Seniors Journal #3---Needless Traditions, Harmful Rituals, Scapegoats

The Lottery places an ancient sacrificial rite in the present, that being the 1940-something hometown of Shirley Jackson.

It's frightening, of course, that someone is randomly chosen to be stoned to death for the good of the community. Aside from creating a frightening story, Jackson's point is clear.

On a figurative level, ritualistic killing still exists and is blindly accepted by a society composed of an unthinking populace. Society still feels a need for scapegoats, people on whom to place the blame for society's ills. Jackson and her family felt the sting of anti-Semitism in their own community.

On another figurative level, one perhaps that is less serious, The Lottery offers a criticism of outdated rituals, outdated rituals, ones that are often potentially harmful to the participants. Of course, I posited the idea that certain "senior" rituals, like Senior Week, Senior Assassin, and Senior Cut Day, have either outlived their benefits or have become dangerous.

Your prompt?

You can respond to my comments in any way.

You can offer your own ideas about rituals.

You might want to research a bit on the web about some unique rituals that are still practiced around the world, like the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain; the unsanctioned crucifixions in the Phillipines (warning--very graphic); the Tomatina (also in Spain); or Devil's Night (in America, the night before Halloween).

You may choose to comment about any of these rituals, too.

As always, respond in a minimum of 25 blog lines or 200 words.

Sophs #2 journal--So Thoreau

Choose a quotation from Thoreau that you particularly understand and enjoy. Maybe one that you'd like to put as your Facebook status?

Then tell me why you chose the quotation. How does it "speak" to you? Can you share a personal story that shows Thoreau's words in action? How can you relate his words to something in society today?

My Thoreau quotation would be "I did not read books that summer. I hoed beans." I could go on and on about how I planned, planted, cared for, and harvested my garden one summer. About how this English teacher didn't read much one summer because that would keep him indoors, but instead he loved getting his hands dirty and his healthy dose of Vitamin D spending time in his backyard with his gardening duties.

I could tell you this, but ... alas, I have other things to do. Wish I could "simplify, simplify, simplify" my life some.

Sophs---The Catcher in the Rye essay help

Write in MLA format---3-4 pages, MLA heading, MLA pagination style, EVERYTHING double spaced.

Write in the third person ABOUT the novel, avoiding the I first person point of view.

Use formal language, no slang or "Holden" speak. Do not use contractions unless you're quoting.

NO research desired or needed for this paper, other than citing the original text of the book. NO outside sources.

NO title needed for this paper.

First paragraph help--this paragraph should be about 4-6 sentences TOPS. In the paragraph, include (probably in this order) the full name of the author, the full title of the novel (underlined) and some quick introductory information about the novel that leads into the central idea. Then write your central idea and your thesis statement.

Here is an example:

The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger's famous novel published after World War II, features
a troubled adolescent named Holden Caulfield who resists growing up because he mistrusts everything he sees in the world around him. His only heroes are idealized innocent children, and this fact contributes to his problems. Without an adult role model, Holden looks to three inspirations to remain in his state of arrested development: his dead brother Allie, his childhood friend Jane Gallagher, and his beloved younger sister Phoebe.

Circle your central idea and underline your thesis statement in this first paragraph. I'm not able to do this in this blogging document. Sorry.

This is my central idea: His only heroes are idealized innocent children, and this fact contributes to his problems.

This is my thesis statement: Without an adult role model, Holden looks to three inspirations to remain in his state of arrested development: his dead brother Allie, his childhood friend Jane Gallagher, and his beloved younger sister Phoebe.


For each body paragraph, try to begin with a topic sentence. Underline that sentence in this paragraph.

The topic sentence of my first body paragraph might read: Allie, Holden’s younger brother who died of leukemia, represents Holden’s idealized conception of the perfect child.

From here, you should provide at least three examples of how Allie represents Holden’s idealized conception of the perfect child. Write about each. Perhaps quote directly from the text.

Follow this approach for the next two body paragraphs, also.

Now it's time to CONCLUDE.

As in your INTRODUCTION, this paragraph doesn't need to be too long, perhaps 4-6 sentences. In this paragraph, restate your central idea and thesis. You might also want to conclude by stating why you chose to analyze this particular topic and/or how the topic fit into a larger theme of the book.

E-mail me if you have any questions!

Seniors 2nd journal--Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

Joyce Carol Oates's story provokes discussion on many levels, but for this blog, I'd like you to focus on how you see "your" world, separate from but inspired by the twisted predicament of Connie in her fast-moving relationship with Arnold Friend.

Choose one of these prompts.

1. Share with us an incident in which you lost a little of your childhood innocence and you learned the ropes of the real world.

2. Share with us parts of your “faith life.” Do you attend Church weekly? Read the Bible? Belong to a Church group? Etc. Discuss how this has benefited you and others.

3. Discuss a musical artist or group that promotes aberrant or immoral behavior.

4. Tell me about a musical artist or group whose songs promote meaningful thought or messages.


Remember, answer in a minimum of 25 blog lines or 200 words for full credit.

Post sometime this weekend to receive credit.

SOPHS Your Favorite Fears (journal #1 third quarter)

You've just finished studying two Edgar Allan Poe horror stories. Poe was a master of the genre, even though his characters, his plots, his diction, and his themes often were similar from story to story.

For instance, his madmen never admitted to be, well, "mad," though it only took an evil eye, an insult, or a black cat to set them to killing.

You know, this is all "sopoe," as your English teacher would say.

Nevertheless, Poe, like few others, could elevate the soul to lofty heights, and lower it to somber depths.

He did so WITHOUT using elements of the supernatural. Too easy. Poe explored the psychology of fear. It was the imagined or hypochondriac fear of a madman, a fear more intense perhaps than the fear induced by the easy props and stimuli of ghosts and goblins.

Your next journal assignment is to tell me what gets your blood boiling, your veins pulsing, your heart thumping (notice how all of these are heart metaphors?).

In plain English, your assignment is to write about one of the following:

1. your favorite writer of horror or mystery fiction
2. your favorite horror or mystery novel or story
3. your favorite horror or mystery movie
4. You don't like the genre at all, you say? Tell me why, and cite specific experiences with these genres to make your response specific and interesting.

By the way, I used to be a huge Stephen King fan. I think his novel The Stand is a chilling masterpiece. Maybe someday I'll tell you why in my response to this journal.

Soph and Senior Essays

Because of the fierce nature of the storm, I will extend due dates for the soph and senior essays.

Seniors can expect to hand in essays two days after we return to school.

Soph essays are postponed indefinitely. Expect essays to be due 4-5 days after we return.

Seniors who have completed their essays can e-mail them to me during this "snow vacation" if they choose.

Hope this clears up things.

Girls Basketball Players---GET ON YOUR BOOTS!

Coach Albanese asked me to post this boot-camp workout that you can do to kick start your recovery into practice shape.

Mr. Riley and I just did the workout and we're ready to take on the WORLD, not just the rest of the state.

So here it is (senior and sophs, feel free to try this, too, if you can handle it):

Boot Camp Workout

- Boot Camp 5-minute warm-up

o 30 sec jog in place

o 30 sec ballistic hams and arms. Swing arms horizontally, crossing in front of body then behind. Simultaneously, diagonally kick a straight leg in front of you, 15 seconds left leg, 15 seconds right leg.

o 30 sec of high knee marches, hitting palms of hand on knees at top of march at chest level

o 30 sec jog in place

o 30 sec butt kicks

o 30 sec 4 square jumps- 15 sec right and left leg

o 30 sec jumping jacks

o 30 sec squat jacks

o 1 min towel runs. Place towel on ground and run around in tight, fast steps circle 30 sec clockwise, 30 sec counter clockwise

- 5 minute legs

o 1 min Big D’s: get in defensive position w/ one leg slightly behind the other. Bend knees down into a squat while keeping chest and head upright. Simultaneously, raise up hands, palms forward, in front of your chest. Push and straighten knees going straight upward into a jump. Return to starting position. 30 sec rt/lt

o 1 min lunge walks and jumps: 30 sec lunges. After 30 sec go into lunge position, place hands up in air at face level, jump and switch front and back legs

o 1 min legged chair squats: Place toe of left leg on chair behind you. With most of your body weight on right leg, squat down wit right leg while keeping chest and head upright for 30 sec. Touch floor. Switch legs for another 30 sec.

o 1 min speed skaters: Balance on rt leg. Slightly bend left leg and kick it diagonally behind you while bringing left arm in front and right arm behind. Return to start without putting left leg on ground. Perform for 30 sec then switch legs

o 1 min 1 legged wall sits: Put back on wall and squat down until knees and hips are at 90 degrees. Kick out left leg for 30 sec, then right leg for 30 sec.

- 5 minute arms/back

o 1 min. Sidelying triceps: lie on left side with legs straights. Bend left elbow and place left hand on right shoulder. Tuck in right hand into left armpit. Push up with right hand, almost straightening elbow, lifting upper body up off the floor. Repeat for 30 sec then switch sides

o 1 min chair pullups: Lie on back under chair with legs straight. Place hands on either side of chair seat. Pull up body until chest touches chair. Repeat for 1 min

o 1 min chair dips: Back up tp chair and pace both hands on the seat of the chair. Straighten legs outward. Lift left leg straight up in air, keeping heel of right leg on the ground. Bend elbows and lower buttocks down as far as you can. Keep back as close to chair as possible without scraping. After 30 sec repeat with opposite leg straight up in air

o 1 min push ups: Push up on ground for one min. Good form is essential.

o 1 min superman: Lie on belly with arms straight overhead In 10 sec increments lift straight arms and legs up towards ceiling (lift, hold for a count of 10, and then

lower) repeat 6 times for 1 min)

- 5 min core

o 1 min bike and lifts: Lie on back. Clasp hands behind head. Bike with legs for a count of 5, then for the next second straighten legs up, push legs towards ceiling lifting buttocks off floor, lower and bike/ repeat 10 times in 1 min

o 1 min v sit twists: Sit in v position with back straight and angled backwards and legs straight at approx 45 degree angle from floor. Twist with body and touch both hands on right side of body followed by the left side of body. Continue for 1 min

o 1 min froggies: Lie on back in a crunch position with hands in front of you. Crunch as far as you can, then grab lower legs with hands and tuck in. Release and lower to start position

o 1 min side v’s: Lie on left side with left arm straight down side of body and right arm bent behind head. Legs should be straight and angled about 30 degrees forward from body. Lift both legs and right elbow up towards celing. Go up and down for 30 sec and switch sides

o 1 min 1 legged sit-ups: Lie on back with right knee bent and foot flat on floor. Straighten left leg and lift up towards ceiling as far as possible. Perform a sit up, grab and pull left calf, and then go back down with body while keeping leg up. Continue for 30 sec then repeat with right leg in air.

- 5 min plyos

o 1 min D’ stance switches: Get in defensive stance with one foot slightly in front of other, knees bent, chest and head upright. With right hand bend your knees and touch the floor while keeping the left hand up and palm forward at chest level. Switch hand and foot positions. Continue switching back and forth.

o 1 min kick and tucks: Start on left side of chair. Keeping legs straight kick up right followed by left leg over top of chair to left side of chair. Repeat with left leg followed by right leg. Continue for 30 sec, then stand next to chair and do jump tucks. Jump up in air into a tuck position (hit knees to hands). Continue for 30 sec

o 1 min ski and spin: Start with hands clenched at chest level like holding ski poles. With both feet together, and nose and toes always pointing in the same direction, jump pointed to left and back, forward and back, right and back. Repeat for 30 sec, then jump 180 degrees (facing back) and back repeating for 30 sec. Alternate twisting left and right.

o 1 min squat leg jumps: Squat down and touch the floor, then jump up and reach for ceiling

o 1 min jump shots: Step and twist to left with both hands up like receiving a pass. Step back to starting position and jump high while pretending to shoot a basketball

- Cool Down: Do the warm up in reverse order

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

One of the more striking birds that visits my feeders is a red-bellied woodpecker, NOT to be confused with the rarer red-headed woodpecker that has a darker back.

Clicking on the photo opens the image in full size, where the bird's beauty is accentuated even more.

Click on this link for more information and to hear its interesting "call."

Ralph Waldo Emerson: The Snowstorm

New England Transcendental philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson loved the "wild work" of the "fierce artificer" who makes the world beautiful with his "frolic architecture."

In other words, a snowstorm makes the world look pretty.

Guess it depends on your point of view.

The farmer sighs as his lane is filled up with snow. For him snow means shoveling or plowing (without a snow blower or 4 X 4), more work, to clear a path for his horses.

Can you hear the audible sighing from my house?

Here's the poem for all of you snow lovers out there. Unfortunately, I can't share Emerson's sentiment at this point in time. The picture of my snow-covered lane tells you way.

Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,
Arrives the snow, and, driving o'er the fields,
Seems nowhere to alight: the whited air
Hides hill and woods, the river, and the heaven,
And veils the farmhouse at the garden's end.
The sled and traveller stopped, the courier's feet
Delayed, all friends shut out, the housemates sit
Around the radiant fireplace, enclosed
In a tumultuous privacy of storm.
Come see the north wind's masonry.
Out of an unseen quarry evermore
Furnished with tile, the fierce artificer
Curves his white bastions with projected roof
Round every windward stake, or tree, or door.
Speeding, the myriad-handed, his wild work
So fanciful, so savage, nought cares he
For number or proportion. Mockingly,
On coop or kennel he hangs Parian wreaths;
A swan-like form invests the hidden thorn;
Fills up the farmer's lane from wall to wall,
Maugre the farmer's sighs; and at the gate
A tapering turret overtops the work.
And when his hours are numbered, and the world
Is all his own, retiring, as he were not,
Leaves, when the sun appears, astonished Art
To mimic in slow structures, stone by stone,
Built in an age, the mad wind's night-work,
The frolic architecture of the snow.

Girls' Basketball News

So now all of you basketball players can say that you've been to Schoolsville, my blog, the web site that some of my sophs and seniors is "coolsville."

Here's the important basketball news:

No school or practice on Tuesday, Feb. 9. The school campus is closed.

The Hodgson game is cancelled for Wednesday and has been rescheduled for Monday, Feb. 15, Presidents' Day. Time to be announced.

Games are still scheduled for Thursday against St. E's and Saturday against Sanford.

NOT being permitted by the school to practice as a team, you have to find a way to get some exercise, if not basketball court time, during the next few days.

If you have a treadmill at home, use it. If you have weights, put yourself through a workout. At the very least, do some pushups, situps, etc. Take a brisk walk (staying safe, of course).

If you can get to a gym or fitness center if the roads are clear in your area, get there to work out and/or play basketball for at least an hour.

We still have 8 games to play and it looks like we might have to play them in a very short time period. So we need to keep in some sort of shape.

The snow cannot have come at a worse time for us as a basketball team. We have been playing good team ball and we don't need to sit around doing nothing (or shoveling mounds of snow, either).

So take it upon yourself to work out during the next few days of this extended break from school. I'll keep in touch with you as I find out more news.

Of course, you can catch up on your school work, too. Since you'll be playing lots of games in the near future, you might want to work ahead as much as you can.

Stay fit, but stay safe!

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Coach Fio

Senior Essay Update

Senior essays will be due on Thursday, even if we're off school on Tuesday and Wednesday. E-mail me if you have any questions.

Sophs Catcher Essay Update

Nothing is due Monday for The Catcher in the Rye essay.

Assuming we're in school, I'll go over some essay details in class that day.

Word of the Day

Go to this link at Dictionary.com to sign up to receive e-mails for the Word of the Day.

Now if you're caught checking your phone in school, you can use the excuse that you just couldn't wait to get to a computer to see the new Word of the Day. I don't think most teachers will fall for it, but you never know.

So if you subscribe to these daily e-mails, I advise you to curb your enthusiasm for etymology and put those phones away.