Nature vs. Nurture

Can someone rise above one's circumstances (i.e. socioeconomic level, for instance) and be "more" than what the generation before had been? When children of alcoholics become alcoholics themselves, some people might say, "No surprise." Sad to say, this is true for many, many situations. Are people, then "born" into their lives? Much research has been done with twins that have been raised in two different homes, one a positive environment and one negative. Is it "NATURE" or "NURTURE" that makes a person?

Stereotyping: Poverty

What stereotypes are there about "the poor"? Do you know people who hold these stereotypes? How do these stereotypes impact our society? In what ways are the poor held back in our society? What benefits are afforded the poor (i.e. govenmental, educational, etc.)

Stereotyping: Wealthy

What stereotypes are there about "the wealthy"? Do you know people who hold stereotypes even about Mendham or MHS? What are the stereotypes? Do you find them to be true sometimes? Explain.

Wealth vs. Poverty

Does wealth lead to happiness? Explain. What DOES contribute to one's overall happiness in life? What stereotypes are there about the wealthy? What stereotypes are there about the poor?

HSPA

How do you think you did on the test today? Which part was the easiest for you? Why? Which part was the most difficult for you? Why? Tomorrow you will write the persuasive essay. . .Are you ready?

Standardized Tests

More and more states are moving toward standardized tests as a way to show that students have the skills necessary to graduate from high school. Some states, including New Jersey, have or are experimenting with having standardized assessments in other areas: science, social studies, the arts, etc. Identify the pros AND cons of having these tests as a graduation requirement.

Reading Difficulties and Strategies

What specific aspects of the READING parts of the HSPA give you the MOST trouble? (i.e. the open-ended responses and correctly answering the multiple-choice questions about the narrative story or the persuasive article) Why?

What strategies have you used successfully in order to make sure the finished product you submit is the best it can be? Share one or more of those strategies in order to help classmates improve their own READING scores on the test

Writing Difficulties and Strategies

What specific aspects of the WRITING parts of the HSPA give you the MOST trouble? (i.e. writing the persuasive essay; the picture prompt) Why?

What strategies have you used successfully in order to make sure the finished product you submit is the best it can be? Share one or more of those strategies in order to help classmates improve their own WRITING scores on the test.

The River as Sanctuary

It seems that whenever Huck and Jim are on the river, they feel a sense of freedom and peace. Whenever they go ashore, they must face the conflicts and headaches that our complex civilization naturally brings about. Where is your "sanctuary"? In what way(s) do you escape from the conflicts and headaches that daily life brings you? What gives you that sense of freedom and peace that the river provides for Jim and Huck? Be sure to give SPECIFIC examples and edit your work in order to earn full credit.

Lies, Lies, Lies

In Huck Finn, Huck tells many lies; some would say he does so in order to survive. Where do you draw the line with lies? Are some lies morally or ethically acceptable? Be sure to give SPECIFIC examples and edit your work in order to earn full credit.

Superstitions

Jim, Tom, Huck, the townspeople, and others in the story of Huck Finn rely on superstitions. In modern day, some people equate superstitions with religious fervor and fanaticism while others rely on superstitions more as a way to calm themselves or as a tradition in a sense. Discuss some aspect of superstitious behavior either historically or currently, generally or personally. Be sure to give SPECIFIC examples and edit your work in order to earn full credit.

END OF BOOK ASSESSMENT

Please be sure to take your time on each of the following THREE blogs as they are worth 10 points each and require SPECIFIC evidence to support them. They should be several sentences long and should show evidence of good writing skills (i.e. grammar and mechanics). GOOD LUCK!! :-)

Minor Characters

Most of you asked several questions about the novel's main characters on your HSPA "tests" last week. Identify one MINOR character who, although minor, plays an important role in the book in terms of what the character discovers about life or about him or herself. Then explain why that character is important in that way.

**We will define "minor character" here as one who ONLY appears in one scene of the novel, not one that appears in several chapters of the novel. (10 points)

Conflicts Unresolved

Identify one SPECIFIC internal or external conflict that could be described as yet UNRESOLVED at the end of the novel. Explain using SPECIFIC evidence from the novel. (10 points)

Would you recommend it?

To whom would you recommend this book? Give SPECIFIC examples from the book, and about the person you chose, to support your answer. (10 points)