Week of May 2, Analyzing Shabanu

This week we will dig deeper into Shabanu.

• Please answer the questions below in your Google Drive.
• Call the document "Blog 10, Analyzing Shabanu". 
• Answer each as a quote sandwich. In other words, start with your ideas about the question, then give a quote to prove it, then finish with your ideas. 

1. What do Dadi and Shabanu encounter when they attempt to bury Grandfather?  What appears to be lacking in the personalities of Sulaiman and the villagers in general?
2. What do Shabanu and Phulan find while they are out hunting for sito?  What do Dadi’s actions suggest about his character and beliefs?
3. A dilemma is any situation requiring a choice between equal—often equally unpleasant—alternatives. Explain Shabanu’s dilemma when she and Phulan meet Nazir Mohammad and his hunters. Shabanu’s choosing to save her sister from rape leads to the story’s climax. On p.154, why is Shabanu angry at her sister?

When you finish, post your answers to our blog in the comments section. Then read 2 other classmates' responses and write what you learned from them.

Week of April 25, Grades

Hi everyone,

Today we will think about grades for the second marking period.

• As you know, I am using a program called Engrade to calculate your grades. Please go to the Engrade website to register and see your grades. You need your access code to do this.

• Now please answer the questions below in Google Docs:

• Please give me feedback (comments/suggestions) about your experience in the class. Please be specific and honest as this will help make the class better for you and everyone else in the coming semester.

1. What did you enjoy about class this marking period?  Why?  Please refer to specific activities, projects, workshops, etc.
2. What didn't you enjoy and why?  Please be specific.
3. Were there any activities/projects/topics that we didn't cover that you want us to cover?  Which ones? 
4. What can I do to make the class better for you (aside from no homework J )?  Please be specific.
5. Has your English improved since the class began?  If yes, how?  If no, why not? Please think carefully about this.
6. When and where do you usually do your homework?
7. Do you find it difficult to do your homework? Why?
8. How much time do you spend looking at your class notes each week?
9. What can you do to improve your class participation?
10. How do you study for tests and quizzes?
11. Do you feel that the grade you are getting right now is the best you can do? Why?
12. What strategies will you use to get a better grade next marking period?
13. What advice can you give to your classmates to make their experience in this class more meaningful?
14. Fill in the blanks..."From class this marking period, one thing I will take is _______________ and one thing I will give is ________________."

Week of April 18, More quote sandwiches on Shabanu

Quote Sandwiches about Characters

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to continue to analyze the characters in Shabanu by Suzanne Fisher Staples, as we know them in the second section of the novel. We will continue doing this over the next weeks, to see how the characters change.

In Google Docs, create a document called Blog 8: "Shabanu Character Quote Sandwiches"

You will be creating four quote sandwiches, one for 

• Shabanu
• Guluband
• Dadi

Write one full paragraph for each character, as a quote sandwich, following this structure:

•Top slice of bread = your thoughts, beliefs and ideas about the character. "Shabanu is ________________ because __________." This should be about 2-3 sentences long.

•In the middle is the meat = the quote from the story that teaches us about this character. "We can see this in the quote on page ___, "...."".

•Bottom slice of bread = “this quotes shows us that…” Concluding sentences, again proving what you believe about this character. Again about 2-3 sentences long.

When you are finished, post your quote sandwiches to our blog.