Reflection on "Crumbling under Our Wheels"

After read the news article and discussing information in class, how could the infrastructure issue affect you?  How do you feel about these problems?  What do you think we should do as a nation?  Discuss your thoughts completely.

Ch 28-58

Section 4

Read through the prompt below and write about it.  Show me your understanding of the chapter.  Spend time letting me know all of your thoughts.  Use textual evidence to prove your ideas as well.  Make sure you have a beginning, a middle, and an end. 

Choose one of the chapters in section four that made an impact on you.  Avoid the chapters you were assigned; instead, choose one that you learned about through your student teacher.  Discuss the impact the chapter had on you.  Think about how it connects to you and your life.  Think about how it may impact your future.  Think about how it can influence others as well.

Ch 23-27

Chapters 23 - 27

As in the past blogs, choose one & write about it.  Make sure you've put in all of your thoughts.

 

1.  Which was your favorite Pauschism in chapter 23?  Discuss your choice fully.

2.  What did you think about the peer assessment (chapter 24)?  Is that an accurate way to assess peer contribution and efforts? Why or why not?  How important do you think it is that we have someone in your life to keep you in check?

3.  How did positive attitude play a role in chapter 25?  How does positive attitude play a role in your life?  Discuss fully.  

4.  How is teamwork necessary in chapter 26?  How is teamwork necessary in school and outside of it?  How can we create good teamwork?  Discuss your thoughts completely.

5.  Chapter 27 discusses the “promised land.”  What does this allude to?  What is “the promised land”?  How does the title fit the chapter?

The Last Lecture: chapters 19-22

Chapters 19 - 22

Read through the 4 prompts below and choose one to write about.  Show me you've read the chapters.  Spend time letting me know all of your thoughts.  Use textual evidence to prove your ideas as well.  Make sure you have a beginning, a middle, and an end.  

1.  What was your impression of their New Year’s Eve event?  Discuss fully.  How could you connect with the chapter?

2.  What impressed you about the chapter on Randy’s father?  Why does it impress you?  Compare & contrast Randy’s father with yours.

3.  Name something that struck you about Randy, the doctor, or Jai’s behavior in chapter 21.  Describe why it resonated with you.

4.  Discuss your thoughts about Randy’s ticket experience.  How could you connect with the chapter?

The Last Lecture: Chapters 16-18

Chapters 16 - 18
Read through the 5 prompts below and choose one to write about.  Show me you've read the chapters.  Spend time letting me know all of your thoughts.  Use textual evidence to prove your ideas as well.  Make sure you have a beginning, a middle, and an end. 

1.  Discuss two different ideas that struck you about the “romancing the brick wall” chapter.  Why were they important?

2.  How would you react in the same situation?  Discuss Randy’s parents’ advice.  What advice would your parents have given you?

3.  Discuss how the theme has progressed from chapter 11 to chapter 16.

4.  What did you think about the balloon experience?  Discuss your thoughts fully.  Have you ever experienced something like this?  Discuss.

5.  What was the lesson learned from the dents in the cars?  How do you feel about the situation & the lesson?  Do you agree with Randy?  Discuss.

The Last Lecture: chapters 12 - 15

Chapters 12-15
Read through the 4 prompts below and choose one to write about.  Show me you've read the chapters.  Spend time letting me know all of your thoughts.  Use textual evidence to prove your ideas as well.  Make sure you have a beginning, a middle, and an end.  

1.  Discuss Randy’s thoughts about being positive.  What is the benefit of spinning things in a positive direction?  What message does that give to the audience?  Are you more positive or negative?  Why do you believe this?  

2.  Discuss your thoughts on this chapter.  What is the lesson to be learned from seeing Randy in the convertible?  Based upon this chapter, what can we do to be more like him?  What would people say if they saw you in an unguarded moment?

3.  What did you think about the punishment given to Randy’s sister after the lunch box incident?    What was the lesson learned?  How does the Dutch uncle fit into this chapter?  How do you feel about this information.  Discuss fully.

4.  What were Uncle Randy’s rules?  Why did he create these specific rules?  Did you like these rules in chapter 15?  Why/why not?  If you were one of the kids, how would you have acted?  Discuss your thoughts.

The Last Lecture: Chapters 8 - 11 Blog

Chapters 8-11
Read through the 4 prompts below and choose one to write about.  Show me you've read the chapters.  Spend time letting me know all of your thoughts.  Use textual evidence to prove your ideas as well.  Make sure you have a beginning, a middle, and an end.  
 

1.  What insight did you gain into the “no win scenario” in chapter 9?  Do you believe that there is such a thing?  Why or why not?

2.  What makes a good leader in your eyes?  How does it compare to Randy’s?  Who do you think is the ultimate leader?  Why do you believe this?

3.  Discuss Randy’s dream with “prizes.”  Did it surprise you?  Discuss.  What is the biggest prize that you have ever won?  Explain the situation.

4.  Discuss Randy’s idea of the “brick wall.”  Is he correct in his ideas?  Discuss.  What is a big goal for you?  What would happen if a brick wall got in your way?

The Last Lecture: chapters 4-7 blog

Chapters 4-7

Read through the 8 prompts below and choose one to write about.  Spend time letting me know all of your thoughts.  Use textual evidence to prove your ideas as well.  Make sure you have a beginning, a middle, and an end.

1.  Describe why the author thinks he won the parent lottery.  Describe your own experience with the parent lottery in your own life.

2.  Pick your favorite of Randy’s father’s quotes, and tell why it appeals to you.

3.  Put yourself in Randy’s shoes for a minute.  What would be something of value that you would choose to do if you knew you only had a few months left.  Describe and defend your choice.

4.  Describe the author’s room growing up.  What is your reaction to his elevator?  What does his room tell us about creativity & imagination?  Do you think it is necessary in life?  Discuss.

5.  Make a parallel to your own life.  Have you ever been given the type of freedom Randy was given with his room?  If so, explain what happened.  If not, explain what you would do given that type of freedom.  Discuss fully.

6.  How was Randy disappointed in chapter 6 & how did he deal with it?  Discuss a time you had a big disappointment & how you dealt with it.

7.  What do you have to “bring to the table” when you contribute     to a project?  What is your best skill set?

8.  What is your evaluation of Coach Graham?  Would you want him as a coach?  Why or why not?

The Last Lecture: introduction - chapter 3 writing

After reading through chapter three, you need to look at the following writing options.  Choose the one you feel you can delve into the best.  Make sure you have a beginning, middle, & end as well as tell me which number you chose.

Introduction - Chapter 3

1.  Explain the author’s “engineering problem.”  What problems do you have?  How do they compare to the author’s?

2.  What was the title of the first chapter?  What do you think it means?  Connect it to your life, something you’ve seen, or something you’ve read.

3.  Choose 3 different points from chapter 1 or 2.  Discuss why those items caught your attention.

4.  What was the elephant in the room?  Why do we not talk about things?  How can we change this?

5.  If you were in the audience for the lecture, describe what you think your impressions of the opening would be.