October 29

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Happy Halloween! If you could BE someone/something else for a day, instead of just dressing up, who/what would you choose? Why?


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Essay: logic and leadership


HW: Work on Literature Analysis #5 (due 11/5)

October 28

JOURNAL TOPIC:
We know that dinosaurs and other species lived on Earth and then became extinct. Can you imagine a time when humans are extinct? What might cause this, and what might take our place? Describe in detail.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Analyze and discuss 10/27 HW
3. Meshing logical argumentation and critical thinking

HW:
1. Paragraph on the role of logic in leadership
2. Work on Literature Analysis #5

October 27

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Remember that fortune you won yesterday? Easy come, easy go. Due to a computer error, 24,999,999 other people also won. That means your winnings total $2 (actually, more like $1.35 after taxes). How do you react? What thoughts and feelings do you experience? How will your plans change?


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Logical Fallacies/guided practice: We started by listening to the "Argument Clinic"; now we ARE the argument clinic


HW:
1. Watch the first fifteen minutes of the September 28 California gubernatorial debate online at http://debate.ucdavis.edu/webcast.html

2. Do the opening images and sounds set a tone or create a mood? Explain.

3. List the logical fallacies you observe; for each, write the fallacy's proper name, a brief description of the example as you see it, and the time (on the video counter) when the fallacy occurred so that we can find it easily to discuss.

4. Answer the following: How does the structure of the debate influence the quality of argumentation? Is ninety seconds enough to put together a truthful, valid syllogism? Is thirty seconds enough to analyze and rebut a syllogism? Would you give the candidates more time, less time, or the same? Would you change the structure of the debate? If so, how and why?

October 26

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Today is your day! You find a lottery ticket-- THE lottery ticket. After Dr. Preston cashes it for you (you're too young and smart to play the lottery), you have $50 million. What will you do with it?


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Logical Fallacies Test
3. Return/discuss Literature Analysis #4
4. Return/discuss Vocabulary Midterm


HW: Work on Literature Analysis #5

October 25

JOURNAL TOPIC:
On Saturday I rode 100 miles on a bicycle. Have you ever accomplished a goal you weren't sure you could? (Or, do you have something in mind for the future?) Describe in detail.


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Logical Fallacies: group review for test 10/26

HW: Study logical fallacies

October 22

JOURNAL TOPIC:
You find a notebook on campus. As you pick it up to take it to Lost and Found, it starts to shine and vibrate in your hands. A "Righetti Genie" appears and, in honor of your intended good deed, offers to grant you three wishes. What will you ask? Why?


AGENDA:
1. Journal/turn in Literature Analysis #4
2. Vocabulary midterm exam

HW: Study for Logical Fallacies test Monday 10/25

October 21

JOURNAL TOPIC:
What do you think it means to be a well-educated American in the 21st century? Describe the abilities and skills you think an adult requires to be successful, and explain how your experience in school is helping and/or could be improved to meet these needs.


AGENDA: (standardized exam administration: day 3 of 3)

October 20

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Albert Einstein wrote, "Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." How accurately do scores, tests, points and percentages reflect your abilities and/or knowledge? Try to be objective in your self-assessment and acknowledge your bias if you have one.

AGENDA: (standardized exam administration: day 2 of 3)

October 19

JOURNAL TOPIC:
In addition to Antigone and Oedipus Rex, Sophocles also wrote, "I would prefer even to fail with honor than to win by cheating." What is your philosophy on this point?


AGENDA: (standardized exam administration: day 1 of 3)

October 18

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Recently it rained for the first time in months. In fiction, rain is often used to symbolize the author's tone or to create a mood for the reader. What feelings do you associate with rain? As an author, when/why would you choose to include it in a story?


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Good News: No new vocabulary list this week
3. Bad News: Vocabulary mid-term Friday, October 22
4. Logical Fallacy News: Owing to school-mandated California High School Exit Exam "practice test" there will be no logic in class this week; therefore please bring your journal, vocab notes and/or literature analysis book to class 10/19, 20 & 21 (if you don't have extra time during the period, make sure to dedicate some homework time each night so that you're prepared to take exam and turn in both journal and lit. analysis on Friday)

LOGICAL FALLACIES

logical fallacies -

October 15

JOURNAL TOPIC:
As experts in symbolism, please explain the relatively new trend of throwing flour and eggs on people to "celebrate" their birthdays. Older people may regard this behavior as assault or a desperate plea for attention; is there a deeper significance to this practice, or is it as dumb as it looks?


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocabulary quiz
3. Logical fallacies


HW: Read "Logical Fallacies" (next post) and choose five that you recognize from your own experience. Write an example of each one and be prepared to discuss in class 10/18.

October 14

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Imagine that you are sitting at home one evening when you see a big spider walk across the floor in front of you. Do you ignore it, take it outside, smash it, or do something else? What information do you consider before you decide? Explain.


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Discuss HW in groups and report persuasive tactics to class
3. KEY TERMS: argument, syllogism, premise, inference, conclusion, truth, validity, inductive reasoning, deductive reasoning, logical fallacy

HW: Study for vocab quiz 10/15-- and make sure you are able to tell an inductive syllogism from a deductive syllogism.

October 13

JOURNAL TOPIC:
[CHOOSE YOUR OWN TOPIC.] Every day so far, you have been given a topic to write about. Today you may write about ANYTHING you want. (One catch: You must write a full page to earn full credit.)


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Monty Python's Argument Clinic: What is an argument?
3. Lecture: syllogisms/inductive/deductive reasoning

HW: Evaluate an argument and answer the questions posed in class; be ready to discuss in class 10/13

October 12

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Yesterday I attended a meeting about teaching English and it got me to thinking: Why do any of you care about learning English? What will you gain from being a better reader/writer/listener/speaker?


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Return work/check vocab sentences & paragraph on logic and leadership
3. Review & discuss Antigone final
4. Review vocabulary (last week's quiz, this week's definitions)
5. Exchange vocabulary study strategies

EXIT TICKET: Five new strategies and three action steps (on a new strategy or on your tried/true method) that you will take today to improve your vocabulary and associated quiz scores.

October 11

("EARLY OUT" SCHEDULE/ 30 MIN. PERIODS)

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Advertisements and reviews often say that a book or movie will "change your life"--describe a time when one actually did.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocabulary

October 8

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Tell the story of a bug getting mashed on the windshield of a truck driving down the 101. You may tell the story from the point of view of the bug, the windshield, the driver, or an omniscient third person. (Choose with an idea in mind.)


AGENDA:
1. Journal/turn in Literature Analysis #3
2. Vocabulary quiz
3. Return/discuss Antigone final
4. Preview of coming attractions: logic and leadership


HW:
1. Select a book for Literature Analysis #4 and bring to class Monday 10/10
2. Paragraph on logic and leadership

October 7

JOURNAL TOPIC:
If you could have dinner with anyone (living or dead, real or fictional), who would you choose? Why? What would you talk about? Describe in detail.


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Grammar/Using quotation marks in dialogue and citation

HW: Finish Literature Analysis #3 (due, typed, Friday 10/8)

October 6

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Why do people procrastinate? How does it affect your life? What can you do about it?


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Antigone final exam


HW: Literature analysis #3 due Friday, 10/8

October 5

JOURNAL TOPIC:
People believe that words have so much power that we've declared some words "bad". George Carlin, on the other hand, said, "There are no bad words-- there are bad people, bad intentions, and words." What do you think?

AGENDA:
1. Journal/check HW
2. Write Antigone final exam
3. Grammar/using quotation marks

HW:
1. Study for Antigone final
2. Work on literature analysis #3

October 4

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Do you think there is life on another planet? What would it look like? Would its civilization be more or less advanced than ours? Use your imagination and describe in detail.


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocabulary/sentences due tomorrow
3. Read/work on literature analysis #3

HW: Review active reading notes on Antigone and be ready to discuss Tue 10/5

October 1

JOURNAL TOPIC:
It has been said that, "Everything old is new again." Cultural trends such as fashion and music are often recycled; what are your new/old favorites? What styles do you wish stayed in the past?


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocabulary quiz
3. Finish reading Antigone and bring active reading notes to turn in on Monday, 10/4.


HW: Work on Literature Analysis #3 (due Friday, 10/8)