1. Freewrite about break

2. Mahdi Khan Malik Hijazi (born 1892), who wrote under the name Qulzum, was a leading poet in modern Persia.  How do his words on page 487 apply to poets of any age or culture? (unit question #1)

3. Why is much of African literature part of an oral rather than a written tradition? (unit question # 2)

4. How did the new religion, Islam, change Arabic and Persian culture and literature? (unit question # 3)

5. What benefits did Europe derive from Arabic culture? (unit question #4)

1. Words can inspire, heal, & encourage.  They can also wound, deceive, and ruin reputations.  Think of a speech that impressed you, advice that influenced you, or criticism that hurt your feelings.  Focus freewrite about the power of words in your life. (unit question #5)

2. African songs and tales reflect the social lives of communities and their people's values and experiences.  What have these selections revealed to you about the concerns, values, and traditions of the people who created them?  Provide details from the selections in your response. (unit question #6)

3. Describe the weirdest thing you have ever eaten.

1. A Terrible Loss:  Imagine that you've lost your most precious and prized possession.  Write one paragraph about what the item was, and why it was special to you; a second paragraph about how you lost the item; and a third paragraph about how you felt when you realized the item was missing.

2. Whom do you consider heroic?  Think of a relative, friend, or someone you've read about whom you consider a hero.  In a paragraph, explain which qualities make this person heroic.  (unit question # 7)

3. How does Sundiata compare with the heroic person you wrote about in #7?  What qualities, if any, do the two heroic figures share?  How are they different from one another? (unit question # 8)

4. An epic with its blend of history and legend reflects a society's values.  Based on your reading of these excerpts from Sundiata, what values do you think were honored by the Mandingo culture?  What kinds of behaviors did the culture despise? (unit question #9)

5. Read the connection on pages 532-533 and answer the questions at the end of the piece.  (unit question #10)

1. To the pre-Islamic Arabs, immortality meant being remembered by the living after death.  Do you agree that this is a form of immortality?  In what other ways can people be immortalized?  (unit question # 11)

2. What do you like about this country?  Explain.  What would you like to see changed about this country?  Explain.

1. In "The Cessation", Muhammad urges his followers to be "upright".  In "Daylight", he instructs them not to "wrong the orphan, nor chide away the beggar".  How might modern Muslims apply these teachings to their daily lives? (unit question # 12)

2. Which of the images in these excerpts do you find most striking and memorable?  What impact do you think these images are intended to have on readers or listeners? (unit question #13)

1. Semicolons Are Fun; It's True:  Semicolons, which signal a big pause, can be used in place of a period or in the place of a conjunction.  Here's an example of how a semicolon can be used in place of a period when two ideas are closely connected: Roddy was dying to write a novel; in fact, he was toying with the idea of quitting his job as an accountant and writing full time.  Here's an example of how semicolons can be used in place of conjunctions, such as and, or, but, and because:  I don't know if I want to go to Jones Beach; I'm not really in the mood for sweaty masses of people.  Write four sentences, two using the semicolon as a period replacement and two using it as a conjunction replacement.

2. Alliteration Annoys Alex:  Write three sentences, each one of which is alliterative.  For example: Tiny tots trampled all over the tentative tulips.

3. At what point do you think Scheherazade would have ended her recital of "The Fisherman and the Jinnee" in order to hold the sultan's interest? (unit question # 14)

4. Some Arab scholars have dismissed The Thousand and One Nights as mere popular entertainment.  They have argued that the tales are not great literature because the stories have crude and simplistic plots and no depth in characterization or theme.  What do you think about such an assessment of the value of the kinds of stories found in The Thousand and One Nights? (unit question # 15)

1. Khayyam's Rubaiyat expresses the theme that life is good and to be enjoyed fully.  The poet argues that it is foolish to postpone pleasure until another day because that day may never come.  You have encountered this carpe diem ("seize the day") philosophy in other literary works from other cultures.  Do you agree with this view of life? Explain. (unit question # 16)

2. Using your knowledge of the arrangement of the ruba'I (from sunrise to sunset) and the carpe diem theme of the verses, explain why the work "TAMAM" is a fitting end to the Rubaiyat. (unit question # 17)

1. This poem begins with a statement of a comforitng belief: "Don't grieve.  Anything you lose comes round / in another form".  In other words, the things we think we lose--the carefree pleasures of childhood, for example--are replaced by other pleasures, such as the privilege of getting a driver's license.  What do you think of Rumi's idea?  What are some things you have lost and gained throughout your life? (unit question # 18)

2. How has the poet use analogy to explain the idea that "anything you lose comes round / in another form"?  List the analogies the poet makes.  How do these things compare with the things you wrote about in question # 18? (unit question # 19)

3. Read the Connection on pages 561-562 and answer the questions at the end on page 562. (unit question # 20)

Mountain Tale:  Write a very short story that ends with the sentence, As he approached the top of the mountain, he raised his hands in victory.

1. Freewrite about break

2. Mahdi Khan Malik Hijazi (born 1892), who wrote under the name Qulzum, was a leading poet in modern Persia.  How do his words on page 487 apply to poets of any age or culture? (unit question #1)

3. Why is much of African literature part of an oral rather than a written tradition? (unit question # 2)

4. How did the new religion, Islam, change Arabic and Persian culture and literature? (unit question # 3)

5. What benefits did Europe derive from Arabic culture? (unit question #4)

1. Words can inspire, heal, & encourage.  They can also wound, deceive, and ruin reputations.  Think of a speech that impressed you, advice that influenced you, or criticism that hurt your feelings.  Focus freewrite about the power of words in your life. (unit question #5)

2. African songs and tales reflect the social lives of communities and their people's values and experiences.  What have these selections revealed to you about the concerns, values, and traditions of the people who created them?  Provide details from the selections in your response.  (unit question #6)

3. Describe your favorite season and explain why it is your favorite.

1. A Terrible Loss:  Imagine that you've lost your most precious and prized possession.  Write one paragraph about what the item was, and why it was special to you; a second paragraph about how you lost the item; and a third paragraph about how you felt when you realized the item was missing.

2. Whom do you consider heroic?  Think of a relative, friend, or someone you've read about whom you consider a hero.  In a paragraph, explain which qualities make this person heroic.  (unit question # 7)

3. How does Sundiata compare with the heroic person you wrote about in #7?  What qualities, if any, do the two heroic figures share?  How are they different from one another? (unit question # 8)

4. An epic with its blend of history and legend reflects a society's values.  Based on your reading of these excerpts from Sundiata, what values do you think were honored by the Mandingo culture?  What kinds of behaviors did the culture despise? (unit question #9)

5. Read the connection on pages 532-533 and answer the questions at the end of the piece.  (unit question #10)

1. To the pre-Islamic Arabs, immortality meant being remembered by the living after death.  Do you agree that this is a form of immortality?  In what other ways can people be immortalized?  (unit question # 11)

2. Describe one of your achievements and explain why you are proud of it.

1. In "The Cessation", Muhammad urges his followers to be "upright".  In "Daylight", he instructs them not to "wrong the orphan, nor chide away the beggar".  How might modern Muslims apply these teachings to their daily lives? (unit question # 12)

2. Which of the images in these excerpts do you find most striking and memorable?  What impact do you think these images are intended to have on readers or listeners? (unit question #13)

1. Semicolons Are Fun; It's True:  Semicolons, which signal a big pause, can be used in place of a period or in the place of a conjunction.  Here's an example of how a semicolon can be used in place of a period when two ideas are closely connected: Roddy was dying to write a novel; in fact, he was toying with the idea of quitting his job as an accountant and writing full time.  Here's an example of how semicolons can be used in place of conjunctions, such as and, or, but, and because:  I don't know if I want to go to Jones Beach; I'm not really in the mood for sweaty masses of people.  Write four sentences, two using the semicolon as a period replacement and two using it as a conjunction replacement.

2. Alliteration Annoys Alex:  Write three sentences, each one of which is alliterative.  For example: Tiny tots trampled all over the tentative tulips.

3. At what point do you think Scheherazade would have ended her recital of "The Fisherman and the Jinnee" in order to hold the sultan's interest? (unit question # 14)

4. Some Arab scholars have dismissed The Thousand and One Nights as mere popular entertainment.  They have argued that the tales are not great literature because the stories have crude and simplistic plots and no depth in characterization or theme.  What do you think about such an assessment of the value of the kinds of stories found in The Thousand and One Nights? (unit question # 15)

1. Khayyam's Rubaiyat expresses the theme that life is good and to be enjoyed fully.  The poet argues that it is foolish to postpone pleasure until another day because that day may never come.  You have encountered this carpe diem ("seize the day") philosophy in other literary works from other cultures.  Do you agree with this view of life? Explain. (unit question # 16)

2. Using your knowledge of the arrangement of the ruba'I (from sunrise to sunset) and the carpe diem theme of the verses, explain why the work "TAMAM" is a fitting end to the Rubaiyat. (unit question # 17)

1. This poem begins with a statement of a comforitng belief: "Don't grieve.  Anything you lose comes round / in another form".  In other words, the things we think we lose--the carefree pleasures of childhood, for example--are replaced by other pleasures, such as the privilege of getting a driver's license.  What do you think of Rumi's idea?  What are some things you have lost and gained throughout your life? (unit question # 18)

2. How has the poet use analogy to explain the idea that "anything you lose comes round / in another form"?  List the analogies the poet makes.  How do these things compare with the things you wrote about in question # 18? (unit question # 19)

3. Read the Connection on pages 561-562 and answer the questions at the end on page 562. (unit question # 20)

Mountain Tale:  Write a very short story that ends with the sentence, As he approached the top of the mountain, he raised his hands in victory.

1. Freewrite about break

2. Mahdi Khan Malik Hijazi (born 1892), who wrote under the name Qulzum, was a leading poet in modern Persia.  How do his words on page 487 apply to poets of any age or culture? (unit question #1)

3. Why is much of African literature part of an oral rather than a written tradition? (unit question # 2)

4. How did the new religion, Islam, change Arabic and Persian culture and literature? (unit question # 3)

5. What benefits did Europe derive from Arabic culture? (unit question #4)

1. Words can inspire, heal, & encourage.  They can also wound, deceive, and ruin reputations.  Think of a speech that impressed you, advice that influenced you, or criticism that hurt your feelings.  Focus freewrite about the power of words in your life. (unit question #5)

2. African songs and tales reflect the social lives of communities and their people's values and experiences.  What have these selections revealed to you about the concerns, values, and traditions of the people who created them?  Provide details from the selections in your response.  (unit question #6)

3. What is your biggest fear and why?

1. A Terrible Loss:  Imagine that you've lost your most precious and prized possession.  Write one paragraph about what the item was, and why it was special to you; a second paragraph about how you lost the item; and a third paragraph about how you felt when you realized the item was missing.

2. Whom do you consider heroic?  Think of a relative, friend, or someone you've read about whom you consider a hero.  In a paragraph, explain which qualities make this person heroic.  (unit question # 7)

3. How does Sundiata compare with the heroic person you wrote about in #7?  What qualities, if any, do the two heroic figures share?  How are they different from one another? (unit question # 8)

4. An epic with its blend of history and legend reflects a society's values.  Based on your reading of these excerpts from Sundiata, what values do you think were honored by the Mandingo culture?  What kinds of behaviors did the culture despise? (unit question #9)

5. Read the connection on pages 532-533 and answer the questions at the end of the piece.  (unit question #10)

1. To the pre-Islamic Arabs, immortality meant being remembered by the living after death.  Do you agree that this is a form of immortality?  In what other ways can people be immortalized?  (unit question # 11)

2. Choose one of the following topics:  Who is the most famous person you have ever met and how did you meet him/her?  or Who would you like to meet that is famous and why?

1. In "The Cessation", Muhammad urges his followers to be "upright".  In "Daylight", he instructs them not to "wrong the orphan, nor chide away the beggar".  How might modern Muslims apply these teachings to their daily lives? (unit question # 12)

2. Which of the images in these excerpts do you find most striking and memorable?  What impact do you think these images are intended to have on readers or listeners? (unit question #13)

1. Semicolons Are Fun; It's True:  Semicolons, which signal a big pause, can be used in place of a period or in the place of a conjunction.  Here's an example of how a semicolon can be used in place of a period when two ideas are closely connected: Roddy was dying to write a novel; in fact, he was toying with the idea of quitting his job as an accountant and writing full time.  Here's an example of how semicolons can be used in place of conjunctions, such as and, or, but, and because:  I don't know if I want to go to Jones Beach; I'm not really in the mood for sweaty masses of people.  Write four sentences, two using the semicolon as a period replacement and two using it as a conjunction replacement.

2. Alliteration Annoys Alex:  Write three sentences, each one of which is alliterative.  For example: Tiny tots trampled all over the tentative tulips.

3. At what point do you think Scheherazade would have ended her recital of "The Fisherman and the Jinnee" in order to hold the sultan's interest? (unit question # 14)

4. Some Arab scholars have dismissed The Thousand and One Nights as mere popular entertainment.  They have argued that the tales are not great literature because the stories have crude and simplistic plots and no depth in characterization or theme.  What do you think about such an assessment of the value of the kinds of stories found in The Thousand and One Nights? (unit question # 15)

1. Khayyam's Rubaiyat expresses the theme that life is good and to be enjoyed fully.  The poet argues that it is foolish to postpone pleasure until another day because that day may never come.  You have encountered this carpe diem ("seize the day") philosophy in other literary works from other cultures.  Do you agree with this view of life? Explain. (unit question # 16)

2. Using your knowledge of the arrangement of the ruba'I (from sunrise to sunset) and the carpe diem theme of the verses, explain why the work "TAMAM" is a fitting end to the Rubaiyat. (unit question # 17)

1. This poem begins with a statement of a comforitng belief: "Don't grieve.  Anything you lose comes round / in another form".  In other words, the things we think we lose--the carefree pleasures of childhood, for example--are replaced by other pleasures, such as the privilege of getting a driver's license.  What do you think of Rumi's idea?  What are some things you have lost and gained throughout your life? (unit question # 18)

2. How has the poet use analogy to explain the idea that "anything you lose comes round / in another form"?  List the analogies the poet makes.  How do these things compare with the things you wrote about in question # 18? (unit question # 19)

3. Read the Connection on pages 561-562 and answer the questions at the end on page 562. (unit question # 20)

Mountain Tale:  Write a very short story that ends with the sentence, As he approached the top of the mountain, he raised his hands in victory.

Freewrite

Focus freewrite on what you have read thus far in The Princess Bride.

1. Write a journal entry from the point of view of one of the characters in The Princess Bride concerning any event that has happened so far in the book.

1. Semicolons Are Fun; It's True:  Semicolons, which signal a big pause, can be used in place of a period or in the place of a conjunction.  Here's an example of how a semicolon can be used in place of a period when two ideas are closely connected: Roddy was dying to write a novel; in fact, he was toying with the idea of quitting his job as an accountant and writing full time.  Here's an example of how semicolons can be used in place of conjunctions, such as and, or, but, and because:  I don't know if I want to go to Jones Beach; I'm not really in the mood for sweaty masses of people.  Write four sentences, two using the semicolon as a period replacement and two using it as a conjunction replacement.

2. Alliteration Annoys Alex:  Write three sentences, each one of which is alliterative.  For example: Tiny tots trampled all over the tentative tulips.

Mountain Tale:  Write a very short story that ends with the sentence, As he approached the top of the mountain, he raised his hands in victory.