Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Some new stuff for you.
As a result, the actual due date for paper 2 will now be on April 14th (Wednesday instead of Monday the 12th) OR April 15th (Thursday, instead of Tuesday the 13th).
Please note the ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN the Purdue Owl and what I want is that if you are using Internet sources, you MUST HAVE AN ACTUAL URL with your citation so that I can make sure that you didn't plagiarize.
This means that I will have to update the SQ3R / Researching ppt and go over this stuff with you when you come back. I will go over this essay when you return as well.
GLOBAL WARMING IS STILL DUE ON MONDAY WHEN YOU COME BACK (IT MUST BE FINISHED BY 10PM SUNDAY NIGHT).
Also, you may not use either of the names in this sample essay (Elie Wiesel and Victor Frankl) for this paper.
+++++
Academy of Achievement. If you don't have heroes, check this out.
You can end a sentence with a preposition!
The state of Pennsylvania education "success."
For Monday (or Tuesday), I want you to look at where RACC, Kutztown, Alvernia, Albright, Penn State Berks, University of Penn, and Penn State Main Campus stand. All you need to do is print this out and circle the numbers OR just list the numbers with the schools. Other than that, just start thinking why we're doing so good or bad.
An article that talks about why this is would be here.
Another article would be here.
And still another one would be here.
This is the best way to lead in to Thomas Friedman EVER.
If you have any questions, please e-mail me ASAP.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
RICKETTS GLEN JOURNAL OPTION
Last year, a young girl (aged 18) was in a hiking accident at Ricketts Glen State Park in northern PA. You can read about that here. You can see pictures of what it would have looked like here or you can watch the videos below. The pictures and video are mine. I was not with the girl. I do not know the girl, but...A) is it fair that they may charge her with a crime?

More videos are here and on the other pages of my videos.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Aron Ralston video on Monday
You can look up a lot of information on him, but a good start would be here, here, here, and here.Then, we'll move to phase 2 of the project. It might help to know whose story we're watching.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Marcus Luttrell Rubric and Sample Essay.
25 Perfectly flowing and constructed 5-paragraph article critique that answers author’s intent, how he shows it, and whether it works.
20 Minor flaws should have been seen, but as a whole, your article critique was sound.
15 Excessive flaws should have been seen, and minor issues existed with your article critique.
10 Excessive structural flaws, you didn’t answer what I was looking for, you didn’t have enough details, and other related issues.
5 Your wrote a biography
0 There was no evidence that you read the story or you just didn’t comprehend it AND / OR you wrote something that wasn’t even close to what I need from an article critique.
Marcus Luttrell wrote Lone Survivor about his time spent in a Navy training session, which was known as Hell Week. Here, he was forced to confront the toughest challenges that could have possibly been presented to him in an effort to weed out those who didn’t have what it took to be a Navy Seal from those people that did. In writing this story, he wanted people to see that the only option for a person is to give his or her all to be the best that he or she can be because this will show that the meaning of life is pride in accomplishment and not quitting on the opportunity for excellence.
The first thing that Luttrell wanted the reader to see is that he was training with some of the hardest and toughest guys around. These were guys who were being trained to be Special Forces commandos. They had trained for this moment for their entire lives, and now, the things that were happening in their minds were either going to keep them moving or allow them to ring the bell and quit. Luttrell describes various men who just gave up after repetitious cold water training, log carrying, boat rowing, pushups, runs, and other mental intimidations. In this, he shows that while they could physically do this, their minds kept focusing on tasks that hadn’t happened yet, and as a result, these men gave up on themselves. Luttrell and the other Navy Seals that had made it through this training would know forever that they did what they had to do and can wear the pride of accomplishment as an eternal badge of success while those men that had quit will always wonder “what if?”
In addition, Luttrell looks at the mental preparation that goes into creating a warrior that will be forced to endure some of the toughest terrains and environments known to man while he is being sent to destroy evil and to avoid being killed by it. To this, Luttrell reasons that a person who can’t perform in sub 60 degree water in San Diego would never survive if he was surrounded by the assault rifles of the Taliban. In the end, Luttrell wears a badge of pride that says he has completed the same training as his heroes, and while some of these people were viciously killed in foreign lands, he takes pride in knowing that they gave all to be the best of the best and to protect America with what made them stand out from those who weren’t quite as exceptional as they were.
Finally, Luttrell wants people to understand that life is about how we bear up under challenges. There is a universal in a group of tired and weary sailors holding a log above their heads for excessive amounts of time and that is to do what one needs to do to succeed. Failure is not an option. In this, completing homework assignments and essays is not any different than succeeding at Coronado. There will be long nights without sleep. There will be sacrifice. There will be blood, sweat, and tears, but when a weary body marches to the finish line and says, “I did this,” then it’s all worthwhile.
As a result, Luttrell succeeds in showing what it takes to be great. In this, the confidence course that is Navy Hell Week serves as the birthplace of the American hero that Luttrell truly has become. More importantly, the lessons learn transcend the military and provide examples of leadership and self determination that can apply to any challenge that comes before people in life.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Civil War Note Taking Assignment
You need to fill it out to get credit for the assignment.
Thus, here are the steps.
1. List what you know about the causes of the Civil War. Not writing anything = no credit. Some people just don't know and that's why we do this assignment.
2. List 10 questions that you want your notes to answer. Not writing 10=partial credit. I asked you to think about this. Use your "W" words (Who, What, Where, When, Why, hoW). You're in college now. Challenge yourself and impress me. It's all about the hoops.
3. Finish the out of class sections at home after finishing the in class note taking section.
4. Finally, finish the whole thing with a TYPED (if it's not typed, it's not done - really) journal on how your notes are different from the ones that you used to take (such as the ones in your National Parks Outline - I'm looking for focus in that for points).
If you need it, you can look at the following links:
Cal Poly Note Taking Systems - this will help with this assignment and the first steps of the research paper.
Bloom's Taxonomy - Higher Level Thinking Questioning, which will help with the essay completion and my goals for you to achieve. See analysis, synthesis, evaluation.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Essay 1 requirements UPDATED
UNTIL THEN, print out bad essay + shoes (sample essays) and emotionally valuable (1st essay). We'll do them in class this week.
1. Dresser Drawer Method (10 points)
2. Extended Outline (10 points)
3. 2-3 typed pages of notes (3-4 handwritten - when in doubt, print out an extra draft) (15 points)
4. TYPED rough draft (15 points).
5. ALSO if you turned in any rough drafts to be corrected, turn those in as well. If I can't see a difference between notes, rough draft, and or final paper, you won't get full credit for pre-writing.
The paper is worth 200 points
20 for length
20 for format
20 for effort
60 for sentence sense
40 for grammar
40 for transition
Next
1. Underline your thesis
2. Label each paragraph as to what its main point is (write next to it)
Then look for the following errors:
1. Is your paper 12 point type
2. Is it written in Times New Roman
3. Is the whole paper double spaced
4. Did you make sure that there are no gulleys
5. Is the paper AT LEAST 2.5 pages long
6. Did you make sure that you didn’t change the margins
7. Is there any bold type
8. Is there any italic type
9. Is there use of the words YOU, WE, OUR, US, and anything else that implies you are talking conversationally to the reader (I is ok)
10. Is there any profanity, slang, or undefined abbreviations
By turning in this essay, you UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PAPER IS GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU FILLED WITH A MYRIAD OF SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU MUST CORRECT (up to 5 statements, 12 errors marked off). YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE IN THIS CLASS TO LEARN, AND THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU CAN LEARN IS TO HAVE YOUR MISTAKES POINTED OUT TO YOU. YOU ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU DON’T REDO THIS PAPER, IT WILL GET THE ORIGINAL GRADE ON IT. PAPERS THAT ARE LATE OR ARE MARKED AS NOT USING SPELL AND GRAMMAR CHECK WILL NOT GET A REDO. MR. GLASS WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY EXCUSES FOR IT BEING LATE. IF YOU DO NOT TURN IT IN ON TIME, YOU HAVE 1 EXTRA WEEK TO TURN IT IN PROVIDED THAT YOU MEET WITH ME AND WRITE A JOURNAL FOR ME ON WHAT YOU DID WRONG AND WHAT YOU CAN DO BETTER. THIS JOURNAL IS ALL ABOUT YOU - NOT ME. ALL PAPERS THAT AREN'T TURNED IN BY THE BEGINNING OF CLASS THE FIRST DAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF MARCH WILL RECEIVE A ZERO. THEY WILL NOT BE LOOKED AT. YOU WILL FAIL THE CLASS.
INTRO
FORECAST / REASON 1
FORECAST / REASON 2
FORECAST / REASON 3
FORECAST / REASON 4
FORECAST / REASON 5
FORECAST / REASON 6
FORECAST / REASON 7
FORECAST / REASON 8
CONCLUSION
Thursday, February 4, 2010
FIRST PARAGRAPHS - not due yet - we just talked about them in class, so...
NOTE: 1) THERE ARE NO FACTS. 2) THERE IS NO USE OF WE, YOU OUR, US, AND I. 3) THESE FEATURE 2-3 VAGUE GENERALIZATIONS INTO A THESIS.
Over time, people have pondered as to what exactly is the meaning of life. What makes this question tougher is the contemplation of whether life has meaning after the person has become physically unable to "truly be alive." With that said, when a person contemplates being euthanized, there are a host of things to consider before acting on this extreme answer to a complex situation.
Over the years, time has changed the cost and performance of automobiles. Where once a person could buy and run a car affordably, things have changed, and now, a person can be bled dry with the cost of not only parts, but most pointedly, with fuel. Because of this, the automobile and technological industries have combined efforts to create alternative fuels for cars.
Throughout the past century and a half, people have been arguing about the concept of evolution vs. creationism. On one side, people believe in Creation’s beauty and purpose in life to provide beauty, functionality, and purpose. However, on the other side, mankind’s development has been argued to have happened after a long period of adaptation and discovery. With this, it is clear to see that there are 2 sides to the argument that must be understood before one formulates an opinion on the argument of evolution and creationism.
Since its creation in 1789, the Second Amendment has caused a great deal of controversy as to what it does and doesn’t say. This argument is especially true in a modern society where gun ownership is not thought of with the same regard as it was even 50 years ago. That being said, the NRA and other gun lobbyist groups have done a great deal to help protect and educate on gun rights in America.
Throughout the world, there are many different ways to show the news. As a result of this, people react in different ways to what they have viewed. Some of these ways that news is shown can manipulate people into being propagandized into believing different things. As a result of this, the news media can be very dangerous.
From their inception in 1947, cell phones have offered a new and useful form of communication. As a result, they have become very popular. While they are generally viewed as a good thing, some people tend to think that they can cause cancer. Other people tend to view this as untrue. Thus, a debate has cropped up with a variety of statistics that prove both sides of the debates.
Off shoring is a big issue in the United States today. As profits can escalate much higher due to cheap labor and decreased taxes, this will continue to happen. As a result, it becomes very important to understand this negative trend in society and what has caused it to flourish in the world economy.
Technology offers the best and worst of many aspects of future society. One place where this is clear is with the concept of stem cell research. On one hand, diseases might be cured due to these studies. On the other hand, one wonders if it is ethical or humane to harvest cells in this way. Because of this, stem cell research is an intense debate into the future of medicine.
Abraham Lincoln was an intelligent man who made important decisions during his presidency. While he made a lot of decisions, none were more important than his decisions regarding the Civil War. In this, Lincoln used his management skills to overcome the challenges associated with keeping the Union together.
While many people are willing to openly discuss sex or discuss that they don’t want to talk about sex with the youth of America, it is important to have a stance on this issue and to be vocal about it. Most people think that this is solely talking about the “birds and the bees,” but there is another option. That option is abstinence, and it represents an alternative in the complexity of the sexual situations with many of this country’s young people.
For over the past decade, society has been barraged with the concept of global warming. However, many people have been so confused by the technical and argumentative points of this concept that they aren’t sure of the dangers of it. Nevertheless, there are certain groups and individuals that are working hard to prevent what could be a very real nightmare from happening. With these ideas and concepts, they are eliminating many of the dangers of global warming from ever affecting the Earth.
In society, people are often faced with grave danger from potentially dangerous actions and actual criminal situations. As a result, police officers are called into the conflict to make a snap judgment on how they should neutralize the threats at hand. In some cases, this can be with talk or minimal aggression, but in other cases, deadly force needs to be used. While this decision happens in a moment’s time, the police officer is actually trained over his / her career to be ready to make the correct decision of what to do when these incidents arise.
Baseball has always been America’s national pastime, but for 60 years, African Americans were not allowed to play the game. Fortunately, this changed when one man stepped to the plate in 1947. That man, Jackie Robinson, not only revolutionized the sport of baseball, but he also changed the face of American sports.
Many artists in the recording industry today are influenced by one man, Michael Joseph Jackson. From the music that he made to the innovating dance moves and onto the charitable contributions that he gave, he was on top of the music game for 25 years. As a result, Michael Jackson’s career defines and creates the MTV generation of music.
Throughout much of society, there is an extreme emotional feeling that arises when people think about capital punishment. This seems to reflect the myriad of influences that people have. As a result, the death penalty is a complex issue that will continue to be debated for its legality and controversial aspects.
In society today, many children are adversely affected by their parents’ actions, and thus, they end up in foster care. However, while these children are there, they often are not able to receive the help that they need to truly thrive into adulthood. As a result, many social organizations and leaders are trying to improve the foster care situation.
Throughout the history of tennis, there have been many revolutionary accomplishments, but until the past decade, most of these changes kept tennis within the same stereotype that it has always existed: an affluent suburban game of privilege. Nevertheless, with the rise of 2 sisters from the inner city of Compton, California, this has changed. As a result, Venus and Serena Williams are the driving force behind making tennis a game for all players from all locations.
On an average day, people are barraged with a variety of ads featuring scantily clad models that are trying to sell them goods that have no relation to the products at hand. As a result, people form a belief that thin and beautiful is in. Nevertheless, for many young girls and women that cannot meet these standards, there is a downside to this media-induced belief. This downside, the onset of eating disorders, is a concept that threatens to destroy the mental health of many impressionable females.
Over the past several decades, people have contemplated whether the death penalty is just, and if it is acceptable, who it is just for. In that time, many people have sought for the execution of sexual offenders before they can reoffend and continue to prey on children. As a result, the case for the death penalty for sexual offenders is a complex and emotional issue that the states must weigh in on.
Throughout the history of its existence, Mercedes has represented the top of the line car. Each year, the company is constantly challenged to come up with something greater than it has previously achieved. As a result, this year, Mercedes seems to have outdone itself with the C63 AMG, which takes its company to a new level of success.
There are many sports stars that don’t see the light after their early crimes and mistakes. As a result, instead of serving as role models, they are actually offering a “how not to live one’s life” lesson. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the mix of sports and personal life issues that Adam “Pacman” Jones has exhibited in the past few years.
Over the years, the subject of homosexuality has gone from one of taboo to inclusion. This has happened because of homosexuality’s prominence within society as a whole. To this, these new found attitudes are a result of the media and the social sciences looking at complex issues in a specific way.
Over the past several decades, people have contemplated whether the death penalty is just, and if it is acceptable, who it is just for. However, while many people are arguing in favor of it as an extension of “an eye for an eye,” other people are seeing it as an unjust and evil menace that must be abolished. As a result, the case for the death penalty is a moral issue that the states must weigh in on.
Throughout history, there have been horrific examples of patient abuse in the medical system of the United States. As a result of these actual events, stories are passed on to new generations, and eventually, unexplained and paranormal situations arise. Nowhere is this more pronounced and exemplified than in the eerie effects that have transformed the Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky into a real life haunted house.
Throughout society, art comes in many forms and different styles. Unfortunately, many people do not realize how simple and fun art can be since they seem to believe that art has to be professional or similar to the classical designs of “great” artists past. Nevertheless, the Do It Yourself Movement has sprung up to speak with its own voice.
In the lives of many people, comedy is an essential force that makes people feel better. However, for some comedians, they take this humor and apply it to social situations to better educate people on issues that are occurring in society today. Perhaps more so than any other comedian of his time, George Carlin represents the mixing of humor and politics in a way that many people can find equally vulgar and informative.
Monday, February 1, 2010
INTO THE WILD FURTHER QUESTIONS - optional - 1 page each if you do them!
Everyone should think about this for Wednesday or Thursday:
“Men are not free when they are doing just what they like. The moment you can do just what you like, there is nothing you care about doing. Men are only free when they are doing what their deepest self likes.” Excerpted from STUDIES IN CLASSIC AMERICAN LITERATURE by D.H. LAWRENCE
Potential journals for writers (based on Into the Wild video from in class)
1. How do you get attached to your subject?
2. How do you get close to the character that you are playing?
3. How do you become dis-attached from the reality of the character that has now been turned to “art” by someone else and allow him / her to be portrayed in a movie?
4. How do you channel ideas into a powerful personal connection?
5. Can you write about something without experiencing that something?
6. Must a writer write the absolute truth of a real incident or can he / she take artistic liberty to create something slightly different?
7. What duty do real “characters” have to the creative process?
8. Where do we find inspiration and guidance to write?
9. How can an artist / musician feed off of an incident to create art?
10. Are personal connections important to writing about real “characters?”
11. When a book is turned into a movie, what is gained and what is lost?
12. What traits does one need to truly be able to research a topic fairly and objectively?
ALSO - Would you take a $200,000 a year job if it meant being on call 24/7 (to include vacation)? What's more important - family moments or financially supporting a family in unlimited comfort?
Friday, January 29, 2010
JD Salinger RIP
JD Salinger, the author of the Catcher in the Rye, has died in his early 90s.I came to the book late in life (30), and found it to be too teenage for my tastes, but those who loved him read his book religiously (I can remember a gal who had read it over 30 times).
No matter what you might have thought of the book, modern literature lost a giant yesterday.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
RIP Howard Zinn
Depending on your political take, Howard Zinn was either an excellent historian covering issues of how the people rose up to confront civil rights issues and other personal struggles in society or a controversial figure advocating radical change.Either way, the author of The People's History of the United States has died at 87.
As he wrote in his autobiography, “You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train” (1994), “From the start, my teaching was infused with my own history. I would try to be fair to other points of view, but I wanted more than ‘objectivity’; I wanted students to leave my classes not just better informed, but more prepared to relinquish the safety of silence, more prepared to speak up, to act against injustice wherever they saw it. This, of course, was a recipe for trouble.”
Monday, January 25, 2010
You have to do 10 pages of journals - these are the 4 mandatory topics. The rest of the acceptable topics and rules are online.
The topics are here, but you can do others that are listed on Angel.
If you deviate from the rules, I will not accept the journal.
Be sure to read the rules.
JOURNAL 1: This is a journal that everyone must do. I want to know what your greatest positive accomplishments in life are and how these will help you to be the person who completes the college goals that you have outlined for yourself. I also want to know how this created / embodies the person that you are. I DO NOT WANT SORDID LIFE TALES IN THIS – EVEN IF YOU OVERCAME THEM. I AM A TEACHER, NOT A THERAPIST. IF YOU CAN’T THINK OF SOMETHING POSITIVE, YOU MUST WAIT UNTIL YOU CAN TO COMPLETE THIS JOURNAL. NO EXCEPTIONS. Besides, everyone has positive things that they do, think, or have come to value in life. You just need to think harder, and I’m sure you can find some. Really.
JOURNAL 2: This is a journal that everyone must do. If you want, you can read my philosophy of teaching and tell me how you are going to succeed at college by writing to me what your learning philosophy is. Be sure to include positive educational role models and their achievements in education and life learning. Be sure as well to tell me what you want to do with your life!
JOURNAL 3: You must do this journal, also. What have you learned about your ability to write well? What can you do to become a better writer? This journal should be done last since that’s when you’ve truly learned all you can from this class.
JOURNAL 4: This is a journal that everyone must do. Comment on what you must do in order to live up to Steven Covey’s words that are listed on the journal sheet online.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
It's here... It's here!!!
1. (for all but the students that passed the midterm) Read the David Sedaris article. Write a 5 paragraph essay about why he could never be a good teacher OR how he has to change to be a good teacher.
2. (for all students that didn't A OUT of class) Choose one of the following topics to write a 7-paragraph persuasive essay on.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/12/major-nidal-hassan-fort-hood-muslim-opinions-columnists-melik-kaylan.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/09/AR2009110903618.html?hpid=topnews
1. Should Nidal Hassan get the death penalty or life in prison for his murder spree at Fort Hood?
2. Should Nidal Hassan be charged with crimes of terrorism or extreme pre-meditated murder?
3. Should Nidal Hassan have had 13 or 14 charges of murder placed against him?
4. Should American intelligence agencies continue to follow Bush-era intelligence gathering procedures AND / OR profile against potential violent Islamic jihadists in an effort to keep terrorism from happening?
5. Support or attack the right to freedom of speech when it comes to stopping people from promoting dangerous / terroristic ideas.
6. One of the biggest issues concerning Hassan was his fear that Muslims would see the situations in Afghanistan and Iraq as a war on Muslims. Support or defend the idea that Americans (especially Americans in the military) should place the needs of their nation (in our case, America – despite wherever they may have been originally from) above those of anything else that they are or do.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,579705,00.html?test=latestnews
7. Is H1N1 a serious pandemic or an overhyped media creation?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,579747,00.html?test=latestnews
8. 4 Washington police officers were murdered in cold blood by a lifetime felon who had been on parole (Mike Huckabee made this happen) after multiple felonies (due to the felon’s youthful nature during his offenses). In light of this, should America toughen criminal laws against violent youth offenders who all too often go on to become career criminals?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8402138.stm
9. What should the U.S. do regarding the war situation in Afghanistan?
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2454034/tiger_woods_scandal_grabs_more_attention.html
10. Is the situation involving Climate-gate a sign that the media and political minded scientists are willing to do anything to suppress the falseness of global warming, OR is it conservatives and businesses looking to do whatever they can to keep from getting blamed for the seriousness of global warming?
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/12/tiger_barrack_and_the_law_of_t.html
11. Regarding Tiger Woods’ wife Elin, attack or defend the idea that she should stand by her man (for love and / or for money)?
12. Regarding Tiger Woods himself, he was a sports star that transcended athletics, humanity, and race. In the end, he keeps getting charged with more and more women who he slept with and paid off to keep quiet while all the while being marketed as a wholesome hero for all time. Persuade America on how they should see their entertainers. You can also do this with Michael Jackson or any other entertainer.
13. Regarding the above, persuade Tiger to be a better MAN than he is.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1259010974910&pagename=JPArticle/ShowFull
14. Many people have accused Obama of doing nothing since he has been in office. Persuade these people that he has succeeded in doing many things for America or that this opinion is partisan politics or agree with it.
http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/lesbianactivism/p/BarackObama.htm
15. Many people have accused Obama of being wishy washy regarding his beliefs on things (in this case, gay marriage). Persuade these people that he is consistent on these things or that this opinion is partisan politics or agree with it.
http://www.thebailoutgame.us/
16. Persuade the government not to give more bailouts, to redistribute the money that they do have better, or to give another bailout of any sector of the United States based on how well or poorly you can assume that they have already done.
http://www.darfurisdying.com/
17. Persuade the government to get involved in helping to end the genocide in Darfur.
http://newsone.com/nation/reid-compares-opposing-health-care-reform-to-opposing-emancipation-civil-rights/
18. Attack or defend Harry Reid for equating those who aren’t fighting for GOVERNMENT LED health care reform as being the equals of those who didn’t fight to end slavery fast enough.
19. Persuade the American public to accept GOVERNMENT LED health care reform or for the government to keep their hands off of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcE2ufqtzyk
20. Based on the Tom Friedman video we watched in class, persuade your fellow college students that by not taking their education seriously, they are condemning America to be a nation of mediocrity that will quickly be replaced by people from other countries who will do their jobs cheaper and better. This is the only way you may argue this position.


