What if we took that idea and turned it into an analysis activity for literary characters. Instead of just listing the search returns, students would need to qualify each list item based on their understanding of the character.

For example, here’s my list for Scout Finch (the qualifiers follow in italics):

1. Scout needs community support to combat racism in Maycomb.

2. Scout needs to review with [her] parents or guardian the reasons why school is important after all.

3. Scout needs to understand that it is important to stand in someone else’s shoes, to see things from his or her point of view.

4. Scout needs help with [the] project she is working on for the fall pageant. Her ham costume is too constricting.

5. Scout needs a-bath! She is too much a tomboy, according to her Aunt Alexandra.

6. Scout needs communication with her cousin Francis; fighting never solves anything.

7. Scout needs division between herself and the Radleys. She needs to let them live in peace, without pestering them.

8. Scout needs to give Arthur gentle reminders that she has not forgotten him. She could bring him flowers on May Day or send him notes in the mail.

9. Scout needs help remembering that there is good in everyone, even Mrs. Dubose who called her ugly and Mr. Cunningham, who, as a member of the jury, held out for Tom as long as he could.

10. Scout needs to reach out on [her] own to become the strong, independent woman she has the potential to be.

Then of course, there is the 25 random things about me meme/tag game. This activity can also be used as a sort of character sketch. I love the randomness of the order, the quality of each list item. Just 25 things, randomly posted.

Here are 25 things about Atticus Finch:

1. I am a widower. My wife died when our son, Jeremy, was six and our daughter Jean Louise (Scout) was only two. I miss her.
2. I realize that being in one’s fifties means I can’t do everything I used to, like play touch football with Jem.
3. I have the most wonderful children who bring me joy even if they think I’m old. They don’t think I know what they’re up to half the time. Strip poker? Hmmm.
4. For the past three summers, a little guy named Dill has been a constant companion of our family. I think that boy is an imaginative little guy, and I like him quite a lot.
5. Our neighbors are wonderful, kind people. Although some seem intolerant.
6. I can shoot a gun, really, really well, but I have such an unfair advantage that I choose not to hunt.
7. I have no strong religious feelings one way or the other. My religion is that we should treat everyone fairly and justly, no matter their race.
8. I love roast beef and collards, but no syrup, please.
9. My family has lived in this area for a long time. Our oldest ancestor was Simon Finch, who came from England. Unfortunately, he owned slaves, something I’m not at all proud of.
10. I served the Alabama legislature for a time. I like working one on one with people more than trying to convince politicians to do the right thing.
11. My friend Judge Taylor and I play cards on the porch on summer evenings and talk about our concerns. We are worried about racism. It’s just not right and keeps people from being their best.
12. I read every night and love having Scout perched on my lap, though she’s getting a bit big for that.
13. My sister Alexandra still lives on our family homestead, though her husband doesn’t seem to care to keep it up. But I am so busy that I can’t complain.
14. I have an old, old watch that I am saving to hand down to my son Jeremy. He is my pride, so fierce, so inventive. He made a snowman once out of very little snow by building a dirt base first.
15. I rarely drive a car anywhere. My town is so small I can walk just about everywhere.
16. I don’t like criminal law, but prefer to help people with things like wills and entailments.
17. I have fond feelings for a neighbor woman whom I should ask out to dinner, but I am too shy.
18. I am so proud of my brother who is a doctor. He’s going to do important things with his life.
19. My job keeps me busy, but I am able to come home each noon for dinner and each night for supper.
20. I have a hard time teaching my daughter how to settle disputes with words instead of fists.
21. I believe in justice. The courts are the great levelers of our time.
22. I worry about my kids. They fight for my honor even when it is confusing for them.
23. I have a tough job ahead of me, to defend a negro who is clearly innocent of the absurd charges against him. I don’t know if a Maycomb jury can be blind to their prejudices.
24. I think change is coming. I’m not sure why, but I feel it coming soon. I wouldn’t be surprised if great things happen yet in my lifetime.
25. I am tired. I can’t think of one more thing interesting about me. I’m just not that special.

[The list in itself is interesting. There are various levels of understanding here: literal, inferential, even ironic].

There were a variety of factors that propelled me to open my own facebook account this summer. The strongest was that I knew I could not talk intelligently about something I personally knew nothing about. Joining the vast social network has been an enlightening experience.

My friends include NCTE colleagues, a few colleagues from my school, a few family members, former students, a few current students, and a couple of actual friends. It’s kind of fun when someone writes on my wall or sends me “flair.” What I have learned in only a few weeks is that facebook is a huge deal to the young people of my school community. It’s where they socialize when not face to face. It’s where they stay connected with each other.

Recently a teacher at school who knew I had a facebook account asked me if I ever “talk to” students on facebook. It was not a question I expected.

Two things crossed my mind.

One, well, as a matter of fact, yes. Just recently I had a nice little real-time chat with a current student about a book we were reading in class. It seemed like a conversation we might have had just before the bell rang or in the hall as we were heading home for the day. It was not too formal, but not too casual, and it was definitely teacher-student. He was polite, sincere, and we had a nice, short chat.

The other thing I thought was, hmmm. Why? Shouldn’t I? Does it cross the line? Am I not supposed to?

I think the second response kicked in because I answered her that I mostly communicate with former students and we sort of left it at that. I didn’t really answer her honestly, and I wondered later why I lied.

My reaction nagged at me.

Lately I am more and more annoyed at the assumption that all things “social networking” are the tools of online predators or silly teens wasting their time. Blogs, nings, facebook, MySpace, etc. are blocked at most schools, I imagine, because their connotation in the media is so negative. There is the perception that they are dangerous and our students need to be protected from them. It would also not be productive for students to be posting to facebook profiles via their iPhones instead of paying attention to their science experiments to keep them from bubbling over onto the floor.

Facebook takes measures to protect its users , but even so, anytime we enter willingly into the Web, we take some risks. There are some really questionable groups on facebook, but I don’t join them. I know how to stay safe online. If we want our students to know how also, we must teach them to be responsible Netizens. They need to know that public communication is “public,” and posting to one’s facebook profile is not that different from making a public proclamation, except that what gets posted to the Internet is there “supposedly” forever.

When this teacher asked me about facebook, I wondered what she thought it was. I know I wasn’t quite sure until recently. I think too many people base their opinion of social networking sites on a few sensational stories in the media. How else are they to know what reality is unless they, like me, open a facebook door to find out. I found out that facebook is not a seedy, back-alley teen club where hoods in leather jackets smoking cigarettes hang out, waiting to harass unsuspecting passersby. It is more like an annotated address book with pictures. It is even a bit like a magical (think Hogwarts) newspaper featuring the latest headlines from everyone you know or care to check up on now and then. It’s a place where old college roommates can stay in touch even after their jobs have taken them miles away from each other. Even families can connect on facebook and share pictures.

Facebook, MySpace, blogs, nings and others are not evil by their nature, though some will subvert them for salacious use. At their best, they are tools for networking, social networking, professional networking, personal networking.

Now and then, even teachers use them for improving their practice. Professional development in the read write web can be amazing!