Remember: Final versions of these are due Friday!! Be sure to hand in a rough draft of your paper so Mr. Timmer or Mrs. Meyer can edit it for you before Friday.
Good luck!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Kellie and Scott!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/berkshire/8340808.stm
--Kellie and Scott, this link might be helpful on your topic. Be sure to also check out the "SEE ALSO" links on the right side of the page
--Kellie and Scott, this link might be helpful on your topic. Be sure to also check out the "SEE ALSO" links on the right side of the page
Thoughts on Halloween
Last weekend was Halloween, an excuse for girls to dress suggestively and for guys to act creepily. But hey, it's ok! It's Halloween!
Halloween is a Pagan-Christian hybrid holiday which finds its roots in the combination of two distinct holidays: The first being Celtic festival of Samhain (beginning sometime in the 1500's). Basically, it was an event marking the end of the "light" half of the year and the beginning of the "dark" half of the year. Another way of putting it, is that Halloween began as a harvest festival. The second root of Halloween is All-Saints Day, a Catholic event began in 609ish by Pope Boniface IV to commemorate all the Saints of the Christian religion.
Dressing up for Halloween comes from Samhain, where people wore costumes to imitate and please the gods. Trick or treating comes from early European All-Saints Day traditions of children going from door to door to receive cakes and from families visiting dead relatives in cemeteries.
In modern America, it seems as if Halloween has become an excuse for us to mock what we fear in an attempt to try to execute some control over the very thing we cannot control and all must face: death.
But I digress. In your blog, please take some time to consider Halloween and to reflect on these simple questions:
What do you think of Halloween? How did you spend your Halloween night? How do you usually spend it? Is Halloween a holiday worth celebrating (even if you don't)? There has been an overall drop in people who actually go trick-or-treating, why do you think this is (keeping in mind that the only kids who were ever actually poisoned were harmed by their own family - despite all the rumors)? Is it more or less valuable than other holidays? which ones? Any other thoughts on Halloween?
Halloween is a Pagan-Christian hybrid holiday which finds its roots in the combination of two distinct holidays: The first being Celtic festival of Samhain (beginning sometime in the 1500's). Basically, it was an event marking the end of the "light" half of the year and the beginning of the "dark" half of the year. Another way of putting it, is that Halloween began as a harvest festival. The second root of Halloween is All-Saints Day, a Catholic event began in 609ish by Pope Boniface IV to commemorate all the Saints of the Christian religion.
Dressing up for Halloween comes from Samhain, where people wore costumes to imitate and please the gods. Trick or treating comes from early European All-Saints Day traditions of children going from door to door to receive cakes and from families visiting dead relatives in cemeteries.
In modern America, it seems as if Halloween has become an excuse for us to mock what we fear in an attempt to try to execute some control over the very thing we cannot control and all must face: death.
But I digress. In your blog, please take some time to consider Halloween and to reflect on these simple questions:
What do you think of Halloween? How did you spend your Halloween night? How do you usually spend it? Is Halloween a holiday worth celebrating (even if you don't)? There has been an overall drop in people who actually go trick-or-treating, why do you think this is (keeping in mind that the only kids who were ever actually poisoned were harmed by their own family - despite all the rumors)? Is it more or less valuable than other holidays? which ones? Any other thoughts on Halloween?
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Blog Assignment Due Thursday, Oct. 29
Blog about your topic. Write 2 or 3 paragraphs summarizing the sides in the current controversy of your topic. Try to do it without slant, but matter-of-factly. In other words: Do not take a side.
Do not forget to comment on your classmates' blogs (2 total). Try to comment on a blog you do not usually write on. Feel free to take a side in the comments section.
Do not forget to comment on your classmates' blogs (2 total). Try to comment on a blog you do not usually write on. Feel free to take a side in the comments section.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Blog post for Sun. Oct. 11
Thoughts on The Voysey Inheritance and our discussion on it.
Possible writing topics include (but are not limited to):
Did you like it? Why or why not? Do you think you would have liked it more or less had you known more about it going in? What did you think of the storyline? The characters? How relevant was the whole thing to you, considering you are a high school student in the 2000's and the play was about old British people in the 1900's. Is there anything to be learned from the play?
What did you gain from your classmates in the discussion of the play? What insights were new to you or surprised you? Reflect on Ponzi schemes: Most can agree that they are immoral, but how do they happen? Why do they start? Do you find it interesting that we live in an economic system that allows things like this to happen? Or are the people it affects simply dumb and deserve being bilked?
Please write about this for Sunday, Octover 11 at midnight or before. There is no need to comment on other student blogs.
Possible writing topics include (but are not limited to):
Did you like it? Why or why not? Do you think you would have liked it more or less had you known more about it going in? What did you think of the storyline? The characters? How relevant was the whole thing to you, considering you are a high school student in the 2000's and the play was about old British people in the 1900's. Is there anything to be learned from the play?
What did you gain from your classmates in the discussion of the play? What insights were new to you or surprised you? Reflect on Ponzi schemes: Most can agree that they are immoral, but how do they happen? Why do they start? Do you find it interesting that we live in an economic system that allows things like this to happen? Or are the people it affects simply dumb and deserve being bilked?
Please write about this for Sunday, Octover 11 at midnight or before. There is no need to comment on other student blogs.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Blog assignment for the week of Oct. 5
Thoughts on Homecoming:
(possible questions to answer)
How do you feel about homecoming week as a student? Is it a worthwhile event? Is there value in the tradition of Homecoming? What type of culture is it trying to create? Is it successful?
(possible questions to answer)
How do you feel about homecoming week as a student? Is it a worthwhile event? Is there value in the tradition of Homecoming? What type of culture is it trying to create? Is it successful?
Monday, September 28, 2009
Blog Assignment for the week of Sept. 28
Think of a film. It could be one of your favorites; it could be one you recently watched; it could simply be the first one that popped into your head.
Answer these questions: What worldview is this film portraying? What are the values that this film is (1) trying to project or (2) using thematically? Do you agree with the general worldview of the film? Explain.
Blog posts are due Wed. at Midnight, Responses (at least 2 per person) are due Saturday at midnight.
Answer these questions: What worldview is this film portraying? What are the values that this film is (1) trying to project or (2) using thematically? Do you agree with the general worldview of the film? Explain.
Blog posts are due Wed. at Midnight, Responses (at least 2 per person) are due Saturday at midnight.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Due Dates
Remember: Blog post on your topic due Wed. at Midnight (Mountain time).
--optional: Please write a short blog about Jerusalems
Comment on 2 blogs before Saturday night, Midnight.
Powerpoint about the history of your topic due Thursday (24th) in class!
--optional: Please write a short blog about Jerusalems
Comment on 2 blogs before Saturday night, Midnight.
Powerpoint about the history of your topic due Thursday (24th) in class!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Senior Seminar Blog Guidelines
What is a Blog?
A blog is a medium for sharing thoughts and ideas on the internet. Usually, blogs are open; meaning everybody can read them. With this in mind, you should be mindful of what you write on your blog and how you comment on others blogs (unlike the majority of the internet, blogs are not anonymous; writers are expected to present facts and be able to back them up with solid information).
Why are we using the blog format?
In this course, you will be researching a controversial topic and presenting your findings to the world. Blogs are a good first step in determining which information is worth sharing and which ideas need to be released.
A blog will allow you to present you information and interpretations to your classmates and teachers for review. Classmates (and anyone else) will be able to comment on your blog, creating a dialogue which will foster original thought and defense of your ideas.
What is required of you?
1. Present actual information
--Anything you write should be verified through your sources
--This mean research before you write!
2. Provide at least 1 blog post each week (more if they are assigned)
--These posts can be straight information about your topic you found interesting, questions you wish to pose to your classmates, or anything else pertaining to your issue.
3. Comment on 2 classmate's blog posts at least once a week.
4. Remain professional in both your own posts and your comments to classmates
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