For Monday, May 5

Finish reading Siddhartha.
Bring a rough draft to class f0r review and comment.
Priscilla will return the drafts by end of school on Tuesday, May 6.
Another draft should be turned in for review either Wednesday or Thursday.

Paper Due May 9

Trace Siddhartha's life journey.
Trace your own life's journey.
Compare and contrast the two.
Compare Siddhartha's search for meaning and understanding with your own search for knowledge, understanding, and happiness.

Requirements:
Typed
Double-Spaced
1,000 words

For Thursday, May 1

Read Chapter 10

For Tuesday, April 29

Read Chapter 9

4 Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold Path

1. all life is suffering
2. Desire causes suffering
3. Eliminate suffering by eliminating desire.
4. End desire by following the Eight-Fold Path.

Eight-fold Path
1. Right Understanding: understand the 4 Noble Truths
2. Right Intention: exert our own will to change
3. Right Speech: abandon false, divisive, abusive speech
4. Right Action:
5. Right Livelihood: do not do business in weapons, business in human beings, business in meat, business in intoxicants, and business in poison.
6. Effort:
7. Mindfulness: Awareness
8. Concentration:

Chapters 6, 7, 8

Read them for Monday, April 28.

Chapter 5

Read it for Thursday, April 24.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Please read Chapter 4 for Tuesday. Be prepared for a quiz.

What discovery does Siddhartha make when he thinks about what or who he doesn't know?
What does he do with this discovery?

For Monday, April 21

Read Chapter 3. Be prepared for a quiz.

1. What was Gotama doing when Siddhartha first talked to him?

2. How does Gotama make enough money to eat?

3. What is Govinda's decision?

4. How does Siddhartha feel about Gotama?

Siddhartha - Assignment

For Friday, April 18, read the first two chapters.

Be prepared to discuss the following questions in class.

Chapter 1

1. Why is Siddhartha unhappy? Why is his spirit like a "waiting vessel"?
2. Why is Govinda wiling to follow him?
3. How are the Smanas described? From his description, how does the author feel about them?
4. How did Siddhartha convince his father? Why didn't he just go?
5. Why, do you suppose, Siddhartha's mother doesn't have more of a role in the decision?

Chapter 2 - With the Samanas

1. How does he act when he is with the Samaras?
2. What is his goal? What happens when he reaches that goal?
3. How does Siddhartha meditate?
4. What frustrates Siddhartha?
5. Complete the quote: "I could have learned more quickly and easily ______________" Explain this.
6. According to Siddhartha, what can one learn? Explain this.
7. Who is Gotama? What does the author think of him?
8. What does Siddhartha do with the oldest Samana? What does that feat show?

Siddhartha Website

http://www.online-literature.com/hesse/siddhartha/1/

What makes you unhappy

Write 3 paragraphs about what makes you unhappy. You may make a list and discuss why these things make you unhappy. You may choose one thing and discuss the process whereby this experience makes you unhappy. You may write more than 3 paragraphs if you choose to discuss what makes you happy, too.

Kosovo

Should Kosovo have its independence? Why or why not? What are the historic bases for your statement?

For Friday, Feb. 22, 2008

Answer the following. You may write two paragraphs to answer the questions; you may write a poem; you may write a short story; you may answer the questions literally or metaphorically, but answer them.

I, Too, Am America

What is America?

What do you think America is supposed to be?

Is it living up to the ideal?

Why or why not?

What could or should happen to make America be its best self?

Those Who Travel to Aiken, S.C.

If you are going to Aiken, S.C. for the hearings on nuclear weapons redevelopment, please write a report on your activities and be prepared to talk about them in class on Friday.

Homework for Thursday, 2/21/08

Choose One of the Following Topics and Write at Least One Page

1. Write a letter to the Department of Energy about your opinion of the redevelopment of U.S. nuclear weapons capabilities.

2. Under what circumstances would you enter into a country that was in violent conflict? What would you do there?

3. Write a letter to a representative with your opinion and request for action or inaction in Darfur.

Homework for Wednesday, 20 February 2008

Write a summary of events in Darfur, Sudan. Who are the major groups involved?

The journey of a diamond

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15842525/

also: Wikipedia: Diamonds

Due: Tuesday, February 19

Write the story of a diamond, tracing its journey from discovery in Africa to purchase as a piece of jewelry in the United States. Be sure to include information on: The mining village in Africa; travel to India for polishing; who polishes it; sale to a broker; sale to a broker in New York; sale to a consumer

West African Contries - The Final 9 Continental Nations

Guinea-Bissau - Allen

Liberia - Allen

Mali - Danielle

Mauritania - Chau

Niger - Chau

Nigeria - Danielle

Sao Tome & Principe - Josh

Senegal - Josh

Togo - Marcus

Write a Myth by Tuesday, Feb. 12

Retell an African myth in your own words. Tell us where it came from--geographically and from what tribe or group.

OR

Make up your own myth or fable, incorporating elements of African myths such as animals acting like humans, direct relationship between animals and humans and God, bringing humans into the world, etc.

In either case, the story should be:
typed
double-spaced
500 words

Be prepared to tell your story out loud without reading it.

Africa: Countries and Capitals

Republic of Sierra Leone - 5.9 Million - Freetown - diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish - Islam, Christianity - English colony

The Kingdom of Morocco - 31.2 million - Rabat - minerals, seafood, citrus - Islam - French colony

People's Democratic Republic of Algeria - 33.9 million - Algiers - Gas, oil - Islam - French colony
The Gabonese Republic - 1.3 million - Libreville - crude, timber, manganese, uranium - French colony

Republic of Ghana - 23.5 million - Accra - Gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminium, manganese ore, diamonds - Christianity, indigenous beliefs, Islam - English colony

The Republic of Ivory Coast (Cote Ivoire) - 19.3 million - Yamoussoukro - Islam, Christianity, indigenous beliefs - tropical wood, cocoa, coffee, petrol, cotton, palm oil, fish - French colony

Republic of Liberia - 3.8 million - Monrovia -Christianity, Islam, indigenous beliefs - Diamonds, iron ore, rubber, timber, coffee, cocoa

The Republic of Angola - 17 million - Luanda - Christianity - Oil, diamonds, minerals, coffee, fish, timber

Democratic Republic of Congo

Republic of the Congo - 3.8 million , 2007)
Capital: Brazzaville
Area: 342,000 sq km (132,047 sq miles)
Major languages: French, indigenous African languages
Major religions: Christianity, indigenous African beliefs
Life expectancy: 54 years (men), 57 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc = 100 centimes
Main exports: Oil, timber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds

Cameroon

Nigeria

Tunisia

Libya

Republic of The Gambia - 1.7 million - Banjul - Islam, Christianity - peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels - English colony

Burkina Faso - 14.8 million - Ouagadougou - Indigenous beliefs, Islam, Christianity -Cotton, animal products, gold - French colony

How Turtle Came to Live in the Sea

Read the story by Sam Mbure from Kenya. The story's ending is not included. Write an ending to the story. What does the court decide should be the punishment for turtle. Include at least three argumentative statements from animals. What does Tortoise have to say for himself? Use an animal character to argue your point of view. Your ending should be at least 250 words. The style of the language should be consistent with the first part of the story.

We will read these in class on Monday, January 14.

Bring a Notebook

We will be writing in class every day. Bring a notebook to write in.

Reports on Countries: Minimum Requirements

When you report on a country, it should contain the following information:

1) Name
2) Population
3) Location: Longitude and Latitude as well as relative location
4) Capital City/Major Cities
5) Languages
6) Religions
7) Economy
8) Landforms
9) Climate
10) History
11) A Current Event


Good Web Sources for information:
WorldAtlas.com
BBC News

Countries in East Africa

The following countries will be reported on by the named class member:

Democratic Republic of Congo - Julian
Republic of Congo - Rocio
Central African Republic - Rocio
Rwanda - Iza
Burundi - Sierra
Kenya - Sierra
Tanzania - Trey
Uganda - Trey
Djibouti - Julian
Somalia/Somaliland - Iza

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Welcome Back!

HOMEWORK FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2008

Write a paragraph (minimum of 5 sentences) on recent events in Nairobi, Kenya. What is Nairobi known for?