English 9 Honors Blog Fall '19

Once again, I would like you to respond to two prompts (at least 150 words each) by Sunday at 8:00 p.m.   Here they are: 1. Once news of Khalil’s shooting spreads across the neighborhood, unrest arises: “Sirens wail outside. The news shows three patrol that have been set  ablaze at the police precinct...A gas station near the freeway gets looted...My neighborhood is a warzone” (Chapter 9, 136-139). Respond to this development and describe some parallels  to current events. 2. How do you think Starr would define family? What about Seven? How do you define it?

Respond to  BOTH  of the prompts below:   Each response should be at least 150 words. 1. As Starr and Khalil listen to Tupac, Khalil explains what Tupac said “Thug Life” meant. Discuss the meaning of the term “Thug Life” as an acronym and why the author might have chosen part of this as the title of the book. In what ways do you see this is society today? (Chapter 1, p. 17) 2. At the police station after Starr details the events leading up to the shooting, the detective shifts her focus to Khalil’s past. Why do you think the detective did this? Discuss Starr’s reaction to this “bait” (Chapter 6, pp. 102-103).

Choose one or two of the following prompts (from the Random House Website) and respond to it (them).  Your response should be at least 300 words. Respond by Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. (as usual) 1.  When a man is offended by John calling him a Montagoonian because he comes from a town called Montague, John writes that the man had no right to be offended because that’s where he lived, and if he didn’t like it, that he should move. Questions:  What do you think of John’s use of nicknames to refer to others?  In the case of the man from Montague, do you agree with John, that he had no right  to be offended?  Should John have stopped calling the man a Montagoonian simply because he was offended, even if he disagreed with the logic? Why/ Why not? 2. John describes growing apart from and ultimately divorcing Little Bear, and his next marriage to Martha. John wonders whether or not he picked the best mate in Martha, and considers her other two sisters a...

Please respond to one of the four prompts (from Penguin Publishing).  Your response should be at least 300 words.  Please proofread thoroughly before publishing.  Also, make it clear which prompt you are responding to.   1. In Chapter 16, “One with the Machine,” Robison says, “Sometimes I think I can relate better to a good machine than any kind of person.” Discuss the reasons he gives for his affinity. Why might a person find comfort in machinery but not in people? 2. Despite career advice from music industry insiders, Robison doesn’t want to move to a city. Compare the life he experiences when he’s on tour with KISS to his life back in Shutesbury. Why might the idea of living in a city be intimidating to someone with Asperger’s? 3. Robison writes that he can’t smile on command. How often do you smile “on command” whether you want to or not? How would not being able to automatically produce the expected facial expression make your work life more difficult? Yo...

Christopher, from  Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time , is a fictional character, while  Look Me in the Eye  is John Elder Robison's account of his life with Asperger's.  What similarities do you see between the fictional Christopher, and the real-life John Elder Robison?  What differences do you see?  Please provide examples from the texts to support your response.  Your response should be at least 300 words.

Post the  prompt  you  chose,  the title  of your piece here,  and  also a link to it  (a link to it on the YWP website).  Do not post your actual piece here.

By Sunday Night (September 8th), at 8:00 p.m., please comment on your reaction (so far) to  Look Me in the Eye .  You might consider what you like/don't like about it (and why––the "why" is the most important piece here).  You might comment on the author's writing style.  How is it different or similar to other things you've read?  What surprised you?  What made you laugh?  What other emotions did the writing evoke?  The more specific you can be in your response, the better.   Comments should be at least 300 words.