THESIS REVIEW, ESSAY EXAMPLE, CST ADVICE

To write your Nature of Man essay, you must have a thesis; so we started the class by reviewing how to write a thesis.  The basic formula is this: Subject + opinion = thesis.  For example, let's say the topic was "endangered species protection"; I could create a thesis indicating a favorable opinion by writing, "Endangered species protection will give our grandchildren a world of wonder."  Or I could create a thesis with an unfavorable opinion by writing, "Endangered species protection makes animals more important than humans." So, in your notebook, under the title Practice Thesis, create a favorable and an unfavorable thesis for the following subject: school uniforms.

In order to help you visualize the essay assignment, I went over a sample essay written by one of my students from last year.  In this essay we could see how the student formulated the thesis, supported it with examples, and followed the required MLA format.  See me if you would like to look at this essay.

Finally, Wednesday and Thursday are in block schedule for the CST Science test; therefore, you need to be working on your own to create your thesis and to get your outline started.
  
Period One: Please show up on time, as we have a lot to do in that 2 hour block of testing.
Period Two: Remember to come to my room at 7:30 on Thursday; don't go to your second
                     period classroom. 

DUE DATES: Thesis (shared on my email)-Wednesday, April 30.
                        Outline (paper or electronic)-Friday, May 2.
                        Packet Check- Friday, May 2.

COLUMBINE TEENS AND VIDEO GAMES, DOCTOR MY EYES, ESSAY PROMPT

We finished the Nature of Man packet by reading Columbine Teens Found Validation in Reprogrammed Hi-Tech Games and listening to the Jackson Browne song Doctor My Eyes while following along with the lyrics.  In your notebook, answer the questions to the Columbine article; in the packet, follow the directions for Doctor My Eyes.  Here is the link to the questions and the directions.

Finally, I handed out the prompt to the Synthesis Essay that you will be writing.  Here is the link to the prompt; however, you will probably want a hard copy of the assignment, so see me ASAP upon your return.

The homework is to review the packet to help you craft your thesis on the nature of man.  You should have your thesis created by Wednesday, if not sooner.

Zimbardo recap, Shakespeare, Weekend Homework

We began by sharing our answers to yesterday's Philip Zimbardo TEDTalk; then we went into the Nature of Man packet, annotating a monologue from Shakespeare's play As You Like It. The annotation consisted of first circling all of the adjectives and adverbs that indicate tone or mood, looking for a pattern that would indicate Shakespeare's opinion on the nature of man.  After finding those words, then paraphrase each "age" in your own words. Finally, underneath the end of the monologue, write what you think is Shakespeare's opinion on the nature of man.

The homework for the weekend is to read the Anonymous Columbine Student's Poem in the Nature of Man packet, paraphrase each stanza in your own words, and write at the bottom what you think is this student's opinion on the nature of man.

Philip Zimbardo and the Psychology of Evil

We watched a TEDTalks video in which Philip Zimbardo talks about how good people can go bad and visa versa.  Watch the video and, in your notebook under the title Philip Zimbardo, answer the questions that you will find on this link.

John Locke and Thomas Hobbs

First, we reviewed the group answers to the Samantha Power questions.

Next, as a class, we read and analyzed  Man is Rational by John Locke.

Finally, I modeled the beginning of the assignment connected to Man is Evil and Warlike by Thomas Hobbes.  Here is the link for the instructions to the assignment .

I will be working on progress report grades this weekend.  Make sure your attendance records are accurate; on Friday, after 7th period, I will print out the attendance records and use them to help determine your citizenship grade.  If your attendance needs correcting, and you haven't taken care of it by this Friday (March 25), it will be too late.

Responsibility, Robert Ardrey "Man is Innately Aggressive"

In your notebook, under the title Responsibility, respond to the following: Is it a human's responsibility to step in/ speak up/ stand up for others who may need assistance?  Of course, one could say that it would be nice if that happened, but is it something that should be required?  To quote the Bible, "Am I my brother's keeper?"

Also, we did group work, following up on the Samantha Power TEDTalk.  She ended her talk by saying, "Will evil prevail?  Only if we let it."  You will need to respond to the following on a separate sheet of paper and turn it in to me: Compare/contrast the world situation of the young Elie Wiesel to the world today. Would the Nazis (or some similar group) be able to do today what they did during WWII? What do we have today that people during the 1940's didn't have? What is it in the Nature of Man that would allow something like the Holocaust and the genocide that occurred in Rwanda and Darfur to happen?

Finally, we read through Robert Ardrey's essay, Man is Innately Aggressive (it's in the Nature of Man packet).  Underline and label his thesis (the title doesn't count), and underline and label the evidence he presents to support his thesis.

Conscience, Samantha Power

In your notebook, under the title Conscience, respond to the following: Is our search for conscience based on what is expected of us by society or our inner morals/values?  In other words, does having a conscience develop from outside forces or from within?  Are we born with a conscience or is one created from time and experience?

Also, we watched a TEDTalks video by Samantha Power.  Her essential question is "How do we prevent evil from prevailing?" Watch the video and in your notebook, answer the following questions: here is the link to the questions.
 

Maz Jobrani

First, we tied up some loose ends: I had several papers with no names, so we figured out who did what; and we went over the answers to the two NIGHT quizzes.

We finished by watching a TED Talks video.  It was a performance by Maz Jobrani called "Did You Hear the One about the Iranian-American?"  Watch the video, then in your notebook, under the title Maz Jobrani, answer the following questions: 1) What is his main idea?  2) How does he deal with stereotyping?

Morals, The Prince, Guilt Graph

In your notebook, under the title Morals, respond to the following: What does it mean to have morals? Do you consider yourself to be a moral person? Explain with an example; I expect to see a paragraph.

In your Nature of Man packet, read The Prince by Machiavelli.  Then, in your notebook, under the title The Prince, answer the first 4 questions that appear at the end of The Prince.

Lastly, in your Nature of Man packet, find the Guilt Graph and follow ALL of the directions.
 

B.F. Skinner, Mach IV Test, Notebook Check

In your Nature of Man packet, read Man is a Product of His Environment by B.F. Skinner.  Circle all the words you don't understand and underline all the comments Professor Skinner makes that you don't understand.  See me to help you get answers.  Then, on a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions:
1. What is B.F. Skinner's claim?
2. What 3 things influence behavior?
3. Do you feel like your behavior has been or is being modified in some way? Give me an example.
4. Are you in agreement with Professor Skinner?  Why or why not?

Turn your answers in to me asap.

When you finish, Google Mach IV Test; click on the first choice and follow the directions.  Taking this test (it's more like a survey) will prepare you for tomorrow's reading.

I started a Notebook Check; turn yours in to me on your return to class.

Cassandra Quiz and Group Work, Pieces of You

We took a short quiz on The Tragic Greek Myth of Cassandra; see me to arrange for the make-up.

Then we got into groups of 4 and discussed/answered some questions.  You can do this on your own on a separate sheet of paper to turn in to me.  Here is the link to the questions.

Finally, we listened to Jewel sing Pieces of You. It's a serious song that deals with stereotypes and how people are treated based on those stereotypes.  The lyrics to the song are in the Nature of Man packet.  Look over the lyrics and, in your notebook, answer the 5 questions that follow the lyrics.

Socratic Seminar, Cassandra HW, Cassandra Quiz

We wrapped up  NIGHT with a Socratic Seminar; however, don't return your copy of the book to the library as you might want to use something from NIGHT for your Nature of Man essay.

The homework is to read The Tragic Greek Myth of Cassandra from the Nature of Man packet that you received on Friday.  There will be a short quiz on Tuesday.

Einstein Quote, Nature of Man Packet (Survey & Oprah), Socratic Seminar

In your Notebook, under the title Einstein Quote, respond to the following: "The world is not dangerous because of those who do harm, but because of those who look at it without doing anything." Albert Einstein    So, do you agree or disagree with Prof. Einstein?  Why?  How can this statement be applied to NIGHT?

We are finished with NIGHT, but hang on to it; you might need it to pull something to use for your Nature of Man essay.  I handed out a packet of assorted opinions about the nature of man, and we worked on the first two parts: the opinion survey and an essay written by Oprah Winfrey.  You will need to see ASAP for the packet.  

If you have the packet and got stuck on the Stop and Jots, here is a link to the questions.

Make sure you look through your notebook at your Section work for NIGHT; make sure you highlight or underline one question AND one quote or passage.  Doing this will give you something to contribute when we do the Socratic Seminar on Monday.

Lastly, see me if you missed the quiz on Sections 1-4 of NIGHT, or the quiz on Sections 5-9 of NIGHT.

Surprising, Quiz, Finish Reflection

In your Notebook, under the title Surprising, respond to the following: Now that you've finished NIGHT, out of all of the things that happened, what has surprised you the most?  Why was it surprising?

We took the quiz on Sections 5-9.  If you were absent, see me immediately to arrange for a make-up.

Before we began NIGHT, I gave you a Before and After Reflection handout (the instructions for the section work was on the back).  You filled out the Before half; now complete the handout by filling in the After half.

HEAD'S UP!  On Friday I will collect the Before and After Reflection handout plus both of the vocabulary handouts.  Monday, we will have a Socratic Seminar; to prepare for this, look in your Notebook at all of the section work--with 9 sections, you should have many questions and many examples of quotes or passages.  Underline or highlight ONE of your questions AND one of your quotes or passages; doing so will give you something to contribute to the Socratic Seminar on Monday. 

Irony, Vocabulary Answers

In your Notebook, under the title Irony, respond to the following: In Section 1 of NIGHT, Elie's father says, "I am too old...to start a new life.  Too old to start from scratch in some distant land..."  Why is this statement ironic?

The vocabulary should now be complete as we went over the definitions to the vocab in Sections 5-9.

Finish NIGHT, for there will be a  quiz on Sections 5-9 tomorrow.

Worse Death, Sections 5-9 Vocab., Work Sections 6 & 7

In your Notebook, under the title Worse Death, respond to the following: Which do you feel is worse: the death of the body or the death of the soul?  Why?  How do your answers apply to any of the people in NIGHT?

Find the vocabulary sheet for 5-9 (You got it before spring break, and worked on Section 4).  Finish all the vocabulary before reading the sections.

When you're done with the vocabulary, continue reading and taking notes; the goal is to finish NIGHT by Thursday--there will be a quiz on those sections on Thursday. 

 

Stranger than Fiction, Sections 1-4 Quiz, Finish Section 5

Welcome back!  I hope you all had a great Spring Break; I know I did!

In your Notebook, under the title "Stranger than Fiction," respond to the following quote from Mark Twain: "Truth is stranger than fiction because fiction has to be believable, but truth does not."  What does Mark Twain mean by this?  How does it apply to NIGHT?

There was a quiz on Sections 1-4.  If you were absent, see me on your return for the make-up.

Continue reading and taking notes through Section 5.