It's almost spring break!  I know we're ready for it, but let's have 1 last great discussion before we take a week off.

As you post today, focus on crafting open-ended questions that can be answered with words beyond "yes" and "no".  A great way to do this is to avoid constructions that begin with the words "do" and "does" in favor of constructions like "to what extent".

Continue to work on spreading out your replies.  It looks like you did a great job with that in our last discussion.  Rather than have 10 comments about 1 question, after that question has been responded to a few times, choose a new question to answer.

Also, continue to work on supporting your thinking.  For this text, as it is visual instead of written, you will want to do this by summarizing scenes or specific images.

Happy posting!

Fishbowl #5: the end of F451

Wow!  What a huge improvement in the blog questions and comments.  I'm so impressed...with one exception.  I am uncomfortable with you guys jesting with one another.  Even if you guys are friends and are joking, the tone you take with one another sometimes makes me uncomfortable.  I invite you to challenge one another's ideas, but keep in mind the difference between criticizing and challenging.  Also, leave the teaching of grammar and spelling to me.

Seriously, though, great questions and well-supported thinking.  I loved seeing more people involved on the blog.  Let's keep the same discussion expectations as last time:  provide the quote that inspired your thinking and support your ideas with textual evidence.

Let's have one last great--and non-snarky--discussion of Fahrenheit 451.

Fishbowl #4: Fahrenheit 451 pgs. 93-130

Hi guys!  A tricky day to fishbowl, I know, but I'm excited to hear what you have to say.  I finished our last couple of assignments wondering if you're reading and what you're thinking about it.  Today is your day to show me.

To get credit as an outer circle member today--whether you are writing your response or blogging--you will need to support your thinking with quotes today.  This skill will also apply to questioning; provide the quote that led to that question OR support your answer to that question with textual evidence. I realize this will mean fewer posts, but hopefully those posts will be better informed and of better quality today.

Happy posting!

Fishbowl #3: pg 21 ("into the rain")-end of section 1

Hi Bloggers!

A few thoughts going into our fishbowl today...

Firstly, what a huge improvement from last time!  Great questions and thoughtful text-based responses.  Ideas suggested excellent critical thinking.

A few suggestions for today:

• Be sure you're continually refreshing your page.  I think this is partly why we have many responses for some questions and only 1 or 2 for others.  
• Along those same lines, when many people have responded to a question, choose or pose another one to further discussion so we don't get stuck in a discussion rut.
• Stay active.  Silences of 5 or 10 minutes suggest unfocused behavior to me.
• Be sure to use proper grammar and mechanics in your response and to proofread your work.

Happy posting!

Fishbowl #2: Fahrenheit 451, pages 1-21 ("into the rain")

We can do better than we did on our fishbowl comments today.  Here are some things I hope to see:

1.  Effective proofreading of our work.  See that button on the far right of your toolbar marked "abc" followed by a check mark.

2.  Consistent participation throughout discussion's duration.  It is unacceptable to be inactive for 15 minutes of a 30 minute discussion.

3.  Well-supported and defended thinking.  Explain why you think what you do, referring back to particular plot points or passages to support your ideas.

Happy posting!  Here's to a better second round!
                                                                                                                                                                   

Fishbowl #1: "Harrison Bergeron"

I look forward to seeing your insightful comments about the short story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut on our class blog today.  As you engage in outer circle discussion, keep in mind a couple ground rules:

• This is a formal written discussion.  Use correct capitalization, punctuation, grammar and tone.
• Participate in discussion throughout its duration.  I'm not looking for a certain number of comments, but rather consistent participation from the first few minutes through the last.

Happy posting!

Was it worth it?

Using the prompts on your sacrifice handout to guide you (those prompts are also listed on our class website if you need an extra reference), capture your "sacrificial experience" in a well-developed paragraph.

Be sure your response is completed prior to class on Tuesday, February 19th when we'll be discussing this assignment.