Assignment 26: Help! I need somebody. Help!

I wanna be better in all things.  It's easy for teachers to get stuck and comfortable in patterns and activities that are completely legitimate but perhaps have become stale and even ineffective.  Throughout the semester I've asked that you work hard to prepare for the AP Language and Composition test.  I taught to the test.  I'm sorta fine with that.  As I've said, I believe that the skills the test assesses are important and some of the most important skills you will develop in your lifetime - the ability to think, process, synthesize, and argue.

To that end I've tried to develop every assignment to focus on one element of the test and hone those skills required for success.  Now that you've taken the test - multiple tests (ACT, PSAT, AP) what suggestions do you have?

I'm not asking for what you "liked" or what was "fun" but rather what was effective.  I know not everything connected with everyone and with 100+ students I will get a plethora of responses.  Though I am asking for honesty I'm not asking for a tongue-lashing nor do I expect "all sunshines and rainbows." I know I'm flawed but I also know that I am effective.  I want to minimize my flaws and increase my effectiveness.  I need your help to do that.

Minimum of 150 words - due on Sunday, May 30 at 11:59 pm

2 Days after the last day of school is the last day to make up blog 26

Assignment 25: Uniquely You – Mulligan (College app)

This is a Makeup Blog Post.  If you have a score that is less than a 30/30, this will replace that grade

When I tell my wife I’ve met someone new (a friend – don’t go there) she always asks, “what’s their story?”  She is keenly interested in the who, the capital WHO, a person is - in that she wants to know their story.  You have a story.  You have a unique background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful you believe you are incomplete without telling it

Inspired by Keanu Gomez

Minimum of 150 words.  Due on May 2 @ 11:59 pm

May 16 is the last day to make up blogs 23-25

Assignment 24: The Future

You're done!  - well almost

Your Junior year (nearly) OVER.

Tell us about it.

Successes? Failures? Lessons Learned? Risks taken? Mistakes made? What will you do in the Summer?  What do you want for your Senior year? How do you plan to reach your goals?

Minimum of 150 words - due on Sunday, April 25 at 11:59 pm

May 16 is the last day to make up blogs 23-25

Assignment 23: The Perfect Playlist - My favorite prompt!!

A Blast From the Past

"High Fidelity" (2000) was a film that was remarkably ahead of its time. The film tells the story of Rob Gordon, a washed-up music junkie (played by the fantastic John Cusack) who spends his days creating perfect 5 song playlists. There's his playlist for his worst break up ever, his playlist of the top 5 soul tracks released between 1955 and 1965, and his playlist for his ex-girlfriend's dad's funeral.

Today, thanks to Spotify,  Apple Music, YouTube, and Pandora, creating a "perfect" playlist has never been easier.

On the other hand, Rob probably would be appalled by the slapdash way some of us throw together any group of songs above a certain tempo before we head to the gym, or take all those below a certain tempo and thoughtlessly label it “chillaxxx.” As Rob forewarned, “The making of a good compilation tape is a very subtle art. Many do’s and don’ts. You’re using someone else’s poetry to express how you feel. This <beat>  is a delicate thing.”

So for this blog assignment, create a "perfect" playlist for something. It could be your perfect playlist to listen to at the gym (boring!), perfect playlist for a rainy day, perfect playlist for anything. . . be as creative as you can. Once you have chosen a topic, select 5-10 tracks for this playlist, noting the song and artist, and write a few sentences explaining why you chose this song, what this song adds to your playlist, why you put it where you did, and how it works with the other songs you selected to create a cohesive perfect playlist.

Then create that list in Spotify (if possible) and share the link with mathhugh@aol.com 

In all honesty this is my way to crowd source interesting music so don't be a dolt and make a joke list please.

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, April 11 at 11:59 pm

May 16 is the last day to make up blogs 23-25

entry inspired by former Academy student John Cowgill

Assignment 22: Your life isn't boring. (College app)

Another personal reflective question, yes I know.  This time I want you to focus on connecting your uniqueness directly applies to your college.  So you’re gonna have to be thinking about your top colleges and why you are the perfect fit for one another. 

Unusual circumstances in your life:  This may be something you feel is essential to a deeper understanding of you. Discuss the unusual circumstances that provide a better context to your life experience. Consider what this experience(s) reflects about your personal qualities, personality, and character. How do these circumstances influence your perspective and aspirations? How might this background make college a particularly good fit for you?

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, March 28th at 11:59 pm

March 28 is the last day to make up blogs 20-22

Assignment 21: OB-STA-KELS – oh Brother Where art Thou (College app)

We love obstacles.  When other people are facing them that is.  But where and who would our heroes be if they didn’t face any obstacles.  The same can be said for us.  Our obstacles shape who we’ve become and who we are becoming.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

OR

Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, March 11 at 11:59 pm

March 28 is the last day to make up blogs 20-22

Assignment 20: How to … video post

Time to make a Youtube tutorial - HECK YEHAA

Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?
--Benjamin Franklin

Ben makes a good point. For this week, put your gifts and skills on display by developing a "how-to." Choose something that you have a level of expertise in and explain step by step how it is done.

No repeats though! If two people are both really talented at making ice and one beats the other to the post on "How to make ice..." then, second person - you need to reflect upon your other talents.

So, stop standing in the shade and astound us!

This can be made on a phone or some rudimentary camera/editing device but you have to make a tutorial - have fun.

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, February 28 at 11:59 pm

March 28 is the last day to make up blogs 20-22

Assignment 19: Plastics

Most of the advice we receive in our lives is unsolicited and quite frankly inane.  However, every once in a while we get a real gem and changes our trajectory.  What is the one piece of advice given to you that has stuck?  Explain its effect on your life.

The Piece of advice that was most profound was for me was:
The most important decision you'll ever make is who you choose as a spouse/partner.  Choose wisely.
Ask me and I'll elaborate...

Minimum of 150 words

Due Sunday, February 7 at 11:59 pm

February 14 is the last day to make up blogs 17-19

Assignment 18: Buckets and Buckets

Welcome to your first blog prompt for 2020! Yay!

A bucket list is a list of everything you want to accomplish before you kick the bucket. That doesn't mean you can't have such a list for specific aspects of your life as well.

To begin the year, generate your own bucket lists (three items each) - one list for high school, one list for college, and one list for life. Then, write at length about one item that is the most important of the 9.

1. What are three items on your bucket list before you finish high school?
2. What are three items on your bucket list before you finish college?
3. What are three items  on your bucket list before you finish living?

(This blog is inspired by Axel Liimatta - former academy teacher - my friend and former colleague that inspires me to live every day more fully)

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, January 24  at 11:59 pm

February 14 is the last day to make up blogs 17-19

Assignment 17: Hurray of Hollywood - During Break - Watch a movie!

It's Oscar season,  that time when movie studios parade out their Oscar contenders.  So for this post I'd like you to go to the movies over the break.

Actually you can just watch at home but I like the idea of you telling your parents that you HAVE to go for a homework assignment. 

Please pick one:

1. I'd like you to pick a genre or director and watch two films by that director and then compare/contrast the two in whatever way you deem appropriate.

2. Go see a film and submit a review of that film here AND on rotten tomatoes.  At the end of your review,  post your so I can see your review "out in the wild."

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, January 10 at 11:59 pm

February 14 is the last day to make up blogs 17-19

Assignment 16: Speech

Post your speech!

Last blog of the Semester! Huzzah!

Full text of speech - due Sunday, December 20 at 11:59 pm.

December 13 is the last day to make up blogs 9-15

Assignment 15: Awwwwww Geek Out --to the song Freak Out (College)/ Cover Girl

This is a Make UP Blog Post NOT Extra Credit

We all have something that peaks our “Geek-meter.”  That something where time stops and transports you to a state of Zen.   Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Minimum of 150 words

Due Sunday, December 13 at 11:59 pm

December 13 is the last day to make up blogs 9-15

Cover Girl = Make Up
get it?
see what I did there?

Assignment 14: Flying Turkeys

The stock image of Thanksgiving involves a lot of people around a nicely decorated table with a large turkey and a ridiculous amount of extra food. This image doesn't always depict the reality of the holiday though.

What does your Thanksgiving look like? Do you enjoy the holiday? What is your strangest or most wonderful memory of the holiday?

OR

What are some of your family traditions in general?  Holiday or otherwise.

OR

What is your best holiday story? Inspirational, humorous, tragic (but you can laugh about it now).

Minimum of 150 words

Due Sunday, December 6 at 11:59 pm

December 13 is the last day to make up blogs 9-15

Assignment 13: Cha Cha Changes!

Think of all of the things and ideas that exist in the world.

Which one bothers you the most?

Think on Jonathan Swift's "Proposal" and write your own satiric solution to your troublesome issue.

First I would spend some time watching and or reading a great deal of satire to get into in the mental mode satire requires.

To Be Absolutely Clear - 

You are writing your own SATIRE, not discussing satire.  Read lots and lots and lots of The Onion or NewCircleCircular before you start!  If you do not write a satire you will not receive credit and you will have to redo the assignment

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, November 29 at 11:59 pm

December 13 is the last day to make up blogs 9-15

Assignment 12: I’m not crazy. I promise (College app)

How do you “sell” yourself to a stranger?  For most, when you step onto your new academic home you will know no one -- so your roommate is an important safety line.  As such, it’ll be important to pick a good one.  What you would want your future college roommate to know about you?   This question asks you to share something significant about your day-to-day way of being. You can discuss just about anything here! Although you could approach this essay in a somewhat playful manner, do not be tempted to address a topic for its shock value. It’s important that your response is genuine and conveys your personality in an appropriate tone.

Minimum of 150 words

Due Sunday, November 22 at 11:59 pm

December 13 is the last day to make up blogs 9-15

Assignment 11: Who’s your neighbor?

You are juniors. You are in the Academy. You sit next to each other in Mr. Logsdon's class. You've been here for 11ish weeks and only 7ish to go until the end of the semester.

I think it is safe to say that you know at least a little about each other. Your understanding of each other may include extra curriculars, favorite TV shows, hobbies, but your level of familiarity may also extend into knowing each other's personality. Are they intimidating, carefree, honest?

This week, write about the person you sit next to in English class. What do they do? What are they like? What color would you characterize them as and why? Where do you see them in five years? What type of animal are they like?

I know you're in a seating chart, but you are writing about your peers. Getting to know for the past few months, I have seen you as genuinely nice people and so I expect genuinely nice things in your posts. It doesn't have to be all puppies and ice cream cones, but your entries shouldn't cut anyone down.

OR

If we are still in NTI, I gave you a person.  They were randomly selected (not really, it was all alphabetical) so you would have to interact with them in some form or fashion: text, study, chat - whatever.  You need to be able to discuss them based on the above questions.  Don't disappoint.

Minimum of 150 words

Due Sunday, November 15 at 11:59 pm.

December 13 is the last day to make up blogs 9-15

Assignment 10: Boo

ZOMBIES (or White Walkers) HAVE ATTACKED. Detail your survival plan.

OR

Explain what scares you the most and why.

OR

Describe a moment in which you were fraught with peril. Tell it as a ghost story.

OR

In the vein of David Sedaris write an observational humorist piece related to your daily life: school, home, social, etc.  (don't be mean)

Happy Halloween!

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday,

November 8 at 11:59 pm

December 13 is the last day to make up blogs 9-15

Assignment 9: Carebears?

What is the issue you care about most in this world?  It keeps you up at night.  It gets you (ง’̀-‘́)ง when someone this passion.  This should be closely connected to the topic of your annotated bibliography which obviously makes this a preview of your speech in December.  This topic does not have to be profound but you should care so much about this subject that you could speak intensely on this matter without notes.

Some of my topics I could discuss for a good 30 minutes might be:
The power of narrative in society.
Knowing yourself helps you navigate the world more easily.
Comic Books are a gateway drug to literacy.
Families don't adequately teach their children life skills: money, love, sex, home repair, etc.
Dress Codes for girls means we don't trust our boys - both lose.
The implications of Spiral Dynamics.

Due Sunday, November 1st at 11:59 pm

December 13 is the last day to make up blogs 9-15

Assignment 8: "I never had to choose my subject- my subject rather chose me"

Writing territories are a range of ideas that one generates to spark their writing. In general, it is just one of the many ways one can brainstorm for different types of writing.

This week's blog is more undefined than others because it depends so much on your unique personal experiences. Below, is a list of 10 writing territories and you'll begin by answering them. Your answers do not have to be lengthy, they only need to be definitive enough so that you, the writer, could look back at it weeks from now and it could trigger what you were thinking about.

Writing Territories

Fears

Annoyances

Accomplishments

Confusions

Sorrows

Dreams

Idiosyncrasies

Risks

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then

Problems

For instance, my list looks like:

Fears: drowning, loosing family in catastrophe, living in pain

Annoyances: rudeness, expecting fairness in this world, people who refuse to think

Accomplishments: still being married, being a dad my children want to be around

Confusions: inequity (different than fairness)

Sorrows: anger management, weight, (totally working on both but to be honest "weight" is harder than "anger" 'cause food is goooooooood)

Dreams: retirement, travel,

Idiosyncrasies: nerd, paper/pencil RPG (redundant?)

Risks: pilot's license (want), jumped out of an airplane (did)

Beloved Possessions: comic books (then), friendships (now- i know, cheesy)

Problems: Organization

Simple, right?

Now, once you have your list, choose one topic to expand upon in-depth (or at least 150 words). This may be as simple as an explanation of this topic (e.g. I discovered I had an anger management problem when I realized that I was taking out my frustrations on my family. . . .). It may turn into to a short-story or a beginning of a short story. It may turn into a narrative of a memory. It may turn into a  social commentary. It may turn into 150 words of freewrite. It may turn into something all together different and weird and delightful. Whatever you wrote down in your list, reflect upon it and allow it to guide your entry for the week.

"There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly; sometimes it's like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges." -Ernest Hemingway

Due Sunday, October 25 at 11:59 pm

November 1st is the last day to make up Blogs 1-8

Assignment 7: In One very Short year (College app)

October 15^th 2020 you will be hitting “enter” on the keyboard sending your application across the country silently speaking “pick me, pick me, pick me.”  I’d like to know how you hope to use your ideal college education:  This is an opportunity to discuss why your ideal College is the perfect place for you to achieve your goals. It also allows you to discuss your motivations, passions, values, and perspectives on learning. Discuss what excites you about the overall experience at your College. Look toward the future and how your college’s educational experience will support you. Can you articulate the value of an education from your ideal college? Your response will convey your aspirations, temperament, leadership, and potential to succeed at your College.

Due Sunday, October 18 at 11:59 pm

November 1st is the last day to make up Blogs 1-8

Assignment 6: Create Your Own Adventure (College app)

What interests you? What is your point of exigence? What's on your mind?  What do you want to chat about? Rant about? Learn about? What intellectual experience (course, project, book, discussion, paper, poetry, or research topic in engineering, mathematics, science, or other modes of inquiry) that has meant the most to you: 

'Cause really, isn't it all about you? <wink wink nudge nudge>

This response allows you to discuss something that is important to you and to demonstrate how you think about intellectual problems. This is an exercise in creative and critical thinking. It also provides a platform for you to convey your enthusiasm for learning. What excites you about this intellectual experience? How did the experience challenge your preconceptions? How did it impact your way of thinking? What was your reaction? How did it change your perspective?

Ready...

Go!

Due Sunday, October, 11 at 11:59 pm

November 1st is the last day to make up Blogs 1-8

Assignment 5: For the Love and Hate of Television

The Emmy Awards (aired recently) are kind of a big deal. Not a big deal in that life-altering-kind-of-way, but a big deal in the sense that a lot of celebrities dress up, that a lot of companies pay more money in advertisements, and a lot of people stop watching reruns.

The Emmys are not the only award extravaganza of the season though. During the first week of October, without the advertising, paparazzi, or celebrities, the Nobel Prizes are announced. But how many people are listening? With the Emmys comes television's fall lineup, but what does the common person get after the announcement of the Nobel Prize in physics?

So, what are your thoughts? Choose one or two or all of the following prompts:

Why do you watch TV? Why do you not? What shows do you love or hate? Why do you love or hate them?

OR

Does TV provide a good form of entertainment? Is it just a convenient delivery system for advertisers to send their messages to the masses? Is it an inane use of time? Can it be all three?

OR

What does it say about our society that the Emmy's have so much glitz and attention and the Nobel Prizes are quietly announced in the news? Is this bad? Good? Appropriate?

Check out these sites for more information:

Turn off your TV

Television and Health

Positive Benefits of TV on Toddlers and Children

Due Sunday October 4th at 11:59 pm

November 1st is the last day to make up Blogs 1-8

Assignment 4: On Second thought. (College app)

As you enter this age of intellectual independence some of you might be dealing with thoughts that question or even contradict some deeply held beliefs that have been passed on to you via your family and extended community.  As a parent I am beginning to see this in my 14 year old and I am conflicted.  I am at once thrilled to see her think for herself and wince at some of her conclusions. 

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Due Sunday, September 27 at 11:59 pm.

November 1st is the last day to make up Blogs 1-8

Assignment 3: Oh! The Places You’ll Go! (College app)

Travel or living experiences in other countries or other parts of this country:  Here again, is an opportunity to provide further context for your life-experience. Discuss interesting extracurricular, cultural or intellectual experiences and how they impact your perspectives about the world. What did you learn from these experiences and what do they reveal about you? Think about how you engage with new environments, cultures, and activities. How will your experiences enrich your educational environment? This may relate to topics of social responsibility.

Due Sunday September 20 11:59 pm

November 1st is the last day to make up Blogs 1-8

Assignment 2 : iRead (College app)

Gimme list of books you have read during the past twelve months.  As you compile your list, think about the breadth and depth of content. Please don’t fell the need to include every book you read in the last year. Select the ones that best demonstrate your interests/passions or allowed you to explore something “novel.” This list should include the books you are most excited about but also the ones that challenged your way of thinking. Each title is a means of interacting with the world of ideas and communicates something significant about you.  Also consider including the books you didn’t finish, ‘cause sometimes it’s just not worth it – and this says something about the book as well as the reader.  What does not finishing say about you the good the bad and the ugly.

Due Sunday, September 13

November 1st is the last day to make up Blogs 1-8

Assignment 1 – Howdy

For your first post, introduce yourself!

Share your name, but also a little bit about who you are. Some ideas to consider are:

What are your personal and academic goals for this school year?

What was the most meaningful moment of your Corona-staycation?

And so on and so forth.

I want to know what Geeks you out.

To receive full credit, you must insert a picture or video (of something)  AND a hyperlink to your favorite (appropriate) website.

Due Sunday, September 6th - 11:59

150 word minimum

November 1st last day to make up Blogs 1-8