Brainstorming 'Hamlet' questions for ENGL 102

I'm wondering what questions will connect with my students.

1. Had Hamlet and Ophelia already hooked up when Polonius prohibited their relationship?

2. Is Hamlet hallucinating, or has he seen a ghost (the spirit of a dead person), or is he being fooled by a demon?

3. Is Hamlet mad, faking it, upset but still basically normal, or what?

4. Why did Kate Winslet, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, and so many others think it was worthwhile to be in Kenneth Branagh's film version of Hamlet?

End of my 3rd semester: a few thoughts about teaching

I think I know why students are sometimes confused. 

I tell them, "I want you to think for yourselves." At the same time, I say, "Do exactly what I say to do."

The two statements aren't perfect polar opposites, but they do set up a kind of disconnect: You could imagine the students asking, "Why do you tell us exactly what to do if you want us to think for ourselves?"

It might be worthwhile for me to explicitly state, "Do exactly what I say to do SO you can learn how to think for yourselves."

Missing the CCU students

This past fall semester was my first time teaching as a college instructor. Did you really think the Beerman column paid all the bills? Ha!

I was teaching composition and literature classes at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC.

I taught five sections of three courses -- and drove to campus six days a week (that sixth day would be a three-hour long Saturday morning class).

I was never entirely successful at getting all my students to be quiet when I was lecturing --

Or to quit sending text messages from their phones during class periods.

And yet -- strangely enough -- I miss them.

Yeah, yeah -- I know -- they do NOT miss me.

They just wanted to get that English or humanities requirement out of the way.

And yet -- strangely enough -- I miss them.

And I wish them well this coming New Year and spring semester.

(P.S. I'm on Facebook!)