Assignment 10: Mexico's Drug War

Today's non fiction reading deals with Mexico's drug war. We live on the Texas Mexico border and the actions of this war are impacting our lives whether or not we realize it. Please read the following articles and I would like you to find one point of interest in each article (an item to research). Give me some information on each point of interest (mini-research), which expands our knowledge base. That can be info on anything discussed in the articles.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-mexicodead9-2008dec09,0,6585998.story

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mexico10-2008dec10,0,2574405.story

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-monterrey7-2008dec07,0,5447755.story

Time magazine has a photo expose spotlighting the mexican drug war, very interesting.

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1651420,00.html

Assignment 9: human trafficking

Compare and contrast the last article on human trafficking with a new article you find and post it on your blog (new article must be on blog).

or

Find an article about human trafficking and post it to your blog. After doing that summarize the article and share some of your thoughts with me about it.

Due 12/12/08

Assignment 8: Blinkx Video: Anti-Semitism: Hitlers Rise to Power (Britannica.com)

The following video from Encyclopedia Britannica covers Hitler's rise to power. I want you to watch the video and find two items that interest you out of the video and research them. I want a one paragraph explanation (a mini-report) of each of your items. If you wish you can add pictures that support your explanation. You can even add video if you so wish but remember it is important they be related and connected to report. Your pictures/video must support your your report and if they do not they do not belong there. Don't place pictures or video for the sake of having them make sure that the help explain or add to you mini report. Good Luck.

Due 11-14-08

Blinkx Video: Anti-Semitism: Hitler's Rise to Power (Britannica.com)

Posted using ShareThis

Assignment 7: Questions Ch. 6-9

Here you will answer the remaining chapter questions. Make sure that you title every assignment properly and that you let me know what questions corespond to what chapter. Complete sentences please and don't copy the questions, answers only.

Due 11-6-08

Assignment 6: Chapter 4 & 5 questions

Answer the following questions;

Chapter 4

1. What were the objectives of the medical examinations?
2. Why were the Jewish musicians not allowed to play Beethoven?
3. Describe one if Idek's bouts of madness.
4. How did Elie initially avoid losing his gold crown?
5. Who did Elie meet on the Paris metro.
6. What happened to Ellie when he refused to give his crown to Franek? What was the end result?
7. Describe the scene at the soup cauldrons.
8. During the preliminary ceremonies before hanging, what did Juliek tell whisper to Elie? What does this suggest?
9. During one hanging, Elie and the other prisoners cried. What made this hanging different from the others?

Chapter 5

1. Why didn't Elie fast on Yom Kippur?
2. What advice was given to Elie to pass the selection?
3. How did Elie's father respond when he had learned that his name had been written down?
4. What did Akiba Drumer ask others to do for him? Did they do it?
5. Why was Elie placed in the hospital?
6. Why was the camp evacuated? What did Elie learn of the fate of those who stayed behind in the hospital?

DUE 11-3-08

Assignment 5: Holocaust Time Line Summary

In the following Assignment you will visit the website A Teacher's Guide to The Holocaust. I would like you to visit this site with the link provided and read one of the timelines. After doing so I would like you to summarize the timeline and include a picture that is relevant to the time line.

http://fcit.usf.edu/holocaust/timeline/timeline.htm

Due Weds 10-29-08

Pre-AP 2nd 9wks Project (Soundtrack)

You will create a soundtrack that will accompany the book Night. To begin, you will choose 8 audio tracks along with the song lyrics that have a connection or that you feel have a relation to the book. There will also be a pragraph that accompanies every song lyric that point out the specifics in each song and how you believe that this song is connected to the book.

Your 8 Songs must deal with the following subjects and must follow this format no exceptions.

1. Elie
2. His faith (or loss of).
3. The first time in concentration camp.
4. His anger towards God.
5. The Nazi's
6. The death of Elie's father.
7. Survival
8. The whole story (A song that you feel represents the theme of the book.)

DUE: Dec 17, 2008

Assignment 4: questions chapters 2 & 3

Answer the following sets of questions.

Chapter 2-pp.21-26
1. Explain, "our eyes were opened, but too late." Where was the train at this point?
2. What was foreshadowed by Madame Schacter's nightmare?
3. What did some of the passengers do to quiet Madame Schacter?
4. Where did the train finally stop?

Chapter 3-pp.27-43
1. When questioned by the S.S. Officer, why did Elie lie about his age and occupation?
2. What was the first horrifying sight that Elie at first disbelieved?
3. Explain what Elie meant when he said, "Never shall I forget these flames which consumed my faith forever."
4. How did Elie change in a short time?
5. What was Elie's first impression of Auschwitz after leaving Birkenau?
6. What was the "compulsory formality" at the entrance to all camps?
7. What sort of identification was used on the prisoners?
8. Why was the prisoner in charge of Elie's block removed from his position?
9. What were the prisoners' rations at each meal?
10.What was Bela Katz forced to do once he was chosen for his strength?

Both sets of questions are due 10-24-08.

New URLS

The following are the student blog sites for the class.
http://otcsprinx12.blogspot.com/
http://fedaremylife.blogspot.com/
http://jamonsito.blogspot.com/
http://fritarita.blogspot.com/
http://livelaughandlove1225.blogspot.com/
http://300ernestosernawolves.blogspot.com/
http://romen-mike.blogspot.com/
http://kradp.blogspot.com/
http://mycornerintheuniverse.blogspot.com/
http://deeeee23curlysue.blogspot.com/
http://rockydeezer.blogspot.com/
http://janettehi.blogspot.com/
http://perlacabrera09.blogspot.com/
http://super--puma.blogspot.com/
http://oscarsuperblogg.blogspot.com/
http://toilet-dude.blogspot.com/
http://ltlman8.blogspot.com/
http://shaggydude-shaggy.blogspot.com/
http://boot1694.blogspot.com/
http://pollitoqwerty.blogspot.com/
http://chulalovexoxo.blogspot.com/
http://krispy4life.blogspot.com/
https://jrpeacenlove17.blogspot.com/

Assignment 3: Chapter 1 Night Questions

You should have read chapter 1 in the book NIGHT by Elie Wiesel. In this post I expect you to answer the following:

1. Who is Moishe/Moche the Beadle, describe him.


2. Why did Eliezer cry when he prayed?


3. When Moishe/Moche returned what did he tell?


4. Why didn't people believe him?


5. List the ways the Jewish people of Sighet lost their rights (List 5).


6. What is a Ghetto?


7. Why did citizens resist the truth , even when it was in front of them?


8. Describe the conditions in the train (at the end of the chapter).

Due 10-24-08

Assignment 2: Cattle Car Complex

Cattle Car Complex is a short story by a Jewish author, Thane Rosenbaum, who infuses his fictional writing with the historic elements of the Holocaust. I would like you to read the story and afterwards you will do the following;

• Write a 1 paragraph summary telling me about what you read.
• In a separate paragraph, tell me why you think the author writes about Jewish characters reliving a time period that they did not live in.
• Draw a picture that is split in two, one side will have what happens in the mind of the character in the story and the other side will have what happens in side the elevator.
• This assignment is due 10-24-08

2nd 9wks Assignment 1; Night

Today you will scour the web in search of something that deals with the Holocaust. Post a summary of what you learned and include a picture. TTFN

*Assignment Due date OCT 17th.

Reminder

All blog assignments are due this Fri 9/19/08. Rember to keep up with your assignments.

Assignment 10

Tell me about your blog experience in this class and what you think we can do to make this better. ;)

Assignment 9

Choose a fellow students blog and critique it. Do these things and post them on their blog.

1. Find one of their assignments and tell me and them what you liked most about it.
2. Find one thing you think they didn't do well and tell them how they can make it better.

Assignment 8

Choose a character from our book Sold and describe him/her to me. After doing so choose a poem that you feel relates to that character in one way or another and tell me why. Here are some poetry links you may find helpful.

3 things to do:

1. tell me about a character
2. find a poem that relates to them
3. tell me why

• http://poetry.eserver.org/
• http://www.quotesandpoem.com/poems/PoetryByTopic
• http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/SubjIdx/life.html

Assignment 7: Something to read and think about...

During the course of our class many questions have come up concerning what a real brothel looks like. So through my searching of the web I found a web site that that shows actual pictures of a brothel in India. Their is text along with the photos so please read them.

http://www.aliciapatterson.org/APF2003/Briski/Briski.html

After doing so tell me what you think about what you have seen and read. Feel free to make any connections that you can that may relate to our book or something you may have seen or read.

Assignment 6

In the book Sold our protagonist Lakshmi is sold into prostitution. She is later visited by American while she is in the brothel who is trying to rescue girls who are in this situation. This man was probably part of an aid organization known as an NGO (Non-governmental organization). They provide aid and they are not affiliated to any government (like the red cross who provides aid around the world and is not funded by any government.)

It is now your job to find a charitable organization. Post the following things to your blog.

• Provide a link to the organization.
• Write a paragraph that describes it to me.
• Provide a picture if possible.

Assignment 5

Create a time line that has the major events in the story. Start with Lakshmi living in her village in Nepal and end with Lakshmi escaping the brothel (Happiness House). There needs to be a total of ten entries (including the two I will give you.)

ex.

• Lakshmi living in Nepal in the village.
• ...
• ...
• Lakshmi escapes Happiness House.

Student URLs

The following are the student blog sites for the class.

http://otcsprinx12.blogspot.com/
http://fedaremylife.blogspot.com/
http://jamonsito.blogspot.com/
http://fritarita.blogspot.com/
http://livelaughandlove1225.blogspot.com/
http://300ernestosernawolves.blogspot.com/
http://romen-mike.blogspot.com/
http://ilypink.blogspot.com/
http://kradp.blogspot.com/
http://mycornerintheuniverse.blogspot.com/
http://deeeee23curlysue.blogspot.com/
http://rockydeezer.blogspot.com/
http://janettehi.blogspot.com/
http://perlacabrera09.blogspot.com/
http://super--puma.blogspot.com/
http://oscarsuperblogg.blogspot.com/
http://toilet-dude.blogspot.com/
http://ltlman8.blogspot.com/

Assignment 4

Post to another students blog post for assignment 2. Tell me something about that vignette. Make the post good. I look for substance not quantity. No sentence minimum.

Assignment 3

There have been a variety of conflicts in the story SOLD by Patricia McCormick.
Post what you think the greatest conflict in the story is and who it deals with. List what you feel the major conflict has been along with three examples of text evidence that support your answer.

Blogging Rules!

Blogging Rules!
(will be up dated regularly so check frequently!)

• no personal pics or in depth info (address, phone #'s etc.)
• pictures are welcome on your post but they must be connected to your post.
• when commenting remember to have netiquette.
• remember to post complete or indepth answers to questions no yes no answers or questions. TTFN

Assignment 2

Choose a Vignette and summarize it. Tell me the ins and outs of what happened and title your post the name of your vignette and include the page#.

Assignment One

Hello students today's first assignment is for you to introduce yourself to me and your classmates. In your introduction tell me the following things:

• your first name only
• your grade
• some of your hobbies and interests
• what you like to read most