Ms. Flagg’s Comments (group member since Sep 12, 2011)

Ms. Flagg’s comments from the 815 Discussion group.

Noodles and E both stole to get the things they wanted and believed they needed, be it for clothes, money, respect. In a court of law, should they be punished equally?

Make sure you provide at least two details to support your response. I recommend using RAFTAT!

Discuss your reaction to the following ethical question:

“If a man steals bread to feed his starving family, is he wrong?”

Make sure that your response contains at least TWO DETAILS to support your opinion.

Goodreads missed you!

Write a MINIMUM of one paragraph for each of the following questions:

1.) Despite all of the singing and dancing, is there any realism (it could really happen?) in this film? Explain using answers from the film.

2.) Can you relate to any of the conflicts in this film?
-growing apart from friends
-defending honor
-racism
-unfair judgments
-acting out of fear and/or arrogance

Using the RAFTAT strategy, do you think your character fights for him/herself, because of loyalty to the gang, or because he is a conformist?

Choose one of the test prep pieces--"Pygmalion" or "Neighbors"--and write a paragraph that compares them to The Outsiders. Make sure to include at least TWO textual examples to discuss.

Consider using our short response strategy:
R: Restate
A: Answer
F: For example,
T: This shows/proves/etc
A: Another example
T: This shows/proves/etc

Do you agree/disagree with Cherry's statement, "Things are rough all over"?

Consider:
-Do you think that people, regardless of their background, struggle or have problems?
-Did Cherry have a right to say this?

Paragraph 1:

Cicero once said, "We were born to unite with our fellow men, and to join in community with the human race."

Do you agree or disagree with his statement?

Paragraph 2:
Choose one of the following:
1.) Describe a real situation in which a community united to make change.
2.) Describe a breakdown within a community.

Read the article "Bug Bites" in your text set. Cool, right?! Ant Tacos! If you would rather do a posting about another article ("Navajo Code Talkers," "A Separate Peace?" "The New Face of America," or "IPod Turns Ten"), that's fine with me.

In your post, identify the genre, purpose, central idea, supporting ideas, and evidence. Remember, it may be wise to look at the supporting ideas before committing to a central idea!

Consider structuring it like so:

1.) Genre:
2.) Purpose:

3.) CI:

4.) Supporting Idea #1
a.)
b.)
c.)

Etcetera.

Tonight, I want you to have a more thoughtful lens in your reading. Think about any potential bias(es) that your author may have had when writing your article. Was the writing fair and objective?

Your article should be a MINIMUM of six paragraphs. If you are struggling to find one, check a website--www.cnn.com, www.nytimes.com, www.npr.org, etc. You may even go on Sports Illustrated, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, etc. Don't avoid longer stories--they are usually the most thorough and interesting. Just be a smart, wary reader!

1.) What was the purpose of the article?

2.) What audience was the writer addressing?

3.) Did the writer provide fair information?

4.) Did you bring any biases to your reading?

Read “Sorry I’m Not a Stereotype” article. If you are feeling confused, CHUNK IT!
Then, write a paragraph for each question:

1.) How does this apply to Absolutely True Diary?

2.) How is Arnold's life/perspective different from the author's?

Answer each questions with a minimum of one paragraph.

1.) Why does Arnold tell Rowdy that he will “die” if he stays?

2.) Why doesn’t Rowdy go with him?

Write a minimum of one paragraph for each question:

1.) Why would Mr. P want to “kill the Indian to save the child”?

2.) Think of the following quote: What does Arnold mean? Why might she prefer being “trapped”?
“My sister had become a humanoid underground dweller. There wasn’t much romance in that. Or maybe there was. Maybe my sister read romances all day. Maybe she was trapped in those romances.”

When my father was young, he, like many kids, didn't really understand how things worked--he just knew what appealed to his eyes and what was considered "cool" in his suburban neighborhood, Oakford, Pennsylvania.

Growing up in a time when many parents were far more lax in rules and regulations, he was often out in the neighborhood, hanging with the boys. One person in particular impressed the young Wayne Flagg. He was the fastest bike rider in the neighborhood, flying down Cherry Avenue on his red Schwinn. Although the bike's aesthetic was nothing spectacular, knowing that this was the fastest bike in the neighborhood made my father envious. He didn't want a new bike--he wanted the fastest bike. Unfortunately, what lil' Wayne didn't realize was that the speed of the ride has more to do with the strength of the rider, not the bike itself. Therefore, he imagined himself climbing onto the bike, soaring through the neighborhood at super speed! He would be a hero among the kids in his neighborhood!

One Christmas morning (he claims he can't remember the exact year), he discovered that Santa had left him the used red Schwinn! Christmas bliss! While many kids would be disappointed by a used bike, my father was ecstatic! His dream was about to come true!

Like many kids eager to try out their new toys, my father rushed outside, eager to claim his spot as the fastest rider in Oakford. Unfortunately for Wayne, he became confused when he didn't fly down the Cherry Avenue hill with the same gusto as the previous owner. He rode up and down the hill, and as his little legs became more and more tired, his new ride became slower and slower.

Regardless of his initial disappointment, he still worshiped his new vehicle and strived to discover the secret of its speed. To this day, he's still trying to figure it out!

Cody wrote: "My mom likes animals and it is very important to her because it is like a friend and a family to her that you can play and snuggle with. You can also sleep with them and pet them to make them feel ..."

I love the part about them keeping secrets! Did she have one pet that was particularly special to her?

Interview someone (parent, sibling, friend, etc) about an object that is or was important to them.

You will be responsible for asking questions that result in strong descriptive language. Don't let someone get away with telling you something like, "My blanket was blue and soft"--ask them to use explicit details!

Also, make sure to find out the HISTORY of the object (how he/she got it) and WHY it is/was so important to him/her.

You DO NOT need to post this in interview/transcript form. Rather, the purpose of this assignment is for you to work on developing your sensory/descriptive language while also practicing your LISTENING skills.