The Life You Save May Be Your Own Internet Activity Due 12/9/11

"The Life You Save May Be Your Own," Flannery O'Connor

Write a Report or Create a Presentation on Southern Gothic Fiction

Flannery O'Connor, the author of "The Life You Save May Be Your Own," is one of several writers associated with a genre of American literature known as Southern gothic. Works in this genre take place in the American South and, like the earlier Gothic works of writers like Edgar Allan Poe, reflect an interest in the bizarre and the grotesque.

Use the following key words to search the Web for more information about this uniquely American genre of literature and the writers associated with it. Then, use the information you gather to write a brief report or create a presentation on Southern gothic fiction.
Key Words:

• Southern gothic fiction
• Southern gothic, Flannery O'Connor

To help guide your research, look to answer the following questions:

1. How did the Southern gothic genre get its name?
2. What are some of the characteristics of Southern gothic fiction?
3. In addition to Flannery O'Connor, who are some of the other major writers of Southern gothic fiction, and what are their most important works?

When you have completed your research, organize the information you find and draft your report or create your presentation.
1. Begin with an introduction that provides some background on the term gothic—in particular, its meaning when applied to certain literature of the nineteenth century.

2. Then, explain how the term came to be applied to works like Flannery O'Connor's.

3. In the body of your report or in your presentation, provide an overview of the Southern gothic genre, including information about when it emerged, who were its most important writers, and what were its defining characteristics. Be sure to mention Flannery O'Connor among the major Southern gothic writers.

4. Cite "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" as an example of Southern gothic fiction, AND identify the characteristics of the genre that are present in the story.

Tips for an Effective Internet Search

• Be aware that Search engines present pages in descending order of relevancy; the most useful pages will be at the top of the list.
• To help determine whether the Web page is a reputable source, note the URL endings. Sites ending in .edu are maintained by educational institutions, sites ending in .gov are maintained by government agencies, sites ending in .org are maintained by nonprofit organizations, and sites ending in .com are commercially or personally maintained.
• Be sure to respect copyrighted material.

For more help using the Web, see the Handbook at the back of your textbook.

Do's and Don'ts of Late 19th Century Etiquette Guide Link Instructions

http://amyelliott211.edu.glogster.com/edit/glog/?action=glogs_create

Link your Glogster page to your blog...
1.  Copy your Glogster poster page url
2.  Create a New Post
3.  Title Box - Do's and Don'ts of Late 19th Century Etiquette Guide
4.  Click on the Compose tab
5.  In the toolbar, click on "Link"
6.  Paste your Glogster poster page url
7.  Publish your post

"A Rose for Emily" Internet Activity

Assignment:

Write a Guide to Late-Nineteenth-Century Etiquette

In William Faulkner's story "A Rose for Emily," the people of Jefferson observe behavior by Emily Grierson that they consider to be strange. What makes Emily's behavior seem so strange to them is the importance that was placed on proper social behavior in late-nineteenth-century America.

During the Victorian Age, the period in which much of "A Rose for Emily" takes place, people from prominent families like Emily's were expected to observe proper etiquette, or rules of social behavior. Society placed great importance on manners and appearances during this period. It would have been considered shameful to behave improperly, yet also impolite to criticize another person's behavior.

Use the following key words to search the Web and find out more about the rules governing upper-class social behavior in late-nineteenth-century America. Then, use the information you gather to write a brief guide to late-nineteenth-century etiquette. Post this Guide to your Glogster page.

Key Words:

etiquette, nineteenth century
Victorian manners in America
Victorian Age, etiquette, America

To help guide your research, look to answer the following questions:

What would be some examples of proper and improper social behavior in the late nineteenth century?
What were some of the rules governing attire and personal grooming during this period?
What did it mean to "call" and to be "received" in a late-nineteenth-century home?

When you have completed your research, narrow down your findings into a list of rules regarding social conduct, and then write your guide. Present your guide as a list of "dos and don'ts" for ladies and gentlemen in social situations. For example, you might explain what is polite and impolite to do when receiving guests.


Include a brief introduction to your etiquette guide in which you explain that concern about etiquette and appearance was a source of great social pressure in the Victorian Age. Explain why someone like Emily Grierson might have chosen to stay out of public life.



Tips for an Effective Internet Search:

~Be aware that Search engines present pages in descending order of relevancy; the most useful pages will be at the top of the list.

~To help determine whether the Web page is a reputable source, note the URL endings. Sites ending in .edu are maintained by educational institutions, sites ending in .gov are maintained by government agencies, sites ending in .org are maintained by nonprofit organizations, and sites ending in .com are commercially or personally maintained.

~Be sure to respect copyrighted material.

For more help using the Web, see the Handbook at the back of your textbook.

Internet Activity Due 11/11 The Devil and Tom Walker

"The Devil and Tom Walker," Washington Irving 21st Century Faust: Outline

There are many story versions of a person who sells their soul for a specific advantage in this life. Along with "The Devil and Tom Walker," the musical Damn Yankees is based on the Faustian myth. Faust sold his soul for wisdom, Tom Walker sells his soul for money, Joe (Damn Yankees) sells his soul for a chance to play on a professional baseball team and win the World Series.

Read a synopsis of both Faust and Damn Yankees as background. Then write an outline of a modern Faustian tale in which the 21st century character sells his soul.

Assignment Steps:

1)Find and read a synopsis of Faust and Damn Yankees.

2)Note the difference in the character's final decisions and the endings.

3)Decide what a modern American character might sell their soul in order to achieve. What would this particular character find most important in this life? Would the character continue the bargain or attempt to find a way out?

4)Write the outline of a story about that modern American.

5)Share your outline via edmodo or your blog page and be ready to explain your decisions regarding the story.

Key Search Words:

Faust
Musical Damn Yankees

Be careful about…
Your key word search. For example, entering just the word "Yankees" will yield over 25 million entries.

You need to think carefully about your character and what that character would most want in this life time.


Tips for an Effective Internet Search
Be aware that Search engines present pages in descending order of relevancy; the most useful pages will be at the top of the list.
To help determine whether the Web page is a reputable source, note the URL endings. Sites ending in .edu are maintained by educational institutions, sites ending in .gov are maintained by government agencies, sites ending in .org are maintained by nonprofit organizations, and sites ending in .com are commercially or personally maintained.
Be sure to respect copyrighted material.
For more help using the Web, see the Handbook at the back of your textbook.

Internet Activity "One Day, Now Broken in Two" due 11/4/11

Internet Activity
"One Day, Now Broken in Two," Anna QuindlenImages, Broken in Two
Anna Quindlen uses the image of a fragile broken bowl that has been glued together to depict the United States after 9-11. Other artists have worked with photographs, words, sculpture, or song to show their view of the effect 9-11 had on our society.

Choose three pictures or images from an Internet search. The first should represent the United States before 9-11. The second should represent 9-11. The third should represent the United States after 9-11. The goal is to have these three images tell the story of how you believe 9-11 affected the United States people; how that day affected our perception of ourselves.

Key Words:

September 11
After 9-11
Building on Ground Zero
The images you select do not have to be images of New York or ground zero. After you have selected the three images, write a brief paragraph explaining what each image represents and why you think it is a good representation of the United States at that time.

If possible, post your images with the explanatory paragraph to a class or school Web site.



Tips for an Effective Internet Search
Be aware that Search engines present pages in descending order of relevancy; the most useful pages will be at the top of the list.
To help determine whether the Web page is a reputable source, note the URL endings. Sites ending in .edu are maintained by educational institutions, sites ending in .gov are maintained by government agencies, sites ending in .org are maintained by nonprofit organizations, and sites ending in .com are commercially or personally maintained.
Be sure to respect copyrighted material.
For more help using the Web, see the Handbook at the back of your textbook.

Internet Activity The Gettysburg Address and "Letter to His Son" due 10/28

Internet Activity
"The Gettysburg Address," Abraham Lincoln
"Letter to His Son," Robert E. LeeCompare Letters
President Lincoln offered Robert E. Lee the command of the Union Army; Lee declined. In 1861, Robert E. Lee resigned his United States Army command, returned to his home in Virginia and accepted the command of Virginia's military and naval forces. Many of Lee's letters, like the one to his son, describe his own conflict over the direction the country had taken. However, his later letters make it clear that he took his command of the Northern Virginia army very seriously, and committed his years of military experience and his life to its success.

Read several of the letters that Lee wrote after he took command of the Southern forces. Then, choose one letter that demonstrates his dedication to his new task. Write a brief paragraph comparing the two letters. Post the "Letter to his Son" (January 23,1861), the letter you have chosen, and your paragraph of explanation on your class Web site. Invite a history class to read your comparison paragraph and add their own comments.

Key Words and Phrases:

Washington and Lee University: Robert E. Lee Papers Collection
Robert E. Lee Letters for the years 1848 thru 1868
Recollections and Letters Robert E. Lee
Be careful about…

Although college and university Web sites generally are reliable, check the source of the information. Is this a student post? Is this opinion or reviewed theory?
Is the Web site hosted by an organization that has a bias?


Tips for an Effective Internet Search
Be aware that Search engines present pages in descending order of relevancy; the most useful pages will be at the top of the list.
To help determine whether the Web page is a reputable source, note the URL endings. Sites ending in .edu are maintained by educational institutions, sites ending in .gov are maintained by government agencies, sites ending in .org are maintained by nonprofit organizations, and sites ending in .com are commercially or personally maintained.
Be sure to respect copyrighted material.
For more help using the Web, see the Handbook at the back of your textbook.

Internet Activity from Civil Disobedience Due 10/21/11

Internet Activity
from Civil Disobedience, Henry David ThoreauWrite a Position Paper on Manifest Destiny
Civil Disobedience reflects Henry David Thoreau's opposition to the Mexican American War (1846–1848). Many people in power in the United States at the time regarded territorial expansion as a religious and ethical responsibility. This attitude was known as manifest destiny.

Use the key words below to further explore the Mexican American War and to understand the concept of manifest destiny. Then write a position paper in which you express your opinion of manifest destiny.

Key Words:

the U.S. Mexican War
index on manifest destiny
Collect information that supports or opposes the ideas inherent in manifest destiny and territorial expansion in the nineteenth century. Then, write a position paper in which you attempt to persuade readers to accept your views on manifest destiny and the Mexican American War. Begin by stating your position, and then address any arguments against it. By refuting opposing views, you will make your argument stronger. Be sure your paper includes adequate support in the form of examples, quotations, and historical data. Present your speech to your American literature or history class.



Tips for an Effective Internet Search
Be aware that Search engines present pages in descending order of relevancy; the most useful pages will be at the top of the list.
To help determine whether the Web page is a reputable source, note the URL endings. Sites ending in .edu are maintained by educational institutions, sites ending in .gov are maintained by government agencies, sites ending in .org are maintained by nonprofit organizations, and sites ending in .com are commercially or personally maintained.
Be sure to respect copyrighted material.
For more help using the Web, see the Handbook at the back of your textbook.