Last week, I gave the current AP Langers an assignment that was pretty meaty. I feel a little bad about that because I never gave this assignment to you, and I know that the vast majority of you would have made quite a meal of it.
However, as I thought more about it, I realized that an assignment like this could promote some really provocative ideas--especially since the ones you come up with can ALSO be maneuvered into an interesting college app essay. :)
So, the assignment--and consequently your new blog question--is as follows:
What ______________ can teach us about ________________.
I didn't pose it as a question, because it will be much more effective as a statement.
The idea is to start off inductively (narrow) and move to deductive (broad) which is the polar opposite of a typical 5-paragraph essay structure (and with good reason, hmmmmph). So, for example, you could say something like: "What Star Wars can teach us about Identity." Start off with a personal anecdote--and a personal anecdote doesn't necessarily need to be a personal experience--you could just as easily take it from a book or movie or an urban myth or whatever. Then, move into a broader, more socially-conscious issue that you can connect in some fashion to the thesis. When you're done, you should have an extended metaphor that will serve as a concrete description to an abstract concept that will provide insight into how your mind works AND to what you value. What could be better than that??? :)
Good luck--I am excited to see what you do with this!
May the Force be with you.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Last Guys Don't Finish Nice
Last Guys Don't Finish Nice
I am feeling a bit cynical this evening, pumpkins, and for that, I apologize; I think that my internal struggle with cynicism may have influenced this week's intellectual proposition. I shall let you be the judge, however, as to whether or not this was a good or a bad thing.
As many of you know, and if you didn't you do now, I am not that into people. There are a select few I would ever willingly share time with, and more often than not, it shows. Now, before I go any further, I feel it pertinent to actually define what I mean when I say "people." (sidebar: the fact that we are about to start the Definition Mode unit is simply serendipity!) So, here it goes, for lack of a more...academic definition: PEOPLE: Individuals who are not kids or animals, mostly over the age of 25 and under the age of 80.
And there you have it--the definition of people in the world of Cassie Bunje.
This rather pessimistic and certainly asocial view of the human race is not something with which I was born, however, I feel that it began cultivating itself at a rather young age. My childhood was not one to be looked back upon wistfully, and it didn't really get much better as I grew into young adulthood. This was due, almost entirely, to my interactions with and observations of, you guessed it--people. In fact, until I became a teacher, I held out very little hope that I would ever be able to gaze upon the face of another human being without a hint of scorn, mistrust or distaste. True story. Truth be told, and this is not me being dramatic at all--you could probably accurately say that teaching saved my soul. More on that later.
So, in my reading today, I happened upon an interesting quote. I would like you to read and reflect on this quote and tell me what you come up with in terms of whether or not you agree with what it says, and what it even means. As always, qualify your answer with an anecdote of personal experience to help illustrate the point you are making.
Here it is:
"Niceness is a decision. It is a strategy of social interaction; it is not a character trait."
Have fun, poppets...
I am feeling a bit cynical this evening, pumpkins, and for that, I apologize; I think that my internal struggle with cynicism may have influenced this week's intellectual proposition. I shall let you be the judge, however, as to whether or not this was a good or a bad thing.
As many of you know, and if you didn't you do now, I am not that into people. There are a select few I would ever willingly share time with, and more often than not, it shows. Now, before I go any further, I feel it pertinent to actually define what I mean when I say "people." (sidebar: the fact that we are about to start the Definition Mode unit is simply serendipity!) So, here it goes, for lack of a more...academic definition: PEOPLE: Individuals who are not kids or animals, mostly over the age of 25 and under the age of 80.
And there you have it--the definition of people in the world of Cassie Bunje.
This rather pessimistic and certainly asocial view of the human race is not something with which I was born, however, I feel that it began cultivating itself at a rather young age. My childhood was not one to be looked back upon wistfully, and it didn't really get much better as I grew into young adulthood. This was due, almost entirely, to my interactions with and observations of, you guessed it--people. In fact, until I became a teacher, I held out very little hope that I would ever be able to gaze upon the face of another human being without a hint of scorn, mistrust or distaste. True story. Truth be told, and this is not me being dramatic at all--you could probably accurately say that teaching saved my soul. More on that later.
So, in my reading today, I happened upon an interesting quote. I would like you to read and reflect on this quote and tell me what you come up with in terms of whether or not you agree with what it says, and what it even means. As always, qualify your answer with an anecdote of personal experience to help illustrate the point you are making.
Here it is:
"Niceness is a decision. It is a strategy of social interaction; it is not a character trait."
Have fun, poppets...
Monday, October 26, 2009
OP...Number 5?!!!
In an attempt to alleviate all of the pain, emotions, and random thoughts bouncing around within my mind, I've decided to writing OP #5! I realize very few will actually read it but it helped to write it nonetheless. I also offer you the same therapeutic opportunity. Release everything that's bottle up within you. Trust me, even if no one reads your paper, you will still feel 110% better...
Oh and of course comments are encouraged and appreciated :)
Oh and of course comments are encouraged and appreciated :)
Friday, September 4, 2009
I'm all alone
since i'm now officially the only person who returns to the blog, i will claim it as my own!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Those Rain Days
So on the rainy, miserable days like today when i'm off work and done swim practice i spend my time making lolcats. Or rather i just made a lolcat for the first time. It's hilarious. More hilarious than any one any of you could make. Yes, that is a challenge. http://cheezburger.com/view.aspx?ciid=4715216
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Sunday Night Blues
Another Sunday night is passing, and another blog is... not being posted. Most of the AP Langers who used to frequent this site religiously have moved on to more summery things, but for those of us still nerdy and obsessive enough to check in, I have a challenge; Do you recall that day that our beloved Bunj was absent and she had us write down blog suggestions? Well I propose we post such suggestions here, and throughout the summer we can write them up as actual blog questions, to fill the void left by the completion of our school year.
Try to not think of questions you have answers to, but instead questions you NEED answers to. Perhaps I am alone, but I found more answers in the responses of my peers than I ever thought to write myself, and feel that sort of synergy is far too valuable to stop producing now. In short, if you would like to participate, think of a question. Don't worry about developing it now, just think of a question that you would be interested in answering and hearing answered. Write it up. Hit publish post. Keep the magic going.
(200 words/karma points)
Try to not think of questions you have answers to, but instead questions you NEED answers to. Perhaps I am alone, but I found more answers in the responses of my peers than I ever thought to write myself, and feel that sort of synergy is far too valuable to stop producing now. In short, if you would like to participate, think of a question. Don't worry about developing it now, just think of a question that you would be interested in answering and hearing answered. Write it up. Hit publish post. Keep the magic going.
(200 words/karma points)
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Summertime...
Hello, puppets. *evil laugh*
Well, it's finally here. June 16th has brought about the end of sitting at desks, gripping pencils, and working furiously at your homework well past your intended bedtimes. I believe this school year has treated us all well enough, despite its ups and downs. Still, everyone needs a hiatus. A break, if you will. And so the worrying about school has ended. However, for some of you, this end is just a beginning.
I expect many of you will be finding plenty of ways to fill up your summer time with tasks you'd rather not be doing, for the greater good. Many of you will be getting summer jobs, be they retail, lifeguarding, or something altogether different. Almost all of us will have summer homework to deal with. I'm sure these things are only the start of what you have planned for the months ahead.
I want to help you dig a bit deeper than that, though. It'd be simple to give your plans for the summer. If you place those shackles on yourself now, though, you may regret it later. What is it that you want to do this summer? Does it conflict with what you intend to do? If so, are there any ways you could reorganize yourself to fit in what you want? Give us a day in your summer life, if everything were to go perfectly. Remember, summer will fly by before you even get to enjoy it if you don't take charge.
(350 words/70pts)
Monday, June 8, 2009
Never Say Goodbye
WOW.
I wrote my post title first today (I don't normally do that--with anything. College papers, OP's or anything else that needs a title. I always feel like it pigeonholes my writing). This blog, though, is different than most things I write, and as such, it deserves its own moment of "newness." This is the last blog of the year--and the last blog you will ever do as an AP Langer. While most of you are now doing that fist-pump thing in the air that you do when you're thrilled about something, I am sort of trying to post through a watery screen of unshed tears at this prospect.
My first year, the end of the year was tough--a bunch of kids that were different than any I had known at Central, yet somehow I loved them even more--it was tough to let them go. The next year was my first year taking over AP Lang, and man, that was a tough one too. And now, this year, wow. It may be the toughest one yet. I feel as though we have been through one of the most arduous journeys together, and when I look back at the twists and turns of the road we traveled I am humbled and awed by the experience.
I will save most of my internal musings about this for my final OP (and just get on with your task for this, our final blog together as an AP Lang family.
This week, my pumpkins, I would like you to use your voice and leave your mark here, on this page. You walked into 204 10 months ago not knowing what to expect or what you should think. You will leave with--well, I guess that is the question of the hour. What will you leave with--what have you learned, what have you experienced? What was your favorite day, your favorite lesson, your finest moment that you can recall? Are you different now then you were then? Better? Worse? Indifferent? What did your junior year do for you? What are your hopes for your senior year? Is there anything you want to say to your friends? Yourself? You can say whatever you want--just, please don't end your post with saying "goodbye." Because, it's not really "Goodbye"--it's more like, "See you later."
I wrote my post title first today (I don't normally do that--with anything. College papers, OP's or anything else that needs a title. I always feel like it pigeonholes my writing). This blog, though, is different than most things I write, and as such, it deserves its own moment of "newness." This is the last blog of the year--and the last blog you will ever do as an AP Langer. While most of you are now doing that fist-pump thing in the air that you do when you're thrilled about something, I am sort of trying to post through a watery screen of unshed tears at this prospect.
My first year, the end of the year was tough--a bunch of kids that were different than any I had known at Central, yet somehow I loved them even more--it was tough to let them go. The next year was my first year taking over AP Lang, and man, that was a tough one too. And now, this year, wow. It may be the toughest one yet. I feel as though we have been through one of the most arduous journeys together, and when I look back at the twists and turns of the road we traveled I am humbled and awed by the experience.
I will save most of my internal musings about this for my final OP (and just get on with your task for this, our final blog together as an AP Lang family.
This week, my pumpkins, I would like you to use your voice and leave your mark here, on this page. You walked into 204 10 months ago not knowing what to expect or what you should think. You will leave with--well, I guess that is the question of the hour. What will you leave with--what have you learned, what have you experienced? What was your favorite day, your favorite lesson, your finest moment that you can recall? Are you different now then you were then? Better? Worse? Indifferent? What did your junior year do for you? What are your hopes for your senior year? Is there anything you want to say to your friends? Yourself? You can say whatever you want--just, please don't end your post with saying "goodbye." Because, it's not really "Goodbye"--it's more like, "See you later."
Sunday, May 31, 2009
32 names in Eskimo--so where did WE go wrong?
Now, while it's true my definition of love may be slightly skewed at present, I am fairly sure I have not become so embittered by my heartache that I can't recognize it. Right?
The word "love" gets thrown around so much on a day-to-day basis, it's a wonder the letters haven't broken off and gotten lost forever. Or--have they? How often do you say you "love" something as silly as a pair of shoes or an ice cream flavor? On page 140 in Bees, August tells Lily,"We are so limited, you have to use the same word for loving Rosaleen as you do for loving Coke with peanuts. Isn't that a shame we don't have more ways to say it?" The first time I read that line (Summer of 2005) I pondered it for hours afterward, desperate to find another word to replace the one that should remain sacred. And came up with....exactly nothing. It has never been far from my thoughts since then.
So, your challenge for this week, poppets, is to dig deep inside yourself and think about what it is that you really love. In order to do that, I think it would be beneficial to start out with a working definition of what love is. How would you define it? What characteristics would be a good representation of it? And then, at long last, ask yourself..."What do I love?"
Does putting a classification on things you have previously said you "loved" change your perspective on what the meaning of love should be?
(450 words/50 pts)
The word "love" gets thrown around so much on a day-to-day basis, it's a wonder the letters haven't broken off and gotten lost forever. Or--have they? How often do you say you "love" something as silly as a pair of shoes or an ice cream flavor? On page 140 in Bees, August tells Lily,"We are so limited, you have to use the same word for loving Rosaleen as you do for loving Coke with peanuts. Isn't that a shame we don't have more ways to say it?" The first time I read that line (Summer of 2005) I pondered it for hours afterward, desperate to find another word to replace the one that should remain sacred. And came up with....exactly nothing. It has never been far from my thoughts since then.
So, your challenge for this week, poppets, is to dig deep inside yourself and think about what it is that you really love. In order to do that, I think it would be beneficial to start out with a working definition of what love is. How would you define it? What characteristics would be a good representation of it? And then, at long last, ask yourself..."What do I love?"
Does putting a classification on things you have previously said you "loved" change your perspective on what the meaning of love should be?
(450 words/50 pts)
Monday, May 25, 2009
The Secret of My Success...and Other Fallacies
So, I'm at B&N, and as usual, I become spellbound by all of the collective knowledge that is, literally, at my fingertips as I walk up and down the aisles. I find it absolutely mind-boggling that you can be in a single edifice and hold the keys to the universe if you look closely enough ( I was, coincidentally, in the space-exploration aisle). I suppose the same could be said if you are standing in a library, but there is something about those clear plastic wrappings they put on library books that makes what is contained within seem less accessible. But, as usual, I digress.
So, there I am, walking among the aisles of knowledge and I find myself in the self-help section looking at all the titles: The Success Book, How to Succeed in Business, 7 Secrets of Successful Teens etc. All of these books, all dedicated to the notion of success. That was when it hit me--how do these books ever sell? Aren't all individual ideas of what success is dramatically different? And then, it hit me again..."I wonder what my poppets' definitions of success are? Hmmmmmm...blog question!" And now, here we are.
So, tell me--what is YOUR definition of success? What are the hallmarks, again, to YOU, of a successful person? How do you judge whether or not you are successful? Are there different levels, different measures of importance tied to levels? What do you need to have, to own, to acquire in order to feel successful? What types of things need to happen in order for you to see yourself as a success?
(450 words/60pts)
So, there I am, walking among the aisles of knowledge and I find myself in the self-help section looking at all the titles: The Success Book, How to Succeed in Business, 7 Secrets of Successful Teens etc. All of these books, all dedicated to the notion of success. That was when it hit me--how do these books ever sell? Aren't all individual ideas of what success is dramatically different? And then, it hit me again..."I wonder what my poppets' definitions of success are? Hmmmmmm...blog question!" And now, here we are.
So, tell me--what is YOUR definition of success? What are the hallmarks, again, to YOU, of a successful person? How do you judge whether or not you are successful? Are there different levels, different measures of importance tied to levels? What do you need to have, to own, to acquire in order to feel successful? What types of things need to happen in order for you to see yourself as a success?
(450 words/60pts)
Monday, May 18, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Lyrical Philosophies
Although you may think I personalized this blog post for Meg Song, I can assure you that is not the case.
We've been out of blog practice for a few weeks; time to ease back in with something that will get us thinking about ourselves in ways we don't usually. So, onward and upward.
Many of you use music as a gateway. To sanity, to serenity, to solace and/or to solitude. Music, to many of you, is an escape from the harsh realities of teenage life.
So, now it is also going to be a tool in which you come to a greater understanding of how you see the world, and how you see yourself.
Think about all the music you love to listen to. Specifically, think about the lyrics to songs you love. Now, I want you to pick one or two songs that adequately encapsulate how you feel about life, your life. Of course, like a quote, nothing can COMPLETELY "sum up" your entire life--I understand that. But many songs, either through explicit or implied messages in lyrics, can at least provide a concrete example of either what you want out of life, what you want out love and how you want to be perceived, taken, understood etc. These are the key concepts I am looking for.
So, your task this week is to tell us about a song, copy a few of the refrains/chorus/passages, and explicate their meaning(s) to you.
Try to pick ones that have some depth and that will provide a deeper understanding of your innate beliefs. (450-500 words/70pts)
We've been out of blog practice for a few weeks; time to ease back in with something that will get us thinking about ourselves in ways we don't usually. So, onward and upward.
Many of you use music as a gateway. To sanity, to serenity, to solace and/or to solitude. Music, to many of you, is an escape from the harsh realities of teenage life.
So, now it is also going to be a tool in which you come to a greater understanding of how you see the world, and how you see yourself.
Think about all the music you love to listen to. Specifically, think about the lyrics to songs you love. Now, I want you to pick one or two songs that adequately encapsulate how you feel about life, your life. Of course, like a quote, nothing can COMPLETELY "sum up" your entire life--I understand that. But many songs, either through explicit or implied messages in lyrics, can at least provide a concrete example of either what you want out of life, what you want out love and how you want to be perceived, taken, understood etc. These are the key concepts I am looking for.
So, your task this week is to tell us about a song, copy a few of the refrains/chorus/passages, and explicate their meaning(s) to you.
Try to pick ones that have some depth and that will provide a deeper understanding of your innate beliefs. (450-500 words/70pts)
Monday, April 20, 2009
Find Your Center...
From time to time, when tensions are high or I can sense an imminent, pervading uneasy energy, I do a little meditative exercise. Usually, it is a visualization or relaxation ritual; something easy to refocus my mind.
As exam time draws near, I will begin to show you what I do, and also some more advanced techniques for meditation and you can use it however you see fit.
So, in preparation for that, this week's blog will have you contemplating your "happy place" either real or metaphorical or imaginary. Please answer each of the following questions, using detailed, descriptive imagery-laden diction.
Where do you like to go to escape from the pressures of your life? (It doesn't have to be a real place). Why THAT place?
What is your best childhood memory? Describe it in detail.
Where and when do you feel your absolute best? Why?
What is the most soothing sound you can imagine?
Which colors affect your mood the most? How do those colors affect it?
When during the day do you feel the most at ease? Why? What is it about that time of day that provides comfort?
(60pts-400 words)
As exam time draws near, I will begin to show you what I do, and also some more advanced techniques for meditation and you can use it however you see fit.
So, in preparation for that, this week's blog will have you contemplating your "happy place" either real or metaphorical or imaginary. Please answer each of the following questions, using detailed, descriptive imagery-laden diction.
Where do you like to go to escape from the pressures of your life? (It doesn't have to be a real place). Why THAT place?
What is your best childhood memory? Describe it in detail.
Where and when do you feel your absolute best? Why?
What is the most soothing sound you can imagine?
Which colors affect your mood the most? How do those colors affect it?
When during the day do you feel the most at ease? Why? What is it about that time of day that provides comfort?
(60pts-400 words)
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
A New Day...Changes, Choices and Chills..It's All Relative
Ahh..pumpkins. You do tickle me, you really do.
I have to just say that it warms the cockles of my heart (are there such things as "cockles" and if so, are they, in fact, located near the arterial chamber? While we're at it, is arterial chamber even the correct science-y term for "heart?") that you all missed the brain bleeding questions I usually ask on our blog.
And, I couldn't agree with Matt, Hayley and even fresh-face Jen more when they said that last week's blog was very un-blog like. It was, I know.
But, that said, judging by the stellar display of collective genius analyses, it was valuable. So, that's something, right?
But, ask and you shall receive. Matty C--the well has been filled!
Reading over previous postings and thinking about what I know about each of you individually offered me an insightful glimpse into a collective psyche.
Most, if not all, of you have two fundamental fears: 1, the idea of change and/or 2, the possibility of making the "wrong" choice.
Now, I know that there are plenty of people who will tell me that the idea of change, especially if it includes a change of scenery from sunny Mays Landing/Mullica to just about anywhere else would be welcomed with open arms and a huge, block-lettered sign. But, despite the wanderlust or pre-"senioritis" that you have all felt creeping in on you, you have to admit that, at its core, change is a scary proposition. After all, the intrinsic nature of change is that of the unknown, the unchartered, the unfamiliar and the unrevealed.
So, if you are one of the restless souls who yearns for change--what is it about it that is so appealing to you? What do you hope the changes you want to seek out, to undergo or to witness will mean for you, your future, your life? On the other hand, if you are one who double locks the door when change comes a-knockin', tell me what it is about the prospect of it that fightens you. What do you think might happen?
We're not done...oh no...onward...
Now, one of Change's many dance partners is Choice. Right/wrong, smart/stupid, bad/ good..choice exists and you are confronted with the notion of it every single day. Sometimes, these are choices of epic proportions--break-up or stay together; cut class to get that paper done or suck it up and take a zero; confront the back-stabbing friend or let it go; get high just this once or walk away never knowing; and sometimes it can be as inconsequential as chicken patty or PB&J. Either way, your mind has a process it undergoes when you have to make a choice. Tell me about it. Do your weigh all your options and consider possible outcomes, or do you dive in and hope the water isn't too cold? I think I am mix-metaphoring myself into a corner here--but I know you know what I mean. When you are confronted with a choice--how do you make it? And, more importantly, why? A lot to think about, I know...but, you asked for it! :)
(500 words/75pts)
I have to just say that it warms the cockles of my heart (are there such things as "cockles" and if so, are they, in fact, located near the arterial chamber? While we're at it, is arterial chamber even the correct science-y term for "heart?") that you all missed the brain bleeding questions I usually ask on our blog.
And, I couldn't agree with Matt, Hayley and even fresh-face Jen more when they said that last week's blog was very un-blog like. It was, I know.
But, that said, judging by the stellar display of collective genius analyses, it was valuable. So, that's something, right?
But, ask and you shall receive. Matty C--the well has been filled!
Reading over previous postings and thinking about what I know about each of you individually offered me an insightful glimpse into a collective psyche.
Most, if not all, of you have two fundamental fears: 1, the idea of change and/or 2, the possibility of making the "wrong" choice.
Now, I know that there are plenty of people who will tell me that the idea of change, especially if it includes a change of scenery from sunny Mays Landing/Mullica to just about anywhere else would be welcomed with open arms and a huge, block-lettered sign. But, despite the wanderlust or pre-"senioritis" that you have all felt creeping in on you, you have to admit that, at its core, change is a scary proposition. After all, the intrinsic nature of change is that of the unknown, the unchartered, the unfamiliar and the unrevealed.
So, if you are one of the restless souls who yearns for change--what is it about it that is so appealing to you? What do you hope the changes you want to seek out, to undergo or to witness will mean for you, your future, your life? On the other hand, if you are one who double locks the door when change comes a-knockin', tell me what it is about the prospect of it that fightens you. What do you think might happen?
We're not done...oh no...onward...
Now, one of Change's many dance partners is Choice. Right/wrong, smart/stupid, bad/ good..choice exists and you are confronted with the notion of it every single day. Sometimes, these are choices of epic proportions--break-up or stay together; cut class to get that paper done or suck it up and take a zero; confront the back-stabbing friend or let it go; get high just this once or walk away never knowing; and sometimes it can be as inconsequential as chicken patty or PB&J. Either way, your mind has a process it undergoes when you have to make a choice. Tell me about it. Do your weigh all your options and consider possible outcomes, or do you dive in and hope the water isn't too cold? I think I am mix-metaphoring myself into a corner here--but I know you know what I mean. When you are confronted with a choice--how do you make it? And, more importantly, why? A lot to think about, I know...but, you asked for it! :)
(500 words/75pts)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
AP Archaeology
Apologies for the delay. The well is dry, so to speak.
Actually, I have some ideas that are very abstract and until I nail them down solidly enough to engender a concrete point and purpose, I refuse to babble on incessantly.
So, what we'll do while my notions marinate a bit will be slightly more functional.
Although I gave all of you those sample student AP essays last week, some of you may have "resisted the temptatation" to devour them to see what you can discern about what the college board values in writing So...you guessed it...we'll do that now.
First, I would like you to determine the thesis of each of the "9" essays. From that, see if you can determine in which mode they are written. Then, critique them by doing a combination TS/TD and RRL combined. Talk about lit devices they used, sentence patterns you see, structural strategies of note etc. Talk about the intro, and why it works; what the hook is and how they pace the work. Dig, dig, dig and find the treasure that the college board seemed to see.
The scoring commentary should give you some pointers obviously, but go deeper then they do and really use what you've learned to see what it is about these essays that made the scorers react to them so favorably.
Your responses should be insightful, reflective and indicative of how well you understand good writing (as it is judged by the AP folks).
Actually, I have some ideas that are very abstract and until I nail them down solidly enough to engender a concrete point and purpose, I refuse to babble on incessantly.
So, what we'll do while my notions marinate a bit will be slightly more functional.
Although I gave all of you those sample student AP essays last week, some of you may have "resisted the temptatation" to devour them to see what you can discern about what the college board values in writing So...you guessed it...we'll do that now.
First, I would like you to determine the thesis of each of the "9" essays. From that, see if you can determine in which mode they are written. Then, critique them by doing a combination TS/TD and RRL combined. Talk about lit devices they used, sentence patterns you see, structural strategies of note etc. Talk about the intro, and why it works; what the hook is and how they pace the work. Dig, dig, dig and find the treasure that the college board seemed to see.
The scoring commentary should give you some pointers obviously, but go deeper then they do and really use what you've learned to see what it is about these essays that made the scorers react to them so favorably.
Your responses should be insightful, reflective and indicative of how well you understand good writing (as it is judged by the AP folks).
Monday, March 30, 2009
Countdown to Success....
Before we get down to curtain rods, some brief announcements.
First--declamations start tomorrow (today actually, as I waited until 2nd period to post this) and I am really looking forward to them. I hope you are too. And, as part of the question this week, I would like you to tell me 2 things. First, why do you think I assigned the declamation project in th efirst place; and 2nd do you think it did anything for you? And, yes, of course you can be honest.
Second--I have posted a muy importante link posted titled FREE TEST PREP that I would like you all to very seriously consider. On April 25 there will be a "trial run" SAT/PSAT/ACT test given at ACCC. Here is why I think you should go for it--most of you have already taken the SAT and gotten your scores back. The determination of what areas need improvement on that test have (hopefully) already been considered. But, I venture to say that next-to-noone has taken the ACT yet, and this is a perfect opportunity to do so. You will be able to see which test is better suited to you, and see what kind of score you can earn on the ACT. Nearly 100% of all colleges and universities accept the ACT and in general, it is a good thing to have. There are conversions I can give you so that you can see what your ACT score means in relation to your SAT, but it is important to remember that these 2 tests are completely different.
Anyway, the link is there and you can register for it simply by clicking on it and filling out the info. Think about it.
Now, onward and upward.
Well, as I may have told some of you on Friday, I have been thinking a lot about the upcoming weeks ahead. I know that I have repeatedly drilled into your head that April is the month where we truly separate the “men from the boys” as it were.
Sidebar: isn’t it weird how so many of those banal adages exclusively use male/masculine pronouns/references etc? Why is that? Anyway, Word is telling me to reword that tired old cliché to read: “distinguish the professionals from the amateurs” which does sound better I suppose.
I know for the past few months I have been referring to April as “Death Month” which, in hindsight, really doesn’t reflect what I want it to. In fact, it is a terrible phrase and I am sorry those inimical words ever tumbled from my mouth because that is not how I want you all to look at it. Rather, I want you to take it, and the work that will need to be done to prepare for it, seriously, but I also want you to understand that that’s really all you need to do. You’ve already done the hard stuff—you’ve learned it. April is just extra time to master what you already know, and maybe to clarify some things about which you aren’t entirely confident yet.
And that, poppets, is where this week’s blog comes in.
What I would like you to do is think about the things we’ve learned so far. Last week and a bit of this week has been be entirely devoted to writing and speaking, but consider carefully the things we have done in class up until this point. What, if any, are the obstacles that you foresee to getting a 4 or 5 on the exam? What do you think your weak areas are, and what would you like to review more of come April? What do you think are the best ways to review? Your responses here will determine how I break up the different areas for Exam Review Month (Death Month’s new and improved moniker), so please be as precise as possible.
(No word count, but I expect some serious and reflective thoughts/50pts)
First--declamations start tomorrow (today actually, as I waited until 2nd period to post this) and I am really looking forward to them. I hope you are too. And, as part of the question this week, I would like you to tell me 2 things. First, why do you think I assigned the declamation project in th efirst place; and 2nd do you think it did anything for you? And, yes, of course you can be honest.
Second--I have posted a muy importante link posted titled FREE TEST PREP that I would like you all to very seriously consider. On April 25 there will be a "trial run" SAT/PSAT/ACT test given at ACCC. Here is why I think you should go for it--most of you have already taken the SAT and gotten your scores back. The determination of what areas need improvement on that test have (hopefully) already been considered. But, I venture to say that next-to-noone has taken the ACT yet, and this is a perfect opportunity to do so. You will be able to see which test is better suited to you, and see what kind of score you can earn on the ACT. Nearly 100% of all colleges and universities accept the ACT and in general, it is a good thing to have. There are conversions I can give you so that you can see what your ACT score means in relation to your SAT, but it is important to remember that these 2 tests are completely different.
Anyway, the link is there and you can register for it simply by clicking on it and filling out the info. Think about it.
Now, onward and upward.
Well, as I may have told some of you on Friday, I have been thinking a lot about the upcoming weeks ahead. I know that I have repeatedly drilled into your head that April is the month where we truly separate the “men from the boys” as it were.
Sidebar: isn’t it weird how so many of those banal adages exclusively use male/masculine pronouns/references etc? Why is that? Anyway, Word is telling me to reword that tired old cliché to read: “distinguish the professionals from the amateurs” which does sound better I suppose.
I know for the past few months I have been referring to April as “Death Month” which, in hindsight, really doesn’t reflect what I want it to. In fact, it is a terrible phrase and I am sorry those inimical words ever tumbled from my mouth because that is not how I want you all to look at it. Rather, I want you to take it, and the work that will need to be done to prepare for it, seriously, but I also want you to understand that that’s really all you need to do. You’ve already done the hard stuff—you’ve learned it. April is just extra time to master what you already know, and maybe to clarify some things about which you aren’t entirely confident yet.
And that, poppets, is where this week’s blog comes in.
What I would like you to do is think about the things we’ve learned so far. Last week and a bit of this week has been be entirely devoted to writing and speaking, but consider carefully the things we have done in class up until this point. What, if any, are the obstacles that you foresee to getting a 4 or 5 on the exam? What do you think your weak areas are, and what would you like to review more of come April? What do you think are the best ways to review? Your responses here will determine how I break up the different areas for Exam Review Month (Death Month’s new and improved moniker), so please be as precise as possible.
(No word count, but I expect some serious and reflective thoughts/50pts)
Sunday, March 22, 2009
A Bit of Buddhist Wisdom
HH(which stands for His Holiness),the 14th Dalai Lama (and my favorite, to date) once said, "The creatures that inhabit this earth-be they human beings or animals-are here to contribute, each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world."
I am not sure where I heard or read that, most likely in a liturgy at Temple or any one of a thousand (hyperbole) books on HH, but I think about that particular notion quite a bit. It goes along the same lines as that age-old query, "Why am I here?" I suppose, but when I think of my contributions to the world and what I can do to be a part of the sum total of beauty and prosperity, only two things ever come to mind. One, of course, is you. Collectively.
I teach. That's something I can do because in so doing, I am afforded the opportunity to, hopefully, broaden minds and open hearts. It is my hope, that this will, in turn, allow you to do the same things with whomever is lucky enough to come in contact with you as you dance through your time on Earth. I don't know if this actually qualifies as a legacy, because that seems like a pretty bold statement, but it's really all I have. There is that second thing, but it seems silly and I am not sure I want to talk about it and risk being mocked!
So, I ask...what do you do? What will you do? Do you believe in HH's idea about contribution? Does it make sense but seem impossible? Does it seem like a bunch of nonsense? What has been your greatest contribution so far? Don't say nothing or start wailing, "I'm only a teenager--I haven't done anything yet!" because that is a total cop-out. Think about all the people you have known, both superficially and deeply, and imagine how many more you have impacted in ways you might not even know yet. What will your legacy be? And more importantly, what do you WANT it to be?
(450-500 words/75pts)
I am not sure where I heard or read that, most likely in a liturgy at Temple or any one of a thousand (hyperbole) books on HH, but I think about that particular notion quite a bit. It goes along the same lines as that age-old query, "Why am I here?" I suppose, but when I think of my contributions to the world and what I can do to be a part of the sum total of beauty and prosperity, only two things ever come to mind. One, of course, is you. Collectively.
I teach. That's something I can do because in so doing, I am afforded the opportunity to, hopefully, broaden minds and open hearts. It is my hope, that this will, in turn, allow you to do the same things with whomever is lucky enough to come in contact with you as you dance through your time on Earth. I don't know if this actually qualifies as a legacy, because that seems like a pretty bold statement, but it's really all I have. There is that second thing, but it seems silly and I am not sure I want to talk about it and risk being mocked!
So, I ask...what do you do? What will you do? Do you believe in HH's idea about contribution? Does it make sense but seem impossible? Does it seem like a bunch of nonsense? What has been your greatest contribution so far? Don't say nothing or start wailing, "I'm only a teenager--I haven't done anything yet!" because that is a total cop-out. Think about all the people you have known, both superficially and deeply, and imagine how many more you have impacted in ways you might not even know yet. What will your legacy be? And more importantly, what do you WANT it to be?
(450-500 words/75pts)
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Did YOU Know?
Some of you may have seen this video, or updated versions of it, on YouTube. I would like you all to watch it now, speakers up (in order to get the vibe from the groovy Last of the Mohicans track)and really concentrate on what you're reading. Click the link on the side of the screen to watch the video.
Respond to what it says, ask questions of me and of each other, and really consider the implications of what you've learned.
How does this information change the way you view technology? Education? Does seeing these statistics, knowing that they are already obsolete (this video is 2 years old) give you hope for the future or terrify you beyond belief? Why?
(450-500 words/75pts)
Respond to what it says, ask questions of me and of each other, and really consider the implications of what you've learned.
How does this information change the way you view technology? Education? Does seeing these statistics, knowing that they are already obsolete (this video is 2 years old) give you hope for the future or terrify you beyond belief? Why?
(450-500 words/75pts)
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Confucius Says: Words Are the Voice of the Heart
I love words.
Good thing I suppose, given my chosen and hard-fought-for occupation. Every time I sit down at a keyboard or have a pen poised over a blank sheet of paper, I feel overwhelmed with excitement, with possibility, with anticipation. With a few key strokes or swipes of a pen, you can find the right combination of words that can make someone LOVE you. Conversely, you can break a heart, manipulate a mind or sever an allegiance…all with those same strokes or swipes. Think about that. Legends are immortalized because of words. Nations go to war over words. Couples are united in matrimony with words. Hearts and lives are shattered due to words. The power they wield is, in a word, awesome.
“Every time I come around the corner and see your car in the driveway I get sick to my stomach.”
I sat on the couch during yet another face-off with my mother when she let fly with that condemnation, effectively shattering any sense of comfort and belonging I may have been clinging to at the time. I was 17. I’m 38 now, and I can hear those words in my ear as clear as if they were uttered 10 minutes ago. I can’t say that it was those exact words that led to the eventual, unsurprising demise of my relationship with my mother, but I know it was certainly a huge chunk out of the already crumbling foundation. It stands, to this day, as one of the worst things anyone has ever said to me.
But, as I said, words are powerful. They have healing properties. Let me give you a scenario. I was visiting a friend at what is now, TCNJ (then it was Trenton State College). My boyfriend of about a year had just broken up with me, quite unceremoniously, at a party the night before. I was feeling kind of blue, just sort of moping around the campus waiting for my friend’s class to end. While aimlessly wandering through the bookstore, I saw an old friend from high school, a guy who graduated a year ahead of me. We got to talking about life after high school and what my plans were and all of that idle small talk, when he looked me right in the eye and said, “Well Cas, the thing is, I hear you’re an excellent writer.”
What followed is not a Cinderella-like ending of fairytale romance (this is me we’re talking about) between Matt Opacity (that was his name) and your Lang teacher. We didn’t fall into each other’s arms and swear undying love—it wasn’t even a romantic moment. He wasn’t trying out a brand-new pick-up line or even trying to soothe my bruised, dumped ego. It was a simple declaration that I am quite sure he would never even remember saying all these years later. But it’s impact on me was and is undeniable. Because of him, when I went back home, the first place I looked for a summer job was at a local newspaper called The Sandpaper. I landed a job as a stringer and at the tender age of 18, got my first ever piece of writing published. I even got paid for it! (It was an article on Tonkinese cats—don’t laugh!) Such is the power and the beauty of words.
So, that is the focus of this week’s blog question. I would like you to think about conversations you have had, arguments in which you’ve been embroiled, moments of bliss you have experienced. They all have one thing in common—WORDS. The Yin: What is the worst thing anyone has ever said to you? Why do you think it was the worst thing? How did it make you feel? And for the Yang (because there always is one): What was the best compliment you have ever received? Who said it? Why do you think was it was the best compliment? And finally, reflect on the fact that you highlighted these two particular comments. What do you think your choices of what was the best and worst thing anyone could say about/to you reveal about your personality? Much to think about, I know. Don’t delay!! (500 words/80pts)
Good thing I suppose, given my chosen and hard-fought-for occupation. Every time I sit down at a keyboard or have a pen poised over a blank sheet of paper, I feel overwhelmed with excitement, with possibility, with anticipation. With a few key strokes or swipes of a pen, you can find the right combination of words that can make someone LOVE you. Conversely, you can break a heart, manipulate a mind or sever an allegiance…all with those same strokes or swipes. Think about that. Legends are immortalized because of words. Nations go to war over words. Couples are united in matrimony with words. Hearts and lives are shattered due to words. The power they wield is, in a word, awesome.
“Every time I come around the corner and see your car in the driveway I get sick to my stomach.”
I sat on the couch during yet another face-off with my mother when she let fly with that condemnation, effectively shattering any sense of comfort and belonging I may have been clinging to at the time. I was 17. I’m 38 now, and I can hear those words in my ear as clear as if they were uttered 10 minutes ago. I can’t say that it was those exact words that led to the eventual, unsurprising demise of my relationship with my mother, but I know it was certainly a huge chunk out of the already crumbling foundation. It stands, to this day, as one of the worst things anyone has ever said to me.
But, as I said, words are powerful. They have healing properties. Let me give you a scenario. I was visiting a friend at what is now, TCNJ (then it was Trenton State College). My boyfriend of about a year had just broken up with me, quite unceremoniously, at a party the night before. I was feeling kind of blue, just sort of moping around the campus waiting for my friend’s class to end. While aimlessly wandering through the bookstore, I saw an old friend from high school, a guy who graduated a year ahead of me. We got to talking about life after high school and what my plans were and all of that idle small talk, when he looked me right in the eye and said, “Well Cas, the thing is, I hear you’re an excellent writer.”
What followed is not a Cinderella-like ending of fairytale romance (this is me we’re talking about) between Matt Opacity (that was his name) and your Lang teacher. We didn’t fall into each other’s arms and swear undying love—it wasn’t even a romantic moment. He wasn’t trying out a brand-new pick-up line or even trying to soothe my bruised, dumped ego. It was a simple declaration that I am quite sure he would never even remember saying all these years later. But it’s impact on me was and is undeniable. Because of him, when I went back home, the first place I looked for a summer job was at a local newspaper called The Sandpaper. I landed a job as a stringer and at the tender age of 18, got my first ever piece of writing published. I even got paid for it! (It was an article on Tonkinese cats—don’t laugh!) Such is the power and the beauty of words.
So, that is the focus of this week’s blog question. I would like you to think about conversations you have had, arguments in which you’ve been embroiled, moments of bliss you have experienced. They all have one thing in common—WORDS. The Yin: What is the worst thing anyone has ever said to you? Why do you think it was the worst thing? How did it make you feel? And for the Yang (because there always is one): What was the best compliment you have ever received? Who said it? Why do you think was it was the best compliment? And finally, reflect on the fact that you highlighted these two particular comments. What do you think your choices of what was the best and worst thing anyone could say about/to you reveal about your personality? Much to think about, I know. Don’t delay!! (500 words/80pts)
Sunday, March 1, 2009
The Rant
As promised, no deep mysteries to uncover this week. Which, truth be told, I'm a little vexed by because I thought of something I really wanted to talk to you guys about. But....I am a woman of integrity, which means I never go back on my word so...we shall save provocative discourse for next week.
This week, your collective patience will be tested, if not your intellect, with the annual HSPA exams. You will sit, sequestered in a room with folks you may or may not like, answering inane questions that you knew the answers to at the tender age of 9, for a couple hours at a time. Yuck.
I, not to be outdone, will be proctoring the S-Test. Double Yuck.
So, my thoughts are these: it is possible our nerves may be frazzled at some point during all this excitement,and we may need an outlet with which to vent our ire, frustrations and cumulative disgust. What better place than our family blog? We may delight in the hilarity of individual experience, lament the anxiety or simply commiserate.
It's here if you need it.
See you soon!
This week, your collective patience will be tested, if not your intellect, with the annual HSPA exams. You will sit, sequestered in a room with folks you may or may not like, answering inane questions that you knew the answers to at the tender age of 9, for a couple hours at a time. Yuck.
I, not to be outdone, will be proctoring the S-Test. Double Yuck.
So, my thoughts are these: it is possible our nerves may be frazzled at some point during all this excitement,and we may need an outlet with which to vent our ire, frustrations and cumulative disgust. What better place than our family blog? We may delight in the hilarity of individual experience, lament the anxiety or simply commiserate.
It's here if you need it.
See you soon!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Suffer the Little Children...For Such is the Kingdom of Heaven
Before we get down to brass tacks—(what does that MEAN anyway?), a bit of housekeeping.
Not sure if anyone has noticed it, but for your convenience and assistance, I posted 2 links designed solely to help with the whole speech thing you guys are doing. One is some Q&A tips, the other is some tips on public speaking. There is also 2 speeches linked—the TED talk on creativity, and Pacino’s speech from my favorite football movie of all time Any Given Sunday. Despite some of your aversions to Gilbert’s sweeping hand gestures, her speech stands to demonstrate what it is to be completely comfortable with yourself. That, besides the message she brings, was one of the reasons I posted it. I plan on centering a class discussion around the message, which I think has some pretty deep implications for my AP babies, so be prepared to give it another look-see sometime in the next 10 days.
To Mae—thanks for the heads up about the Itunes thing—TED talks are always free, but it was quite a boon to hear about the Obama thing. Many thanks, pumpkin.
I am not at all thrilled at the prospect that there is a better than average chance my 9/10 will be missing class tomorrow, but as my man Vonnegut would say, so it goes. Be ready to blast out speeches this week so that we can have the analyses (someone has asked me what the plural of analysis is—I forget who, but that’s it) done by Friday. Ambitious, I know, given the fact that you’re off Wednesday, but I think we can do it. I may have to limit the Q&A period to 5 questions max.
Speaking of being off Wednesday, vocab quiz will be moved to Thursday; blogs are still due Wed night.
I think that takes care of the daily minutiae. Now, onward and upward.
Sunday night. This night has sort of a paradoxical connotation tied to it for me. It goes back to, for lack of a better (read: trite) euphemism, my extremely crappy childhood.
Let me explain. I was, like many of you, a child of divorce. I lived with my mother, saw my father on weekends (when he remembered he had a daughter waiting for him to pick her up) and dealt with all of the guilt, sadness, and overall wistfulness of being the kid caught between parents that hated each other. It was, as I mentioned, extremely crappy. And Sundays were the worst because that was the day that my father would drop me back off at home, and I knew it could be the last time I ever saw him. I would make my way into the house where my mother would be waiting, and if I looked even the least bit sad, she would launch into attack mode. “Oh what’s the matter—had so much fun with your dad that coming home to your boring old mother is too depressing? Well sorry I have to work two jobs to support us since that fun-loving s.o.b. doesn’t bother to pay child support….” And on it would go until her energy was spent and I was completely demoralized. My saving grace was, ironically, the fact that my father didn’t see me every weekend, so the times when I was forgotten actually saved part of my soul. Paradox extraordinaire, oui?
This childhood memory, glum though it may be, completely shaped the person I am today. For better or worse. What did I learn? Well, for one, I learned that being yourself and feeling what you feel has consequences. It seems like a crazy lesson, right? But it is one that I draw on to this day. I spent so much time trying to hide who I was and how I felt as a kid, that I eventually lost sight of who that actually was. When I was little, the price seemed way too high, what with listening to my mother rant and rave and tell me how ungrateful I was, so I really felt that masking my true emotions was worth it. And into my teen years, I sort of just grew accustomed to doing that. It wasn’t until I was living on my own that the impact of that mindset became clear to me: Nobody knew me. Oh sure, people knew who I was-my name was out there. But nobody actually KNEW me. And it was really scary, and really lonely.
I wish I could say that once I had this epiphany, my life magically transformed and I became a mature, well-adjusted, productive member of society. But, since I would never lie to you guys, I can’t say that because that’s not what happened. It took time. A lot of time, with a lot of very painful repercussions resulting from my journey of enlightenment. But, now, here I am. A bit worse for the wear, but soul utterly intact and identity firmly entrenched in each decision I make. Was it worth it? Absofreakinglutely.
So, now it’s your turn.
What childhood memory thus far has shaped who you are? Do you want this memory to be the blueprint for which you design your “true Self?” If the answer is no, think about how you can change your perspective on it. What can you learn? If the answer is yes, talk about how you can impact the world and those in it who are most important to you. What lesson would you want to impart that has its root in this memory? I know this is hard; take your time. Nothing worth having is ever easy. And this answer is worth having. Trust me.
(450-500 words/85pts)
Not sure if anyone has noticed it, but for your convenience and assistance, I posted 2 links designed solely to help with the whole speech thing you guys are doing. One is some Q&A tips, the other is some tips on public speaking. There is also 2 speeches linked—the TED talk on creativity, and Pacino’s speech from my favorite football movie of all time Any Given Sunday. Despite some of your aversions to Gilbert’s sweeping hand gestures, her speech stands to demonstrate what it is to be completely comfortable with yourself. That, besides the message she brings, was one of the reasons I posted it. I plan on centering a class discussion around the message, which I think has some pretty deep implications for my AP babies, so be prepared to give it another look-see sometime in the next 10 days.
To Mae—thanks for the heads up about the Itunes thing—TED talks are always free, but it was quite a boon to hear about the Obama thing. Many thanks, pumpkin.
I am not at all thrilled at the prospect that there is a better than average chance my 9/10 will be missing class tomorrow, but as my man Vonnegut would say, so it goes. Be ready to blast out speeches this week so that we can have the analyses (someone has asked me what the plural of analysis is—I forget who, but that’s it) done by Friday. Ambitious, I know, given the fact that you’re off Wednesday, but I think we can do it. I may have to limit the Q&A period to 5 questions max.
Speaking of being off Wednesday, vocab quiz will be moved to Thursday; blogs are still due Wed night.
I think that takes care of the daily minutiae. Now, onward and upward.
Sunday night. This night has sort of a paradoxical connotation tied to it for me. It goes back to, for lack of a better (read: trite) euphemism, my extremely crappy childhood.
Let me explain. I was, like many of you, a child of divorce. I lived with my mother, saw my father on weekends (when he remembered he had a daughter waiting for him to pick her up) and dealt with all of the guilt, sadness, and overall wistfulness of being the kid caught between parents that hated each other. It was, as I mentioned, extremely crappy. And Sundays were the worst because that was the day that my father would drop me back off at home, and I knew it could be the last time I ever saw him. I would make my way into the house where my mother would be waiting, and if I looked even the least bit sad, she would launch into attack mode. “Oh what’s the matter—had so much fun with your dad that coming home to your boring old mother is too depressing? Well sorry I have to work two jobs to support us since that fun-loving s.o.b. doesn’t bother to pay child support….” And on it would go until her energy was spent and I was completely demoralized. My saving grace was, ironically, the fact that my father didn’t see me every weekend, so the times when I was forgotten actually saved part of my soul. Paradox extraordinaire, oui?
This childhood memory, glum though it may be, completely shaped the person I am today. For better or worse. What did I learn? Well, for one, I learned that being yourself and feeling what you feel has consequences. It seems like a crazy lesson, right? But it is one that I draw on to this day. I spent so much time trying to hide who I was and how I felt as a kid, that I eventually lost sight of who that actually was. When I was little, the price seemed way too high, what with listening to my mother rant and rave and tell me how ungrateful I was, so I really felt that masking my true emotions was worth it. And into my teen years, I sort of just grew accustomed to doing that. It wasn’t until I was living on my own that the impact of that mindset became clear to me: Nobody knew me. Oh sure, people knew who I was-my name was out there. But nobody actually KNEW me. And it was really scary, and really lonely.
I wish I could say that once I had this epiphany, my life magically transformed and I became a mature, well-adjusted, productive member of society. But, since I would never lie to you guys, I can’t say that because that’s not what happened. It took time. A lot of time, with a lot of very painful repercussions resulting from my journey of enlightenment. But, now, here I am. A bit worse for the wear, but soul utterly intact and identity firmly entrenched in each decision I make. Was it worth it? Absofreakinglutely.
So, now it’s your turn.
What childhood memory thus far has shaped who you are? Do you want this memory to be the blueprint for which you design your “true Self?” If the answer is no, think about how you can change your perspective on it. What can you learn? If the answer is yes, talk about how you can impact the world and those in it who are most important to you. What lesson would you want to impart that has its root in this memory? I know this is hard; take your time. Nothing worth having is ever easy. And this answer is worth having. Trust me.
(450-500 words/85pts)
Monday, February 16, 2009
My Own Renewable Energy
"Ello poppets!" Hee hee/ Still tickles me, that.
Anyhoo, yes, your blog is late. It is late because I am dying.
Too dramatic? Yes, of course, but I am feeling a bit sorry for myself at the moment, so I am going full on weepy, whiny weasel mode. I am feeling quite old, quite creaky and quite bruised and battered.
I spent my holiday weekend in Vermont, learning how to snowboard.
Or, learning how to fall not-so-gracefully-as-many-times-as-humanly-possible-on-my-oversized-derriere...whichever you prefer. Oh, the pain.
So, feeling a bit traumatized by the fact that age is NOT just a number as the smarmy optimists always say, led to me moping about on my couch feeling utterly useless. Which led me to TED, my "happy place" in times of unsettledness.
Perusing through the different talks brought me to Elizabeth Gilbert, an author who wrote a book I started to read but never finished called Eat, Pray, Love.
I listened to the talk, then replayed it, and suddenly..I felt better.
Yes, my oversized derriered is still smarting, my calves still burn, and muscles I never knew I had are still sore; my soul though, my soul is soothed.
So, in light of the fact that speeches start tomorrow, and knowing full well that many of you are more than a bit nervous about that, the assignment this week is fairly easy.
At some point, I would like you to watch the TED talk (posted under SOME FAVE SPEECHES) and then tell me your impression of it.
First, tell me what you think her thesis was, tell me how you think she delivered it, tell me if you found it effective, and then critique her. Did she have a hook? What was it? How did she deliver her ideas? Where did she establish ethos? How did she appeal to pathos? Logos? What did you think of her ideas?
Tell me, tell me, tell me!!
(substantive response/50pts)
Anyhoo, yes, your blog is late. It is late because I am dying.
Too dramatic? Yes, of course, but I am feeling a bit sorry for myself at the moment, so I am going full on weepy, whiny weasel mode. I am feeling quite old, quite creaky and quite bruised and battered.
I spent my holiday weekend in Vermont, learning how to snowboard.
Or, learning how to fall not-so-gracefully-as-many-times-as-humanly-possible-on-my-oversized-derriere...whichever you prefer. Oh, the pain.
So, feeling a bit traumatized by the fact that age is NOT just a number as the smarmy optimists always say, led to me moping about on my couch feeling utterly useless. Which led me to TED, my "happy place" in times of unsettledness.
Perusing through the different talks brought me to Elizabeth Gilbert, an author who wrote a book I started to read but never finished called Eat, Pray, Love.
I listened to the talk, then replayed it, and suddenly..I felt better.
Yes, my oversized derriered is still smarting, my calves still burn, and muscles I never knew I had are still sore; my soul though, my soul is soothed.
So, in light of the fact that speeches start tomorrow, and knowing full well that many of you are more than a bit nervous about that, the assignment this week is fairly easy.
At some point, I would like you to watch the TED talk (posted under SOME FAVE SPEECHES) and then tell me your impression of it.
First, tell me what you think her thesis was, tell me how you think she delivered it, tell me if you found it effective, and then critique her. Did she have a hook? What was it? How did she deliver her ideas? Where did she establish ethos? How did she appeal to pathos? Logos? What did you think of her ideas?
Tell me, tell me, tell me!!
(substantive response/50pts)
Sunday, February 8, 2009
The Winds of Change
So, you may have noticed the interface of the blog looks a bit different. The avatar you see on the left hand side of the screen is not just a fit of whimsy on my part--she actually serves a purpose. She is supposed to resemble me so that you realize she does have a purpose (yes, I know she is much prettier--shut up! That's the perks of having a computer alter-ego! :) ).
But I digress. Anyhoo, if you click on the "play" button at the bottom the avatar screen (looks like the play button on a dvd player, with a little arrow thingy)you will hear my voice saying hello to you. For now, that is all she should say, but as the weeks progress, I may record directions or questions for your listening pleasure, so be aware that this new feature is there so that you get used to seeing (and listening) to it. Cool, huh?
Now, onward and upward.
In approximately 8 days, you will be presenting speeches about a topic in which you have some strong feelings. Tomorrow (Monday), you will be writing your topic down on a notecard and handing it in. So, I think it would be beneficial to you all to start to gather your thoughts a bit. Don't worry, you won't be giving anything away.
Many moons ago, Mahatma Ghandi said: "Be the change you want to see in the world."
Heady stuff, that. Every time I think about those words, I realize how much potential they have.
Change. Obama centered his entire Presedential campaign on that notion.
Change is the source of anxiety, anticipation even angst. Change opens doors wide and slams windows shut, sometimes simultaneously. Change is an instrument of power.
So, poppets, tell me. What is the change YOU wish to see in the world? Why? How could/would you go about affecting this change? Is it something you want to change in yourself? In others? Think about it and tell me more...
(450 words/65pts)
But I digress. Anyhoo, if you click on the "play" button at the bottom the avatar screen (looks like the play button on a dvd player, with a little arrow thingy)you will hear my voice saying hello to you. For now, that is all she should say, but as the weeks progress, I may record directions or questions for your listening pleasure, so be aware that this new feature is there so that you get used to seeing (and listening) to it. Cool, huh?
Now, onward and upward.
In approximately 8 days, you will be presenting speeches about a topic in which you have some strong feelings. Tomorrow (Monday), you will be writing your topic down on a notecard and handing it in. So, I think it would be beneficial to you all to start to gather your thoughts a bit. Don't worry, you won't be giving anything away.
Many moons ago, Mahatma Ghandi said: "Be the change you want to see in the world."
Heady stuff, that. Every time I think about those words, I realize how much potential they have.
Change. Obama centered his entire Presedential campaign on that notion.
Change is the source of anxiety, anticipation even angst. Change opens doors wide and slams windows shut, sometimes simultaneously. Change is an instrument of power.
So, poppets, tell me. What is the change YOU wish to see in the world? Why? How could/would you go about affecting this change? Is it something you want to change in yourself? In others? Think about it and tell me more...
(450 words/65pts)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
"This I Believe"
So, as much as I love music--and I truly love music--there are times when listening to a tired, old radio station just doesn't do it for me. Same with the CDs that are artfully arranged in a display akin to a 3-year old's toybox in the backseat of my car. When this happens, I tune into NPR--National Public Radio, for those of you not "in the know" about it. I love NPR; it inspires me. In fact, I get many of my lesson ideas from listening to it. There is a segment I particularly love on NPR called "This I Believe" and it was the inspiration behind this week's blog post. Actually, it was an inspiration for a blog I posted last year, but it so happens that it very neatly coincides with the speech you are going to be giving soon, so I figured I'd go green and recycle.
Have you ever thought about what the guiding principles in your life are? By guiding principles I simply mean the things in life that you truly and fundamentally believe; the beliefs that shape your decisions when you find yourself in a position where you have to make one. Perhaps it is the notion that "everyone, no matter how seemingly insignificant, has something to teach us" or something as common as the idea that "all men are created equal and are endowed with certain inalienable rights...among them...life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" or "treat others the way that you wish to be treated" or "blood is thicker than water."
Those are just some generic examples, but your challenge this week is explore some of your own core beliefs and choose one guiding principle that you would like to shape your journey into adulthood and throughout life. Don't get caught up in tired cliches or age-old aphorisms; be creative, be yourself. Really think about the beliefs that you hold near and dear to your heart and try to capture them in your own words. Talk about why these beliefs are important to you and how you came to recognize them. (400-450 words/75pts)
Have you ever thought about what the guiding principles in your life are? By guiding principles I simply mean the things in life that you truly and fundamentally believe; the beliefs that shape your decisions when you find yourself in a position where you have to make one. Perhaps it is the notion that "everyone, no matter how seemingly insignificant, has something to teach us" or something as common as the idea that "all men are created equal and are endowed with certain inalienable rights...among them...life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" or "treat others the way that you wish to be treated" or "blood is thicker than water."
Those are just some generic examples, but your challenge this week is explore some of your own core beliefs and choose one guiding principle that you would like to shape your journey into adulthood and throughout life. Don't get caught up in tired cliches or age-old aphorisms; be creative, be yourself. Really think about the beliefs that you hold near and dear to your heart and try to capture them in your own words. Talk about why these beliefs are important to you and how you came to recognize them. (400-450 words/75pts)
Friday, January 30, 2009
THIS IS NOT THE QUESTION BUT IT IS IMPORTANT INFO SO...READ.
Dear Pumpkins:
Due to the fact that today (Friday) will be a "day of rest" per se, I want to get some vital info dessimnated to you all now in case I don't have time in class. We may be hearing some OPs from the dirty slackers, and I don't want them to OFFICIALLY AND COMPLETELY RUN OUT OF TIME FOR OCCASIONAL PAPERS. Jerks. Moving on...
I have been feverishly thinking about the coming months and all of the things I want to teach you, in addition to all of the OTHER things I have to teach you in order to prep for the Exam. For me, this is a daunting task because it directly depends on multitasking and time-management skills, neither of which are my forte. Therefore, in addition to the ongoing questions I post for you on Sunday nights, I am also going to use this blog as a mode of communication for things we don't always have time for in class. A lot of the AP practice stuff is going to be your responsibility to do at home, while class time will be devoted to answering questions about practice stuff, learning tricks to memorize concepts and most of all, critically thinking about "things." These "things" will come in many forms: social issues, personal stuff, building confidence and most of all...learning about yourselves.
So, as you all know, in the coming month(s), you will be doing speeches and public debating. Speeches will come first, as doing them will directly impact the development of your style of debating. So, what I would like you to do over the course of the next few days is to THINK. I want you to spend some quality time ruminating on what is important to you. In class, we briefly discussed this, and many of you said things that were important, but as Matt Capone said, probably aren't the real causes you want to champion. That is what I want you to think about very carefully. What cause DO you want to champion? What MATTERS to you? Think hard about this, because you will be making a (hopefully) impassioned speech about what you decide. Think and think and think. Discuss with friends, teachers and parents about it. Arm yourself with knowledge about whatever it is. And get ready to have some fun.....
Til we meet again....love yas.
Due to the fact that today (Friday) will be a "day of rest" per se, I want to get some vital info dessimnated to you all now in case I don't have time in class. We may be hearing some OPs from the dirty slackers, and I don't want them to OFFICIALLY AND COMPLETELY RUN OUT OF TIME FOR OCCASIONAL PAPERS. Jerks. Moving on...
I have been feverishly thinking about the coming months and all of the things I want to teach you, in addition to all of the OTHER things I have to teach you in order to prep for the Exam. For me, this is a daunting task because it directly depends on multitasking and time-management skills, neither of which are my forte. Therefore, in addition to the ongoing questions I post for you on Sunday nights, I am also going to use this blog as a mode of communication for things we don't always have time for in class. A lot of the AP practice stuff is going to be your responsibility to do at home, while class time will be devoted to answering questions about practice stuff, learning tricks to memorize concepts and most of all, critically thinking about "things." These "things" will come in many forms: social issues, personal stuff, building confidence and most of all...learning about yourselves.
So, as you all know, in the coming month(s), you will be doing speeches and public debating. Speeches will come first, as doing them will directly impact the development of your style of debating. So, what I would like you to do over the course of the next few days is to THINK. I want you to spend some quality time ruminating on what is important to you. In class, we briefly discussed this, and many of you said things that were important, but as Matt Capone said, probably aren't the real causes you want to champion. That is what I want you to think about very carefully. What cause DO you want to champion? What MATTERS to you? Think hard about this, because you will be making a (hopefully) impassioned speech about what you decide. Think and think and think. Discuss with friends, teachers and parents about it. Arm yourself with knowledge about whatever it is. And get ready to have some fun.....
Til we meet again....love yas.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Bunje Loves You
'Ello poppets. I hope this short pause in school action was restful for you, and that your weekend respite has prepared you for the rigors of what lay ahead..i.e the dreaded midterms.
After careful consideration and internal debate about what is best for you, I have made an executive decision to forego this week's blog assignment in lieu of all the mid terms that need your attention. Therefore, you are free from deep, intellectual thoughts, questions with no answers and subjective definitions of words, concepts and ideas that have definitions already. You may use this space as you wish, or you may log off happily with no threat of reprimand. If you find yourself at your wits' end due to the massive amounts of studying needed for various AP and CP midterms, please feel free to post and get your feelings out so that they do not sabotage your success on these loathesome tests. I will miss you this week, and look forward to seeing you when this madness is over. Good Luck!
BTW--although I shouldn't because it will ruin my rep as a heartless hardass, anyone who did not have time to read their OP can do so on Friday, or if there is time, on the day of your respective Lang midterm. Don't wait til the last minute again or I'll kill you. Jerks.
After careful consideration and internal debate about what is best for you, I have made an executive decision to forego this week's blog assignment in lieu of all the mid terms that need your attention. Therefore, you are free from deep, intellectual thoughts, questions with no answers and subjective definitions of words, concepts and ideas that have definitions already. You may use this space as you wish, or you may log off happily with no threat of reprimand. If you find yourself at your wits' end due to the massive amounts of studying needed for various AP and CP midterms, please feel free to post and get your feelings out so that they do not sabotage your success on these loathesome tests. I will miss you this week, and look forward to seeing you when this madness is over. Good Luck!
BTW--although I shouldn't because it will ruin my rep as a heartless hardass, anyone who did not have time to read their OP can do so on Friday, or if there is time, on the day of your respective Lang midterm. Don't wait til the last minute again or I'll kill you. Jerks.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Barbara Walters? Katie Couric? Bahh!!
Well, here we are. Once again, poised on the precipice of history. Tomorrow, Barack Obama will be sworn in as our 44th President of the United States. Love him, hate him or ambivalent about him, his candicacy and now his presidency has proven that our nation has undergone some pretty significant changes over the past 50 years.
Tomorrow, we will be attempting to watch some of the coverage of the inauguration as it unfolds, and if you have been keeping up with it, you probably have seen that it is a pretty happening time down there in DC. Springsteen, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, John Legend,Bono, Bon Jovi, Alicia Keyes, MJ Blige--not to mention Jamie Fox, Leo DiCaprio and Satan...err, I mean Oprah, all putting in some face time to support Barack.
Alas, here we are..in sunny Mays Landing rather than snowy DC, BUT, that does not mean that we can't be a part of these events, or at least, imagine that we are. So, this week, let's take a break from looking into our internal mirrors and think about the future..our futures.
The next four years will be a big deal for you. When the next election rolls around, you will be juniors in college, getting ready to graduate, possibly making some valuable contacts for future employment, maybe getting ready to take the GREs. Whatever you will be doing, the one thing that is for certain is that your college careers will be drawing to a close. So, whether or not you supported Obama this election won't matter--what does matter is that his 4 years in Office will determine what the landscape of your future opportunities are going to look like.
So...this week, what I would like to ask you is this...
If YOU had some face time with Obama, what advice would you like to give him about the next four years? What would you ask him for in terms of your future? And last, what advice would you give his 2 daughters as they grow up in the White House?
(400 words/65pts)
Tomorrow, we will be attempting to watch some of the coverage of the inauguration as it unfolds, and if you have been keeping up with it, you probably have seen that it is a pretty happening time down there in DC. Springsteen, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, John Legend,Bono, Bon Jovi, Alicia Keyes, MJ Blige--not to mention Jamie Fox, Leo DiCaprio and Satan...err, I mean Oprah, all putting in some face time to support Barack.
Alas, here we are..in sunny Mays Landing rather than snowy DC, BUT, that does not mean that we can't be a part of these events, or at least, imagine that we are. So, this week, let's take a break from looking into our internal mirrors and think about the future..our futures.
The next four years will be a big deal for you. When the next election rolls around, you will be juniors in college, getting ready to graduate, possibly making some valuable contacts for future employment, maybe getting ready to take the GREs. Whatever you will be doing, the one thing that is for certain is that your college careers will be drawing to a close. So, whether or not you supported Obama this election won't matter--what does matter is that his 4 years in Office will determine what the landscape of your future opportunities are going to look like.
So...this week, what I would like to ask you is this...
If YOU had some face time with Obama, what advice would you like to give him about the next four years? What would you ask him for in terms of your future? And last, what advice would you give his 2 daughters as they grow up in the White House?
(400 words/65pts)
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Welcome to Hogwarts
Did you hold the door open for anyone today? Did you let anyone step in front of you on your way into school, the cafeteria, a classroom? Lend anyone a pencil, pick up a fallen book or paper? For most of you, the answer is probably yes, you did in fact do one or more of those things. All of you are well-mannered, considerate and generally just a nice bunch of kids. So, for today, or the next 4 days as it were, let's take that one step further. This will require a bit of imagination, introspection and innovation, so again, don't sit down to this blog on Wednesday night at 11pm and think you can do a respectable job on it.
Ok, so imagine, one morning, after a kindly old wizard--who bears a striking resemblance to Albus Dumbledore--visits you, you awaken with the power to give one person anything in the entire universe. What would it be and why?
Now, that question, while startling limited in word content, is not as simple or straighforward as it seems.
I am not actually asking you to go ask someone what wish they would like to have granted (which seems like the obvious assumption given that I started off talking about wizards and magic),I am asking you what YOU want to give someone if you had the power to give them anything, and I am asking you to explain that choice. Additionally, because there is always an "additionally," I would also like to know what advice you would give this person after you have bestowed this "gift" upon him or her.
(500 words/75pts)
Ok, so imagine, one morning, after a kindly old wizard--who bears a striking resemblance to Albus Dumbledore--visits you, you awaken with the power to give one person anything in the entire universe. What would it be and why?
Now, that question, while startling limited in word content, is not as simple or straighforward as it seems.
I am not actually asking you to go ask someone what wish they would like to have granted (which seems like the obvious assumption given that I started off talking about wizards and magic),I am asking you what YOU want to give someone if you had the power to give them anything, and I am asking you to explain that choice. Additionally, because there is always an "additionally," I would also like to know what advice you would give this person after you have bestowed this "gift" upon him or her.
(500 words/75pts)
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Webster's Says....
Warning: You cannot respond to this blog in less than 15 minutes. Manage your time wisely, poppets.
Now that we are back with a brand new year to work with, it's time to sit back and do some introspective reflection.
Every day, you wake up, go through your morning rituals, come to school, do your thing(s), go home, go through your evening rituals and then go to bed. There are obviously some variations to this routine from time to time, and I am not trying to downplay your life in any way by making it sound mundane; that is not the idea here. What I am saying is, through all these daily activities, rituals and routines people interact with you. They talk to you, refer to you, question you, yell at you, soothe you, talk about you, defer to you or, in some cases, though hopefully not many, ignore you completely. The point is, they KNOW who you are, at least enough to do one or more of the previous things. But, when you stop to think about it, do they really know? And, more importantly, do YOU?
Beyond names, job titles or academic accomplishments, beyond labels given by yourself or by others, beyond traits and hobbies and virtues... who are you? Who are you inside? If you had to write your name, and then your definition, what would it say?(substantive response/70pts)
Now that we are back with a brand new year to work with, it's time to sit back and do some introspective reflection.
Every day, you wake up, go through your morning rituals, come to school, do your thing(s), go home, go through your evening rituals and then go to bed. There are obviously some variations to this routine from time to time, and I am not trying to downplay your life in any way by making it sound mundane; that is not the idea here. What I am saying is, through all these daily activities, rituals and routines people interact with you. They talk to you, refer to you, question you, yell at you, soothe you, talk about you, defer to you or, in some cases, though hopefully not many, ignore you completely. The point is, they KNOW who you are, at least enough to do one or more of the previous things. But, when you stop to think about it, do they really know? And, more importantly, do YOU?
Beyond names, job titles or academic accomplishments, beyond labels given by yourself or by others, beyond traits and hobbies and virtues... who are you? Who are you inside? If you had to write your name, and then your definition, what would it say?(substantive response/70pts)
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