Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Research Question
On a piece of lined paper, write down your research question. That question must be placed in your folder. The question must be approved by me before you begin your research and writing.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Writing The Research Paper: Developing Your Research Question
Over the duration of this course, you've explored creation myths, Greek and Roman gods, ancient and modern religions and philosophies.
Now develop a research question that involves comparing and contrasting religious or philosophical ideas.
Your research question can explore the relationship between a religious or philosophical set of beliefs and a modern political or social issue.
It can explore the differences between two philosophical or religious beliefs, and how people who adhere to these beliefs conduct themselves.
Go through your folder and the research that you have typed into the computer. That research should provide a basis for your explorations. Pick something that you are interested in exploring further, or, if you prefer, research new religions or philosophies to support your research question and provide material for your research paper.
Hand in your research question to me on a piece of paper.
Now develop a research question that involves comparing and contrasting religious or philosophical ideas.
Your research question can explore the relationship between a religious or philosophical set of beliefs and a modern political or social issue.
It can explore the differences between two philosophical or religious beliefs, and how people who adhere to these beliefs conduct themselves.
Go through your folder and the research that you have typed into the computer. That research should provide a basis for your explorations. Pick something that you are interested in exploring further, or, if you prefer, research new religions or philosophies to support your research question and provide material for your research paper.
Hand in your research question to me on a piece of paper.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Welcome to Cycle 6! Here's Your First Assignment:
Compare and contrast the religion you've researched with a modern religion or philosophy. Pick one with which you are familiar, but want to know more about. Here are some modern, presently practiced religions and philosophies of existence:
1. Islam (Muslim religion)
2. Existentialism
3. Atheism
4. Modern Catholicism (today's Catholic Church)
5. Christian Protestant Churches, for instance:
Methodist
Calvinist
Lutheran
Mormon
Episcopalian
Presbyterian
Baptist
Pentecostal
Jehovah's Witness
etc.
6. Modern Paganism (for instance, Wicca)
7. Modern, mystical practices of ancient religions, or "New Age" movements like:
Zen Buddhism
Sufism
Buddhist chanting
Yoga (a specific Yogic practice, not just the exercise method)
etc.
Respond to the questions below. Hand written, your essay should be at least a page and a half long. Typed, double spaced, (no larger than Arial 14 point font), it should be at least a page long. Remember to CITE YOUR SOURCES (state which web sites you got your information from).
1. Describe the religion or philosophy
2. Where is it practiced?
3. What are the religion or philosophy's core beliefs?
4. What moral practices are important to the people who believe in this religion or philosophy?
5. How is this religion or philosophy similar to, or different from, the ancient religion that you researched at the end of last cycle?
1. Islam (Muslim religion)
2. Existentialism
3. Atheism
4. Modern Catholicism (today's Catholic Church)
5. Christian Protestant Churches, for instance:
Methodist
Calvinist
Lutheran
Mormon
Episcopalian
Presbyterian
Baptist
Pentecostal
Jehovah's Witness
etc.
6. Modern Paganism (for instance, Wicca)
7. Modern, mystical practices of ancient religions, or "New Age" movements like:
Zen Buddhism
Sufism
Buddhist chanting
Yoga (a specific Yogic practice, not just the exercise method)
etc.
Respond to the questions below. Hand written, your essay should be at least a page and a half long. Typed, double spaced, (no larger than Arial 14 point font), it should be at least a page long. Remember to CITE YOUR SOURCES (state which web sites you got your information from).
1. Describe the religion or philosophy
2. Where is it practiced?
3. What are the religion or philosophy's core beliefs?
4. What moral practices are important to the people who believe in this religion or philosophy?
5. How is this religion or philosophy similar to, or different from, the ancient religion that you researched at the end of last cycle?
Friday, May 1, 2009
Final Assessment for Spring 09, Cycle 5
We have studied the ways in which the Roman Empire’s polytheistic religion was overtaken by Christianity. What other beliefs dominated the world during that time?
1. Hinduism
2. Buddhism
3. Shintoism
4. Daoism (Taoism)
5. Confucianism
6. Ancestor Worship (in Asia)
STEP ONE (This step must be completed during this cycle in order to pass the class): Pick one of these six. You may start with wikipedia to discover basic facts about whichever you choose. Then you must find a second source of information on the topic on the internet, using our standard guidelines and practices for internet research.
Respond to the questions below. Hand written, your essay should be at least a page and a half long. Typed, double spaced, (no larger than Arial 14 point font), it should be at least a page long. Remember to CITE YOUR SOURCES (state which web sites you got your information from).
1. Describe the religion
2. Where was it practiced, during the 1st to 4th Centuries, AD (or CE)?
3. Was this religion a polytheistic or monotheistic religion?
4. What moral beliefs and practices were important to the people who practiced this religion?
5. How is this religion similar to, or different from the beliefs of the Christians in the Holy Roman Empire?
STEP TWO (May be begun, but does not have to be completed this cycle):
Compare and contrast the religion you've researched with a modern religion or philosophy. Pick one with which you are familiar, but want to know more about. Here are some modern, presently practiced religions and philosophies of existence:
1. Islam (Muslim religion)
2. Existentialism
3. Atheism
4. Modern Catholicism (today's Catholic Church)
5. Christian Protestant Churches, for instance:
Methodist
Calvinist
Lutheran
Mormon
Episcopalian
Presbyterian
Baptist
Pentecostal
Jehovah's Witness
etc.
6. Modern Paganism (for instance, Wicca)
7. Modern, mystical practices of ancient religions, or "New Age" movements like:
Zen Buddhism
Sufism
Buddhist chanting
Yoga (a specific Yogic practice, not just the exercise method)
etc.
Respond to the questions below. Hand written, your essay should be at least a page and a half long. Typed, double spaced, (no larger than Arial 14 point font), it should be at least a page long. Remember to CITE YOUR SOURCES (state which web sites you got your information from).
1. Describe the religion or philosophy
2. Where is it practiced?
3. What are the religion or philosophy's core beliefs?
4. What moral practices are important to the people who believe in this religion or philosophy?
5. How is this religion similar to, or different from the ancient religion that you researched in STEP ONE?
1. Hinduism
2. Buddhism
3. Shintoism
4. Daoism (Taoism)
5. Confucianism
6. Ancestor Worship (in Asia)
STEP ONE (This step must be completed during this cycle in order to pass the class): Pick one of these six. You may start with wikipedia to discover basic facts about whichever you choose. Then you must find a second source of information on the topic on the internet, using our standard guidelines and practices for internet research.
Respond to the questions below. Hand written, your essay should be at least a page and a half long. Typed, double spaced, (no larger than Arial 14 point font), it should be at least a page long. Remember to CITE YOUR SOURCES (state which web sites you got your information from).
1. Describe the religion
2. Where was it practiced, during the 1st to 4th Centuries, AD (or CE)?
3. Was this religion a polytheistic or monotheistic religion?
4. What moral beliefs and practices were important to the people who practiced this religion?
5. How is this religion similar to, or different from the beliefs of the Christians in the Holy Roman Empire?
STEP TWO (May be begun, but does not have to be completed this cycle):
Compare and contrast the religion you've researched with a modern religion or philosophy. Pick one with which you are familiar, but want to know more about. Here are some modern, presently practiced religions and philosophies of existence:
1. Islam (Muslim religion)
2. Existentialism
3. Atheism
4. Modern Catholicism (today's Catholic Church)
5. Christian Protestant Churches, for instance:
Methodist
Calvinist
Lutheran
Mormon
Episcopalian
Presbyterian
Baptist
Pentecostal
Jehovah's Witness
etc.
6. Modern Paganism (for instance, Wicca)
7. Modern, mystical practices of ancient religions, or "New Age" movements like:
Zen Buddhism
Sufism
Buddhist chanting
Yoga (a specific Yogic practice, not just the exercise method)
etc.
Respond to the questions below. Hand written, your essay should be at least a page and a half long. Typed, double spaced, (no larger than Arial 14 point font), it should be at least a page long. Remember to CITE YOUR SOURCES (state which web sites you got your information from).
1. Describe the religion or philosophy
2. Where is it practiced?
3. What are the religion or philosophy's core beliefs?
4. What moral practices are important to the people who believe in this religion or philosophy?
5. How is this religion similar to, or different from the ancient religion that you researched in STEP ONE?
Thursday, April 30, 2009
What are the Standards and Practices of Good Internet Research?
When you type your search terms into the search engine (for instance, Google):
• Use correct grammar and spelling
• Be as specific as possible
• Be thorough
• Narrow your search, so you get exactly what you want
Vary your search terms. For example, when researching early rap: “KRS1” or “KRS One” or “Chris Parker” or “Kris Parker,” or other things associated with him, like the term “Edutainment” could work to get you the results you’re looking for.
Use quotation marks around your search term, if the words have to
go together. For example, Chris Parker becomes “Chris Parker,” so that you don’t
get everyone named Chris, and all the Parkers in the world.
Always verify your information by looking at more than one reputable source.
Read the information on the website carefully. Is it sound? Does it make sense? Does it seem credible?
Determine who wrote the website by looking at “Contact Us,” or “About Us,” or the citations and bibliography at the bottom, or
Go back to the root directory of the website to see who hosted it. For example, in the url: http://www.columbia.edu/texts/religion/philosophy.html, the root directory is www.columbia.edu. When looking at the root directory, look for the type of website it is. You can find that out by looking at the letters that come after the first dot. For example:
.org = organization (non-profit)
.edu = college or university (- usually. Sometimes it’s a school system.)
.net = a commercial website.
.com = company or commercial. Anyone can have one.
.gov = U.S. Government web site.
.info = information about some agency or group.
Two letter codes, are country codes, but they are commercial.
Some examples are:
.uk = United Kingdom (also called Great Britain).
.tv = Transylvania (a part of the country of Romania) Romania has allowed worldwide television stations to buy .tv
Verify your source by making sure you look at more than one source.
MAKE SURE TO CITE YOUR SOURCES IN THE WRITE-UPS, ESSAYS, AND PAPERS THAT YOU TURN IN TO YOUR TEACHERS.
• Use correct grammar and spelling
• Be as specific as possible
• Be thorough
• Narrow your search, so you get exactly what you want
Vary your search terms. For example, when researching early rap: “KRS1” or “KRS One” or “Chris Parker” or “Kris Parker,” or other things associated with him, like the term “Edutainment” could work to get you the results you’re looking for.
Use quotation marks around your search term, if the words have to
go together. For example, Chris Parker becomes “Chris Parker,” so that you don’t
get everyone named Chris, and all the Parkers in the world.
Always verify your information by looking at more than one reputable source.
Read the information on the website carefully. Is it sound? Does it make sense? Does it seem credible?
Determine who wrote the website by looking at “Contact Us,” or “About Us,” or the citations and bibliography at the bottom, or
Go back to the root directory of the website to see who hosted it. For example, in the url: http://www.columbia.edu/texts/religion/philosophy.html, the root directory is www.columbia.edu. When looking at the root directory, look for the type of website it is. You can find that out by looking at the letters that come after the first dot. For example:
.org = organization (non-profit)
.edu = college or university (- usually. Sometimes it’s a school system.)
.net = a commercial website.
.com = company or commercial. Anyone can have one.
.gov = U.S. Government web site.
.info = information about some agency or group.
Two letter codes, are country codes, but they are commercial.
Some examples are:
.uk = United Kingdom (also called Great Britain).
.tv = Transylvania (a part of the country of Romania) Romania has allowed worldwide television stations to buy .tv
Verify your source by making sure you look at more than one source.
MAKE SURE TO CITE YOUR SOURCES IN THE WRITE-UPS, ESSAYS, AND PAPERS THAT YOU TURN IN TO YOUR TEACHERS.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
How did Christian Theology Come to Supercede the Greek and Roman Gods?
This assignment's purpose is to prepare you for college by engaging you, intellectually, with material on a college freshman level. The material that comes before you needs not only to be read, but to be understood. Some words will be unfamiliar to you. What do you do when encountering such challenges? The answer is not to skim or skip or get the Cliff Notes. The answer is to read slowly and carefully, discuss the material with your peers, when possible, and use strategies such as figuring out word meanings using contextual clues, knowledge of suffixes and prefixes, and knowledge of root words.
We read PBS's Frontline documentary on Christianity's Legitimization Under Constantine. We read the first section, "The Path to Victory" together as a class, and discussed its meaning. Then we split into groups, with each group taking a section to interpret and explain to the class. Each group is required to turn in a written version of their interpretation of the text.
Period 2:
Merceaux and Adonnia: last two paragraphs of introduction
Lakeba and Royale: Constantine's Conversion
Mac and Luz: Constantine's Imperial Christianity
Adrian and Anthony: A Christian Caesar
Michael and Jubair: Who is Eusebius?
Period 3:
Ebony, Melinda and Alicia: "Constantine's Conversion" - page 3
Fernando, Angelica and Jasmine H: "Constantine's Imperial Christianity" - pages 3 and 4
Obby and Bernard: "A Christian Caesar" - page 4
Samantha and EJ: "Eusebius on Constantine" - pages 4 and 5
Jose and Chris T: Council of Nicea
We read PBS's Frontline documentary on Christianity's Legitimization Under Constantine. We read the first section, "The Path to Victory" together as a class, and discussed its meaning. Then we split into groups, with each group taking a section to interpret and explain to the class. Each group is required to turn in a written version of their interpretation of the text.
Period 2:
Merceaux and Adonnia: last two paragraphs of introduction
Lakeba and Royale: Constantine's Conversion
Mac and Luz: Constantine's Imperial Christianity
Adrian and Anthony: A Christian Caesar
Michael and Jubair: Who is Eusebius?
Period 3:
Ebony, Melinda and Alicia: "Constantine's Conversion" - page 3
Fernando, Angelica and Jasmine H: "Constantine's Imperial Christianity" - pages 3 and 4
Obby and Bernard: "A Christian Caesar" - page 4
Samantha and EJ: "Eusebius on Constantine" - pages 4 and 5
Jose and Chris T: Council of Nicea
Monday, April 6, 2009
How to we study for and present material to the whole class?
In this class we've already done a small presentation. Now that you are familiar with the information about your Greek god(s), how can you present that to the class using what we've learned from previous presentations? What are the lessons we've learned?
Let's look over the evaluations of the presentations from last cycle. What do we now know about presenting material? How can you be properly prepared?
Outline the steps for proper public presentation of material. What do you need to do before you get "up there," and what do you need to do when you are in front of the class?
Create note cards on your Greek god(s). Do not copy a pre-set speech onto the cards. Use key words to prepare yourself for speaking.
Let's look over the evaluations of the presentations from last cycle. What do we now know about presenting material? How can you be properly prepared?
Outline the steps for proper public presentation of material. What do you need to do before you get "up there," and what do you need to do when you are in front of the class?
Create note cards on your Greek god(s). Do not copy a pre-set speech onto the cards. Use key words to prepare yourself for speaking.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
What Gods Were Responsible for the Trojan War?
In order to understand the Trojan War, it is important to understand its mythological underpinnings. What Greek gods and goddesses played a role in starting and maintaining the war?
Choose any two of the following Gods and find a picture on the internet of each. Then do the research necessary to explain to us who they are and what aspects they rule over or represent. Your work will be saved to a flash drive and then the class will jointly create a PowerPoint presentation on the Greek pantheon.
Each god should be represented by one slide. The slide should have a picture of the god, a label with the god's name and what they rule over, and your name.
The Gods, and the students who are researching them:
Zeus (Jupiter) – Mac (per 2) Jasmine H (per 3)
Eris - Lakeba (per 2) - Jose 0 (per 3)
Hera (Juno) - Munique (per 2) - Fernando (per 3)
Aphrodite (Venus) - Royale (Per 2) - Ebony (per 3)
Athena (Minerva) - Regina (per 2) – Isaiah (per 3)
Ares (Mars) - Royale (Per 2) – Bernard (per 3)
Artemis (Selene)- Regina (per 2) - Samantha (per 3)
Hades (Pluto) - Mac (per 2) - Fernando (per 3)
Poseidon (Neptune) – Anthony (per 2) - Bernard (per 3)
Apollo – Juan (per 2) - Isaiah (per 3)
Demeter (Ceres) - Madeline (per 2) - Nicole (per 3)
Persephone (Proserpine) – Lakeba (per 2), Melinda (per 3)
Hermes (Mercury) - Makaida (per 2) - Jasmine H (per 3)
Dionysus (Bacchus) - Adrian (per 2) - Ernesto (per 3)
Pan - Adonnia (per 2) - Matthew H (per 3)
Eros (Cupid) - Adonnia (per 2) - Chris T (per 3)
Hephaestus (Vulcan) - Jubair (per 2) - Ebony (per 3)
Hestia (Vesta) - Luz (per 2) - Alicia (per 3)
Morpheus - Carol (per 2)
Chronus - Buggs (per 2) - Jose 0 (per 3)
Thanatos - Mike 0 (per 2) - Earl (per 3)
Prometheus - Xavier (per 2) - Earl (per 3)
Pandora - Kayla (per 2)
Atlas - Merceaux (per 2)
Gaia -
Monsters:
Medusa - Zakiya (per 2)
The Hydra
The Sphynx - Zakiya (per 2)
The Minotaur
Choose any two of the following Gods and find a picture on the internet of each. Then do the research necessary to explain to us who they are and what aspects they rule over or represent. Your work will be saved to a flash drive and then the class will jointly create a PowerPoint presentation on the Greek pantheon.
Each god should be represented by one slide. The slide should have a picture of the god, a label with the god's name and what they rule over, and your name.
The Gods, and the students who are researching them:
Zeus (Jupiter) – Mac (per 2) Jasmine H (per 3)
Eris - Lakeba (per 2) - Jose 0 (per 3)
Hera (Juno) - Munique (per 2) - Fernando (per 3)
Aphrodite (Venus) - Royale (Per 2) - Ebony (per 3)
Athena (Minerva) - Regina (per 2) – Isaiah (per 3)
Ares (Mars) - Royale (Per 2) – Bernard (per 3)
Artemis (Selene)- Regina (per 2) - Samantha (per 3)
Hades (Pluto) - Mac (per 2) - Fernando (per 3)
Poseidon (Neptune) – Anthony (per 2) - Bernard (per 3)
Apollo – Juan (per 2) - Isaiah (per 3)
Demeter (Ceres) - Madeline (per 2) - Nicole (per 3)
Persephone (Proserpine) – Lakeba (per 2), Melinda (per 3)
Hermes (Mercury) - Makaida (per 2) - Jasmine H (per 3)
Dionysus (Bacchus) - Adrian (per 2) - Ernesto (per 3)
Pan - Adonnia (per 2) - Matthew H (per 3)
Eros (Cupid) - Adonnia (per 2) - Chris T (per 3)
Hephaestus (Vulcan) - Jubair (per 2) - Ebony (per 3)
Hestia (Vesta) - Luz (per 2) - Alicia (per 3)
Morpheus - Carol (per 2)
Chronus - Buggs (per 2) - Jose 0 (per 3)
Thanatos - Mike 0 (per 2) - Earl (per 3)
Prometheus - Xavier (per 2) - Earl (per 3)
Pandora - Kayla (per 2)
Atlas - Merceaux (per 2)
Gaia -
Monsters:
Medusa - Zakiya (per 2)
The Hydra
The Sphynx - Zakiya (per 2)
The Minotaur
Monday, March 30, 2009
Exploration of the Trojan War
1. Where did the Trojan War take place? Find a map of it. What are the modern names of the countries that were involved?
2. If you had to get there from "your country," using ancient technologies, how would you have to do it?
3. Create a map of your journey, and write a short description of how you would have to journey to get there.
2. If you had to get there from "your country," using ancient technologies, how would you have to do it?
3. Create a map of your journey, and write a short description of how you would have to journey to get there.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Welcome to Spring 09, Cycle 5
GRAMMAR AND SPELLING
Last cycle we focused on research and presentation. The focus of this cycle will be reading, interpretation and writing skills.
When entering college, students need to have the reading and writing skills that will ensure success in their classes. By understanding and applying grammar and spelling rules and developing the level of their overall writing, students will find themselves equal to the task.
In order to familiarize yourself with basic, essential grammar rules, access Camilla's Rules of Comma Usage, Camilla's Rules of Apostrophe Usage, and Camilla's Grammar and Spelling Rules. When you proof-read your work, be sure to check it against these rules. Although initially I will review these corrections with you in your papers, as time goes on you will be responsible for correcting the work yourself. I will simply write "commas," or "apostrophes," or "spelling" at the top of the paper, and you will look for the errors and correct them, yourself. This mimics the process needed when writing a paper for college. Be careful not to turn in something that you have not proof-read. You can frequently correct your own mistakes, thus saving the discomfort of presenting a paper that misrepresents your writing level.
Access Tupac Shakur's "Dear Mama" Lyrics at this web site. Copy and paste the lyrics into Word.
Assignment: Without changing the actual words and leaving the slang as artistic license, can you correct the punctuation and spelling? Do so. Put your name at the top and put your work into your folder.
Last cycle we focused on research and presentation. The focus of this cycle will be reading, interpretation and writing skills.
When entering college, students need to have the reading and writing skills that will ensure success in their classes. By understanding and applying grammar and spelling rules and developing the level of their overall writing, students will find themselves equal to the task.
In order to familiarize yourself with basic, essential grammar rules, access Camilla's Rules of Comma Usage, Camilla's Rules of Apostrophe Usage, and Camilla's Grammar and Spelling Rules. When you proof-read your work, be sure to check it against these rules. Although initially I will review these corrections with you in your papers, as time goes on you will be responsible for correcting the work yourself. I will simply write "commas," or "apostrophes," or "spelling" at the top of the paper, and you will look for the errors and correct them, yourself. This mimics the process needed when writing a paper for college. Be careful not to turn in something that you have not proof-read. You can frequently correct your own mistakes, thus saving the discomfort of presenting a paper that misrepresents your writing level.
Access Tupac Shakur's "Dear Mama" Lyrics at this web site. Copy and paste the lyrics into Word.
Assignment: Without changing the actual words and leaving the slang as artistic license, can you correct the punctuation and spelling? Do so. Put your name at the top and put your work into your folder.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Assessment Criteria
In order to pass this class, you must have the completed the following:
In Your Folder
1. Your "Existential Questions" essay
2. Your 2 research articles for each myth, with the URLs on each
3. Your write up of the research, stated in your own words in the form of a story, written neatly.
In My Flash Drive
4. Your PowerPoint presentation, but you do not have to print it out. It must be saved to my Flash Drive.
Presented to the Class
5. In addition, you must have done your presentation, and been assessed by your peers.
In Your Folder
1. Your "Existential Questions" essay
2. Your 2 research articles for each myth, with the URLs on each
3. Your write up of the research, stated in your own words in the form of a story, written neatly.
In My Flash Drive
4. Your PowerPoint presentation, but you do not have to print it out. It must be saved to my Flash Drive.
Presented to the Class
5. In addition, you must have done your presentation, and been assessed by your peers.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Creation Myth Presentations
Are you prepared for your presentation? Make sure you have the following:
Be prepared to present sometime on or after Wednesday, March 11th, 2009.
1) At least two sources for your creation myths in your folder, with the URLs clearly visible on each
2) Your write-up of the creation myth in your own words, legibly hand-written
3) Practice reading your creation myth story aloud, including pronouncing the often unfamiliar names of ancient Gods and places.
4) Your PowerPoint presentation, consisting of step-by-step illustrations to your story. Your PowerPoint presentation must start with a slide of the country or region of origin of your creation myth.
Be prepared to present sometime on or after Wednesday, March 11th, 2009.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Telling Your Creation Myth Story
Assignment: Choose an area of the world that you would like to investigate. Confirm your choice with Camilla. Now investigate the following: What ancient cultures inhabited that geographic area? Each ancient culture has a creation myth. What is the creation myth of the culture and geographic area that you have chosen? Go online and find the myth of how the world was created, and the myth of how mankind was created, from that specific culture.
Once you have found your creation myth, make sure it is from a reliable source. To do that, you should have at least TWO sources. One may be written more simply than the other, but you should know who the organization is behind both texts. Print out a copy of each, making sure the URL is listed on each print-out. Remember, you can find the organization information by going to an "About" link, or going to the root directory.
Then:
1) Read the materials you have gathered
2) Familiarize yourself with the story
3) Write down the story in your own words, without copying exact phrases from your sources. [Hint: You may want to frame your retelling as if you were telling the story to children -- like you would tell a fairy tale.]
4) Plan your presentation. You will read out your version of the story, illustrating it with pictures displayed in PowerPoint.
5) Find pictures to illustrate your story online. They can be from anywhere, but must appropriately illustrate your story. Every presentation must begin with a picture of the country in which the myth originates.
Once you have found your creation myth, make sure it is from a reliable source. To do that, you should have at least TWO sources. One may be written more simply than the other, but you should know who the organization is behind both texts. Print out a copy of each, making sure the URL is listed on each print-out. Remember, you can find the organization information by going to an "About" link, or going to the root directory.
Then:
1) Read the materials you have gathered
2) Familiarize yourself with the story
3) Write down the story in your own words, without copying exact phrases from your sources. [Hint: You may want to frame your retelling as if you were telling the story to children -- like you would tell a fairy tale.]
4) Plan your presentation. You will read out your version of the story, illustrating it with pictures displayed in PowerPoint.
5) Find pictures to illustrate your story online. They can be from anywhere, but must appropriately illustrate your story. Every presentation must begin with a picture of the country in which the myth originates.
Friday, February 6, 2009
The Myth of Creation in Norse Mythology
In Norse Mythology, there are nine worlds, inhabited by elves, trolls, giants, gods and men. An ice giant and a cow bring life into being. The ice giant feeds on the cow's milk and brings forth gods. The Aesir Gods gain ascendency against their brother jotuns (or giants). The chief of the Aesir gods is Odin, the one-eyed god. The Aesir gods make men, and men populate the earth.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
WELCOME TO THE SPRING 2009 SEMESTER, Cycle 1
BASELINE WRITING SAMPLE: EXPLORE OPINION, GIVE EVIDENCE
In our first class we discussed the fact that ancient cultures have many different explanations for how humans came to exist. Today's explanations include God, evolution, and random chance. What is your personal opinion on the topic?
Existential Questions Essay:
Answer these philosophical questions: In your opinion,
1) How did we human beings come to exist?
2) Why are we here? Do we have a purpose? If so, what is it?
Write a 2 page hand-written essay answering these questions. Support your essay with evidence from your own life experience.
In our first class we discussed the fact that ancient cultures have many different explanations for how humans came to exist. Today's explanations include God, evolution, and random chance. What is your personal opinion on the topic?
Existential Questions Essay:
Answer these philosophical questions: In your opinion,
1) How did we human beings come to exist?
2) Why are we here? Do we have a purpose? If so, what is it?
Write a 2 page hand-written essay answering these questions. Support your essay with evidence from your own life experience.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Editing Your Story
Each student should be prepared to have their story looked at by the entire class. We will be correcting for grammar, spelling and punctuation. We will also check to see if the writer's style and use of language is consistent with the story's historical setting. For each critique, notes will be taken. Students are responsible for having those notes, and applying what they have learned to their own stories.
Notes from Class So Far (These grammar, spelling and punctuation rules have also been articulated in my handouts, clickable from this blog)
1) When connecting two sentences, use a comma before the connecting word.
2) If there's no connecting word, use a period and start a new sentence.
3) Proof read!
4) Names are always capitalized.
5) Surround dependent clauses with commas.
6) Use words and expressions that fit the time period (era).
7) Use quotation marks at the beginning and end of someone speaking.
Notes from Class So Far (These grammar, spelling and punctuation rules have also been articulated in my handouts, clickable from this blog)
1) When connecting two sentences, use a comma before the connecting word.
2) If there's no connecting word, use a period and start a new sentence.
3) Proof read!
4) Names are always capitalized.
5) Surround dependent clauses with commas.
6) Use words and expressions that fit the time period (era).
7) Use quotation marks at the beginning and end of someone speaking.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Welcome to Cycle 3
It's now time to finish the rest of your story. For those of you who attended Cycle 2, the final first draft of your story must be 10 typed pages. If you did NOT attend Cycle 2, your final first draft must be 5 typed pages. All stories must be fictional, but based on historical fact, and historically accurate.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Writing the Short Story
Write a story involving the neighborhood that you have researched. The story should be entirely fictional, but must include historical facts from your research, and/or take place at another point in history in that neighborhood. The story must be 10 - 20 hand-written pages long. Typed, your story will be at least 10 pages, with 1.5 line spacing and 12 point Arial font.
By December 5th, you must have at least 7 hand written or 5 typed pages. We will be going over your stories for grammar, punctuation and spelling on an ongoing basis. Your final draft of those pages of must be proof-read and corrected by you for comma, apostrophe and spelling errors, using the handouts you have received in this class.
By December 5th, you must have at least 7 hand written or 5 typed pages. We will be going over your stories for grammar, punctuation and spelling on an ongoing basis. Your final draft of those pages of must be proof-read and corrected by you for comma, apostrophe and spelling errors, using the handouts you have received in this class.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
"My New York" Project
The class began with an essay entitled, "My New York." It was inspired by essays in the New York Times. The Times interviewed ten 17-year-olds from various neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs of New York City, asking them to describe their experiences as New Yorkers.
Read them here:
My So-Called Gossipy Life
'If I'm Not Busy, I Complain That I'm Bored, but When I Am Busy, It's Like, Oh, My God.'
'I Was the Most Athletic Girl, the Best Girl Playing Sports.'
ALL DRESSED UP
The Best of Times, the Worst of Times
'My Family Has High Hopes for Me Because They Know I'm Going to Do Great Things.'
PIN MONEY
Angst Amid the Artichokes
'You Don't Have to Do Bad Things to Be in a Gang. You Don't Have to Do Anything You Don't Want to Do.'
SOPHISTICATED LADIES
Girls, Mean and Otherwise
UP AND ABOUT
University Blues
'A Lot of Girls Like Me Because I'm Original and Enthusiastic and Also Because I Like to Play the Piano.'
'We're Always Talking About How We All Want to Have Boyfriends, and How We Have So Much Love to Give but No One to Give It To.'
THE HANG
The Island of Black Jeans
'My Parents Had This Big Argument Over Whose Fault It Was, Why I Chose to Be This Way.'
'Our Year Is the Most Competitive Year in the History of College Applications. Or Something Like That.'
'Some People Are Like, "Why Are You All Dressed Up in School?" but People Judge You by the Way You Take Care of Yourself.'
'I Had to Work, Because if I Didn't, There Wouldn't Be Food on the Plate.'
Where They Were, on That Day
ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER:
When He Was Seventeen
By CHRISTOPHER SORRENTINO
ASSIGNMENTS:
1) Write your own "My New York" story. Write about any neighborhood within the five boroughs of New York City, and your relationship to that neighborhood. Remember, New York City includes the "Other Islands," such as Roosevelt Island, Riker's Island, Wards and Randall's Island, Ellis Island, Governor's Island, and many others. You may write about those as well, if you so choose. You may write about where you live, or a place where you love to hang out. Your essay should be approximately two typed pages (Times New Roman 12 point font, 1.5 line spacing).
2) Research the neighborhood: What was going on in the neighborhood 200 years ago? 150 years ago? 100 years ago? 75 years ago? 50 years ago? 40 years ago? 20 years ago? What is it like now? Using Google, find information about your neighborhood's history. Remember to check the URL (web address) of the sites you go to for the validity of their information by going to the "about us," or root directory pages. Be sure to use more than one source for your research material. Print out your research materials and put them in your folder.
3) Read your materials. Highlight relevant information that focuses on your specific neighborhood.
4) Write up your research. On lined paper, describe the history of your neighborhood as you understand it. Make sure your write-up is written IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Do not plagarize. That means do not copy the words right out of the sources that you have used. Make sure to cite your sources, listing the title of the website and the URL, as you describe the information you have gathered. All research materials from the internet must be printed out, and must be in your folder when you hand in your research write-up.
5) Create a PowerPoint presentation illustrating your research. Use Google Image Search to find your pictures. Remember to VARY YOUR SEARCH TERMS in order to find pictures that illustrate the history of your chosen neighborhood. The PowerPoint presentation will be displayed behind you as you give your presentation on the history of your neighborhood. You should not include all the text from your write-up. Use words sparingly, and historical images generously.
6) Prepare the spoken part of your presentation. Plan out what you are going to say, and how you're going to say it. You may use note cards or notes from your write-up during the presentation. The audience of your fellow students will assess your presentation according to the Presentation Assessment Rubric handed out in class.
Read them here:
My So-Called Gossipy Life
'If I'm Not Busy, I Complain That I'm Bored, but When I Am Busy, It's Like, Oh, My God.'
'I Was the Most Athletic Girl, the Best Girl Playing Sports.'
ALL DRESSED UP
The Best of Times, the Worst of Times
'My Family Has High Hopes for Me Because They Know I'm Going to Do Great Things.'
PIN MONEY
Angst Amid the Artichokes
'You Don't Have to Do Bad Things to Be in a Gang. You Don't Have to Do Anything You Don't Want to Do.'
SOPHISTICATED LADIES
Girls, Mean and Otherwise
UP AND ABOUT
University Blues
'A Lot of Girls Like Me Because I'm Original and Enthusiastic and Also Because I Like to Play the Piano.'
'We're Always Talking About How We All Want to Have Boyfriends, and How We Have So Much Love to Give but No One to Give It To.'
THE HANG
The Island of Black Jeans
'My Parents Had This Big Argument Over Whose Fault It Was, Why I Chose to Be This Way.'
'Our Year Is the Most Competitive Year in the History of College Applications. Or Something Like That.'
'Some People Are Like, "Why Are You All Dressed Up in School?" but People Judge You by the Way You Take Care of Yourself.'
'I Had to Work, Because if I Didn't, There Wouldn't Be Food on the Plate.'
Where They Were, on That Day
ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER:
When He Was Seventeen
By CHRISTOPHER SORRENTINO
ASSIGNMENTS:
1) Write your own "My New York" story. Write about any neighborhood within the five boroughs of New York City, and your relationship to that neighborhood. Remember, New York City includes the "Other Islands," such as Roosevelt Island, Riker's Island, Wards and Randall's Island, Ellis Island, Governor's Island, and many others. You may write about those as well, if you so choose. You may write about where you live, or a place where you love to hang out. Your essay should be approximately two typed pages (Times New Roman 12 point font, 1.5 line spacing).
2) Research the neighborhood: What was going on in the neighborhood 200 years ago? 150 years ago? 100 years ago? 75 years ago? 50 years ago? 40 years ago? 20 years ago? What is it like now? Using Google, find information about your neighborhood's history. Remember to check the URL (web address) of the sites you go to for the validity of their information by going to the "about us," or root directory pages. Be sure to use more than one source for your research material. Print out your research materials and put them in your folder.
3) Read your materials. Highlight relevant information that focuses on your specific neighborhood.
4) Write up your research. On lined paper, describe the history of your neighborhood as you understand it. Make sure your write-up is written IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Do not plagarize. That means do not copy the words right out of the sources that you have used. Make sure to cite your sources, listing the title of the website and the URL, as you describe the information you have gathered. All research materials from the internet must be printed out, and must be in your folder when you hand in your research write-up.
5) Create a PowerPoint presentation illustrating your research. Use Google Image Search to find your pictures. Remember to VARY YOUR SEARCH TERMS in order to find pictures that illustrate the history of your chosen neighborhood. The PowerPoint presentation will be displayed behind you as you give your presentation on the history of your neighborhood. You should not include all the text from your write-up. Use words sparingly, and historical images generously.
6) Prepare the spoken part of your presentation. Plan out what you are going to say, and how you're going to say it. You may use note cards or notes from your write-up during the presentation. The audience of your fellow students will assess your presentation according to the Presentation Assessment Rubric handed out in class.
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