Blog Prompt #8

So we are now on the adventure of proposals and shortly you will be presenting a campaign for your proposal on the issue you have chosen. Many of you grapple with the questions: "What can I do?" or "Whatever I do won't make a difference; I'm just a college student." or "The problem will always be there; we'll never be rid of it."

I'm sure there were people who felt the same way about human slavery, right?

Myspace has created a new page called MySpace Impact. There you can find several different organizations, mostly started by young people like yourself. As mentioned in class, Awareness in and of itself is a part of the solution to any problem or issue. Take a look at what some people are doing and discuss these efforts in your blog. Notice the differences in bringing awareness to these issues and their proposed solutions. Also, feel free to discuss your thoughts on the idea of proposing solutions to any of the issues we are discussing in class or outside of class.

http://www.myspace.com/towriteloveonherarms (You can watch a documentary they are working on also)

http://www.myspace.com/rainn_dc

http://www.myspace.com/kivaloans

(These are just a few, but you can check them all out yourself on MySpace Impact)

Blog Prompt #7: Invisible Chains

Last week I introduced to you the issue happening on Skid Row, this week I want to introduce to you another issue referred to as Human Sex Trafficking. Watch this video and respond on your blog about this issue. If you know of videos regarding issues involving groups of individuals who are marginalized, please leave me a comment with the link.

Empty Presence Performance on 3/7/08

As I explained in class, Friday my sons band had a performance for their school's pep rally, and as you can imagine, I am extremely proud of him. I set up a youtube account for them so us parents could share with our friends and family, and I am inviting you to check them out if your interested. You can visit their page at http://www.youtube.com/emptypresence and check them out for yourself! :)

Friday, March 7th Online Class Assignment

In place of class for this Friday, March 7th, you will do an online assignment consisting of watching the two movie clips below and then responding. Your response will be posted on Webct. Please visit "Assignments", click on "Movie Response", and type your response in the comment box or copy and paste from a word document (NO ATTACHMENTS PLEASE).

1. Your response to this movie should be no less than 350 words.
2. Your response should discuss your immediate reaction to the documentary and what stood out to you the most; did it disgust you, shock you, make you feel bad and why?
3. Your response should discuss how the director of these movie clips was able to make you feel what you felt; what did they include, manipulate, or use to appeal to your feelings?
4. This assignment is to be submitted by midnight Friday, March 7th.

If you have any problems viewing the movies from here then you can view the movies on myspace at: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=28536735 (this link is for the first part of the movie, you can scroll down on the sidebar to see the second part.)

I am only asking that you watch the first two parts of this documentary, but I highly encourage you to watch the other two parts that have been posted.

Skid Row Part I

Skid Row Part II

Blog Prompt #6: A Wiki Wacky Contest

Here's a fun twist to our traditional entries! I have come across some GREAT looking Wiki Homepages! Some of you took the level of creativity a notch above most when it came to designing your "About Me" page and I want to give some special recognition to those who did. The only thing is that it is really hard for me to choose the best ones, so I am recruiting your help. Your job for this prompt is to visit the "About Me" or "Home Page" of all the students in another class (look below to see which class your assigned to) and vote for the top three best pages. Go back to your blog and tell me who you think should take 1st, 2nd and 3rd place and why. Remember, I am looking for creativity and appeals; who is doing the best job at "selling" themselves??

Section U1F will vote on top three of Section U1S.

Section U1N will vote on top three of Section U1F.

Section U1S will vote on top three of Section U1N.

Oh, but don't think there is no prize!! Check these out:

• First place winners will recieve a 1/2 grade boost on their lowest essay grade (to be applied at end of semester). (ex.: B to a B+)
• Second Place winners will have their two lowest hw assignment grades raised by whole grade each. (ex.: B to A, B- to A-)
• Third Place winners will be exempt from one blog entry and recieve an automatic "A".