Gossip Got Your Tongue?

You probably remember an old proverb that went something like:

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me..."

To be honest, though, the whole reason we said it was because we really were hurt.  There are things that have been said to me that I will never forget, and they still sting like the day they were spoken.  O.K. so we all agree that we should control our tongues and not slam people to their face.  That's why it's so much easier to do it behind their backs, then deny it later--right?  Check out this story:

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem.  One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"  


"Hold on a minute, "Socrates replied.  "Before telling me anything, I'd like you to pass a little test.  It's called the Triple Filter Test.'  


"Triple Filter?"


"That's right," Socrates continued.  "Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say.  That's why I call it the triple filter test.  The first filter is Truth.  Have you made absolutely sure that what you're about to tell me is true?"  


"No," the man said, "actually I just heard it and..."


"All right," said Socrates.  "So you don't really know if it's true or not.  now let's try the second filter, the filter of goodness.  is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"


"No, on the contrary..."


"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true.  You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left:  the filter of usefulness.  Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"


"No, not really."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"

-Author Unknown

And just because you are a teenager or young, doesn't mean you have an excuse to gossip.  It isn't just something ALL teenagers do.  It's a conscious choice we all make, which means we could CHOOSE not to do it!  

So....got gossip?  Perhaps today you should start triple-filtering so you don't do double-damage with your words!

Questions to ask yourself:
How would your conversations be different if you 'triple filtered' everything?

I'm sure you have been the victim of gossip at some point in time, even if you aren't aware of it.  Knowing how it feels to be gossiped about, why do you think people choose to do it anyway? 


**Parts of this post were taken from www.dare2share.org.  To see the original post, go to www.dare2share.org/devotions/devil-got-your-tongue/.

Literary Elements: TAKS PT 3

Use the title above as yours.

Then, look up the following definitions using the BOOK dictionary, not your computer.  You will see these words on Practice Test 3 which you are about to begin.

1.) SATIRE

2.) IRONY

3.) ANALOGY

4.) FORESHADOWING

After you have defined each word, go to Google Images and find an example of IRONY and FORESHADOWING.  Find a picture that fits the definition of each of these and add it to your post.

When you have done all of the above, publish and close your computer for the day.

Story Spinners!

Story Spinner is a handheld creative writing wheel that generates millions of writing ideas, topics, and exercises so you never get stuck. It’s a low-tech item that produces high-caliber results, time after time, no matter where you are. It was invented in 1998 by Bonnie Neubauer.

Coach K had her seniors complete this blog journal and I thought it was great, so we are going to use it, as well, with her permission.  

There is an online version of this game but not what I was looking for in the way of topics, etc. I decided to use this idea and come up with my own "story spinners." I have come up with three options from which you can choose. I will give you a setting, starting phrase and four words that must be used (correctly) in your story. I want the four words to be a different color than the rest of your story, so that I can find them easily! You will use my exact phrase for the opening of your story, but please notice it is just a phrase--not a complete sentence--so you must complete the thought and then begin your story from there!

These stories need to be AT LEAST three paragraphs with no less than five sentences per paragraph.

I also want you to find a picture for your story and place it at the beginning of your post. You may choose to use several pictures throughout your story, as well.


I KNOW you will have fun with this!! :)


Option 1

Setting: Your childhood neighborhood

Starting Phrase: As the old man approached my friends and me...

Four words that must be included in the story: barefoot, bicycle, flashlight, gibberish


Option 2

Setting: A bus stop in Paris

Starting Phrase: The long scar just below her left knee...

Four words that must be included in the story: immature, credentials, squint, roses


Option 3

Setting: A dark alley on a rainy night

Starting Phrase: As I regained consciousness, I remember asking...

Four words that must be included in the story: blame, headlights, stubborn, vestibule

Now, get to work and HAVE FUN!  I can't wait to read what you come up with!

Heaven

We all have our thoughts about what heaven might be like.  We've read descriptions in the the Bible, we've heard what others have said, and you've probably thought about what heaven is.

In the novel, The Lovely Bones, the main character Susie Salmon, describes what HER heaven is like. 

If you were asked to describe what you think heaven will be like, what would you say?  It can be completely made up and have nothing or everything to do with your religious views.  It is up to you. 

Write a full paragraph or more and tell me about what you would want your heaven to include and look like. 

When you finish, publish the post and we will then continue reading. 

The Lovely Bones

Look at the very first page of the novel.  No, not page 1.  Look before that.  There is a page at the very beginning of the novel with a paragraph that reads like this:

Inside the snow globe on my father's desk, there was a penguin wearing a red-and-white-striped scarf.  When I was little my father would pull me into his lap and reach for the snow globe.  He would turn it over, letting all the snow collect on the top, then quickly invert it.  The two of us watched the snow fall gently around the penguin.  The penguin was alone in there, I thought, and I worried for him.  When I told my father this, he said, "Don't worry, Susie; he has a nice life.  He's trapped in a perfect world."


Think about that passage for a minute.

Answer the following questions in a paragraph:

What did Susie's father mean when he said the penguin was "trapped in a perfect world?"  Why does her father consider it perfect?

Think about what has happened to Susie.  Do you think she considers herself "trapped" in her heaven?  Do you think she sees it as a perfect world?  Explain your answer.

Parts of Speech Review

Last week we reviewed the 8 Parts of Speech.  Today, I would like to see what you know and remember.

Directions:  You will come up with the words below and then write a paragraph using the words you have come up with.

List the following words:  (you may use more than this, but you MUST use the ones you list below in the paragraph you write). 

10 Nouns:

5 Adjectives:

3 Adverbs:

2 Conjunctions:

3 Verbs:

2 Prepositions:

1 Interjection:

2 Pronouns:

After you have made your list, use the words you come up with to write a paragraph about anything you wish.  The paragraph MUST make sense, and it MUST use all of the words you have come up with above.

When you are through, publish your work.  Good luck!!

Your Bucket List

What Would You Do?

Stop putting your dreams off for "some day" . . . Take inspiration from the movie "The Bucket List" and ask yourself: If I had one year left to live, what would I be sure to do? Create a list of 100 things you want to do before you kick the bucket and start crossing items off your list, today.

Maybe you want to . . .

1. Write a script for a TV show
2. Do stand-up comedy
3. Write a children's book
4. Go camping
5. Ride a gondola in Venice
6. Learn how to salsa dance
7. Host Saturday Night Live
8. Visit a Renaissance fair
9. See the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
10. Witness a solar eclipse

It's never too early or too late to create a bucket list. So, whether you're 10 or 98, use this lens for inspiration and for guidelines on how to get started. You'll also find over 380 things you can consider adding to your bucket list (suggestions to get your creative juices flowing).

"Will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed (98 3/4% guaranteed)." - Dr. Seuss

Your task today: You will create your own Bucket List on your class blog.  Click on the link above to get some ideas.  Then, go to your blog and start your post.  You will have the class period to write, so don't feel hurried.  Even if you don't finish today, you should have a good start by the time the period is over.  Your final Bucket List should have 100 things you would like to do before you die.  Use the title "My Bucket List." And in the labels at the bottom of the post box, type Bucket List.