Concept-folios

Writing and Visual Imagination students- use this post to brainstorm and/or declare your concepts. Don't forget to read the comments from last semester's students below; some of them contain valuable information and suggestions.

Seniors: Film as Propaganda

Propaganda, as illustrated in 1984, is the systematic propagation of a particular idea or doctrine. You have watched and analyzed Fahrenheit 9-11 as a piece of propaganda. Answer the following prompt: Since we are beginning research papers: What is Michael Moore's thesis? What objective arguments does he use to support this thesis? What subjective arguments does he use to support this thesis? In what way does Moore's characterization of our modern government parallel Orwell's characterization of the Party? Finally, offer your personal opinion regarding the film as propaganda and evaluate its value.

What are you reading?

Since the school year began I have read some good books: The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet, What is the What by Dave Eggers and The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz. What are you reading? Can you recommend any good books? Might any of the books you have read lately be appropriate for our school curriculum?

Interdisciplinary Freshmen

Listen to the nine minute NPR broadcast below entitled "Eggers Blends Fact, Fiction of Sudanese 'Lost Boys'". Click on the link below and under the aforementioned title, click "Listen Now".

NPR Audio

Writing and Visual Imagination

You are now completing your concept-folios. Please respond to the following questions:

1. What is your name? What grade are you in? What concept will you be presenting?

2. In hindsight, did you choose a strong concept? Did it hold your attention for the entire semester? If not, how might you alter it to make it more engaging?

3. What concept-related advice can you offer my incoming students? What have you learned from the process that may help them?
4. Have you discovered any valuable resources, links, or books? Please list at least three resources here.

5. I am considering a requirement for future Writing and Visual Imagination students: concept-folios will be posted, as students progress, on student-created blogs. This will allow for teacher and peer interaction throughout the course. It will also provide another realm in which work may be saved, linked, shared, and developed. What are you feelings regarding this new requirement? If this new requirement were to replace another component, which component might you choose? Why?

6. Visit at least two other teacher or administrator blogs and offer a comment on a post of your choice.

When I don't have the time to paint or draw, I like to work with digital photographs. Here are some pictures that I really like.