Connecting with Romeo and Juliet

As you read at home and we cover the material in class, how are you personally connecting with the characters and relationships in the play? Also, how much are you getting out of the reading?

1. Some of the concepts we are discussing in class this week include Romeo's personality, Juliet's personality, relationships between the two title characters and their parents, the escalation of the feud between the families, advice given to Romeo by his friends, and decisions the characters make. What are you thinking about these ideas as you read on your own or as we read in class? Write a thoughtful paragraph about something in the first few scenes in the play that you can personally connect with. Clearly explain the specific character or idea from the play and how you connect with it.

2. Also, remark on the effectiveness of reading at home and then covering the material in class. How are you doing with the reading on your own? How much are you able to decipher without help? Is it getting easier? Are you using other resources to help you read at home? If so, what are they and are they helping?  The goal of reading aloud in class is to help you be able to get a deeper and more complete understanding of the text with the help of the teacher and your classmates. Do you feel that goal is being met for you? Write a paragraph about the effectiveness of both reading at home and in class.

Due Saturday, April 30.

Missing Dickens

Are you missing reading Dickens? Are your friends reading A Tale of Two Cities and you're wondering if it's any better than Great Expectations? Read A Tale of Two Cities on your own by the first week of June and discuss it with me for extra credit!

Need Essay Help?

Need help on your essay? Chances are your classmates may have similar questions. You can post comments here with questions and I will answer them with a comment back for the benefit of all who follow this blog.

If you have a question that is very specific to your essay or you'd like me to look at a portion of your essay over the weekend, you can email me at cgilman@osd.wednet.edu

Good luck and happy writing!

Wrapping up Great Expectations

Your essay prompt for Great Expectations asks you to analyze the overall theme or message in the novel. For this week's blog, write about what you feel is the message Dickens intended to send to his readers. What is the story really about? Answer this question in a well-developed paragraph. Try to write the entire paragraph about this message or "life lesson" with limited reference to plot and characters. Instead, focus on the universal experiences you could relate to while reading. How is this book relevant to people in general, regardless of time and place?

Due Saturday, April 16.