Day 17

We finished the movie which dealt with the ideas of perceptions and social injustices. This idea will continue to unfold as we begin talking about Of Mice and Men in regards to how people view the different characters.

For this evening:

Pick a movie or tv show which depicts a character who may be perceived one way in the beginning but is not really how they seem. Give specific examples of how the perception is wrong and how we, as the viewer, come to understand the character better. Then, give an example of a time when someone may have misperceived you or an action by you.

Day 16

I hope you are now clearer on dependent and independent clauses and the new information about simple, compound and complex sentences. Please review the notes so that you can do well on the test this Friday. There is no reason that people are not doing better on these quizzes as it shows a lack of paying attention during grammar instruction.

For this evening, we shall do a current event. Remember that the connection to you, the community and the world is more important than the brief summary. NO CITE, NO POINTS.

Day 15

Today you did your EDP's. First off, I thank you for being so conscientious in listening to Mrs. Alfano and Mrs. Friedman.

We have been talking about perceptions and will continue to do so. In the idea of your future, how do you want people to perceive you from a working standpoint down the road? Is it different than you want them to perceive you now? What perceptions did you have of yourself based on getting back your PLAN results? Are you working to your full capabilities and really showing who you truly are and can be? Why or why not?

Day 14

As we conclude watching this movie it is evident that under the appropriate circumstances one can change initial perceptions while others still only see what they want to see. Interesting that upon learning the truth about the accident with Mr. McLean that even Charles may initially rethink his position on his "friend."

Why do you think Charles is able to change his perceptions in regards to McLeod while others did not? What did he see that others refused to see? How does the actions of the town make McLeod have to rethink his own perceptions of the town he is living in? Finally, how does this movie make you think about how you create perceptions or deal with social injustice in your own life?

Day 13

We continue to watch "A Man Without A Face." We see the unravelling of how people can misunderstand what makes people tick, think and behave. We try and understand that when we misperceive people we tend to make mistakes about who they are or what they stand for.

Another issue that comes into play for this movie is social injustice. If you are not sure what this concept means then Google it! Give your own definition of social injustice with an example. Then, give 3 examples of social injustices that are seen in the movie. Then, talk about how we, as people, need to defend social injustice in order to make a better society.

If you are behind on the movie due to absences, then go to hulu.com or another site to view.

Day 12

We began watching "A Man Without a Face." We saw early on how perceptions are created. What is Charles'(main kid) reaction to seeing the Mel Gibson character? What are others' reaction? Why are they reacting this way to him? What is the perception created of Charles by you based on what we have seen so far? How do we, as people create perceptions and why is it important that we do?

If you were not here, I would go to Hulu and find this movie. We watched the first 40 minutes.

Day 11

Much of Dickinson's poetry is about nature, beaty and then sometimes it is more grim and focused on war. Dickinson said, "If I read a bok and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can warm me I know that is poetry. She believed in and felt poetry to her very soul.

For this evening, using nature, success, loss, pain, death or hope as your theme write a poem that is at least 10 lines. Do not forget to title the poem.

Good luck

Day 10

Today we shall do a current event. You know the rules so do not forget to summarize and give your reaction/response and do not forget to cite.

Day 9

Today you shall free blog. When you free blog you must pick a topic that shares something that we do not know about you that would be interesting to know.

Day 8

hope you enjoyed todays pick of stories. I think they both clearly created a message about tolerance and understanding. Also, as someone said, the notion of perceptions. If you were not here, you need to call someone from the class to ask which stories we read.

For this evening, discuss the idea of tolerance. How do you define tolerance? Give me 2 examples from each story how there was this idea of tolerance. Then, tell me how the idea of perceptions was discussed in each story. I am going to guess that this will probably take more than 7 sentences.

Do not forget to study for the vocab and grammar quiz tomorrow

Day 7

For this evening, we shall be doing some current eventing (yes a new verb). For those who are new to the blogging world, you will need to write a short summary of the article and then write how the event has an effect on your life within in the world or the community. VERY IMPORTANT! NO CITE, NO POINTS

Day 6

We continue reading these stories that indicate levels of tolerance and perception. As discussed today, think about Heale tolerance of others in light of how others (whites) may have treated her. Also, think about her perception of herself and how strong she respected who she was when she could have jsut shrank away due to the hardships of growing up black.

For this evening, respond to the following quote:

Cisneros comments, "I managed to do a lot of things in my life I didn't think I was capable of." What can you gain by attempting to do the seemingly impossible? Explain your answer. Give an example if you have one.

Day 5

Good first week of the new semester. I am enjoying getting to know those of you who are new to the class and look forward to working with you over the next several months.

Today we talked about the Harlem Renaissance and Langston Hughes. We read his essay "When the Negro was in Vogue" pages 932-937.

In this essay, Hughes mentions some of the African American cultural achievements and celebrities of the Harlem Renaissance. What specific cultural achievements or important celebrities might you include in an essay about African Americans today? Why are these people significant? Are there similarities to the Harlem Renaissance today? If yes how and why and if no why not. What is your take on the idea of having something in vogue? What would you say is the most vogue style of today for your generation and how does it define your generation?

Day 4

In relationship to our discussion on perceptions, how would you like people to perceive you? Based on your answer, what are things you do to create this perceptions? Are there things that you could do in your life that would create your wanted perception even better? Lastly, if someone got up at your funeral (many years from now) and started off their eulogy with the statement: the perception of ____ was truly created because______________ what would come next.

Day 3

Today we continued our discussion of perceptions and cultures. Hopefully by the time we finished reading you truly understood the point of the Nacirema.

For this evening, I want you to find a current event and first discuss what the event is about and how you think it effects you. Then, I want you to discuss the current event if you were reading it but did not understand the country. You will probably need more than 7 sentences for this one.

Day 2

Today, we discussed why we read, to gain an understanding of man (and woman), how we create our perceptions and how those perceptions cause us to view others.

For tonight, pick a book, a movie or an historical event where perceptions caused conflict. Explain how this conflict could have been better handled if these perceptions were not created. Finally, discuss something that you have perceived one way only to find out that it was another.

Semester 2, Term 4, Day 1

Welcome back to those who have been here before and welcome to all the new faces. I promise you an exciting semester that will challenge you and push you to become more independent and self-assured as students.

For this evening, please discuss your goals for this semester and especially this cardmarking. It could be specifically for this class or it could be for all your classes. How will you attain those goals? How will you reward yourself if your goals are obtained and what kind of consequences if they are not obtained? Do not write what you think I want to hear but what you are truly thinking.