Question 5 (FGT)

Women are portrayed in so many different ways in the novel.  Discuss two of the women in the novel.  One can be Iggy or Ruth, but not both.  Tell me how they are potrayed, what this means to the reader, how it challenges traditional roles of women, and your opinion.  Then you must reply to at least THREE of your classmates' posts.

Question 4 (FGT)

We never learn where Ninny came from or how she came to be adopted by the Threadgoodes, only that they took her in and treated her like a member of the family. This is only one example in a novel full of non-traditional families. What are some other examples of familial bonds that do not look like a traditional nuclear family? How does this author challenge and expand our understanding of the meaning and structure of family? One paragraph answer, please.

Assignment 3 (FGT)

 

This novel has a great deal to say about race relations in the South. How did the black and white communities interact in this story both within and beyond the borders of Whistle Stop? Were Idgie and Ruth's egalitarian views on race typical? Answer the question and reply to two of your classmates' posts.

Assignment 2 (FGT)

This novel has a very complex structure alternating between the past and the present and the point of view of a whole host of different characters. Did this narrative format work for you? Were there particular narrators you found more compelling than others and why?

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe Assignment 1

As we begin the novel, we meet Evelyn.  She's overweight, unhappy, and disconnected from her body and self.  How do you feel about her?  Answer in at leastthree sentences, and then reply to at least two of your peers.

Assignment 11

This is the final post for My Sister's Keeper.  Give me your impressions of the ending.  Were you surprised? What other feelings did you have?  Create a well thought out paragraph to answer the question.  Then you must respond to TWO of your peers' posts.

Assignment 10

Why did Kate ask Anna to sue for medical emancipation? Was Anna right to listen to her wishes?  Write one well developed paragraph.  Grammar and spelling counts!  Then respond to at least one of your classmates posts.

Assignment 9

There are fourteen questions below about the first half of this book.  You must answer at least 10 of them, in well thought out sentences, to get all the points. Directions: Answer the questions with 1-2 sentences, include the explanation.  To do this, cut and paste the questions to a word document.  You do not need to post your answers here.

1. According to Anna, how are babies made?

2. What's her opinion about the way she was generated?

3. Why is knowing the reason babies are made important?

4. What's the main character's opinion about how most babies are generated?

5. Why was she engineered?

6. What did Anna “lose”?

7. Who tells Anna "tell them you lost it"?

8. Where does Jesse live?

a) With his parents. b) Over the garage. c) With his aunt. d) At the fire station.

9. When Anna goes to Campbell's office for the first time, who takes her? 

10. “When you only have a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” Why does Campbell think this is significant?

11. When Campbell meets Anna for the first time in his office, why does he think Anna is there to see him?

12. What is a guardian-ad-litem? Why would Anna need one?

13. What is significant about Anna writing “HER” number on the business card?

14. Why does Campbell take Anna's case?

Assignment 8

Again and again Campbell gives different, often laughable explanations for his service dog, Judge. He tells people he has an iron lung, that he has SARS, that he is color-blind. These answers serve as diversions, intended to point other characters, as well as the reader, away from the truth, and they act as one of the most prominent examples in the novel of a character concealing his feelings and motivations.  We don't yet know what the real reason for the dog.  What are your ideas?  You only have to give phrase answers on this one.  You got lucky!

Assignment 7

Relationships between sisters appear repeatedly in the book, in the characters of Anna and Kate, Sara and Zanne, and Julia and Izzy. In each case, the sisters share an intense bond. Describe your own experiences with sibling bonds.  If you have no siblings, think about your parents, friends, etc.  You must answer the question in no less than five sentences, and respond to at least two of your peers.

Assignment 6

Kate has leukemia.  Find a website about childhood cancer. Post the URL (link) here by cutting and pasting.  There are a couple of rules here:  1)  You can't post a site that someone else has already posted.  2)  You must be sure it's a suitable and useful website.  Then you will go to someone else's website, tell me whose you chose and one thing you learned from that website.

Assignment 5

Each character in My Sister's Keeper seems trapped in their own kind of loneliness.  Choose two characters and discuss their loneliness.  Why are they so lonely?  What does it remind you of?  How can they cure it?

Assignment 4

What do you think about Campbell? What do you think the story is behind his dog? Does he like this dependence? You must answer and comment twice.

Assignment 3

Now that you've been introduced to Anna and Kate's father, Brian, tell me your thoughts.  Is he kind?  Does he love both of his daughters?  What characteristics can you already see in him?

Assignment 2

After reading the first chapter, what are your initial thoughts?  Use the cover, back cover, and class discussion to help you.  Each student must write one original answer and make THREE comments. 

Assignment 1

For the first post, I'd like you to comment on how you feel about commenting on this blog.  Is this something you do already?  Does it make you nervous?  How does it compare to Facebook or other social media?