The weekly bonus opportunity will be posted here. You can earn up to 10 bonuses. You can use these bonuses in the following way:
- 1% added to the end of the semester
- 24-hour extension on blogs/essays
- Automatic 100% on quizzes or homework
- Void one absences
Each week I will post something that I think says something interesting (an article, an essay, a media clip) and I will ask you to respond to it using an essay format.
To get the points, you must post your bonus on the class discussion forum "Bonus Blog"
What I expect from your answers:
- 500 words or more--if you have fewer than this, you will receive 0 points
- A thesis (which breaks down to a what and a why)
- What are you arguing against and why
- What is your reaction to this and why
- What parts of the argument are wrong and why
- Supporting points
- 2 quotes (when possible)
We will go over these expectations in class. If you have questions or need to talk about any of the bonus prompts, feel free to email me or meet with me.
Bonus 9: How was this semester?
Did you accomplish what you wanted to do this semester? What might you do differently? Did you learn something mind-blowing this semester? Did you do something to change this semester?
Bonus 10: Christmas Traditions
"Viewers Noticed Some Very Disturbing Details in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
Christmas seems to be one of the few holidays that has a ton of hold-overs from the past. For the 4th we don't do in 1700's traditions, nor do non-secular people seem to be bombarded by religious stuff on Easter. (Actually, I'm still annoyed at all the eggs and bunnies that have been adopted into the religion but not commented on by the same person who gets pissy when Starbucks makes their cups less religious.) Anyway. As you can see from the video and the article, there are some justifiedly bothersome issues in some of the old Christmas classics.
I understand the value of tradition. My family is SUPER traditional. There is an old NSYNC glowlight necklace I got from a concert when I was in middle school (mid-late 90s) and a little toy lizard that are on the stairs because they will always be on the stairs. It is not Christmas in my family's house without Anne Murry, Shania Twain, NSYNC, and Hanson. I've only recently added Nat King Cole, Sinatra, and Bing Crosby. So I get why people want to keep things because of tradition.
But should we do something about it? Should Rudolph not be shown on cable anymore? If you do follow a religion that celebrates Christmas, do you change anything to make it more comfortable for those who don't? If you don't follow a religion that celebrates Christmas, does all the holiday stuff bother you? What are your own holiday traditions?
Bonus 11: What Can One Person Do?
"Can One Person Really Make a Difference?"
"Dutch Inventor Launches Ocean Cleanup Mission"
"The Man Who Carved a Road Through a Mountain"
I think it is difficult and requires nearly-superhuman drive, ambition, and dedication, but I believe it is possible for one person to make a big change. The change can be felt world wide, just in one's community, or even just in one's family. If you could change anything, what would it be? Can you think of a way you can start to achieve that change?
Bonus 12: How do you deal with the big issues?
"The Insect Apocalypse is Here"
"In the Amazon rainforest, this tribe may just save the whole world"
Almost every day, a new article is published like the ones above. These are actually the well-researched variety that are not trying to make money just off fear. It is true that humans need to help the world. It doesn't matter if you believe in climate change or not, a simple look at what is happening with all the garbage we are producing should be enough to make you want to do something.
But what?
As soon as I finished reading the Insect article, I immediately googled "how to help biodiversity in the garden." I go to my family's home frequently and my mom has a big yard (perks of living in the middle of nowhere) and loves to garden. Turns out, she was already doing the things they recommend. I am able to keep bees there and it has made me more aware of chemicals, how the seasons change, and native plants.
But here in the city, I have a balcony. And that's it. I use my car to get everywhere because I'm too anxious to use public transport and it is too far to walk. I can't compost my food scraps and my apartment doesn't recycle (I still do anyway).
What do you do when you read articles like this? How do you deal with something so big? Do you ignore it or try to make a little change? Or a big change? Do you reuse bags? Ask for paper? Walk? Volunteer? Do you think articles like this are effective? What is going to have to happen for a big change to occure?
Bonus 13: Can you separate the art from the Artist?
As we discussed in class, Sherman Alexie was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior...but his writing is still good. Roman Polanski was convicted of the rape of a minor...but The Pianist won an Oscar. Harvey Weinstein was abusing women and his power, but he had a hand in SO MANY shows and movies. Kevin Spacey was also accused of inappropriate sexual behavior, but I still love K-Pax and Outbreak. I just realized I left out women. Roseanne comes to mind and Jenny McCarthy helped the anti-vaccination get rolling. Allison Mack of Smallville helped lure women into a sex cult.
Can the art be separated from the person? Can we still enjoy the show/movie/story or should we boycott? What should people in the position to hire these individuals do? Ban them regardless of talent or let them express their skill regardless?
Bonus 14: What the heck is going on with kid's games and toys?
To be honest: there are some kid's toys I'm jealous of. I had tomigotchi's and creepy Furbies and Barbie and a game boy that didn't have it's own light source. I would have loved the Switch and these adorable Gleemerz and the Hatchimals too. And probably the L.O.L. Suprise dolls too. Don't judge me too much. Most gift-giving occasions I also asked for lots of books too.
But some toys for kids have me disturbed:
Did you accomplish what you wanted to do this semester? What might you do differently? Did you learn something mind-blowing this semester? Did you do something to change this semester?
Bonus 10: Christmas Traditions
"Viewers Noticed Some Very Disturbing Details in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
Christmas seems to be one of the few holidays that has a ton of hold-overs from the past. For the 4th we don't do in 1700's traditions, nor do non-secular people seem to be bombarded by religious stuff on Easter. (Actually, I'm still annoyed at all the eggs and bunnies that have been adopted into the religion but not commented on by the same person who gets pissy when Starbucks makes their cups less religious.) Anyway. As you can see from the video and the article, there are some justifiedly bothersome issues in some of the old Christmas classics.
I understand the value of tradition. My family is SUPER traditional. There is an old NSYNC glowlight necklace I got from a concert when I was in middle school (mid-late 90s) and a little toy lizard that are on the stairs because they will always be on the stairs. It is not Christmas in my family's house without Anne Murry, Shania Twain, NSYNC, and Hanson. I've only recently added Nat King Cole, Sinatra, and Bing Crosby. So I get why people want to keep things because of tradition.
But should we do something about it? Should Rudolph not be shown on cable anymore? If you do follow a religion that celebrates Christmas, do you change anything to make it more comfortable for those who don't? If you don't follow a religion that celebrates Christmas, does all the holiday stuff bother you? What are your own holiday traditions?
Bonus 11: What Can One Person Do?
"Can One Person Really Make a Difference?"
"Dutch Inventor Launches Ocean Cleanup Mission"
"The Man Who Carved a Road Through a Mountain"
I think it is difficult and requires nearly-superhuman drive, ambition, and dedication, but I believe it is possible for one person to make a big change. The change can be felt world wide, just in one's community, or even just in one's family. If you could change anything, what would it be? Can you think of a way you can start to achieve that change?
Bonus 12: How do you deal with the big issues?
"The Insect Apocalypse is Here"
"In the Amazon rainforest, this tribe may just save the whole world"
Almost every day, a new article is published like the ones above. These are actually the well-researched variety that are not trying to make money just off fear. It is true that humans need to help the world. It doesn't matter if you believe in climate change or not, a simple look at what is happening with all the garbage we are producing should be enough to make you want to do something.
But what?
As soon as I finished reading the Insect article, I immediately googled "how to help biodiversity in the garden." I go to my family's home frequently and my mom has a big yard (perks of living in the middle of nowhere) and loves to garden. Turns out, she was already doing the things they recommend. I am able to keep bees there and it has made me more aware of chemicals, how the seasons change, and native plants.
But here in the city, I have a balcony. And that's it. I use my car to get everywhere because I'm too anxious to use public transport and it is too far to walk. I can't compost my food scraps and my apartment doesn't recycle (I still do anyway).
What do you do when you read articles like this? How do you deal with something so big? Do you ignore it or try to make a little change? Or a big change? Do you reuse bags? Ask for paper? Walk? Volunteer? Do you think articles like this are effective? What is going to have to happen for a big change to occure?
Bonus 13: Can you separate the art from the Artist?
As we discussed in class, Sherman Alexie was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior...but his writing is still good. Roman Polanski was convicted of the rape of a minor...but The Pianist won an Oscar. Harvey Weinstein was abusing women and his power, but he had a hand in SO MANY shows and movies. Kevin Spacey was also accused of inappropriate sexual behavior, but I still love K-Pax and Outbreak. I just realized I left out women. Roseanne comes to mind and Jenny McCarthy helped the anti-vaccination get rolling. Allison Mack of Smallville helped lure women into a sex cult.
Can the art be separated from the person? Can we still enjoy the show/movie/story or should we boycott? What should people in the position to hire these individuals do? Ban them regardless of talent or let them express their skill regardless?
Bonus 14: What the heck is going on with kid's games and toys?
To be honest: there are some kid's toys I'm jealous of. I had tomigotchi's and creepy Furbies and Barbie and a game boy that didn't have it's own light source. I would have loved the Switch and these adorable Gleemerz and the Hatchimals too. And probably the L.O.L. Suprise dolls too. Don't judge me too much. Most gift-giving occasions I also asked for lots of books too.
But some toys for kids have me disturbed:
Do you think these are stupid? Why would these be made? Would you have wanted these?
Am I just remembering my childhood with rose-colored glasses? Do you remember wanting stupid things like this when you were younger? Are you jealous of any particular toy or was there one when you were a kid that you wanted but never got? It seemed like my friend got all the trendy toys that I was so jealous of but now seem really stupid. Make your own bubblegum kit? I wanted that so much.
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