Varjak Paw

Varjak Paw is a Mesopotamian Blue kitten. He lives high up in an old house on a hill. He's never been outside the house. No-one in his family has, not since their legendary ancestor Jalal. But when the sinister Gentleman and his two black cats come to the house, Varjak must go outside alone into a dark and dangerous city to get help..

1. How is Varjak different from his family?  If you were to analyse his character, what three traits would you use to describe Varjak so far? 
2. Julius, Varjak's brother, seems particularly hard on Varjak.  He points out Varjak's differences to everyone whenever he can.  Varjak is made to feel somehow "lesser" by this.  How does this treatment of Varjak relate to our society?  What is Julius doing?
3. Search the internet using Google to find what the "Seven Skills in the Way of Jalal".  List and explain what you think they mean.

As usual compose your answers in MS WORD and use WORD TALK to proof read it and check it for COPS before you post.  Don't read other student's posts until after you have posted.

Rules: What Does Catherine Learn?

Click on this link and watch the video.  Then read the following and answer the questions as best you can from your memory of the story.

"...Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life, which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She's spent years trying to teach David the rules from "a peach is not a funny-looking apple" to "keep your pants on in public"---in order to head off David's embarrassing behaviors. But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a surprising, new sort-of friend, and Kristi, the next-door friend she's always wished for, it's her own shocking behavior that turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?"

Here are some questions I would like you to think about and answer two of them.  As usual, use MS Word and Word Talk BEFORE you post.  Remember your name (first only) after your entry.  Try to be original in your answers and ideas, and give details; don't read other posts by other students. 

1. What choices does Catherine make near the end of the book that show growth on her part?
2. Why does Catherine risk in inviting Jason to the dance? Do you think that risk was worth it? Why or why not?
3. What does Catherine give up at the dance? What does she give up in the final chapter with David?

Rules By Cynthia Lord: You Choose...You Tell...

Here are some questions based around the book we are reading in class right now, Rules by Cynthia Lord.  It is a difficult book which deals with some difficult situations.  Sometimes the author makes us feel uncomfortable for Catherine, or David, or Jason.  Here are some questions I would like you to think about and answer three of them.  As usual, use MS Word and Word Talk BEFORE you post.  Remember your name (first only) after your entry.  Try to be original in your answers and ideas, and give details; don't read other posts by other students. 

1. What are Catherine’s strengths? What are her weaknesses?
2. Name at least three characters who exhibit prejudice in RULES. What do they say or do which shows that prejudice?
3. How do Catherine’s feelings change toward Jason as the book continues? What causes that change?
4. What do you think would’ve happened if Catherine had been honest right away with Kristi and told her about Jason? Why wasn’t Catherine honest? What do you think she was afraid of?
5. Catherine is not the only character in the story who is not always honest. How do the other characters avoid dealing with problems or act in ways that are not completely truthful?
6. Do you think it’s true that “Leaving out isn’t the same as lying?” If not, is it ever true?
7. Some of Catherine’s rules are what we might call “unwritten rules,” comments on how people behave, such as “Sometimes people don’t answer because they didn’t hear you. Other times it's because they don’t want to hear you."  How do people learn these rules?  Why do we have them?
8. When Kristi has David dance in Catherine’s room, is she being mean? Since he wasn’t upset by it, should Catherine have stopped the music?