Friday, 30 May 2025

Prompt:
Imagine you are planning a school event, like a cultural fair, talent show, or sports day. Describe what kind of event you would plan, who would participate, and how you would organize it. Explain why you think this event would be fun and meaningful for your classmates.

Requirements:
In your response, use at least two complex sentences and two compound sentences (sentences joined by conjunctions like and, but, or, so, yet). Try to write one or two full paragraphs.

Tips to help you:
  • Start by describing your event idea.
  • Use transition words like because, although, since, if, when for complex sentences.
  • Use conjunctions like and, but, or, so to connect ideas in compound sentences.
  • Think about who would help you and what you would need to prepare.
Example sentence starters:
“If I could plan a school event, I would choose...”
“My classmates would enjoy it because…”
“We would invite students and teachers, and...”
“Although it takes a lot of work, I believe it would be worth it.”

REMEMBER TO PROOF READ!

The Examined Life

 English 12

In our final unit, you will be challenged with some high-level thinking through existentialism. We'll figure out some new terms, learn about Joseph Campbell and watch a film, Apocalypse Now - based on his novel The Heart of Darkness. 

Beware, this is a rabbit hole that will have you ask questions about yourself. The ideas in this unit will challenge your thinking about identity, faith, and the meaning of life. This knowledge can be used to begin understanding how you can accomplish self-actualization. Sound familiar?

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs


ESSENTIALISM vs EXISTENTIALISM (this idea rejects essentialism):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaDvRdLMkHs

Video on Existentialism, Absurdism, and Nihilism:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaIbUAkSYEU

*Note - the sponsor for the above video is in hot water. Please skip over the sponsored segment from  1:17 - 2:17.

First, answer these questions. This will show you how existentialism affects you.

  1. Do you have particular worries about the future?
  2. Have you been through a major event that had you rethink your values, beliefs, and goals?
  3. Consider your educational goals for next year. Have they been defined by someone else, or yourself?
Now, after watching the videos, answer these.
  1. What is 'the absurd'?
  2. What is nihilism?
  3. How does an existentialist find meaning?
  4. How does existentialism differ from essentialism?

Tuesday, 13 May 2025

Brian's Struggle

 In Chapter 15, things go fairly well for Brian, for chapter 16 - well it's not so great. With the crisis that takes place...

Write a journal entry as Brian after the events of Chapter 16. Think about how he might be feeling? What will he do next? Is there really anything he could have done differently?