As discussed in class Wednesday, please study modules 2,3,4, the US History part of module 5, and module 6 for the final exam Monday afternoon. As usual, I recommend early and frequent short study sessions, flash cards, collecting study materials, quizzing with a partner, and plenty of sleep to prepare for this small "cultural literacy" component to our mostly inquiry-based course.
BTW - many of the surveys from HW 60 evidence important thinking and have been fascinating to read.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
HW 60 - Final Survey
Please fill out the final survey. Warning - it isn't anonymous and it requires you to examine some of your past work and use evidence for a few questions!
Due Friday June 10 at 3:10pm.
Due Friday June 10 at 3:10pm.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
HW 59 - SOF Prom 2011 & DSPs
We've thought about, discussed, investigated, and read about dominant social practices around prom. In particular there has been some analysis of the aspects of conspicuous consumption, prom as a child's version of an aspirational rite of passage into adulthood (staying up all night!), and the relatively scripted sequence of activities. How do our explorations relate to prom as actually experienced by SOF students May 26, 2011?
If you participate in prom this week, please write up a 2-4 paragraph analysis of how the experience you and others shared relates to what we've learned. Which ideas or observations from the course resonate with what you noticed in real life? Which ideas or observations seemed off-base in light of Thursday night? What insights seem more available to you as a direct-participant rather than just a student of the ritual? What costs and benefits did you notice from having thought about the topic in a scholarly way before experiencing it for yourself? Did prom feel magic & transformative or did those expectations strike you as hype?
If you don't participate in prom this week, please complete the assignment based on your experience of NOT participating, your plans for future (non)participation, and based on interviews and digital artifacts of people who went to the dance and/or after-party.
Good luck to everyone going. You can have carnival and still look out for each other in terms of safety and feelings.
Due Friday, May 27 at 9pm.
If you participate in prom this week, please write up a 2-4 paragraph analysis of how the experience you and others shared relates to what we've learned. Which ideas or observations from the course resonate with what you noticed in real life? Which ideas or observations seemed off-base in light of Thursday night? What insights seem more available to you as a direct-participant rather than just a student of the ritual? What costs and benefits did you notice from having thought about the topic in a scholarly way before experiencing it for yourself? Did prom feel magic & transformative or did those expectations strike you as hype?
If you don't participate in prom this week, please complete the assignment based on your experience of NOT participating, your plans for future (non)participation, and based on interviews and digital artifacts of people who went to the dance and/or after-party.
Good luck to everyone going. You can have carnival and still look out for each other in terms of safety and feelings.
Due Friday, May 27 at 9pm.
Monday, May 23, 2011
HW 58 - Prom Interviews
Please interview the following categories of people regarding their insights and experiences around prom.
1. 1-2 people your age who haven't been to prom about what they expect the experience to include, some reasons they want to participate or not participate, their thoughts on the dominant social practices (DSP) of prom, etc.
2. 1-2 people a little older than you who have been to prom about what they experienced and insights about their experience and the DSP of prom.
3. 1-2 people significantly older than you, ideally parents/relatives/guardians, about what they understand of DSP of prom and their own experiences & insights around this ritual.
Please record the interviews (notebook, audio, or video), type up highlights in a couple paragraphs, and write at least one paragraph of analysis of popular understandings of prom. Pay especial attention to considerations of significance, implications, and powerful interpretations of prom. Try to pull particularly insightful analyses or beautiful and thought-provoking language from your interview experience.
Please post by Tuesday, May 24 at 8pm.
1. 1-2 people your age who haven't been to prom about what they expect the experience to include, some reasons they want to participate or not participate, their thoughts on the dominant social practices (DSP) of prom, etc.
2. 1-2 people a little older than you who have been to prom about what they experienced and insights about their experience and the DSP of prom.
3. 1-2 people significantly older than you, ideally parents/relatives/guardians, about what they understand of DSP of prom and their own experiences & insights around this ritual.
Please record the interviews (notebook, audio, or video), type up highlights in a couple paragraphs, and write at least one paragraph of analysis of popular understandings of prom. Pay especial attention to considerations of significance, implications, and powerful interpretations of prom. Try to pull particularly insightful analyses or beautiful and thought-provoking language from your interview experience.
Please post by Tuesday, May 24 at 8pm.
Friday, May 20, 2011
HW 57 - Initial Thoughts on Prom
Please write your initial thoughts on prom in 2-3 paragraphs. Explore your own experience, theories, and thought-provoking descriptions thoughtfully - not just a bunch of bubbles.
Also please provide a list of 3-5 really interesting questions that you hope to explore in the next week.
Due Monday, May 23, at 7pm.
Also please provide a list of 3-5 really interesting questions that you hope to explore in the next week.
Due Monday, May 23, at 7pm.
Monday, May 16, 2011
HW 56 - Culminating Project Comments
Please notify your mentor and protege of this assignment now. Ask them each for a specific piece of feedback about an aspect of your culminating project (you decide - idea, execution, description, contradictions, evidence, etc).
Tuesday, May 17 you made your 1-2 minute elevator speech soliciting interest in your culminating project for the Care of the Dead Unit. For this assignment you should post comments on 2-4 other peoples' HW 55. Copy and paste the comments (including a link back to their post) on your own blog as HW 56 by Wednesday, May 18 at 1pm. By Wednesday 9pm please add a dotted line underneath your comments on others blogs and copy and paste other peoples' comments on your culminating project, including those of your mentor and protege.
Tuesday, May 17 you made your 1-2 minute elevator speech soliciting interest in your culminating project for the Care of the Dead Unit. For this assignment you should post comments on 2-4 other peoples' HW 55. Copy and paste the comments (including a link back to their post) on your own blog as HW 56 by Wednesday, May 18 at 1pm. By Wednesday 9pm please add a dotted line underneath your comments on others blogs and copy and paste other peoples' comments on your culminating project, including those of your mentor and protege.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
HW 55 - Culminating Project - Care of the Dead
Transform your understanding from interviews, speakers, class discussion, books, independent research, and film into an active project that meaningfully contributes to our collective social practices.
Choice 1: Organize a personal experience around this topic and write a narrative/make a film of your experience. Post it on your blog - ideally with uploads of photos and/or video. If you make a film it needs to be less than 5 minutes long and well-edited and include at least a paragraph or two of written analysis. Possibilities - attend a funeral, be present for an embalming, write up your family members' death plans, etc.
Choice 2: Create an advocacy campaign, either alone or working with an existing group (or one you form), that creates change in dominant social practices around the care of the dead.
Choice 3: Write a 2-5 page essay that assembles powerful evidence to analyze a particular aspect of the dominant social practices around the care of the dead. Post it on your blog with an MLA works cited section. Some possibilities - Natural Burial around NYC, Relevant State & Local Regulations around Home Funerals in NYC, Pricing Death Care in NYC, Theological Perspectives on Resurrection versus Spirits in the Sky, Are Dead Bodies Dangerous?, etc.
Due Monday May 16 at 7pm.
Choice 1: Organize a personal experience around this topic and write a narrative/make a film of your experience. Post it on your blog - ideally with uploads of photos and/or video. If you make a film it needs to be less than 5 minutes long and well-edited and include at least a paragraph or two of written analysis. Possibilities - attend a funeral, be present for an embalming, write up your family members' death plans, etc.
Choice 2: Create an advocacy campaign, either alone or working with an existing group (or one you form), that creates change in dominant social practices around the care of the dead.
- Identify your desired change
- stakeholders in that issue
- means of communicating persuasive ideas/stories/information
- do the change effort
- and evaluate using at least 2 follow-up surveys or interviews
Choice 3: Write a 2-5 page essay that assembles powerful evidence to analyze a particular aspect of the dominant social practices around the care of the dead. Post it on your blog with an MLA works cited section. Some possibilities - Natural Burial around NYC, Relevant State & Local Regulations around Home Funerals in NYC, Pricing Death Care in NYC, Theological Perspectives on Resurrection versus Spirits in the Sky, Are Dead Bodies Dangerous?, etc.
Due Monday May 16 at 7pm.
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