Blog #1 - The Swimmer

What does Ned's journey across the "Lucinda River" symbolize? What is tragic about his story? Think about the overall theme of the story as you begin crafting your answer. (2 Paragraphs - use quotes from the story to defend your argument.)

Blog #5 - Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

What is one story Abe tells Jacob? Summarize it in your own words, using as much detail as possible in your own version of the story. (6 full sentences - remember to proofread your work!)

Blog #6 - The Catcher in the Rye

What is it that attracts Holden to Jane? If he likes her so much, why does he keep thinking about calling her, but never actually calls? (Hint: Think about what this could symbolize about Holden's character and his grieving process.) (2 paragraphs - use quotes from the book to defend your argument.)

Blog #5 - The Catcher in the Rye

We find out a lot about Holden through his reactions to and thoughts about Jane Gallagher. What do we discover about Holden's character? How does he act towards women in general? Talk a little bit about his attitude towards Faith Cavendish, in chapter 9. (2 paragraphs - use at least 2 quotes from the chapter.)

Blog #3 - Walk Two Moons

What kind of teacher is Mr. Birkway? Does Sal like him? How do you know? (6 sentences, using at least one quote from the book that defends your argument.)

Blog #4 - Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Describe Jacob Portman, based on what you know about him. (6 sentences - Use at least 2 quotes from the book.)

Blog #3 - Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Why do you think Jacob disagrees with the police officers that a pack of dogs killed his grandfather? Why does Ricky react the way he does, even though he was there on the night Jacob's grandfather was killed? How are Ricky and Jacob different, in your opinion? (6-7 sentences. Use specific lines from the book in your answer.)

Blog #2 - Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

What effect do the photographs have on your reading experience? How do they make you feel? Do they add anything to the book's content? (5 sentences - Explain in detail.)

Blog #1 - Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

What do you think about the grandfather's stories? What do you think the "monsters" symbolize? (5-6 sentences)

Blog #7 - The Things They Carried

Reread the final two pages of this book. Consider what the young Tim O’Brien learns about storytelling from his experience with Linda. How does this knowledge prepare him not only for the war, but also to become a writer? Within the parameters of this story, how would you characterize Tim O’Brien’s understanding of the purpose of fiction? How does fiction relate to life, that is, life in the journalistic or historic sense?

Blog #2 - They're Not Your Husband (with NY Times Source)

Compare and contrast Earl and Anders (from Bullet in the Brain.) Do you feel like you know either of them more, or less, than the other? How would you describe the tone of this story? Explain, using the NY Times article in your argument.

Blog #2 - Bullet in the Brain (With NY Times Source)

How do you feel about the protagonist, Anders? Do you think that Tobias Wolff intentionally describes him in a certain way at the beginning, then at the end, in order to make you feel a particular way about him? Did your feelings change? Explain, including the NY Times source in your argument.

Blog #6 - The Things They Carried

What did you think of the last chapter? Was the ending of the book satisfying? Comforting? Disturbing? Why did O'Brien introduce a new female character (Linda) in the last chapter? What does she symbolize, in your opinion? (2 Paragraphs - try to use as much detail as possible, using specific examples from the chapter.)

Blog #2 - Music

Whose story is this? Although we agreed that the point of view is close 3rd person, is there any character we know better than the others, either physically or mentally? How do you know? Explain, using details from the book. (2 Paragraphs)

Blog #4 - The Catcher in the Rye

In your opinion, what does it mean to "fit in" or belong to a group? What do you think Holden would say about this? Do you think he wants to fit into any group? Explain. (2 paragraphs - use quotes from book to defend your argument.)

Blog #5 - The Fault in our Stars

Talk about how you experienced this book? Is it too sad, too tragic to contemplate? Or did you find it in some way uplifting? Do you think the book should've had a happy ending? Explain. (2 paragraphs - quotes from book.)

Blog #3 - The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

Talk about the party at the Kelly household at the beginning of Part II. How is Mick's behavior typical of an adolescent girl and how is it different? What is unique about Mick? In your response, speak of her love for music. How is music used in scenes to evoke a mood, punctuate certain paragraphs, or convey an idea or underlying theme? (2 Paragraphs - Use quotes from the book.)

Blog #1 - Music

Discuss one theme that is developing in "Music". Elaborate on it as much as you can, based on the few pages we read together. Remember: a theme is a recurring idea. Think of the bigger story: What is it really about? (1 paragraph - with at least 2 quotes from the story!)

Blog #3 - The Catcher in the Rye

Do you believe everything Holden tells you? If yes, why? If not, explain why he may be an unreliable narrator. (2 Paragraphs - Use quotes from the book to defend your argument and incorporate your two digital sources as well, making sure to cite them within the text.)

Blog #4 - The Fault in Our Stars

After his experience working in a children's hospital, Green said he believed that "life is utterly random and capricious and arbitrary." However, after finishing The Fault in Our Stars, he said he no longer felt that life's randomness "robs human life of its meaning... or that it robs even lives of people who don't get to live full lives." What does this mean, and why do you think he changed his mind about this? How does it tie into the meaning of the book? Explain. (2 paragraphs - use quotes from book!)

Blog #2 - Walk Two Moons

In Chapter 4, what do we find out is special about Phoebe Winterbottom? What does she do, and what does it tell you about her character? (5 sentences - use a quote from the book.)

Blog #2 - The Catcher in the Rye

On page 39, Holden displays two of the stages of grief (as outlined in the handout.) Explain what happens in the garage and how it is a perfect example of the Kübler-Ross model. (2 paragraphs - Use quotes from the book.)

Blog #3 - The Fault in Our Stars

What did you think about the book's humor? Is it appropriate... or inappropriate at times? Green has said that he "didn't want to use humor to lighten the mood" or "to pull out the easy joke" when things got hard. But he also said he likes to "write about clever kids, and they tend to be funny even when things are rough." Is his use of humor successful? How did it affect the way you read the book and how it affected you emotionally? Explain. (2 Paragraphs - use QUOTES from the book.)

Blog #1 - Walk Two Moons

Compare and Contrast Sal's "Hiddle" grandparents (on her father's side) to her other grandparents, on her mother's side. Are they similar in any way? How are they different? Explain (5 sentences - Use quotes from book.)