007.C
Gerrymandering: Drawing of district lines to maximize the electoral advantage of a political party or faction. The term was first used in 1812, when Elbridge Gerry was Governor of Massachusetts, to characterize the State redistricting plan.
Hearing: A meeting or session of a committee of Congress, usually open to the public, to obtain information and opinions on proposed legislation, conduct an investigation, or oversee a program.
Hopper: A box into which a proposed legislative bill is dropped and thereby officially introduced.
Immigrant: A person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent residence.
Impeachment: A formal accusation issued by a legislature against a public official charged with crime or other serious misconduct.
Independent: When a person or thing is not influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion, conduct, etc.; thinking or acting for oneself.
Indirect popular election: Instead of voting for a specific candidate, voters select a panel of individuals pledged to vote for a specific candidate. This is in contrast to a popular election where votes are cast for an individual candidate. For example, in a general presidential election, voters select electors to represent their vote in the Electoral College, and not for an individual presidential candidate.
Initiative: A procedure by which a specified number of voters may propose a statute, constitutional amendment, or ordinance, and compel a popular vote on its adoption.
Judicial Review: The power of a court to judge the constitutionality of the laws of a government or the acts of a government official.
Law: A rule of conduct established and enforced by the authority, legislation, or custom of a given community, state, or nation.
Legislative Day: A formal meeting of a House of Congress which begins with the call to order and opening of business and ends with adjournment. A legislative day may cover a period of several calendar days, with the House recessing at the end of each calendar day, rather than adjourning.
Line-Item Veto: The power of the executive to disapprove of particular items of a bill without having to disapprove of the entire bill.
National: A person under the protection of a specific country. A citizen or subject.
Naturalization: The official act by which a person is made a national of a country other than his native one.
Pocket Veto: The disapproval of a bill brought about by an indirect rejection by the president. The president is granted ten days, Sundays excepted, to review a piece of legislation passed by Congress. Should he fail to sign a piece of legislation and Congress has adjourned within those ten days, the bill is automatically killed. The process of indirect rejection is known as a pocket veto.
Primary Election: An election held to decide which candidates will be on the November general election ballot.
Public Law: A bill or joint resolution (other than for amendments to the Constitution) passed by both Houses of Congress and approved by the President. Bills and joint resolutions vetoed by the President, but then overridden by the Congress also become public law.
Ratification: Two uses of this term are: (1) the act of approval of a proposed constitutional amendment by the legislatures of the States; (2) the Senate process of advice and consent to treaties negotiated by the President.
Reapportionment: The process by which seats in the House of Representatives are reassigned among the States to reflect population changes following the decennial census.
Redistricting: The process within the States of redrawing legislative district boundaries to reflect population changes following the decennial census.
Referendum: The submission of a law, proposed or already in effect, to a direct vote of the people.
Report: The printed record of a committee’s actions, including its votes, recommendations, and views on a bill or question of public policy or its findings and conclusions based on oversight inquiry, investigation, or other study.
Republic: A state or nation in which the supreme power rests in all the citizens entitled to vote. This power is exercised by representatives elected, directly or indirectly, by them and responsible to them.
Separation of Powers: The distribution of power and authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the government.
Sovereign: Above or superior to all others; chief; greatest; supreme dominion or power.
Tabling Motion: A motion to stop action on a pending proposal and to lay it aside indefinitely. When the Senate or House agrees to a tabling motion, the measure which has been tabled is effectively defeated.
Veto: The constitutional procedure by which the President refuses to approve a bill or joint resolution and thus prevents its enactment into law. A regular veto occurs when the President returns the legislation to the originating House without approval. It can be overridden only by a two-thirds vote in each House. A pocket veto occurs after Congress has adjourned and is unable to override the President’s action.
Act: Legislation that has passed both Houses of Congress and has been either approved by the President, or passed over his veto, thus becoming law. Also used technically for a bill that has been passed by one House of Congress.
Alien: A person residing under a government or in a country other than that of one's birth without being a citizen of that non-native country.
Amendment: A proposal by a Member (in committee or floor session of the respective Chamber) to alter the language or provisions of a bill or act. It is voted on in the same manner as a bill. The Constitution of the United States, as provided in Article 5, may be amended when two thirds of each house of Congress approves a proposed amendment and three fourths of the states thereafter ratify it.
Anti-Federalists: Opponents to the adoption of the federal Constitution. Leading Anti-Federalists included George Mason, Elbridge Gerry, Patrick Henry, and George Clinton.
Autonomy: Independence or freedom; the right of self-government.
Bill: Formally introduced legislation. Most legislative proposals are in the form of bills and are designated as H.R. (House of Representatives) or S. (Senate), depending on the House in which they originate, and are numbered consecutively in the order in which they are introduced during each Congress. Public bills deal with general questions and become Public Laws, or Acts, if approved by Congress and signed by the President. Private bills deal with individual matters such as claims against the Federal Government, immigration and naturalization cases, land titles, et cetera, and become private laws if approved and signed.
Bicameral: The characteristic of having two branches, chambers, or houses, such as the United States Congress which is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution.
Calendar: A list of bills, resolutions, or other matters to be considered before committees or on the floor of either House of Congress.
Centralized Government: A form of government in which the national government maintains the power.
Checks and Balances: A system of limits imposed by the Constitution of the United States on all branches of a government by vesting in each branch the right to amend or void those acts of another that fall within its jurisdiction.
Citizen: A native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection.
Cohesive: The state of uniting or sticking together.
Commerce: The traffic in goods, usually thought of as trade between states or nations.
Concurrent Powers: Duties shared by both the national government and state governments, such as collecting taxes, building roads, and making/enforcing laws.
Confirmation: Action by the Senate approving Presidential nominees for the executive branch, regulatory commissions, and certain other positions.
Decennial: Occurring every ten years.
Delegate: A person designated to act for or represent another or others; a deputy; representative, as in a political convention.
Democratic: Characterized by the principle of political or social equality for all.
Dual Federalism: A system of government where the states governed the people directly and the national government concerned itself with issues relating to foreign affairs.
Elastic Clause: A statement in the U.S. Constitution granting Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper for carrying out the list of powers it was granted.
Enrolled Bill: Legislation that has been passed by both houses of Congress, signed by their presiding officers, and sent to the President for signature.
Federal: A union of groups or states in which each member agrees to give up some of its governmental power in certain specified areas to a central authority.
Federalism: A union of states in which sovereignty is divided between a central authority and the member state authorities.
Federalists: A group of people who supported the adoption of the Constitution. Leading Federalists included Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.
Fiscal Year: A twelve month accounting period used by the Federal Government that goes from October 1st to September 30th. Currently, the Government is in FY07, which goes from October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2007.C
Gerrymandering: Drawing of district lines to maximize the electoral advantage of a political party or faction. The term was first used in 1812, when Elbridge Gerry was Governor of Massachusetts, to characterize the State redistricting plan.
Hearing: A meeting or session of a committee of Congress, usually open to the public, to obtain information and opinions on proposed legislation, conduct an investigation, or oversee a program.
Hopper: A box into which a proposed legislative bill is dropped and thereby officially introduced.
Immigrant: A person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent residence.
Impeachment: A formal accusation issued by a legislature against a public official charged with crime or other serious misconduct.
Independent: When a person or thing is not influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion, conduct, etc.; thinking or acting for oneself.
Indirect popular election: Instead of voting for a specific candidate, voters select a panel of individuals pledged to vote for a specific candidate. This is in contrast to a popular election where votes are cast for an individual candidate. For example, in a general presidential election, voters select electors to represent their vote in the Electoral College, and not for an individual presidential candidate.
Initiative: A procedure by which a specified number of voters may propose a statute, constitutional amendment, or ordinance, and compel a popular vote on its adoption.
Judicial Review: The power of a court to judge the constitutionality of the laws of a government or the acts of a government official.
Law: A rule of conduct established and enforced by the authority, legislation, or custom of a given community, state, or nation.
Legislative Day: A formal meeting of a House of Congress which begins with the call to order and opening of business and ends with adjournment. A legislative day may cover a period of several calendar days, with the House recessing at the end of each calendar day, rather than adjourning.
Line-Item Veto: The power of the executive to disapprove of particular items of a bill without having to disapprove of the entire bill.
National: A person under the protection of a specific country. A citizen or subject.
Naturalization: The official act by which a person is made a national of a country other than his native one.
Pocket Veto: The disapproval of a bill brought about by an indirect rejection by the president. The president is granted ten days, Sundays excepted, to review a piece of legislation passed by Congress. Should he fail to sign a piece of legislation and Congress has adjourned within those ten days, the bill is automatically killed. The process of indirect rejection is known as a pocket veto.
Primary Election: An election held to decide which candidates will be on the November general election ballot.
Public Law: A bill or joint resolution (other than for amendments to the Constitution) passed by both Houses of Congress and approved by the President. Bills and joint resolutions vetoed by the President, but then overridden by the Congress also become public law.
Ratification: Two uses of this term are: (1) the act of approval of a proposed constitutional amendment by the legislatures of the States; (2) the Senate process of advice and consent to treaties negotiated by the President.
Reapportionment: The process by which seats in the House of Representatives are reassigned among the States to reflect population changes following the decennial census.
Redistricting: The process within the States of redrawing legislative district boundaries to reflect population changes following the decennial census.
Referendum: The submission of a law, proposed or already in effect, to a direct vote of the people.
Report: The printed record of a committee’s actions, including its votes, recommendations, and views on a bill or question of public policy or its findings and conclusions based on oversight inquiry, investigation, or other study.
Republic: A state or nation in which the supreme power rests in all the citizens entitled to vote. This power is exercised by representatives elected, directly or indirectly, by them and responsible to them.
Separation of Powers: The distribution of power and authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the government.
Sovereign: Above or superior to all others; chief; greatest; supreme dominion or power.
Tabling Motion: A motion to stop action on a pending proposal and to lay it aside indefinitely. When the Senate or House agrees to a tabling motion, the measure which has been tabled is effectively defeated.
Veto: The constitutional procedure by which the President refuses to approve a bill or joint resolution and thus prevents its enactment into law. A regular veto occurs when the President returns the legislation to the originating House without approval. It can be overridden only by a two-thirds vote in each House. A pocket veto occurs after Congress has adjourned and is unable to override the President’s action.
Election Unit Glossary should be used for the assignment
October 27, 2008
Quote of the Day:
SYDNEY J. HARRIS: We have not passed that subtle line between childhood and adulthood until we move from the passive voice to the active voice -- that is, until we stop saying "It got lost," and say "I lost it."
Objectives For The Day 10-27-08
Reflect Upon the Quote of the Day (5 min)
Discuss the Group Task List /Rubric (Digital Portfolio)
Resume the group work from Friday. Papers will be due Wednesday October 29, 2008
Discuss the vocabulary (Unit 2) homework for the week.
TEST FRIDAY
Group Tasks
Brainstorm with your team to decide upon what type of story you plan to write.
Choose 10 words from the Election Vocabulary Form to include within your story.
Collectively create your story with input from all of the members in your group.
Choose one member from your group to type the narrative in the Humanities 9 format.
October 27, 2008
Quote of the Day:
SYDNEY J. HARRIS: We have not passed that subtle line between childhood and adulthood until we move from the passive voice to the active voice -- that is, until we stop saying "It got lost," and say "I lost it."
Objectives For The Day 10-27-08
Reflect Upon the Quote of the Day (5 min)
Discuss the Group Task List /Rubric (Digital Portfolio)
Resume the group work from Friday. Papers will be due Wednesday October 29, 2008
Discuss the vocabulary (Unit 2) homework for the week.
TEST FRIDAY
Group Tasks
Brainstorm with your team to decide upon what type of story you plan to write.
Choose 10 words from the Election Vocabulary Form to include within your story.
Collectively create your story with input from all of the members in your group.
Choose one member from your group to type the narrative in the Humanities 9 format.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Today’s Quote
HENRI BERGSON: To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.
Agenda For The Day
Discuss The Election and the current events associated with it.
Discuss the Glossary Terms that are related to the election.
Discuss the Homework for the weekend
Weekend Homework
On the Humanities Blog 2012, Read the article. Take Notice Of The Questions At The End.
In the comments section select the Anonymous Option to respond.
In the comment box, write your name, and Hour Number and respond to the questions.
HENRI BERGSON: To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.
Agenda For The Day
Discuss The Election and the current events associated with it.
Discuss the Glossary Terms that are related to the election.
Discuss the Homework for the weekend
Weekend Homework
On the Humanities Blog 2012, Read the article. Take Notice Of The Questions At The End.
In the comments section select the Anonymous Option to respond.
In the comment box, write your name, and Hour Number and respond to the questions.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Republicans, ACORN Spar Over Registration
Republicans, ACORN Spar Over Voter Registration
by Pam Fessler
In Focus
Oct. 15, 2008ACORN Has Long Been In Republicans' Cross Hairs
All Things Considered, October 14, 2008 · Charges of voter fraud have been growing in recent weeks, most notably with Republican attacks against an anti-poverty group known as the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN.
The group, which has submitted more than 1 million voter registrations, has come under fire after several thousand of the submissions were found to be phony. But the intensity of the attacks from the Republican National Committee and Sen. John McCain's campaign has also raised questions about Republican motives.
Critics said that ACORN is part of an effort to steal votes and possibly throw the outcome of the election into doubt. Former Missouri Sen. John Danforth co-chairs the McCain campaign's Honest and Open Election Committee, and he said whoever loses on Nov. 4 could feel cheated and want to challenge the results in court.
"If there are a number of states where the election is close and there have been many, many people registered by this organization, ACORN, and where there are numerous cases of fraudulent registration, then the contest could go on for a very long time," he said.
Rick Hasen, an election law expert at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said he thinks Republicans are leveling the criticisms in case they lose.
"I think this is just part of a kind of a long-term Republican strategy to play up allegations of voter fraud," Hasen said. "As a kind of insurance policy in case there's a very close election."
He said there is little evidence that voter registration fraud translates into fraud at the polls, even though that may be beside the point.
"The allegations alone certainly wouldn't be a basis for overturning an election, but I think they prepare the public for an aggressive kind of litigation strategy," he said.
Republicans continue to mount the pressure, with their presidential nominee at the helm. McCain himself has called for an investigation into ACORN's voter registration program, and Nevada authorities last week raided ACORN's Las Vegas office after the group submitted registrations for the starting lineup of the Dallas Cowboys.
But ACORN officials defended their efforts, saying they're the ones pointing out problem registrations submitted by their canvassers, whom they pay by the hour, not by the registration. They also said they're required by law to turn in every form they collect, even if it's signed by Donald Duck.
ACORN spokesman Brian Kettenring said that although he knows the registration drives are far from perfect, "there is absolutely no doubt in our mind that the attention being paid by the right at this time is tremendously disproportionate to the problem and is distracting from a litany of other issues."
He and other voter advocates said the Republican attacks are all the more striking because allegations of widespread voter fraud have been repeatedly discredited. Most recently, in a report on the firings of U.S. attorneys accused of failing to pursue voter fraud cases, the Justice Department's inspector general found that such cases were generally dropped for lack of evidence.
Republicans denied that they're only trying to lay the groundwork for a legal challenge, and they said that registration fraud is a serious threat.
"It very well could result in unqualified people voting. It could also result in people voting more than once," said former New Hampshire Sen. Warren Rudman, who co-chairs the McCain election committee with Danforth. "And most importantly, because of the clog of paperwork of some of these registrations, it could deny election officials the time they need to get their registration lists in order."
Rudman said that such an overload of paperwork might block legitimate voters from voting. He and Danforth said they would like to work with Barack Obama's campaign to monitor polls on Election Day for irregularities.
But Obama campaign officials said they'd prefer Republicans to clean up their own act. They said Republicans are the ones trying to prevent legitimate voters from going to the polls by scaring them, pointing to an incident last week in Greene County, Ohio, where a sheriff sought the records of 302 people who had registered and voted early, because he said he was worried about possible fraud. Democrats called it a fishing expedition directed at newly registered college students. The sheriff later dropped his request.
Questions
1. What is ACORN?
2, What is the fight about?
3. How could this affect voters and voting?
by Pam Fessler
In Focus
Oct. 15, 2008ACORN Has Long Been In Republicans' Cross Hairs
All Things Considered, October 14, 2008 · Charges of voter fraud have been growing in recent weeks, most notably with Republican attacks against an anti-poverty group known as the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN.
The group, which has submitted more than 1 million voter registrations, has come under fire after several thousand of the submissions were found to be phony. But the intensity of the attacks from the Republican National Committee and Sen. John McCain's campaign has also raised questions about Republican motives.
Critics said that ACORN is part of an effort to steal votes and possibly throw the outcome of the election into doubt. Former Missouri Sen. John Danforth co-chairs the McCain campaign's Honest and Open Election Committee, and he said whoever loses on Nov. 4 could feel cheated and want to challenge the results in court.
"If there are a number of states where the election is close and there have been many, many people registered by this organization, ACORN, and where there are numerous cases of fraudulent registration, then the contest could go on for a very long time," he said.
Rick Hasen, an election law expert at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said he thinks Republicans are leveling the criticisms in case they lose.
"I think this is just part of a kind of a long-term Republican strategy to play up allegations of voter fraud," Hasen said. "As a kind of insurance policy in case there's a very close election."
He said there is little evidence that voter registration fraud translates into fraud at the polls, even though that may be beside the point.
"The allegations alone certainly wouldn't be a basis for overturning an election, but I think they prepare the public for an aggressive kind of litigation strategy," he said.
Republicans continue to mount the pressure, with their presidential nominee at the helm. McCain himself has called for an investigation into ACORN's voter registration program, and Nevada authorities last week raided ACORN's Las Vegas office after the group submitted registrations for the starting lineup of the Dallas Cowboys.
But ACORN officials defended their efforts, saying they're the ones pointing out problem registrations submitted by their canvassers, whom they pay by the hour, not by the registration. They also said they're required by law to turn in every form they collect, even if it's signed by Donald Duck.
ACORN spokesman Brian Kettenring said that although he knows the registration drives are far from perfect, "there is absolutely no doubt in our mind that the attention being paid by the right at this time is tremendously disproportionate to the problem and is distracting from a litany of other issues."
He and other voter advocates said the Republican attacks are all the more striking because allegations of widespread voter fraud have been repeatedly discredited. Most recently, in a report on the firings of U.S. attorneys accused of failing to pursue voter fraud cases, the Justice Department's inspector general found that such cases were generally dropped for lack of evidence.
Republicans denied that they're only trying to lay the groundwork for a legal challenge, and they said that registration fraud is a serious threat.
"It very well could result in unqualified people voting. It could also result in people voting more than once," said former New Hampshire Sen. Warren Rudman, who co-chairs the McCain election committee with Danforth. "And most importantly, because of the clog of paperwork of some of these registrations, it could deny election officials the time they need to get their registration lists in order."
Rudman said that such an overload of paperwork might block legitimate voters from voting. He and Danforth said they would like to work with Barack Obama's campaign to monitor polls on Election Day for irregularities.
But Obama campaign officials said they'd prefer Republicans to clean up their own act. They said Republicans are the ones trying to prevent legitimate voters from going to the polls by scaring them, pointing to an incident last week in Greene County, Ohio, where a sheriff sought the records of 302 people who had registered and voted early, because he said he was worried about possible fraud. Democrats called it a fishing expedition directed at newly registered college students. The sheriff later dropped his request.
Questions
1. What is ACORN?
2, What is the fight about?
3. How could this affect voters and voting?
Friday, October 17, 2008
Extra Credit Activity
Watch "Hardball With Chris Matthews" THREE times this week. Each time you must Summarize what you saw.
Each summary must be at least 100 words.
The show comes on at 5:00pm and 7:00pm
You may also view it on msnbc.com
In order to receive ANY extra credit.. all three days must be completed.
This is due Saturday October 25, 2008
Yes... It should be typed
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Presidential Debate Activity
Presidential Debate Activity 10-15-08
Directions: In an election year, voter opinion may be swayed by how presidential candidates debate campaign issues and how their performance is interpreted.
After viewing the most recent debate( 10-15-08) between Barack Obama and John McCain, use the following to form your own opinion of each candidate.
1. List at least three issues debated.
2. Select one issue and detail the arguments presented by each candidate.
3. Select another issue. How did one candidate show a debating advantage over the other? In your opinion, what specifically was done by this candidate to gain an edge?
4. Following the debate, which candidate won your vote? Why? Try to base your opinion purely on the candidates’ debating skills rather than your prior knowledge or prejudices for or against a candidate.
This Assignment is to be submitted in FULL Humanities 9 Format. These answers must be typed and submitted by Thursday October 16, 2008 at 9:00pm. Use this sheet as your guide!
Directions: In an election year, voter opinion may be swayed by how presidential candidates debate campaign issues and how their performance is interpreted.
After viewing the most recent debate( 10-15-08) between Barack Obama and John McCain, use the following to form your own opinion of each candidate.
1. List at least three issues debated.
2. Select one issue and detail the arguments presented by each candidate.
3. Select another issue. How did one candidate show a debating advantage over the other? In your opinion, what specifically was done by this candidate to gain an edge?
4. Following the debate, which candidate won your vote? Why? Try to base your opinion purely on the candidates’ debating skills rather than your prior knowledge or prejudices for or against a candidate.
This Assignment is to be submitted in FULL Humanities 9 Format. These answers must be typed and submitted by Thursday October 16, 2008 at 9:00pm. Use this sheet as your guide!
The Election Unit
2008
Agenda
Election Coverage
What is expected
Terms
Individual Assignments
Projects
The Final Presidential Debate
Goal
In this lesson, students consider negative campaigning tactics in the ongoing presidential campaign and in statements and exchanges in the second 2008 presidential debate.
What Are Your Reactions To The Following:
"The sun will rise. The sun will set. And the presidential campaign will go negative."-- Mark McKinnon, former adviser to John McCain
- "If your house is on fire, all you care about is who is going to put it out best." -- Stuart Stevens, Republican consultant for President Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign
Reflection
What Themes Emerged?
Did You Agree or Disagree With These Quotes?
What Influenced Your Line of Thought?
Spinning- A Term To Remember
Spinning is putting a slant on information to influence public opinion of a candidate or leader.
Article Questions
a. What type of campaign are both presidential candidates moving away from, according to the author of this article? Why is this significant?
b. According to this article, what is one example of a negative and personal attack on Senator Obama that the McCain campaign raised in the last week? What point about Mr. Obama are they trying to make?
c. According to this article, what is one example of a negative and personal attack on Senator McCain that the Obama campaign raised in the last week? What point about Mr. McCain are they trying to make?
d. What advice did Governor Sarah Palin give Senator McCain for the second presidential debate during a speech in Florida? What do you think she meant?
e. What kind of performance and strategy does the article predict for each candidate in the second presidential debate? Did the two candidates fulfill this prophecy in last night’s debate?
2008
Agenda
Election Coverage
What is expected
Terms
Individual Assignments
Projects
The Final Presidential Debate
Goal
In this lesson, students consider negative campaigning tactics in the ongoing presidential campaign and in statements and exchanges in the second 2008 presidential debate.
What Are Your Reactions To The Following:
"The sun will rise. The sun will set. And the presidential campaign will go negative."-- Mark McKinnon, former adviser to John McCain
- "If your house is on fire, all you care about is who is going to put it out best." -- Stuart Stevens, Republican consultant for President Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign
Reflection
What Themes Emerged?
Did You Agree or Disagree With These Quotes?
What Influenced Your Line of Thought?
Spinning- A Term To Remember
Spinning is putting a slant on information to influence public opinion of a candidate or leader.
Article Questions
a. What type of campaign are both presidential candidates moving away from, according to the author of this article? Why is this significant?
b. According to this article, what is one example of a negative and personal attack on Senator Obama that the McCain campaign raised in the last week? What point about Mr. Obama are they trying to make?
c. According to this article, what is one example of a negative and personal attack on Senator McCain that the Obama campaign raised in the last week? What point about Mr. McCain are they trying to make?
d. What advice did Governor Sarah Palin give Senator McCain for the second presidential debate during a speech in Florida? What do you think she meant?
e. What kind of performance and strategy does the article predict for each candidate in the second presidential debate? Did the two candidates fulfill this prophecy in last night’s debate?
Monday, October 13, 2008
October 13, 2008 Class Session
Today in class we took the opportunity to work on our take home test. We will also remember to check the Humanities digital portfolio and blog on a DAILY basis!
Why (and How) Do Presidential Candidates Debate
Why (and How) Do Presidential Candidates Debate?
A History of Presidential Debates
By Kathy Gill, About.com
Filed In:
Elections
The televised "debate" is a modern political campaign tool. Presidential "debates" are misnamed: each candidate "answers" a question in a soundbite. Learn about the first presidential debate, who manages the events and their importance in the campaign cycle. America is a large nation, geographically dispersed. Thus, presidential candidates use mass media to reach voters because it is no longer possible to meet everyone who might vote (if it ever was). One way candidates do this is through television advertising. Another method of the modern era is the "televised debate." These "debates" are misnamed: each candidate "answers" a question in a soundbite. This is not "debating" an issue, as any high school debate team member can attest. It is a made-for-TV battle of spin, and the candidate wins who has the best marketing people on staff (who develop memorable "bites" on each issue). See the Schedule of 2008 Presidential Debates
History of Televised Debates
The first televised presidential debate was the Kennedy-Nixon debate in 1960. That series of four debates irrevocably changed the nature of electioneering and cemented television as a key mass media tool. The next televised debates occurred in 1976 and were sponsored by the League of Women Voters. For three election cycles, the League managed the giant egos that are presidential candidates, but by 1988 they had abandoned the debates to the parties. The two major parties established the "non-partisan" Commission on Presidential Debates, according to the Boston Globe: "[T]hen-Republican Party chair Frank Fahrenkopf and then-Democratic Party chair Paul Kirk incorporated the commission, and they have co-chaired the organization ever since." As a consequence, third party candidates are, as a general statement, denied a forum. The exception was Ross Perot in 1992; he was polling well and pulled 19% of the final vote -- the best third party showing in modern American presidential politics.
A History of Presidential Debates
By Kathy Gill, About.com
Filed In:
Elections
The televised "debate" is a modern political campaign tool. Presidential "debates" are misnamed: each candidate "answers" a question in a soundbite. Learn about the first presidential debate, who manages the events and their importance in the campaign cycle. America is a large nation, geographically dispersed. Thus, presidential candidates use mass media to reach voters because it is no longer possible to meet everyone who might vote (if it ever was). One way candidates do this is through television advertising. Another method of the modern era is the "televised debate." These "debates" are misnamed: each candidate "answers" a question in a soundbite. This is not "debating" an issue, as any high school debate team member can attest. It is a made-for-TV battle of spin, and the candidate wins who has the best marketing people on staff (who develop memorable "bites" on each issue). See the Schedule of 2008 Presidential Debates
History of Televised Debates
The first televised presidential debate was the Kennedy-Nixon debate in 1960. That series of four debates irrevocably changed the nature of electioneering and cemented television as a key mass media tool. The next televised debates occurred in 1976 and were sponsored by the League of Women Voters. For three election cycles, the League managed the giant egos that are presidential candidates, but by 1988 they had abandoned the debates to the parties. The two major parties established the "non-partisan" Commission on Presidential Debates, according to the Boston Globe: "[T]hen-Republican Party chair Frank Fahrenkopf and then-Democratic Party chair Paul Kirk incorporated the commission, and they have co-chaired the organization ever since." As a consequence, third party candidates are, as a general statement, denied a forum. The exception was Ross Perot in 1992; he was polling well and pulled 19% of the final vote -- the best third party showing in modern American presidential politics.
Friday, October 10, 2008
TAKE HOME QUESTION
The House on Mango Street”
1.Where did the narrator live before she moved to The House on Mango Street?
2.How were her previous homes different?
3.In what kind of house would she like to live?
"Hairs"
1.Who are the members of Esperanza's family?
"My Name"
1.After whom was Esperanza named?
2.What does her namesake's story tell you about the status of women in Mexican society?
"Cathy Queen of Cats"
1.Why is Cathy's family about to move?
"Our Good Day"
1.How does Esperanza make friends with Lucy and Rachel?
2.What makes them better friends than Cathy?
3.What did Esperanza buy?
4.How did she go about buying it?
"Marin"
1.Who is Marin?
2.Why is she unable to leave her house?
3.How does she plan to change her situation?
4.Why do Esperanza and her friends admire her?
5.Where is Marin going in a year? Why?
"Those Who Don't"
1.How do outsiders see Esperanza's neighborhood?
2.How does Esperanza feel when she visits other neighborhoods?
"There Was an Old Woman She Had So Many Children She Didn't Know What to Do"
1.Why does Rosa Vargas cry every day?
2.What does Esperanza say the Vargas children don’t have?
“Alicia Who Sees Mice”
1) In "Alicia Who Sees Mice," do you think the mice really exist? Write about that part of the story that conveniences you that the mice do or do not exist.
2) What happened to Alicia's mother and what did Alicia inherit?
“Darius and the Clouds”
1) In "Darius and the Clouds," Esperanza writes,” you can never have too much sky." In your own words, write about Esperanza's impression of the sky.
2) How does Esperanza describe Darius?
3) Darius said something wise. What did he say?
“And Some More”
1.) In "And Some More," Rachel says, "...clouds got at least ten different names." How does Darius's heavenly view of the clouds differ from Rachel's earthly view of the clouds?
“The Family of Little Feet”
1) The mother's feet are described as polite. What is implied in Esperanza's comment about "polite feet?"
2) Rachel teaches Lucy and Esperanza "to walk down to the corner so that the shoes talk back to you with every step." What does Rachel's lesson teach Lucy and Esperanza?
3) What is Mr. Benny's concern for Rachel, Lucy, & Esperanza and what warning does he give to them?
4) What proposition does the Bum man offer Rachel?
“A Rice Sandwich”
1) What is a canteen?
2) Why did Esperanza's mother object to Esperanza's wish?
3) How did Esperanza persuade her mother to grant her the special wish?
4) How did Esperanza persuade Sister Superior to give her what she wanted?
“Chanclas”
In "Chanclas" (shoes) Esperanza is overly concerned about her shoes.
1) What did Mama forget to buy Esperanza?
2) Was being celebrated? . Why
3) While dancing, Esperanza forgot about something. What was it?
In "Hips," Esperanza has some interesting views.
1) What does Esperanza say hips are good for?
2) What does Lucy say hips are good for?
3) What does Nenny say about hips?
In "The First Job," Esperanza learned something new.
4) Who found Esperanza her first job
5) Describe Esperanza's work at her first job?
6) How did Esperanza learn her new job?
In "Papa... Wakes Up," something very sad happens.
7) Esperanza's papa mourns the death of whom?
8) What role does Esperanza play in this scenario (what does she do
“Born Bad”
1) In “Born Bad," what did Esperanza's mother say about her birthday?
2) With reference to Aunt Luce what did, Esperanza do that was shameful
3) What did Esperanza share with Aunt Lupe?
4) After Aunt Lupe’s death Esperanza began to what
In “Elenita, Cards, Palm, Water,” mysteries unfold.
5) Who is Elenita?
6) What was Esperanza’s palm reading message?
7) In "Edna's Ruthie, how is Ruthie related to Edna? What is Ruthie's problem?
“The Earl of Tennessee”
1) In "The Earl of Tennessee, " where does Earl live?
2) Does Earl work? When does he work?
3) What happens when Earl opens the door where he lives?
4) Earl's pets do not walk like ordinary animals. How does Earl's pet act in public?
6) Earl speaks with a “ _____________________”.
“SIZE”
1.)In "Sire," Esperanza walked passed Sire's house. What were Sire and his friends doing?
2)Other girls feared Sire and his friends. What do other girls do to avoid Sire and his friends?
3)What did Esperanza do to prove that she did not fear Sire?
4) Esperanza calls Sire a name. What name does she call him?
5) What is Sire's girlfriend's name?
6) Describe Sire's girlfriend?
7) What does Esperanza's mama say about girls like Sire's girlfriend?
8) Esperanza feels as though she is going to explode. Why?
“Four Skinny Trees”
1) In "Four Skinny Trees," how does Esperanza describe the trees?
2) What does Esperanza say about the strength of the trees and the tree's roots?
“No Speak English”
Complete the Following:
1) In "No Speak English," who is the main character in the story?
2) How does Esperanza describe the main character?
3) The main character is seldom seen after her arrival. Why?
4) What did Esperanza's father eat when he first arrived in the US ? Why?
5) Why does the man get disgusted with the main character?
6) What does the man want the main character to do?
7) What does the main character not want the little boy to do?
Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut…Juice….”
1) In "Rafaela Who Drinks …Papaya Juice...” what happens to her in the story?
2) Where does Rafaela wish she could go?
3) Why can't Rafaela go to the store for herself?
“Sally”
1) In "Sally," who is Sally?
2) What does Sally's father say about being beautiful?
3) What does Esperanza say about Sally's religion?
4) Sally has to go straight home after school. Esperanza says that Sally becomes different. Describe how Sally is different?
Minerva”
1) In "Minerva," how is she described?
2) What is Minerva's big problem?
3) What lesson does Minerva learn?
“Bums in the Attic”
1) In "Bums in the Attic," what kind of house does Esperanza want for herself?
2) Esperanza says, "people who live on hills sleep close to the stars, and they forget those of us who live too much on earth." What does this statement mean?
3) What will Esperanza do when she become a homeowner?
1.Where did the narrator live before she moved to The House on Mango Street?
2.How were her previous homes different?
3.In what kind of house would she like to live?
"Hairs"
1.Who are the members of Esperanza's family?
"My Name"
1.After whom was Esperanza named?
2.What does her namesake's story tell you about the status of women in Mexican society?
"Cathy Queen of Cats"
1.Why is Cathy's family about to move?
"Our Good Day"
1.How does Esperanza make friends with Lucy and Rachel?
2.What makes them better friends than Cathy?
3.What did Esperanza buy?
4.How did she go about buying it?
"Marin"
1.Who is Marin?
2.Why is she unable to leave her house?
3.How does she plan to change her situation?
4.Why do Esperanza and her friends admire her?
5.Where is Marin going in a year? Why?
"Those Who Don't"
1.How do outsiders see Esperanza's neighborhood?
2.How does Esperanza feel when she visits other neighborhoods?
"There Was an Old Woman She Had So Many Children She Didn't Know What to Do"
1.Why does Rosa Vargas cry every day?
2.What does Esperanza say the Vargas children don’t have?
“Alicia Who Sees Mice”
1) In "Alicia Who Sees Mice," do you think the mice really exist? Write about that part of the story that conveniences you that the mice do or do not exist.
2) What happened to Alicia's mother and what did Alicia inherit?
“Darius and the Clouds”
1) In "Darius and the Clouds," Esperanza writes,” you can never have too much sky." In your own words, write about Esperanza's impression of the sky.
2) How does Esperanza describe Darius?
3) Darius said something wise. What did he say?
“And Some More”
1.) In "And Some More," Rachel says, "...clouds got at least ten different names." How does Darius's heavenly view of the clouds differ from Rachel's earthly view of the clouds?
“The Family of Little Feet”
1) The mother's feet are described as polite. What is implied in Esperanza's comment about "polite feet?"
2) Rachel teaches Lucy and Esperanza "to walk down to the corner so that the shoes talk back to you with every step." What does Rachel's lesson teach Lucy and Esperanza?
3) What is Mr. Benny's concern for Rachel, Lucy, & Esperanza and what warning does he give to them?
4) What proposition does the Bum man offer Rachel?
“A Rice Sandwich”
1) What is a canteen?
2) Why did Esperanza's mother object to Esperanza's wish?
3) How did Esperanza persuade her mother to grant her the special wish?
4) How did Esperanza persuade Sister Superior to give her what she wanted?
“Chanclas”
In "Chanclas" (shoes) Esperanza is overly concerned about her shoes.
1) What did Mama forget to buy Esperanza?
2) Was being celebrated? . Why
3) While dancing, Esperanza forgot about something. What was it?
In "Hips," Esperanza has some interesting views.
1) What does Esperanza say hips are good for?
2) What does Lucy say hips are good for?
3) What does Nenny say about hips?
In "The First Job," Esperanza learned something new.
4) Who found Esperanza her first job
5) Describe Esperanza's work at her first job?
6) How did Esperanza learn her new job?
In "Papa... Wakes Up," something very sad happens.
7) Esperanza's papa mourns the death of whom?
8) What role does Esperanza play in this scenario (what does she do
“Born Bad”
1) In “Born Bad," what did Esperanza's mother say about her birthday?
2) With reference to Aunt Luce what did, Esperanza do that was shameful
3) What did Esperanza share with Aunt Lupe?
4) After Aunt Lupe’s death Esperanza began to what
In “Elenita, Cards, Palm, Water,” mysteries unfold.
5) Who is Elenita?
6) What was Esperanza’s palm reading message?
7) In "Edna's Ruthie, how is Ruthie related to Edna? What is Ruthie's problem?
“The Earl of Tennessee”
1) In "The Earl of Tennessee, " where does Earl live?
2) Does Earl work? When does he work?
3) What happens when Earl opens the door where he lives?
4) Earl's pets do not walk like ordinary animals. How does Earl's pet act in public?
6) Earl speaks with a “ _____________________”.
“SIZE”
1.)In "Sire," Esperanza walked passed Sire's house. What were Sire and his friends doing?
2)Other girls feared Sire and his friends. What do other girls do to avoid Sire and his friends?
3)What did Esperanza do to prove that she did not fear Sire?
4) Esperanza calls Sire a name. What name does she call him?
5) What is Sire's girlfriend's name?
6) Describe Sire's girlfriend?
7) What does Esperanza's mama say about girls like Sire's girlfriend?
8) Esperanza feels as though she is going to explode. Why?
“Four Skinny Trees”
1) In "Four Skinny Trees," how does Esperanza describe the trees?
2) What does Esperanza say about the strength of the trees and the tree's roots?
“No Speak English”
Complete the Following:
1) In "No Speak English," who is the main character in the story?
2) How does Esperanza describe the main character?
3) The main character is seldom seen after her arrival. Why?
4) What did Esperanza's father eat when he first arrived in the US ? Why?
5) Why does the man get disgusted with the main character?
6) What does the man want the main character to do?
7) What does the main character not want the little boy to do?
Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut…Juice….”
1) In "Rafaela Who Drinks …Papaya Juice...” what happens to her in the story?
2) Where does Rafaela wish she could go?
3) Why can't Rafaela go to the store for herself?
“Sally”
1) In "Sally," who is Sally?
2) What does Sally's father say about being beautiful?
3) What does Esperanza say about Sally's religion?
4) Sally has to go straight home after school. Esperanza says that Sally becomes different. Describe how Sally is different?
Minerva”
1) In "Minerva," how is she described?
2) What is Minerva's big problem?
3) What lesson does Minerva learn?
“Bums in the Attic”
1) In "Bums in the Attic," what kind of house does Esperanza want for herself?
2) Esperanza says, "people who live on hills sleep close to the stars, and they forget those of us who live too much on earth." What does this statement mean?
3) What will Esperanza do when she become a homeowner?
Thursday, October 9, 2008
October 9, 2008
The House On Mango Street
October 9, 2008
Journal Entries
This small essay should be 3 paragraphs, a min of 24 sentences total. It must be meaningful and it must make sense.
Journal Topics 25 minutes
"No Speak English" Read this chapter for Background Information.
YOU HAVE THREE CHOICES OF TOPIC
1.Write about a time you felt out of place. (G. Cangtin, B. Randall)
2. Write about a time you had to leave somewhere and who you missed. (C. Bryant)
3. What would you do if you were Mamacita? (K. Robinson)
Completion of Vocabulary/ Take Home Assessment
These are INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENTS.
YOU MAY NOT WORK TOGETHER
20 MIN
October 9, 2008
Journal Entries
This small essay should be 3 paragraphs, a min of 24 sentences total. It must be meaningful and it must make sense.
Journal Topics 25 minutes
"No Speak English" Read this chapter for Background Information.
YOU HAVE THREE CHOICES OF TOPIC
1.Write about a time you felt out of place. (G. Cangtin, B. Randall)
2. Write about a time you had to leave somewhere and who you missed. (C. Bryant)
3. What would you do if you were Mamacita? (K. Robinson)
Completion of Vocabulary/ Take Home Assessment
These are INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENTS.
YOU MAY NOT WORK TOGETHER
20 MIN
Monday, October 6, 2008
Extra Credit Opportunity
Attention: An Extra Credit Assignment has been posted under my Digital Portfolio. The Opportunity Expires at 11:59pm
Sunday, October 5, 2008
The House on Mango Street Project
Project: The Hood
Objectives:
• Students will interpret their neighborhood through
group activity.
• Students will develop a greater awareness of their
environment through analyzing the interpretations of others.
• Students will provide details about a particular character to
increase understanding and sensitivity.
Activity:
Collage – Through the many vignettes in The House on Mango
Street, Sandra Cisneros creates a mosaic of the different people
in Esperanza’s neighborhood.
The class will be divided the class into four groups.
Each person in each group will create a piece of art about the people in their own
neighborhoods through one of the following mediums: mural,
poetry, sound/music, and movement/dance.
Each group will present its work to the others.
Writing Project – Identify one person in their
neighborhood whom they would like to know more about. Write a character portrait using what they know about the person and also imagining what they don’t know.
The following questions can be used as guidelines for their writing:
• How does this person walk? What does s/he wear?
• How many people are in this person’s family?
• Describe his/her relationship with parents.
• Does s/he work and if so where?
• What are his/her plans and dreams for the future?
• Does s/he have any regrets? Any secrets?
Objectives:
• Students will interpret their neighborhood through
group activity.
• Students will develop a greater awareness of their
environment through analyzing the interpretations of others.
• Students will provide details about a particular character to
increase understanding and sensitivity.
Activity:
Collage – Through the many vignettes in The House on Mango
Street, Sandra Cisneros creates a mosaic of the different people
in Esperanza’s neighborhood.
The class will be divided the class into four groups.
Each person in each group will create a piece of art about the people in their own
neighborhoods through one of the following mediums: mural,
poetry, sound/music, and movement/dance.
Each group will present its work to the others.
Writing Project – Identify one person in their
neighborhood whom they would like to know more about. Write a character portrait using what they know about the person and also imagining what they don’t know.
The following questions can be used as guidelines for their writing:
• How does this person walk? What does s/he wear?
• How many people are in this person’s family?
• Describe his/her relationship with parents.
• Does s/he work and if so where?
• What are his/her plans and dreams for the future?
• Does s/he have any regrets? Any secrets?
Homework Schedule for the Week of October 6-10 2008
You have two journal entries due this week. Both are due Thursday Ocober 9, 2008 BEFORE 11:59 pm.
The Vocabulary List may be found under assets in my digital portfolio.
Nightly readings: Please ensure that you do not get behind in the assigned reading. There will be NO extensions given. Ensure that you complete your work and your readings on time. If you intend to go ahead in your reading, ensure that you review what was orginially assigned for the class.
Students who demonstrate that they HAVE NOT completed their nightly reading, will lose their participation points, thus lowering their grade significantly. NO EXCUSES.
Monday's Night Chapter Reading
Chapter 1 - The House on Mango Street
Chapter 2 - Hairs
Chapter 3 - Boys and Girls
Chapter 4 - My Name
Chapter 5 -Cathy Queen of Cats
Chapter 6 - Our Good Day
Chapter 7 - Laughter
Chapter 8 - Gil's Furniture Bought & Sold
Tuesday Night Chapter Reading
Wednesday Night Chapter Reading
Chapter 18 - A Rice Sandwich
Chapter 19 - Chanclas
Chapter 20 - Hips
Chapter 21 - The First Job
Chapter 22 - Papa Who Wakes Up Tired in the Dark
Chapter 23 - Born Bad
Chapter 24 - Elenita, Card, Palm, Water
Chapter 25 - Geraldo No Last Name
Chapter 26 - Edna's Ruthie
Thursday Night Chapter Reading
Chapter 27 - The Earl of Tennessee
Chapter 28 - Sire
Chapter 29 - Four Skinny Trees
Chapter 30 - No Speak English
Chapter 31 - Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut...
Chapter 32 - Sally
Chapter 33 - Minerva Writes Poems
Chapter 34 - Bums in the Attic
Chapter 35 - Beautiful & Cruel
Chapter 36 - A Smart Cookie
Chapter 37 - What Sally Said
Weekend Chapter Reading
Chapter 38 - The Monkey Garden
Chapter 39 - Red Clowns
Chapter 40 - Linoloeum Roses
Chapter 41 - The Three Sisters
Chapter 42 - Alicia & I Talking on Edna's Steps
Chapter 43 - A House of My Own
Chapter 44 - Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes
The Vocabulary List may be found under assets in my digital portfolio.
Nightly readings: Please ensure that you do not get behind in the assigned reading. There will be NO extensions given. Ensure that you complete your work and your readings on time. If you intend to go ahead in your reading, ensure that you review what was orginially assigned for the class.
Students who demonstrate that they HAVE NOT completed their nightly reading, will lose their participation points, thus lowering their grade significantly. NO EXCUSES.
Note: You will have an EXTENSIVE amount of questions to complete for this novel. They are due October 13, 2008, typewritten and in my email box BEFORE 11:59pm
This will count as your Homework Grade/Quiz for the week. Failure to complete these questions will lower your grade significantly. Complete Sentences ONLY!
Monday's Night Chapter Reading
Chapter 1 - The House on Mango Street
Chapter 2 - Hairs
Chapter 3 - Boys and Girls
Chapter 4 - My Name
Chapter 5 -Cathy Queen of Cats
Chapter 6 - Our Good Day
Chapter 7 - Laughter
Chapter 8 - Gil's Furniture Bought & Sold
Tuesday Night Chapter Reading
Chapter 9 - Meme Ortiz
Chapter 10 - Louie, His Cousin, & His Other Cousin
Chapter 12 - Those Who Dont
Chapter 13 - There was an old woman
Chapter 14 - Alicia who sees mice
Chapter 15 - Darius and the clouds
Chapter 16 - And some more
Chapter 17 - The Family of little feet
Wednesday Night Chapter Reading
Chapter 18 - A Rice Sandwich
Chapter 19 - Chanclas
Chapter 20 - Hips
Chapter 21 - The First Job
Chapter 22 - Papa Who Wakes Up Tired in the Dark
Chapter 23 - Born Bad
Chapter 24 - Elenita, Card, Palm, Water
Chapter 25 - Geraldo No Last Name
Chapter 26 - Edna's Ruthie
Thursday Night Chapter Reading
Chapter 27 - The Earl of Tennessee
Chapter 28 - Sire
Chapter 29 - Four Skinny Trees
Chapter 30 - No Speak English
Chapter 31 - Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut...
Chapter 32 - Sally
Chapter 33 - Minerva Writes Poems
Chapter 34 - Bums in the Attic
Chapter 35 - Beautiful & Cruel
Chapter 36 - A Smart Cookie
Chapter 37 - What Sally Said
Weekend Chapter Reading
Chapter 38 - The Monkey Garden
Chapter 39 - Red Clowns
Chapter 40 - Linoloeum Roses
Chapter 41 - The Three Sisters
Chapter 42 - Alicia & I Talking on Edna's Steps
Chapter 43 - A House of My Own
Chapter 44 - Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes
The Questions May be found within my Digital Portfolio.
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