Exploring the Journey: Directions for Beginning Your Project

You've mapped your journey. You're going from somewhere to Chicago, by land. You can pick anywhere you can drive or walk from, but it has to be at least 300 miles away. Mapquest can't really help you: you have to go through the towns and cities along the way, not just take the highway and stop at a McDonald's for lunch.

So: What cities and towns are you passing through? You need to research these places. We know that
.com = commercial, available to everyone
.net = commercial, available to everyone
.org = organization, usually non-profit, available to everyone
.edu = educational institution, usually a college or university
.gov = the United States (Federal) Government

Other government websites can be .com, .net, .org or many other possibilities. You will want to look at State Government Websites and County Websites, along with Chamber of Commerce Websites. It is advisable to follow the links at the County or Chamber of Commerce websites, so that you can read up on the local tourist attractions, businesses and points of interest.

ALWAYS cite your sources. If you use a source, credit it. Always check your sources. You must look at at least 3 different websites to be sure your information is correct. Also: who created the website? What organization or point of view does it represent? Who authored it? You should know.

THE ASSIGNMENT:
Imagine you are traveling on the route you have chosen. Where do you stop and why? What sites and attractions do you visit? What is the landscape like? Describe your journey.

RULES: Your details must be historically and factually accurate. If you are coming from Miami and meet a boy in a club there who comes with you on your journey, it has to be a real club that is really there, and you have to be able to describe it.

WHAT CAN BE FICTIONAL?
Your character can be fictional. The journey is, in fact, fictional, but the details of the journey must be based in fact.

WHAT TIME PERIOD HAVE YOU CHOSEN?
You may choose what time period you wish to be writing about. You may choose the present day, or a time in the past. You must chose a time for which we have written history. There is no significant written history of this continent before the 1600's, and no significant written history of the West before the 1800's. So, for instance, if you decide you are making your journey from Philadelphia to Chicago in the 1860's, what kind of transportation is available to you? Are you going by train or horse-drawn carriage? Are there trains built between Philadelphia and Chicago by the 1860's? If not, you cannot be "taking the train." If you're journeying by carriage, how far can you go in a day? Your journey is certainly much slower than it would be in today's world. What sights are you seeing along the way during that time period? All details must be based in the history of that time and place.

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION:
This project will be done in class. I will not accept work done at home, unless we have discussed it beforehand and I have given you written approval. Your final paper is to be typed, 1.5 line spaced, in 12 point Arial font, and at least 7 pages long (not including a coversheet and your bibliography, which are also required).

Mapping the Journey

Charlene and Brandt from "World's End" were driving to Chicago. We know they were driving for many hours, and we know, by inference, that they were coming from another city.

Map out a journey from another city to Chicago. It must be at least 300 miles from Chicago, it must be a route that can be driven, and it must be through territory that you would like to explore.

Find a map of the United States on the Internet. Print it out, and draw out your route. This assignment must be handed in to Camilla.

This mapping exercise will serve as the basis for your research. You will be researching the terrain you have outlined that you would traverse on your journey to Chicago.

Think about this: What places would you have to go through? Why have you chosen this particular route? This week you will begin to explore the towns, cities, highways, byways and natural formations that you would encounter in such a journey.

Homework Asssignment for Thursday, September 24th

1.) Make a list of five vocabulary words that you were challenged by from the book that you are reading and write them in your notebook.
2.) Pick five vocabulary words from the list (below) of vocabulary words from "World's End" and write them in your notebook.
You should have a list of ten words in total.

Write a two-page story or essay that MAKES SENSE, using all ten vocabulary words. It can be fantasy fiction, real-life drama or any other story-telling form that you like. Do not pick slang words or phrases. Pick standard English words. Completing this assignment requires that you have looked up, understand, and can spell the vocabulary words that you have chosen.

Catching Up

If you have just joined this class, please read all the assignments by scrolling down to "Welcome to Fall 2009, Cycle 1." That post and all the ones above it cover all the assignments that have been given in this class, and I have modified the posts to provide easy strategies for catch-up. You may do your owed assignments in your Homework Journal.

Monday and Tuesday are Testing Days

Students are required to take the English Department-wide Assessment Test. The purpose of the test is to ascertain the level of your reading and writing skills. It will serve as the baseline assessment for your work.

Notes from Friday's Class

Your homework journals are due every Friday. They will be returned to you on Tuesday. Please make sure you have completed all the homework assignments.

Vocabulary Words from our reading of "World's End":
brougham
perforce
auditors
temporal
gargantuan
feckless
dominion
mortal
forthwith
retinue
realm
brackish
ooze
malodorous
convey
amphitheater

Homework Question for the Night of Thursday, September 17

What do you daydream about on the train? Write two pages about something you've thought about. Alternate assignment: If the train car you were sitting in was suddenly to be transported to a different planet, what would happen? How would the people on the train interact?

Vocabulary words from "World's End" reading:
facet
thoroughfare(s)
dank
marvel
figment
stunted
moor
susurrus
estuary
prosaic

Class Notes

We read up to page 37 in "World's End." Please come in at lunchtime to keep up with the class, if you missed class today.

Today's Vocabulary Words and Literary References:

1. The Canterbury Tales - similar to "World's End." Both take place in an inn. Both are stories within a story.

2. "A Tale of Two Cities" - reference to the famous book by Charles Dickens

3. "World's End" is also like the 1001 Arabian Nights, the story in which Sheherazade tells a different story each night to save her own life. It is also a book of stories within a story.

4. cyclopean - cyclops-like (see an encyclopedia for "Cyclops," if you don't know what that is.

5. orient

6. toiling

7. familiarity

8. bear
There will be another journal question posted for homework tomorrow. Homework notebooks will be due again on Friday.

Reading: "World's End, by Neil Gaiman

We read up to page 22 in "World's End," by Neil Gaiman.

Vocabulary words:
dispassionately
hallucination
centaur
chirurgeon

Journal Writing Homework for the Night of Tuesday, September 15th:

Write a journal entry comparing the setting of the book you are reading to the place where you live. Is it similar or different? Describe both the place in the book and your own neighborhood. Your journal entry should be at least 4 pages.

Welcome to Fall 2009, Cycle 1

Hello, advanced English students. You are in this class because you have passed the English Regents Exam, but you still have work to do to be completely ready for college. This class is designed to get you there! Please note: you are required to be reading books outside of class for homework. The name of the book you are reading is due today. Please write it into your journal. Make sure you read tonight so that you can respond to the homework question I will assign tomorrow.

First Assignment: We read "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost. For your initial writing assessment, write a two page essay on the path you have taken in life thus far.

Last week we went over the Rules of Comma Usage. You can get those rules by clicking the appropriate link in the sidebar, or by getting a hard copy from me in the classroom.

Final Paper for Spring 09, Cycle 6

Your paper is to be 5-7 pages on your chosen topic that has been approved by me. The paper must be typed in 12 point font, and the space between lines must be set at 1.5 (not "double spaced.") You can set the line spacing by going to the Format - Paragraph drop down menu in Microsoft Word.

Your introductory paragraph must state your topic clearly and concisely.

You must use footnotes. To get the "little number above the line," use the "superscript" check-off box in Microsoft Word, under Format - Font. Your corresponding list of footnotes should be listed at the end of your paper.

Cite your source whenever you state facts or opinions from your research sources.

When citing sources in a paper, you must be sure to answer the following questions:

1. Who wrote or edited it? (authors/editors/translators)
2. What is it called? (title)
3. Who is the publisher? (name, and, for books, location)
4. When was it published? (date)
5. What medium did you consult? (print, web, film, DVD, etc.)
6. If from the web, when did you access the site?

Here are the ways to cite a website:

Name of web site. Name of organization or company associated with site, date published or updated. Date of access.

Here is an example:
Grist: Environmental News and Commentary. Grist Magazine, 2007. Web. 20 Nov. 2007.

If you are gathering information from only a small part or a single page of a large web site, use the guildelines for citing a web page, with and without specified authors.

Author. “Title of Web Page.” Name of web site. Name of organization or company associated with site, Date published or updated. Web. Date of access.

Here is an example:
Shin, Sun-Joo, and Oliver Lemon. “Diagrams.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Metaphysics Research Lab CSLI Stanford University, 31 Oct. 2003. Web. 27 May 2008.

If the web page does not have a specified author, begin the citation with the web page title.

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.

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.

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?

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?

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Locate your country in relation to the world

Get this worksheet. Answer the questions.

Creation Myth Presentations

Are you prepared for your presentation? Make sure you have the following:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.