"What College Kids Can Learn From The Zombie Apocalypse

Several colleges and universities have adopted a common read program, where freshmen read the same book during the summer and discuss it once on campus.

Author Max Brooks' World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War is one of the less traditional books appearing on required reading lists. The book captures scenes from a global zombie apocalypse through a series of first-person accounts.

Want to find out more??  Listen to the author's discussion of his book on NPR. 

Link to story:

http://www.npr.org/2012/09/07/160758839/what-college-kids-can-learn-from-the-zombie-war

Welcome Back!

Riggio Current Events Project

Current Events Project

The examination of current events is an important component of World History. It is beneficial to study the past in order to gain background information to help understand the present, but it is also important to look at modern issues and conflicts. During this project, you will take an in-depth look at a current issue that you find interesting or meaningful. After you select a topic, you will track that subject and look for newspaper or magazine articles to analyze.

Choose a topic of personal interest. It must be of national or international importance and broad enough that you will be able to find up-to-date information. Some suggestions include (But are NOT limited to)…

- International Conflict such as the Israeli-Arab struggle, the aftermath of the war in Iraq, or the civil war in the Congo

- Global Issues such as AIDS or terrorism

- Medical Issues such as cloning, new cancer treatments or Stem Cell Research

- Environmental Issues such as global warming & the Kyoto Protocol. (Severe Weather such as the Cyclone in Myanmar)

- Human Rights Abuses and Genocide

-Military Dictatorships

Introduction: Explain why you selected your topic and discuss background information (1 page typed, ds)

Research: Find at least 5 relevant articles that are connected to your topic. You may find the online newspaper sites very useful (Yahoo World News gives great international coverage of important events). All articles must be dated.  Depending upon your topic, you may be able to find two different articles about the same event, but written from different points of view. For example, CNN might offer a different interpretation of a suicide bombing in Iraq than would Al Jazeera. You may wish to include a political cartoon.

 

Summary: Title each Summary with the title of your article.  Then, write a summary of each article incorporating “who (POV), what, where, when, and why and a paragraph that outlines your thoughts. I am very interested in reading your personal opinions. You may choose to make connections to other similar events or issues (1-2 pages typed, ds per article).

Bibliography:  You must create a bibliography with all proper citations for your articles.  Your Bibliography should be alphabetically ordered.  I do NOT want the articles!!

Conclusion: After you have completed your five articles, write your conclusion. This should include your final thoughts and reflections. Discuss whether or not you increased your knowledge on this topic or changed your original perceptions. You may wish to offer recommendations or suggestions if appropriate (1 page typed, ds)


 Mrs. Hatcher recommends the following resources located in the VRC:

• Facts.com Issues & Controversies
• Facts.com World News Digest (See Special Collection for Political Cartoons)
• SIRS Researcher (includes World Conflicts)

Mr. McAuliffe & Cowan ~ AP Literature & Composition

Research Paper    A.P. Literature & Composition

Assignment.  Find a topic that derives from something we have studied this year. Choose a major work or an author we have read, a novelist, playwright, or short story writer.  Or choose a poem or poet we have studied.  Consider literary theories, such as New Criticism, Reader Response, New Historicism, etc. The topic should be suitable for a 5-7 page research paper using a minimum of three legitimate outside sources.  Your paper must follow MLA guidelines for manuscript format and citation conventions. 

 

Getting Started.  Begin with a *school-sponsored site (e.g. Bloom or Gale Group) or begin with a book.   *Your school Librarian, Mrs. Hatcher, will provide an overview of the information resources available as well as instruction on a preliminary works cited page using Noodletools. 

The subject should be one that you are interested in.  It may be one that you have already thought about (e.g., female characters in Hamlet), or it may be a question you have not yet considered (e.g., How much did Dylan Thomas and Elizabeth Bishop use “closed form” in their poetry?)

Read pages 2179-2184 in your textbook.  This will give you an overview of what this kind of paper entails.  It also addresses important issues like internet reliability and plagiarism.

See Class Handout Section of this blog for sample topics and additional information on this assignment. 

Mr. Sussin's APES: Pesticide Periodical

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a pesticide as “any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest.”

A pesticide may be a chemical substance or biological agent (such as a virus or bacteria) used against pests including insects, plant pathogens, weeds, mollusks, birds, mammals, fish, nematodes, and microbes.  These organisms may compete with humans for food, invade lawns and gardens, destroy wood in houses, spread disease, or just be a general nuisance in our everyday lives.  Pesticides are usually, but not always, poisonous to humans.

There are 5 major types of pesticides you will encounter: insecticides (insect killers), herbidicides (weed killers), fungicides (fungus killers), nematocides (roundworm killers), and rodenticides (rat and mouse killers).  Be aware that although the 5 are listed here, there are many (e.g. algicides, miticides).

After being assigned one pesticide, you (and up to 3 partners if you would like) will be creating a newspaper.  Review your class handout which is located in the class handout section of this blog for information that needs to be included about your pesticide in your newspaper.   

Your school librarian, Mrs. Hatcher, recommends the following information resources that will be helpful.

Online Databases (VRC):

• Gale's Health Reference Center Academic
• eLibrary Science
• EBSCO General Science Collection
• Facts.com Today's Science

Print Collection: 

• ebook and print resources available by searching WMHS library catalog

VRC Database of the Month

TeachingBooks.net has added a "Best Practices" webpage to its website. It is designed to help you become familiar with the site.

Some key features of Best Practices:

• Show you how to find quality, vetted, multimedia materials about the authors and books you are reading.
• Show how you can encourage reading across all disciplines with these starter strategies for teachers in all grades and subject areas.
• Find out how to use TeachingBooks.net to support specific educational initiatives, including:
• Authors on Nonfiction Writing
• Engaging High/Low Readers with Online Resources
• Literary Connections Using an Interactive Whiteboard
• Writing Tips from Award-winning Authors
• See all Key Articles for Teachers About Using TeachingBooks.net

See your school librarian, A. Hatcher for more information on TeachingBooks or any other online database.

Mrs. Gandt ~ English 11 R ~ College Comparison Research Project

College Comparison

RESEARCH PROJECT

1. Find two or three colleges that interest you.  Look through Naviance and periodicals, either electronic or print form.  Make a copy.
2. Scan the articles/information for needed info
3. Areas to be discussed:

§  Areas of study/ Programs/ Academic Focus

§  Location/Transportation/Geographic Location

§  Campus Setting/ Campus Safety/ Campus Size

§  Public vs. Private/ Religious vs. Nondenominational

§  Cost

§  Class Size/ Student Body Size

§  Reputation/

§  Extracurricular Activities

§  Structured vs. Free Environment

§  Retention Rates/ Graduation Rates

4. Find two more companion articles that include related information, especially that which is concerned with your colleges.
5. Use the NoodleTools to organize your Works Cited Page and the Note Card feature so info cannot be lost.  Ms. Hatcher will review.

 SEE CLASS HANDOUTS (left side of blog) FOR STEPS 1 THOUGH 4