Sociology:
Students will be able to:
~identify how roles change as circumstances change
~explain the evolving role of leadership necessary in any group
~explain what subgroups are and how they evolve
~identify and explain the changing nature of groups as events impact those involved
~analyze the role that values play in the development of culture
~explain what a group’s given culture is built on and what factors alter it and why
Monday-Wednesday: Alive
Thursday: Essay Test
Friday: 25 years later documentary

Intro to Journalism
Students will be able to:
~explain the steps necessary to build a story from scratch
~identify the method of show don’t tell writing
~application of voice to writing and diction
~be able to explain and apply the rules of news-feature writing
Monday:
Powerpoint presentation and discussion on Building a Story
Tuesday:
Powerpoint presentation and discussion on description and diction
Wednesday:
Powerpoint Do the Write Thing discussion
Thursday:
Brainstorm Story ideas
Friday:
Create a list of questions that must be answered for story to be written

The week was full of creativity. The sociology students survived a shipwreck, created a survival plan that included shelter, food acquisition, and innovative ways of addressing problems posed by the scenario. After presenting and defending plans the class discussed how their culture and priorities would change under these circumstances. The activity is a precursor to viewing the film Alive next week.

J1 has been studying muscular writing and dipping into 1971 alum Bobby Hawthorne’s book The Radical Write.

Sociology:
Students will be able to:
~identify the contributions of C. Wright Mills to the discipline
~explain sociological imagination
~order chronologically the major developments in the history of sociology
~discuss & explain the underpinnings of the development of civilization and social structure
Monday:
Read Sec. 2 of chapter 1 & answer select questions
Tuesday:
Survivor game/discussion
Wednesday-Friday:
Film: Alive

Introduction to Journalism
Students will be able to:
~explain the elements of muscular writing
~write news & feature leads
~explain the elements of feature writing and apply them in production of self-generated stories
Monday:
Completion of Muscular Writing powerpoint
Read LNJ & discuss
Tuesday-Wednesday:
The Write Stuff handout: focus on feature writing
Thursday:
Brainstorm feature ideas
Friday:
begin work on feature stories

What an amazing week in the classroom. Senior sociology students discussed and debated the health of American families, education, the economy, political system and religion. The topics were examined in the applied light of sociological imagination. The classes proved to be intellectually stimulating to the teacher and hopefully for the students.

Intro to Journalism students have focused on the topic of Muscular Writing. In addition to learning the ins and outs of powerful writing, alum and poet Ben Adams spoke to the class and graciously read his work and answered the questions of the budding writers. The week ended with brainstorming ideas.

The yearbook staff is struggling to meet its first deadline while ensuring that the depth of content and quality is maintained. The Gauger staff is also working to put to bed a planned 16-page paper next week. The commitment of the staff has been key to both programs. Editors Elizabeth Horne and Chloe McMahon are doing a superior job managing and leading their staffs.

Sociology:
After reading, lecture and discussion, sociology students will be able to:
~define sociology
~describe multiple uses of the sociological perspective
~distinguish sociology from other social sciences
~outline the contributions of the major pioneers of the discipline
~summarize development of sociology in the U.S.
~identify the three major theoretical perspectives in sociology today
Tuesday:
Readings, lecture & discussion of what comprises the social studies, examination and discussion of timeline from Industrial Revolution to 1950.
Explanation and discussion of what the sociological imagination is and why it is important.
Discussion of job opportunities in sociology.
Wednesday:
Snapshot of America activity: Illiteracy Rates analysis.
Lecture, discussion & readings: European Origins of discipline and identification of impact of Auguste Comte, Harriet Martineau, Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx, Max Weber and Jane Addams.
Thursday & Friday:
Role of Theoretical Perspectives: Students will express validated opinions on the following.
~How does functionalism explain social change?
~How does functionalism view values?
~What is the role of conflict and constraint?
~How does the conflict perspective explain social change?
~Which perspective is better?
~What is symbolic interactionism?
Wat are the basic assumptions of symbolic interactionism?
Evaluation: Class discussion, notes assessment, open book test

Introduction to Journalism:
Students will be able to:
~discuss and debate events in the news.
~identify the elements of news.
~explain the importance of news judgement.
~Explain and demonstrate the difference between news and feature writing.
~demonstrate mastery of news and feature writing.
Tuesday:
~read LNJ & discuss
~powerpoint Muscular Writing
~read aloud from excellent writing
Wednesday-Friday
~daily reading of LNJ & discussion
~Radical Write handout lecture & discussion
~text background reading

Attending the Project Based Learning Workshop in Tyler for three days turned out to be exceptionally interesting, intellectually stimulating, and challenging. The workshop was led by a classroom teacher who has effectively integrated the learning system as a regular part of her classroom instruction. This was refreshing, as often workshop presenters have not been a classroom teacher for some time. The applications for the training are only limited by time for planning and implementation of the methodology.

Sociology:
Students will be able to:
~explain orally & in writing:
~what sociology is
~what culture and subcultures are
~what norms are
~cultural variance in norms
Monday-Wednesday:
Film: Tombstone
Thursday & Friday
Identify & discuss culture, subcultures & norms as portrayed in film
Turn in for test grades: 100 questions & Innovators & Optimizers paper

Introduction to Journalism:
Students will be able to identify elements of:
~character development
~dialogue construction
~storytelling values
Monday-Wednesday:
Film: His Girl Friday
Thursday & Friday:
Write film review (test grade)
Current events update & quiz