Self-Description Poem

I know when you read the title of this post you got all tingly inside and couldn't resist the smile that came on your face! Actually I bet a lot of you immediately thought, "I can't write a poem!"

Well, don't worry...it's going to be easy...you hardly even have to think--which is a good thing for a senior on a Monday morning!! Basically, you need to be able to follow some directions and be somewhat creative...and your poem will just fall into place on its own!

Go to YOUR blog and start your poem. It will be 12 lines long and must follow these guidelines:

Line 1. your first name
Line 2. 5 words that describe you (in other words, 5 adjectives--there is your grammar lesson for the day) :)
Line 3. 3 things you really like
Line 4. 4 people you could not live without
Line 5. 2 things that really bother you
Line 6. 3 movies you have seen
Line 7. 2 things you fear
Line 8. 4 things you like most about school
Line 9. 3 places you have visited
Line 10. 5 places you would like to visit
Line 11. 4 things you hope to achieve in your lifetime
Line 12. your last name

That's it!! I told you it would not be bad!!

Please identify each line in some way (I am not requiring a complete sentence so calm down, but you need to put enough information in each line that a reader without the list would know what you are talking about).

Try to be unique!! Don't use adjectives like "nice" or "fun" to describe yourself! You have access to the internet, remember...use it to come up with some interesting words! Also, put some thought into this--it is not a race to see who can finish first!

By the way, if you need help with getting that first line, let me know...I know getting started on a poem is usually the hardest part!!! ;)

I can't wait to read them! I might even read some of the really creative ones out loud and see if everyone can guess whose they are!

Beowulf...the Techy??

Now that we have finished reading Beowulf (the oldest piece of British literature), let's continue our fun! :) I could tell by the way you slammed your books closed yesterday as soon as the last word of the story was read, that you were eager to see what was next in our adventures with this hero we have grown to love! ;) I didn't want to disappoint...so...let me get right to the assignment!

I know that some of you think it would be cool to live back during those times and fight monsters and dragons. You were probably hoping that I would let you put yourself in the place of one of the characters and tell what you would have done or how fast you would have killed the creatures!! Instead of going that direction, though, I thought it would be more fun to bring them into the 21st Century! Since I am the BOSS, we are going to do just that (and of course, by "we" I mean "you")! :)

You are going to rewrite the story (but an even shorter version) only you are going to add technology. Make sure you include each of the sections that were included in our literature books. Also, the setting, plot, etc. needs to remain basically the same....it can't just end in the first section by Grendal coming and killing everyone in the castle the first night after he uses Google to locate Herot Hall!

You are allowed to give each of the characters listed below one piece of technology, but you cannot give out more than one of each kind of technology. For example, if you give Beowulf an iPhone, then no one else is allowed to have an iPhone. The characters you will "hook up" with technology will be:

1. Beowulf
2. Higlac
3. Hrothgar
4. The Danish Watchman (the one who questions Beowulf and his men when they reach shore)
5. Grendel
6. One of the Whitebeards (Hrothgar's men who stood at the edge of the lake waiting for Beowulf to come up from his battle with Grendel's Mother)
7. Grendel's Mother
8. Wiglaf
9. One of the Soldiers who betrayed Beowulf when he was battling the Dragon
10. One of the Soldiers who rode a horse around "Beowulf Tower" during the funeral of Beowulf

Because there are 10 characters, you will have to come up with 10 different kinds of technology. You will need to make sure you explain how each of the characters uses his/her/its device and include examples of how it affected the outcome of the story. Keep in mind that if Beowulf has an iPhone, you will have to think of ways for him to use it that do not require someone else to also have an iPhone (in other words, he cannot text someone iPhone to iPhone--and...NO you cannot just hand out 10 different kinds of cell phones)!! I know you all have other ways to "talk"...and uses for technology other than just communication! Think, think, think!!

The only other stipulation on technology is that it has to be something that has been invented in YOUR lifetime--it can be an updated version of something that was invented before you, but the actual product must not have been around before you were born! Make sure you do some research if you are not sure--and stick to technological inventions, not just inventions in general!

You need to include at least one picture in this post. It can be of anything that pertains to your story. However, I do not want to see any movie posters or book covers. Find a picture/pictures that will add to your story but that have not been previously used to illustrate Beowulf (or "Beowulf").

Your new post needs to be published by the end of class tomorrow. This gives you plenty of time to equip the characters with their technology and rewrite a short version of this epic poem (you know, Beowulf - the first written piece of British literature!?!).

Now...go to YOUR blog and create a new post, so that you can get to updating those guys!! The more creative, the better!! There might even be some kind of reward to the one who comes up with the most creative "technologically-advanced" Beowulf!!

Look Into Your Crystal Ball...

I know that as seniors you get asked a lot what you want to do in the future. Well, I am asking you about your future, but I don't want cheesy responses about how you are going to graduate from high school, go to college, get a job, become a millionaire, blah, blah, blah...
I want you to sit back, clear your mind and really think about what you hope for in your future. I want realistic dreams. Tell me things like what kind of house you want to live in...and include details like will you have hard-wood floors, granite counter tops, a large king-sized sleigh bed??? Really think about it. What kind of car will you drive; will it have to be an SUV to haul around all your kids? What kind of person will you marry...looks, personality, values? Do you think you have even met that person yet? What town will you live in? Where will you work...will you be your own boss? What will your hobbies be...how will you spend your spare time and/or weekends? Where will you go to church? What kind of vacations will you take...weekend get-a-ways...weeks in foreign countries? Who will your friends be?
Please understand that I am not talking about 5 or even 10 years...I want to know about when you are my age (a little over 30 ;) ) or even older. After you have "sown your wild oats" and settled down, what will your life be like? Who will you be? Are these things similar to what your parents have? Or will you make a life completely different from theirs? How much of an influence will/do they (and other adults) have on your future?
Open YOUR blog and respond to this post. I am not going to say that it needs to be a certain length, but I will say that I am looking for more than 2 or 3 sentences! I really want you to put some thought into this and really try to put yourself in your future...then tell me about it!! Enjoy!!!