Wednesday, March 19, 2003

PJClements's Weblog -- Spring 2003 This is the home posting for an experiment in weblog use in English classes at Peddie. Students using this should click into the appropriate class categories on the left margin of the page, where they can find weblog posts for their specific courses and sections. Thanks! -- PJClements  World News Annenberg Library Peddie's Home Page  Peddie e-mail Resources: Oxford English Dictionary | Maps | This lousy weather | ... -- PJC         . . . . . .   ... 7:19:04 AM    comment []

The Alchemist -- Paulo Coelho We see in the opening reading of The Alchemist a number of forces that young Santiago must accept and balance as he discovers and tries to live his "Personal Legend." Take a few moments and articulate a summary of what Santiago encounters in a) his father's gift b) the woman who interpreted dreams, and c) the man he meets in Tarifa.  Open a Word document to write, and then, paste your reply into the weblog using the "Comment" link below. -- PJClements 7:11:10 AM    comment []

	Thursday, February 20, 2003

Passage Commentary -- The Merchant of Venice -- Act III. In Act III of The Merchant of Venice, as several threads of plot begin to intertwine, Shylock realizes that his daughter Jessica, loaded with riches, has fled him for Lorenzo. At the same time, we all learn that Antonio has “a ship rich with lading” wreck somewhere in the English channel. Shylock replies to Solarino’s hope that Shylock might not “take his [Antonio’s] flesh” if Antonio were to default on his “bond” with Shylock, with a withering speech (III.i.49 et seq.). Reread this fierce speech carefully, especially its conclusion, and then reply thoughtfully to the following questions. What is the cause of the “revenge” that Shylock notes for both Christian and Jew, and how does this help clarify what Shylock means when he says “The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go heard but I will better the instruction”?(III.i.66-7) Though there are clear and obvious differences, in what ways are Antonio and Shylock, or Antonio’s and Shylock’s situations, similar? It might be wise to compose your reply using MSWord. Then click “comment” below, follow instructions, and paste your reply. -- PJC 9:18:10 PM    comment []

	Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Senior English -- The Thesis and Where we stand... After this long, snowy break and a hectic resumption of classes, and a packed scheduled at that, we need to stop and take stock of where we are. We will turn to our poetry in a moment, but we must first address where we are with the thesis. Take a moment, and in the comment box below, explain to you colleagues what you are up to: what is your thesis book (title, author)? how'd you come to be intrigued by it? what's you approach to the essay you're working on? what intellectual challenges has it posed for you? what personal challenges? Then, in a public way, to colleauges and to me, let us know where you are, and how you plan to finish out. Your final piece, by the way, will be not only for my eyes but also for your classmates' too! Click on "comment" down below and write. Please use public English (not Instant Messenger English). -- PJClements 12:25:35 PM    comment []

	Sunday, February 16, 2003

Using Weblog Software for Class Discussion Folks: As you know, we've used both NetMeeting and the Notes Database for class discussions, and found both to be wanting: NetMeeting gives us immediate posting, as does any chat tool, but it's so synchronous as to be too noisy, and it's inherently unstable. The Notes database is far more reliable, but it shows only a writer's "subject" and not his or her comments, and we're in the business of reading and writing ideas, not subject headings. This "Weblog" software might be useful for class discussion, for it's quick, stable, and it allows participants to read their colleagues' full text. I don't know, however, if this will be easy to use, or hard? So, if you don't mind, do me a favor and see if this is easy enough, to click on the "comment" link below and join in the conversation. Perhaps for starters: how do you plan to use this little gift of a snow day Monday, huh? The weather map here suggests some serious snow!  Click "comment" and scribble away. Please use public English. Thanks! -- PJClements 6:46:32 PM    comment []

PJClements's English 11 Students -- Writing the Autobiography This third section of the Autobiography project, "Which Way Shall I Head?", may be the most difficult to write, but the most important. A thousand difficulties loom, but I wonder what sort of surprising insights have come to you during your struggle with thinking and writing, what new understandings about yourself and the person you'd like to become? Click on the "Comment" link below, and add some thoughts in this new conversation space. Thanks. -- PJClements 6:16:02 PM    comment []

© Copyright 2004 PJClements. Last update: 1/23/2004; 9:59:34 PM.