The Fall of the House of Usher

After reading background material on Edgar Alan Poe and his short story, "The Fall of the House of Usher," explain in your own words how this story relates to the author and the darker side of the American Romantic Era.  Also, choose 2-3 events in the story itself to expand and discuss.  You should use your own perceptive minds to complete this exercise. How does he create that "one single emotion early in the story?  Credit will not be given to blogs that use outside sources for this particular assignment. 

Emerson and Nature

After reading the background on Ralph Waldo Emerson, and his "Nature" - discuss why you believe he is referred to as a transcendentalist (use should research information on transcendentalism).  Whenever using secondary information, be sure to cite it at the end of your blog. 

PREPARATION FOR RESEARCH PAPER

In preparation for the Research Paper Project in Quarter 2, you will need to start thinking of possible topics (search the internet, library, magazines, etc.) that pose some kind of an argument.  In this blog, you should list two argumentative topics (underline each of the two topics) that you would like to explore for your paper.  In thinking about a topic, make sure you are passionate about the topic because you will be with it the entire 2nd quarter.  Some of last year's topics dealt with the following:  Marcellus Shale - good or bad for the area?  Do sports programs in high schools enhance or detract from the academic agenda?  Are schools, universities, and professional sports programs dealing with the seriousness of concussions?  Is attending university, with its extreme financial burden, really relevant today or would attending a trade school be more lucrative in the end?  Should the current political system be revamped to eliminate political parties?  Should politicians be restricted from accepting gifts from lobbyists?  Does music therapy benefit stroke victims?

After deciding on two potential topics, write a paragraph on each, explaining why you are particularly interested in these topics.

Christlike Figure in Grapes of Wrath

Critics often suggest that Casy emerges as a Christ figure in this novel.  Think of the historical Jesus and how He has gone into the desert to figure things out, was an organizer of people, how he tries to gather disciples, and when he is killed he says "You don't know what you're a-doin'."  Although the landscape may be different and the culture and century may be different, can you make a parallel between Casy and Jesus?