Skip to main content

Homework

Seniors 
For Wednesday, you are to bring at least one article that focuses your attention on one aspect of modern life as it relates to this issue. Your article can be in any field you find interesting. Some examples discussed include food substitutions, artificial tanning, and zoos. The over-arching question is based on Baudrillard's prediction that we will not only prefer the artificial to the real, but that the original will lose value:
For example, people might prefer The Venetian in Las Vegas to actual Venice, Italy - staying there for their honeymoon and riding in the gondolas along the "canals" inside the mall. After all, the hotel is right there next to shopping and restaurants, and Paris is right across the street.
The article should be credible, and it should support, not form, your argument. The tone of the article does not have to be negative, of course. We wouldn't be so apt to transition to artificial versions of things without good reason -- i.e. lower cost, convenience, and sometimes improved quality.

For a list of possible topics, click here.

Popular posts from this blog

Homework

English II Read the selections from the Exeter Book, and answer the following questions, using complete sentences and citing from the text: #1-4 on p89 #1-4 on p93 Comp Check, 2-3, and 7 on p96 Try to guess these Anglo-Saxon riddles without looking at the answers... English IV This week, we are working on the "problem" portion of your research paper. Your topic should be a typical problem that is solved by a person in your profession. For example, if I were writing this about being a high school English teacher, I could write about the problem of plagiarism . I would research the problem thoroughly and present statistics and examples. Next week , we will write the "solution" portion of the paper. Until you fully understand the problem (whatever it is), you cannot hope to solve it. In fact, most of your education will consist of these two sides of every issues - the existence and prevalence of various "problems" and the methods and strategie...

Homework

Sophomores Answer questions #2-5 on 190. Use complete sentences and cite specifics from the text. Juniors Answer questions #3-5 on 137. Use complete sentence and cite specifics from the text. Also, I have posted the Chaucer notes under "assignments" on your Edline page. Seniors You are writing the " This I Believe " essay in class tomorrow. Think about your topic before you come to class, but please do not pre-write it. You will have the chance to revise.

Senior End-of-Year Schedule!

Seniors, the end is near, and there are a few assignments left to schedule. Here is a list of everything due in the next two weeks: Career Update - a one-page addendum to your research paper, updating your plans for college and beyond. Be sure to include what you originally planned and if that's changed. Whether plans have changed or not, please explain why and what steps you've taken towards reaching your goal -- i.e. where you've decided to attend and what major you've declared. This is due WEDNESDAY 4/24. Letter to Future Self - this is an OPTIONAL assignment, but I encourage you to take it seriously. As discussed in class, this letter will be sent to you in about five years. Think about what you'd like to tell yourself five years from now. For example, maybe it would be interesting to reflect on your plans at the time, what values you held dear, what you wanted to remember. In addition, you might think about your current likes/dislikes related to pop cultur...