RJ Reading Notes Blogger Instructions

Reading Notes: Romeo and Juliet

Showing your thinking and connections as you are reading the play.

For every reading assignment, create one post on our blog where you respond one of the possible prompts below.

TAG your post USING LABELS to the right with your name (same as your other posts) and RJ

Clearly title each post with the Acts and Scenes you are responding to. Add a creative title as well. E.g. ACT 1, SCENE 1: ROMEO ON THE REBOUND

Over the course of the play, respond to a variety of the prompts, so by the end, you will have answered each several times. In other words, do not choose the same three prompts over and over.

PROMPT A

What is happening in the play that reminds you of something that is happening in your life, on TV, in the news, etc. Summarize the issue in the play and in your life in a minimum of 5 sentences.

Example:

Act I, Scene I Insults:   It seems like my brothers are constantly putting each other down. It reminds me of the way the Capulet and Montague servants are putting each other down in Act I, scene i. They are “biting their thumb” at each other and really just acting like little boys. My brothers do the same thing. It seems like they are always bragging about which one is better or how the other one isn’t as good as him at shooting baskets, or doing hw, or making friends. I get tired of hearing them fight all of the time, just like the prince gets tired of them fighting in the streets. Obviously, it’s a bigger deal in the play because people are dying, but what is it about guys that always seem to show off as to who has the most power, who is better, and so on? It’s tiring to hear boys/men fighting all of the time and when they get more power (think Kim Jong-un and nuclear weapons in North Korea) the results can be deadly.

PROMPT B

Ask 5 interesting questions about the reading OR address 5 questions to one or more of the characters from this section of the reading, as if you were interviewing him or her. Here is an example of a student responding to this prompt for Hamlet. Remember, just ask; you do not have to answer!

Example student response

Questions for Scene 2:

Polonius—what’s your problem with Hamlet?

Reynaldo—are you going to spread the bad word about Laertes?

Ophelia—how strongly do you feel about Hamlet?

Hey, Hamlet—what are your feelings about Ophelia? Do you care about her, or are you just using her as an excuse?

PROMPT C

Quote lines from the scene that you enjoyed and comment on them. Again, here is an example post from a student reading Hamlet.

Example student response

Scene 1.1—Horatio says, “Most like. It harrows me with fear and wonder.” This line really explains to us what all three of the guards are feeling when they see this ghost. They are all frightened by it, yet they wonder why it came to them and why it is dressed the way it is. It really sets the mood for the whole scene, because it lets us know that they are anxious. The first few lines of this scene shocked me, because we didn’t know anything about these characters and yet they were all so nervous and jumpy.

PROMPT D

Find an image *MUST BE FREE TO USE OR SHARE – CHECK GOOGLE SETTING (photograph, painting, etc.) online that you think is a good symbolic representation of the scene as a whole. Insert the image and then discuss why you chose it and how it represents the scene. (1-3 sentences).

PROMPT E

Discuss the relationships between two or more characters. Assert an opinion about the relationship and back it up with some text evidence from the novel. (5-10 sentences).

PROMPT F
Pretend you are a character in the scene. Get inside that character’s mind. Tell how the character feels about himself or herself.  How does he or she feel about the other characters? About the situation? Remember, you are pretending to BE this character. Write a brief paragraph/monologue in the character’s voice. Think Reality TV Confessional. (5-10 sentences). If you’re feeling brave, record it and post the video.

Directions - how to post

Directions - how to post

Directions - How to Post your Poem

Be sure to click on the "compose" button. (NOT the html button) in the upper left corner.

Type in your poem's title.

Type in your poem.

You can format, choosing your font, etc.

Be sure to hit the orange button to the right "update" periodically to save your work!

Then go to the right, click on "Labels" and type in your first name (capitalize first letter), and last initial (capitalized). Then, place a comma and type the word, "Poetry." See my example to the right:  Margaret B, Poetry  

Image:  below your poem add an image by clicking on the "photo" image button. Your image needs to be appropriate to your poem (and appropriate to be posted on the web!) 

Be sure to either an upload a photo YOU took or search on line for a "free to use or share" image.

To do that, search on google. Click on images. Then go to the "settings" button (looks like a gear) in the upper right corner - and go to "advanced search." Then scroll to the bottom where it says "usage rights" and select "free to use or share." Then right click on an image and copy, then paste into blog. Or, you can load from your phone, etc. See examples below.

Above image was from my phone. The one below was a free image found on Google search. 

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OPTIONAL:  Consider adding a recording of yourself reading your poem by using Vocaroo.  Go to www.vocaroo.com    Record your poem into a microphone. Your phone might have a microphone or Ms. Bennett has one you can use. When you are happy with your recording on Vocaroo, click on the "click here to save" under the recorder. Then click on "Embedded" and copy the HTML code.

Click on the blog where you want the recording to go. Type the words:  "Recording Here". Then click on HTML in the upper left corner, scroll down below your poem to see where you typed the words, "Recording Here."  Hit return, after the br> and then paste the HTML code from vocaroo into your post. Then hit update. When you view the blog, you will see the green vocaroo button. In the edit mode it will just be a grey box.

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To review, your post must have:

1. Title
2. Poem
3. Label to the right with first name, last initial then a comma and the word Poetry.
4. Image (from your phone or found on Google under "free to use or share.")

Optional:  Recording of your poem using Vocaroo

When you think your poem post is complete, click the orange "publish" or "update" button in the upper right corner. You can always go back to blogger, hover over your post, and click "edit" to make changes.

When you are done, you can share the link to the blog to your family and friends and they can check out your poem! 

Want to learn other tips about posting? Check out this video:

Have fun publishing your poem!