Deserted Island-- Prompt 26

Suppose you will be stranded on a deserted island in the middle fo the ocean for ten years. You will be allowed to bring one each of the following: book, person, CD, food item, drink item, piece of clothing, and one miscellaneous item. List the one item you would bring in each category, and explain why you chose it.

You may write your prompt in a list format.

This assignement is due: January 17, 2008.

Honey, They're Back--Prompt 25

It's 2008, a brand new year, and I'm excited to learn what God has in store for us. I'm happy God has brought us back together once more. This week's prompt is all about you. I want you to give a recount of your Christmas and New Year's. You need to write at least two paragraphs about your experiences. Please be creative and descriptive, but don't gross us out. Have fun, and again, WELCOME BACK!


This assignment is due: January 17, 2007

Keeping Secrets--Prompt 23

When you confide in a friend, you hope he or she will keep your secret. Do you think there are some secrets you should not keep for a friend? Or do you think that it's always better to keep you promise and tell no one about your friend's secret, even if someone's in danger?


This assignment is due: Monday, December 17, 2007

Almost Home--Prompt 24

Well friends, we've almost come to the end of another year. Can you believe that over half the school year is pretty much over? Time has proven faithful to mankind once again. To end this year I want you to write about this first half of the school year and your experiences. Write about things you've learned in your classes, life lessons you've gained, spiritual blessings God's given you, new bonds of friendship, and this years funniest moment.

I want you to really think and make this a great blog. I would like you to formulate at least 2-3 plump paragraphs (if you need translation as to what this means see me).


This assignment it due: Monday, Decemeber 17, 2007.

Beauty or Brains--Prompt 22

"Beauty is only skin deep," the cliche claims. If you had to choose between beauty and brains, which would you pick. Which do you think would get you further in life? Which do you think would make you happier?


This assignment is due: Monday, December 10, 2007.

No Women Allowed--Prompt 21

Despite huge advancements in recent years, women still struggle for respect in some fields. May people believe that women should not be allowed to pursue certain careers, especially those that are dangerious, require physical strenght, or have traditionally been pursued by men. Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of a women holding high political office; some people object to female stand-up comedians, claiming that most women aren't funny. Do you think women should ba able to hold any kind of job they want, regardless of danger and tradition> Or do you believe that some jobs are only appropriate for men?

This assignment is due: Monday, December 10, 2007.

No More Tofurky Left--Prompt 20

Welcome back friends!!! I'm sure all of you are delighted to be back. In all honesty I've actually missed you. In this blog I'd like you to recount your past holiday experience. There is a limit of at least one paragraph and a maximum of three.

This assignment is due: Monday, December 4, 2007.

The Boob Tube--Prompt 19

"Television hangs on the questionable theory that whatever happens anywhere should be sensed everywhere. If everyone is going to be able to see everything, in the long run all sights may lose whatever rarity value they once possessed, and it may well turn out that people, being able to see and hear practically everything, will be specially interested in almost nothing."

--E.B. White

You could argue that these days, everyone is able to see everything, particularly since Americans watch around four hours of TV per day. Do you think White's forecast was correct? Have extraordinary sights been cheapened by TV? Are people more scattered in their interests because of TV?

This assignment is due: Monday, November 12, 2007.

Is One the Lonliest Number?--Prompt 18

Mark Twain once said,

"The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with oneself."

What do you think he meant by this? Does this idea apply to your own life? Conclude your entry by explaining how you feel about being alone. Do you dread it, or do you enjoy having time to yourself.


This assignment is due: Monday, November 12, 2007.

It's Never Too Late for Cal State--Prompt 17

After reading, "Heading Back to College" in the November 5, 2007, U.S. News & World Report, answer the following questions about baby boomers. Please answer the questions in paragraph format refrain from numbering.

1. What do you think about older adults going back to school? Is it too late?

2. What types of drawbacks do older students face when seeking to further his/her education?

3. In what ways could the education of older adults improve society? Give reasons for your answers.

4. What do you think of the ambition of Mike Flynt? Would you do the same if you were in his shoes?

This assignment is due: Monday, November 12, 2007.

"Friends, It's Your Turn"--Prompt 16

OK, I'm going to try something a little different. I'm not a little leery about it either. So here it goes, you may write about anything meaningful to you. Prompt 16 is officially a free-for-all write-what-you-want-to prompt. However, there are two conditions, your response must be at least 200 words, and it must be about something relatively meaningful.

Please refrain from writing the same word 200 times, or writing lists of words that don't form complete thoughts. Your response must be composed of complete thoughts.

Consider writing about some idea that's been muddling around in your head all day, or for several days. Writing about a lesson learned from a recent personal experience is another idea.

You have responded to 15 posts at this point (if you did all your assignments) and are mature enough to prompt yourself. So get out there and blog, blog, blog!

To the blogosphere and beyond!!!!!!!!!!!!

This assignment is due: Monday, October 5, 2007.

If I Were President . . . Prompt 15

You have just been elected president of the United States of America. You must address foreign policy, terrorism, healthcare, the military, the economy, education, the environment, and much more. What are the first three things you will do? Which issues are dearest to your heart? Do you think those issues overlap with the issues that are most important to the American public?


This assinment is due: Monday November 5, 2007.

Pass the Eggnog Please!--Prompt 14

What is your favorite holiday? What is your least favorite holiday? Write about two memorable holiday experiences, one from your favorite holiday and one from your least favorite holiday.

This assignment is due: Tuesday, October 30, 2007.

It's Mom's Fault--Prompt 13

Write a response to the October 9, 2007,U.S. News & World Report article, "A Host of Trouble" and answer the questions below. You can pick up a magazine in my classroom throughout this week. I ask that you return it when you're finished so someone else can use it. I will make copies of the article for those who don't get a magazine or want to have a personal copy.

The questions below are to be answered in paragraph format. Please refrain from using numbering within your paragraphs. Your answers are to be evident in the paragraphs you form. Please ensure that the response to this prompt is written in a manner that anyone could pick up and read it without wondering if they missed something. If you need help understanding this, refer to the SAT models I gave you in class, or see me.

Please answer the questions thoroughly. Myriad questions ask to state your opinion. Make sure you inform the reader with an explanation of why you do or don't take a certain stand. The questions don't come in any particular order; however, your paragraph must flow logically from point to point. There are no wording limitations for this prompt. I only ask you adhere to the above guidelines.

1. Do you agree with critics who state that social host laws will never eliminate underage drinking? Why or why not?

2. Do you agree that: "Stricter parental liability, can reverse society's tacit acceptance of underage drinking. . ."? Why or why not?

3. State whether you believe parents should be held responsible for their children's harmful social habits. ie-drinking, drinking and driving, wild drunken parties.

4. What do you believe are the long-term effects of parents allowing teens to drink at home?

5. What advice or recommendations would you give concerned parents to help solve the teen drinking crisis?

This assignment is due: Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Sticky Situation--Prompt 12

When you woke up this morning, you didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. Oddly enough, it turned into a day you would never forget. Write a story that starts with this phrase: "If if weren't for that (fill in the blank), I wouldn't be stuck in this pickle," and ends with "And that's how I ended up duct-taped to the (fill in the blank).

Hope you have fun with this one.

This assignment is due: Monday, October 22, 2007.

To Be Great--Prompt 11

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said,

"Everyone has the power for greatness, not for fame, but for greatness, because greatness is determined by service."

Do you agree that everyone has the potenial for greatness? On your blog, state what you believe to be the qualifying features of greatness? Please dig deep! Don't be superficial. This is a concept that has actually made me wonder a lot.

This assignment must be completed by: Monday, October 22, 2007.

Dr. Seuss's Philosophy--Prompt 10

In Dr. Seuss's Horton's Hears a Who, Horton the elephant discovers a tiny planet of living beings on a speck of dust. Other animals urge Horton to throw away the dust speck, not believing that such a tiny world could exist, but Horton refuses. The book ends with this moral:

"A person is a person, no matter how small."

Write about a current political situation that you think illustrates the idea that even seemingly inconsequential people are important. Use Dr. Seuss's moral as the last sentence of your paragraph. Please cite the source for your information if that applies.

This assignment is due: Monday, October 15, 2007.

How Embarrassing!--Prompt 9

Welcome back my friends. Hope you had a great break.

Here's the prompt:

Life is chock-full of embarrassing moments. When you're lying awake at night, having trouble sleeping, do your most embarrassing blunders run through your mind? Write at least two paragraphs about some of these agonizing memories.


This assignment is due: Monday, October 15, 2007.

If I Could Meet. . .--Prompt 8

If you could meet anyone, alive or dead, who would it be? Consider Bible characters, scientists, world leaders, artists, writers, people in your family, and so on. Tell why you would want to meet them. You must also make a list of at least 10 questions you'd like to ask this person.

This assignment is due: Monday, October 1, 2007.

The Common Shakespeare--Prompt 7

Shakespeare had an enormous working vocabulary; he used about 29,000 different words in his plays and poems. (By contrast, most people today have working vocabularies of only around 9,000 words.) Many people think of Shakespeare's language as difficult to understand, but he invented many words and phrases that we use nearly every day.

Below are some common phrases from Shakespearean plays. Choose one phrase, and explain what you think it means in 1-2 paragraphs.

Apple of her eye
Eating me out of house and home
Good riddance
All the world's stage
To thine ownself be true
Tower of strength
Wear my heart on my sleeve

This assignment is due: Monday, October 1, 2007.

Lefthanded Knitters and the Affluent Tattooed--Prompt 5

Like Jeopardy? If you answered yes you'll love the article you have to read about microtrends. Click on the title of this blog to access the Newsweek article "Tattoos and Knitting" When you have completed the reading answer the questions below in paragraph format:

1. Define microtrends in your own words.

2. Why do you think microtrends like knitters under 30 and high-earners getting tattoos are growing in America?

3. Why did Hilary Clinton hire Penn for her campaign?

4. What do you think the effects of a "free society" will have or is having on American culture when it comes to factors like gay rights?

5. Do you think Penn's book was published as a political pun to increase the votes of Clinton?

6. As a member of the student body of Weimar Academy do you have any microtrends to cite?

This assignment is due: Monday, September 24, 2007.

Lost at School-Prompt 6

Attention: You should have read Jean Shepherd's story "Lost at C" before you respond to this blog entry.

Have you ever felt like you were lost at C like Jean Shepherd? Write a narrative account of a time you were lost and confused in class. Maybe you're confused right now about this blog! If that is the case I beckon you to get help, quick. The narration can be humorous, if you like. Actually, I would prefer that it be. Warning: Please don't chronicle a memory about being confused in my class. Thanks!

This blog entry is due: Monday, September 24, 2007.

Are We Done Yet?--Prompt 3

It's finally over! You made it through the last four days of campout. Go ahead and pat yourself on the back. I'm serious, pat yourself on the back. If you don't like the back, pat your head.

Even though I wrote this before campout, I'm sure there are plenty of places for me to pat. If I have any clairvoyant abilities I know I'll be sore.

Now to the prompt. I want you to write one or two paragraphs about your exceptionally long and relaxing weekend. Mix it up! Be Creative! I'm definitly going to blog about my soreness.

To the blogesphere and beyond!!!!!!!!!!

Remember 9/11? Prompt 4

September 11, 2001 was a day of chaos and madness in the United States. It has become another day of infamy among America's long list of tragedies. 9/11 was the first time some American's had even heard of the word terrorism, let alone experienced it first hand.

As I ponder that day six years ago I am overwhelmed with feelings of surrealism. I know many American's are still asking,"Did it really happen?"

But in all our remembering should we forget? Should we really recount the horrible events that have torn this country asunder, that initiated the war in Iraq?

Assignment:Write a short essay(3 paragraphs)on your feelings about September 11th. Recount what you heard and how you felt on that day six years ago. Also include whether you think American's should rememeber or forget the tragic events of that day. Give solid reasons for your convictions.

This is due: Septempber 17, 2007.

Illegal Immigration Debate--Prompt 2

The recent surge of illegal immigrants to the United States is a hot button issue in this country. It has truly become a debate among myriad. Should they leave should they stay? Should the guest worker program be approved? The debate still rages. But how do you feel about illegal immigration?

NPR addressed illegal immigration in one of last months recent Talk of the Nation programs. The program noted that the U.S. government is stepping up its efforts to send illegal immigrants back to their countries. Officers are arresting people who have lived in this country for years, and may have American-born children.

Click the title to this post and read the article about Mexico's president, Felipe Calderon, and his efforts to help Mexican immigrants.

Assignment: In no less than 250 words, give your opinion about illegal immigration. List the detrimental effects you perceive it could have on society,the economy, and other countries? Do you think it's right to send people who have formed roots in the U.S. back to their countries? Provide solutions you think would be useful in solving the debate. Tell whether you agree with the stance of President Felipe Calderon and why. If you feel there are any spiritual or end-time red flags in this struggle be sure to include those too.

Good Luck!

This assignment is due: September 7, 2007.

Code of Chivalry--Prompt 1

King Arthur of the Round Table is a heroic figure of English legend. Arthur and his knights were said to live by a set of beliefs known as the Code of Chivalry. A few rules of the code include:

Live one's life so that it is worthy of respect and honor.
Live for freedom, justice, and all that is good.
Be polite and attentive.
Never betray a confidence or a comrade.
Protect the innocent.

Come up with a modern Code of Chivalry. Write a list of at least 10 things people should do today to make modern society more chivalrous--that is, more considerate and courteous.

This assigment is due:September 7, 2007. Please leave me comments if you have any questions about it.

Welcome!!

Hi English bloggers. I would like to welcome you to the home of all your blogs. Today you will set up your very own blog and complete your first entry. You must come here each week to receive your blogging instructions.

As I told you in class you will have to complete two blogs a week. They will be assigned on Monday and will be due on Monday. Your blog will be maintained outside of class time. It will be your responsibility to maintain your blog.

I have given you a blogging basics sheet that you may refer to in order for you to set up your blogger account. If you would like to learn more about blogging or have a question about how add a feature or edit your page click on the links to the sites below.

Blogging Basics-This site gives a brief overview of what blogging is and breaks down technical terms in an easy-to-understand manner.

Blogging Basics 101-Is a great site if you want to learn how to add a new feature to your page. It answers basic blogger questions clearly.

I hope you're ready to share your thoughts and insights with the world. Good Luck and God's Speed!!