What Does it Mean to Be Poor?

We started with a reading by Harrington about poverty.  Then we had a brief discussion and analysis of his theory and arguments.  I would love it if someone summarized what was determined in the comments section below.  Then I showed you a news story about Michigan high school students being suspended for wearing inappropriate shirts to school, and concluded with a 3 minute video about the history of video games - crazy to see what used to be cutting edge, right?  Make sure you have Ch 12 read by Monday and Ch 14 by Wednesday!!!  Lastly - if you asked me to write you a letter of recommendation, send me an email and I will attach a copy for your records this weekend.

Get your Freak...OFF!

Relax.  Stop freaking out!!!  I know many of you are worried about your grade right now.  I am too.  But we have been doing so much for tests that it has skewed the overall grade.  That is where the essay, peer review, and forums will kick in to balance things out over next week.  IF your grade is still bad after next week, THEN you can start to worry...

Forum Make-Up (or EC)

OK - I set everything up on the Moodle.  The first two assignments are for the Forum Make-Up or EC opportunities.  I think I've come up with a cool assignment that utilizes the web, thinking, forums, and GDocs - all things learned and taught through this course.  If you run into a problem, please let me know through the Power Ranger Wave - I added everyone yesterday.  Let me know what you think - how easy or difficult or confusing was this?  Go Go...

Just found a funny commercial for a Mexican lottery game.  Some of you may enjoy it:

Too Much or Too Little?

We started Ch 18 today - I hope it got some of you thinking about your political leanings.  Once we finish this unit, I think you'll be able to really start focusing on your political ideology.  When we finish the Judicial Branch with a focus on civil liberties, you should have a much clearer picture of your beliefs.  Please take a little time poke around this system of tubes to learn about Machiavelli and the essay question (check below).  Ooh - also check the latest Wave I started.

Machiavelli

I posted your new essay topic on Turnitin.  Please take your time to write your essay - we have to go over some things in class.  You will PeerReview three other essays based on the following criteria:

1. Thesis Statement
2. Support Argument(s)
3. Citation/Reference Material
   
4. Organization
   
5. Grammar

Ch. 18 tomorrow with the TED packages as forum make-up (or EC) being posted tomorrow.  If you want to do some Machiavelli research on your own, go ahead.