Sophs #2 Journal--Your Favorite Work of Art

Tell us what you consider to be your favorite work of art. Please don't limit your definition of art to the "fine" arts, like painting. Please feel free to include the "pop" arts, like music, film, cartoons, or television.

You might want to use this post as a "warm up" or prewriting to the final essay that is due Friday, September 16. However, you may choose to write about something else for the final essay, too.

Complete this blog/journal response before Friday, September 9, so I can post all of your classmates responses for you to read.

Remember, I recommend that you write your response in a Word document, save it, and then copy and paste it as a response. Eventually, I will collect all of your "blog/journal" responses at the end of each marking period as a graded assignment.

Be more succinct here than you will be in your essay--write a minimum of 200 words (your essay should be 3-4 typed pages).


At Schoolsville, you probably want to respond to these prompts:

1. What IS your favorite work of art?

2. Tell me about it. Give a brief description or overview.

3. Why is it your favorite work? Does it make you "think" (appeal to your intellect) or "feel" (appeal to your emotions)? A little of both, perhaps? Briefly explain.

To get an idea of how to respond properly to this blog, you may check out the archives for September 2010 and read some of the 70-some responses made by last year's sophomores to this blog entry.

The image that you're viewing is of Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night, one of my personal favorite "works of art."

How to Post Comments at Schoolsville for 2012-2013

Here are some simple directions on how you should post comments at Schoolsville:

1. Go to the bottom of the blog post and click on the underscored words that indicate the number of comments (to the left of the mail envelope).

2. Type your comment (or copy and paste your comments from a Word document) in the box that reads "Leave your comment."

3. Choose an identity by clicking the circle that reads "Name/URL." When you do, a box will open in which you'll leave your first name, the first letter of your last name, followed by a space which will be followed by your section color. For instance I might leave the name "JohnF blue"(John Fiorelli, blue class) if I were a student in the blue section.

4. Then click the box to "publish your comment." Your comment will not be immediately posted, but a message at the top of the page should say that "your comment has been saved." I moderate the comments, meaning that I'll check them for their appropriateness before I post them.

NOTE 1:it's always good practice to compose your comments in a Word document that you can edit (before you copy and paste into the comment box) and then save your responses for printing at the end of the marking period.

NOTE 2: unless instructed differently, comments should run a minimum of 200 words.

NOTE 3: sometimes, you'll be given a blog post specifically for your section color, so you must post your comments there, still indicating your initials and section color.

Seniors #2 Journal--Personal Essay Warmup

Young writers who feel as if they have nothing to say to the world actually do.

You do, too.

In your short 17 or so years on Planet Earth you have already experienced people and events that have molded your image, touched you to the core, or have changed your life.

If you try to deny this, then answer this question--are you anything remotely like the helpless, crawling, bawling, slobbering infant that lay in the crib? Someone encouraged you to walk, talk, and close your mouth when you ate your food. Someone, and some key events in your life, that undoubtedly involved other people, helped you to become the miracle merging of body and soul that is you.

Bet you never thought about it that way.

So here's the journal assignment: briefly (minimum of 200 words) tell us here at Schoolsville about a person or event that deeply affected your life. I think we all can learn something from your story.

I'd like it if you used your response (if you wish) as a warmup for your personal essay, your first writing assignment reflecting on the same prompt (3-4 pages typed) that's due September 13. If I may begin with a simple metaphor, consider this journal posting a flexing and stretching of your writing muscles for that final paper.

In sharing your experience, you'll be participating in bettering the human race. That's right. You'll be educating the entire world community here at Schoolsville, a world that could stand to learn that no two people, let alone races, religions, or nations, are exactly alike. The world can learn from your story, or at least begin to develop some much needed emotions of empathy or sympathy. Wouldn't you be interested in reading about how some Afghan teen, his country ravaged by foreign and civil wars, responds to the same writing prompt that you've just been given? Would his paper help you to understand his hopelessness, his fear, his distrust of foreigners?

OK, I'm only pretending that the existence of Schoolsville, or the completion of your personal essay paper, is vital to the future of the human race. But the point of my exaggeration is this: reading what others have to say is important, whether they live on the other side of the globe or in the neighboring cul-de-sac. Understanding them might help us to decide if we want to invade their country or invite them to our Labor Day barbecue.

Communication with others is the first "baby step" in learning how to get along. If we can't "walk in someone's shoes," then at least we should be willing to slip on someone's sandals and wiggle our toes for a spell. We just might learn that everyone in the world is not wearing the same 9 1/2 B's.

Respond here before Friday, Sept. 7. I will post them for everyone to read early Friday morning. The essay is due Sept. 13.

To get some ideas, you may review the comments given by last year's seniors by visiting the archived post for September 9, 2011.

#1 Journal on Summer Reading for Sophs AND Seniors

Let's put your summer thoughts away for a few minutes because you're officially back to school, and school work, as verified by your first trip (at least this year, for all of you returnees) to Schoolsville. At Schoolsville, the sun always shines (influenced by my own sunny disposition), with no threat of a hurricane, tornado, or an earthquake.

"All" of the blog posts that are enumerated (with a # sign in the title, like this one) require you to turn in as part of your "writing journal" near the end of the marking period for a grade. If you see a # in the title, then your response to the prompt will become a part of your written journal.

"Often" these blog posts will require an online response from you within a few days so that your class can immediately read these responses. But NOT this one.

Instead, complete your response "at your leisure" to turn in when the journal is collected.

Here's your first journal writing prompt. Answer both questions:

To test your summer reading, in addition to a couple of upcoming "check" quizzes on summer reading on Sept. 9, please answer these questions for BOTH of your summer reading books and turn in with your writing journal at the end of the marking period.

1. Did you like reading this book? Why? Did you not like it? Why not? Be specific. You can't say it was boooooooooring. Criticize characters, plot, writing style, language, etc. , you know, some of the elements of fiction that we'll be studying this year. Of course, if you liked it, point out the parts of the book that you enjoyed.

2. If you were teaching this book to a high school class, on what elements of the book would you focus? For instance, would you (sophs) delve into the historical background of Gatsby? Would you (seniors) examine the investigative process of Truman Capote in writing In Cold Blood?

Again, you will hand in these responses at the end of the quarter as part of your journal. Remember to write about both of your summer readings, expressing yourself in a minimum of 200 words for BOTH works.