Friday, October 30, 2009

Classwork: 2009.10.30

Part 1:Pick a Poet


Go to poets.org and choose a poet. (The 20 most popular contemporary poets and 25 most historical dead poets are listed on the right side, but you can choose anyone on the website.)

On a piece of paper, write down the poet's name, and the name of at least three of his/her poems.

Then go to a library....
....and find a book of poems by that poet. Copy down the ISBN.

Show this paper to me THEN KEEP IT SOMEWHERE SAFE. You will be doing more with this poet later.


Part 2:Introduction to our BIG assignment


Go to http://themedassignment.blogspot.com/.

This site has over 100 options and in the next few weeks you will need to select one of these options.

Today we're only interested in seeing what kinds of information are on this site. Answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper to be handed in today:

    1. What is the the name of the first bundle listed on this page?

    2. How many books does this bundle have?

    3. How many bundles were posted in November 2008?

    4. Find the bundle called "The Russian Space Program." What date was it posted?

    5. In the bundle "Infinite Universe," what is the title of the included novel?

    6. Which website is most recommended for MLA help?

    7. Who has to sign the permission slip?

    8. What website do I recommend if you decide to buy your books?

    9. What English teachers did Mr Jepson get the idea for this assignment from?

    10. What is "Project Gutenberg"?

    For the next ten questions, choose one bundle and answer the questions while looking at that bundle.

    11. What is the name of the bundle you selected?

    12. How many books does that bundle have?

    13. How many movies does that bundle have?

    14. How many pieces of music does that bundle have?

    15. What Wikipedia article does that bundle require you to read?

    For the rest of the questions, you will have to get information about the bundle you chose that is not available on the bundles webpage.

    16. Find the Wikipedia article. What does it have to do with the bundle's title?

    17. How many paragraphs long is the Wikipedia article?

    18. Write down the title, author and ISBN of one of the books in your bundle.

    19. Write down the location of the closest library for that book.

    20. How much does that book cost to buy (and tell me what website you got the price from)?
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Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Classwork: 2009.10.13

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Part 1

    Lord of the Flies Test

    1. Take this quiz. (Press the yellow button to start.)
    Take a screen shot of your score. (How to take a screenshot.)
    Save the screenshot as [yourname]-LotF-Oct132009.
    Upload your image here.
    Leave a link to the image in the comments of this post. If you are worried that I won't know it is you, leave your name in the comment also.

    2. Read this article.
    Make a chart of the reasons people gave for why or why not William Golding deserved the Nobel Prize for Literature.
    Based on your opinion of Lord of the Flies, which side of the argument to you agree with? Explain your reasons in a well-formed paragraph below your chart (or on the other side of the paper). Turn it in before class ends.

    3. Pick two of the symbols from the book listed here.
    Write a paragraph explaining how these two symbols make the book better. (So make sure you picked two good ones.)


Part 2




Part 3

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Thursday, October 1, 2009

Classwork: 2009.10.02

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Due at the end of the period.

Use your own paper or email your answers to jepson[dot]mr[at]gmail[dot]com.


PART ONE

Go to http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/17-10/ff_smartlist where you will find “12 Shocking Ideas That Could Change the World.”

Choose at least five of these ideas, read the short article and answer the questions on a separate piece of paper. (You may do more than five for additional credit.) Please give well thought-out answers in complete sentences. Staple your answers neatly to the paper before we leave.

John Arquilla “Go on the Cyberoffensive”
What does John Arquilla think government hackers should be doing?
Why?

Thorkil Sonne “Recruit Autistics”
What is Thorkil Sonne doing with autistics?
How is it working out for him?

Gregg Easterbrook “Embrace Human Cloning”
What human clones already exist?
Who does Gregg Easterbrook think might use cloning?

Ralph Keeney “Cheat Death”
Why do most people 15-64 die?
How does Ralph Keeney suggest we fix that problem?

Dambisa Moyo “Cut Off Aid to Africa”
What's the name of Dambisa Moyo's book?
Why does she think aid to Africa is harmful?

Nils Christie “Empty the Prisons”
Count: How many prisoners does the US have per 10000 citizens?
How does Nils Christie think we could bring that number down?

Stewart Brand “Save the Slums”
Where are the slums Stewart Brand is talking about?
What good do they do?

Stefan Szymanski and Stephen Ross “Bust Up Big League Sports”
Describe what Stefan Szymanski and Stephen Ross's version of the big leagues would look like.
How could this make the leagues more competitive?

Ludwig Minelli “Legalize Assisted Suicide”
What country has legally assisted suicide?
What does Ludwig Minelli do for those who want to kill themselves?

Jamie Heywood “Forget Medical Privacy”
What's the most common symptom of ALS?
Why does Jamie Heywood think everyone having access to information like that would be good?

William Gurstelle “Take Smart Risks”
What is "the golden art of living dangerously"?
How can you tell that William Gurstelle is in favor of it?

Robert Gates “Overhaul the Pentagon”
What is Robert Gates's job title?
Why does the US military waste so much money?


PART TWO

Pick the three "dangerous ideas" that you find most interesting and find at least one book on that topic using the library websites listed below. Start with the library you have a library card for, but if you can't find a book there, check out one of the other libraries. Once you've found the book, copy down the TITLE, AUTHOR, ISBN, the LIBRARY THAT HAS IT, and WHAT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE DANGEROUS IDEA. Do this for all three ideas you selected (you may do more than three for additional credit).
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