Discussion n. 3: "Credibility"

Click this link and open the document.

As you read these messages think about them in terms of "credibility."

Then, write your comments about what you learned.


GUIDELINES FOR ALL BLOG COMMENTS:

• Full, complete sentences. You are not sending a text or chatting on FB.
• Accuracy in spelling, grammar, syntax, punctuation.
• Civility.
• Comments are conversations with your classmates. Make sure THEY understand what you are trying to say.
• Do not address your comments to me. You are communicating with the rest of the class.

Discussion n. 2: "How dare you?"

Click this LINK and read the document.

1) Analyze your first, immediate reaction.

2) Then, as a separate process, ask yourself the reason for this requirement.

3) Write your comment. You can skip n. 1 if you are not comfortable disclosing your first reaction. If you are, go ahead and answer.  Everybody must address n. 2.


GUIDELINES FOR ALL BLOG COMMENTS:

• Full, complete sentences. You are not sending a text or chatting on FB.
• Accuracy in spelling, grammar, syntax, punctuation.
• Civility.
• Comments are conversations with your classmates. Make sure THEY understand what you are trying to say.
• Do not address your comments to me. You are communicating with the rest of the class.

Discussion 1: Self introduction

INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO YOUR CLASSMATES

Write your mini autobiography introducing yourself to your classmates.

Skip the details about your school and college career (courses, major, employment goals.)

Focus rather on your "intellectual" history: the books, films, hobbies and creative activities that helped you grow.

Avoid mentioning the "most important people" in your life. Keep the focus on yourself and your personal, individual, unique path, the choices you made that took you where you are.

(This may take more than the traditional 3 minutes of standard platitudes and laundry list of achievements. Actually, failures or dead-ends are more interesting than success stories.)

Feel free to reply to your classmates' comments.

===

Here is a powerful example. This was the very first comment posted by a student in a previous semester: it set the tone for the entire class.

"Hello, my name is ________________. Most of my life has revolved around cancer. Although I am not a cancer “survivor” I have survived cancer. A couple of days after my sixth birthday my younger brother was diagnosed with leukemia. My life changed. At a very young age I had to learn to take care of myself. To escape the lonely feelings I started writing in a journal. Writing made me feel at peace. Music and dancing also lifted me. Performing during my recitals, parades and charity events was thrilling and liberating. As I was starting to feel in control of my life, here comes cancer again. This time attacking my mother and my aunt, which were diagnosed with breast cancer. Immediately, I had to learn how to manage my feelings of anger. As a freshman in high school, I decided to join the cheer team. Performing to express my anger worked. I moved up fast and became varsity captain. As Captain of the cheerleading team I was accountable not only for myself but also for my teammates. I improved my skills on how to be a leader, and take responsibility for my actions and words. Throughout my stages of development, I was unconsciously characterizing and identifying myself. In Piaget’s stages of cognitive development theory, children experience sensorimotor. That is when they are experiencing the world through senses and actions. That is who I was; I first observed and then determined to face my fears. I never said, “I can not do it,” I just did it even if it was a challenge I did not stop until I succeeded. Cancer was one of the many situations that helped me grow into the person I am today. Ironically someone approached me at my job a few days ago, and said “ I see the care you have for people in your eyes, not many have that.”