Due Monday, October 1, 2012

Continue reading The Scarlet Letter up to Chapter 15.

Read through "The Raven" at least once.

Bring your Holt Reader, if you did not leave it in class today.

Write a 500 word essay based on one of the questions from the Socratic Seminar. Your essay requires a thesis and at least two supporting topics sentences. It will be graded on how well it uses evidence from The Scarlet Letter to support your own opinions and analyses. Note: As always, bring a paper copy to class or I will not grade your assignment.

Analysis Questions:

•Why does Mr. Dimmesdale refuse to take medicine?

•How has committing adultery affected Hester’s relationship with other people?

•What does Pearl’s attraction to Dimmesdale signify?

•What similarities are there between Pearl and the scarlet letter?

•How has isolation affected Pearl?

•Have you ever been in a situation such as when Hester faced the possibility of giving up Pearl?

•What can we infer about Pearl’s future based on her obsession with the scarlet letter?

•What evidence is there that Dimmesdale might be Pearl’s father?

Evaluation Questions:

•Do you think Dimmesdale is acting suspiciously?

•Do you think Pearl is being raised in a good environment?

•Do you think Pearl is a good or bad influence on Hester?

•Do you think it is fair that the governor’s sister has not been punished?

•Do you think Hester has the ability to give Pearl a complete childhood? If not, should she be taken away?

•Do you think Hester’s attitude toward Pearl is appropriate?

Creation Questions:

•How do you think Pearl’s future will be like?

•What will happen to Dimmesdale if Chillingworth finds out that Dimmesdale had committed adultery?

•Will Pearl commit adultery like her mother when she grows up?

•Do you think the governor’s sister will get thrown in jail?

•How would knowing about the scarlet letter’s meaning affect Pearl’s relationship to Hester and Dimmesdale?

•How will Hester educate Pearl about adultery?

•How would the story have gone if Chillingsworth had not been a doctor?

•What would have happened if Chillingsworth had not decided to pursue revenge?