Joining the Dialogue about Digital Distraction

Greetings!

My apologies for not being with you again today.  As you might already know, my father passed away earlier this week and I've been in New Jersey with my family.  I'll return next week and look forward to seeing you all.

For today, you are going to go to this website from the New York Times.
Read what the page is asking you to do - read the two short articles they link you to, then join in the digital dialogue about it.  You can see the specific directions where it says, "So if you're 13 to 25 years old...."

Also, please write a short post on your own blog about your reactions to the articles and / or thoughts to the other questions they ask here.

Have a great weekend.

Synthesis - Ray Bradbury story #2

Good Morning!

We'll start today by reading one more story from Ray Bradbury: "A Sound of Thunder." 
After you read the story, please go to your blog and create a new post with answers to these questions:

• Who is the protagonist?  Who is the antagonist? 
• How does the point of view from which the story is told affect your understanding of it?
• Why are the time travelers told to "stay on the Path?" What is "the path"? What could happen if a traveler goes off the path or steps on a mouse, for example?
• The narrator uses the phrase "A sound of thunder," several times in this story. What is the sound of thunder being referenced?
• What point might the author be making with this story?  What other potential themes are there?

Synthesis - Ray Bradbury short story

Before you read the story for today, go to your blog and start a new post to keep track of your thoughts and responses to the questions below.

(Please respond to these before you read the story - a few sentences for each)

1. What would you do if you knew this was the last night of the world?
2. What do you think other people would do if they knew this was the last night of the world?

(Read the story - click here)

(Respond to these questions after you read the story - a few sentences for each)

1. Who are the protagonists in this story?  In what ways are they similar / different?
2. What are the main points behind the husband's reasoning and actions in the story?
3. Choose two details from the story (specific objects, locations, people) and explain their role / purpose / significance.
4. How would you describe the tone in this story?  How is it similar to / different from what you wrote about in the pre-reading questions?
5. What overall point is the story making?  Name it in one sentence.