ignite talks: period 2

Wow.  Just... wow.  What a great start to the week!

Jaime Arroyo: How can our brain tell if we really have free will?

Chris Avalos: What can we do to save

Eneas Barrera: Everyone has a brain.  How can we get better at using our brains to concentrate and express our feelings?

Jerry Cortes: What is worth fighting for?

Martin Diaz: What is inside Area 51 and why is it a secret?

Ana Duran: What would life on Earth be like without marine animals?

Jorge Garcilazo: What are resources?

Willie: [absent]

Maira: What do you want your final words to be?

Michael: Does the government really care about you?

Alfredo: [absent]

Everardo: [absent]

Jesus: Why is school so important?

Marisol: How would people be without phones?

Jonathan: Why can’t teachers tell us to start our own business or give advice about entrepreneurship, instead of just telling us to get a job?

Hector: What is depression?

Alexes: How can I have an impact on Earth?  There are 8 billion people, how can I make a difference?

Fabian: How long will this planet last?

Arian: What are they hiding in Area 51?

Flor: How can we motivate people to care about our planet?

Karina: If language exists to communicate, why are there so many instead of just one?

Marisol: Why do crime cases take so long to solve, and why over time are they considered less important?

Bryan: Can you get sick from eating unripe fruit?

Denisse: Most people hate their 9-5

Jennifer: [absent]

Aaliyah: If our country has trillions of dollars to fund military, why can’t we help the homeless?

Francisco: How can we stop or reduce global warming?

Pablo: School pressures us to go to college but doesn’t prepare us for life—how can school teach us the life skills we will need whether we go to college or not?

Karla: Why are people superstitious?

Lizbeth: Why does depression and associated suicidal thoughts occur?

january 27

JOURNAL TOPIC:

Today you have a choice.  Please select one of the following options (or, have a blast and write about both!)

What makes a person "great"?  Please define qualities or characteristics as specifically as you can, and give examples.

-OR-

Yesterday, former NBA player Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter accident.  Many people aspired to be like him-- athletic, articulate, good-looking, rich... and today he's gone.  So is his 13 year-old daughter and the other passengers.  What thoughts and feelings does this bring up for you?

AGENDA:
1. [MINUTE OF MINDFULNESS]
2. Journal
3. Your 30 seconds of greatness: Ignite talks

POST:
Which Big Questions were you most interested in or excited about today?  List these and explain what got your attention. (title: I'M IGNITED)

HW:
Meet The Great Gatsby.  Read the first few pages and come to class Tuesday prepared to discuss.

January 24

Journal topic: Why do you think so many people fear public speaking? We talk all the time without caring if people listen, so what’s a few more? If you’re nervous about speaking in public, ask yourself why, and brainstorm a little — how can you conquer your fear?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Fine tune your ignite talk

examples of big questions from the past

Some of you have asked for examples, so here you go.  Check out the comments to the following posts:

https://drprestonsrhsenglitcomp13.blogspot.com/2013/05/whats-your-big-question.html

https://drprestonsamlitsmhs1617.blogspot.com/2016/08/whats-your-big-question.html

https://drprestonsamlitsmhs1920.blogspot.com/2019/08/whats-your-big-question.html

january 23

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "Ice Cream Man by Tom Waits; "Ice Cream Man" by Van Halen]
Imagine that you are having a conversation with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  You say chocolate ice cream is the best.  He says nope, it's vanilla.  Who will win?  How would your ethos, pathos, and logos compare? Give at least one specific example for each concept.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Ignite talks
3. Begin work on your Big Question talk.  Due Monday 1/27

POST:
Look up HOPEPUNK.  It's America's newest literary genre.  Explain what it is and why authors think it matters. (title: HOPEPUNK)

thoughts on taking notes

This article is brilliant.  Read it.  It wasn't assigned by a teacher or written by a student.  It's by an adult, for an adult audience, because everyone wants to figure out how they can think better and use what they learn to succeed.

Take some notes.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/how-to-take-notes-while-reading?utm_source=pocket-newtab

scholarship opportunity

Over the next few weeks we will start finding and applying for scholarships.  This one just came to my attention this morning, and all of you are essay writers, so get started.  If enough people write, I will dedicate some time in class next week for us to discuss and edit.