Day 28

For the last blog of the semester, let us free blog. Again, no stupid stories about your weekend but make it something that shows that you have some worldly insight.

Day 27

I cannot believe that we lost to a group of inferiors like the Pouliot/Perry team. You people should be ashamed. A group of all star monkeys could have one. I think it was like David and Goliath and Goliath got cocky. For shame. I guess there is always next semester.

For this evening, discuss what you see as the pros and cons of being in the team setting after one semester. Give some positive and/or negative experiences you have had that might not have been the same if you were in a regular room. Also, if you have any advice or ideas of things we can do to better facilitate your learning in this setting please let me know as well.

Remember that part of this setting is on you and working to your potential but I will touch on that next semester.

Day 26

Today we shall do our last current event blog for the semester. The key to this one is that there can be no more than 2 blogs on the same story (this way I do not need to hear about Haiti from every person as I know what a tragedy it has been). NO CITE, NO POINTS.

Day 25

Well, overall, the discussions went well. In theory, I should give a test on these questions to see what people were paying attention to. Timing is on your side that we do not have time for a test. For this evening you may choose from the following:

Why would drawings be good or bad for all books? How does this connect to other forms of visual media? Why do authors not use drawings for their novels in regards to the expectations of the reader? Do you get the story better or do you need to find your own images when reading?

Or

What would the story have been like if it had been written by a child of a fundamentalist? How would that person create their judgement of Iran differently than Marjane?

Day 24

Again, nice job by the groups today. For this evenings blog, please choose from one of the following:

One of the educational issues that was not touched on today was what happened to post high school education after the revolution occurred in 1979-1980. Please explain the effect on this level of learning and how it may have effected Iranian society as a whole. How would you feel if this happened in this country and how could it effect your whole future?

Or

Think about the idea of Persepolis and why people are so affected by the actions of the Islamic Revolution. Is this the same or different than if this happened in the United States? Why or why not? Is there a greater sense of patriotism in Iran than in the United States? Why or why not? What is your personal view on patriotism and how do you incorporate it in your life?

Day 23

Great job for the groups who went today. For this evening blog which is mandatory, please discuss one of the following:

You can discuss the Coming of Age question by building off of something specific that someone in the group brought up. If possible, please say who made the statement you are commenting on and then talk about how this idea of coming of age could be something that affects you.

Or

Discuss the idea of religion as a political tool. Explain what was said about this and how it relates back to the uprising in Iran in 1979. Then connect the idea to something going on currently.

You will probably need more than 7 sentences for this and if your group went today you must answer the prompt about the other group.

Day 22

Today we shall current event. Here is today's parameter. Only two people can do the same article/topic. Make sure you look closely to not be the third person or yours will not count. As always, no sports or entertainment (not really that newsworthy that Jay Leno is going back to late night) unless you can tie it into something topical in another way. NO CITE, NO POINTS.

Day 21

Describe the writer’s voice. Is it appealing? Which aspects of Marji’s character do you identify with or like the most, the least? Did your reaction to the little girl affect your reading experience? Explain how or how not?

Day 20

Chapter 18, Kim Wilde, really shows the idea of pop culture and it's influence. If Marjane were in the same situation today, what pop culture icons and fads do you think she would choose to embrace and why? From what country would they come? What would they represent? Choose five items and explain why you’ve chosen them.

Day 19

Today we shall free blog. Remember, I do not want to hear a list of things you have done on a weekend or during vacation but want to learn something about you, your personality, your interestes, etc.

Day 18

There are several themes that run through the story of Persepolis. Some of the major themes are:

Nationalism
Childhood
Religion
Social class
Violence
Western influences
Materialism
Family
Survival
Power

Choose one of the above themes and tell, briefly, how you have seen it in the story thus far. Then, tell how this theme has impacted your own life at some point in your 16-17 years of existence.

My response (although not to the first part):

Social class has been a part of my life. My parents married very young and struggled for many years. At one point, we were probably lower middle class (although at the time I did not even realize this). Through hard work and education, my parents got jobs or began businesses that became prosperous. By time I got to college, we would have been classified at upper middle class. I would think it would suck to live in a country where you are placed in a social class and cannot move out of it. I also would not want to be stuck marrying someone because of social class and be restricted from someone I may be attracted to like Satrapi's maid and the boy across the alley.

Day 17

Think about the individuals who have helped form the individual you are today (parents, family members, siblings, coaches, teachers, etc.) Pick one and describe how this person has impacted you and the result of this influence.

For me, I would probably say both of my parents. When growing up, my mom probably had more of an impact because we were more alike and she got me better. She understood me as a person and allowed me the freedom to make the mistakes and taught me how to learn from them as well. Once in my 20's, my father and I became closer and he has impacted my later years by being a friend and a parent. He listens and gives advice when asked but never expects me to follow that advice unless it is what is best for me. My parents influence me because they have always been open and honest with me and have respected all of my choices and even supported those that they might have thought were not great. Much of the interpersonal person I am today can be attributed to both of my parents based on my relationship with them at different stages of life.

Day 16

So much goes on in the world each day. Some good and some bad. As it is the new year, I would like to focus on the good for today's blog. You must find a current event that shows something positive in our society. As always, give a brief summary and then tell me how this event impacts you and your community. Lastly, how does this positive event show that we do not always have to dwell on the negatives that happen around us. REMEMBER, NO CITE NO POINTS.

Day 15

What is an epiphany? Have you experienced a moment of epiphany? What caused it to occur, and what effect did it have on your life? Do you think that this epiphany has caused you to be any different as a person? How?

Here is my response:

I had an epiphany during a Physics exam my junior year of college. At the time, I was pre-med but was kind of miserable because I was not doing well in my science classes and was studying all the time. Also, all of my jobs that I had during the year and in the summer dealt with working with kids. While taking this exam, it hit me that I was choosing medicine for all the wrong reasons such as thinking it would make my parents happy and that I would make money. Yet, I realized that making money and making others happy was foolish if it was not going to make me happy. After the exam, I dropped my pre-med designation and began taking classes I enjoyed.