october 31

JOURNAL TOPIC:

Emerson's transcendentalist contemporary (there's a mouthful!) Henry David Thoreau once wrote, "Men have become the tools of their tools."  What do you think he meant?  Do you agree?  Why/why not?

 

AGENDA:

1. Journal

2. Elements of a good story

3. Table conversations: What's next?  How can we transcend our current circumstances?  How can this learning experience help us?

3. Please comment with your personal takeaways to this post

4. Please post your thoughts to your blog (title: WHAT'S NEXT FOR ME?) -- suggested ingredients: a) what you've learned in this course so far, b) the assets / opportunities you have available to you, and c) action steps.

october 30

AGENDA:

Please respond to the following essay prompt.  You may either post directly to your blog or write on paper (if you write on paper, you will transfer your essay to your blog later in the week).

 

Explain Emerson's title and thesis.  How was Emerson's main idea supported by his tone, diction, and syntax?  In your answer, please use at least one quote/example from the essay.  Please also give one example of how you either: a) you can use Emerson's idea to help you in your own life, or b) disagree with Emerson and think you can't use his idea to help you in your own life. 

 

JOURNAL TOPIC:

How did you do on the Emerson essay?  To what do you attribute your success or your need for improvement?

october 29

JOURNAL TOPIC:
We know that dinosaurs and other species lived on Earth and then became extinct. Can you imagine a time when humans are extinct? What might cause this, and what might take our place? Describe in detail.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Review: Emerson test tomorrow

october 26

JOURNAL TOPIC:

You thought you wanted to do this, but now you're not sure.  The small plane doesn't feel like anything you've ever experienced.  There is just a thin sheet of metal between your feet... and nothing.  Just thousands of feet of empty space to the Earth below.  You stand up as the experienced skydiver next to you yells, "You're next!"  Every bump makes your knees weak.  Your stomach feels like it wants to live in your throat.  You're numb, but you move toward the open door.  Suddenly the wind whips at your hand and this is all suddenly too real.

What do you do next?  Will you sit back down or will you take the leap?  Describe your actions in detail.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Blog audit
3. Emerson/ finalé/ test next week

october 25

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Remember that fortune you won yesterday? Easy come, easy go. Due to a computer error, 24,999,999 other people also won. That means your winnings total $2 (actually, more like $1.35 after taxes). How do you react? What thoughts and feelings do you experience? How will your plans change?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Emerson continued

october 24

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Today is your day! You find a lottery ticket-- THE lottery ticket. After Dr. Preston cashes it for you (you're too young and smart to play the lottery), you have $50 million. What will you do with it?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Wednesday
3. Emerson/ interdependent review (continued)

october 23

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Why is it legal for businesses to put up all sorts of ugly signs, but graffiti is illegal?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Emerson: interdependent review of "On Self-Reliance"

POST what you learned today (title: WHAT I LEARNED TODAY ABOUT SELF-RELIANCE)