November 24, 2015 - Tuesday

Class Work

1. Brief discussion . . . what are the "earth, wind, fire, water" issues facing us today?
2. Today, we will finish viewing and discussing An Inconvenient Truth. Write your responses on the paper copy of the questions. (See last Thursday's blog for the questions.) If you were absent on Thursday, just jump in where we begin today.

Homework:

Please enjoy the time with family and friends and food.

Also, read: "Hot Enough for You?" by Jerry Adler in Smithsonian Magazine , May 2014. Here is the link to the article. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/reality-hotter-world-already-here-180951172/

This article is about Phoenix.
A. Before you read the article, write a personal experience paragraph or two about summer in the Phoenix area. Think about the heat. What is it like to spend time outside in July or August when the thermometer climbs to 120 degrees? What do you do to endure and possibly enjoy the heat? Describe a typical day for you.
B. Read the article. Make a bulleted list of the 10 most interesting or important bits of information you discovered in the article.
C. Write a brief paragraph and agree or disagree with the author's thesis. Is the "climate apocalypse"upon us?

November 19, 2015 - Thursday

Class Work

1. Let's take a look at "The Bounty of the Sea" by Jacque Cousteau, the father of Jean-Michel Cousteau who wrote "Saving the Songs of the Sea."


2. Watching An Inconvenient Truth

An Inconvenient Truth – Questions

After viewing the documentary, answer the following questions.

1.       Why does the film open and close with serene images of nature: lush green leaves and a gently flowing river on a sunny day, followed by Al Gore’s voice-over about this peaceful place? What is the impact on the viewer?

2.       In this film, Gore narrates a moment in 1989 when his six-year-old son dropped his father’s hand, ran into the street, and was severely injured. How does this personal story relate to Gore’s mission?

3.       Much of the film consists of scientific facts and charts. Think back and answer the following:

·         Why do we have global warming?

·         What is the relationship between carbon dioxide and temperature?

·         How does global warming contribute to an increase in the number and severity of storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and typhoons?

·         How can global warming cause both violent precipitation as well as droughts?

4.       Explain the significance of each of these references from the film:

·         The findings of core drills

·         The thawing of the permafrost, the splitting of the Ward Hunt ice shelf, and the disappearance of the Larson ice shelf

·         The Arctic ice cap disappearing

·         The image of a canary in a coal mine

·         The image of the frog in the cooking pot

5.       Cite three ecological consequences of global warming in the animal and plant communities.

6.       Gore used quotations from several memorable people.  Explain how they apply to the topic of global warming.

·         Mark Twain: “What gets us into trouble is not what we don’t know; it’s what we know that just ain’t so.”

·         Upton Sinclair: “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.” Consider citing specific ways that this statement is illustrated throughout this film.

·         Stephen Pacala and Robert Socolow in Science magazine: “Humanity already possesses the fundamental scientific, technical, and industrial know-how to solve the carbon and climate problems.”

7.       Explain the significance of the film’s title An Inconvenient Truth.


Homework

Locate two articles on one environmental issue that is important to you. It can deal with earth, wind, fire, water, or any creature or element linked to these.  Identify the problem, causes, and/or effects of the issue. Also list the URL or the bibliographical information if you are using a paper source. Due: Tuesday, November 24, 2015. Post in CANVAS.

No class on Tuesday, November 17, 2015

We will not be meeting on Tuesday, November 17, 2015. We will meet on Thursday.

November 12, 2015 - Thursday

Class Work

1. Document your sources . . . do you remember how to create in-text citations?
Don't forget the Works Cited page!
Sample Essay: http://writershelp.bedfordstmartins.com/ebooks/helphandbook/pdfs/Hacker-Daly-MLA.pdf
 and
http://www.dianahacker.com/bedhandbook6e/subpages/model.html

Step #1: Look over your own draft and note the places where you either cited sources or need to. Mark those - highlighters are available.
Step #2: We will go over one of the sample essays together. Look at your own essay and determine if you credited your sources correctly. Take notes on how to do that. Write in your margins.
Step #3: Look at your Works Cited page. Double check to be sure that all of the sources you cited in the paper are listed on your Works Cited page.
Step #4: Make sure the Works Cited page is double spaced, has hanging indents, and is in alphabetical order. If you used EasyBib correctly or other citation machine, it should be correct.

2. Post the final copy of your essay in CANVAS. It is due Tuesday.

3. "Saving the Songs of the Sea" (paper handout)

• Take three notecards and one copy of the essay
• Join a group. Groups need to be four or five in size. Meet in one of the four corners or in the bonus room.
• Read the essay silently to yourself.
• Highlight words, phrases, or sentences that are important or interesting to you.
• Select the three most important words, phrases, or sentences and write each on its own notecard.
• Flip the card over and explain why you were impressed by or drawn to the word, phrase, or sentence. Why is it important?
• Listen to the directions for the next part of the activity - Save the Last Word for Me.

November 10, 2015 - Tuesday

Class Work

1. If you did not present your technology/art picture, now is the time!
2. Please hand me the paper copy of your technology/art notes if you have not already done so.
3. You will need a paper copy of your "Technology: Friend or Foe?" inventory. Take a minute to print.
4. You will be talking to two other students in the class and sharing your outline/inventory. Take three minutes for each partner to share. Ask each other questions. Point out strengths - tell your partner what you like about their inventory. Tell additional information would help you to better understand.
Points for discussion:

• What is the most interesting piece of information you have located so far?
• How do you plan to introduce the topic? What will you do to capture the attention of the reading audience?
• What evidence do you plan to include in your essay?
• Expert sources?
• Interview?
• News accounts?
• Personal anecdote?
• Lines from literature or music?
• Art?
• Strong statistics?
• What will you do to wrap it up for the readers?
• What do you want them to do as a result of reading your essay?
• Do they need the technology?
• Have you mentioned:
• Convenience?
• Cost?
• Safety?
• Environmental impact
• Impact of society? (How would society be different without the technology? Better? Worse?)

5. Jot down your notes. Reflect on what you plan to do now that you are ready to complete the draft of your essay. The draft is due on Thursday. Begin your Works Cited page in EasyBib or other bibliography tracker. Be sure to note in your draft where you will need to use in-text citations or simply include them now. This is your homework. Post the draft in CANVAS by Thursday.

6. The rest of the time is yours to work on your draft. I will be around to take a look at your progress and to answer questions.

November 5, 2015 - Thursday

Class Work

Today we will be visiting the virtual art gallery! You are the docents and will share what you see in art that relates to the technological wonder of your choice.

As visitors to the gallery, you will need to take a few notes. You may use paper or you may create a Word document and print the final copy.
A. Record the name of the piece of art.
B. Briefly summarize what the "docent" said about the art and the technology.
C. Share if you agree or disagree with the docent about the virtues or vices of the technology.

1. What is the title of the work? How does the title help you to understand the message? What is the message?
2. What is the most obvious image in the work. To where is your eye drawn?
3. Look at the colors. Are they symbolic? Would the message be different if the colors were different? Explain.
4. Study the shading and shadowing. How do these elements impact the overall message?
5. Who is the artist? When was the work created? Is the artist's message about a specific event in history? What was going on in the world when the work was created? Is the art universal - speaks to people of all times and in all places, or is it limited to the audience for whom it was created.
6. How does the work relate to us in 21st century America?
7. How is the art different from or similar to the object you selected?

You are now ready to start writing. Take a look at the directions.

 

Technology – Friend or Foe?

For this essay, you are writing to convince the opposition. Consider the dangers and advantages of technology. For this essay, you must pick a side. Think of this essay as a debate on paper. You must know what the opposition thinks, but you do not support that point of view.

I.                    Introduction –

a.       Identify the specific technology you will be discussing – cell phone, computer, automobile, dishwasher, microwave, GPS, video games, etc.

b.      Capture the attention of the audience in the normal way with startling statistics, an interesting anecdote, a quotation from an expert, lines from a song or poem, a thought provoking question, etc. In short, make sure that what you say makes the reader want to know more.

c.       In addition, state your thesis – make your point of view clear! (Some of you may be taking a creative approach. See me if this is the case.)

II.                  The body of the paper will do several things –

a.       Convince the reader that they either need or do not need the technology.

b.      Provide a brief history of the specific technology you plan to discuss. What was life like before its invention? When was it invented? How has it evolved? What is its story?

c.       Provide clear evidence to support your point of view. You must have proof from at least four of the following:

                                                               i.      At least three experts/sources. You may use the articles studied in class and articles that specifically relate to your chosen technology.

                                                             ii.      A current news source such as a newspaper or magazine article or news cast.

                                                            iii.      An interview with at least one user.

                                                           iv.      A personal anecdote.

                                                             v.      Lines from literature – poem, short story, or novel. “There Will Come Soft Rains”  and “The Veldt” were studied in class. You may use other SciFi literature.

                                                           vi.      A work of art

                                                          vii.      Strong statistics from an expert source.

The body of the paper will be several paragraphs in length.

III.                Conclusion –

Wrap it up for the readers. Leave them with a call to action to either give up or get the gadget you are supporting. Be sure they know why they need or do not need one. Consider:

a.       Convenience

b.      Cost

c.       Safety

d.      Environmental impact

e.      Impact on society

 

Homework: Begin by jotting down notes based on the information you already have. For example, what information do you already have that relates to the safety of the technology? Have you decided how to introduce the technology? Do you know the history? Have you talked to other "users" of the technology? By taking an inventory of what you already have, you can tell what research you still need to do.

Once you have completed your inventory, start your draft. Post the inventory and the introduction of your essay in CANVAS by the beginning of class on Tuesday, November 10, 2015.

 

November 3, 2015 - Tuesday

Class Work

Remember the amazing technology gizmo or gadget that you selected? You may use it or you may select another for this activity. Your task is to find a work of art, that included photography, sculpture, painting, drawing, or even a computerized work. Try to avoid works where you cannot identify the artist.
This is what you need to answer:

1. What is the title of the work? How does the title help you to understand the message? What is the message?
2. What is the most obvious image in the work. To where is your eye drawn?
3. Look at the colors. Are they symbolic? Would the message be different if the colors were different? Explain.
4. Study the shading and shadowing. How do these elements impact the overall message?
5. Who is the artist? When was the work created? Is the artist's message about a specific event in history? What was going on in the world when the work was created? Is the art universal - speaks to people of all times and in all places, or is it limited to the audience for whom it was created.
6. How does the work relate to us in 21st century America?
7. How is the art different from or similar to the object you selected?

Let's look at one together:

Supposed I selected the iPhone watch as my technology focus. I might go looking for pictures of clocks or watches. This is what I might find:

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-006&ei=utf-8&fr=ytff1-yff25&p=melting%20clocks%20salvador%20dali&type=

or

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Disintegration_of_the_Persistence_of_Memory#/media/File:DisintegrationofPersistence.jpg

Get your thoughts on paper before you go searching for what "experts" say.
Once done, look up the information about the artist. For example: http://www.authenticsociety.com/about/ThePersistenceOfMemory_Dali

Your task today is to research and be able to answer the questions related to art. On Thursday, you will be presenting your "art" and information to the class.
Create a PowerPoint slide of the art so that the class can view it as you tell us what you think and what you found. (15 points for the art slide/35 points for the answers to the seven questions.)
 In addition, post the answers to the art questions. You may do this in slide or sentence format. Post on CANVAS!

The remaining time is yours!