I was surfing around on CNN and I found an interesting article about the make-up of the teenage brain and how it affects decision making. Read it here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/19/health/mental-health/teen-brain-impulses/index.html?hpt=hp_c2 .
What are your reflections about this article? Surf around on your own and find some other interesting things about the brain and post it!
Well, another school year has begun and it’s time to get started with extra credit! The purpose of this blog is to create some online conversations across the various classes. Keeping this notion that all my classes have access to this blog, it’s really interesting to see how you converse with one another when you don’t have the same basis of knowledge. I love seeing how you respond to one another! I hope that you enjoy the opportunity to talk with new people as well. I’ve been using this for the last few years and it has worked really well. Though you are welcome to peruse prior classes’ comments, please keep in mind that you need to comment on this school year, and this school year only. If you need any help reminding yourself what a “good comment” entails, please use the pages on this site.
Happy Blogging!!!
Grammar Girl
For all you iPod fanatics out there: have you gotten into podcasts yet? A podcast is like a radio show; but instead of broadcasting at a particular time on a certain station, a writer/speaker/performer will record their show. They’ll then upload the show onto a website or interface like iTunes.
I listen to one podcast regularly: Grammar Girl. Are you that surprised? 
Now, I’msaying you have to start subscribing to this one (P.S. it’s free and shows are only about 5 minutes long), but you should realize that the thousands of subscribers are composed of both adults and young people. Why? Well, it’s because everyone from a high school student to successful professional need some reminders when it comes to writing better.
For this post, peruse the Grammar Girl website (found here: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/ ) or a similar site and discuss a quick lesson you learned about writing from your research. Maybe you can even teach me something!
I normally reserve a post like this for the end of the year, but since many of our classes have had conversations lately about how much we all change during our freshman year, I find this one appropriate. So, I pulled an article from About.com quickly (not always the most credible, sorry, but this one isn’t too bad). Check it out: http://homeworktips.about.com/od/preparingforcollege/bb/freshman.htm . A few tips are listed here for how to prepare and survive your freshman year.
What are some practical school and “life” tips that you’ve learned so far this year? You could have learned these tips/lessons either inside or outside the classroom. All learning is valuable.
Each new year, lists will come out with the “Best Books of the Year.” In this link you’ll find the American Library Association’s list of the “Best Young Adult Books of 2010.” http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/bestbooksya/bbya2010.cfm
Have you read any of these? If so, what is your evaluation? Should others pick up a copy? If not, can you recommend any other titles?
How many of you can’t wait for the day you can drive? I bet the thought of holding a key in your hand, turning on the engine, pushing down on that gas pedal and vrrrroooooooommmmmmm – off you go. Complete and total freedom, right?
With technology advancing more and more each day, some car companies (like Ford in this particular article) are giving more control to parents while you’re behind the wheel. So, read this article:
http://ourtribune.com/article.php?id=11380
What do you think about this? What are the advantages and disadvantages for you, parents, and other people on the road? Are there any societal issues being addressed here?
Did you ever see the movie Back to the Future? Ever heard of it? Well, it’s a classic film in American culture. This week marks the 25th anniversary of it’s release:
In Back to the Future 2, Marty McFly “travels” to October 21, 2015! Watch the original theatrical trailer here:
Either from watching the clip or the whole movie, do you think Steven Spielberg’s vision of the future was accurate? After all, it’s only 5 years away! What do you think the world will be like in 5 years? 10 years? 50 years? See if you can find any articles about it too!
