Unforgiven Ending

Write about the (wo)manhood shown in Unforgiven.

Thursday Unforgiven Blog Task

This task must be 20 minutes long. Which means, write for 20 minutes. Due today. Earn credit for writing the whole time and trying.

1. Summarize the film. What has happened so far. Make a list.

2. Write about gender roles. Will women ever become fully equal with men? Will we have a woman president soon? What powers, rights have women gained over the years? Why have gender inequalities existed? What gender roles do you see in the film?

3. Write about authority. What authority exists in our lives? Why do we listen to authority? Why do we sometimes ignore authority? What authority exists in the film?

4. Write about your new predictions (not the same as Tuesday) for the rest of the plot.

5. Write about why people seek revenge. Why are we not good at forgiving?

6. Write about how people make decisions. Why do we decide what we decide?

Tuesday Unforgiven Blog Task

This task must be 20 minutes long. Which means, write for 20 minutes. Due today. Earn credit for writing the whole time and trying.

1. Summarize the film. What has happened so far. Make a list.

2. Write about your favorite character. Open a link to make sure you know their names.

3. Write about your least favorite character.

4. Write about your predictions for the rest of the plot.

5. Write about how events become tall tales or "fish stories" (the fish grows in size over time). How do our versions of what happened become exaggerated? Why?

6. Write about how people can change, for the better and the worse.

Mean Girls Blog Task

1. Research the careers of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Understand what they usually do with/through their art (especially Mean Girls). They're really trying to educate us all while entertaining us.

2. Read two smart reviews online (similar to this link, but not using this exact link) of Mean Girls. Write 300+ words summary and response to these two reviews. Give credit to the writers of these two reviews, as well.

Google search "Mean Girls" with the words "analysis" or "critical review" or "feminism" or "theory" to find smart reviews.

Due Monday, March 30

How are you carrying the fire? For yourself? For others? 

How will you carry the fire in your future?

Type 300+ words.

Due Friday, March 27

Select another student's post on any of the Mad Max blog tasks. Compliment your classmate's ideas in 200+ words.

Due Thursday, March 26

Type 300+ words about the Mad Max trilogy, discussing whatever topic you wish. You may--but you don't have to--select from these options:

1. How did the film-making evolve from one movie to the next?

2. Rank the films from most to least educational/intelligent.

3. Rank the films from most to least entertaining/amusing.

4. Rank the films from most to least realistic.

5. Rank the films from most to least ___________________.

Due Wednesday, March 25

In what ways is Max like a savior figure? Refer to the whole trilogy. In this picture, Max stands in a pose similar to crucifixion. Mention any religion you wish, but you do not have to. Write 300+ words.

Wednesday, March 18

To what extent does apocalyptic fiction make us live better, with more integrity--and with more concern for the well-being of humanity and the Earth? Write 300+ words.

Tuesday, March 17

Type 300+ words.

What are the differences within that lead some people to do selfish deeds of savagery while others do unselfish deeds of integrity? 

What savagery do we see in the Mad Max film trilogy? 

What integrity do we see in this trilogy?

Monday, March 16

Type 200+ words about the parallels of Mad Max 3: Beyond Thunderdome to our current world.

Do we have power struggles in politics?

Do we neglect our youth?

Are destined to destroy?

How are these questions related to the film?

March 10

Write about one term as it relates to the apocalyptic novel and films we are studying. Each table has a different term.

Northwest: Trust

Midwest: Decency

Southwest: Love

Northeast: Fear

Mideast: Hope

Southeast: Community

Write 200+ words about your single term, then showtime.

Tom Hardy as Max in Fury Road, out on May 15!

February 26

Expand on your February 24 blog task, not just repeating words and information, but elaborating with detail and additional insight. Also, predict what Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior and Mad Max 3: Beyond Thunderdome will be like/about. If you have seen these two movies, discuss your opinion of them--and compare them with the novel The Road. Work on The Road study guide on Google Drive when done with this blog task. Type 300+ words for today's blog task.

February 24

In what five ways is Max Rockatansky highly similar to the dad in The Road?

In what five ways is Max Rockatansky different from the dad in The Road?

February 23

Type no more than the length of a tweet (140 characters, not 140 words) about Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Make sure each character, each word counts. No useless, empty words. Generate full power with each character you type.

February 19

Actor Robert Duvall as Ely in the movie.

Write 300+ words to react to the Ely section of the novel (pages 161-175).

1.) What's the wisest thing Ely says? Why is it wise?

2.) What's the weirdest thing Ely says? Why is it weird?

3.) What does McCarthy accomplish by including Ely in his plot?

February 9

Please write about the movie (we'll watch the very end again) as it relates to the novel, comparing and contrasting in 300+ words. Earn credit by trying, caring, investing effort to improve your critical thinking skills. Thank you for your effort.

February 3

Click on a link about The Road at the right side of this blog page. Read it, summarize it in 45-50 words, then write 300+ words in response to what you read. (Pictured is Oprah Winfrey, a famous woman who helped make this novel extremely famous.)

February 2

What other apocalyptic stories (books, short narratives, films...) do you know? How are they similar to/different from The Road? Is the author/director trying to teach us the same lessons--or different lessons? You could use The Giver, WALL-E, and/or any other stories you know. This is a picture from the movie Book of Eli, which we will watch if a student acquires it (it's in our library). Write 300+ words today to compare and contrast. 

January 27

1.) Type five awesome sentences from The Road (with page numbers). Why have you selected these five?

2.) Type five other sentences, this time of the puzzling/confusing nature (with page numbers). Why have you selected these five sentences as "puzzling"?

TYPE THE SENTENCES LIKE THIS: "He looked like someone trying to feed a vulture broken in the road" (163).

January 22 to prepare for February 20

Click on this link to view what you'll do February 20 to prepare for life beyond BVHS. Listen to Mrs. Hartz with great focus.

Tuesday, January 20

Add 300+ words to what you wrote Friday. We'll then discuss.

Friday, January 16

What are your three favorite statements from the prezi or the viewing notes? Why?

What are your three least favorite statements from the prezi or the viewing notes? Why?


Are there hyenas and lions in this school? Explain. 300+ words, just like all blog tasks.

Tuesday, January 13

Type about two claims/observations about The Lion King (involving literary criticism and theoretical approaches and lenses) I've expressed to you, one you agree with and another you disagree with. Find these claims/observations on the prezi, viewing notes, or from what I've said in class.

Type 300+ words.

Tuesday, January 6

1) What was the best part of first semester?

2) What was the worst part of first semester?

3) Have you seen The Lion King? What do you remember about it?

4) Type one sentence from The Road and explain why it is a cool sentence.

5) What is best part about Lego technical writing?

6) What is the worst part about Lego technical writing?



Type 300+ total words to fulfill these tasks.

Paste Directions Here!

Please place directions here, for another avenue of sharing information.

Technical Writing Blog Task 4--due April 23

Write 300+ words about the merits of technical writing practice. When/where/how will you use skills you develop when rehearsing technical writing? Attach some sort of information found on SDMyLife to earn credit.

Technical Writing Blog Task 3--due April 16

1.) In 300+ words, reflect on your writing improvement. What specifically have you worked on to communicate most effectively with a reader who is obviously outside your head and doesn't "know what you mean" automatically?

To explain her ideas, Lois Lowry had to think long and hard, indeed.

Technical Writing Blog Task 2--due April 10

1.) Type 15 super-specific, accurate, helpful words or phrases that have helped you achieve the absolute best results when crafting your sculptures. (Great examples include words like "perpendicular" and phrases like "covering each remaining gray peg.")

2.) Explain why 7 of these words work far better than poorer options. To earn full credit on any blog task, you must write 300+ words.

Technical Writing Blog Task 1--due April 8

1.) Locate a terrific sample of technical writing. Paste the link here.

2.) Summarize the content, telling the rest of us what this sample explains.

3.) Explain why the technical writing sample you found is exceptional. You should type 300+ words for this task.

Images from actx.edu and erikjohanssonphoto.com.