1. Starter #1 Aug. 4th Respond to this quotation and validate your answer. “Any man that cannot draw on 2000 years of human history is living from hand to mouth.” Explain your answer. Use the STEM “In my own opinion I believe the quotation is stating…

2. Closer #1 Aug. 4th Which of the 21 st Century Skills that you will train is the most important to you? Explain your answer. Use the STEM “In my own opinion, ________ is the most Important skill because…..

3. Starter #2 August 5 Respond to this statement: “Man is an animal that makes his world in his image.” STEM: I believe that the statement is trying to convey that…

4. Closer #2 August 5 Man has been compared to a disease, pest, and curse on this planet. Using what you already know of human history discuss this in a short paragraph.

5. Starter #3 Aug. 11 What has been man’s greatest achievement? Defend your answer with details about why you believe that is man’s greatest achievement. STEM: “Although man has achieved many things,_________ is the greatest achievement because…”

6. Closer #3 Aug. 11 Describe an EPIC event in your life.

7. Starter #4 Aug. 12 Through genetic modification more and more parents are having the ability to alter their children’s genetic code to be rid of certain genetic predispositions like disease and deformities. Discuss whether this is similar to the Greek practice of infanticide or different and why? STEM: “The relationship between _____ and _____ is … and I conclude that…”

8. Closer #4 Aug.12 Describe your idea of “the good life”. What does each look like to have the good life? Material possessions Love and relationships Occupation Recreation

9. Starter # 5 Aug. 13th How do you know what you know is really what you know? Explain.

10. Closer #5 Aug. 14th Explain how you have seen someone in your life get power and lose control over it. NO NAMES!!!!! USE A FAKE NAME

11. Starter # 6 Aug. 19 th Copy the timeline from the board

12. Closer #6 Aug. 20th Is a person a product of their environment (meaning: their country, state, race, family, etc…) or is there some general overall script of what a person is? Are you a representative of your family or your race?

13. Starter # 7 Aug. 21st Explain why some people rise to greatness and others do not. What’s the magical formula???

14. Closer #7 Aug. 25th When does the past cease to be the past and the present becomes the future and the future becomes the present?

15. Starter #8 Sept. 3 Describe a theme that you have noticed throughout history. Use your timeline from starter #7 STEM: “After reviewing evidence, I may conclude that…”

16. Closer # 8 Genocide was a common practice in the Ancient World. Please explain why the idea of genocide today is so abhorrent to people.

17. Starter # 8 Sept 9 Are some people worth more than others? When answering this question take into account: What would religion say? Why go to school? Does it matter what country you live in?

18. Closer # 8 Sept. 9 Using 3 examples of successful people you know of….explain why it is important for our society to educate our youth.

19. Starter #9 Sept. 18 Explain the necessity of equality under the law. Why are people so concerned about fairness? STEM: “The following three facts support the conclusion that equality under the law is a necessity.”

20. Closer # 9 9/21 What has been your most influential moment in education thus far? Explain.

21. Starter/Closer # 10 ½ page Why do we educate everyone? Some people do not want education and don’t need it but we educate everyone. Why do you think we do this?

22. Starter # 11 Can the dumb learn or is it just a waste of time and money? Should we even try to teach the dumb?

23. Closer #11 Explain in your own words the reasoning behind the Enlightenment thinkers desire to provide education to the masses.

24. Starter # 12 Sept. 24 John Locke stated that “All men are created equal and entitled to Life, Liberty, and Property.” Thomas Jefferson restated in the Declaration of Independence, “property” as “the pursuit of happiness”. Is property the pursuit of happiness? Are people entitled to happiness?

25. Closer # 12 Sept. 24 What is “retirement”? Do your parents have a plan for retirement? If “yes” what is it? If “no” then what do you plan to do to help your parents when they can no longer work?

26. Starter # 13 Oct. 7 Tell of a time that you were really, really, ANGRY!!! Expand on why people act so irrationally when under the influence of anger.

27. Closer # 13 Oct. 7 Tell of a time that “the group” influenced you to do something.

28. Starter # 14 Why do you think it’s fun for people (not you of course) to disobey?

29. Closer 14 “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Respond to this quotation.

30. Starter # 15 Are you a follower or a leader? Explain

31. Closer # 15 Knowing what you know of Napoleon and how he eventually took power, invent a scenario in which the government might have to take over power and suspend democracy (for a short time ;-).

32. Starter # 16 Copy timeline from the board.

33. Closer # 16 Give a brief synopsis of how the production of Thneeds eventually destroyed the natural environment. Write a comparison between the story of The Lorax and a present day example of natural environment destruction to produce a product.

34. Starter # 17 Our society is much different from what it was for many years prior. Describe some of the problems that we face as an industrial society.

35. Closer # 17 The most important thing about global warming is this. Whether humans are responsible for the bulk of climate change is going to be left to the scientists, but it's all of our responsibility to leave this planet in better shape for the future generations than we found it. Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary Gen. Respond to this quotation. What does he mean by “our responsibility?”

36. Starter # 18 Why is it that small children are so curious and the older people get,…the less curious they become? Explain…

37. Closer # 18 When we “industrialize” we have to pay a price. What price have we paid in order to have a fast paced, mass produced, sped up society?

38. Starter # 19 How does the suffering environment affect the way people live around the world?

39. Closer # 19 How is the dying environment linked to your life?

40. Starter/Closer # 10 (1 page) Using what you now know of Global Climate Change,…Address the following: Thesis statement (1 paragraph) Write this after you write the body paragraphs. SAY WHAT YOURE GOING TO SAY When and why did the natural environment start to get bad? (1 paragraph) SAY IT What is the most pressing problem facing the human race thus far? (1 paragraph) Why? SAY IT Why has this problem been allowed to go on so long with limited response? (1 paragraph) SAY IT Conclusion (1 paragraph) Restate the thesis SAY THAT YOU SAID IT

41. Thesis Restate the questions: In this essay I will address when and why the natural environment started to get bad, the most pressing problem facing the human race, and why this problem has been allowed to go on so long.

42. Body # 1 The natural environment started to go bad when… …because…

43. Body 2 The most pressing problem facing the human race is… Because…

44. Body 3 The problem of climate change has been allowed to go on for so long because…

45. Conclusion In this essay I have addressed when and why the natural environment started to get bad, the most pressing problem facing the human race, and the reason why this problem has been allowed to go on so long.

46. Starter # 10 Nov. 21 “White makes right. We have the right to the land because we are going to ‘improve’ upon it.” -pioneer in the 1800’s Respond to this quotation. Do you agree? Disagree? Why?