Journal- September 30th

Read this quotation:

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
--Mahatma Gandhi

1. What do you think Gandhi is try to say in this quotation?


2. How does this quotation relate to taking personal responsibility for your actions?


3. Do you agree with what Gandhi says? Why or why not?


4. What's an example of a time you were unhappy with something in your life and you decided to do something about it?

Journal- September 28th

Click here to read an article about teen dating violence. Then, answer the questions.

1. What is the statistic the article gives about the amount of teenage dating violence out there?


2. What does the article say are some causes of teen dating violence?



3. What are some of the programs the article mentions to help teach teens about healthy dating? What do students do in the program?


4. What are different examples of abuses that can occur in a dating relationship?


5. What do you think are some ways to reduce the amount of teen dating violence out there?

Journal- September 24th

Read the following quotation:

Imagination is more important than knowledge...

Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

1. What do you think Albert Einstein is try to say in this quotation?

2. Do you agree or disagree with this quotation? Why or why? (Explain in complete sentences)

Journal September 23rd

"The Freshest Boy" by F. Scott Fitzgerald tells a story of boy who isn't accepted by his fellow classmates because of he comes from a poorer family and different background than them.

1. Do students still discriminate against other students by how much money they have or their family background? If you think so in what ways?

2. How do you think it makes students feel when they're made fun of for factors they can't control--their race, their looks, and how much money their family has?

3. Do you consider yourself a follower who likes to blend into a group of people or a person who has their own style and doesn't conform to what others expect?

Journal- September 22nd

Click on the following link:


http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=9zL4zLF_2fao1uY6Y854Wpog_3d_3d


Follow up question:

1. Do you think bullying is an issue in our school system? Why or why? If you think it's a problem, what can be done to create a safer, more positive environment at school?

Journal- September 21st

"The Sculptor's Funeral" describes the negative behavior and attitude of people living in a small town. It is also about jealousy about another person's success?

1. How do you think growing up in a small influences you? If you lived in a large city, do you think you would be a different person in the way you thought and acted?

2. Why do you think people become jealous of other people's successes?

3. When someone dies, do people tend to speak nicer about them than when they were alive, or are they harsher toward them? Why do you think so?

Journal- September 17th

We're going to read a short story by Nebraska's most famous author. Even though Cather left Nebraska by her mid twenties, many of her novels and short stories are based on her experience there. Even though she eventually lived in New York and New Mexico, a part of the state she grew up in stayed with her.

1. What do you think are the positive aspects of living in Nebraska?


2. What do you think are some of the negative aspects of living in Nebraska?

3. How does the community that you grew up in influence the rest of your life?


4.Do you want to stay in rural area after you graduate or do want to live in a rural area? Why or why not?

For Clifford:
Wednesday:
Pel/Puls= Push Examples: propel, repel, compulsory, propel, propeller
Thursday
Arch= Leader or Government; Old Example: archaic; monarch; anarchy; archaeology

Journal- September 16th

"I am From" Poem--


Go to Angel, HS English 11, Writing Folder; then download "I am From" Poem Template/Example.

Journal- September 15th

Read the following article :

1. Write a three sentence summary of the article?

2. Do you think Kanye West, Serena Williams, and Representative Joe Wilson should have apologize for the comments they made? Why or why not?

3. Do you think that celebrities should be held to a high standard for their behavior than the regular public or do you think that celebrities are criticized too much why or why not?

4. Do you think the media(TV, radio, newspaper) focuses too much on celebrities instead of on other issues happening in the U.S. and around the world? Why or why not?

Journal Topic- September 14th

In the short story, "The Far and the Near", we learn that appearances can be misleading as the engineer finds out that the view close up of two women is much different than from a train. We learn that you can't 'judge a book by its cover'

1. Do you think our society/country cares more about the outside appearances/looks of people, objects, and events instead of understanding things at a deeper level? Why or why not?

2. Have you ever judged a person by their outside appearance without getting to know them? Did your opinion of the person change once you got to know them?

3. Do you think people ever judge you or form an opinion about you without really getting to know you? How so?

4. Why do you think

Journal Topic- September 10th

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.
-Harper Lee

1. What do you think the author of this quotation is saying?

2. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?

3. What's an example from your life, someone else's life, a movie, a book, or something in the news that relates to this quotation?

Journal-September 9th

Read the following article about surprising research about teenage maturity and risky behavior.

1. In a four sentence summary, what were the main ideas the article presented?




2. Do you think that teenagers have to take risks in order to mature faster or do you think teenagers can mature without engaging in risky behavior? Why or why not?



3. Why do you think some teenagers mature faster emotionally and mentally compared to other teenagers?

Journal- September 8th

If available listen to Obama speech by clicking this link or read the speech by clicking this link.

Write in complete sentences responding to these questions.

1. What are the main messages of Obama's speech?

2. Obama talks about setting goals for yourself. What are some of your short term goal(ones you can do right now) and long term goals(ones for the future) for yourself educationally and job wise? What steps can you do to achieve those goals?

3. Obama talks about overcoming obstacles in your life by taking responsibility for your education. Do you agree with him that all obstacles can be overcome?

4. What do you think is the biggest challenge/obstacle facing your generation? What do you think can be done to solve it?

Journal Topic- September 3rd

Health care reform is one of the biggest issues being debated in Congress and the White House today? Why is or isn't health care an important issue to you? Do you think teens care about what happens with changes to the health care system? Why or why not? Should access to health care and health insurance be available to every U.S. citizen? What do you think should be done to help reduce the cost of health care and keep the same quality people can receive?

Journal Topic-September 2nd

"Continuous excellent effort, not maximum strength or superior IQ, is thekey to unlocking your potential as an achiever."
--Greg Werner

In your own words, what does this quotation mean? Why do you agree or disagree with the author of this quotation? Give an example from your own life, another's life, a book, or a movie to help support your answer.

Journal Topic- September 1st

Click on the following link . Read the article about texting while driving.

1. Write a summary about the article including the main idea and then important details you thought were important.
2. After reading the article, what's your opinion about text while driving? Is it a danger? Should it be made illegal? Why or why not?