Current Literature:

Current Literature:
Ruth Minsky Sender's The Cage

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Blog 5: The Man Who Was Almost a Man


Answer the following questions for Richard Wright's short story, "The Man Who Was Almost a Man" in complete sentences, with as much detail as possible [this might mean a short paragraph]:

1. After reading the first paragraph, identify the narrator, the point of view, and the dialect.

2.What is Dave's mother's response when he asks her if he can buy a gun? How does he ask her?

3. What is Dave's reaction when pressed to tell the truth? What is the crowd's reaction when he tells? 

4. Think of the train as a symbol. What do you think it represents?

5. Is society better off without individuals like Dave? Should they celebrate his departure?

Friday, May 15, 2009

Blog 4: Lamb to the Slaughter


What were your thoughts about the ending of this short story? Could Mary Maloney get away with the same crime in today's current society? Why/why not? 
Your response to this blog should be two-three paragraphs [at least 5-6 sentences].

Monday, May 4, 2009

Blog 3: GAC & Cage Reading


The GAC words for this week are: aggressive, authentic, contradict, extravagant, flounder, hone, perceive, quirk, saunter, and summon.

Use four (4) of these vocabulary words in a one-paragraph response to your reading over the weekend. What portions of the story did you find compelling [moving] in Chapters 34-40? Challenge: Include a quotation from the text.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Blog 2: Holocaust Dictionary


Yesterday, we explored twenty-eight concepts that pertained to the Jewish Holocaust, and as a class, we constructed a dictionary of terms. 

Which of these twenty-eight entries were you most surprised that you had not heard of before? ...the least? [If you were not surprised, then write about the one you would like to find out more about.] Include the description of the concept [or definition] and your thoughts/feelings.

This entry may be one longer paragraph [at least 7-8 sentences].

Monday, April 27, 2009

Blog 1: Part I Reflection


Part I of Ruth Minsky Sender's The Cage explores the experiences Riva and her siblings have while living in the ghetto. Part II of the personal memoir will unveil her horrors in the camps.

What portion of Part I stood out to you in your reading? Provide a page number and short analysis of the excerpt.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Blog 16: News Report on Chapter Four


Pretend you are a Nazi journalist and you witness the events that occurred in Chapter Four of Ruth Minsky Sender's The Cage. Write a detailed news report [the type that would be printed in a German newspaper] on the incident(s) in your reading. Include specifics about the situation: dates, location, etc.

This posting should be approximately TWO paragraphs in length, (5-6 sentences in each paragraph). You should include one quotation from the text to support your story; this quotation can be used as a witness to the events that happened.

Be sure to stay true to journalistic writing! If you need help with this style, go here: How to Write a News Article.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Blog 15: Holocaust Topics and The Cage

In your groups, take some time to collect information and provide each topic below with a thorough explanation. This may be a definition or a small summary of the event.

You are encouraged to include quotations and facts from other websites, provided that you cite them correctly. Try to be as detailed as possible, (i.e. include dates, famous people, etc.).

a. The Jewish Holocaust
b. The Nazi Party
c. Ruth Minsky Sender
d. Auschwitz, Mittelsteine, Grafenort
e. personal memoir