Researching Your Ideals: November 18, 2016

Focus: How do I start gathering research on my American ideal?

1. Wrapping up loose ends (5 minutes):

• Forming/finalizing your transcendentalist book groups
• Resolving Turnitin issues 

2. Finding your Friday inspiration

• Upworthy: Teachers thank students

• Brene Brown: power of vulnerability

3. Gathering personal stories for your speech topics

• Why does this topic matter to you?

• Describe a time (or several times) in which you had a personal encounter with this topic. Tell me the story. Let yourself be vulnerable here (easier said than done).

• Why should this topic matter to us right now?

• Where and how has this topic surfaced in the units we've explored so far? (Salem witch trials, cultural hysteria, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Gothic literature, The Village, Romanticism...)

4. Researching the American history of your speech topic (making a timeline)

• Where has your topic surfaced in significant events in our country's history?

• How has your topic evolved (or devolved, or wavered) over time?

• What kind of progress would you like to see (regarding your topic) in five years? Ten years? Twenty years? Tomorrow?

5. Staring to organize your ideas

• Click HERE if you'd like an outline to help you organize your ideas.
• You don't have to give a traditional speech, by the way. Spoken-word poems, songs, and other kinds of communication are welcome.

HW:
1. Have a relaxing Thanksgiving!

2. Complete your transcendentalist book approval form and purchase/check out your book NOW! You will need a copy in your warm, little hands on Tuesday, Nov 29.