Fun Site for Cell Phones

OK for all you nerds out there...or for those of you who just love a good pick me up...here is the new site for you and your cell phone. You can make it an app or make it a favorite. It is called cellstories.net and everyday it provides short stories (about 5 minutes to read) on your cell phone. This is great if you'd love to discover new writers out there or if you just need something to entertain you during lecture (yes, we -the teachers-know that you are secretly checking your phones)! Anyway, I love it and thought you might too..

Columbia Students-Comp I. please bring notes to discuss Maisie Dobbs in class. Also, bring any questions you may have about the novel. We will discuss possible test questions.Remember, the test will be Wed. April 7th. Comp II-Bring textbooks. We will be reading passages and discussing the Rogerian Argument paper that will be due on Wed. See you tom!

Northwest Shoals--Comp I-you are to be doing outside research for your research papers. We will be going to the lab Tuesday to work on these essays. Comp II-You are writing your drama essay outside of class this time. Also, be ready to begin poetry when we return Tuesday!

New Week!

Fun Fact of the day--Most of my students in Alabama know this because we study Plath, but Sylvia Plath, who did not reach her 31st birthday, gained status as a 20th century author. She is considered one of the greatest short story writers and poets. However, today she is most famous for her depression and suicide attempts. Sylvia tried multiple time to commit suicide, her first being in college when she swallowed sleeping pills under her house. Later she married Ted Hughes, an English poet, who was often unfaithful. After their separation, Sylvia finally succeeded in her suicide. She went into the kitchen, shut the door, and sealed any cracks with towels. She then turned on her gas oven and stuck her head deep inside. Authors so many times find odd ways to end their lives. I find it fascinating. Oh well, maybe I am just morbid. however, Plath was a visionary for women's lit. If you have never read her poem, mirror, check it out. It is amazing!

Columbia--
It is a new week. For Comp I, we will be watching a video tom. but please remember, you guys need to be there because you will be quizzed on the movie! Comp II--both classes need to be ready for their debates in class. Hope the presentations go better than the group work did.....

Alabama-I will post notes for you guys tom.

Friday!!!

O.K. So my latest revelation is that planning a 50th wedding anniversary is a lot of work! My grandparents are celebrating theirs in May and I am in charge of party planning. Not only do my grandparents have no idea of the addresses of their friends, but they also want me to locate them....AHHH! Anyway, I want everything to turn out perfect, so of course I am stressing. Oh well, here's to my new future plans...search and locate....

Freaky.....

Edgar Allan Poe wrote a short story in 1838, "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket", in which three shipwreck survivors in an open boat kill and eat the fourth, a man named Richard Parker. In 1884, in the real world, three shipwreck survivors in an open boat killed and ate the fourth, whose name was Richard Parker.
Man, I Love POE!!!

PS I know many of you could care less what I am reading, but others may want to know what I think totally rocks. Anyway, right now, I am going through a Steven King phase. That being said, here is what you should definitely pick up. Under the Dome, which is one of the best books I have ever read and From A Buick 8, which I am currently listening to in the car. The latter is heavily alienesk..if that is a word lol. however, the story telling of both will blow you away. I have never read wit to match King's. I am also currently reading a book on books and literature by Michael Dirda and finishing Nefertiti by Michelle Moran.

Fun Fact of the Day!

In case you are interested----

Christopher Marlowe

Assassination or Murder?
The story behind Marlowe’s death at age 29 is controversial. According to traditional history, Marlowe died in a brawl at a local tavern, stabbed to death by another man. However, the fact that Marlowe was somewhat involved with some mysterious issue with Queen Elizabeth makes the reason for his death to be a possible political assassination. Therefore, his temper revealed in his last brawl that caused his death might be just a cover up of an unknown bigger reason for his death. For more information on this topic, check out The World of Christopher Marlowe, by the scholar David Riggs. .

Where Would Shakespeare Be without Marlowe?
Marlowe, a Shakespeare contemporary, rose to fame in his twenties, before Shakespeare had accomplished any notable work. Marlowe was a pioneer in composing blank verse (unrhymed poetry) and using iambic pentameter for his two famous plays (Tamberlaine and Dr. Faustus). Shakespeare, who rose to fame soon after Marlowe, copied Marlowe’s style in all of his thirty-seven plays. .

Columbia State notes for Wed. Classes

Comp I: for Wednesday you all should be bringing in your scratch outline to write your compare/contrast in-class essay. Remember, you may rough draft at home for practice, but you may not bring the rough draft to class.

Comp II 2 o'clock class: for Wed. you should bring in information to work in groups for the debate. Remember which side of the debate you are on. The topic of discussion is the recent healthcare bill Pro/Con.

Comp II 3:30 class: for Wed. you will also bring in information for the debate. Your topic for the discussion is Euthanasia Pro/Con.

Fun Fact #3

Cinderella's slippers were originally made out of fur. The story was changed in the 1600s by a translator. It was the left shoe that Aschenputtel (Cinderella) lost at the stairway, when the prince tried to follow her.

Interesting....

Hopefully, by the time you all read this I will have given the address to all my classes. Please remember to check this blog before class each day for updates and reminders. Maybe this will help keep us all on track.

Fun Fact #2

Here is today's literature fun fact. I thought it was hilarious because 1. Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors and 2. This sounds exactly like something I would do and, of course, someone would later find out about it and put it on the internet hundreds of years later!

Jealousy
July 1814, when Sir Walter Scott’s first novel Waverly was published, Jane Austen was a bit jealous. She wrote the following in a letter to her niece:.

“Walter Scott has no business to write novels, especially good ones.—It is not fair.—He has fame and profit enough as a poet, and should not be taking the bread out of other people’s mouths.—I do not like him, and do not mean to like Waverly if I can help it—but fear I must.” .

Ironically, today Jane Austen is a much more popular author than her contemporary Sir Walter Scott..

Ahh Jane, How alike we are. Anyway, school is back in session for me tom. after being gone for four days to Chicago! Here's looking to a full day on the job.

Fun fact of the day

Here is today's literature fun fact.

The first novel ever written is believed to be The Tale of Genji, written in the first decade of the 11th century by Murasaki Shibuku, a Japanese noblewoman. It contains 54 chapters

Out of Town

Students!

So, this is officially my first post on the blog. As you all know, I am currently out of town in Chicago. I hope this has not put too much of a kink into our schedule. I will begin posting assignments and notes for you guys on the sight starting next week. Until then!