Quiz Amnesty: One Time Opportunity To Earn A Better Grade

You have a one-time opportunity to make up online quizzes . . . if you did not complete one or more of the quizzes posted online, you may do so no later than noon Saturday 28 May.

Here are the requirements:

1. Follow the directions posted online for any quiz (or quizzes) that you want to make up. 
2. All entries must be emailed and arrive no later than noon Kuwait time on 28 May. 
3. Email format must be exact as explained in the posting. 
4. Word documents only will be accepted and graded.
5. Spelling, grammar and punctuation all count as part of the grade.
6. Because you did not do the work when it was originally due, your grade will be reduced by one full letter, i.e. if the quiz would have scored an A had it been delivered on time, you will receive a B, etc. 

The EEK Quiz does not count as part of the final grade so there's no need to complete it.

I Like These Quotes

I'm passing along some of my favorite quotes . . . each gives you something to think about!

“Show me a store cleark with a goal and I’ll show you a man who will change the world. Show me a man with no goal and I will show you a store clerk.”

     * James Cash Penney, founder, J.C. Penney Department Stores

Visitor: “You and God have a beautiful garden.”

Church Pastor: “Thank you. You should have seen it four months ago when God had it all to himself!”

      

“If you have integrity nothing else matters. If you have no integrity, nothing else matters.”

     * Alan K. Simpson, U.S. Senator, Wyoming

“The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.”

     * Football Coach Vince Lombardi

“The brain is a wonderful organ. It begins working the moment you wake up and stops when you arrive at the office.”

     * Robert Frost

Project: Due Noon Saturday 28 May 2011 (At The Latest)

Projects account for 15% of your grade. This is the final project of the semester. It's due no later than Saturday 28 May 2011. You may not collaborate with (work with) another student to complete this project. You may not copy another student's work. If I suspect your assignment was copied, or if it includes the same information submitted by one or more other students, all students involved will earn a zero for the assignment. Do your own work, and work alone.

• Write an essay of at least 250 words and no more than 500 words. 
• Title the essay: The 10 Most Important Things I Learned About Media
• List the 10 most important points/lessons you learned about media this semester
• Tell me why each point is "most important"
• Tell me why you will or will not pursue a career in media
• Tell me how you will use any form of media to improve your qualifications
• Check your Basic English . . . the Grading Rubric is in full force!

Meet the deadline
Submit your Word file to me (use only this address) via email. The deadline is 12 noon Saturday 28 May 2011. Name your Word file in this format only: PROJ_(YourFirstName)_(Your4DigitGUST-ID).doc.

Trying Is Overrated: Doing Is All That Matters!

Bazaar magazine published my article about "trying". It was inspired by GUST students my first semester at the university. You can read the article at Bazaar online. 

Online Assignment: Due By Noon 21 May

Each student is required to participate in this online assignment. The assignment is part of your Participation grade. Each student is required to do the following:

1.  Read each of the three articles from the International Herald Tribune:

Neo-Nazi

Congo Rapes

Christian Woes

Each article discusses societal issues in other countries . . . and all three have one unfortunate element in common: violence. 

I selected these articles because they present opportunities for you to come to conclusions about violence in society. Some people have said that Americans are violent people, as depicted by movies and television . . . but these articles demonstrate that violence isn't only an issue in America. 

2.  In the Comments section below this blog post, you can post your own Comments about at least one of the above articles. Answer one of the following questions and type your comments in the Comment section. 

• Within a society there are schisms (divisions) of people who are violent . . . thus the article about Neo-Nazis. Could Neo-Nazis, or a similar "hate" group, exist in Kuwait?
• Media have recently included many stories about the persecution of Christians in the Muslim world. What's up with that? Should Christians be on guard? What's the source of this violence?
• What should be done in the Congo to protect women from rape? Are you alarmed by the statistics? What does this tell you about the Congo?  

3.  Finally, post Comments about at least two of the Comments posted by your colleagues. In other words, read the Comments posted by other students and then respond to at least two of their Comments, offering your opinion about what they said. 

Of course, spelling, grammar, and basic English count!

You have until Saturday noon, 21 May, to complete this assignment. 

International Press Freedom: Due Saturday 14 May By Noon!

Read Social Issues: International Press Freedom on page 439 of your textbook.

After you've finished reading and reflecting on the information, do an online search to learn more about the topic. Find the Freedom House report.

Then answer these questions:

1. How does Kuwait rank in the 2009 Freedom House report?
2. Based on what you know, or think you know, explain why Kuwait deserves or doesn't deserve its rating.
3. What are 3 advantages of press freedom?
4. What are 3 disadvantages of press freedom?

Answer in complete thoughts. Avoid one word answers, or (bullet) itemized answers that do not provide complete thoughts. Check (and double check) your use of English.

Open a Word document and save it in this format: FreeP_YourFirstName_YourGUST4DigitID.doc. Send the document to me before the deadline using only this email address. Do your own work!

DEADLINE
By noon Saturday 14 May. Not one second later.

What Do You Think About Americans? Due At 5 PM 11 May

Read Social Issues on page 424 of your textbook.

After you're finished reading and understanding the information, answer these questions:

1. How much American media do you consume? (In other words, how much American TV do you watch, and how many American publications do you read, etc.?)
2. How, if at all, have your opinions about Americans been formed by the American media you consume? (If you don't consume American media, then which media, if any, have helped form your opinions about Americans?).
3. What are your opinions about Americans? I am looking for complete answers and not one word answers, i.e. "Nice."
4. Why have you arrived at these opinions? 

Write in complete thoughts. It's okay to include bullet points. Do your own work! Check your English usage.

Open a Word file. Save it in this format: Am_YourFirstName_Your4DigitGUST_ID.doc. Email the document to me before the deadline.

DEADLINE
This assignment must be emailed to this address no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday 11 May. Note: I will not accept the assignment after 5 p.m. (doesn't matter what your reason is) and I will not grade an assignment that isn't in a Word document and saved in the format that I require above.