harold & maude

After watching the film, discuss the themes.

What is the movie suggesting about love and relationships, life and death, wealth and class, young and old?

What lessons did you take away from the film?

Also discuss other elements of the film, such as dialogue, cinematography, irony, and the musical soundtrack - all songs written and performed by Cat Stevens.

reading & writing

What did you read? Would you recommend it to others? What are you reading next?

Discuss your reading habits.

Do you carry a book with you or shy away from every chance to read?

Do you read before bedtime or when just waking up?

Do you read at meals, in the car, in the bathroom?


What did you write? Would you show it to others? What are you writing next?

Discuss your writing habits.

Do you carry a notebook and pen with you always, or always find yourself searching for either?

Do you write before bedtime or when just waking up?

Do you write at the table, text while driving, play words with friends while in the bathroom?

What's your next chapter?

boule de suif

After taking the quiz, discuss your reading of the story.

Did you read it? Did you sparknote it? Did your quickly talk about it while I was making coffee?

Will you read it tonight to make up the grade, or because you have intellectual curiosity? Or will you not read it at all?

What is the theme of the story? What is your story?

the cat's table

After reading the story by Michael Ondaatje, blog a letter to the author. Ask him such questions as arise from reading this latest piece of fiction by the author of In the Skin of a Lion and The English Patient.

Look back to your essay on Ondaatje. In addition to questions and comments about the recent New Yorker story, ask him a question on style that draws the three works together.

stephen crane

After you read "The Open Boat," blog about your opinions on Naturalism. Is the story's conclusion consistent with the tenets, or ideas, of Naturalism? Do you believe that such a force exists?