December 19

Finished our Transcendentalist project

December 18-final transcendentalist project

We finished the movie today and then began work on our Transcendentalist final project:

Choose one of the following activities to complete on these two readings.  More than one activity, of course, will count as extra credit.

1)  Write your own essay on “Where I Lived and What I Lived For”

--either as you and your life are right now, or what would be ideal for you. This will be an essay on what your philosophy of life is.

At least 400 words, but no upper limit.

2) Discuss Chris Mccandless’ choice to leave his comfortable, upper-class lifestyle, hitchhike across the country and “into the wild.” I don’t want a summary of the movie, but a commentary on what he did and why.

400 words, but no upper limit.

3) Write a play with any of the characters we’ve learned about or ones who are influential to you. Have them discuss the meaning of life. Perform this for extra credit. 400 words but no upper limit.

4) Personal Credo:  Create some sort of artistic collage that helps describe who you are and what your basic values and beliefs are.  Be sure to explain each thing and why it is important to you. Make sure that these explanations aren’t simply “I like doing this,” but making it clear how this value or belief is a strong part of who you are.

I will be grading this on quality of artwork, so if you aren’t good at artistic projects, don’t pick this one. You may have to complete this at home.

December 15-Into the Wild worksheet

Started another happiness project

Began watching Into the Wild: As we watch it, students fill out the following worksheet:

Name: _____________________________

Into The Wild is broken into four sections. For section, write down the following:

	My Own Birth	Adolescence	Manhood (adulthood)	Family
A person’s life he touched
A choice he made to make himself more independent from society
A struggle he had
Something you could see yourself doing
Something you definitely wouldn’t be able to do

December 12-happiness 2

We wrote about 100 words on our choice for our happiness/productivity goal for the week.

Here are some possible questions to answer:

1. Describe what you did and how/if it helped.
2. Describe any difficulties with your goal
3. Was there any part of it that made you happy? Explain how it made you happy.
4. If you weren't successful, why not? What stopped you?
5. Will you continue doing this? Why or why not?
6. If you are thinking of doing this more, will you make any changes?
7. Did you share your goal with anyone? How did they respond?
8. What do you think of this plan to consciously decide to make our lives happier. 

I then read Walden's "On Where I Lived and What I Lived For" to the class.
Then students filled out the following worksheet:

Choose one of the last five paragraphs (Numbers 6-10)

Write the paragraph number here:  _________

1.    In your own words, explain the paragraph in one sentence.

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

2.    Now boil it down to one word.

__________________________________________________________

Write down an example of this idea in the real world.

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

3.    On the other side of this paper, do some sort of artistic rendition of the message in the paragraph.  I’m expecting this to be well thought-out and carefully done. 

4.    Now explain your drawing and how it connects to the paragraph.

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

December 11-Walden comic

Did a comic strip picture for each of the following sentences:

I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life.	To drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms.
We live meanly, like ants.	I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb nail.
Men say that a stitch in time saves nine, and so they take a thousand stitches today to save nine tomorrow.	Never dreaming the while that he lives in the dark unfathomed mammoth cave of this world, and has but the rudiment of an eye himself.
Let us spend one day as deliberately as Nature, and not be thrown off the track by every nutshell and mosquito’s wing that falls on the rails	Let us settle ourselves, and work and wedge our feet downward through the mud and slush of opinion, and prejudice…till we come to a hard bottom and rocks in place, which we can call reality, and say, THIS IS, and no mistake;

December 10- Walden Collage

First we watched the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKYJVV7HuZw

Then we worked on our Walden collage:

Making Walden’s pond.

Your assignment is to recreate Thoreau’s cabin and the land surrounding it. 

·        For this project, you may include sketches, magazine clippings, or any other artistic additions.  At least 10.

·        In addition, you must number each description that you get directly from “Where I Lived and What I Lived For.”  Turn in a sheet that has the numbers and the corresponding quote with the paragraph number.

Can you do more for extra credit?  Yes!  Please do more!

December 8

Picked a new idea to work on for happiness and productivity.

Also watched two commercials in class- here's the link:

www.businessinsider.sg/ford-destroys-cadillacs-rich-guy-ad-2014-3#.Uzhg2-i9KSP

Then answered the following questions for both videos:

 What are they selling? Literally.

What are they selling figuratively?

How do they show this?

What are your thoughts on the commercial?

  Which lifestyle is more appealing? Why?

December 5- Emerson Paragraph and reflection on Happiness goal

We went over the Emerson paragraph again and then answered the four questions at the end of the reading.

Also, we reflected on our happiness/productivity goal. Students answered the following:


Describe what you did and how/if it helped.
Describe any difficulties with your goal
Was there any part of it that made you happy? Explain how it made you happy.
If you weren't successful, why not? What stopped you?
Will you continue doing this? Why or why not?
If you are thinking of doing this more, will you make any changes?
Did you share your goal with anyone? How did they respond?
What do you think of this plan to consciously decide to make our lives happier.

December 4

Today we read the Emerson essay, "On Self-Reliance."

Students got into groups to focus on one paragraph and answer the following questions:

• Read the paragraph to yourself.  Then have someone in the group read it out loud. 
• Your group should pick two words or phrases that you don’t understand. 
• Write these down, then write down what you think they mean.  Then ask Schachter to check off if you’re right or not.
• As a group, write one sentence that could be used to explain the entire paragraph.  You may not quote from Emerson, you need to use your own words. 
• Write up a skit that shows the message of the paragraph and helps explain it.

1.  _____________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

What you think it means:  __________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

2.  _____________________________________________________________________

What you think it means:  __________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

One sentence that describes the entire paragraph.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

December 3- Duel video-and homework

We watched a video in class called Duel- this isn't online so you'll have to come in during lunch to watch it.

We answered the following questions as well:

What does the assembly line represent?

What object symbolizes force-fed knowledge?

What does the assembly line produce?

When does the boy start to think for himself?

What happens when the boy begins to think for himself?

How are you being forced along an assembly line?  What do you do to keep your own individuality?

100 words.

Homework for the next two weeks:

Transcendentalism homework:

Find one example of each of the following concepts of transcendentalism:

1.  Nonconformity    2.  Self-reliance    3.  Free Thought

  4.  Confidence    5.  Importance of Nature

This can come from a poem, a song, a picture or work of art, an essay, a book, a movie.

For each example, do the following

·     Bring in or email me the example (copy of the poem, picture, description of the movie, book, essay)

·     Write a 100 word explanation as to how this exemplifies one concept of transcendentalism

v  You may do more than five for extra credit.

v  You may present to class for extra credit.

December 2-Anticipation Guide and Fable

Anticipation Guide:

For each question, circle which position most describes your opinion. Also, write a sentence or two explaining yourself.

A simple person who lives in the county has a greater wisdom and insight into the

mysteries of life than a sophisticated person from the city.

STRONGLY AGREE                     AGREE          DISAGREE        STRONGLY DISAGREE

Logic and facts are more important than emotions and feelings

STRONGLY AGREE                     AGREE          DISAGREE        STRONGLY DISAGREE

Nature should be controlled by humans.

STRONGLY AGREE                     AGREE          DISAGREE        STRONGLY DISAGREE

People should follow standards and traditions set forth by society

STRONGLY AGREE                     AGREE          DISAGREE        STRONGLY DISAGREE

We should never be satisfied with the status quo, but rather we should desire radical

change.

STRONGLY AGREE                     AGREE          DISAGREE        STRONGLY DISAGREE

The needs of individuals are more important than the needs of society as a whole.

STRONGLY AGREE                     AGREE          DISAGREE        STRONGLY DISAGREE

People should act with moderation and self-restraint and avoid expressing the extremes of

their personalities in public. 

STRONGLY AGREE                     AGREE          DISAGREE        STRONGLY DISAGREE

I tend to follow my gut instinct in most situations

STRONGLY AGREE                     AGREE          DISAGREE        STRONGLY DISAGREE

I tend to see the glass half full

STRONGLY AGREE                     AGREE          DISAGREE        STRONGLY DISAGREE

Then we read a poem called The Fable by Emerson:

Then answered the following:

What does each one say to criticize the other?
What is the theme of the poem?

Which would you rather be- why?

December 1- 52 tips for happiness and transcendentalism homework

We looked over the 52 tips for happiness and productivity. You'll have to pick up a copy from me.

Pick one of the tips to work on for the following week. Write a half page on how you will try and and do this for the next week. Then also how this might help you.

Our homework for the next two weeks:

Transcendentalism homework:

Find one example of each of the following concepts of transcendentalism:

1.  Nonconformity    2.  Self-reliance    3.  Free Thought

  4.  Confidence    5.  Importance of Nature

This can come from a poem, a song, a picture or work of art, an essay, a book, a movie.

For each example, do the following

·     Bring in or email me the example (copy of the poem, picture, description of the movie, book, essay)

·     Write a 100 word explanation as to how this exemplifies one concept of transcendentalism

v  You may do more than five for extra credit.

v  You may present to class for extra credit.

November 19- Storyboard, Book Trailer guidelines

First, we made a Storyboard for our book trailer. Come see me to get the worksheet.

Here are the book trailer requirements:

Create a Book Trailer

You know what a movie trailer is, right? Well, you will create a Book Trailer about either Monster or one of the other books you read this year.

Requirements for Book Trailer:

·       Between one and two minutes long

·       Includes MUSIC that matches the emotion of the book

·       Has IMAGES/VIDEOS that match the emotion of the book

·       Drama of the trailer BUILDS (Makes the viewer really want to read the book)

·       Correct spelling/grammar and legible text 

November 18- Practice making a movie

Today’s plan for learning how to use MovieMaker

INSERTING A PICTURE

Step one: Go to Google Images

Step Two: Find two pictures that express how you feel about your favorite activity

Step three: Right-click on each image and click “save image as…” Save them to your J: drive under “My Downloads”

Step Four: Open MovieMaker

Step Five: Click “Add Videos and Photos.” Open your saved pictures.

ADDING TEXT

Step one: Click the middle of the three little buttons four buttons to the right of the “Add Videos and Photos.”

Step two: Type a message into each picture.

ADDING MUSIC

Step one: Go to youtube

Step two: Find a song that has exciting music

Step three: Save the URL

Step four: Go to www.youtubeinMP3.com

Step five: Paste the URL into the search box and click download. You may have to do this twice. If a new window pops up, asking you to install anything, DO NOT DO IT!

Step six: Go to MovieMaker

Step seven: Click “Add Music.” YOUR FILLE MAY BE HARD TO FIND! It is probably in the file “downloads” on the left side underneath “favorites.” Make sure you are searching for “All Files”

CUSTOMIZING YOUR MOVIE

Step one: Click on the text you wrote. Change the size and the color

Step two: Click on the first picture. Then click on “Video Tools.” Change the length of time that the picture is showing so that it switches to the next picture at the perfect time with the music.

Step three: Have your music fade out by clicking on “Music Tools.”

SAVING YOUR MOVIE

IMPORTANT: IF YOU SAVE IN A DIFFERENT WAY, YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO MAKE CHANGES LATER OR SHARE WITH ME!!!!!!

Step one: Open your project in Movie Maker

Step two: Click on the “Save Movie” drop arrow in the upper right corner

Step three: Choose “For High-Definition Display”

Step four: Save it in your J drive

Step five: When you are completely finished, email me the attachment

November 17- Hot seat

Go to http://www.responsibilityproject.com/films/hot-seat

Watch the video, “Hot Seat.”

After the video, copy these questions on to a Google doc, answer them, and then share with Schachter.

1. Why do you think the rabbit finally acted when it did to solve the problem?

2. Why is it so difficult for the rabbits—or humans—to step up and take responsibility about a shared item in a shared environment?

3. Are you less responsible about items at school (desks, books, bathroom cleanliness) than at home? Why?

4. In your life, when have you been like each of the following rabbits?  Explain each situation.

                  A. Rabbit with the Gold Carrot and two chairs:  Makes sure his/her own comfort is                               taken care of regardless of needs of the group.

B.  Female Rabbit Needing to go to the Bathroom:  Holds on to own possessions regardless of the damage to him/herself 

C. Rabbit Who Replaces his Good Chair for the Bad Chair:  Recognizes that the needs of the group outweigh the needs of the individual

November 13-Book trailer

Today we will begin thinking/learning about how to create a book trailer. Book trailers are exactly like movie trailers, but about books. Students will be creating a book trailer for a book they've been reading in class during independent reading or else for the book we just finished-Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Today we watched some movie trailers as well as some examples of previously made book trailers.

Here is the handout for the book trailer

Create a Book Trailer

You know what a movie trailer is, right? Well, you will create a Book Trailer about either Monster or one of the other books you read this year.

Requirements for Book Trailer:

·       Between one and two minutes long

·       Includes MUSIC that matches the emotion of the book

·       Has IMAGES/VIDEOS that match the emotion of the book

·       Drama of the trailer BUILDS (Makes the viewer really want to read the book)

·       Correct spelling/grammar and legible text

Now that you know what I'm looking for, start brainstorming ideas of what you might include in your trailer:

BEGIN BRAINSTORMING FOR YOUR BOOK TRAILER

Title of the Book:                                                               Author’s Name:

Genre (fiction or nonfiction; fantasy, mystery, science fiction, historical fiction, etc…):

Description of the main character:

Problem the main character has to overcome (DO NOT explain if the character is successful at solving the problem):

Description of at least one more character:

Summarize a few details about the action of the novel (3-4 sentences max: NO SPOILERS):

What was your favorite part of the book, or a connection you personally made to the story or characters?:

Three descriptive adjectives to describe the book (avoid vague words like “interesting” or “good.” Use dynamic words like “adventurous” or “depressing”).

What are some similar books or movies (if you liked x, y, z, then you’ll like this book)?

What would be a good song, or good music to play with your book trailer?

What could be the tagline for your book?

Examples from movies:

Armageddon (1998)"Earth. It was fun while it lasted."

Dumb and Dumber (1994)"For Harry and Lloyd, every day is a no-brainer."

Finding Nemo (2003)"There are 3.7 trillion fish in the ocean. They're looking for one."

I Am Legend (2007)"The last man on Earth is not alone."

The Matrix (1999)"Reality is a thing of the past."

Office Space (1999)"Work sucks."

Alien vs. Predator (2004)"Whoever wins, we lose.”

November 12 Epicurus

Read the following article about Epicurus:

Culture, Mind & Body, Society

The Ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus was born in 341 BC, on the island of Samos, a few miles off the coast of modern Turkey. He had an unusually long beard, wrote over three hundred books and was one of the most famous philosophers of his age. 

What made him famous was his skillful and relentless focus on one particular subject: happiness. Previously, philosophers had wanted to know how to be good; Epicurus insisted he wanted to focus on how to be happy.

Few philosophers had ever made such a frank, down-to-earth admission of their interests before. It shocked many, especially when they heard that Epicurus had started a School for Happiness. The idea of what was going on inside was both entirely shocking and deeply titillating. A few disgruntled Epicureans made some damaging leaks about what was going on in the school. Timocrates said that Epicurus had to vomit twice a day because he spent all his time on a sofa being fed luxurious meats and fish by a team of slaves. And Diotimus the Stoic published fifty lewd letters which he said had been written by Epicurus to some young students when he’d been drunk and sexually obsessed. It’s because of such gossip that we still sometimes now use the adjective ‘Epicurean’ to describe luxury and decadence.

But such associations are unfounded. The truth about Epicurus is far less sensational – but far more interesting. The Greek philosopher really was focused on happiness and pleasure, but he had no interest in expensive meals or orgies. He owned only two cloaks and lived on bread, olives and – as a treat – the occasional slice of cheese. Instead, having patiently studied happiness for many years, Epicurus came to a set of remarkable and revolutionary conclusions about what we actually need to be happy, conclusions wholly at odds with the assumptions of his age – and of our own.

Epicurus proposed that we typically make three mistakes when thinking about happiness.

1. We think we need romantic relationships 

Then, as now, people were obsessed with love. But Epicurus observed that happiness and love (let alone marriage) almost never go together. There is too much jealousy, misunderstanding and bitterness. Sex is always complicated and rarely in harmony with affection. It would be best, Epicurus concluded, never to put too much faith in relationships. By contrast, he noted how rewarding most friendships are: here we are polite, we look for agreement, we don’t scold or berate and we aren’t possessive. But the problem is we don’t see our friends enough. We let work and family take precedence. We can’t find the time. They live too far away. 

2. We think we need lots of money

Then, as now, people were obsessed by their careers, motivated by a desire for money and applause. But Epicurus emphasized the difficulties of employment: the jealousy, the backbiting and frustrated ambitions.

What makes work really satisfying, Epicurus believed, is when we’re able to work either alone or in very small groups and when it feels meaningful, when we sense that we’re helping others in some way or making things that improve the world. It isn’t really cash or prestige we want, it’s a sense of fulfilment through our labour. 

3. We put too much faith in luxury 

We dream of luxury: a beautiful home, elegant rooms and pleasant views. We imagine trips to idyllic locations, where we can rest and let others look after us…

But Epicurus disagreed with our longings. Behind the fantasy of luxury, what he believed we really want is calm. Yet calm won’t possibly arise simply through changing the view or owning a delightful building.

Calm is an internal quality that is the result of analysis: it comes when we sift through our worries and correctly understand them. We therefore need ample time to read, to write, and most of all, to benefit from the regular support of a good listener: a sympathetic, kind, clever person who in Epicurus’s time would have been a philosopher, and whom we would now call a therapist.

With his analysis of happiness in hand, Epicurus made three important innovations:

- Firstly, he decided that he would live together with friends. Enough of seeing them only now and then. He bought a modestly priced plot of land outside of Athens and built a place where he and his friends could live side by side on a permanent basis. Everyone had their rooms, and there were common areas downstairs and in the grounds. That way, the residents would always be surrounded by people who shared their outlooks, were entertaining and kind. Children were looked after in rota. Everyone ate together. One could chat in the corridors late at night. It was the world’s first proper commune.

- Secondly, everyone in the commune stopped working for other people. They accepted cuts in their income in return for being able to focus on fulfilling work. Some of Epicurus’s friends devoted themselves to farming, others to cooking, a few to making furniture and art. They had far less money, but ample intrinsic satisfaction.

- And thirdly, Epicurus and his friends devoted themselves to finding calm through rational analysis and insight. They spent periods of every day reflecting on their anxieties, improving their understanding of their psyches and mastering the great questions of philosophy.

Epicurus’s experiment in living caught on. Epicurean communities opened up all around the Mediterranean and drew in thousands of followers. The centers thrived for generations – until they were brutally suppressed by a jealous and aggressive Christian Church in the 5th century. But even then, their essence survived when many of them were turned into monasteries.

Epicurus’s influence continues into the modern age. Karl Marx did his PhD thesis on him and thought of him as his favorite philosopher. What we call Communism is at heart just a bigger – and rather more authoritarian and joyless – version of Epicureanism.

Even today, Epicurus remains an indispensable guide to life in advanced consumer capitalist societies because advertising – on which this system is based – functions on cleverly muddling people up about what they think they need to be happy. 

An extraordinary number of adverts focus on the three very things that Epicurus identified as false lures of happiness: romantic love, professional status and luxury.

Adverts wouldn’t work as well as they do if they didn’t operate with an accurate sense of what our real needs are. Yet while they excite us by evoking them, they refuse to quench them properly. Beer ads will show us groups of friends hugging – but only sell us alcohol (that we might end up drinking alone). Fancy watch ads will show us high-status professionals walking purposefully to the office, but won’t know how to answer the desire for intrinsically satisfying work. And adverts for tropical beaches may titillate us with their serenity, but can’t – on their own – deliver the true calm we crave

Epicurus invites us to change our understanding of ourselves and to alter society accordingly. We mustn’t exhaust ourselves and the planet in a race for things that wouldn’t possibly satisfy us even if we got them. We need a return to philosophy and a lot more seriousness about the business of being happy.

Answered the following questions:

Students read each of Epicurus’ “mistakes of happiness”

For each one, answer if this is something you raised your hand to.

If “Yes,” explain why you think so, despite what Epicurus says.

If “No,” explain if your reason is similar to Epicurus’ reason or different.

Read what he did-

Bought a home where all his friends could live together.

Would you do this? What are the pros? Cons?

Work for yourself, not for money/others. Only do what makes you happy even if you are poor.

Would you be willing to work for much less money (just enough to get by) if it meant that your work was exciting/fulfilling?

What would you do for work if this was an option?

I’ll finish reading the rest.

Students spend 15-20 minutes writing their thoughts on Epicurus’ philosophy. Do they agree? Disagree? Why? What parts did he get right? What parts did he get wrong?