Each student has a composition book within which they will write (sometimes draw) their journal entries. Entries are assigned at the beginning of the week and, unless noted otherwise, are due on Friday at 2:30. With the exception of lists, poems, pictures and the like, journal entries are expected to be one page in length. From January through June 2011, we will have a separate "Dialogue Journal" as well. Please click here to see those journal prompts.
Week 33 - Due Friday, May 27
72. Last week we studied a little about the Russian Revolution. Watch and respond to either of the following videos about the leader of the Bolshevik (Russian Communist) Revolution, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. What do you think about Lenin's views as they are portrayed?
73. Last week we studied lyrics from Bruce Hornsby's "The Way It Is" and Tupac's "Changes" and analyzed the social commentary contained in those songs. Identify a song you like which also comments on social justice / injustice. Share a quote from the song and explain what it means to you.
Week 32 - Due Friday, May 20
70. In Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, he presents a vivid picture of Chicago's meatpacking industry at the beginning of the 20th century. What is your response to the two excerpts you've read? In what ways do the big companies (Brown's, Durham's) act inhumanely toward their workers?
71. Describe trends in American culture in the 1920's. You may use material from Creating America (pp. 713 - 716) or Wednesday's Power Point presenations, but be sure to use your own words.
Week 31 - Due Friday, May 13
One entry - one page
69. Follow-up on Intro to Socialism
Henry David Thoreau became famous for advocating "civil disobedience," in an 1849 essay entitled "Resistance to Civil Government." Thoreau believed that the federal government's actions in the Mexican-American War and in maintaining slavery were evil and that it was immoral for citizens to continue to pay taxes which would support this government. "I cannot for an instant recognize as my government [that] which is the slave's government also." He had already gone to jail for his refusal to pay the Massachusetts poll tax. "Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison." He hoped to inpire a "peaceable revolution" by persuading a thousand men also not to pay their taxes. This week you will respond to two quotes of Thoreau's.
67. Moral philosophy: "[it] is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have ... is to do at any time what I think right...."
68. Political philosophy: "That government is best which governs least."
Week 29 - Due Friday, April 29
ONE ENTRY - TWO PAGES
66. Explain the basic differences in relationship to the land between the Plains Indians and the white settlers who followed. How did each group "make a living" on the land, how did they define the boundaries of their land, and how did these differences lead to conflict? Things to include: buffalo, "spotted buffalo," individual property versus tribal territory, fences, and railroads.
Week 28 - Due Thursday, April 21
64. "Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?" This is an example of a "sick joke" because it would have been something completely inappropriate to say after Abe Lincoln's assassination. Think about a time when you or someone you know ACCIDENTALLY said something completely inappropriate. What was the situation, what was said, and what happened afterward? How did you / he / she fix the situation?
65. Response to Walt Whitman's "O Captain! My Captain" Initial response: What were your first thoughts on hearing the poem? Interpretation: Who is the captain, and what battle has the ship won? What feelings is Whitman expressing? Opinion: what do you like about the poem?
Week 27 - Due Friday, April 15
Women did not obtain the right to vote in this country until 1920. In honor of equal rights for both sexes, please write a full page about
62. A woman you respect.
63. A man you respect.
These should be people you either already know a lot about or will do research to find out more about before you write. They can be family, friends, teachers, coaches, historical figures, etc. What are the qualities / personality traits / actions of these people that earn your respect?
Week 26 - Due Friday, April 8
Abraham Lincoln experienced conflict over wanting to both save the Union and free the slaves. He chose saving the Union as his first priority and only freed the slaves when he decided it would help the Union cause.
60. Lincoln doesn't seem to have considered the option of just letting the Southern states leave. If you had just been elected President when the Southern states seceded (so it's too late to keep them in the Union without war), could you let them go? What would you do and WHY?
61. Describe a situation when you experienced conflict over wanting two different things that didn't seem compatible. What were they, why couldn't you have both, and what did you decide to do?
Week 25 - Due Friday, March 25
59. Retell the story of the Christiana Riot from the point of view of William Parker, Edward Gorsuch, or Castner Hanway. For all three individuals, be sure to address what happened before and during the Riot; for Parker or Hanway, address what happened after the riot as well.
Week 24 - Due Friday, March 11
57 - 58. Imagine that you are an immigrant to the United States and write your personal story. This can take place in the U.S. of 1820 - 1860, in the U.S. of today, or any time in between, but you need to state the year of immigration within your story. You should write a total of two pages or more.
57. Explain PUSH factors in your choice to emigrate. What country did you move from, and why did you feel it was important to leave?
58. Explain PULL factors in your choice to immigrate. What made you decide to move to the United States and not some other country? How are the hopes you had for your new homeland working out so far?
Week 23 - Due Friday, March 4
55. We live in an age of satelllites, GPS, and Google Earth, which would make the map information that Lewis & Clark brought back from their expedition unnecessary. What other purposes might their trip have served? What other kinds of valuable information can human explorers bring back?
56. Name a country that you would like to explore. What attracts you to that place? What are some things you would bring with you?
Week 22 - Due Friday, February 18
Note: These two MAY BE COMBINED INTO ONE ENTRY and the information does not need to be in order. It's a narrative from your imagination, so you should feel free to introduce the information in an order which seems natural to you. You should write a total of two pages or more. I will score each number separately based on whether you answered the questions asked.
53. Imagine that you are an African slave in America in the early 1800's. Write a brief history of your experiences. What kind of work do you do? What is your owner like? What are your feelings about him and other members of his family?
54. Continuing the story from #53... What family do you have? Do you know them? Do they live with you? What kind of contact do you have?
Week 21 - Due Friday, February 11
Note: This week’s prompts are lists and therefore do not need to fill a whole page. Give the topics careful thought, though, and include at least 5 items in each list 51. “Negative Rights” is a category of things which people have a right to naturally, and shouldn’t be taken away from them. For example, the right to life in the phrase “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” means that if you are already living, no other person should be able to take that away from you (so murder is not okay). Make a list of all the negative rights human beings have – those things which no one should be able to take away from them. 52. “Positive Rights” refers to the category of things that we expect other people to provide for us. An example for an adult might be the “right to affordable housing.” Answer either one of the following two questions: · As your parents’ child, what “positive rights” do you feel you have… what do you expect them to provide for you? OR · As a student at this school, what “positive rights” do you feel you have… what do you expect us to provide for you? Week 20 - Due Friday, February 4
49. Choose one of the contrasts between the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties listed on page 304 of Creating America (and repeated in your 1/31 lecture notes) and illustrate it with a simple drawing. Label which party goes with which part of your illustration.
50. Describe a contrast between today’s two major parties – Democratic and Republican. You can use any sources (internet, people, etc) to get ideas for this entry, and if you have an opinion you are welcome to share it, but please remember to explain both points of view!
Week 19 - Due Friday, January 28
47. Explain the difference between a strict (or narrow) interpretation of the Constitution and a loose (broad, flexible) one. Which one gives the federal government greater powers? (Page 297 of Creating America is an excellent reference for this.)
48. Imagine you are the first president of the United States. How would you choose your “cabinet” of advisors?
Week 18 - Due Friday, January 14
45. Why would it matter to you whether you had the right to vote? (1/2 page length is fine)
46. When you do begin voting, you may consider many issues and character traits when deciding which candidates to support. What characteristics do you feel would be most important in a lawmaker you could support?
Week 17 - Due Friday, January 7
43. If you were electing a government representative, do you think a smaller group of people or a larger group of people would have a better chance of electing someone who would be fair? Consider how well the electors would know the candidates, and why that might be good, bad, or both.
44. Name / describe one or two "special interest groups" in our society today, and what their political "interests" are (what they want from laws or taxes), and how these might conflict with the interests of other citizens.
Week 16 - Due Friday, December 17
40. Write a riddle.
41. Write a poem in either haiku (5/7/5), sonnet, or blank verse form.
42. Draw a picture of Steve. Endeavor to bring a smile to his face.
Week 15 - Due Friday December 10
37. Imagine that your colony is involved in a Revolution. How would this affect the general population? How would things be different? What problems would surface? Discuss any sacrifices people would have to make.
38. Write a draft of your persuasive piece.
39. Post your cemetery drawing on the board outside of the classroom. Week 14 - Due Friday December 3 34. The 13 American colonies experienced difficulties as they grew and asserted themselves. Create/develop some issues in your colony that would create unrest and a desire for independence.
35. Write a letter from one of your colonists to someone back "home."
36. Write an advertisement calling for people to move to your colony.
Week Eleven - Due Friday, November 12 at 8:30
28. Colonies in North America were set up for a variety of reasons. Explain the motivation behind the establishment of your colony. 29. Take any action (simple or otherwise) and explain how to execute it. 30. Write lyrics to a chart-topping song. Week Ten - Due Thursday, November 4 at 8:30 25. How are you free or not free? 26. Wire a rough draft for your Lit Circle paper. 27. What do your parents need to hear during conferences? Week Nine - No Journal Entries, Standardized Test Week
Week Eight - Due Friday, October 22 at 8:30
22. If you could go anywhere, where would you go and why? 23. Write and place your Eye article on the template (10.29.10). 24. Draw a picture of yourself in the middle of nowhere. Write a couple of sentences saying why it is the middle of nowhere.
Week Seven - Due Friday, October 15 at 8:30
19. When you say “Middle of nowhere,” is that where you are? How does how we interact with a place, or what we get from it define how we value it? Think about your reading of Susquehanna River of Dreams (pg. 26). 20. Type up your letter to the author from last week. Format it as a proper letter. 21. Rewrite one of your Native America quiz questions. Format it according to our discussions in class. Week Six - Due Friday, October 8 at 8:30
16. Think about positions of power and who occupies them. What if women were the predominant holders of these positions? Assuming that women draw most of their character traits from the “Venus” list, how would you expect society to be different? To view the "Venus" list click on the link to the Cultural Studies File Cabinet and then open the file, "Mars and Venus List."
17. Rewrite your Grimm fairy tale in one page. 18. Someone delivers a box to your house. What is inside? Week Five - Due Friday, October 1 at 8:30
13. Exploration is one of the Human Tendencies. How does this concept figure in your life? In what ways are you an explorer?
14. Write your Eye article. Paste it on the Eye template.
Start, My Computer, Shared Apps on Server 3, Eye 2010, open “10.8.10”
15. Write a poem based on one of the artworks hanging on the East side of the purple room. Choose one you did not write about previously. We will read these for Thursday voices.
Week Four - Due Friday, September 24 at 8:30
10. Describe a public place. Go beyond the physical and try to describe the psychology or feeling of the space.
11. What Human Fundamental Needs and Tendencies are fulfilled or demonstrated in the pottery making experience. Think of all of the possibilities, not just the obvious ones.
12. Sit quietly for 60 seconds and write down everything that pops into your head. Use a stopwatch or timer. Week Three - Due Friday, September 17 at 8:30 7. Rewrite your Native American story in your own words. 8. Write your Eye article. Paste it on the Eye template. Start, My Computer, Shared Aps on Server 3, Eye 2010, open “9.24.10” 9. Sit quietly for 60 seconds and write down everything that pops into your head. Week Two - Due Friday, September 10 at 8:304. Look at your list of values and beliefs. Take one of these (or several if they are related) and explain it more fully. 5. Who are you? Use your list of values and beliefs to help inform this. Go beyond the biographical. 6. Write a poem based on one of the artworks hanging on the East side of the purple room. Week One - Due Friday, September 3 at 2:45
1. Make a list of your personal values and beliefs.
Value: something held in high regard Belief: an idea that helps organize one's view of the world 2. Write your name in an artistic way. 3. Rename yourself with an adjective. |
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Journal Entries 2010-2011 |