What on Earth?

Journal Prompts, Week 12

Hey Guys,

Last week of journals! Here are your last three entries--I'll be looking at all of your journal entries on Monday, April 28th, so make sure that you're totally caught up by then. Good luck with revision!

Monday April 21
Describe an experience of dealing with diversity in your life.


Wednesday, April 23rd
In what ways has technology impacted the way that you learn and share information?


Friday, April 25th
Describe a project--writing, building, or otherwise--that you worked hard on and turned out just the way that you wanted.


That's it, hope that you guys have a great week!

E

Journal Prompts, Week 11

Hey Guys,

I'll spare you another revision reminder, but seriously...
OK, that's all I've got. Here are your journal entries for this week. Because we're moving into your last inquiry project, we're going to be starting to post on broader topics, as well as doing some stuff that pertains directly to our op-ed. Hope you're all having a good week, hang in there!
Best,
Elliot

Monday, April 14th
Fill in the blanks (with more than just a word, obviously): "Writing is like ______, revision is like _____"


Wednesday, April 16th
Here's a poem by Philip Booth:

First Lesson

Lie back, daughter, let your head
be tipped back in the cup of my hand.
Gently, and I will hold you. Spread
your arms wide, lie out on the stream
and look high at the gulls. A dead-
man's-float is face down. You will dive
and swim soon enough where this tidewater
ebbs to the sea. Daughter, believe
me, when you tire on the long thrash
to your island, lie up, and survive.
As you float now, where I held you
and let go, remember when fear
cramps your heart what I told you:
lie gently and wide to the light-year
stars, lie back, and the sea will hold you.

Describe your own experience of learning something new.

Friday, April 18th
This is a yearbook picture of a guy. What is he up to now? Make up a story about him.

Journal Entries, Week 10

Hey Guys,

Only two entries this week because I got them posted late. Also, take this as a reminder that we only have 4 (It's CRAZY: 4) weeks left to revise. If you haven't completed at least one of your two significant revisions, you are probably behind. Don't let revision fall by the wayside--start today to make your life easier.

Journal Wednesday 4/9

Find an article, discussion board comment, or opinion on the internet that you completely disagree with. Post a link to it, and also a brief argument of why it's wrong.


Journal Friday 4/11

Find an article, discussion board comment, or opinion on the internet that you think is obviously correct. Post a link to it, and then play devil's advocate and argue from the opposite point of view.

That's it; have a great week!

E

Journal Prompts, Week 7

Hey Guys,

Here are your journal prompts for week seven. We're working up to writing our research paper, so they're mostly related to invention for that. Enjoy--you guys are doing a great job on your journals! Thanks for all your hard work.

All the best,
Elliot

Monday, 3/10
Read this poem:

To be of use
by Marge Piercy

The people I love the best
jump into work head first
without dallying in the shallows
and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.
They seem to become natives of that element,
the black sleek heads of seals
bouncing like half submerged balls.

I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart,
who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience,
who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward,
who do what has to be done, again and again.

I want to be with people who submerge
in the task, who go into the fields to harvest
and work in a row and pass the bags along,
who stand in the line and haul in their places,
who are not parlor generals and field deserters
but move in a common rhythm
when the food must come in or the fire be put out.

The work of the world is common as mud.
Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust.
But the thing worth doing well done
has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.
Greek amphoras for wine or oil,
Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums
but you know they were made to be used.
The pitcher cries for water to carry
and a person for work that is real.

This poem talks about digging in, and really working towards resolution of a problem. A person longs for "work that is real" as a "pitcher cries for water to carry." What work matters to you? If you were to roll up your sleeves and dig in, what would you do?

Wednesday 3/12
Write about a time that someone convinced you or changed your mind about an issue. How did they do it? What type of evidence was credible? How did they speak to you?

Friday 3/14
Is there a particular issue or problem that you really "dork out" on? That is, what issue, interest, or problem do you devote a lot of time or thought to? Why do you do it?

That's it for this week, see you in class!

Elliot

Turning in the Profile

Hey guys,

Here's a reminder of what to bring on Friday for your profile:

(top)
Latest Draft
Participation Self-Evaluation (1 or 2 paragraph evaluation of your contributions to your group)
Intended Audience Fastwrite
Draft #1 (with comments)
Sketch (with comments)
Any invention work
(bottom)

See you Friday!

Elliot

Journal Prompts, Week 6

Hey Team,

We're getting there, hope that you're all having good luck with your profiles. We're going to start doing some invention work this week to get ready for our Research Essay, which is around the corner. Don't forget to stop by my office if you have questions about your personal essay revision--the hour before class on Monday & Wednesday.

All the best,
Elliot

Monday, March 3
What is an issue in one of your communities (i.e. university, civic, sports, etc.) that you wish you knew more about?

Wednesday, March 5
What debate or argument seems so obvious that you can't even get your head around what the other side is about?

Friday, March 7
If you could do more research and get more background information on the issues in your profile or personal essay, which would you choose? Why?