I love words.
Good thing I suppose, given my chosen and hard-fought-for occupation. Every time I sit down at a keyboard or have a pen poised over a blank sheet of paper, I feel overwhelmed with excitement, with possibility, with anticipation. With a few key strokes or swipes of a pen, you can find the right combination of words that can make someone LOVE you. Conversely, you can break a heart, manipulate a mind or sever an allegiance…all with those same strokes or swipes. Think about that. Legends are immortalized because of words. Nations go to war over words. Couples are united in matrimony with words. Hearts and lives are shattered due to words. The power they wield is, in a word, awesome.
“Every time I come around the corner and see your car in the driveway I get sick to my stomach.”
I sat on the couch during yet another face-off with my mother when she let fly with that condemnation, effectively shattering any sense of comfort and belonging I may have been clinging to at the time. I was 17. I’m 38 now, and I can hear those words in my ear as clear as if they were uttered 10 minutes ago. I can’t say that it was those exact words that led to the eventual, unsurprising demise of my relationship with my mother, but I know it was certainly a huge chunk out of the already crumbling foundation. It stands, to this day, as one of the worst things anyone has ever said to me.
But, as I said, words are powerful. They have healing properties. Let me give you a scenario. I was visiting a friend at what is now, TCNJ (then it was Trenton State College). My boyfriend of about a year had just broken up with me, quite unceremoniously, at a party the night before. I was feeling kind of blue, just sort of moping around the campus waiting for my friend’s class to end. While aimlessly wandering through the bookstore, I saw an old friend from high school, a guy who graduated a year ahead of me. We got to talking about life after high school and what my plans were and all of that idle small talk, when he looked me right in the eye and said, “Well Cas, the thing is, I hear you’re an excellent writer.”
What followed is not a Cinderella-like ending of fairytale romance (this is me we’re talking about) between Matt Opacity (that was his name) and your English teacher. We didn’t fall into each other’s arms and swear undying love—it wasn’t even a romantic moment. He wasn’t trying out a brand-new pick-up line or even trying to soothe my bruised, dumped ego. It was a simple declaration that I am quite sure he would never even remember saying all these years later. But it’s impact on me was and is undeniable. Because of him, when I went back home, the first place I looked for a summer job was at a local newspaper called The Sandpaper. I landed a job as a stringer and at the tender age of 18, got my first ever piece of writing published. I even got paid for it! (It was an article on Tonkinese cats—don’t laugh!) Such is the power and the beauty of words.
So, that is the focus of this week’s blog question. I would like you to think about conversations you have had, arguments in which you’ve been embroiled, moments of bliss you have experienced. They all have one thing in common—WORDS. The Yin: What is the worst thing anyone has ever said to you? Why is it the worst thing? How did it make you feel? And for the Yang (because there always is one): What was the best compliment you have ever received? Who said it? Why was it the best compliment? And finally, what do you think these two things, what you consider the kindest and cruelest words anyone could say to you, reveal about your personality? Much to think about, I know. Don’t delay!! (500 words/80pts)
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Post-Mortem
Well, my wee bambinos, your presentations are drawing to a close. We have merely 3 or 4 more to go in each class, and then we can all breathe a great big collective sigh of relief. Til the next presenattion....but, we'll talk about that later.
In any case, there is an exercise that you will do quite regularly in college (hopefully), and that you should have done at some point in your high school experience thus far. It is called, the Post-Mortem, and what that means simply is that you discuss the various components of a project you just did and talk about what went well, what you found difficult, what you learned etc. I think I talked to you about this in class already, and it does work well in a discussion-based forum like a classroom, but this will give us a jumping off point.
First, what did you think of this research project? Would you have rather done the 8-10 page paper? Do you think you did a good job? What did you find to be the most difficult? The easiest? What did you learn? Why do you think I chose this project for you? What could I have done to make things easier for you? Were you happy with the topic you chose? Do you think you put as much effort into it as you should have? If not, how come? If yes, how do you know?
(RESPECTFUL ANSWERS/60pts)
In any case, there is an exercise that you will do quite regularly in college (hopefully), and that you should have done at some point in your high school experience thus far. It is called, the Post-Mortem, and what that means simply is that you discuss the various components of a project you just did and talk about what went well, what you found difficult, what you learned etc. I think I talked to you about this in class already, and it does work well in a discussion-based forum like a classroom, but this will give us a jumping off point.
First, what did you think of this research project? Would you have rather done the 8-10 page paper? Do you think you did a good job? What did you find to be the most difficult? The easiest? What did you learn? Why do you think I chose this project for you? What could I have done to make things easier for you? Were you happy with the topic you chose? Do you think you put as much effort into it as you should have? If not, how come? If yes, how do you know?
(RESPECTFUL ANSWERS/60pts)
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Suffer the Little Children...For Such is the Kingdom of Heaven
Sunday night. This night has sort of a paradoxical connotation tied to it for me. It goes back to, for lack of a better (read: trite) euphemism, my extremely crappy childhood.
Let me explain. I was, like many of you, a child of divorce. I lived with my mother, saw my father on weekends (when he remembered he had a daughter waiting for him to pick her up) and dealt with all of the guilt, sadness, and overall wistfulness of being the kid caught between parents that hated each other. It was, as I mentioned, extremely crappy. And Sundays were the worst because that was the day that my father would drop me back off at home, and I knew it could be the last time I ever saw him. I would make my way into the house where my mother would be waiting, and if I looked even the least bit sad, she would launch into attack mode. “Oh what’s the matter—had so much fun with your dad that coming home to your boring old mother is too depressing? Well sorry I have to work two jobs to support us since that fun-loving s.o.b. doesn’t bother to pay child support….” And on it would go until her energy was spent and I was completely demoralized. My saving grace was, ironically, the fact that my father didn’t see me every weekend, so the times when I was forgotten actually saved part of my soul. Paradox extraordinaire, oui?
This childhood memory, glum though it may be, completely shaped the person I am today. For better or worse. What did I learn? Well, for one, I learned that being yourself and feeling what you feel has consequences. It seems like a crazy lesson, right? But it is one that I draw on to this day. I spent so much time trying to hide who I was and how I felt as a kid, that I eventually lost sight of who that actually was. When I was little, the price seemed way too high, what with listening to my mother rant and rave and tell me how ungrateful I was, so I really felt that masking my true emotions was worth it. And into my teen years, I sort of just grew accustomed to doing that. It wasn’t until I was living on my own that the impact of that mindset became clear to me: Nobody knew me. Oh sure, people knew who I was-my name was out there. But nobody actually KNEW me. And it was really scary, and really lonely.
I wish I could say that once I had this epiphany, my life magically transformed and I became a mature, well-adjusted, productive member of society. But, since I would never lie to you guys, I can’t say that because that’s not what happened. It took time. A lot of time, with a lot of very painful repercussions resulting from my journey of enlightenment. But, now, here I am. A bit worse for the wear, but soul utterly intact and identity firmly entrenched in each decision I make. Was it worth it? Absofreakinglutely.
So, now it’s your turn.
What childhood memory thus far has shaped who you are? Do you want this memory to be the blueprint for which you design your “true Self?” If the answer is no, think about how you can change your perspective on it. What can you learn? If the answer is yes, talk about how you can impact the world and those in it who are most important to you. What lesson would you want to impart that has its root in this memory? I know this is hard; take your time. Nothing worth having is ever easy. And this answer is worth having. Trust me.
(450-500 words/85pts)
Let me explain. I was, like many of you, a child of divorce. I lived with my mother, saw my father on weekends (when he remembered he had a daughter waiting for him to pick her up) and dealt with all of the guilt, sadness, and overall wistfulness of being the kid caught between parents that hated each other. It was, as I mentioned, extremely crappy. And Sundays were the worst because that was the day that my father would drop me back off at home, and I knew it could be the last time I ever saw him. I would make my way into the house where my mother would be waiting, and if I looked even the least bit sad, she would launch into attack mode. “Oh what’s the matter—had so much fun with your dad that coming home to your boring old mother is too depressing? Well sorry I have to work two jobs to support us since that fun-loving s.o.b. doesn’t bother to pay child support….” And on it would go until her energy was spent and I was completely demoralized. My saving grace was, ironically, the fact that my father didn’t see me every weekend, so the times when I was forgotten actually saved part of my soul. Paradox extraordinaire, oui?
This childhood memory, glum though it may be, completely shaped the person I am today. For better or worse. What did I learn? Well, for one, I learned that being yourself and feeling what you feel has consequences. It seems like a crazy lesson, right? But it is one that I draw on to this day. I spent so much time trying to hide who I was and how I felt as a kid, that I eventually lost sight of who that actually was. When I was little, the price seemed way too high, what with listening to my mother rant and rave and tell me how ungrateful I was, so I really felt that masking my true emotions was worth it. And into my teen years, I sort of just grew accustomed to doing that. It wasn’t until I was living on my own that the impact of that mindset became clear to me: Nobody knew me. Oh sure, people knew who I was-my name was out there. But nobody actually KNEW me. And it was really scary, and really lonely.
I wish I could say that once I had this epiphany, my life magically transformed and I became a mature, well-adjusted, productive member of society. But, since I would never lie to you guys, I can’t say that because that’s not what happened. It took time. A lot of time, with a lot of very painful repercussions resulting from my journey of enlightenment. But, now, here I am. A bit worse for the wear, but soul utterly intact and identity firmly entrenched in each decision I make. Was it worth it? Absofreakinglutely.
So, now it’s your turn.
What childhood memory thus far has shaped who you are? Do you want this memory to be the blueprint for which you design your “true Self?” If the answer is no, think about how you can change your perspective on it. What can you learn? If the answer is yes, talk about how you can impact the world and those in it who are most important to you. What lesson would you want to impart that has its root in this memory? I know this is hard; take your time. Nothing worth having is ever easy. And this answer is worth having. Trust me.
(450-500 words/85pts)
ATTENTION SENIORS
Everyone who was scheduled to give their presentations Tuesday will be going Monday!
The order will be: Melissa Strenger, Danielle Upton and Blake Rosario.
Originally, I was not going to be in school Monday, but now I am so we will continue with the presentations and hopefully have them all finsihed before Friday!
See you tomorrow!
The order will be: Melissa Strenger, Danielle Upton and Blake Rosario.
Originally, I was not going to be in school Monday, but now I am so we will continue with the presentations and hopefully have them all finsihed before Friday!
See you tomorrow!
Monday, February 16, 2009
My Own Renewable Energy
"Ello poppets!" Hee hee/ Still tickles me, that.
Anyhoo, yes, your blog is late. It is late because I am dying.
Too dramatic? Yes, of course, but I am feeling a bit sorry for myself at the moment, so I am going full on weepy, whiny weasel mode. I am feeling quite old, quite creaky and quite bruised and battered.
I spent my holiday weekend in Vermont, learning how to snowboard.
Or, learning how to fall not-so-gracefully-as-many-times-as-humanly-possible-on-my-oversized-derriere...whichever you prefer. Oh, the pain.
So, feeling a bit traumatized by the fact that age is NOT just a number as the smarmy optimists always say, led to me moping about on my couch feeling utterly useless. Which led me to TED, my "happy place" in times of unsettledness.
Perusing through the different talks brought me to Elizabeth Gilbert, an author who wrote a book I started to read but never finished called Eat, Pray, Love.
I listened to the talk, then replayed it, and suddenly..I felt better.
Yes, my oversized derriered is still smarting, my calves still burn, and muscles I never knew I had are still sore; my soul though, my soul is soothed.
This particular talk is similar to what you should all be delivering in mere days; she had an idea, she did some research and she's talking about it. Why?
Well, why not? What is the harm in acquiring knowledge? There is none. Whether it be learning how to do something you never tried and have no business trying now that you're 108--like, oh I don't know--SNOWBOARDING, or just listening to someone's ideas about something you never really thought about before--knowledge is power. It is power at its purest because you can get exactly what you need at any given moment. That's why.
So, in light of the fact that talks start tomorrow, and knowing full well that many of you are more than a bit nervous about that, the assignment this week is fairly easy.
At some point, I would like you to watch the TED talk (posted under SOME FAVE SPEECHES) and then tell me your impression of it.
First, tell me what you think her thesis was, tell me how you think she delivered it, tell me if you found it effective, and then critique her. Did she have a hook? What was it? How did she deliver her ideas? Where did she establish ethos? How did she appeal to pathos? Logos? What did you think of her ideas?
Tell me, tell me, tell me!!
(substantive response/50pts)
Anyhoo, yes, your blog is late. It is late because I am dying.
Too dramatic? Yes, of course, but I am feeling a bit sorry for myself at the moment, so I am going full on weepy, whiny weasel mode. I am feeling quite old, quite creaky and quite bruised and battered.
I spent my holiday weekend in Vermont, learning how to snowboard.
Or, learning how to fall not-so-gracefully-as-many-times-as-humanly-possible-on-my-oversized-derriere...whichever you prefer. Oh, the pain.
So, feeling a bit traumatized by the fact that age is NOT just a number as the smarmy optimists always say, led to me moping about on my couch feeling utterly useless. Which led me to TED, my "happy place" in times of unsettledness.
Perusing through the different talks brought me to Elizabeth Gilbert, an author who wrote a book I started to read but never finished called Eat, Pray, Love.
I listened to the talk, then replayed it, and suddenly..I felt better.
Yes, my oversized derriered is still smarting, my calves still burn, and muscles I never knew I had are still sore; my soul though, my soul is soothed.
This particular talk is similar to what you should all be delivering in mere days; she had an idea, she did some research and she's talking about it. Why?
Well, why not? What is the harm in acquiring knowledge? There is none. Whether it be learning how to do something you never tried and have no business trying now that you're 108--like, oh I don't know--SNOWBOARDING, or just listening to someone's ideas about something you never really thought about before--knowledge is power. It is power at its purest because you can get exactly what you need at any given moment. That's why.
So, in light of the fact that talks start tomorrow, and knowing full well that many of you are more than a bit nervous about that, the assignment this week is fairly easy.
At some point, I would like you to watch the TED talk (posted under SOME FAVE SPEECHES) and then tell me your impression of it.
First, tell me what you think her thesis was, tell me how you think she delivered it, tell me if you found it effective, and then critique her. Did she have a hook? What was it? How did she deliver her ideas? Where did she establish ethos? How did she appeal to pathos? Logos? What did you think of her ideas?
Tell me, tell me, tell me!!
(substantive response/50pts)
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Assignment for Presentations
So, you may have noticed the interface of the blog looks a bit different. The avatar you see on the right hand side of the screen is not just a fit of whimsy on my part--she actually serves a purpose. She is supposed to resemble me so that you realize she does have a purpose (yes, I know she is much prettier--shut up! That's the perks of having a computer alter-ego! :) ).
But I digress. Anyhoo, if you click on the "play" button at the bottom the avatar screen (looks like the play button on a dvd player, with a little arrow thingy)you will hear my voice saying hello to you. For now, that is all she should say, but as the weeks progress, I may record directions or questions for your listening pleasure, so be aware that this new feature is there so that you get used to seeing (and listening) to it.
OK, moving on.
Also on the right side of the screen you will find a link to the talk we watched in the library--unless of course you were sleeping (ahem...Tay). So, what I would like you to do this week is to watch that talk again, paying particularly close attention to the way Benjamin Zander speaks, what he does, how he interacts with his audience etc.
To keep you honest, I would like you to answer the following questions after you have watched the video. This is your blog assignment for the week, so naturally I will be asking your for specific examples and details.
1. How does he begin his talk?
2. At what point to you think he establishes his ethos?
3. Is that effective?
4. How many examples of pathos can you see? What are they?
5. How does he engage the audience? (this is your opinion)
6. Does he appeal to logos? How?
7. What do you think the theme of his talk is?
8. Overall, what did you think of his talk?
(ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS/75pts)
But I digress. Anyhoo, if you click on the "play" button at the bottom the avatar screen (looks like the play button on a dvd player, with a little arrow thingy)you will hear my voice saying hello to you. For now, that is all she should say, but as the weeks progress, I may record directions or questions for your listening pleasure, so be aware that this new feature is there so that you get used to seeing (and listening) to it.
OK, moving on.
Also on the right side of the screen you will find a link to the talk we watched in the library--unless of course you were sleeping (ahem...Tay). So, what I would like you to do this week is to watch that talk again, paying particularly close attention to the way Benjamin Zander speaks, what he does, how he interacts with his audience etc.
To keep you honest, I would like you to answer the following questions after you have watched the video. This is your blog assignment for the week, so naturally I will be asking your for specific examples and details.
1. How does he begin his talk?
2. At what point to you think he establishes his ethos?
3. Is that effective?
4. How many examples of pathos can you see? What are they?
5. How does he engage the audience? (this is your opinion)
6. Does he appeal to logos? How?
7. What do you think the theme of his talk is?
8. Overall, what did you think of his talk?
(ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS/75pts)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
"This I Believe"
So, as much as I love music--and I truly love music--there are times when listening to a tired, old radio station just doesn't do it for me. Same with the CDs that are artfully arranged in a display akin to a 3-year old's toybox in the backseat of my car. When this happens, I tune into NPR--National Public Radio, for those of you not "in the know" about it. I love NPR; it inspires me. In fact, I get many of my lesson ideas from listening to it. There is a segment I particularly love on NPR called "This I Believe" and it was the inspiration behind this week's blog post. Actually, it was an inspiration for a blog I posted last year, but it so happens that it very neatly coincides with the talk you are going to be giving soon, so I figured I'd go green and recycle.
Have you ever thought about what the guiding principles in your life are? By guiding principles I simply mean the things in life that you truly and fundamentally believe; the beliefs that shape your decisions when you find yourself in a position where you have to make one. Perhaps it is the notion that "everyone, no matter how seemingly insignificant, has something to teach us" or something as common as the idea that "all men are created equal and are endowed with certain inalienable rights...among them...life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" or "treat others the way that you wish to be treated" or "blood is thicker than water."
Those are just some generic examples, but your challenge this week is explore some of your own core beliefs and choose one guiding principle that you would like to shape your journey into adulthood and throughout life. Don't get caught up in tired cliches or age-old aphorisms; be creative, be yourself. Really think about the beliefs that you hold near and dear to your heart and try to capture them in your own words. Talk about why these beliefs are important to you and how you came to recognize them. (400-450 words/75pts)
Have you ever thought about what the guiding principles in your life are? By guiding principles I simply mean the things in life that you truly and fundamentally believe; the beliefs that shape your decisions when you find yourself in a position where you have to make one. Perhaps it is the notion that "everyone, no matter how seemingly insignificant, has something to teach us" or something as common as the idea that "all men are created equal and are endowed with certain inalienable rights...among them...life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" or "treat others the way that you wish to be treated" or "blood is thicker than water."
Those are just some generic examples, but your challenge this week is explore some of your own core beliefs and choose one guiding principle that you would like to shape your journey into adulthood and throughout life. Don't get caught up in tired cliches or age-old aphorisms; be creative, be yourself. Really think about the beliefs that you hold near and dear to your heart and try to capture them in your own words. Talk about why these beliefs are important to you and how you came to recognize them. (400-450 words/75pts)
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