Documenting American Blog (RJ #16)

During the Great Depression, F.D.R. enlisted American photographers to document life in the United States. The Library of Congress provides amazing access to the black-and-white photographs of the Farm Security Administration-Office of War Information (FSA-OWI) collection.  These images show Americans at home, at work, and at play.  The emphasis was on rural and small-town life and the adverse effects of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and increasing farm mechanization.  In the latter years, the project documented America's mobilization for WWII.  Here, the photograph reflects the elements of painting, where the primary focus is on depiction of a person, a place, an event, etc.


Documenting America Photographer Series: Ben Shahn, John Vachon, Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Gordan Parks, Arthur Rothstein.
Use the link to view their collections: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/fsa/documentingamerica.html


Select 2 photographers and for each, examine 3 pictures from a series discuss the following:
a) the subject
b) the occasion/situation
c) the purpose/message
d) how the picture "speaks" to the audience.
e) what do the choices made show about the photographer's point of view of the situation

Imagist Poem

Write a poem in which you focus on creating a single vivid and emotive image. Imagine that you are writing your poem for someone who has never seen what you are describing. Look around until you find an image that has symbolic meaning. It may be a flower, the heat, the eyeball of the person sitting across from you, a squirrel…whatever grabs your attention as an evocative image.

Huck Finn Challenges Blog (R.J. #15)

As we read the novel, prepare to respond to the BLOGS  with specific quotes/evidence from the text. Make sure your quotes include page numbers from the novel and connect to the themes of American realism: freedom, the American dream, racism, regionalism, survival, "individual vs. society," and "civilized society vs. the wilderness.

Huck Finn Challenges Blog

How do the fictional characters in Huckleberry Finn express the challenges facing America at the time? (300 words). Respond to one classmates post. (50-100 words).

Huck Finn Censorship Blog (R.J. #14)

As we read the novel, prepare to respond to the BLOGS  with specific quotes/evidence from the text. Make sure your quotes include page numbers from the novel and connect to the themes of American realism: freedom, the American dream, racism, regionalism, survival, "individual vs. society," and "civilized society vs. the wilderness.

Huck Finn Censorship Blog

How does Mark Twain address the issue of slavery in Parts I and II of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?  How is racist language used in the text and should it be omitted? Why or why not? (300 words) Respond to one classmate (50 to 100 words).

Huck Finn Chapter Blog (R.J. #13)

As we read the novel, prepare to respond to the BLOGS  with specific quotes/evidence from the text. Make sure your quotes include page numbers from the novel and connect to the themes of American realism: freedom, the American dream, racism, regionalism, survival, "individual vs. society," and "civilized society vs. the wilderness.

Huck Finn Chapter Blog

You have been assigned a chapter from Part I of the novel. Discuss the impact of Twain's choice regarding how to develop and relate elements of Huckleberry Finn. How are characters introduced and developed in the chapter?  (300 words) Respond to one classmates blog (50 to 100 words)

Please use 3 SAT vocabulary words in your post.

Sorting People Blog (RJ # 12)

After viewing the website below respond with your reaction(s). (300 words).

http://www.pbs.org/race/002_SortingPeople/002_00-home.htm

Timeline & Theme Blog (R.J. #11)

After viewing the websites below, write a response to each of the following:

1) How has our conception of race changed over time?

2) How did prior conceptions of race impact slavery?

3) Discuss 3 key shifts in terms of race in America.

-“Is Race for Real”

http://www.pbs.org/race/001_WhatIsRace/001_00-home.htm

-Documenting Slavery: Timeline and Theme

http://www.pbs.org/race/003_RaceTimeline/003_00-home.htm

Douglass Autobiography Part 3 Blog (Quote #14)

Select a quote from Chapter 11 in the autobiography and connect it to the theme(s) of American realism: freedom, the American dream, racism, regionalism, survival, "individual vs. society," and "civilized society vs. the wilderness.  Your response should be 300 words each.  You are expected to respond to one classmate for as well (50-100 words).

Runaway Slave Blog (R.J. #10)

Write your reaction to ppt. in Agendas and Handouts (Google Drive) titled “Runaway Slaves” (300 words).

Douglass Autobiography Part 2 Blog (Quote #13)

Select a quote from Chapter 10 in the autobiography and connect it to the theme(s) of American realism: freedom, the American dream, racism, regionalism, survival, "individual vs. society," and "civilized society vs. the wilderness.  Responses should be 300 words each.  You are expected to respond to one classmate for each quote.

Douglass Autobiography Part 1 Blog (Quote #12)

Select and connect a quote from the autobiography to the themes of American realism: freedom, the American dream, racism, regionalism, survival, "individual vs. society," and "civilized society vs. the wilderness.  Responses should be 300 words each.  You are expected to respond to one classmate for each quote. (50-100 words)

Religion and Slavery Blog (R.J. #9)

Using the link below, discuss the role that religion played in the lives of slaves. (300 words)

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/experience/religion/index.html

“Is Race for Real” BLOG (R.J. #8)

Read http://www.pbs.org/race/001_WhatIsRace/001_00-home.htm then complete Reaction Journal #8 (300 words)

The Scarlet Letter Blog (Quote #11)

FOR THIS BLOG, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO POST ONE PASSAGE AND DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING:

a) What is the primary significance of the passage?

b) Identify the literary techniques used by Hawthorne.  Relate them to the content.

c) Which techniques are typical of Hawthorne in his novel and his short story, "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment"?

d) What are the effects of the dominant images used in this passage?

e) What do you think the important theme is expressed?

-Each blog should be include the specific passage with page number. Select one long enough so that your analysis has more opportunities for providing specific evidence. Each topic area should include four to five sentences.  

-The following website has the text of The Scarlet Letter by chapter: http://www.eldritchpress.org/nh/sl.html

NOTE: You cannot use passages that have been posted by your peers.  You are also expected to respond to at least 2 peers.  Make sure everyone gets a response, rather than one person receiving all the comments.

Dead Poets Society Blog (RJ #7)

Reflect/Evaluate, Dead Poet’s Society, in light of the principles of transcendentalism. As you are making connections between the movie and the movement consider focusing on ONE of the following: Mr. Keating and his English Classroom, The Dead Poet’s Society, Todd Anderson, Neil Perry, Knox Overstreet, and/or Charlie Dalton. (300 words)

American Romantic Art and Poetry Blog (RJ #6)

After reading literary examples of American romanticism in poetry, examine the paintings featured.  Why do you believe these are romantic poems and paintings?  What visual aspects do the poets/artists employ to interact with the view?  How do they create the "romantic" landscape?  What do you think are the characteristics of a romantic art and poetry?  How do they reflect the ideals of manifest destiny?  How do they reflect a worship of nature?

Use the questions to write a well-developed thesis about how one specific poem (using specific evidence) relates to the "romantic" ideals presented in one or more paintings (using specific objects and emotional impact in the paintings).  Be specific in making your connections between the poem and the paintings.  300 words.

American Romantic Poetry

Selections by The Fireside Poets

Dickinson and Whitman poems

Collection of Paintings

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ma02/freed/paintings/

Niagara (1857) Frederick Churchhttp://collection.corcoran.org/collection/work/niagara

The Lackawanna Valley (1855) George Inness

http://www.nhvweb.net/nhhs/SocialStudies/DDuerring/George%20Inness.pdf

Kindred Spirits (1849) Asher Durand

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/L.2008.21

Looking Down Yosemite Valley  (1865) Albert Bierstadt

http://picturingamerica.neh.gov/downloads/pdfs/Resource_Guide_Chapters/PictAmer_Resource_Book_Chapter_8A.pdf

Romantic Landscape with Ruined Tower (1832-1836) Thomas Cole

http://www.albanyinstitute.org/details/items/ruined-tower-mediterranean-coast-scene-with-tower.html

American Romanticism Blog

Each response should be  4-6 sentences using quotes from the selection to support your responses.

1) What are the values of Romantics, and how did these values affect the American imagination?

2) Who were the Transcendentalists, and how do their beliefs still influence American life?

3) What darker side of human life was recognized by some major American Romantics?

DECLARATION FOR THE WORLD

Throughout this unit, we have examined the philosophical foundations for American Democracy which are developed in the study of Civil Disobedience. Consider how Chief Joseph, Jefferson, Dekanawida, Adams, Stanton, Thoreau, Gandhi and King Jr. emphasize the rights of the citizen and the role of government as you develop your own declaration.

In your declaration, you will follow the organization of the "Declaration of Independence."

Introduction: Stating the Inalienable Rights of People

Body Paragraph: Identifying the injustices, where these rights have been violated.

Body Paragraph Providing a Resolution--Stating Positive Values for the Future

Call to Action

Banneker/Jefferson OR Stanton Blog

In your blog (300 words), identify the main points made by Banneker, how Jefferson answers them, and how is this "Self-Evident" truth reflected in the modern world (not just the U.S.).  OR Identify the main points made by Cady in "The Declaration of Sentiments", and how this "Self-Evident" truth is reflected in the modern world (not just the U.S.)

Respond to 1 peers with one specific positive comment and one specific suggestion related to his/her analysis (at least 50 word response).  Please attempt to respond to a classmate that does not have a response yet.

Revolutionary War Art (RJ #5)

Examine the artworks listed.  How did artists portray historical figures and events of the founding of America?  Why might an artist choose to depict such events or figures?  Identify what imagery is used and identify ways in which the artists use history for inspiration.  How does the artist share each narrative with you?  What visual clues lead you to discover what is happening in each scene?  Why might these paintings inspire viewers during the time period as well as future viewers? (300 words)

Washington Cross the Delaware (1851) Emanuel Leutze
http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/search-the-collections/20011777
Declaration of Independence (1819) John Trumbull
http://www.aoc.gov/capitol-hill/historic-rotunda-paintings/declaration-independence
Paul Revere (ca. 1768) John Copley
http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/paul-revere-32401
Washington and Lafayette at Valley Forge (1907) John Ward Dunsmore
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/washington_main.html?c=y&story=fullstory
Washington and Lafayette at Mount Vernon (1859) Thomas Pritchard Rossiter
http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/search-the-collections/20012321
James Monroe (ca. 1820-1822) Gilbert Stuarthttp://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/29.89
Lapowinsa (1735)  Gustavus Hesselius
http://explorepahistory.com/displayimage.php?imgId=1-2-92D
Siege de Yorktown (1836) Auguste Couder
http://xenophongroup.com/mcjoynt/couder.htm

Henry Tone Paragraph

After completing the rhetorical analysis (writer's notebook/ note format) for Patrick Henry's "Speech in the Virginia Convention", write a one paragraph (300 words) analysis of Henry's overall tone.

Puritan Art (RJ #4)

View the following paintings and discuss what each image shows about "young America." Review the poems by Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor.  Carefully examine the iconography (the use or study of images or symbols in visual arts) in the paintings and the poetry and how they reflect differing values.

a) What can you learn about each of these women and their lives in America as they are presented?  

b) How are the women different in the paintings?  

c) How do the paintings connect to Anne Bradstreet's poetry. (300 words)

PAINTINGS 1. Mrs. George Watson by John Singleton Copley http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/?id=32432 2. Young Moravian Girl by John Valentine Haidt http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/?id=9824 3. Mrs. James Smith & Grandson Charles Willson Peale http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/researchNotes/1980.93.pdf