DAY 4: Politics
The Decriminalization of Marijuana
What are the effects of a law that decriminalizes marijuana? Before you answer this question, consider the effects that the current laws have on our society.
Watch this video and consider both sides. Then chose a side that you most closely agree with and explain what the effects would be of either keeping the law the same or changing it. This Journal Entry should be 250-500 words. HAVE FUN!
Apr 19, 2010
DAY 3: SPORTS
The following column was taken from sportsfeelgoodstories.com and is discussing the recent film "The Blind Side". The column also makes a list of the top 20 inspirational sports films of all time. After you read the column, please pick a film that you have seen and that you believe to be inspirational. Then, write a 250-500 word Journal Entry that discusses the cause and effect that the film had both on you and on the characters in the movie. If the film is based on a true story then you may talk about the influence that the events in the film had on the real life people and/or society in general. HAVE FUN!
Is “The Blind Side” one of the top inspirational sports movies of all time?
The movie “The Blind Side,” based on the book by Michael Lewis, took in an amazing $34.5 million in its opening weekend at theaters. The movie tells the story of Baltimore Ravens’ first round pick Michael Oher. A homeless teenager, Oher was adopted by the Tuohy family in Memphis, Tennessee. Sandra Bullock plays the Leigh Anne Tuohy role, and this movie opened stronger than any other Bullock release. It’s also receiving strong votes from most critics.
But where does it stack up related to other inspirational sports movies?
Sports Feel Good Stories “Top 20 Inspirational Sports Movies”
1. Hoosiers
2. Remember the Titans
3. Cinderella Man
4. Miracle
5. Rocky
6. Seabiscuit
7. Field of Dreams
8. Rudy
9. Coach Carter
10. Brian’s Song
11. Friday Night Lights
12. Bend it like Beckham
13. Glory Road
14. The Rookie
15. We are Marshall
16. Finding Forrester
17. Bull Durham
18. Chariots of Fire
19. Breaking Away
20. The Natural
The following column was taken from sportsfeelgoodstories.com and is discussing the recent film "The Blind Side". The column also makes a list of the top 20 inspirational sports films of all time. After you read the column, please pick a film that you have seen and that you believe to be inspirational. Then, write a 250-500 word Journal Entry that discusses the cause and effect that the film had both on you and on the characters in the movie. If the film is based on a true story then you may talk about the influence that the events in the film had on the real life people and/or society in general. HAVE FUN!Is “The Blind Side” one of the top inspirational sports movies of all time?
The movie “The Blind Side,” based on the book by Michael Lewis, took in an amazing $34.5 million in its opening weekend at theaters. The movie tells the story of Baltimore Ravens’ first round pick Michael Oher. A homeless teenager, Oher was adopted by the Tuohy family in Memphis, Tennessee. Sandra Bullock plays the Leigh Anne Tuohy role, and this movie opened stronger than any other Bullock release. It’s also receiving strong votes from most critics.
But where does it stack up related to other inspirational sports movies?
Sports Feel Good Stories “Top 20 Inspirational Sports Movies”
1. Hoosiers2. Remember the Titans
3. Cinderella Man
4. Miracle
5. Rocky
6. Seabiscuit
7. Field of Dreams
8. Rudy
9. Coach Carter
10. Brian’s Song
11. Friday Night Lights
12. Bend it like Beckham
13. Glory Road
14. The Rookie
15. We are Marshall
16. Finding Forrester
17. Bull Durham
18. Chariots of Fire
19. Breaking Away
20. The Natural
Apr 18, 2010
DAY 2: This WEEK in History
Because late April has historically been a tragic time in American history, I wanted to highlight a number of events that have taken place on April 19 and 20 that are very significant. Although there are other events that have happened on these days that are more positive, I'd like you to focus on the negative for this Journal Entry. The next piece of writing is going to be a cause and effect essay, so you will be writing about what caused a particular event and then the immediate and long term effects that it had on the American people.
The following videos are from April 19 and 20. Please ignore any events that seem to be positive. Again, I want you to focus on the negative events that have taken place on these days and then chose one of them. Once you chose an event, write a 250-500 word Journal Entry that discusses the causes and effects that surround this incident. You may conduct additional research to help you with the Journal Entry. HAVE FUN!
Because late April has historically been a tragic time in American history, I wanted to highlight a number of events that have taken place on April 19 and 20 that are very significant. Although there are other events that have happened on these days that are more positive, I'd like you to focus on the negative for this Journal Entry. The next piece of writing is going to be a cause and effect essay, so you will be writing about what caused a particular event and then the immediate and long term effects that it had on the American people.
The following videos are from April 19 and 20. Please ignore any events that seem to be positive. Again, I want you to focus on the negative events that have taken place on these days and then chose one of them. Once you chose an event, write a 250-500 word Journal Entry that discusses the causes and effects that surround this incident. You may conduct additional research to help you with the Journal Entry. HAVE FUN!
Apr 15, 2010
DAY 1: MUSIC
Below is a YouTube video for Tupac Shakur's song, "Changes". The song talks about the injustices that exist within urban communities throughout the United States. Tupac also discusses the changes that need to be made within both the white and the black community in order for anything to ever change for the better. Write a 250-500 word Journal Entry that talks about changes that you'd like to see made throughout your community, the Pittsburgh area, or even the world in general.
"Changes", by Tupac Shakur
Come on come on
I see no changes. Wake up in the morning and I ask myself,
"Is life worth living? Should I blast myself?"
I'm tired of bein' poor and even worse I'm black.
My stomach hurts, so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch.
Cops give a damn about a negro? Pull the trigger, kill a nigga, he's a hero.
Give the crack to the kids who the hell cares? One less hungry mouth on the welfare.
First ship 'em dope & let 'em deal the brothers.
Give 'em guns, step back, and watch 'em kill each other.
"It's time to fight back", that's what Huey said.
2 shots in the dark now Huey's dead.
I got love for my brother, but we can never go nowhere
unless we share with each other. We gotta start makin' changes.
Learn to see me as a brother 'stead of 2 distant strangers.
And that's how it's supposed to be.
How can the Devil take a brother if he's close to me?
I'd love to go back to when we played as kids,
but things change, and that's the way it is.
[Bridge w/ changing ad libs]
(Come on, come on) That's just the way it is. Things'll never be the same.
That's just the way it is. aww yeah...
[Repeat]
I see no changes. All I see is racist faces.
Misplaced hate makes disgrace for races we under.
I wonder what it takes to make this one better place...
let's erase the wasted.
Take the evil out the people, they'll be acting right.
'Cause mo' black than white is smokin' crack tonight.
And only time we chill is when we kill each other.
It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other.
And although it seems heaven sent,
we ain't ready to see a black President, uhh.
It ain't a secret don't conceal the fact...
the penitentiary's packed, and it's filled with blacks.
But some things will never change.
Try to show another way, but they stayin' in the dope game.
Now tell me what's a mother to do?
Bein' real don't appeal to the brother in you.
You gotta operate the easy way.
"I made a G today" But you made it in a sleazy way.
Sellin' crack to the kids. "I gotta get paid,"
Well hey, well that's the way it is.
[Bridge]
[Talking:]
We gotta make a change...
It's time for us as a people to start makin' some changes.
Let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live
and let's change the way we treat each other.
You see the old way wasn't working so it's on us to do
what we gotta do, to survive.
And still I see no changes. Can't a brother get a little peace?
There's war on the streets & the war in the Middle East.
Instead of war on poverty,
they got a war on drugs so the police can bother me.
And I ain't never did a crime I ain't have to do.
But now I'm back with the facts givin' 'em back to you.
Don't let 'em jack you up, back you up, crack you up and pimp smack you up.
You gotta learn to hold ya own.
They get jealous when they see ya with ya mobile phone.
But tell the cops they can't touch this.
I don't trust this, when they try to rush I bust this.
That's the sound of my tune. You say it ain't cool, but mama didn't raise no fool.
And as long as I stay black, I gotta stay strapped & I never get to lay back.
'Cause I always got to worry 'bout the pay backs.
Some buck that I roughed up way back... comin' back after all these years.
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat. That's the way it is. uhh
[Bridge 'til fade]
Some things never change.
Below is a YouTube video for Tupac Shakur's song, "Changes". The song talks about the injustices that exist within urban communities throughout the United States. Tupac also discusses the changes that need to be made within both the white and the black community in order for anything to ever change for the better. Write a 250-500 word Journal Entry that talks about changes that you'd like to see made throughout your community, the Pittsburgh area, or even the world in general.
"Changes", by Tupac Shakur
Come on come on
I see no changes. Wake up in the morning and I ask myself,
"Is life worth living? Should I blast myself?"
I'm tired of bein' poor and even worse I'm black.
My stomach hurts, so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch.
Cops give a damn about a negro? Pull the trigger, kill a nigga, he's a hero.
Give the crack to the kids who the hell cares? One less hungry mouth on the welfare.
First ship 'em dope & let 'em deal the brothers.
Give 'em guns, step back, and watch 'em kill each other.
"It's time to fight back", that's what Huey said.
2 shots in the dark now Huey's dead.
I got love for my brother, but we can never go nowhere
unless we share with each other. We gotta start makin' changes.
Learn to see me as a brother 'stead of 2 distant strangers.
And that's how it's supposed to be.
How can the Devil take a brother if he's close to me?
I'd love to go back to when we played as kids,
but things change, and that's the way it is.
[Bridge w/ changing ad libs]
(Come on, come on) That's just the way it is. Things'll never be the same.
That's just the way it is. aww yeah...
[Repeat]
I see no changes. All I see is racist faces.
Misplaced hate makes disgrace for races we under.
I wonder what it takes to make this one better place...
let's erase the wasted.
Take the evil out the people, they'll be acting right.
'Cause mo' black than white is smokin' crack tonight.
And only time we chill is when we kill each other.
It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other.
And although it seems heaven sent,
we ain't ready to see a black President, uhh.
It ain't a secret don't conceal the fact...
the penitentiary's packed, and it's filled with blacks.
But some things will never change.
Try to show another way, but they stayin' in the dope game.
Now tell me what's a mother to do?
Bein' real don't appeal to the brother in you.
You gotta operate the easy way.
"I made a G today" But you made it in a sleazy way.
Sellin' crack to the kids. "I gotta get paid,"
Well hey, well that's the way it is.
[Bridge]
[Talking:]
We gotta make a change...
It's time for us as a people to start makin' some changes.
Let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live
and let's change the way we treat each other.
You see the old way wasn't working so it's on us to do
what we gotta do, to survive.
And still I see no changes. Can't a brother get a little peace?
There's war on the streets & the war in the Middle East.
Instead of war on poverty,
they got a war on drugs so the police can bother me.
And I ain't never did a crime I ain't have to do.
But now I'm back with the facts givin' 'em back to you.
Don't let 'em jack you up, back you up, crack you up and pimp smack you up.
You gotta learn to hold ya own.
They get jealous when they see ya with ya mobile phone.
But tell the cops they can't touch this.
I don't trust this, when they try to rush I bust this.
That's the sound of my tune. You say it ain't cool, but mama didn't raise no fool.
And as long as I stay black, I gotta stay strapped & I never get to lay back.
'Cause I always got to worry 'bout the pay backs.
Some buck that I roughed up way back... comin' back after all these years.
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat. That's the way it is. uhh
[Bridge 'til fade]
Some things never change.
Apr 5, 2010
Short Story Writing Prompts:
You're riding an elevator when the power goes out. The situation take a turn when the pregnant woman next to you goes into labor (375 word minimum).
You're late for work because you overslept, but your boss hates over-sleepers. He does love entertaining stories, so create the most outlandish excuse as to why you were late (375 word minimum).
One week after attending the funeral of a close friend, you receive a postcard in the mail with the words, "I'm not dead. Meet me tonight at Guido's Pizzeria. Tell no one" (375 word minimum).
Your name is called: You've won the "Album of the Year" Grammy for your album, (fill in the blank). You step up to the podium to accept your award and, halfway through, the orchestra tries to play you off. You've worked too long and hard to allow this to happen, so you don't--to the surprise of everyone. Write this scene. Please limit your response to 375 words.
You're standing outside a restaurant next to a phone booth when, suddenly, it rings. Your gut tells you not to answer it, but with each ring you can't resist. Finally you pick up the phone—and end up having the most amazing night of your life (375 word minimum).
You wake up one day with an unusual super power that seems pretty worthless—until you are caught in a situation that requires that specific "talent" (375 word minimum).
You wake up shackled to a chair and can't remember how you got there. Two voices are talking. You recognize one of them (375 word minimum).
You arrive at an annual Halloween party only to discover that someone else is dressed in the same costume as you. Bad things start happening to you throughout the night and you suspect this person has something to do with it (375 word minimum).
Your plane crashes on a deserted island. You and two other passengers survive. The only salvageable items from the plane are pair of scissors, a stopwatch and an electric keyboard. Use these items creatively to get off the island (375 word minimum).
Write about a heated argument you had with your parents--real or fictitious--(375 word minimum).
You're riding an elevator when the power goes out. The situation take a turn when the pregnant woman next to you goes into labor (375 word minimum).
You're late for work because you overslept, but your boss hates over-sleepers. He does love entertaining stories, so create the most outlandish excuse as to why you were late (375 word minimum).
One week after attending the funeral of a close friend, you receive a postcard in the mail with the words, "I'm not dead. Meet me tonight at Guido's Pizzeria. Tell no one" (375 word minimum).
Your name is called: You've won the "Album of the Year" Grammy for your album, (fill in the blank). You step up to the podium to accept your award and, halfway through, the orchestra tries to play you off. You've worked too long and hard to allow this to happen, so you don't--to the surprise of everyone. Write this scene. Please limit your response to 375 words.
You're standing outside a restaurant next to a phone booth when, suddenly, it rings. Your gut tells you not to answer it, but with each ring you can't resist. Finally you pick up the phone—and end up having the most amazing night of your life (375 word minimum).
You wake up one day with an unusual super power that seems pretty worthless—until you are caught in a situation that requires that specific "talent" (375 word minimum).
You wake up shackled to a chair and can't remember how you got there. Two voices are talking. You recognize one of them (375 word minimum).
You arrive at an annual Halloween party only to discover that someone else is dressed in the same costume as you. Bad things start happening to you throughout the night and you suspect this person has something to do with it (375 word minimum).
Your plane crashes on a deserted island. You and two other passengers survive. The only salvageable items from the plane are pair of scissors, a stopwatch and an electric keyboard. Use these items creatively to get off the island (375 word minimum).
Write about a heated argument you had with your parents--real or fictitious--(375 word minimum).
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