Thursday, September 3

Prediction: Utes 48-USU 14.

Freshmen: Today we started to brainstorm possible essay topics. We called the things that drive your thinking mental itches - those ideas and topics you just can't get out of your head. Writing is a great way to relieve that stress and learn about something that interests you. Your homework is to have at least 12 items in response to the questions I posed in class, 12 3x5 index cards for class tomorrow, and to read for 20 minutes.

Here are some of the questions we considered as we generated possible essay topics:
1. What stand have I taken, or choice have I made, or preference do I have that needs explaining?
2. What point of view needs my powers of persuasion?
3. What phenomena needs exploring?
4. What problem needs solving?
5. What issue needs explaining?
6. What interesting, true story can I tell?
7. What situation needs correcting?

Sophomores: Today we talked about schema connections, and in order to build your background knowledge about critical issues in Life of Pi, you were assigned a 3 Facts research assignment. This assignment is due 9/10. Your vocab and chapter 23 in Life of Pi, and your essay due date has been pushed back to 9/14 (you're welcome).

CNF: We had our first seminar on Chapter 1 from Blink - very stimulating, very interesting. Thank you, and good job. Your homework tonight is to email me a photo of your bedroom for an experiment we will perform in class tomorrow. Take it as is - no cleaning or tampering with the evidence!