HH(which stands for His Holiness),the 14th Dalai Lama (and my favorite, to date) once said, "The creatures that inhabit this earth-be they human beings or animals-are here to contribute, each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world."
I am not sure where I heard or read that, most likely in a liturgy at Temple or any one of a thousand (hyperbole) books on HH, but I think about that particular notion quite a bit. It goes along the same lines as that age-old query, "Why am I here?" I suppose, but when I think of my contributions to the world and what I can do to be a part of the sum total of beauty and prosperity, only two things ever come to mind. One, of course, is you. Collectively.
I teach. That's something I can do because in so doing, I am afforded the opportunity to, hopefully, broaden minds and open hearts. It is my hope, that this will, in turn, allow you to do the same things with whomever is lucky enough to come in contact with you as you dance through your time on Earth. I don't know if this actually qualifies as a legacy, because that seems like a pretty bold statement, but it's really all I have.
There is that second thing, but it seems silly and I am not sure I want to talk about it and risk being mocked!
So, I ask...what do you do? What will you do? Do you believe in HH's idea about contribution? Does it make sense but seem impossible? Does it seem like a bunch of nonsense? What has been your greatest contribution so far? Don't say nothing or start wailing, "I'm only a teenager--I haven't done anything yet!" because that is a total cop-out. Think about all the people you have known, both superficially and deeply, and imagine how many more you have impacted in ways you might not even know yet. What will your legacy be? And more importantly, what do you WANT it to be?
(450-500 words/75pts)
Monday, April 26, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes....
It has been said that teenagers poised on the precipice of adulthood have two fundamental fears: 1, the idea of change and/or 2, the possibility of making the "wrong" choice.
Now, I know that there are plenty of people who will tell me that the idea of change, especially if it includes a change of scenery from sunny Mays Landing/Mullica to just about anywhere else would be welcomed with open arms and a huge, block-lettered sign.
But, despite the "senioritis" (which has no known medical impliaction by the way AND should not even be an issue since you're JUNIORS!!!)that you have all felt creeping in on you, you have to admit that, at its core, change is a scary proposition. After all, the intrinsic nature of change is that of the unknown, the unchartered, the unfamiliar and the unrevealed.
So, if you are one of the restless souls who yearns for change--what is it about it that is so appealing to you? What do you hope the changes you want to seek out, to undergo or to witness will mean for you, your future, your life? On the other hand, if you are one who double locks the door when change comes a-knockin', tell me what it is about the prospect of it that fightens you. What do you think might happen?
Now, one of Change's many dance partners is Choice. Right/wrong, smart/stupid, bad/ good..choice exists and you are confronted with the notion of it every single day. Sometimes, these are choices of epic proportions--break-up or stay together; cheat or suck it up and take a zero; confront the back-stabbing friend or let it go; get high just this once or walk away never knowing; and sometimes it can be as inconsequential as chicken patty or PB&J.
Either way, your mind has a process it undergoes when you have to make a choice. Tell me about it. Do your weigh all your options and consider possible outcomes, or do you dive in and hope the water isn't too cold? I think I am mix-metaphoring myself into a corner here--but I know you know what I mean. When you are confronted with a choice--how do you make it? Do you seek advice from anyone in particular? Rely solely on your wits? Why?
(450 words/75pts)
Now, I know that there are plenty of people who will tell me that the idea of change, especially if it includes a change of scenery from sunny Mays Landing/Mullica to just about anywhere else would be welcomed with open arms and a huge, block-lettered sign.
But, despite the "senioritis" (which has no known medical impliaction by the way AND should not even be an issue since you're JUNIORS!!!)that you have all felt creeping in on you, you have to admit that, at its core, change is a scary proposition. After all, the intrinsic nature of change is that of the unknown, the unchartered, the unfamiliar and the unrevealed.
So, if you are one of the restless souls who yearns for change--what is it about it that is so appealing to you? What do you hope the changes you want to seek out, to undergo or to witness will mean for you, your future, your life? On the other hand, if you are one who double locks the door when change comes a-knockin', tell me what it is about the prospect of it that fightens you. What do you think might happen?
Now, one of Change's many dance partners is Choice. Right/wrong, smart/stupid, bad/ good..choice exists and you are confronted with the notion of it every single day. Sometimes, these are choices of epic proportions--break-up or stay together; cheat or suck it up and take a zero; confront the back-stabbing friend or let it go; get high just this once or walk away never knowing; and sometimes it can be as inconsequential as chicken patty or PB&J.
Either way, your mind has a process it undergoes when you have to make a choice. Tell me about it. Do your weigh all your options and consider possible outcomes, or do you dive in and hope the water isn't too cold? I think I am mix-metaphoring myself into a corner here--but I know you know what I mean. When you are confronted with a choice--how do you make it? Do you seek advice from anyone in particular? Rely solely on your wits? Why?
(450 words/75pts)
Monday, April 12, 2010
Lost in Translation
I must confess that for as long as I can remember, I've felt felt a tinge of loneliness; ok, more than a tinge. It isn't because I don't have tons of friends--I mean, I don't, but I don't need tons. The few I've got are all I need because I've never been the type of person who judges herself on popularity (Thank Buddha, or else I'd have been morbidly depressed by now!) No, the truth is that I've almost always felt lonely for one reason: the sinking feeling that there are precious few people who view the world and those in it the way I do. For some reason, this matters a great deal to me. And this is the reason that I sometimes feel like I'm miles away even while surrounded by humans.
Often, when I'm feeling alone, I like to keep moving. Specifically, I like to go for walks. Don't ask me why. So this is the state of affairs that brought me to Center City Philly the other night. As I roamed Queen Village after dark, I found myself replaying some of the interactions with various people I'd had up to that point in the day. When my mind settled on one of the day's conversations--I don't remember which--I distinctly recall feeling a rising tide of frustration. And while I'm sketchy on the details of the conversation which sparked these thoughts, I know precisely what frustrated me that evening, because it's something that consistently frustrates me to no end: the realization that most people seem to have no handle on what it means to be "intelligent." Not that I feel that I have a monopoly on the definition. It's just that I feel that people throw the word around like it's a hacky sack, with little to no thought about how their use of the term speaks volumes about what they value in terms of mental capacity. This is in now way meant to say that I only talk to stupid people or that I am surrounded by them--that is not what I am talking about. There just seems to be a disconnect in what I deem "intelligent" and the rest of the world does.
So, you guessed it. I'd like you to weigh in on the subject. What does it mean to be "intelligent"? Who's the smartest person you've ever known? What is it that makes them so intelligent in your view? Be specific, cite examples and do your best to arrive at a definition. But DON'T consult a dictionary. If you absolutely can't resist the temptation to chew on someone else's thoughts on the subject, I'd like you to google quotations on intelligence and tell me if you come across one that sums up your views on the topic--or one that doesn't if playing devil's advocate is your thing (ahem, Kyle!). Share the quote with us and connect it with your response. Don't rush your thinking. Let it marinate...(450 words/60pts)
Often, when I'm feeling alone, I like to keep moving. Specifically, I like to go for walks. Don't ask me why. So this is the state of affairs that brought me to Center City Philly the other night. As I roamed Queen Village after dark, I found myself replaying some of the interactions with various people I'd had up to that point in the day. When my mind settled on one of the day's conversations--I don't remember which--I distinctly recall feeling a rising tide of frustration. And while I'm sketchy on the details of the conversation which sparked these thoughts, I know precisely what frustrated me that evening, because it's something that consistently frustrates me to no end: the realization that most people seem to have no handle on what it means to be "intelligent." Not that I feel that I have a monopoly on the definition. It's just that I feel that people throw the word around like it's a hacky sack, with little to no thought about how their use of the term speaks volumes about what they value in terms of mental capacity. This is in now way meant to say that I only talk to stupid people or that I am surrounded by them--that is not what I am talking about. There just seems to be a disconnect in what I deem "intelligent" and the rest of the world does.
So, you guessed it. I'd like you to weigh in on the subject. What does it mean to be "intelligent"? Who's the smartest person you've ever known? What is it that makes them so intelligent in your view? Be specific, cite examples and do your best to arrive at a definition. But DON'T consult a dictionary. If you absolutely can't resist the temptation to chew on someone else's thoughts on the subject, I'd like you to google quotations on intelligence and tell me if you come across one that sums up your views on the topic--or one that doesn't if playing devil's advocate is your thing (ahem, Kyle!). Share the quote with us and connect it with your response. Don't rush your thinking. Let it marinate...(450 words/60pts)
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
How to do a Speech Analysis
Well, today was butt. But, onward and upward.
If you came to see me before you went to NHS, you got the materials needed for doing a speech analysis; i.e. the rhetorical triangle graphic.
The rhetorical triangle consists of 3 separate but equally important parts: The message, the audience, the speaker. Each category lends itself to appeals to logos, ethos and pathos. The handout should be self-explanatory about that, but if it isn't or if you need clarification, let me know.
So, the first thing you need to consider is: What is the message or the thesis of your speech? What is it that the speaker is trying to get across? Once you figure that out, you have the thesis of your own analysis. Therefore, the "message" should be explained in your intro. The message always appeals to logos--yes, pathos is often at work as well, but any speaker worth his or her salt, (what does that expression even mean, anyway??), will need to incorporate a healthy dose of logic in order to be heard. Why? Because you can be as passionate as you want about something, but if it doesn't make sense, your message is lost in the rhetoric. Watch any GOP debate if you don't believe me! ;)
Next, you need to reflect on your audience--well, not YOUR audience--but the audience who was listening to the speech you were assigned. You may need to research the context of the speech on your own--awwwwww...stop whining....in order to fully understand who the audience was. Knowing that will be an integral part of your analysis though, because if you know who your audience was then it will be easy to clarify the message and the purpose.
Last, think about the speaker. Most people, when they are listening to someone speak, have the benefit of seeing them as well. You don't (unless you can find a YouTube vid of your particular speech). Therefore, you need to depend solely on the diction contained within the speech to determine credibility, likeability, believability etc. Look for lit devices at work, or lack thereof, determine their use and include all of that in the analysis.
Questions?
If you came to see me before you went to NHS, you got the materials needed for doing a speech analysis; i.e. the rhetorical triangle graphic.
The rhetorical triangle consists of 3 separate but equally important parts: The message, the audience, the speaker. Each category lends itself to appeals to logos, ethos and pathos. The handout should be self-explanatory about that, but if it isn't or if you need clarification, let me know.
So, the first thing you need to consider is: What is the message or the thesis of your speech? What is it that the speaker is trying to get across? Once you figure that out, you have the thesis of your own analysis. Therefore, the "message" should be explained in your intro. The message always appeals to logos--yes, pathos is often at work as well, but any speaker worth his or her salt, (what does that expression even mean, anyway??), will need to incorporate a healthy dose of logic in order to be heard. Why? Because you can be as passionate as you want about something, but if it doesn't make sense, your message is lost in the rhetoric. Watch any GOP debate if you don't believe me! ;)
Next, you need to reflect on your audience--well, not YOUR audience--but the audience who was listening to the speech you were assigned. You may need to research the context of the speech on your own--awwwwww...stop whining....in order to fully understand who the audience was. Knowing that will be an integral part of your analysis though, because if you know who your audience was then it will be easy to clarify the message and the purpose.
Last, think about the speaker. Most people, when they are listening to someone speak, have the benefit of seeing them as well. You don't (unless you can find a YouTube vid of your particular speech). Therefore, you need to depend solely on the diction contained within the speech to determine credibility, likeability, believability etc. Look for lit devices at work, or lack thereof, determine their use and include all of that in the analysis.
Questions?
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Countdown to Success
Well, as I may have told some of you on Friday, I have been thinking a lot about the upcoming weeks ahead. I know that I have repeatedly drilled into your head that April is the month where we truly separate the “men from the boys” as it were.
Sidebar: isn’t it weird how so many of those banal adages exclusively use male/masculine pronouns/references etc? Why is that?
Anyway, Word is telling me to reword that tired old cliché to read: “distinguish the professionals from the amateurs” which does sound better I suppose.
I know for the past few months I have been referring to April as “Death Month” which, in hindsight, really doesn’t reflect what I want it to. In fact, it is a terrible phrase and I am sorry those inimical words ever tumbled from my mouth because that is not how I want you all to look at it. Rather, I want you to take it, and the work that will need to be done to prepare for it, seriously, but I also want you to understand that that’s really all you need to do. You’ve already done the hard stuff—you’ve learned it. April is just extra time to master what you already know, and maybe to clarify some things about which you aren’t entirely confident yet.
And that, poppets, is where this week’s blog comes in.
What I would like you to do is think about the things we’ve learned so far. This and next week will be entirely devoted to writing, but consider carefully the things we have done in class up until this point. What, if any, are the obstacles that you foresee to getting a 4 or 5 on the exam? What do you think your weak areas are, and what would you like to review more of come April? What do you think are the best ways to review? Your responses here will determine how I break up the different areas for Exam Review Month (Death Month’s new and improved moniker), so please be as precise as possible.
(No word count, but I expect some serious and reflective thoughts/50pts)
Sidebar: isn’t it weird how so many of those banal adages exclusively use male/masculine pronouns/references etc? Why is that?
Anyway, Word is telling me to reword that tired old cliché to read: “distinguish the professionals from the amateurs” which does sound better I suppose.
I know for the past few months I have been referring to April as “Death Month” which, in hindsight, really doesn’t reflect what I want it to. In fact, it is a terrible phrase and I am sorry those inimical words ever tumbled from my mouth because that is not how I want you all to look at it. Rather, I want you to take it, and the work that will need to be done to prepare for it, seriously, but I also want you to understand that that’s really all you need to do. You’ve already done the hard stuff—you’ve learned it. April is just extra time to master what you already know, and maybe to clarify some things about which you aren’t entirely confident yet.
And that, poppets, is where this week’s blog comes in.
What I would like you to do is think about the things we’ve learned so far. This and next week will be entirely devoted to writing, but consider carefully the things we have done in class up until this point. What, if any, are the obstacles that you foresee to getting a 4 or 5 on the exam? What do you think your weak areas are, and what would you like to review more of come April? What do you think are the best ways to review? Your responses here will determine how I break up the different areas for Exam Review Month (Death Month’s new and improved moniker), so please be as precise as possible.
(No word count, but I expect some serious and reflective thoughts/50pts)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Questions For Bunje
You ask; I'll answer. It's the best I can do right now, and I know that still stinks and I am genuinely sorry about that.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Rigor Redefined
Stay tuned for more info on This I Believe...
Til then, onward and upward...
Last week, I had you read an article by Tony Wagner called "Rigor Redefined." In it, he references many AP classes that he observed and how, in simple terms, he found them woefully inadequate.
Although I asked you to write a reaction paper to this article, I would like you to take this opportunity to tell me what you really thought of this article, specifically about what he mentioned were the skills that CEOs and company execs really look for in their new hires.
Do you feel as though your schooling thus far has prepared you for what these companies appear to be looking for?
Go a step further and consider the job pursuits you in which you hope to engage. What do you want to do? If you left school right now, do you feel as though you would be work-place ready and prepared for what they want? Why or why not?
What about the AP classes Wagner references...do they sound familiar to you? Why? We will be talking about your answers to my "Curriculum question" this week as well, so use this discussion as a way to gather your thoughts.
(450 words/50pts)
Til then, onward and upward...
Last week, I had you read an article by Tony Wagner called "Rigor Redefined." In it, he references many AP classes that he observed and how, in simple terms, he found them woefully inadequate.
Although I asked you to write a reaction paper to this article, I would like you to take this opportunity to tell me what you really thought of this article, specifically about what he mentioned were the skills that CEOs and company execs really look for in their new hires.
Do you feel as though your schooling thus far has prepared you for what these companies appear to be looking for?
Go a step further and consider the job pursuits you in which you hope to engage. What do you want to do? If you left school right now, do you feel as though you would be work-place ready and prepared for what they want? Why or why not?
What about the AP classes Wagner references...do they sound familiar to you? Why? We will be talking about your answers to my "Curriculum question" this week as well, so use this discussion as a way to gather your thoughts.
(450 words/50pts)
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