Homework 9/30

Review for Vocab Quiz #3

Start to look for a ROAR book. It must be-
1) a biography, memoir, or autobiography
2) at least 200 pages
3) have strong vocabulary (makes you use the dictionary from time to time)

You must bring the ROAR book to class on October 8th

OMM Test

Happy studies tonight.

Remember:
1: who are the characters in the story?
2: what vocabulary words did you learn?
3: how can you use OMM for examples of literary terms (plot, character)?

Of Mice and Men Extra Credit

-keep your eyes/ears open to find references to what we learn in class!


This might be before your time, but here are the Animaniacs:




Sylvester (stop calling me George!) takes on Steinbeck:

The End of Of Mice and Men

phew. Time to see what happened with George and Lennie...

5/4/3/2/1 Notes on Chapter 6

Of Mice and Men Test on Tuesday

Homework 9/25

Way to go on the Vocabulary quizzes! A ten point increase for period 5.

OMM 5/4/3/2/1 notes for chapter 5.

Homework 9/24

OMM 5/4/3/2/1 notes on Chapter 4

Homework 9/23

Vocab Quiz lesson #2...but keep up with last week's words too!

5/4/3/2/1 journal on OMM Chapter 3.

Homework 9/22

5/4/3/2/1 Notes for Of Mice and Men chapter 3 up to page 53.

Vocabulary Work: exercise II and IV for lesson 2 (25-26)

Vocab quiz on Wednesday

Weekend

Ah, a sunny Saturday. Softball game, Icelandic rock concert, community BBQ and Jazz...and lots of grading!

Hope yours has been well.

Homework
-questions for Of Mice and Men chapter 2
-vocab quiz on Wednesday Lesson 2

Homework 9/17

-finish the Of Mice and Men question sheet for chapter 1

-many of you owe summer reading work. Get it done.

Homework 9/16

Welcome to the blog.

-Study Vocab lesson #1 for quiz. Be ready with antonyms.
-5/4/3/2/1 active reading for Of Mice and Men chapter 1

9/9 Welcome Back

1: set up a Turnitin.com account, and enroll in our class
2: upload your Summer Reading Choice Book Quotation Assignment
3: begin to fill out your Access Plan sheet, think about getting that library card

100th Post!

Reminder that the rest of the year we will be starting summer reading. Get your books, and let's begin the summer right.

Also, be sure on your day off to check out Boston's High School baseball MVP's at Fenway Park. That's right, Fenway.

3:00pm start time, and it is free!

Cell phones=mental illness

Love this story, but am disturbed at the parents and kids who get addicted...

ps: check out the sweet idiom usage.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
BBC.co.uk

Spain treats child phone addicts

Two children in Spain have been admitted to a mental health institution to be treated for addiction to their mobile phones, Spanish media report.

The children, aged 12 and 13, were sent to the clinic by their parents, who said they could not carry out normal activities without their handsets.

They were doing badly at school and lying to relatives in order to get money to spend on their phones.

They have been learning to cope without their phones for three months.

Dr Maite Utges, who runs the Child and Youth Mental Health Centre in Lleida, near Barcelona in north-eastern Spain, said it was the first time the clinic had treated children who were dependent on their mobile phones.

"They both showed disturbed behaviour and this exhibited itself in failure at school. They both had serious difficulties leading normal lives," she was quoted in Spanish papers as saying.

The children had owned their phones for 18 months, and their parents had made little effort to restrict their use before noticing how serious their dependence had become.

'Tip of iceberg'

Dr Jose Martinez-Raga, an expert in addictions, said children who developed a dependency on mobile phones, like those who over-used video games, often became irritable, withdrawn and antisocial, and their school performance deteriorated.

He warned these cases could be the "tip of the iceberg", and that mobile phone addiction "could definitely be a danger in the future".

Fears have been raised in a number of countries about the adverse effects mobile phone use may have on children.

Dr Utges recommended that parents not allow their children to have mobile phones until they reached 16 years of age.

Last Homework

Weekend Homework!

1: upload your ROAR to Turnitin by Monday, close of school day. Remember that ROAR is a practice of the summer reading assignment for your choice book- pick three quotations and explain what is going on in the quotes and the overall story.

2: late Culture Vultures? Monday is the very last day.

3: Plan to celebrate dads and a Celtics victory on Sunday!

EXAM Time

Congratulations on the fantastic Odyssey Kick Ball work today. Some amazing catches, kicks, and even a few nasty collisions made us smile!

To review for the test:
1: look over vocab and idioms. There are too many to cram, but familiarize yourself with the ones you have no idea of their definition.

2: read through your Odyssey notes. SparkNotes will only confuse you since they cover the entire 24 books!

3: be familiar with poetry and literary terms.

HW 6/10

Homework

1: bring sensible shoes for Odyssey Physical Challenge

2: bring in your textbooks!

3: ROAR (6/16) and Culture Vulture (6/12)

Culture Vulture (last, last, minute)

Unless you plan to hit up the foreign video section at Blockbuster or the Library, here is a good Vulture Activity.

Boston Guitar Fest 2008!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008
4 p.m.	Williams Hall, NEC
	Boston GuitarFest 2007 Prize Winners First Prize: Cristina Pérez Madiedo, guitar (Cuba); Second Prize: Jérôme Mouffe, guitar (Belgium); Third Prize: Adam Levin, guitar (USA) This concert showcases the prize winners from last year’s performance competition. First prize was awarded to Cristina Pérez Madiedo (Cuba), second prize to Jérôme Mouffe (Belgium), and third prize to Adam Levin (USA). Madiedo was also awarded the VGo Recordings prize as the first place winner. Her first album, Eliot Fisk Guitar Series Vol. 2 will be available at this event. $8 Ticket

DIRECTIONS:


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My own Culture Vulture from Friday!



Brasil gave up an easy goal 5 minutes into the game. This was an upset tantamount to the Patriots loosing to the O'Bryant Tigers (not to take anything away from our team).

HW 6/9

Homework

1: ALL Late Work due tomorrow

2: Culture Vulture due 6/12 (Thursday 1st period before exam)

3: ROAR due to Turnitin.com 6/16

4: Look over study guide

5: Odyssey Physical Challenge: Wednesday!

HW 6/6

Weekend Homework

1: ROAR
2: Culture Vulture due the 11th.
3: Idioms #77-100 quiz for Monday
4: Finish your Odyssey Group Essay

Dragon Boat Culture Vulture

looking for a Sunday event?

Boston Dragon Boat Festival
Sunday, June 8, 2008

http://www.bostondragonboat.org/index.html

ON CHARLES RIVER
9:00AM – 5:00PM Hong Kong Dragon Boat Races Finals

ALONG MEMORIAL DRIVE
12:00PM –5:00PM Asian Foods

IN ARTS AND CRAFTS TENT
12:00PM – 5:00PM
Chinese Arts and Crafts Activities
Recycle Art Activities

RIVER BANK BOSTON SIDE (12:00PM-12:30PM)
12:00-12:10 Eye-dotting ceremony
12:10-12:20 Dragon Dance by Wah Lum Kung Fu
12:20-12:30 Dragon Dance Parade over Bridge with Sponsors

CAMBRIDGE SIDE IN BIG PERFORMANCE TENT (12:30PM-5:00PM)
12:30-12:40 Dragon Dance by Wah Lum Kung Fu
12:40-1:00 Opening Ceremony
1:00-1:30 Chinese Music Ensemble, Chinese Yoyo, and traditional Chinese dance
1:30-1:45 Korean Poongmul Drum/Dance Family Troupe
1:45-2:15 Hula and Tahitian Dance performance by Polynesian Dance Arts
2:15-2:45 Japanese Taiko Drumming by Odaiko New England
2:45-3:15 Chinese Martial Art and lion dance by Wah Lum Kung Fu
3:15-3:45 Chinese folk dance and music (drum and hulusi) by CCCC
3:45-4:00 Korean Poongmul Drum/Dance Family Troupe
4:00-4:30 Hula and Tahitian Dance performance by Polynesian Dance Arts
4:30-5:00 Japanese Taiko Drumming by Odaiko New England

HW 6/4

Here we go!

Green Book Active Reading: 688-696

peace.

Special Culture Vulture

well, maybe somethings do come to those who wait (procrastinate?).

Here is a Culture Vulture that will not disappoint.

Ever want to go to a museum that was filled with skulls?
And within walking distance of school?

The Warren Anatomical Museum at Harvard Medical School is the place for you!

read more here:

your head will spin at all the wonderful sights!

HW 6/3

Homework

phew. Kingdom...phylum...class...order???

That MCAS took much longer than I expected. So, here is the active reading for tonight.

Join Odysseus as he is reunited with his son Telemachus. Actually, it is more of a 1st meeting as Telemachus was a child when Odysseus left for Troy.

1: Green Book pg. 681-688

2: make your way to a Culture Vulture activity pronto.


Brookline Booksmith


Thursday June 5th 7pm
Richard Preston - Panic In Level 4: Cannibals, Killer Viruses, and Other Journeys to the Edge of Science
As seen in his exhilarating scientific pageturners The Wild Trees and The Hot Zone, Richard Preston has proven himself a master of the nonfiction narrative. In his latest foray he focuses his microscope on self-cannibalization, the Ebola virus, and amateur Russian mathematicians who build a supercomputer in their apartment.

HW 6/2

Homework

welcome to June. Here are a few reminders.

1: Active Reading of "Trojan War" handout

2: ROAR review (3 quotations) due on 6/16

3: Culture Vulture due on 6/10 or 11

suggestions:

826 Boston Book Reading
I Wish They Would Have Asked Me
Join us in celebration of our first publication, I Wish They Would Have Asked Me, a 180-page anthology of essays, poems, short stories, and letters written by 11th and 12th grade students from The English High School.

When: Thursday, June 5, 2008, from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Where: The English High School, 144 McBride Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.
-------------
Boston Public Library Events

On the Medical Frontlines: Richard Knox in Conversation with Doctors Without Borders—Thursday, June 5 at 7 p.m. Richard Knox, Health and Science Correspondent for National Public Radio, talks with four aid workers from Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). They will discuss the challenges of reaching people caught in conflict, treating malnutrition, and responding to epidemics, and share how they have made working with MSF a part of their lives.

New Year Baby -- Saturday, June 7 at 2 p.m. A documentary about a refugee's attempts to learn about her family's lives inn Cambodia. Part of a series by Boston Cares and Hostelling International, in partnership with WGBH and ITVS Community Cinema. A panel discussion will follow the film.

HW 5/28-6/1

Homework
greetings from Wilmington NC. I'll be sippin on Sweet Tea and eating a year's worth of "Chick Fil A."

For you:

1: Read to the end of Part 1 (678 in the Green Book, 924 in the Blue)

2: Work diligently on your Shared Essay. Make sure that everyone has e-mail addresses to send work to each other

3: Idiom Quiz #50-76 on Monday, June 2.

4: Get busy on ROAR reading and Culture Vulture activity

HW 5/27

Homework

With the sweet smoky smell of BBQ still lingering in the air, we turn our attention once again to the twists and turns of Odysseus.

1: Read and Notes for Green Book 662-667. Think about the procedures surrounding talking with the dead

2: CULTURE VULTURE update. So with the final exam calendar working the way it is, we will NOT be able to present a Culture Vulture Project. This means that for 5th term, you will only be required to submit a rough draft sheet and proof by June 11.

3: ROAR update. With trimming down the Culture Vulture, the ROAR will be moved forward and is now due on Monday June 16th by 2:00.

HW 5/23

Weekend Homework

1: Idiom quiz #23-49. This had better be a grade "pick-me-up" for you. Put good time into looking over and understanding the meaning of each idiom

2: Active reading of the Cyclops section: Green Book p. 654-662

HW 5/21

Homework

1) ROAR

2) The Odyssey active reading in the Green Book page 647-653.

3) get to the State House and make a change for our schools

HW 5/20

Ye old Homework

1: young lions, ROAR into your travel books. You must be getting some good reads in while the time affords.

2: Culture Vulture? That's right, it's due on the 11th...

HW 5/19

Homework

1) upload your Baz Luhrmann journal to Turnitin.com You must have something interesting to say in the journal, even if it is a question.

2) read pages 642-645 in the Green book, take active reading notes

3) begin the 2nd set of idioms, the quiz will be TUESDAY May 27

HW 5/15

For all the early morning blog readers...

Homework

1: get the ROAR book. Extra shame for people who have yet to think about selecting a book- there are folks who have already READ their book

2: Idiom quiz...Monday

HW 5/14

Homework

Day one of Baz and the Bard:

-Think back over the reading, and compose a 2 page response (yes, skip lines).

-Please move your thoughts beyond "Shakespeare uses swords, but this one had guns."

-Use the article from last night. Now you know Baz's style so comment on it.

Idiom test on Monday #1-22

ROAR book for Monday, too

HW 5/13

Get right on down to the science auditorium for some nice Baz Luhrmann Romeo+Juliet action.

Here is the article you need to actively read, that means take some notes (highlights are just pretty color)

Zeffirelli vs Luhrmann


Find that ROAR book.

Keep on with the idioms. Please come by after school if you can't make "heads or tails" of them...

Idioms List

Here is the list:

Idioms!


Guess the idiom:




credit to Linda Silvestri @ http://sketchedout.wordpress.com/category/animal-idioms/
her site is amazing!

HW 5/12

Homework

1: nothing all that new...

2: Test tomorrow, flip and dip to try and see if you can identify the speakers

3: Idioms #1-22 quiz on Monday! Make sure you are prepared and not going into the quiz buying a pig in a poke...

4: travel to the library and journey about until you discover a ROAR book that suits you and our requirements.

HW 5/9

Homework

1) Enjoy finding a ROAR Travel Literature book. It is due by Monday, May 19

2) Get your Culture Vulture done early.
Here is a wonderful event in Harvard Square on Sunday: May Fair!
-the streets are all shut down for food, music and dance!

A more reflective event on Sunday morning, Mother's Day Peace Walk in Dorchester.

Regardless of event, do find a way to celebrate the mothers in your life.

3) If you have not completed the Research Paper, it must be submitted on Monday, May 12 or you will be attending summer school :)

HW 5/8

Homework

congratulation! Research paper is done!

(if you have not turned in a paper, it must be submitted by Monday, May 12 by the end of the school day)

Weekend Work

1) find that travel book. Think of your favorite genre (fiction, non-fiction, math?) and select a book that has a journey/travel in it. Not a trip to grandmother's house, but an extended trip that is important to the plot and characters.

2) study over Romeo and Juliet Act 4 and 5. The test will be on Tuesday next week.

3) get ready for Baz Luhrmann's Romeo+Juliet


watch the trailer here:
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi58720537/

HW 5/7

Homework

ok. Last night for the research paper. Be sure to check the research paper guidelines, download a 2nd copy from the blog.

Here are some continual questions/answers:

Q: Do I have to pass in all the sections together?

A: Yes. This is one research paper with a cover page, at least five pages of writing, and a works cited page. Print and upload this paper as one document.

Q: Do I have to cite information that I put into my own words?

A: Uh...yes.

Q: Does this paper need an introduction?

A: To quote Kool-Aid Man, "Oh Yeah." Before the first section of RASH, give an overview of the paper: what was researched, why research is important, and that the paper investigates Romeo and Juliet.

Q: Who is that Harold Bloom on the (R) section?

A: He is a "famous" Shakespearian critic, and many of the books we have been using are written or edited by him. You only need to write about Zeffirelli and Garrick for the final section.

Q: What about the titles for all the sections?

A: On the board today, there was an outline of how it might look. See below:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...Shakespeare died in 1616, and was buried in the same Stratford Church where he

was baptized. Unfortunately, we may never know whose body rests in the tomb

since Shakespeare wrote an epithet that curses anyone who dares "disturb these

bones" (Chapman 23).

Astrology in Elizabethan England

(tab)The power of Shakespeare's last words have remained to this day. While

people today might not be scared of a curse, this prevented anyone in Stratford

from opening the grave. In the late 16th century, people believed that their lives

were "governed by the stars" (Lackland 23). Shakespeare includes these popular

ideas in Romeo and Juliet as the title characters live and die because of fate found

in the sky.

HW 5/6

Homework

Research Paper

1: plan how you will use tomorrow's class...

2: start to put together your paper sections. Yes, you will need and overall introduction to the paper. If it helps, put topic headings in bold before the start of each section

HW 5/5

Homework

Research Paper
1) Final week of the research paper! Everything due on Thursday 5/8

2) The (R)eader section of the paper should answer these research questions:
How have directors changed the the play?
How have critics evaluated the play?

Use the reading from last weekend on Garrick as a starting place.
Use the "Bloom books" in the classroom for additional information.

3) Bring to class your research notes tomorrow so we can work on works cited formatting

4) Bring to class on Wednesday your 4 sections of the paper so we can think about pulling it all together.

ROAR
5) Make a visit to Amazon.com and BPL.org to research what book you are going to read for ROAR term 5

Culture Vulture
6) Culture Vulture for this term will be a public presentation of your information. We will share our events with other students and teachers.

phew. That seems like a lot, but it is just placing into words all of the work you have already been assigned and have been completing these past weeks.

ROAR Term V

For our last term, we will be reading Travel Literature. We will use a broad definition of "travel," and you can feel free to pick a book that recounts an actual journey or select a story of fictional travels.

Hint: If the title has "travel" or "journey" in it, then it is probably going to be acceptable.

You need to get right on selecting a book, since there is not a week break this term and it is so short.

Please use Amazon to research your books. Many students have written ROAR reviews that show dislike for the style of writing. This should not happen since you have the ability to read a few pages before launching full into the book.

Here are two that I like:

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
a riveting first-hand account of a catastrophic expedition up Mount Everest. In March 1996, Outside magazine sent veteran journalist and seasoned climber Jon Krakauer on an expedition led by celebrated Everest guide Rob Hall. Despite the expertise of Hall and the other leaders, by the end of summit day eight people were dead. Krakauer's book is at once the story of the ill-fated adventure and an analysis of the factors leading up to its tragic end. Written within months of the events it chronicles, Into Thin Air clearly evokes the majestic Everest landscape. As the journey up the mountain progresses, Krakauer puts it in context by recalling the triumphs and perils of other Everest trips throughout history.


The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.
Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have") and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers.

Research Paper Handouts

Here you go:

Rubric #1 (general guidelines)

Rubric #2 (six traits)

Rubric #3 (works cited)

HW 5/2

Homework

1) active reading of Romeo and Juliet Act 5
2) read the article on Shakespeare adaptation. This will be the start of your (R) section of the paper

HW 5/1

Happy May Day. This is a day traditionally used to celebrate spring rebirth, or national pride and industry.

Homework

1) upload (H) paper to Turnitin.com
2) create a solid advertisement for ROAR

tomorrow, we will look at Romeo and Juliet Act 5.

This weekend, you will start/complete the (R) section of the paper. We will work on that section on Tuesday. Be ready to compose a works cited page, so be sure to have all the bibliographic information for your books and websites.

HW 4/30

Homework
1) Bring in a printed copy of your (H) paper for us to edit
2) The ROAR quotes/explanations are due to Turnitin.com tomorrow
3) The ROAR advertisement is due on Friday (5/2)
4) Upload your (H) paper to Turnitin.com on Friday (5/2). It will be graded on formatting and connecting Historical research with lines from Romeo and Juliet.

Paper Clip Romeo and Juliet:

Locked in an eternal embrace...

Yesterday at Mantua, in an amazing echo of Romeo and Juliet, archaeologists revealed the discovery of a couple locked in a tender embrace, one that has endured for more than 5,000 years.


Read more here:

HW 4/29

Homework
1) Active Reading 4.3+4
2) Outline (H) section of Research Paper. You should have 3 or 4 paragraphs outlined.
M(ain point)
E(vidence from research)
A(nalysis of Romeo and Juliet using the research)

3) Schedule when/where you will conduct further research for the paper

ROAR Advertisement Rubric

The best rubric is to look at the Ads from last year. But here are the formal criteria for how your advertisement will be evaluated.

Rubric:

HW 4/28

Homework

1) Culture Vulture- rough draft and proof
2) Romeo and Juliet Active Reading Act 4 Scene 1
3) Research Paper (H)
-printed copy Thursday 5/1
-Turnitin.com Friday 5/2
5) ROAR 3 Quotations 5/1
ROAR Advertisement 5/2
4) ALL make up work must be completed this week

Vacation Culture Vulture

Hope you enjoyed the marathon yesterday.

Here are a few options for last minute culture vulture.

Jazz and Art:



Sat
April 26th
6 - 11 PM

Jazz Concert and Art Exhibition Opening
Piano Factory
791 Tremont St.
Roxbury, MA
6 - 8 PM Art Exhibition: Ralph Beach, Paul Goodnight, Kwest, Richard Waters, and Taina Vargas
8 - 11pm: Concert - Kenneth Holman and Agape








Copley Library Events

Tuesday, April 22
throughout the day
Copley Square
Josh Elder, the author of Mail Order Ninja, hosts two workshops and a discussion for fans of various ages.



At Copley, there is an interactive exhibition called "Facing History." It is a chance to ask how you view others in the community, and see how people have struggled to live together.
Also, there is a great map exhibition that shows bird's eye views of Boston.

HW 4/18

Homework

-get your research done for Historical Context. Get to a library.

-use an internet version of R&J and search for your topic. http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

e-mail me with questions.


The (H) section of the research paper will be graded for formatting and flow. Make your citations perfect, and make each sentence connect with the next one.

HW 4/17

Homework
-nail down the research topic for Historical Context
-prove to me that you have done some initial research on the topic with lines from Romeo and Juliet or about your topic

Please start to plan out your week of vacation.

I will be at the Copley Library on Tuesday and Wednesday 11am-1pm. Look for me on the main floor, go straight through the open staircase area, and I'll be at a table in the computer area.

Do send me an email so I can expect you there.

HW 4/16

Homework

-2 day research extravaganza begins tomorrow. Visit the library soon, and get books to help with your research

-by Friday, you need to show me your topic, and at least three places in Romeo and Juliet that relate to your topic.

-remember, your research question is "How does historical context help me better understand Romeo and Juliet?" You can find a whole library of information about boats in the Elizabethan era, but can that make it easier to read the play?

ROAR/Culture Vulture Update

With Term 4 providing a deluge of work, I have decided to amend the requirements for ROAR and Culture Vulture.

ROAR
(to replace the standard ROAR 2 page review)

-select 3 quotations/passages from the book
-explain why you found these selections interesting (paragraph per quotation)
-use standard ROAR heading (publication information, letter grade) and use proper MLA intext citation for each quotation

-create an advertisement for your book. The ad must be standard paper size (no billboards please) and show creative thought and quality construction (avoid tape, stock images, messy handwriting).
-the ad should contain the book's title and the author's name (since it is an ad, there is no need to underline/italicize the title)


Culture Vulture

-have fun by attending a Culture Vulture event!
-complete a Culture Vulture rough draft sheet, and attach proof
-we will write a newspaper article about the event next term


Due Dates
ROAR
3 Quotations (Turnitin.com) 5/1
Advertisement (in class) 5/2

Culture Vulture
Rough Draft & Proof 4/29

HW 4/15

Homework

-test, test, oh sweet test!

-pick a topic to research for the Historical Context part of the essay

-sorry, but the idea of R. Kelly having anything to do with Romeo and Juliet makes me laugh...

Approved Internet Sources

Here are some hotlinks for the Research Paper:


http://elizabethan.org/

http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/index.html

http://www.globelink.org/

http://www.folger.edu/eduPrimSrcArch.cfm

HW 4/14

Homework

-review Act 2 and 3 for the test this Wednesday (I suggest making a study guide like we did for Act 1. Know the outline of these acts: who is in each scene, what are the main plot points)

-like countless 9th graders, you have seen a bit more of Romeo in Zeffirelli's film adaptation than you expected. Do you have any thoughts about how the male body is shown in movies? Is there a difference with how the female body is shown? Two movies come to mind (I do not recommend either for your viewing): Borat and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. These films shock(ed)audiences with male nudity. Of course Zeffirelli shows Romeo from behind, but it still leaves little to the imagination.

HW 4/11

Homework
-Active Reading of Romeo and Juliet 3.5

-Act 2 & 3 Test on Wednesday. It will be the same format as the Act 1 test (plot/quotes)

Study Questions

Scene 5:
22. As Romeo is preparing to leave Juliet, what argument does she use to convince him to stay?

23. Later, why does Juliet think Romeo should leave?

24. Just as Romeo is about to descend the rope ladder and leave Juliet, what does Juliet say about the way Romeo looks?

25. Why does Lady Capulet think Juliet is crying?

26. When Lady Capulet threatens to send someone to Mantua to poison Romeo, what does Juliet say?

27. After Lady Capulet breaks the news about Paris, what is Juliet’s response?

28. If Juliet’s mother does not arrange to delay the marriage, what will Juliet do?

29. What is Capulet’s reaction to Juliet’s threats?

30. What is the nurse’s advice to Juliet?

31. How does Juliet’s attitude toward the nurse change?

32. What “scheme” does Juliet devise to get rid of the nurse and to get out of the house?

Weekend Culture Vulture

Math and Art

Hours: Wednesday, Thursday 6-9pm - Saturday, 2-5pm, or by appointment.

Green Street (Orange Line) T Station




826 Boston Grand Opening
North American Symposium on Sasquatch Research

On April 12, 2008, the Greater Boston Bigfoot Institute (GBBRI) will celebrate its grand opening with the North American Symposium on Sasquatch Research (NASSR).

From 12:00 - 3:00 p.m., GBBRI will be open to the public, featuring family writing activities, product demonstrations, music and author readings. Here is a tentative schedule:

* 12:00 – 1:00: Writing Activities for youth & families
* 1:00 – 1:30: Reading by M.T. Anderson, author of The Serpent Came to Gloucester
Reading by A.W. Flaherty, author of The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster
* 1:30 – 1:45: Mayor Menino Visits
* 1:45 – 2:30: Music & Dancing
* 2:30 – 3:00: Bigfoot Films & Product Demonstrations


3035 Washington St.
Roxbury, MA 02119
617.442.5400
Directions

HW 4/10

The "S" part of your research paper due to Turnitin.com and a perfectly formatted printed copy submitted for class.

HW 4/9

Homework

-enjoy the extra day to finish the "S" section of the Research Paper

-tomorrow, take down the sections of the play that will help you w/imagery from the board

-keep on reading the ROAR book

HW 4/8

Homework
-good amount of reading tonight. Act III Scenes ii-iv

study questions

Scene 2:
13. Why is Juliet so impatient for the nurse to return?

14. Describe Juliet’s rapidly changing attitudes toward Romeo in this scene.

15. What piece of news has upset Juliet the most?

16. What does the nurse promise to do?

Scene 3:
17. Explain Romeo’s reaction to the news of his banishment.

18. Romeo tells Friar Laurence that the priest cannot know or understand how Romeo feels. Why?

19. What argument does Friar Laurence use to prevent Romeo from killing himself?

20. What does the nurse give to Romeo?

Scene 4:
21. What does Capulet tell his wife to say to Juliet?


Also, I am pushing back the due date for "Style" until Friday, the 11th. Bring what you have written to class on Thursday for an editing session.

HW 4/7

Homework

1: We are becoming lazy with Active Reading notes. Here are some study questions for you to consider for tomorrow.

Act 3
Scene 1:
1. At the beginning of the scene, why does Benvolio think that there will be a fight?

2. What does Mercutio accuse Benvolio of doing/being?

3. When Tybalt and Mercutio first begin arguing, what does Benvolio try to get them to do?

4. What does Tybalt call Romeo?

5. Why won’t Romeo fight Tybalt?

6. What does Mercutio think is the reason Romeo refuses to fight?

7. Why does Mercutio keep repeating, “A plague o’ both your houses”?

8. What does Romeo say that Juliet’s love has done to him?

9. Why does Romeo call himself “fortune’s fool”?

10. When Benvolio relates to the Prince what happened, what does he say Romeo tried to do before Mercutio was killed?

11. What does Lady Capulet accuse Benvolio of? Why?

12. What are the Prince’s punishments for the dual deaths?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HW 4/4

Homework
-Active Reading of R&J 3.1

-Signed progress report

-----------------------------------------

For your research of Shakespeare's (S)tyle, you must be able to define the mandatory elements listed on the sheet, provide an example from Romeo and Juliet, and provide at least one solid direct quote. The majority of your work will be finding examples from the play.

Help
-use an internet version of the play to search for a word/phrase that you remember but can't locate. Here:

Culture Vulture Packed Weekend!

Friday

ICA Teen Night 6-9PM


'REVERB'

Inspired by the exhibition STREET LEVEL, and new work by William Cordova


6 pm - hairstyling in Mario Ybarra Jr.'s installation "Sweeney Tate" (2007)

6:30 - 7:30pm DJ Die Young / Volvox / Baltimoroder

7:30 - 2on2 bboy/bgirl breakdancing battle hosted by the FLOORLORDS + Cash Prize

Free Hair Styling / Life Advice in a barbershop in the middle of the galleries.
It's for both boys and girls, and is amazing. Kaitlyn Explosion is back!

AND, A CANDY LOUNGE.SERIOUSLY.



FORUM: The HBO Series "The Wire" - A Compelling Portrayal of an American City

Date: Friday, April 4 2008
Time: 05:00 PM
Location: John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum; 79 JFK St, Cambridge, MA 02138

A 4:30 pm screening of "The Wire" series highlights followed by a panel discussion of crime, gang activity, and urban policy

Event Speakers: David Simon, creator of "The Wire"; Nora Baston, Dep. Superintendent of the Boston Police; author Geoffrey Canada; Professor Sudhir A. Venkatesh, Columbia University
Event Moderators: Professor William Julius Wilson, author of "When Work Disappears: The World of the New Urban Poor"
Event CoSponsors: HBO, Harvard's W.E. B. Du Bois Institute for African American Research, Department of African and African American Studies, HKS' Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management

Saturday

Step Show @ Northeastern University
Noon-5:00 PM $10 (adults); $3 (ages 6-11); under 5 free

Matthews Arena
Join African-American fraternities and sororities for an afternoon of music and entertainment. Be prepared to be rocked!

HW 4/3

Congratulations on finishing the first portion of the Research Paper.

Homework
-bring in any books you have checked out about Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet as we have the period set aside for research and editing

-Active Reading notes on Act 3 Scene 1 for Monday

HW 4/2

Those who have put the time into research, enjoy! Those who have not done enough research, this will be a sprint into tomorrow.

Remember: You MUST bring a printed copy of your paper tomorrow. This is a homework assignment that can NOT be made up.

Please do not cheat yourself with any Wikipedia research, and do take care enough with your paper to check the formatting before hitting print.

Research Paper Outline and Requirements

It has been found!

Download to the delight of anyone who lost their copy HERE

Research Notes Sheet

Rock, Paper, Scissors

Coverage of the World Championship and key phrases HERE

HW 4/1

Homework
1: Active Reading of R&J Act 2 Scenes 4+5

2: get that research done! Remember that there is a Faculty Meeting tomorrow, so the Doreian library will be closed. Get to Copley.

Study Questions
Scene 4:
6. According to Mercutio, what kind of man is Tybalt?

7. What is the nurse saying to Romeo in lines 157 – 163?

8. How is Juliet to arrange to meet Romeo?

Scene 5:
9. The nurse is supposed to be gone only a half hour, but she is actually gone for how long?

10. How is the nurse behaving that is frustrating to Juliet?

HW 3/31

Week Schedule
Monday- Direct/ Indirect Quotes, Romeo and Juliet 2.3
Tuesday- R&J2.4
Wednesday- Zeffirelli Act II reading
Thursday- Research Paper Edit
Friday- Research Day


Homework
-active reading of Romeo and Juliet 2.3
-keep researching Shakespeare's life. The first section is due on Thursday.

Study Questions
Scene 3:
1. What has friar Laurence been out gathering in his basket?

2. Explain lines 21-22: “Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied,/And vice sometime by action dignified”?

3. When Friar Laurence sees Romeo, what comment does Friar Laurence make about seeing Romeo so early in the morning?

4. What does Friar Laurence mean when he says to Romeo, “Young men’s love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes?

5. Friar Laurence agrees to perform the marriage ceremony for Romeo and Juliet for what reason?

Term IV ROAR and Culture Vulture

With all the work required to read Romeo and Juliet, research, and your other classes, I am moving back some long term dates to give some extra weekend time.

ROAR
Response Paper
original date 4/10
new date 4/21 @10:30 (marathon start time)

Advertisement
original date 4/16
new date 4/28


Culture Vulture
rough draft & proof
original date 4/29
same date 4/29

Newspaper Article
original date 4/30
new date 5/15
(this will be graded for 5th term)

HW 3/27

Tomorrow is research day, so check out a Shakespeare or Rome and Juliet book from the library.

1: If you have been lazy, make up work. Check back through the blog and get working.

2: Please, please, please, start using a summary of the play while reading. Even the dreaded "mother ------notes" can work. Of course if you want to understand Shakespeare's word play (aka "dirty" jokes) then use the SUMMARY GUIDE here

The "real" Juliet balcony:

HW 3/26

Hope you enjoyed the test today. The format will stay the same for the remaining acts.

For tonight:

1: Active reading of Romeo and Juliet Act 2 Scenes 1-2

PLEASE USE SUMMARY GUIDES: like this one

2: Here are some study questions to help:

Act 2

Scene 1:
1. What does Mercutio say about “blind love”?

Scene 2:
2. When Juliet appears on her balcony, what does Romeo compare her to?

3. How does Juliet “speak, yet . . . [say] nothing”?

4. When Juliet leans her cheek on her hand, what does Romeo say?

5. Unaware of his presence, what does Juliet ask Romeo to say?

6. In a sentence or two, explain what Juliet says about names.

7. Juliet asks how Romeo got into her place. The orchard walls are high, and Romeo’s life would be in danger if her relatives were to find him there. What is Romeo’s response to these questions?

8. Why is Juliet embarrassed?

9. Juliet is going to send someone to Romeo on the following day for what purpose?

HW 3/25

Test, test, test.

Do outline the scenes to equip you for the quotation section.

Do review the four motifs (thematic elements).

Do read a summary of Act 1.

Here is a great fish eye view of the Globe Theater:

HW 3/24

Schedule for the week:
Monday- Read Zeffirelli Act 1 Scene 2-5
Tuesday- Review Act 1
Wednesday- Test Act 1
Thursday- Act 2 Scene 1-2
Friday- Research Day!

1: review Act 1 for tomorrow's class
2: keep on with ROAR, notice the due date around the corner
3: if you want to start on the research, check a book about Shakespeare or Romeo and Juliet from the library

Romeo???

HW 10/20

Weekend!

Continue to use the electronic Shakespeare, read a scene summary, and wrestle with the language. It is not easy, but it does become easier.

1: ACTIVE READING Romeo and Juliet Act I. The whole thing. We will watch the Zeffirelli version on Monday

2: Longfellow "Psalm of Life" Essay FD. Here is a guide to formatting.


The outline for next week:
Monday- read the film
Tuesday- Review Act I, prepare for test
Wednesday- Romeo and Juliet Act I test
Thursday- Act II Scene i&ii
Friday- Research Day

HW 3/19

a strange, short day this was.

Shout out to all period 3 students who missed class today.

1: ACTIVE READING of Romeo and Juliet I.iii

Have you seen this version?

I also have recommended that you borrow/buy a "No Fear" version of the play.

Here
or here


Also, try reading a summary of the scene before reading. I like this one.

2: Read your ROAR. This is going to be a "light" weekend for work, or at least you have three days. REMEMBER. The ROAR is due April 10th!

3: Read the comments on your Longfellow "Psalm of Life" Essay. On the row for this assignment, there will be a number all the way to the right. Notice how your other assignments have zeros. You should have a one or two. Click on the number, and then click "full review" on the right side to see the comments.

4: Revise the essay by 8:00 on Saturday.

HW 10/18

1: RE-Read Romeo and Juliet Act 1 Scene 1

2: Read Romeo and Juliet Act 1 Scene 2

Please start using your Green Book, Dictionary.com, and this amazing online version of the play: Interactive Folio


3: Final Draft of Longfellow "Psalm of Life" Essay due Saturday (3/22) Turnitin.com @8:00pm
Grading Rubric
Thesis 10 Points
Formatting 50 Points
Examples 30 Points
Overall 10 Points

March 10-14 Do Now

10/11
-find examples of the four motifs in the Prologue

10/13
-Free Write: Where is a place you go (home or otherwise) for peace and quiet?

10/14
-find examples of the four motifs in Act I Scene i

HW 3/14

1: Vocab Quiz #19
2: Sign research paper form. Extra copy here
3: If you have not found a ROAR book, bring it in on Tuesday

HW 3/13

1: upload a perfect "4" MCAS essay to Turnitin.com

2: continue editing the two student essays from Turnitin.com

3: read that ROAR history book

4: Vocab quiz #19 on TUESDAY 3/18

5: avoid any "thumb biting" as it could cause a melee.

HW 3/11

1: upload a perfect MCAS Kuralt's Breakfast essay
the question is here: "Down with the Forests"

2: Edit two essays on Turnitin.com
-log in
-enter our class
-at the bottom of the page, see the two essays listed
-click on the essay
-answer the questions at the top of the page
-be sure to click "submit" to save your work

if you need more instructions, click here

March 3-7 Do Now

3/4
-what would you do with $1000?

3/5
-three questions & vocabulary words from "The Sniper"

3/7
-rewrite one paragraph from "The Sniper" in 1st person

HW 3/10

1: read and take notes on the Shakespeare Biography sheet

LATE WORK
1: I am disappointed by how many of you did not have ROAR books today. Please ask for assistance from me or a librarian. This is a great chance for you to read the background of a topic you like

2: finish up those Longfellow essays, submitting to Turnitin.com

HW 3/6

my greetings from Casa Doreian. Thanks for working with Mrs. Sutherland today. Here again is your work for the weekend.

1: Vocab Quiz #18

2: ROAR Book

3: Upload Longfellow Essay to Turnitin.com on Sunday by 8:00pm

peace.

HW 3/6

1: Writing Prompt Outline
-page 172 in Vocabulary Power Plus
-write a strong thesis sentence
-provide three (3) examples to back up your thesis

2: find a ROAR book for Term IV. Please use the BPL.org catalog before making a trip. Have an idea of what topics you are interested in. Suggestion: look for books with one word titles followed by a colon.
Cod: The History of a Fish that Changed the World

Spice: The History of a Temptation

The Potato: How the Humble Spud Rescued the Western World

Bananas: An American History

Here is a student version of "The Sniper"
(the music choice needs a bit of work, but their camera work is top-notch)

HW 3/4

1: Vocabulary p. 183-186
-give correct answers and provide a "why"

2: turn in your Culture Vulture Research Notes and Source evaluation papers.

3: Keep thinking about RASH, and what we have learned this year


Here is a great article about OB and students doing REAL change:

Frightened bus users make stand

HW 3/3

Finish your Culture Vulture pamphlet
-remember no "I/my" for the evaluation
-cite everything you get from a website or book (Doreian).

Read the following articles:

Boston Globe article

Boston Herald reader comments

thoughts?


Term IV begins!
ROAR Dates-
3/10 Bring in your History book
4/10 2 page response to Turnitin.com
4/16 Advertisement for book

Culture Vulture Dates
4/29 Rough Draft & Proof
4/30 Newspaper Article to Turnitin.com

ROAR IV

It is amazing to consider a 4th Term book, but here we go!

The book must be from the realm of History. It cannot be a biography, but must look at a larger slice of life than one person.

Please think of a topic that interests YOU, and find a history of it. Do not limit your view of history to wars and presidents. History is how people have lived life, so pick an area of life that makes you smile.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
910.91657 DAS
Batavia’s Graveyard: The True Story of the Mad Heretic Who Led History’s Bloodiest Mutiny by Mike Dash 2002, 381 p. (Time period: 1629)

910.92 BER
Over the Edge of the World: Magellan’s Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe by Laurence Bergreen 2003, 458 p. (Time period: 1519 – 1522)

945.31 DIR
A Venetian Affair: A True Tale of Forbidden Love in the 18th Century by Andrea Di Robilant 2003, 313 p. (Time period: 1700s)

996.18 TOO
Captain Bligh’s Portable Nightmare by John Toohey 2000, 211 p. (Time period: 1789)

916.48 KIN
Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival by Dean King 2004, 353 p. (Time period: 1815)

919.8 PAR
Trial by Ice: The True Story of Murder and Survival on the 1871 Polaris Expedition by Richard Parry 2001, 321 p. (Time period: 1871)

970.3 MAR Also in JB SITTING BULL
Sitting Bull and His World by Albert Marrin 2000, 246 p. (Time period: 1830s – 1890)

972.87 BAL
Darkest Jungle: The True Story of the Darien Expedition and America’s Ill-Fated Race to Connect the Seas by Todd Balf 2003, 331 p. (Time period: 1850s)

973.46 FLE
The Louisiana Purchase by Thomas J. Fleming 2003, 186 p. (Time period: early 1800s)

973.52 MOL
The Flag, the Poet, and the Song: The Story of the Star-Spangled Banner by Irvin Molotsky 2001, 240 p. (Time period: early 1800s)

973.7115 TOB
Hidden in Plain View: The Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad by Jacqueline Tobin 1999, 208 p. (Time period: 1860s)

941.5081 BAR Also in J 941.5 BAR
Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845 – 1850 by Susan Campbell Bartoletti 2001, 184 p. (Time period: 1845 – 1850)

959.8 WIN
Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded, August 27, 1883 by Simon Winchester 2003, 416 p. (Time period: 1883)

967.0423 DUG
Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley & Livingstone by Martin Dugard 2003, 340 p. (Time period: 1866 – 1873)

973.915 BEH
Prohibition: Thirteen Years That Changed America by Edward Behr 1996, 262 p. (Time period: 1919 – 1933)

974.63 ONA
The Circus Fire: A True Story by Stewart O’Nan 2000, 370 p. (Time period: 1944)

974.71 VON
Triangle: The Fire That Changed America by David Von Drehle 2003, 340 p. (Time period: 1911)

975.977 DOR
Like Judgment Day: The Ruin and Redemption of a Town Called Rosewood by Michael D’Orso 1996, 373 p. (Time period: 1923)

976.247 CUR
Silver Rights by Constance Curry 1995, 259 p. (Time period: 1960s)

976.4139 LAR
Isaac’s Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson 1999, 323 p. (Time period: early 1900s)

977.311 BON
The Sinking of the Eastland: America’s Forgotten Tragedy by Jay R. Bonansinga 2004, 280 p. (Time period: 1915)


919.89 ALE
The Endurance: Shackleton’s Legendary Antarctic Expedition by Caroline Alexander 1998, 211 p. (Time period: 1914 – 1917)

951.058 CHI
Children of the Dragon: The Story of Tianamen Square 1990, 223 p. (Time period: 1989)

Term III Work

Welcome to two weeks of self directed study!

Here are some due dates and important forms:

Poetry Notes
Note Sheet
EXAMPLE
-8 poem notes due 2/15
-4 poem notes from PoetryOutloud.org

Poetry Memorization
-select poem by 2/7
-written memorization 2/14
-spoken memorization 2/27-2/29

Culture Vulture
-rough draft sheets and proof 2/26
-pamphlet 3/3
-see previous posts for handouts

ROAR
-active reading notes 2/14
-ROAR Response to Turnitin.com

Culture Vulture Research

Here is the Dim Sum link:


Here is the Source Evaluation Sheet:

Here is the Research Notes Sheet:

Here is the Pamphlet Outline:

Fog Homework

so, "Fog" is not included in the Green book. Here it is:

Fog

The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

For your poem, begin with "The _____ comes"
and fill in a weather event (snow, rain, sunshine, ect.).

Try and keep Sandburg's style: 2 stanzas, 6 lines, and keep the rhythm close (within one or two syllables).

Poetry .mp3 Files

Enjoy some poems. These files will make your iPod smile!


The Bells

Seven Ages of Man

Jabberwocky

ROAR Term III Fiction Books

Hard to imagine, but over break you should get started on ROAR #3. I am suggesting the following books to begin and will give some personal suggestions later.

For this term, keep an active reading journal for your ROAR reading. Stop after every 10 pages and
1: compose a summary of plot/characters
2: identify difficult vocabulary or phrases
3: ask questions.

There will be periodic checks on your journals, so do keep up with your reading and writing.

NOTE:
Some books will contain language, sexuality, drug or alcohol use and violence that may offend students, parents or teachers. Please use proper discretion in selecting a title that you, your folks and I would all endorse. Also, since some works appear on our Summer Reading List, or the work has been adapted into a overshadowing film adaptation, all books must be approved.

Click on the links below for book selections. Remember to read the first few pages on Amazon.com before making a trip to the library.

NOTE #2:
Some of the books listed below are memoir/non-fiction. They will not count, so please be sure to select a fiction book.

EXTRA CREDIT SELECTIONS #1

EXTRA CREDIT SELECTIONS #2

Dystopian Literature

Take care when you go to the library...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVULOegJKgQ

Term II Presentations

Rubric

Presenting Hints

Business Letter Formatting

Get them letters cranking!

http://www.mediafire.com/?41xhgjzf0ey

Revised Culture Vulture Sheet

The older links are not working. Here is a new sheet for the 2nd Term. Happy hunting.

http://www.mediafire.com/?cwgqvz4gumz

ROAR Science and Technology Suggestions

ROAR Science and Technology Prime Selections
Dewey Classification 500-600
Library of Congress Q & T

Bradshaw, Gillian. The Sand-Reckoner. New York, Forge: 2000. A youthful Archimedes comes into his own as a mathematician, an engineer, and a fascinating human being in this engaging novel.

Brown, David. Inventing Modern America: From the Microwave to the Mouse. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2002. Whose idea was it?--the human stories and faces behind American scientific and technological innovations and achievements.

Bryson, Bill. A Short History of Nearly Everything. New York: Broadway, 2003. A renowned travel writer brings complex scientific concepts to life by describing how the universe and life as we know it came to be.

Fagan, Brian. The Little Ice Age: How Climate Made History, 1300-1850. New York: Basic Books, 2002. Fagan provides a fascinating look at how climate change influenced the course of the last thousand years of Western history. He highlights climate’s profound influence on the Viking discovery of North America, the Industrial and French Revolutions, and the Irish Potato Famine.

Flannery, Sarah. In Code: A Mathematical Journey. New York: Workman Publishing, 2001. One teenager’s discoveries in the science of cryptography dramatically impact the modern world.

Hawking, Steven. The Universe in a Nutshell. New York: Bantam, 2001. The physics guru illuminates startling new theories about our world in a lavishly illustrated sequel to A Brief History of Time.

Horvitz, Leslie A. Eureka!: Scientific Breakthroughs That Changed the World. New York: Wiley, 2002. Horvitz explores the dramatic events and thought processes of twelve great minds that lead to profound scientific discoveries. The author examines the impact of these discoveries on the way we live, think, and view the world around us.

Hoyt, Erich and Ted Schultz, eds. Insect Lives. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1999. Erich and Schultz compiled a diverse collection of brief essays and illustrations that entice readers to explore the fascinating and mysterious world of insects.

Judson, Olivia. Dr. Tatiana’s Sex Advice to All Creation: the Definitive Guide to the Evolutionary Biology of Sex. New York: Metropolitan Books, 2002. A “Dear Abby” style science column that answers the who, what, when, where, why, and how of a fascinating variety of sexual activity for all creatures, great and small.

Krauss, Lawrence. Atom: An Odyssey from the Big Bang to life on the Earth and Beyond. Boston: Little Brown & Co., 2001. Follow a single oxygen atom on a fantastic voyage from the beginning of the universe and far into the future.

Lambrecht, Bill. Dinner at the New Gene Café: How Genetic Engineering Is Changing What We Eat, How We Live, and the Global Politics of Food. New York: St. Martin Press, 2001. Lambrecht traces the scientific and political controversies surrounding the use of genetically modified organisms and the food we eat.

Livio, Mario. The Golden Ratio: The Story of Phi, the World’s Most Astonishing Number. New York: Broadway Books, 2002. A captivating journey through art and architecture, botany and biology, physics and mathematics; this ratio, 1.6180339887... impacts so many facets of our lives that it has fascinated us through the ages.

Nash, Madeline. El Nino: Unlocking the Secrets of the Master Weather Maker. New York: Warner, 2002. Hard work and chance lead to the discovery of El Nino and La Nina, powerful climactic systems that we still struggle to understand.

Nolen, Stephanie. Promised the Moon: The Untold Story of the First Women in the Space Race. New York: Four Walls Eight Windows, 2002. The history of women in aviation and as astronauts is revealed in this compelling story.

Porter, Roy. Madness: A Brief History. New York: Oxford U.P., 2002. What is meant when we say, “madness?” Examine the wide range of possibilities this question covers, from witches to electric shock therapy to Prozac.

Preston, Richard. The Demon in the Freezer: A True Story. New York: Random House, 2002. A striking portrait of smallpox makes readers uncomfortably aware that it could rise again as a biological weapon of mass destruction.

Rigden, John S. Hydrogen: The Essential Element. Cambridge, MA: Harvard U.P., 2002. A fascinating history is revealed in this probe of a scientific giant, the hydrogen atom.

Roach, Mary. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. New York: Norton, 2003. Discover the amazing life-after-death adventures of human bodies in this examination of how medical and research scientists use cadavers to make our lives better.

Sobel, Dava. Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time. New York: Walker and Company, 1995. The little known story behind the greatest innovation in navigational science; an 18th century version of the GPS.

Stark, Peter. Last Breath: Cautionary Tales from the Limits of Human Endurance. New York: Ballantine, 2001. Whether the danger is hypothermia, mountain sickness, or cerebral malaria, this blend of adventure and science takes you to the absolute edges of human endurance.

Strauch, Barbara. Primal Teen: What the New Discoveries about the Teenage Brain Help Us About Our Kids. New York: Doubleday, 2003. Ever wonder what makes teens tick? A tour of the teenage brain reveals startling new research about this pivotal and exciting time of life.

Sykes, Bryan. The Seven Daughters of Eve: The Science that Reveals Our Genetic Ancestry. New York: Norton, 2001. Fascinating mitochondrial DNA evidence supports the idea that almost all modern Europeans are descended from just seven women.

Tobin, James. Great Projects: The Epic Story of the Building of America from the Taming of the Mississippi to the Invention of the Internet. New York: Free Press, 2001. Milestones of engineering and vision that connected us and moved a nation forward.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVULOegJKgQ