M11 - Revolution! (Due A-Feb 25, B-Mar 4)

This Week's Mission: 

I am very proud, humble yet proud, to welcome you to Rome!


The struggle of Rome's plebeians, the lower-class citizens, caused the empire to become more democratic. Join the plebeian revolution! In this mission you are to join a plebeian rebel group and learn about their struggle for equality.


Your post might include:

• descriptions of how the patricians violated the human rights of the plebeians
• an act of protest where the demands are made clear
• a plebeian describing some of the political rights they gained
• a meeting where the tribunes debate steps to make Rome more democratic

Specific Post Requirements:

• Must contain two pieces of factual information about the role plebeians played in making Rome more democratic
• Must use Writer's Secret 2-4 (interrupters). Be sure to highlight it when used.
• Must use and underline the delicious words: blubber or invisible.

General Post & Comment Requirements:

A reminder about the general requirements for each post can now be found at the top left of this blog.

Special Writer's Challenge:

This is a special challenge for those of you who would like a little extra practice in your writing craft. If you choose to do this challenge please add the letters "WC" to your post title. Students who successfully complete this challenge will receive 1 extra credit point.

The challenge: The starting word, for each of the first 15 sentences, must be in alphabetical order. You obviously won't use all 26 letters, but you may not go backwards. In other words: if the first sentence of your blog starts with the word "Although", the next sentence can start with the letters B-Z. However, if your second sentence starts with the word "During", you can not use the letters B or C to start the next 13 sentences. After you've reached 15 sentences in alphabetical order, you are free to use any letter (but maybe it would be fun to begin working your way back down the alphabet!)

M10 - Photo Safari Time (Due A-Feb 11, B-Feb 18)

This Week's Mission: 

This is your last mission in Ancient Greece. As with Ancient Egypt, I need you to take some pictures of the wonderful things you have seen. 

You will need to post 10-15 images. Each image needs a 2-3 sentence caption. You must use every Writer's Secret (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, AND 2.3) at least once each. You should also use five different delicious words (LUSH plus any four since we started blogging). If you need an example post look at the previous photo safari on Egypt.

Directions on how to put pictures in your blog (using Firefox):

1-conduct a Google search for the specific image you want, for example: "Parthenon" will get you several pictures of the Parthenon.
2-browse through the thumbnails until you see one you like; click to open it
3-in the "Google Images" preview that opens click on "Full-size image" to the right.
4-right-click on the image and select "Save Image As"
5-make sure you are saving your image to the desktop, give it a title that makes sense to you, and press save.
6-in your "new post" window on blogger click the little picture just to the left of "link." If you hover over it, it will read "Insert Image"
7-in the window that opens make sure "upload" is selected; click "choose file"
8-search for your picture on your desktop, select "Open"
9-wait for the image to be uploaded, when it appears in the window click on it, then click on "add selected."
10-You can change the size of your picture and its alignment by clicking on it and using the toolbar that opens.
11-You will need a caption for each photo. For this mission you should write the captions in your blog. DO NOT use the "add caption" tool found in the picture tool bar.

Specific Post Requirements:

• Must contain 10-15 images with captions that are 2-3 sentences long.
• Must use and highlight  Writer's Secrets 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, AND 2.3
• Must use and underline 5 different delicious word.

General Post & Comment Requirements:

The general post requirements do not pertain to this mission. However, you are still required to read and comment on at least 2 other M10 posts.

M9-Legacy of Greece (Due: A-Jan 28, B-Feb 4)

This Week's Mission: 

Ancient Greece is credited with many contributions to the modern world; your mission is to help the Greeks make their mark on history. Research the contributions made in one of the areas listed below. Then travel back to the invention or discovery of this contribution and make it your own.

For example, you could travel back to the office of the Greek Mathematician Pythagoras and introduce him to the concept of Geometry. Of course Pythagoras is credited with the "invention" of Geometry, but in your post you would be the one who taught him the basic idea. So Pythagoras still gets the credit, but you get to know that you helped him shape his theories.


Your choice of topics are:

• Language & Literature
• Government
• Medicine
• The Human Body
• Mathematics
• Astronomy
• Geography
• Plants & Animals
• Architecture
• Theater
• Sports

Specific Post Requirements:

• Must contain two pieces of factual information about GREEK contributions to the area chosen
• Must use Writer's Secret 2-2 (semicolon). Be sure to highlight it when used.
• Must use and underline the delicious word: ABSOLUTELY. 

General Post & Comment Requirements:

A reminder about the general requirements for each post can now be found at the top left of this blog.

Special Writer's Challenge:

This is a special challenge for those of you who would like a little extra practice in your writing craft. If you choose to do this challenge please add the letters "WC" to your post title. Students who successfully complete this challenge will receive 1 extra credit point.

The challenge: The letter "n" is the sixth most commonly used letter in the English Language. Write your entire blog post without using the letter "n."

M8-War and Peace (Due A-Jan 14; B-Jan 21)

This Week's Mission: 

Many people prefer peace, yet they enjoy writing about war. For this mission you have a choice of topics. Please select one of the following topics about which to blog:

• War: Join a Greek Army and fight in one of the famous battles of the Persian Wars.
• be sure to include facts about key leaders, armies, battle strategies, etc...
• you must fight using only the equipment available to the ancient Greeks, no magic or futuristic weapons!
• TTI has provided you with a secret invisible body shield. Although you can get hit, knocked down, cut, and even bleed, this shield will prevent you from receiving any fatal wounds: you can not die!
• Peace: Visit Athens during its Golden Age and participate in an area of personal interest.
• You can explore the culture of Athens by looking at one of these categories: sports, religion, architecture, sculpture, theater, or philosophy.
• Be sure to include facts about important people, creations, and events
• You must participate in Athenian life. For example: you could be cast in a play in the Theater of Dionysus, you could have a discussion with Socrates, you could be the victim of the gods, you could tour the Acropolis, etc...

Specific Post Requirements:

• Must contain two pieces of factual information.
• Must use Writer's Secret 2-1 (coordinating conjunctions). Be sure to highlight it when used.
• Must use and underline the delicious word: ZOMBIE or CABOODLE.

General Post & Comment Requirements:

A reminder about the general requirements for each post can now be found at the top left of this blog.