Raven Blogger Awards

You all have been blogging up a storm this quarter, and some of you deserve an extra pat on the back for your blogging efforts!  So here are the winners of the Raven Blogger Award:    

POW #4 Does the Opposite Sex Ever Just Tick You Off?

Winners:  Sarah, Jack and Brendan!

Sarah really captured all that happened in Caesar in her blog, and she also wrote them in a believable way, expressing what the two women would have been feeling.  Check hers out:
http://crazysarahenglish2.blogspot.com/2011/02/does-opposite-sex-ever-just-tick-you.html

Jack also described the conflict in Caesar very well and had very few mistakes. Check his out: http://thethe101.blogspot.com/2011/02/pow4.html

Brendan even brought in some events from the play that happened before the conflicts between husband and wife.  He did an awesome job at getting into the character's heads.  Check his out: http://cottoncandyhurtsmyears.blogspot.com/2011/02/does-opposite-sex-ever-just-make-you.html

POW #5 - Pets
Winner: Bobby

Bobby wins this award because of his attention to detail and grammar.  Also, he made me smile with how much he cares about his dog.  Check his out: http://bigdogbobby24.blogspot.com/2011/02/pow-5.html

POW #6 - Wanted: A Town Crazy
Winners: Edgar and Kyle

Edgar used persuasive techniques in his ad!  He sounded like a salesman and appealed to the needs of someone looking for a job.  Check his out: http://edgarsaxpro-altoman7.blogspot.com/2011/02/pow-6-town-crazy.html

Kyle used aspects of the story we read about the town crazy in his post.  He also noted the importance of a town crazy to the good of the town.  Check his out: http://asteriskkyle.blogspot.com/2011/02/pow6.html

POW #7 - Outside Reading Book

Winners: Matt and Ryan S.

Ryan had such an interesting blog post about his book that it made me really want to know more.  He also came up with a creative rating system.  Check his out: http://ryanstafford1.blogspot.com/2011/02/pow-7.html

Matt also came up with a creative rating system.  Check his out: http://englishhr6.blogspot.com/2011/02/one-cheese-equals-dont-like-five.html

P.S. Notice how much attention the winners gave to capitalization, spelling, and grammar. 

POW #7 - Outside Reading Books

Outside Reading Novels

This weekend you will be blogging about your outside reading books.  In your post, include ALL of the following:

 

1. Rating System: Come up with your own unique rating system. It could be a picture, stars, thumbs up/down, etc... Be creative! Explain your rating system and rate the book so far.  Also explain why you are giving it that rating.
2. Image: Each post must include one image. It could be the cover of the book, or an image you find that relates to the book.
3. Questions: What questions would you have for the author? What don't you understand? What is confusing?
4. One quote: Embed one important quote from the book that speaks to you, you don't understand, or is important.  Make sure to use correct citation!

Proofread. This goes without saying.

POW #6 - Town Crazy

Imagine that another town has lost its "crazy" and has to advertise for a new one.  Write a job description stating the reasons the town needs this position filled so desperately, the job requirements, and the "compensation."  The only requirements are that you use your creativity and write at least 100 words.

POW #5 - Pets

For your fifth blog post, I want you to tell me about the dear animals in your life.  Write at least 100 words using one or more of the following prompts:

• Describe to me your favorite pet and why they were/are important to you.
• Tell me a funny or sweet story about a pet you have had. 
• If you do not have a pet and never have had a pet, do you want one?  Why or why not? 
• If you could have any kind of animal in the world, which one would you choose?  Why?
• Have you ever had a pet with an unusual talent?  How did they develop this talent?

Some advice - Type your post in a word processor (Word, Works, Google Docs) first so that you can get a word count, your misspellings are underlined, and so that you don't lose your work!  Happy posting!!

Does the Opposite Sex Ever Just Tick You Off? POW #4

In Act 2, scene I of Julius Caesar, we are introduced to our first female characters: the wives of Caeser and Brutus, and we see some sparks fly.  As we read this section, think about the way the couples interact, how they feel about each other, and what roles they take in their relationship. 

If you are a female, you will write two notes: one from Calphurnia to Portia and a response from Portia to Calphurnia.  If you are a male, you will write two notes: one from Caesar to Brutus and a response from Brutus to Caesar.  Both your notes should be in the same post and should include these items: 

• Recount the conflict you had with your husband/wife.
• Express your frustrations you have with him/her.
• Express the ways you feel pressured to act towards him/her. 
• Ask for advice from the person you are writing to and respond with advice.

This post is going to be worth more than the others.  It will be worth 30 points instead of 10, and this is what I will consider:
Did you follow directions and cover the four bullet points above? - 15 points
Is your post well-written (grammer, capitalization, punctuation, etc.)? - 5 points
Is your post at least 300 words long (about 150 words per note)? - 10 points

POW #3 - Propaganda

While you are watching television this week, pay attention to the commercials.  Pick one in which you find at least one of the propaganda techniques that we talked about (infomercials or political campaign commercials are chock-full of them).  In your blog post do these three things in at least five sentences:

• Describe the commercial to me.
• Identify the propaganda techniques in the commercial.
• Tell me if you trust the commercial or are convinced by it.  

Snapshots Example - POW #2

The picture was taken at my friend's wedding rehearsal; she was the first of my closest friends to get married, and it was an exciting, yet fragile time.

Earlier that year, I was studying in the dorm room of two of my closest friends.  My friend, Kristen and I were wondering where her roommate was, as it was a week night and beginning to get late.  We were worried about more than just her tardiness, though.  She had been absent many nights this semester, and when she was around, she was not acting like herself.  Instead of dancing in the hallways and announcing random movie times, she kept to herself and appeared worried. 

I'm not sure what time she showed up that night, but she was on the verge of tears.  Kristen and I dropped our studies and went to her side.  Without cajoling, Kylee told us that she was pregnant.  She was scared, confused, and worried about her future.  The wedding she knew would happen sooner or later just got thrown into the "sooner" category. 

Throughout the next few months, our group of friends banded together and did everything we could to support Kylee.  We helped her through her semester of school, picked out her wedding dress with her, and threw her a baby/wedding shower.  We went with her to doctor's appointments and were by her side during a complication in her pregnancy.   

Our help didn't ease all of her fears and anxieies, but it did strengthen the friendship we all shared; it made us realize how essential we all were to each other.  Now that we have all graduated and no longer serve as each other's families, this picture reminds me of these friendships that I cherish and the way that we all came together in support of one friend in need.