Of Mice and Men: The Movie

Unlike the novel Of Mice and Men, which was essentially created by one man, John Steinbeck, the film version is a collaborative effort. Each person behind the scenes influenced the overall film. In addition, some things that you visualized, as a reader, may have turned out quite differently when you saw them on the screen.

In a well developed paragraph of at least 100 words, explain how the viewing experience of Of Mice and Men differed from the reading experience. Use at least one specific, original example or observation that differs from those of the classmates who have posted before you.

Your blog should be posted by no later than Sunday night.

(And don't forget to go see Anna, Nicole, Carina, and Alison in the play this weekend!)

Who Is the Best Mark Antony?

Friends, Romans, Countrymen... it's contest time! Read over the persuasive posts from last week and choose the argument that most persuades you with either emotional or logical appeals. In a well-developed paragraph of about 100 words, explain whose blog you thought was the most persuasive and why. Be specific about what arguments or appeals caused you to agree with the writer.

All blogs should be submitted by Monday night. After reading your responses, I will choose one person as "Most Persuasive" in the class. On test day (Friday), our class "Mark Antony" will be crowned with a victory wreath. Good luck to all!

Are You As Persuasive As Antony?

In Julius Caesar, Antony succeeds in turning the crowd against Caesar's assassins because his powerful speech appeals to his listeners emotions: grief, love, hatred, and gratitude. Brutus' speech, by contrast, is somewhat dry and analytical.

Emotional appeals in persuasion are especially effective when they include specific examples or personal experiences: see for example, Antony's words about the crown (III-2, lines 82-86) and his memories about Caesar's mantle (III-2, lines 158-161).

In your reading journal, you wrote an opinion statement about an issue that was important to you, followed by two or three emotional appeals you could make in a speech to support your opinion. In this blog, your job is to persuade your audience of your viewpoint by using some of those emotional appeals. Write a brief essay of approximately 200 words in which you try to convince your audience of a particular point of view.

Remember to open with a strong, attention-getting introductory sentence and follow up with several examples to support your opinion. Be careful to proofread for spelling and sentence structure before posting.

This assignment should be posted by no later than Sunday night.

Caesar Songfest

Choose one character from Julius Caesar and select a "theme song" for this person. Your song can be from any musical period, but should have lyrics that are related to this character in some way. (Avoid any songs with naughty words, though, please!) Include the song title and artist, a link to the lyrics of your song, and an explanation of why this song suits the character. Your explanation should be at least 100 words. Note: Though more than one person may choose the same character, no two people may use the same song. Good luck and happy posting!

P.S. All blogs should be posted by Monday night.