Summer Reading

Seniors look at the structure of society. This is a continuation of the democratic principles they begin to explore junior year, with implications for the future. As students venture out into the world, what will their impact be? What will their future society look like?

Based on the theme above, you will be choosing a book for your summer reading that you find interesting and is within your reading level.  You will NOT be able to pick a book without getting it approved first, but you CAN pick something outside of the recommended list - as long as it fits the theme.  The following list is a few suggestions that I have that you might find interesting.

Government and Politics
Dreams from My Father
No Apology: Believe in America
Dirty Sexy Politics

Dystopias (If you liked The Hunger Games) Dystopias on GoodReads
Divergent
Matched
Ender's Game
Graceling
Enclave
The Gardener
The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Gathering Blue
Parable of the Sower


Social Issues 
The Tipping Point
Freakonomics
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
The Rich and the Rest of Us  (I'm reading this one now...)
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks  (Love this)


Also, check out the free app put out by the American Library Association, called Young Adult Book Finder, from the app store!

Hamlet's News Feed

Saw this a few months back, and wanted to share it now that we've finished with the play.  See it close up here.

Women in the Military

Please take the time to complete a survey for one of your classmates for her persuasive letter.  It is very short and you can access it here.

If you would like to create a survey, you can do so by going to surveymonkey.com, OR you can go to Google Docs, create a new "Form" document, add questions, and then share it!

Please see me if you have any questions.

Too much water hast thou, poor Ophelia...

As we have examined some of the different representations of Hamlet, we have seen how the play leaves many events and people open to debate and interpretation.  Just like Hamlet, over the last several hundred years, Ophelia has become a muse in her own right.  She has inspired songs, art, poetry, a sequel to Hamlet, and was even used by early psychologists as the face of female madness against which other patients were compared.

The video here, by Kula Shaker, is one of the most closely aligned with the play - note how Hamlet's love note to Ophelia actually makes its way into the lyrics.  But this is by no means the only music video on Opehelia; a simple search on youtube will yield hundreds.  Similarly, you can trace Ophelia's evolution through the work of artists in a google search, as well as in this gallery, who seek to breathe life back into Ophelia, to represent her tragedy, or to remind us all that Ophelia was an important part of the play, too.

John Everett Millais' Ophelia

You can find a full explication of this painting here.

This summer when I had the chance to go to London, I made it a point to stop by the Tate Museum to see the famous "Ophelia" by John Everett Millais.  This is perhaps one of the most famous paintings of Ophelia, perhaps because of its hauntingly realistic appearance, or the eerie peace in death that it conveys.  Or maybe it is because, as some people say, you can see a skull hidden in it.  This picture is from my trip, but you can take a closer look here.  

Representing Ophelia

Shakespeare's characterization of Ophelia does not offer the audience a full picture of who she is and what her motivation might be.  As Elaine Showalter writes in "Representing Ophelia: Women, Madness, and the Responsibilities of Feminist Criticism," in , there can be Hamlet without Ophelia, but there is no Ophelia without Hamlet.  Her character’s existence is dependant on that of Hamlet’s.  

Despite this, or maybe because of it, Ophelia has been such a source of inspiration over hundreds of years, and each artist chooses to represent Ophelia in a different way.   What do you notice about the way that Ophelia is portrayed in the John Everett Millais painting?  What characteristics does the artist imbue in his version of Ophelia?  How does it differ from other artistic represenations of Ophelia?

Follow some of the links above (and here) to research Ophelia and consider:  How do you believe Shakespeare intended Ophelia to be portrayed?  What were her final moments like?  Did she intentionally drown herself?  Did she just give in after the branch underneath her broke?  Did Gertrude let her die?

What do you believe is the reason for Ophelia’s madness?  What contributed to her demise, in your opinion?  Do you feel sorry for her?  Indifferent? How might you 'represent Ophelia?' 

Your Task

As we see in the play, the circumstances of her death prevent Ophelia from having a proper burial.  After you have considered the questions above for yourself, construct a 'eulogy' for Ophelia.  What words would you read at her funeral? 

Because this is a fictitious assignment, you can choose to honor Ophelia, or you can agree that she perhaps did not deserve more in the way of burial rites.  This, of course, is open to your opinion, depending on how effectively you support it.  

In at least 2 paragraphs, eulogize Ophelia; give her the burial rites you believe she deserves based on whatever your opinion of her character is.  

You can visit the blog here, or do a simple search to find out more about writing a eulogy.

Response to Sandra Fluke

We have been talking in a few different classes about the (somewhat) recent testimony of Sandra Fluke at a Congressional Hearing on Women's Reproductive rights.  Rush Limbaugh's attacks in response to her (which you can and should read above) go beyond disagreeing with her political viewpoint and represent the kind of ad hominem logical fallacy that we discussed in class (remember - those are the arguments that aren't LOGICAL).

We also discussed the phone call she received from President Obama in response, which he discusses here. No matter what side of the political fence you're on, I thought that his response to her was thoughtful, appropriate, and speaks to everything we have been discussing recently.

Leave your comments....I'd love to hear what you think.

The Universality of Hamlet

“The phenomenon of Hamlet, the prince without the play, is unsurpassed in the West’s imaginative literature. . . . Hamlet remains apart; something transcendent about him places him more aptly with the biblical King David, or with even more exalted scriptural figures. Charisma, an aura of the preternatural, attends Hamlet, both within and beyond Shakespeare’s tragedy. . . . We hardly can think about ourselves as separate selves without thinking about Hamlet, whether or not we are aware that we are recalling him.”      

—Harold Bloom 

Hamlet is perhaps one of the most prominent plays in literature, and as we read it you might recognize some of the speeches, symbols, and themes.  Chances are, now that we have been reading it, you will now notice parts of the play in life that you may not have noticed before.


In addition to the versions that we have seen in class, there are new versions of the play that continue to be made as directors and actors look to put their own stamp on the play and the legacy of Hamlet. (See:  Hamlet: Prince of Cuba and The Play that Stalin Hated for some examples)


Many people regard Hamlet as the 'everyman,' the kind of protagonist that we all can relate to in some way.  He asks the questions we all do at some point in life.  Why are we here? What is the purpose of life?  How should we take action and why is so hard not to take action?  And as we will read in the final act with the 'Yorrick' scene, what does it all matter if in the end we only return to dust?


As you start to think about your own film versions, I want you first to consider the ubiquity and universality of Hamlet.  Do you agree that there is something timeless about the character and the play itself?  Or do you struggle to connect with it?  What will your interpretation of the play lend to the legacy of Hamlet?


Please publish you response as a comment on this page.

You're Louder Than You Think

Throughout this year, we have been focusing on becoming better readers and writers, not only to improve academically, but also to develop the skills you will use in your life.  It is critically important that we, as members of a democratic society, become educated, active, and vocal about the causes that are important to us.  After all, some of you will be voting for the next president.

In the news, and even in our own school, there have been several controversial issues that have gotten people motivated to take action (Trayvon Martin, Joseph Kony, Foley Field Graduation, etc.).   Through online petitions, blogs, videos, letters, and other forms of media, many of these issues have been taken up by those in power, and in many cases, action has been taken to solve these problems.

Check out this great interview from the
 Daily Show with the founder of Change.org!

The purpose of this assignment, is to take what you have learned this year about critical reading and effective writing, and use it to make an impact on an issue that is important to you.

As you start to think about possible topics for your persuasive letters, I thought it might help you to browse through some current issues worth getting involved with.  Some of you might already be very active in a cause, while others of you might not be sure what direction to go in.

This is, OF COURSE, not a comprehensive list, but a place for you to start.  Use these links to learn more about these topics, but make sure you do some of your own research, too. And please...if you have a topic that you would like to share with people, add it in the comment section!

*Disclaimer* This list is only meant to provide you with some ideas, not to claim a particular view point.

Ending the Use of Child Soldiers

Some of you read A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier for your summer reading, or have heard about the work of the Invisible Children.  This would be a great topic to become involved with.

Culture of Resistance

Amnesty International

Ways to Get Involved

Body Image in the Media

Israel's Ban on Underweight Models

Thinspiration

The Dream Act

What It Is
Ways to Get Involved

Improving the Health of Prepared Food and School Lunches

What is 'Pink Slime?'

Learn the Facts

Get Involved: Information from 'Let's Move'
Steak Glue

    Women's Reproductive Rights/Health

There is A LOT going on regarding this issue, both locally and globally.  

Every Mother Counts

Some Information from the ACLU

Legislation in Arizona

Keeping College Affordable for Everyone

I can't think of anything more immanently important to consider writing about than keeping student loan cost and interest rates down.

Raising Interest Rates
The 'Cost' of College