Assignment List Due Dates and Special Journal Topics
For 2nd Semester, you will complete 4 major journals, then a 5th Final Journal entry.
Unlike 1st Semester, we will not be formally completely an Experience Memoir. (You may,
however, continue this on your own and include reflections in journals 1-4 as additional pages).
Instead, we will be doing an Exploration of the Arts, and you will include one reflection for each
of journals 1-4, on your examination of various art forms.
There are 4 categories we will explore, and you can do these in any order. You must do
at least two different categories—so you can repeat ones you particularly like or you can do one
of each. The four categories are: 2 and 3 dimensional visual art (painting, photography,
sculpture, etc.), musical art, performing arts (theater, dance, etc.—these may be live or recorded),
and film. For the film category, there is a list of films for you to choose from that tie-in with the
major themes we have and will explore this year.
You will choose an artist's work(s) in a particular category, like visual art or music, and
write your reaction and analysis of the work. Each entry should be 2 pages or more.. This may
include a description of the work, your analysis and interpretation, and your critique. Just like
the other journal entries, this should be informal, but thoughtful.
Keep in mind, though, that these entries are in addition to the overall page requirement.
9+ pages is the requirement for the A-range for the main journal. Then, the 2+ pages are the
additional requirement for your Exploration of the Arts. This will be a separate grade that will
be added to each time you turn in your journals, culminating at the end of the semester.
For the films, the larger themes deal with living a meaningful life, understanding human
nature, making a social commentary, and reflecting on the nature of romance and relationships.
The following films make up the selected list:
Aliens
Amelie
American Beauty
American History X
Changing Lanes
Chocolat
The Family Man
(500)Days of Summer
Garden State
Lord of War
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Green Mile
Memento
Groundhog Day
Millions
The Shawshank Redemption
Forrest Gump
Babel
The Departed
In America
Sliding Doors
Cast Away
Erin Brockovich
Fried Green Tomatoes
The Pursuit of Happyness
Sin Nombre
Buck
It's a Wonderful Life
Seabiscuit
Tell No One
Se7en
Win Win
Journal 1 due 2/21-2/26 Journal 2 due 3/18-3/20 Journal 3 due 4/22-4/26 Journal 4 due 5/21-5/23
Journal 5 will be a little different. This will be one, final entry, and this will be typed and turned
in separately from your main journal. This will also be due 5/21-5/23.
In addition to the journals, we will complete 2 essays (3 for AP), and a Final Project.
The Final Project will be due 5/6-5/13. This project may be revised.
The essays will be spaced throughout the semester, with our first essay due 2/8-2/11.
The essays will be more short-term, in-class essays. For the first essay, you will be able to finish
this at home after beginning it in class. The others will be turned in at the end of the class
period. Only Essay 1 may be revised, with the others being exam situations.
Essay 1 will be a personal meditation on the concepts of fear and hope stemming from
your research into the ecological topic you have chosen. For this essay, you will compose a
main idea from the various sources you investigated, synthesizing the information from these
various sources into one, unified, cohesive meditation on your personal perspective of the issue,
centering on why it gives you reason for concern or fear—and perhaps anything that gives you a
sense of hope in dealing with the issue.
We will have two days to work in the library labs, 2/6 and 2/7. This will be devoted to
researching and writing. Then, we will have two days of a roundtable discussion where you will
informally present your topic and your findings. These will be 2/8 and 2/11. The end of the
rolling due date will be 2/11. Essay 1 should be typed and a minimum of 2 pages, maximum of 3
pages. With this essay, we will work on crafting your ideas within a confined space, paying
attention to the most poignant and relevant points and being concise with our phrasing.
Essays 2 (and 3) will be on topics we will discuss as we get closer to them.
The points for the work this semester will be the following:
Journals 1-4 (10pts each) Journal 5 (5pts) Exploration of the Arts (5pts) Essays (5 pts each)
Final Project (10 pts).