The House on Mango Street

The House on Mango Street Assignments:

• Please complete the handout on My Name in preparation for our class discussion on Thursday, March 28.

• We will finish our discussion on names on Monday, April 8. If you did not finish the chart on the women on Mango Street, you will have time on Moday, April 8.

Vocabulary Unit 6:
Test Tuesday, April 9

Quote Book:  
A Guide to One's Personal Legend due Friday, March 22 (If needed, you can use the weekend to finish it up and turn it in to me by Monday, March 25.)


Essay-Fate vs. Free-will Essay:

• The Minority Report, The Alchemist, Oedipus compared to your thoughts on Fate vs. Free-Will
• Include a works cited page as the last page of the document
• Use turnitin.com to upload the paper by Tuesday, March 26 by 11:59PM.
• Each day late - a letter grade lower!

The Instructions for Fate vs. Free-will Essay:

Winston Churchill once said, “I felt as if I were walking with destiny, and that all my past life had been but a preparation for this hour and this trial.”  Presumably, Churchill alludes to some belief in destiny.  Take time to ponder your thoughts on the topic of destiny.  Is there such a thing as fate or destiny that predetermines the actions of our lives?  Or are we free to choose our own course in life?  Either way, you are to formulate your opinion on the topic of fate vs. free-will.  Show how your opinion is different or similar to the views being expressed in the Oedipus the King, Minority Report, The Alchemist, and if possible “DNA as Destiny.” Organize your thoughts before you begin writing.  This is to be a formal response in MLA format.  All formal paper rules apply.  Do include a works cited page as the last page of your document.  Please use turnitin.com to submit your paper.  The paper should be approximately 2-3 pages in length.  Late papers will be penalized a letter grade for each day that it is late. 

Unit 6 Vocabulary Quiz:
Study vocabulary words for quiz on Tuesday, April 9!

The House on Mango Street:

We will be reading a few of the vignettes  found in this novel and completing individual writing assignments to go along with the vignettes we are reading.    I will provide you with reading and writing assignments in class.  This novel and the assignments for this novel will be included in your fourth marking period grade.

The Alchemist Webquest Websites

Answer the questions on the handout by using the websites listed below.  I do not want you doing a google search. You are not allowed to copy and paste information into a Word Document.  Instead, take handwritten notes (in your own words) on the handout or on white-lined notebook paper.  I have also provided the questions found on the handout below these links.  Therefore, no excuses as to why you have not been able to complete the webquest. Please stay focused.  If you do not completed the webquest today, we do have the lab again for tomorrow. 

http://www.crystalinks.com/alchemyindex.html  (Check out the index of this website)

http://www.crystalinks.com/alchemy.html   (Background information on alchemy)

http://www.crystalinks.com/philosopherstone.html  (Philosopher’s Stone information)

http://www.crystalinks.com/alchemists.html   (Famous Alchemists)

http://www.alchemylab.com/directory.htm  (Check out the index of this website-famous alchemists, emerald tablet, etc.)

http://www.alchemylab.com/what_is_alchemy.htm  (More information on alchemy-connections)

http://www.alchemylab.com/AJ1-1.htm   (More information on alchemy)

http://www.necronomi.com/magic/hermeticism/ALCHEMY1.txt  (More information on alchemy)

http://www.levity.com/alchemy/alchem-a.html  (Alchemy laboratories in art)

http://www.levity.com/alchemy/alchlab.html (Alchemy laboratory picture)

 Questions:

I.             Define the Craft (What is Alchemy?  What does an alchemist do?)

II.           Making Connections (Alchemy is a subject, a field of study.  List and discuss two other subjects to which alchemy is related or similar.)

III.          Describe an Alchemist’s Laboratory (What things can be found in the laboratory based off of pictures and paintings you see on the Internet?)

IV.         Famous Alchemists (List two famous alchemists and what they have done.)

V.           Philosopher’s Stone (What is the Philosopher’s stone?  The Philosopher’s Stone has been mentioned in novels, comics, films, and even video games – Can you think of any specific examples?)

VI.         Personal Legend Connection

After doing all other parts of the webquest, answer the following questions in complete sentences: 

What does Alchemy have to do with finding one’s personal legend?

Why would Paulo Coelho call a book about following one’s dream The Alchemist?