Category: Loss Of Innocence

Part 2: Laila's Story (Primary Blog ONLY)

3/7/2025

These images (all images of Afghanistan occuring during the time period in Part 2) could depict some of the main plot points of the beginning of Part II (Laila's Story) of A Thousand Splendid Suns. While these moments are important, they are by no means the only significant points in these chapters. Here is a link to Getty Images collection of photos of Afghanistan in the 1980s:

https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/afghanistan-1980

After having read these chapters:

Select a single passage (this may be a single paragraph or several) that you feel best typifies the thematic importance of "shelter" in this section of ATSS. You may Copy/Paste from the PDF copy of ATSS on GClassroom OR clearly paraphrase the passage to familiarize your reader.
Explain the action and context of the quoted passage (you must cite the passage) and then,
Explain how your understanding of this passage (1) supports your understanding of the thematic topic, "shelter," (2) deepens the character development, AND (3) builds a central message that aligns with one of the unit's essential questions (see the main ATSS page).

Primary Blog Expectations (respond to the prompt above): 100-150 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name that you were assigned in class as your PEN NAME and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59 pm on Sunday night!

A Thousand Splendid Suns: Chapters 11-20

12/1/2020

These images could depict some of the main plot points of the beginning of Part II (Laila's Story) of A Thousand Splendid Suns. While these moments are important, they are by no means the only significant points in these chapters.
After having read these chapters:
-Select a single passage (this may be a single paragraph or several) that you feel best typifies the thematic importance of "shelter" in this section of ATSS.
-Explain the action and context of the quoted passage (you must cite the passage) and then,
-Explain how your understanding of this passage (1) supports your contextual understanding of the thematic subject ("shelter"), (2) deepens the character development, and/or (3) builds a central message that aligns with one of the unit's essential questions (see the main ATSS page).

Primary Blog Expectations (respond to the prompt above): 100-150 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name that you were assigned in class as your PEN NAME and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59 pm on Friday night!

Secondary Blog Response Expectations (read everyone's primary responses, select two that interest you, and respond to their ideas): 75-100 words EACH, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name that you were assigned in class as your PEN NAME and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59 pm on Sunday night!

War and Peace: "Platoon" (1986) by Oliver Stone (Primary and Secondary Blog Entries)

3/24/2014

Sgt. Elias and Sgt. Barnes

Just as Chris and the platoon are divided between Elias and Barnes, viewers also feel somewhat divided. You feel compelled to side with Elias because he is jaded and righteous and seems to care about his men, but you can't help but admire Barnes' hardiness, his determination to win the war and ability to survive.

After our class discussion about allegory, the Christ figure and Machiavelli, as well as the inability of humans to be purely good or evil, you understand that this is a decision that is not as easy as one might hope.

Imagine that you are a soldier in this platoon. Who do you follow, Sgt. Barnes or Sgt. Elias? Take into consideration all factors: survival, morality, reality of the war environment, psychological effects of the war, constant extreme stress, and any other factors that would affect your decision. Explain your decision in a thoughtful and well supported blog entry.

PLEASE ADD WORD COUNT AT END OF EACH BLOG ENTRY!

Primary Blog Entry Expectations (respond to the prompt above): 200-250 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the assigned "pen name" given to you in class.

Secondary Blog Entry Expectations (read everyone's first responses, select two that interest you, and respond to their ideas): 100-150 words EACH, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the assigned "pen name" given to you in class.

(3 total blog entries for this assignment)

"War" by Luigi Pirandello (Primary Blog Entry only)

3/17/2014

Now that you have read the short story "war" and watched the short film adaptation, please answer the three following questions:
1.     How would you characterize the ending of this story… a realization, a denouement, or an epiphany?

Denouement - after the climax, a gentle restoration of relationships prior to the events in the story

Realization - where a character becomes aware of a reality in his or her life

Epiphany - a sudden, sharp realization, an awareness of a desire that can never be fulfilled, or "reality"

Explain your answer and describe its effect on the characters' different levels of denial. (100-150 words)

2.     What desires motivate the fat traveler? Explain. Are these in conflict?  (100-150 words)

3.     Why is the atmosphere of the overnight train appropriate? (100-150)

Falling Into the State and Awaking to Die: Randall Jarrell's "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner"

3/4/2014

Click on photo to read poem

After reading and annotating Jarrell's poem, The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner," please consider the following question:

What does the imagery of the last line suggest about the speaker's attitude toward death?

Please post your response here, using your assigned Student Number (contact me if you forget it). Your response should:
1. use the poems' title and author's name
2. answer the prompt
3. use a properly cited quote from the poem to support your ideas (hint: better quotes aren't just the last line)
4. be between 100-150 words (hint: type response on Word Doc and the Copy/Paste into submission box)

This blog response is due by 11:59 pm tonight.

Class Period A Blog

Part 2: Laila's Story (Primary Blog ONLY)

A Thousand Splendid Suns: Chapters 11-20

War and Peace: "Platoon" (1986) by Oliver Stone (Primary and Secondary Blog Entries)

"War" by Luigi Pirandello (Primary Blog Entry only)

Falling Into the State and Awaking to Die: Randall Jarrell's "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner"

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