Friday, January 29, 2010

DQ's 5

1. How does the author illustrate Kathy Griffin’s stubborn personality?

she doesn’t care that she is pregnant she will do what she dose every morning . She won’t let her husband do it for her .


2. Briefly explain Mr. Griffin’s reason for leaving Stanford to teach high school.

he thought that kids came to college Unprepared.


3. What does Mr. Griffin think about Susan?

she is a great writer but she is a little sloppy with her punctuation and she's his best student and does’nt want to tell her because he does’nt want her to get lazy.

4. Why is Kathy Griffin upset by her husband’s description of Dolly?

she thought he thought this about her

5. How does her husband make her feel better?

He tells her no you’re not you’re my wife your Kathy

6. Why does Mrs. Griffin want Brian to compliment Susan on her writing?

she thinks that it won’t make the as though she isn't good enough and that she is a good she is talented and bright

7. Find an example of foreshadowing in this chapter.

When Kathy is talking to Mr. Griffin about being less strict and to be real it seems he might change.

8. Why do you suppose the pills are mentioned again? Why does the author bother mentioning his tie?

she wants to start up conversation and doesn't want him to leave she has a bad feeling.


9. We learn that Mrs. Griffin is pregnant. How does she hope having a child will change her husband? Why might the author have added the pregnancy into the story.


She hopes it will change him by making him more sensitive with the kids in his class and be tell them when they are doing good. The author might have added it in there to show that he might have a change of heart towards kids.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

DQ's 6-12

CHAPTER SIX

1.What little things go wrong with the kidnapping?

With David’s alibi?
His grandma fell asleep

With Betsy’s alibi?
She got pulled over by a police officer

2.In what way does Mr. Griffin earn the respect of his kidnappers?


he was stubborn to ther request

3.Why is Susan especially upset about her part in the kidnapping?


she doesn’t want Mr. Griffin to get hurt and she heard him scream to her to "run" before they got him.


4.Why does Betsy say the following to Susan? “Honestly, I don’t understand you.”



she keeps crying and she wants to tell her dad

CHAPTER SEVEN
1.What do Mr. Griffin and Mark have in common?



They don’t change their mind about anything


2.Find a flashback in this chapter. What important facts about

Mark do we learn?



Landon steals a paper for and Mr. Griffin was going to tell on them for cheating.


3.What mistake(s) does Betsy make with the police officer?



by telling him about her father.



4.Why do you think Betsy participates in the kidnapping?

she wants to be with mark and wants him to think she is cute

5.Why do you suppose the incident with Shauna Berman is included?

To show that Betsy was the one everyone liked, that no one wanted to be on her bad side.

6.Who finds the container of pills? Where?

Betsy on the way up to the mountain

7.How does Mr. Griffin’s tie appear here?

Perfectly knotted

8.What does Mr. Griffin think of his kidnappers?

they are childish and sick

9.What question does David ask him?

How does it feel to be on the ground tied up

10.Who wants to let Mr. Griffin go? Why don’t they?

David and Jeff, because Betsy and mark don’t want to they want to make him beg


CHAPTER EIGHT

1.Explain, with examples from the story, how David begins to see Susan as a real person.

He sees her as a real person when he sees her crying and goes to pick her up, seeing that she cares


2.Why does David doubt that Mark and Jeff are going to release Mr. Griffin after the game?


they will be tired and hungry and end up putting it off till tomorrow

3.How does David know Mr. Griffin is dead?

he is not answering his eyes are open and he is not moving


4.What is the implied but never stated cause of Mr. Griffin’s death?

He suffocated or didn’t get to his pills in time


CHAPTER NINE

Betsy and Susan both have fathers to turn to for help. Why do you suppose Susan wants
to go to her father for help, but Betsy doesn’t suggest going to her father?

she trusts her father

What two things does Mark say that they need to do to be safe?
get rid of the body and the car

How does Mark convince Susan they need to bury the body?

that he will take care of everything that she will not have to do it

How does Mark’s father die?

there house cought on fire while he was in it

What does David’s father have to do with his decision to go along with Mark’s plan to bury the body?


they want to play it off as though Mr.Griffin left like David's dad

Why does Mark comfort Susan?

So she won't feel bad and so she won't tell her dad.

CHAPTER TEN

How do Mark’s aunt and uncle feel about him?

that he's weird

Why do you suppose Mark’s mother has a nervous breakdown and says she never wants
to see her son again?

he might remind her so much of his father



What does David’s grandmother remember about the day before that upsets David?

that he left with his friends all day and didnt come back till dinner time



In the conversation with his grandmother, what mistakes does David make that may hurt
his alibi?

he told her that she went to sleep



Why does Lt. Baca ask Mrs. Griffin if there is trouble in their marriage?

because he thinks that Mr. Griffin might have just left



What does Mrs. Griffin say that convinces Lt. Baca to begin searching for Brian?

because his wife says that the last thing he said to her was i love you

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Why isn’t Susan surprised to hear her name over the loudspeaker?

because she was thought to be the last one that saw him alive


2. Compare Susan’s attitude toward her family at the beginning of the story with her attitude
now.

at the start she doesn’t really notice how good her family is and now she is starting to see



Why does Susan agree to Mark’s lie?

Because she doesn’t want to get in trouble

Why does Mark want her to lie?

it will take the cops in another direction


Do you think Mark really believes everything will be all right? Why?


Yes he thinks his plan is flawless, that there is a woman involved so the will just let the case go.

CHAPTER TWELVE

1.What is the real reason Betsy says nasty things about Susan?

the night before she was crying over David being helpless and she didn’t like him pampering her.


2.Find an example of allusion in this chapter.


3.Briefly describe Mark’s mood during the burial. Jeff? David? Betsy?

Jeff, David, and Betsy felt nervous


4. Why does David recite the Lord’s prayer?

it brought comfort of what the pastor said in the pulpit


5. Why does Mark keep Mr. Griffin’s credit cards?

so he can mail them to a friend of his to use so they will think he ran away

6. Why does Mark tell them to leave the car unlocked with the keys in the ignition?

So that someone will steal it

7. What mistakes do the four make burying Mr. Griffin?



8. What is the implied but not stated reason that the policeman recognizes Betsy at the
airport?

He recognize her because he was the same officers that stopped her the first time

Monday, January 25, 2010

DQ's4

1. Why are Saturdays special for Susan?

She gets to sleep in and be lazy all day.

2. Find a quotation in the chapter that illustrates the idea that Susan feels a part of the picnic group.

"And that suddenly, that easily, she felt she was one of them."

3. Who is Lana?

Mark's ex girlfriend; he blames Griffin for them breaking up.

4. How does Susan feel about Mark before the picnic?

She doesn't like him, she thinks he's creepy.

5. A symbol is an object, person, or place that has a meaning in itself and that also stands for something larger than itself. How may the eyeglasses be a symbol in this chapter?

They represent Susan.

6. Foreshadowing is also used to create interest and build suspense. Since this is a mystery story, there are many examples of foreshadowing. Find an example of foreshadowing in this chapter that lets the reader know Susan is going to have problems.

When Susan thinks to herself that she will never, ever be this happy again.

DQ's3

1.The members of David's family are introduced. Briefly identify them.

his grandma: she's very dependent on him, even though she doesn't need to be. His mother: she's also dependent on him and is single and wants to stay that way. His father: he left when Dave was young and has never been in his life.

2. Why does David think he needs a good education?

He wants to go to college so he can get a good career and help his mom and grandma.

3. Find the metaphor in this chapter that helps illustrate the emptiness of David's life.

His living room; it's depressing and lonely.

4. Support or refute the following statement:

David goes goes along with Mark because he dislikes Mr. Griffin and needs a better English grade to get to law school.
true; he needs a good grade in his class to help support his family and he wants to scare Mr. Griffin so he can do so.

DQ's2

1. Why does Mark say the following? "Jeff's done a neat job of lining us up for a mass flunkout."

Because they're trying to get rid of the teacher and he's saying that they're going to get caught and flunkout.

2. Explain Mark's special dislike of Mr. Griffin.

He doesn't like him because he was mean to him about being late and embarrassed him in front of the class so he wants to play a joke on him to scare him so he'll start treating them right.

3. "Jeff had seen that look before, and it always meant something." What does Jeff see? What does Jeff think it means?

A serious look. That he has a good idea coming and he's sure it's going to work.

4. Why do Jeff and Betsy go along with Mark's plan to kidnap Mr. Griffin?

Because they end up not liking Mr. Griffin because he's mean to them too and they think that it will end up being a good idea.

5. Why does Mark believe Dave will go along with the plan?

Dave wants to pass the class so he can get into a good college.

6. What does Mark know about Susan that makes him think she will be their decoy?

That she's "in love" with Dave.

7. A flashback is a scene that interrupts the ongoing action to show an event that happens earlier. Briefly describe the flashback in this chapter. Explain why the author chooses to include it.

When Mark would take his girlfriend out to that secret beautiful place. Because he blames Mr. Griffin for him and his ex breaking up.

DQ's 1

Q:1. Briefly identify the children in the McConell family.

A:1.they are all very different and they all want Susie to be accepted.

Q:2. What does Susan mean by "someday"?

A:2.I think she meant she wished for certain things, but knew they wouldn't happen.

Q:3. Who is David Ruggles? How does Susan feel about him?

A:3.He's one of the "cool kids". She has liked him for a long time.

Q:4. Several other students of room 117 are introduced. Briefly identify them.

A:4.Betsy Cline- cool. Mark Kinney- Lean, expressionless, cool. Jeff Garrett- big, loud, broad-shouldered.

Q:5. In the classroom scene, what emphasizes Susan's feelings of being an outsider?

A:5.She was too scared to ask david to move his legs so she could get to her desk and whenever she smiled at two girls they didn't even notice her.

Q:6. Two teachers are introduced. Briefly identify them.

A:6.Mr. Griffin- mean, strict, no one likes him.Mrs. Luna- laid back, students like her.

Q:7. Mr. Griffin is very strict and stern with the students. Do you think these qualities make him a good teacher? Briefly explain your answer.

A:7.yes; just not to the students. but he's just doing the right thing and wants the students to learn.

Q:8. An allusion is when a writer refers to a person, place, poem, book, or movie that the reader is expected to recognize. Find an example of allusion in this chapter.

A:8.Ophelia.

Q:9. In what ways does Susan think that she and the dying femal in Hamlet are similar?

A:9.she's sad and left out and has no friends, like Ophelia.

Q:10. A metaphor is a comparison of two things that are basically unlike, in order to create a sharp picture. In this first chapter find the metaphor involving a bird that helps the author define how Susan is feeling about her life.

A:10."...Stunned by the impact, before it dropped like a feather-covered stone to the ground below."

Q:11. Jeff says, "That Griffin's the sort of guy you'd like to kill." Why doesn't Susan think he is serious?

A:11.because people say things like that all the time sarcastically.

Q:12. Frequently, objects which seem inconsequential when first mentioned become an important part of the plot later. In the last six paragraphs do you notice any objects that might be foreshadowed?

A:12.that they want to "kill" Mr. Griffin.

Friday, January 22, 2010

You are in the lunch line and the person in front of you dops a five dollar bill and isnt aware of it. If someone dropped five dollars in front of me in the lunch line and i see who's pocket it fell out of, I would give it back to that person because it would be wrong to just take it , because if it happened to me i would want

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Do Now "The Black Cat''

Q:IS the nature of human-kind Basically good or evil?
-Define evil
-Are evil people
made? born?

A:I do not think human kind is said to be good or evil. I think the choices people make are how they are seen as a person by them self's. Evil to me is pure hatred towards people places or things. And no i do not think evil people are made or born, i think it all depends on how you take things, or handle situations that happen to you. people choose by the things they do how they want to be viewed or perceived. I feel that no one is truly evil they just have certain ways about them self's , everyone has different ways and different choices, so where one person would go and do a good deed another would go do a bad deed, which means that the person that did the good deed thought of there reputation as being destroyed , and the person who did the bad deed did not think . So when it all boils down people are not good or evil there choices are good or bad.

Vocabulary for ''The Black Cat''

1.Solicit:(V)-to seek for by earnest or respectful
request, formal application, etc.

2.Mad:(Adj)-mentally disturbed; insane; demented.

3.Succinct:(Adj)-expressed in few words; concise; terse.

4.Phantasm:(N)-an illusory likeness of something.

5.Docile:(Adj)-easily managed or handled.

6.Disposition:(N)-the predominate or prevailing tenancy of one's spirits; natural mental and emotional outlook or mood; Characteristic attitude.

7.Sagacious:(Adj)-having or showing keen discernment, and sound judgement.

8.Paltry:(Adj)-lacking in importance or worth; trivial.

9.Gossamer:(N)-something delicate, light, or flimsy.

10.Fidelity:(N)-faithfulness to obligation's, duties, or observances.

11.Procure:(V)-to get by special effort; obtain or acquire.

12.Allusion:(n)-the act of alluding ; indirect reference.

13.Intemperance:(N)-excessive use of alcoholic beverages.

14.Maltreat:(V)-to treat in a rough or cruel way; abuse.

15.Scruple:(N)-a moral or ethical consideration or standard that acts as a restraining force or inhibits certain actions.

16.Malevolence:(N)-ill will; malice; hatred.

17Atrocity:(N)-the quality of being extremely or shockingly wicked, cruel, or brutal.

18.Debauch:(N)-a period of wanton self-indulgence, an excessive party which includes consumption of alcohol.

19.Sentiment:(N)-a mental feeling; emotion.

20.Remorse:(N)-deep and painful regret for wrongdoing.

Monday, January 11, 2010

''The Black Cat" Discussion Questions

Q:1.Discuss the significance: "There is something in the unselfish and self-sacrificing love of a brute, which goes directly to the heart of him who has had frequent occasion to test the paltry friendship and gossamer fidelity of man."

A:He once loved the cat and didn't want to kill or hurt it but his alcohol abuse led him to the hurting and later on hanging of his cat.

Q:2. How dose the description of the cat as "sagacious" contribute to the meaning of the story?

A:The cat noticed that the man was changing and became very moody lately, so he learned when to go to him and when to go the other way when he was around.

Q:3.What is the significance of the cat's name, Pluto?

A:Pluto is the God of the underworld and everything evil and dark , and shaddy and his cat Pluto is all black and dark.

Q:4.What is the significance of the narrator's change of disposition from docile and tender to ''...more moody, irritable and regardless of the feelings of others"?

A:Because of his alcohol addiction his attitude and disposition changed.

Q:5.Why did the narrator initially restrain himself from maltreating the cat while maltreating the other animals?

A:He loved pluto and treated him better than the other animals because he loved him and was very special to him adn dinnt want to hurt him.

Q:6.Why dose he eventually mistreat the cat?

A:Because one day Pluto attacked him in response to the way the man grabbed him.

Q:7.Decribe the narrator's feelings after abusing the cat? Why is that significant?

A:He felt sorry and wanted to be forgiven

Q:8.How dose the narrator define "perverseness"? DO you agree with his deffinition?Do you agree that it is human nature?

A:As to have a twisted and dimented mind towards things.Yes i do agree with this deffinition in this case,but i don not think that it is human nature to have a perfersed mind.

Q:9.Significance:"(I) hung it because I knew that it had loved me, and because I felt it had given me no reason of offence; because I knew that in doing so i was commiting a sin.''

A:Basicly he is saying hung it to stop it from loving him

Q:10.Discuss the significance of the significance of the fire. How dose the narrator explain the phenomenon he Discovers after the fire?What dose the phenomenon symbolize?

A:He thought the fire was because of him hanging the cat.

Q:11.What is the significance of the fire about the new cat and his markings? What dose the cat Symbolize?

A:It reminded him of Pluto except for the whhite patch under it's body,

Q:12.Discuss:"And now was I indeed wretched beoyond the wretchedness of mere Humanity.And a brute beast to work out for me -- whose fellow I had contemptuously destroyed-- a brut beast to work out for me -- for me a man, fashioned in the image of the High God -- so much of insufferable woe!"

A:He was made by God just like everyone else but yet he was below them.

Q:13.Why is it significant that the cat wont leave the narrator alone?

A:Because the cat reminds him of Pluto and thats what Pluto did.

Q:14.how dose the fact that the narrator kills his wife instead of the cat add to the meaning of the story?

A:His wife try's to stop him so he kills her.

Q:15.What is the significance of the narrator's meathod in desposing of the body?

A:He dose not want to be seen or it to be noticed.

Q:16.Discuss the significance, "I made no doubt that I could readily displace the bricks at this point, insert the corpse, and wall the whole up as before, so that no eye could detect anything suspicious."

A:He wanted to make sure tht no one would be able to tell that the bricks had been moved and put back.

Q:17.Why is the narrator able to sleep well after he conceals the body?

A:He knows he wont get caught.

Q:18.Significance: ''Once again I breathed as a free man.''

A:He felt free as the police were leaving his house because they did not find the body.

Q:19.Why dose the narrator feel triumphant when the police arrive?

A:Because in a way he wants attention he wants them to search and not find, but he also dose not want to get caught.

Q:20.Discuss the syntax and punctuation in the following: ''No sonner had the reverberation of my blows sunk into silence, than I was answered by a voive from within the tomb! -- by a cry, at first muffled and broken, like the sobbing of a child, and then quickley swelling into one long, loud, and continuous scream, utterly anomalous and inhuman -- a howl -- a wailing shriek, half of horror and half of triump, such as might have arisen only out of hell, conjointly from the throats of the dammed in there agony and of the demons that exult in the damnation!''

A:The scream got louder as if to call the police.

Q:21.How do you explain the ending? Discuss the Symbolism.

A:"You can never hide everything you've done".