The End of the Street Lawyer

We have now finished The Street Lawyer by John Grisham. In lieu of an exam, we will instead be writing an extended blog post (that means it needs to be at least 500 words and include details from the text to support your answer; it also means that you need to write at least four good paragraphs).  If you have strong feelings about the novel this is your time to share them!

Blog Prompts

1. Predict what the future has in store for Michael.  Will he stay with the 14th Street Clinic?  Will the Clinic change in anyway?  What about his relationship status?  Will he be successful with Ruby?
2. Speaking of Ruby, one could argue that Michael has already been successful with her.  Do you agree with this?  Why or why not?
3. What is the theme of this novel and what course of action is Mr. Grisham suggesting? Remember that theme cannot be expressed in one word, but rather in a sentence that can be defended

The Prompt that You MUST Answer
Homelessness doesn't just happen in Washington DC or New York City.  Homelessness happens everywhere.  Read the this article about Cleveland Street Chronicle in the Plain Dealer and this article about the Housing First initiative and discuss how the efforts of these groups are similar and different to those of the 14th Street Legal Clinic.

The Street Lawyer Part III

How awesome is it to read Grisham's work in class? We're plowing through The Street Lawyer at not quite break-neck speed and are continuing to see changes in Michael.  He almost seems compassionate now, which is certainly a change from his time Drake & Sweeney.

It's impossible to ignore that the central issue of homelessness in this novel.  Because Grisham hits the reader over the head with this issue, it is easy to discern his views.  The question is, then, is he right?  What are the causes of homelessness and how should we, as a society, react to and feel about them?  This is a discussion for another day (possibly as an essay?).  The blog topics for this week follow.  Please remember that you need to demonstrate good writing conventions and thoughts in your 300+ word responses.

Blog Topics

1. How are Michael and Mister alike?
2. The Street Lawyer examines money, race, and power.  How are these topics affected by the Washington D.C. setting?
3. How does Barry Nuzzo represent Drake & Sweeney's stance.  Should he be trusted?
4. During his orientation (chapter 18) Michael learns about the reality of the homeless.  How do Mordecai's statistics compare to the Government's?  Why is this?
5. What has become of Hector Palma?
6. Besides using their employees, how is Drake & Sweeney harassing Michael?  How does he and those around him handle this harassment?
7. How do Michael's first few days at the 14th Street Legal Clinic compare to those at Drake & Sweeney?
8. How does Ruby illustrate the plight of the homeless?  What affect does she have on Michael and his narrative?

Giant Mustard

Some of you may be contemplating college; even if you're not, there are some wonderful writing prompts that show up for college entrance essays.  This one comes from the University of Chicago.  I thought it was fitting (although not as fitting as if I would have given this prompt to you during baseball season; the hotdog race between Ketchup, Mustard, and Onion, at Jacob's Field is one of my favorite between inning events). As always, remember that you need to write at least 300 words (at least three good paragraphs would certainly help) and demonstrate good writing conventions.

"Have you ever walked through the aisles of a warehouse store like Costco or Sam's Club and wondered who would buy a jar of mustard a foot and a half tall? We've bought it, but it didn't stop us from wondering about other things, like absurd eating contests, impulse buys, excess, unimagined uses for mustard, storage, preservatives, notions of bigness…and dozens of other ideas both silly and serious. Write an essay somehow inspired by super-huge mustard."

The Street Lawyer, Blog 2

We are nearly halfway through John Grisham's The Street Lawyer and are going strong.  We have witnessed a transformation in Michael; is it a midlife crisis - or something else?  Remember, you need to write at least 300 words and use good writing conventions.

Blog Prompts

1. At the end of chapter 16 Michael states that both he and Claire have lost.  Support or refute this statement.
2. Michael's activities become questionable and even illegal.  Are these actions justified?
3. Why does Hector Palma help Michael? 
4. Most people see Michael as having a midlife crisis - he even alludes to this.  Are these people right - or is it something else?
5. Is Michael's changing life a downward spiral?  Why or why not?

Beginning the Street Lawyer

The Street Lawyer by John Grisham is one of my favorites by Mr. Grisham (possibly second to only Playing For Pizza).  Dealing with homelessness, this book will lead nicely into our next project: an expository essay on a social issue.  It is also worth noting that Mr. Grisham has practiced criminal law and has been a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives.

As we read, I will periodically be posting blog prompts for you to explore (remember that you need to support your thoughts with details from the text). These prompts are designed to get you thinking about the novel in ways that you may not have before.  We want to get below the surface of the text!

Remember, your blog posts need to be at least 300 words, demonstrate good writing conventions and are thoughtful.

Blog Prompts

1. Why do you suppose Michael believes Mister wasn't going to kill the lawyers? 
2. Describe Michael and Claire's relationship.  Could this contribute to Michael's decision to leave the firm?
3. What two worlds are juxtaposed in the opening two chapters of this book?  How are we made to feel about each?
4. We learn that Mister was a Vietnam War Veteran named DeVon Hardy.  How are the situations that the homeless face similar to that of Vietnam Vets returning home?  Does this change how you view Mister?
5. Michael sees it as almost fitting that a group of lawyers be held hostage, instead of schools and theaters.  Why do you suppose this is?
6. Compare and contrast Michael Brock with Mordecai Green.

John Green Across Mediums

It comes as no surprise to many of you that I like the work of John Green; be it on youtube, in print, or on screen.  I am not the only one that enjoys his work, though.  Many of you told me that Looking for Alaska is the best (or one of the best) novels that you have read; unfortunately, it has yet to be made into a film despite multiple attempts.  Since we do not have Looking for Alaska to view, we will instead be looking at Paper Towns - a novel and film with similar themes.

You need to discuss the following in a well written blog post of at least three hundred words:
1. What themes are prominent in both works?  Why is this important for us as readers/viewers?
2. How are teens portrayed in each work?  Is this realistic?
3. How do the characters deal with adversity in each work?  What can it show us about ourselves?
4. What can film do that text cannot? What can text do that film cannot? How does this affect the story?

Running with Forrest

Forrest Gump propelled itself into popular culture following it's release in 1994.  Often you can hear people shouting "Run, Forrest, run!" at runners or at a lumbering first baseman that can barely leg out a double.  Or possibly you would rather think of life as a box of chocolates because "you never know what you're gonna get."  In their own right, both of these quotes possess a certain amount of wisdom that helps to illustrate the theme of the film. 

While yes, many of you have seen this film before, have you ever thought about this film?  For this blog, you will need to respond to as many of the following questions as necessary in order to reach the three hundred word quota.  You can certainly respond to more of the questions and you do not have to respond to them in order; however, please be clear as to what you are responding.  And as always, support your responses with examples from the film.

The Questions
1. What is the theme of the film?
2. Why do you suppose that this film lingers with those who watch it?
3. Yes, Forrest is the protagonist; however, it is interesting to follow the development of both Jenny and Lt. Dan.  Pick one of these characters and discuss how they are a dynamic character.
4. Furthering your thinking along the lines of the characters, how do different characters affect Forrest's life?  How does he affect theirs?
5. One of the most interesting symbols in the film is that of shoes/feet.  Examine shoes/feet as a symbol and explain of what they are symbolic.
6. How does Forrest embody the quote "Life is like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you're gonna get."
7. Think about Forrest's location throughout the film.  Is there any irony to this?