A Letter to Garcia

Today in class, I ranted.  I ranted on behalf of Elbert Hubbard, who wrote A Message to Garcia over 100 years ago.  (This essay is linked under Links That Don't Stink.)  I ranted about people who don't work hard, and I raved about people who do.  In short, I ranted about excellence.

Your follow up assignments are as follows:  

• Construct a five point action plan, describing five specific ways that you will ensure that you have a successful freshman year at John Carroll.

We will discuss the concept of excellence as defined by the ancient Greeks.  Therefore, you will define the following terms and concepts:

• agora
• arete
• polis
• the year 508 BC
• Socrates
• the death of Socrates
• the Socratic method
• what the ancient Greeks meant if they called you an idiot

Post all this to your blog.  The action plan is due before midnight Saturday night; the definitions are to be posted before the next class.

getting your blogs up and running

Take a look at the lists to the right.  If you see your name listed in your section, you have successfully set up your blog and sent the URL to me.  Congratulations!

If you don't see your name listed, you still have work to do.

Also, once you see your name listed, you do not need to email me every time you put up a new posting.  I will see them all when I grade the blogs on Sunday.

Tomorrow, we begin class in earnest.  Don't forget your Compostions book!

Day One (for me)

Thanks for your patience while I was away.  It was good to meet all of you today - nice to be back in the saddle.

More and more of you are getting your blogs up and running, and emailing me the URL.  Keep up the good work, and let's see which section reaches 100% first!

Reminder:  every day the class meets, you post to your blog.  Of course, that includes today.

It would also be a good idea to review the syllabus.  Let me know if you have any question.

Don't forget to pick up your Compositions notebook - it's required!

Day One of Human Geography

Welcome to Human Geo!  Here are some details about your very first homework assignment, due at the beginning of class this Wednesday.

• Add this blog to your Favorites.
• Create a Gmail account, and use it to set up your class blog through blogger.com .
• After you have created your blog, send the URL to rschick@johncarroll.org .
• Write your first blog post.  In at least 150-200 words, describe the experience of your first day at John Carroll.   Take your time; write well; proofread; rewrite as necessary.  Impress me with this first (graded) example of your writing talent.
• Buy a Compostion book for notetaking.  They are available at Target for around 50 cents; also sold in the JC Store.  
• Carefully read the class syllabus, which can be found under "Links that don't stink" just to the right of this post.

I'll see you on Wednesday to check your HW, to make sure you have your Composition book, to answer any questions, and to get this class underway!