Almost the End...

We are moving into our last Urban Literacy Club meeting for the year.  To celebrate, we would like to have a "potluck" afternoon meal together.  Please bring your Nooks with you or you will have to track you down.  Try to make arrangements to stay the entire time.  

Examine pages 93-96 of our text Night.  In the Nook it is page 88-92.  It begins with the words "Pressing up against the others..." and ends with "I was fifteen years old."

Create a sentence that states what force is at work after reading this section of the text.   Base this sentence upon the main character has witnessed in this scene and your interpretation of the scene.  Then prove how your sentence is accurate with support.  Use as much evidence as you can to make your point clear. 

Thinking about the Theme

Use our thought schema of character—conflict—theme to tell what you think the book A Lesson Before Dying is about. 

Begin your response with a statement that answers this prompt-one that tells what the "lesson" is.  Be sure to offer reasoning that shows how you were thinking about character, conflict, and theme during this process.   Try to write at least a paragraph of thoughtful ideas.

Check the blog later and leave a comment for another circle member.

Thanks!!

Help for your College Essay

Check this link for an example of a college essay for the common application option #4:

http://www.districttours.com/330

Guide for College Essay-Common Core Application Option #4

We had a good discussion group last time, and I appreciate everyone's participation.  Our focus this week will be on the college essay a bit more.  Please examine the college essay resource information in the resources section of the blog home page. 

For our next session, please come prepare with your essay topic, thesis statement, and an outline for your essay.  We would like to begin drafting this essay on Thursday.  Also, we would like to wrap up A Lesson Before Dying as we are ready to start our next book.  BRING YOUR NOOKS ON THURSDAY!!

Thanks.

Another Look

Analyze this quote from the end of chapter 9(10):

“’Everything you sent me…  …help them do it (p.79).’”

What does this passage reveal about the conflict Grant has in regard to helping Jefferson? Be sure to explain your thoughts fully.   

Please respond to another member’s comments.  EVERYONE should attempt to do this!  

Thanks and see you Thursday!!

College Essay Option 4 for the Common Application

First, let me remind everyone of the college essay question from the common application that we need to address.  Here is the question:  Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.

Everyone will need to have a story and character in mind.  Remember the essay is about YOU, so you must have a character/story that is academic and that reflects you. 

For Thursday, have your subject written down and a rough outline of the way in which that character has influenced you.  

March 9th Matthew Antoine Post

Thanks to everyone for the good discussion that happened at yesterday's meeting.  Please read and respond.

The term “analyze” literally means to break down/take apart something to see what it is made of.   Analyze the last sentence that Grant’s teacher says at the end of chapter 8 (or chapter 9 as it might be on the nook)

“’Just do the best you can.  But it won’t matter.’”

Share your analysis of this statement.  Before responding to the post, reread the scene to recall what is happening in the scene. 

Your response should include insight into Matthew Antoine who says this, why he says this, and the effect you think it has on Grant, our main character.  After you have posted your thoughts about this, you must comment on 2 other members of our group.

Check back on the blog as there will be a new post Monday evening.

March 1st Text Understanding Question

Why doesn’t Grant want to get involved with Jefferson and his case?  Discuss your thoughts with evidence from the text.  Please respond to someone else's post after posting your own.

March 1st Text Reflection Question

Read the following quote from Chapter 8:

“And I thought to myself, What am I doing?  Am I reaching them at all?  They are acting exactly as the old men did earlier?  They are fifty years younger, maybe more, but doing the exact same thing those old men did who never attended school a day in their lives.  Is it just a vicious cycle?  Am I doing anything?”(p.62, chapter 8).

Explain the inner conflict that Grant is having about his position as a teacher of the youth in his community.  Be sure tell what all sides of this situation is.  His questions are internal and rhetorical; yet if he asked you these questions, what would you tell him?

Field Trip: Read Across America!

As I previously mentioned, our group has been asked to participate in Read Across America, this Friday, March 2.  We will be reading Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, and talking with students.  If you are interested in going, you must turn in a permission slip.  Please go to the GEAR UP office to pick one up.  The group will leave at 8am and return to school around noon.

This is a great community service project!  To prepare, we will be reading and discussing The Lorax this Thursday during our meeting.  This gives you an extra week if you have not finished A Lesson Before Dying. 

Let me know if you have any questions.  I hope you all are able to participate, and are having a great week!

Monday Blog

Hope that everyone has had a good weekend and has been reading our text.  If you have not done so, please check the resources for A Lesson Before Dying under the section of the blog home page entitled "Articles to Examine."

Please share your thoughts on the following quote that Grant shares:

“I tried to decide just how I should respond to them. Whether I should act like the teacher that I was, or like the nigger that I was supposed to be.” (p.46, chapter 5)

First Discussion Posts!

Please post a reflection on last session and the article, "Last Chance on Death Row" by William Baude.  In your reflection, consider the following questions:  

 

What does justice mean?  Does the meaning of justice change depending on the situation? 

In criminal cases, should people be able to have an unlimited number of appeals?  Why or why not?

Are there times when other factors are more important than fairness?  For example, money or finality?

Welcome, Everyone! (And sorry this is late!)

Welcome to our blog page!  A mighty “thank you” to all who were a part of Thursday's first meeting of the Urban Literacy Circle. It was exciting to engage the topic of capital punishment and all related issues.   We appreciate your openness and willingness to talk freely.  Let us continue in that same spirit!

Please finish reading the article “Last Chance on Death Row” that we read Thursday.  Please begin reading chapters 1-4 of A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines.  Once you have read this message, please post a comment introducing yourself and briefly discussing where you see yourself in life in 5 years. 

Always check the blog daily, although if you have entered your email address in the top horizontal bar where it says “Email here…” , you should receive notice of any new posts. Thanks and have a great weekend!!