WINTER BREAK XTRA CREDIT!

hello students.

as promised, here is the extra credit assignment that is to be done this break...if you choose.

read the entire article below. respond to the question at the end. post your answers in the comments, including your name.

enjoy. ms. mack

*This past week, something very interesting happened to president Bush. While giving a speech in Iraq, one of the audience members threw a pair of shoes at him. In Iraqi culture, showing the bottom of your shoes to a person is a sign of disrespect and deep hatred. Read the article below and then look at the cartoon. then write the two paragraphs*

Shoes thrown at Bush on Iraq trip

A surprise visit by US President George Bush to Iraq has been overshadowed by an incident in which two shoes were thrown at him during a news conference.

An Iraqi journalist was wrestled to the floor by security guards after he called Mr Bush "a dog" and threw his footwear, just missing the president.

The US president has now continued to Afghanistan to inspect troops there. He arrived before dawn at Bagram air force base, and is due to hold talks with President Hamid Karzai

In the middle of the news conference with Mr Maliki, Iraqi television journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi stood up and shouted "this is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog," before hurling a shoe at Mr Bush which narrowly missed him.Showing the soles of shoes to someone is a sign of contempt in Arab culture.With his second shoe, which the president also managed to dodge, Mr Zaidi said: "This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq."Mr Zaidi, a correspondent for Cairo-based al-Baghdadiya TV, was then wrestled to the ground by security personnel and hauled away."If you want the facts, it's a size 10 shoe that he threw," Mr Bush joked afterwards.Al-Baghdadiya's bureau chief told the Associated Press that he had no idea what prompted Mr Zaidi to attack President Bush, although reports say he was once kidnapped by a militia and beaten up.Correspondents said the attack was symbolic. Iraqis threw shoes and used them to beat Saddam Hussein's statue after his overthrow.

Write two paragraphs in which you respond to the question: What is the cartoonist trying to say in this political cartoon?

HELLO NEW SCHOOL YEAR!!

Hello Fall 2008! It's taken me a whole 8 weeks to finally get around to updating this class blog; but I feel that today it is so necessary. For those of you who dont know, this is our class blog. It's a place where I will post extra-credit opportunities, along with any other cool, interesting, dope, hecka tight, stuff that I think you guys will like.

So, today is the eve of a very important election, as you guys all know, and I cant help but wonder how our country would be affected if all of you could vote...what would the results be tomorrow if they could be decided by high schoolers...? I hear you guys talk everyday about what you like and what you dont like...but...where does politics fit into all of that?? Do you even care?

Although in class there are many areas where I won't "go there" but this blog is a different story. So, on a personal level I think about the election tomorrow as significant in that we could potentially have our first person of color as president...let that sink in for second...

So, for extra credit, please say a little about your thoughts/feelings/opinions about the current election. I can't wait to read it.

Make sure your name is on your post.

word.

-Ms. Mack

~AP'ers...get ahead!~

Hello AP students. I hope the summer is going well for you and that you are enjoying both of the amazing novels you've been assigned to read this summer. First of all, this is my blog that I use to post extra credit, class thoughts & ideas, and other random things that I think will help shape you into wonderful adults ;) So, for your first extra credit opportunity...(i know, i know, you're probably thinking "...man, this lady is hella crazy; we have summer work and now she's givin us more work!")...well, even if I am crazy, a little extra credit is good for your soul.

So if you are so inclined, here is the extra credit assignment. Due the first day of class with your summer reading assignment.

Choose a character in either, The Color of Water or Huck Finn. Write a 5 paragraph essay in which you discuss the ways this character changes/develops as the novel progresses, conflicts that this character has (internal and external), this characters' role in developing the novel's plot, and finally, any major lessons learned by this character (include your analysis in this last part).

Email me with questions, thoughts, concerns, ideas...etc. englishis4everyone@gmail.com.

Best,
Ms. Mack

11th AP Homework: modern day crucible

Many of the themes and motifs in The Crucible are very relevant for us today...loyalty, integrity and reputation heavily influence the choices of all of the characters in this play. As you've noticed in the book, the characters' fear of witchcraft in their midst leads them to be suspicious of many of the people of Salem; it gives them license to accuse each other without any real reason or evidence.

In our country, over the past 7 years especially, we have seen many circumstances where fear of the unknown leads to 'mass hysteria'; where people's actions are called into question and the truth is blurred. Your homework is to find a modern day connection to The Crucible, an event from the past 5 years that has led to or come as a result of "mass hysteria". Like we discussed in class, analyze the soaps for your articles and post it in the comments section.

-ms. mack
enlishis4everyone@hotmail.com

are you free?

...in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr., i wonder...what does freedom mean to you all? what does it mean to be free...are you free?

as always...comment for xtra credit. good luck on your finals!

-ms. mack