What Do You Really Believe?

We are continuing to work on the abstract to prepare us for the "This I Believe" essay.  Read through the statements below, pick the one you feel the strongest about (agreement or disagreement), and write about this belief for 10 minutes.

• Life is fair.
• Miracles do happen.
• What goes around comes around.
• People learn from their mistakes.
• If you smile long enough you become happy.

Anticipation Guide Revisited

After reading the play:  Go through the statements and mark your opinions.  Then choose one of the  statements in the AFTER column with which you strongly agree or disagree. Explain your feelings about this statement in a paragraph that follows a formal paragraph format.

TOPIC SENTENCE: Statement of choice.

INTRODUCE EVIDENCE: Why or why not?

QUOTES OR EVIDENCE: Provide an example from real life AND from the play that serves as evidence to your opinion.

ANALYSIS: What does each example show? How does each support your opinion?

Romeo & Juliet: Act 4 Blog

Romeo and Juliet

Act 4 Blog

Choose one of the five writing options below. Remember you must have an introduction, body, and conclusion (so yes, this means at least 3 paragraphs.) Use passages from the play to prove your thoughts and ideas.

1. Juliet’s parents mourn for her. Is their sorrow real? Did they love her?  How do you know?  What should the love of parents look like? Prove your thoughts with specific details from the play.

2. Through words and actions, Shakespeare has his characters show how adults respond to the needs and problems of teenagers. Analyze the ways in which any two adults in the play react to teenagers, and comment on/critique their words and actions.

Provide specific details to support your opinion and explain your thoughts in detail.

3. Some characters in the play are static and do not change very much; others are quite dynamic and change a great deal. Choose one character and analyze how he or she changes in the course of the play. Is this change beneficial to their growth, or is it detrimental to their growth?

4. Why is it so hard to tell the truth, at times? How do you view lying? Is getting in trouble worse? How does a person's conscience affect a person who "lives a lie?" Who's truly lying in this play? Provide specific details to support your opinion and explain your thoughts in detail.

5. Of the characters in Act IV, who do you have sympathy for? Why? Provide specific details to support your opinion. Be sure to elaborate and explain your thoughts in detail.

R&J: Act 2 Journal

Choose one of the following to write about in Blogger.  Make sure you answer the question(s) completely.  Write in complete sentences.  Before you begin your journal, please write the number of the one you choose.

1.  Romeo’s best friend Mercutio is lively, funny, and witty, while Romeo is melancholy and thoughtful.  Write about a friend who is different who you, but who you like because of those differences.  Why is it fun to be around this person?

2.  In the balcony scene, Juliet claims that her and Romeo’s love is “too rash, too unadvised, too sudden”  What does she mean by this?  Is love more stable when it takes time and effort to develop?  What happens when love moves too quickly?  Do you agree with Juliet?  Explain your thoughts.

3.  Friar Laurence advises both Romeo and Juliet in this play.  Everyone needs someone to talk to at one time or another.  Is there someone in your life who you can always go to for help?  Who is this person and how does he or she help you?  Tell about a time you sought advice from this person.  Did you follow the advice?  What happened?

4.  Romeo and Juliet marry without their parents’ knowledge.  Do you think this is a good idea?  How would your family be affected if you or one of your siblings did this?  Do you think keeping secrets like this lead to positive or negative results?  Why?

R&J: Act 1 Journal

Choose one of the following to write about in Blogger.  Make sure you answer the question(s) completely.  Write in complete sentences.  Before you begin your journal, please write the number of the one you choose.

1.  Lord & Lady Capulet are concerned that their daughter hasn’t yet married.  They choose Paris because he is a noble, wealthy gentleman.  If your parents chose a mate for you, what qualities would they look for?  Explain.

2.  The names Benvolio and Mercutio actually mean benevolent (kind-hearted) and impulsive.  How do the meanings of their names reflect their personalities?  Give examples.  Do you think Shakespeare gave them these names on purpose?  Why?  Write about the history behind your name.  Who named you?  What does your name mean?  If you could choose a different name, what would it be and why?

3.  Define romantic love.  How is it different from love of family? friends? pets?  What do you think is the perfect age to fall in love?  Why?

4.  When Romeo first sees Juliet, he asks himself, “Did my heart love till now?”  Just moments earlier he had claimed to love Roseline.  What is the difference between love and infatuation?  Explain your thoughts.

5.  In the beginning of the play, Verona witnesses a huge brawl between the Montagues and Capulets.  Knowing how violence upsets the citizens of Verona, Prince Escalus claims that anyone seen fighting within the city walls will be put to death.  Violence often has a lasting effect on those who witness it.  Describe a violent incident you have seen (and yes, it can be from tv, news, or movies).  How did it affect you, and how were you able to deal with the aftermath?

R&J Prep Articles: A Reflection

Articles:  A Reflection

Think about the article you read as well as the articles your peers discussed with you.  Write a reflection discussing how the information you've gained from what you read and what you learned from your peers will be of value to you in your life.

Dropout Articles: a self-reflection

Dropout Articles: a self-reflection

Why do you think the dropout rate is so high? Reflect. What might schools do to lower the dropout rate? Pick one (or more) statistic from this article and reflect.