Aug. 27 Update

In class we have been discussing the following:

1) Why did God give writing to man? Although we reasoned many answers to this question, a few of our insights are the following:
Writing can help us to create and strengthen relationships.
Writing can be a means of receiving and passing along love.
Writing can be an act of at-one-ment, uniting people with one another and with God, spanning even time and space.

2) The Parable of the Sower (found in Matthew 13)--How do the four types of soil represent different responses to opportunities to learn? What can we do when we find we have become rocky or weedy soil or when we find the seeds have fallen by the wayside?

3) Primary values are things we value in and of themselves. Secondary values are things we value because we believe they will help us obtain our primary values. Sometimes, often in school, we accidentally pursue secondary values as if they were primary--for example, pursuing grades as if they were the purpose of education, or pursuing a love of learning instead of pursuing learning in order to be able to love.

Homework:
1. Write two emails which make requests from different readers. One email should be written to someone with whom you have a formal relationship (e.g., a teacher, a school administrator, a potential employer, a college admissions office, an eagle scout project coordinator, etc.). The other email should be written to someone with whom you have an informal, personal relationship (e.g., a parent, a sibling, a friend, someone your age from church or school, a neighbor, etc.). Type both emails, but don’t send them yet. Print a copy and bring it to class with you on Thursday morning (Aug. 29).

2. Complete the “Student Information” section of the syllabus. Due Wednesday, Aug. 28.

3. Acquire two notebooks by Friday, Aug. 30—one should be a composition notebook for daily bellwrites. The other should be a journal that will be your permanent record of learning called a “Commonplace Book.”

4. Work on memorizing our anchor scripture for Writing Portfolio: John 8:31-34. This will be due next Thursday.

5. If you haven't yet turned in your signed Honor Code statement, you need to do so by Wednesday, Aug. 28.