Fresh Start @ The IKE Box

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

Topic: The Legalization of Marijuana

Background Information:
The debate regarding the legalization of drugs, particularly that of soft drugs like cannabis (or marijuana) is capable of being characterized as one which pits the concept of freedom of the individual against the concept of a paternalistic State. Advocates of legalization argue, amongst other things, that cannabis is not only less harmful than legal substances like alcohol and tobacco, but as a matter of fact has been proven to possess certain medicinal properties. In stark contrast, those opposed to legalization argue that the legalization of cannabis will act as a precursor to increased addiction to hard drugs, and will necessarily lead to an increase in the crime rate itself.

Please go to the following LINK to learn more about the topic.

Develop an argument FOR or AGAINST the legalization of marijuana. Please support your opinion with arguments listed on the above link.

Please have your work proofed prior to posting.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Genetically Modified Children

Topic: Genetically Modified Children

You are 21 years old and are given the opportunity to participate in an experiment in which your children will be genetically modified so that they become very attractive, super intelligent, and outstanding athletes All of your friends are given the same choice and some agree to go along with the experiment. What do you choose? (traits) What happens as a result of this experiment in 20 years time?

Be creative and use the learning you have had in class to enhance your response.

Please respond in complete sentences and have it proofed prior to posting.

Friday, February 8, 2008

McKinley Reflection - 2/8

McKinley Reflection

Please respond to the following three prompts:
(Please use examples as much as possible.)

(1) What did you like best about the experience at McKinley?

(2) What aspect of the experience was the most difficult for you?

(3) How do you think the 3rd graders benefited from you being there? List some benefits.

(Please respond in complete sentences and proof your work!)

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

I hate... 2/6

Please complete the following statement:

"What I really hate is... "

(consider all the things in your life that you really hate - what is it that destroys society and humanity?)

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

My Love... 2/5

Please complete the following statement:

"What I really love is... "

(consider all the things in your life that you really love - objects, relationships, ideas, etc.)

Monday, February 4, 2008

Identical Twins - 2/4

Topic: Identical Twins

Two identical twins were separated at birth. A wealthy family raised one, and a very poor family raised the other. When they reach age 20, a research team is sent to investigate.

What do they find?

Be sure to compare and contrast the two individuals and predict how their lifestyles may or may not be different. Use examples.

(Please proof your work carefully before you post. Make it error-free!)

Friday, February 1, 2008

What do you value? - 2/1

What do you value?

Please identify three things you value: an object, a relationship, and an idea. Explain why you value these three things.

Prior to posting, please have your writing proofed for spelling, capitalization, punctuation and other typographical errors. Thank you!

Music Review Requirements and Outcomes

Requirements for the work you turn in:
(1) At least one typed, double-spaced music review that is free of errors.
This review will serve as a Writing Work Sample.
(2) One page typed (cut and paste is OK) lyrics that have been pre-approved by staff member.
(3) A CD/MP3 file/Audio file (burned or bought) of the song you want to play.
(4) A reading of a part or all of your music review.

Basic Music Review
In this basic music review you will answer six questions and incorporate them into an essay that has an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. You may use the answers to these six questions in any order you want. Here they are:

1. What is the name of the group or artist?
2. What is the name of the song you wish to play for the class?
3. What style/genre of music is this?
4. Why do you like this music?
5. How was the group/artist formed OR how did the group/artist get their start in music?
6. What is the group/artist trying to say through this song or their music?

Association Music Review
In the Association Music Review your goal is to craft an essay that tells a story about a song. The entire review is the story (association) this song or CD or performance has for you. Using an introduction, body, conclusion format you will include the following in your review:

1. The song and the artist
2. The complete story of what happened to you and how the song is involved.
3. Any lessons you learned as a result of the story/song combination.

Descriptive Music Review
In the Descriptive Music Review you will do your best to describe in great detail and with strong adjectives your artist or group. Using the introduction, body, conclusion format you will answer the following questions and put them into your work:

1. The feelings, emotions and brief associations you have for the artist, group or song.
2. A brief analysis of the lyrics and what message they are sending to the listener.
3. The overall mood of the music and the feelings you get from it.
4. Band information. Any other pertinent background you choose to offer.

Historical/Political Review
In the Historical/Political review you will attempt to show how your song, CD or artist makes a statement or tells about an event in history. You will need to have this information embedded in your paper in an introduction, body, conclusion format:

1. A description of the historical event or political statement.
How the lyrics affect the song.
2. What you think of the song and how it influences the listener.

Live Review
The Live Review is an eyewitness account of what went on at the concert. This also deals with the sights, sounds and feelings surrounding the concert or performance. Your review should have the following elements embedded in the introduction, body, conclusion format:

1. Why you went to the show.
2. A description of the town or venue the show was performed in.
3. Sights and sounds and tastes and smells….a sensory experience.
4. How then show went and what you thought (and the audiences’ reaction to) of the performance.

Music Review - The Research

GROUP/ARTIST RESEARCH
PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THE INFO BELOW IN A GOOGLE DOC

Name of the Group or Artist:

Now that you have a name of a group or artist, you can go find out what they are all about. Answer the following questions listed below to have some information which can later be used in a quick recap of that group or artist.

(1) What are the names of the members in the group (if solo, skip this one).

(2) What is the style of music this group or artist represents? Please describe what this type of music is all about.

(3) When did they start their musical career?

(4) What sets them apart from other groups?

(5) What are some interesting facts about the members? What awards have they won and what makes them so special?

(6) Can you give a quick story about something that has happened to them? (Ex. How did they achieve their status and their fan base?)

Oregon Biomes Project

Portfolio Part 2: Oregon Biomes Project

Using class notes and National Audubon Society: Field Guild to the Pacific Northwest please complete the following components for this part of your Web Portfolio. The final project will be posted on your Web Portfolio.

Part 1 - Habitat Summary
You will draft one of the following natural habitats of the Pacific Northwest.
Alpine and Subalpine
Wet Forests
Dry Forests
Steppes and Deserts
Freshwater Wetlands
Coastal Habitats
Marine Habitats

Using the field guide, write a brief summary for each habitat and sub-habitat.

Part 2 - Energy Flow
Using the field guide (first) and online resources (second), identify native species in your habitat (or sub-habitat) (plants, animals, fungi, insects, birds, etc.). List them out.
15 producers
10 primary consumers
5 secondary consumers
2-3 tertiary consumers.

After you have identified your species complete the following in Seashore. Be sure to save each as a JPEG.

~Create an Energy Pyramid. Save it as a JPEG.
~Create a Food Web using all identified species.
~Using your Food Web, create Five Food Chains. (All five can be in one JPEG.)

Part 3 - Post to Web Portfolio
Log into your Web Portfolio.
Create a new page element in “Templates”
Copy/Paste your Summary from Part 1
Upload the three JPEGS from Part 2
Post and your done!

Celilo Falls Mini-Project - Portfolio Project Part 1

Part 1: Please post four pictures of Celilo Falls - two must depict before the Dalles Dam was build and two must depict Celilo Falls after the Dalles Dam was build. For each picture you choose, please describe it in a sentence or two.

Part 2:

Write a narrative about the history of Celilo Falls. Please include as many important dates as you can. Please use the information you gathered from your Web Quest and other related sites on the Internet. Your narrative should be one-and--a-half to two-pages long, double spaced, size 12 font.

Part 3:

Using your narrative and the selected pictures provided from the teacher, create a video using iMovie that tells the story of Celilo Falls.

PLEASE POST ALL THREE TO YOUR BLOG AFTER BEING APPROVED.