First Post-- Due Between May 14- 17th

Congratulations! Now that you have created your very own blog, you are now ready to write and publish your first post.

First, make sure that you email me (from your Gmail account) the URL to your blog so that I can add it to my blog list for our period (Look to your right, scroll down...you see the different periods? That is where the link to your blog will be). Your URL should look something like this: http://www.misscsantos.blogspot.com/.

Now on to your assignment...

You can begin your first post by introducing yourself and stating what you have liked the most about our English class this year. Then, I want you to do some research on the author of A Doll's House. Therefore, you need to provide us with some facts on Henrik Ibsen. Explain how you think the title of the play relates to what the play may be about or how it may even relate to the author. This can be done in about two paragraphs. Remember, you MUST use proper grammar and don't forget to use punctuation. Therefore, you may want to type this into Microsoft Word and then just copy and paste. Blogger also has a spell check option if you choose to not use Microsoft Word. Please cite your information because if you do not, then it is plagiarism you will not recieve credit for your work. Simply including the link(s) at the end of your post will do. Also, you are not copying and pasting the information you find. You are paraphrasing!

Any questions? Hit the comment button...

Happy first post! =)

Welcome Periods 2, 3, 4- Class of 2012! - - Post Edit

Welcome to my blog and I hope you are all excited about creating your own personal space where you will blog as well. Overall, the students last year had a great time blogging and they were enthusiastic about reading the play A Doll's House (I guarantee that you are going to LOVE it). I want you to snoop around and become acquainted with the format of Blogspot. Also, on the right hand side of my blog, you can check out the blogs from last year’s students (Periods 2, 4, 6). More information will be coming soon as to what you will be blogging on, the rubric, creating your own blog, etc.

I want you to begin by leaving me an appropriate comment (all you do is click on “Comments” at the bottom of my post) and you can sign in using your Gmail account and password. In fact, if you cannot remember your Gmail account/password, then you must work on retrieving that information.

You will create your blogs in class on Friday, May 14th. Let the fun begin! =)

ps: Anyone and everyone can read your comments, as well as your posts. This means other teachers, parents, administrators, etc. Therefore, use discretion when leaving comments/posting on your own blogs.

Period 3
Thank you for your odd way of "appreciating" me this week. The random round of applause was embarrassing (I think I turned red!), but sweet. You're all VERY unique, but that is also what makes you special, even the students who would "betray" me, just as Brutus betrayed Caesar. Also, thanks for my tiny (and from the cafeteria?) apple. I got my apple!!! I am counting on you all to make this blogging experience a fun and educational one. Here is your apple!


Dougie- Ms. P and I love our "double everything" basket (yum). Thank you!

-Ms. C. Santos

Our Last Post- Act III Due. Friday, May 29th

**Attention PERIOD 2- Your Act III post is due. Saturday, May 30th**

This is it...our last post. You know what to do because you have been doing it well for the past couple of weeks. I want to remind you to take a nice, long, hard, and thoughtful look at the rubric because when I go read your blogs (in the next couple of days, I hope!), I will be using it to grade your posts. Here is the link once again!

I hope that the majority of you enjoyed the blogging experience. Most importantly, I hope you enjoyed reading A Doll's House. I think most will agree that it was drama, drama, drama! However, it was delightful to see some of the students engulf themselves in the play. I appreciate all of your patience, hard work, and devotion, which contributed to making our blogging experience a pleasant one.

Now we need to hold on for two more full weeks. We have a hectic schedule ahead of us and without your cooperation, we won't get far (and neither will your grade since your Final exam depends on the short stories and the review).

In less than one month, we will all be here....


A teacher can dream, can't she? ;)

-Miss.C.Santos

Act II Post Due Saturday, May 23rd

**Attention Period 2- Your post for Act II is due on Sunday, May 24th**

I am ecstatic! You have all been doing a wonderful job with your analysis of the characters and the plot. In fact, I am shocked at how well some of you have related A Doll's House to previous works of literature that we have studied.

For the next post you are to continue analyzing the characters and the plot. However, this time around you know more about the characters and you have definitely formulated an opinion of them. Therefore, focus on how you view the characters. Also, please make more of an effort to make the connection between literature and your lives, current events/situations, and society. Furthermore, keep using those vocab words in your posts. It makes you all sound like "intellectuals" (remember when Beneatha used the word "intellectuals" in the movie for A Raisin in the Sun? I just had to make the connection)!

Keep reading other blogs and commenting. Not only is it encouraging, but it is also a great way to discuss the play without being in the same class :)

Only 19 days left of school....Hang in there!

ps: This time around I will be reading the blogs from Period 6 first because I have yet to read their first post. Their efforts have gone above and beyond. Therefore, I owe it to them to read their work first.

-Miss.C.Santos

Act I Post Due Wednesday, May 20th

Your post for Act I will be due by this Wednesday, May 20th. We are moving quickly with A Doll's House.

Click here to see the rubric that I will be using to grade your posts. It is wise to read through it so that you know and understand what will be expected of you.

The assignment is the following:

There are three Acts and before each Act, I will be giving you vocabulary handouts that you must complete for homework. It is your responsibility to become familiar with these vocabulary words because you will choose the ones that you will want to include in your blog post. For example, if one of the vocab words were “self-sufficient”, then you would include the word in your post as you are discussing your views on the play. Therefore, I would write, “It is hard to tell whether Nora could ever become a self-sufficient female because of the constant suffocating nurture that her father and husband have provided for her.” That means that when you post for each Act, you want to focus on the vocab words for that Act. To become a Platinum Blogger, you must include more than two vocab words from the Act in your post.

Furthermore, you want your post to focus on your views and opinions of the plot, characters (inner struggles), and the setting. It is important for you to be able to analyze the plot and the characters development, individually. In addition, you want to tie in any important themes and symbols that you find to be appropriate. Most importantly, I want you to relate the play/ its characters to the media/ personal life. I need to see (and so do your peers) that you can make that connection between literature and your own lives.

After you publish your post, you want to go visit other blogs and you want to comment on what your peers have written. Hopefully, your peers will post higher- level thinking questions that will help you all initiate discussions. You must, however, do the same. This contributes to becoming a Platinum Blogger. Please make an effort to reply to at least three posts (three different bloggers). If you do not make this effort, then it will affect your grade (look at the rubric).

ps: I shouldn’t even have to mention this, but I will anyway. Do NOT forget to write properly. You are not to be writing as if you were texting or IM’ing. Transition words will become your lifeline (they will connect your thoughts and ideas) and the proper tense usage is important. It is best if you type your post into Microsoft Word first, and then copy and paste it into Blogger. Again, read the rubric thoroughly since all of these details are included in it.


pss: Get creative!!! Include pictures and videos that relate to the play/your post!

-Miss.C.S

First Blog Assignment- Due Between May 12- 15th

You are to publish your first post on your blog. However, before you do so, I feel we need some clarification.

First, make sure that you email me the URL to your blog so that I can add it to my blog list for our period (Look to your right, scroll down...you see the different periods? That is where the link to your blog will be). Also, if you never emailed me from your Gmail account, then I don't have you under my Contacts and that's an issue. Therefore, take care of that please.

Second, you need to understand what you will be blogging on. So PLEASE scroll down and read the "What you will be blogging on..." post and the "Rubric" post. You will be on your own when it comes time to blog on each Act. Therefore, if you need some clarification, now is the time to ask for it.

Third, many people will have access to your blog. This is being done for educational purposes. If you decide to create your own blog, one that does not relate to A Doll's House, then keep the funky stuff on that blog. Read my post on "Exemplary Blogs" because I provide you with some links to blogs that are very well written and structured. This way you know exactly what we are aiming for.

Now on to your assignment...

I want you to do some research on the author of A Doll's House, therefore, you need to provide us with some facts on Henrik Ibsen. Then, explain how you think the title of the play relates to what the play may be about or how it may even relate to the author. This can be done in about two paragraphs. Remember, you MUST use proper grammar. Therefore, you may want to type this into Microsoft Word and then just copy and paste.

Since we will all be reading with different books (different versions and publishing companies), some of the wording may be different. Therefore, do not be shocked if you are acting out a part and your peers are shouting out, "it don't say that in my book." Let's be patient and work around everything...

Happy 1st post :)

Miss. C. S.

YOU MUST CREATE A GMAIL ACCOUNT BEFORE MONDAY!

Ok guys, so I kind of goofed!I was supposed to tell you to create a gmail account before we went into the computer lab to set up our blogs. BUT, it's not 100% my fault because the Media Center had A.P testing all week and I never got the chance to go in there to talk to our Media Specialists.
Either way, you MUST create a gmail account before coming to our class on Monday. Just go to Gmail and create a new account. Remember, I need identifiable names so that I know who you all are.

Then, just leave me a comment here and tell me your email address so that I can start adding you to my Contacts. :)

I'm starting to get REALLY excited about all of this. But, I am also REALLY nervous because we don't have a lot of time left and we still need to start and finish the play, read short stories, and REVIEW for Finals. So we must buckle down these next few weeks.

We'll have fun though, you'll see!

Have a nice weekend....stay dry.

-Miss.C.S