War of the Worlds

Now that you have read The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, it is time to explore his other classic story, War of the Worlds. This story is about an alien invasion from Mars. It was rewritten and adapted as a radio play in 1938, and presented by Orson Welles.

The play was infamous for the controversy it sparked. At the time, very few people listened to the program in its entirety--they missed the introduction describing it as a fictional play. Some listeners thought it was a real news broadcast describing a Martian invasion, causing them to panic. At the time, newspapers printed front page articles describing mass hysteria, suicides, and panic caused by the irresponsible radio network that ran the program, even though relatively few listeners had actually heard the program, compared to its competitor on another station (Edgar Bergen). Since newspapers were in direct competition with radio for advertising, they exaggerated the hysteria to discredit radio. So, although it's true that a few listeners panicked, most media analysts today believe that, like the play itself, the mass hysteria of people fleeing their homes and jumping from buildings, was fictional and exaggerated media hype.

Post comments about the following:

Read at least part of the novel War of the Worlds. Next, Listen to the audio version of the radio play as you follow along with the written version. What comparisons can you make between the two?

What would happen if such a broadcast occurred today? Would listeners panic?

Here is the script of the original radio play:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/ufo/mars/wow.htm

Enjoy listening to the original Orson Welles production of War of the Worlds here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPG7a2vZRV0 


This is a summary of information found in many articles; see:
Pooley, Jefferson, and Michael J. Socolow. "The Myth of the War of the Worlds Panic." Slate. The Slate Group, 28 Oct. 2013. Web. 31 Jan. 2016. <http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/history/2013/10/orson_welles_war_of_the_worlds_panic_myth_the_infamous_radio_broadcast_did.html>.

November News

Choose one of the news articles from the current issue of Upfront Magazine. Write a response to the article of your choice based on your answers to the following questions:

What did you learn that you didn't know before reading the article?
What is your opinion on this issue and why?
What other comments do you have about this week's magazine?

After writing your response, leave some comments on the seventh, eighth, and ninth grade students' blog responses.

What's the Buzz with Spelling? Practice!

Here are some resources to help you practice for the GIS Spelling Bee!



On the Scripps National Spelling Bee website, www.spellingbee.com, you can sign up for free resources to help you prepare for the Spelling Bee, including additional word lists and extra practice. 

The link for this page is:
http://spellingbee.com/wordclub

Another great site I found provides Spelling Bee practice by combining spelling, vocabulary, and reading skills. 
https://www.learner.org/interactives/spelling/

Another fun, interactive spelling game is 
http://www.arcademics.com/games/spelling-bees/spelling-bees.html

Dictionary games:
http://myspellit.com/
http://www.wordcentral.com/
http://www.merriam-webster.com/

I have played all these games myself! They are all fun and challenging, and there is something for every level. 

Post some comments about which practice activities you used. What did you think of these activities? Which ones are the most helpful? What other ways are you practicing for the Spelling Bee?

Happy Spelling!

Teenage Sailing Adventure

What is your opinion of Abby Sunderland's solo sailing adventure? Was it foolish or wise for someone her age to attempt such a trip alone? Refer to your media sources for evidence and cite them with your examples. Due Mon., Sep. 28.

Bold Actions in Meeting Challenges

The stories we are reading in Collection 1 in class explore what it means to fearlessly face challenges that may confront us, even if it means that we will not be successful in meeting that challenge. Think of a time in which you or people you know faced a very difficult challenge. What was it? How did you/they handle it? Were you/they successful in the outcome?

Welcome back to school!

So, here you are on your seventh grade Language Arts blog. Now that you have found it, please post a comment about what you would like to learn in Language Arts this year.