Writing Across Cultures

Your 3-minute philosophy projects are due today. Please use the lab to finish these. When you are done, please upload your work to Youtube and send me the URL address in the comment section below. We will screen these next class. If you finish before the end of the period: Use the time in the lab to conduct research on your mythological topic You should know the major gods/goddesses of your chosen mythological subject You should know the creation myth that goes with that tradition You should identify key cultural traditions/beliefs that are represented in the myths of this culture: for example: arête (strength) is a common cultural quality examined in many hero myths. Find examples of some others. You should identify one hero from this tradition and be able to tell this legend Use the time in the lab to write or rewrite a story, poem, play, script, essay, etc. involving philosophy, or ethics. Incorporate what we've learned in some aspect of your work. A word about m...

Ethics: Secrets of Happiness Ethics vs. Morality Ethics (from a Ted Talk) Can Brands Be Good? Aesthetics: Beauty is NOT in the Eye of the Beholder Writing/reflection time... After our class discussion/seminar on Siddhartha and ethics, please go to the lab to continue working on your philosophy projects. These are due Friday. HOMEWORK: Read the "Introduction to Mythology" if you didn't complete this during class.

During period 1, please work on your 3-minute philosophy projects. These will be due Friday. While in the lab, please choose one of the mythology units--you will be creating a Prezi & giving the class a presentation on this material. Details will follow. Mythology Units: Greek Roman Egyptian Babylonian Hittite Nordic Celtic Australian/Aboriginal Indian Chinese Japanese African Incan Mayan American Indian/Native American During 2nd period, please go to room 238 and complete the quiz & discussion on Siddhartha . HOMEWORK: Read the handout on Moral Philosophy (Ethics). Choose one of the ideas and write a story, play, poem draft for your portfolio based on the idea. 

While AP students go down to fill out endless bubbles for upcoming exams, please work on your 3-minute philosophy projects. If you didn't take the quiz last class on No Exit & Siddhartha (part 1), please do so. HOMEWORK: Read the handout on Moral Philosophy (Ethics). Choose one of the ideas and write a story, play, poem draft for your portfolio based on the idea. Complete Siddhartha . There will be a quiz (you should know the plot, characters, setting, culture, and how the book uses philosophy--who influences Hesse, and how?--and be prepared for a discussion on the book.)

This morning, after your morning philosophy reading, please take the quiz on Siddhartha & No Exit. Then it's up to the lab to work on your 3-minute philosophy project. If you need help: Read this tutorial from Windows! Watch this tutorial. HOMEWORK: Please read Part 2 of Siddhartha. Apply philosophers and concepts to your reading. Be prepared to discuss how these Western/Eastern cultural philosophies appear in the text. 

This morning, please wrestle with Friedrich Nietzsche's ideas and the Buddha's philosophies. After taking some time to read, we will have a short quiz based on your previous readings. When done, please re-read page 18-23 in Siddhartha and apply what you have learned from Buddha & Nietzsche to the book (and character of Siddhartha). We'll discuss. The Buddha Friedrich Nietzsche During period 2 we will go upstairs to work on our 3-minute philosophy projects. HOMEWORK: Complete part 2; Complete your 3-minute philosophy videos. Both due by Wednesday, April 20.

Please turn in your homework. (See previous post for details!) Start off this morning reading the information in the article on  Sartre . Tnen we'll discuss key points and read the short play  No Exit in small reading groups . Jean-Paul Sartre  (21 June 1905 – 15 April 1980) was a French existentialist philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary critic.  He was one of the leading figures in 20th century French philosophy. In 1964 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, but declined it stating: "It is not the same thing if I sign Jean-Paul Sartre or if I sign Jean-Paul Sartre, Nobel Prize winner. A writer must refuse to allow himself to be transformed into an institution, even if it takes place in the most honorable form."  He is one of last century's greatest existentialists. As you read, consider Sartre's answer. For modern humans, he may be right. What do you think? No Exit  is S...

Your portfolio is due today. Please prepare it. See our previous post for details. When you have completed that, please attend to the 3-minute philosophy project. Several of you did not actually watch these videos. Please do so. If you won't watch, I will have to give you a quiz about the philosophers. 3 Minute-Philosophy Project: Please watch the following videos for your own education and as models for your 3-Minute Philosophy projects (there are a variety of ways to do this project--check these out!): Immanuel Kant Karl Marx Soren Kierkegaard David Hume John Stuart Mill Galileo . Tim : Michel Foucault Clara : John Dewey Hannah : Simone de Beauvoir Ben: Niccolo Machiavelli Nikki: Roland Barthes Carly: Immanuel Kant Gena: Jean Jacques Rousseau Ethan: John Locke Please choose a philosopher & read the handout on your selected philosopher.  Take notes on key or important ideas found in the handout.  Spend some time online fleshing out the ideas and f...

After our quiz, please read the philosophy handout. When everyone has completed the quiz, please use the Socratic Seminar handout to conduct a discussion on the book The Stranger. After our discussion, we will retire to the lab upstairs and prepare our portfolios. What goes in your portfolio? 1. Your writing. What did you write this marking period that was new? a 10-minute play? an article or story involving race? an article or story involving psychology? a revision of something you wrote this marking period--or 1st MP or 2nd MP? Your reflection. Rubric: 4 = Exemplary 3= Accomplished 2= Promising 1=Beginning 0=Failing Exemplary : Thoroughly and artistically developed characters, plot, structure, conflict, theme, and setting. Uses vivid description, effective diction and word choice, tone or voice, POV, imagery, and compelling dialogue throughout portfolio. Uses a variety of effective literary devices. Writing can be considered “art,” effectively communicating iss...

Please work on your portfolios and begin your preparations for the 3-minute philosophy project (see below). Keep reading  The Stranger  by Albert Camus--there will be a test  and discussion (Socratic Seminar) on Wednesday for the book. In the lab, take some time to read about Albert Camus and existentialism. Please use the links to take notes on the following questions and answer them for today's participation credit (due at end of class!): Existentialism Albert Camus 1. What are some differences between analytical philosophy and continental philosophy?  2. What is the difference between existentialism and phenomenology?  3. According to the web article, who are some philosophers in the tradition of phenomenology?    4. Jot down a few notes about Camus' life and biography. Answer: who was he, why is he important to Western Civilization. 5. In your own words explain Camus' view on  Absurdity . 6. In your own words explain Camus' vi...