1. Bellringer Journal #1: 9/9/2013 Create a list of 10 writing "territories," or areas and things you feel comfortable about. Also include a couple of specific areas within each category you might write about. Mrs. Nielsen's Example: SCUBA  places I have been SCUBA diving, places I would like to go SCUBA diving, training I have completed for SCUBA

2. Bellringer Journal #2: 9/13/2012 Define “hero.” Is there a difference between a superhero and an everyday hero? In your opinion, who is an example of an everyday hero and why?

3. Bellringer Journal #3: 9/19/2013 Tell me about a heroic event you have seen, heard, read about, etc. This can be something you read on the internet or in a book, something you saw on YouTube, or in the news, etc., but it must be TRUE. What makes this a heroic event? What makes this person a hero? Explain.

4. Bellringer Journal #4: 9/23/2013 Please pick one of your “territories” to write about today. Remember that it should be at least one (1) full paragraph, as we will be writing for at least 6 to 8 minutes.

5. Bellringer Journal #5: 9/27/2013 Happy Friday! Imagine you woke up and saw a dinosaur in your backyard. Describe what you see and do.

6. Bellringer Journal #6: 10/1/2013 How do you feel about reading? Do you enjoy it? If so, what do you like to read? Why? What about writing? What do you like to write about? What do you not like to write about?

7. Bellringer Journal #7: 10/3/2013 Name a movie or book that you know of that follows the hero’s journey. Explain how the main character follows the journey.

8. Bellringer Journal #8: 10/9/2013 Who is one person in your life that has made an impact on who you are today? Why? What did they do that was so impactful?

9. Bellringer Journal #9: 10/18/2013 You took the PSAT on Wednesday. What did you think? Was the test difficult? How? Why? Do you plan on taking the regular SAT? Do you feel more prepared after taking the practice test? Be specific.

10. Bellringer Journal #10: 10/24/2013 What is one topic that you saw in our reading of Beowulf? (Ex: courage/bravery, good v. evil, supernatural elements, etc.) What do you think the author is trying to tell us about that topic through Beowulf?

11. Bellringer Journal #11: 10/28/2013 What do you remember about what we read last week? What battles have we read about? Who won? How?

12. Bellringer Journal #12: 10/30/2013 Please pick one of your “territories” to write about today. Remember that it should be at least one (1) full paragraph, as we will be writing for at least 6 to 8 minutes.

13. Bellringer Journal #13: 11/7/2013 Video Clip – Tracking Devices Is a tracking device a violation of privacy, or is it an good way to manage students? Should students have privacy rights while attending school? What are some of the benefits of these devices? What are some of the drawbacks?

14. Bellringer Journal #14: 11/13/2013 Tell me about what you plan to do this weekend. Include at least 3 of your vocabulary words (list #4).

15. Bellringer Journal #15: 11/21/2013 Define “honor.” What does it mean to be an honorable person? If you were to create a modern code of honor, what would some of the key aspects be? Explain.

16. Bellringer Journal #16: 11/25/2013 Other than what we discussed last class, what else do you know about knights, chivalry, and the culture of the medieval time period? What else would you like to know?

17. Bellringer Journal #17: 12/2/2013 Summarize what we have read so far in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Describe the Green Knight.

18. Bellringer Journal #18: 12/4/2013 Please pick one of your “territories” to write about today. Remember that it should be at least one (1) full paragraph, as we will be writing for at least 6 to 8 minutes.

19. Bellringer Journal #19: 12/6/2013 Choose one of the hats you see displayed. Tell me about the person that wears this hat. What is their name? What do they look like? What is their job? Do they have a family? What is this person like? Where do they live?

20. Bellringer Journal #20: 12/16/2013 Pick one of your 10 writing territories to write about. Remember: You are writing for 5 to 7 minutes, your journal entries should be at least one full paragraph (7 complete sentences).

21. Bellringer Journal #21: 1/9/2014 Would you rather be poor and happy or rich and lonely? Be honest, there is no wrong answer. Explain.

22. Bellringer Journal #22: 1/28/2014 Congratulations! You made it through the first half of sophomore year! Answer the following questions thoughtfully: 1) What is your biggest STRENGTH so far? 2) What is your biggest weakness so far? 3) What can we do better?

23. Bellringer Journal #23: 2/7/2014 1) People should do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. 2) People should always follow their gut instincts. 3) Males are more prone to violence than females. 4) Women are more manipulative than men. 5) An effective leader has total control over his/her people. Pick one of the five statements and write a justification as to why you agree or disagree with it. You can use real- life examples or hypothetical situations to justify your response. You must take the statement as it is on the page, making no adjustments to what is written. Make sure you write at least one full paragraph.

24. Bellringer Journal #24: 2/18/2014 Welcome back! How was your break? Tell me what you remember about what we have read so far in Macbeth. **Remember – at least 5 to 8 sentences**

25. Bellringer Journal #25: 2/24/2014 Go back to Act I, Sc. 7 (p. 39). Imagine that you are EITHER a holy mouse living in the floorboards OR an evil bat hanging from the rafters. Write a journal entry from this point of view in which you describe the scene you have just witnessed. How do you feel about Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s plan? Are you going to take action to change it or to interfere? Be creative!

26. Bellringer Journal #26: 2/28/2014 If “Person A” talks “Person B” into doing something wrong, who is more to blame? Justify your answer with examples from everyday life, literature, movies, etc.

27. Bellringer Journal #27: 3/10/2014 Please pick one of your “territories” to write about today. Remember that it should be at least one (1) full paragraph, as we will be writing for at least 6 to 8 minutes.

28. Bellringer Journal #28: 3/12/2014 Who do you think is more ambitious: Macbeth or Lady Macbeth? Why? What do their actions and words tell us about their ambition? When does “too much ambition” turn into a bad thing?

29. Bellringer Journal #6: 9/19/2012 You had to walk through a cemetery on your way home from a friend’s house. What happened and what did you see?

30. Bellringer Journal #29: 3/20/2014 Happy First Day of Spring! What is your favorite part of warming weather? What are your plans for spring break in a few weeks?

31. Bellringer Journal #30: 3/26/2014 How has Macbeth’s personality changed from the beginning of the play to now? How do you feel about the change in his personality?

32. Bellringer Journal #31: 4/8/2014 Would you volunteer for your little sister (or brother, or older sibling, or friend)? Why or why not? What does it tell you about Katniss?

33. Bellringer Journal #32: 4/10/2014 Scenario # 1: You go to school and work toward a career of your choice. In your chosen field, you can make as much money as your talent and hard work will earn you; however, there are no guarantees of a certain amount of money or even of a permanent job. Scenario #2: You go to school and are told which career you will have. You work a set number of hours per week and you are guaranteed a set amount of money each and every week. You will never lose your job. Which scenario would you choose and why?