Transcendentalist Book Clubs, Day #2: December 5, 2017

Focus: What role does nature play in what you're reading and what you're doing?

1. Warming up with Grammar You Must Know, Lesson #3: Run-ons

2. Highlighting a book club success from last Thursday; having a look at the feedback I left you on your syllabi

3. Enjoying your second book club discussion!

4. Completing an exit ticket

5. Browsing each other's "Nature" blogs and leaving comments:

• At least one, deep, philosophical question inspired by the blog/"Nature"
• Ex: Why do the blue skies of winter make us feel distant from nature, while the blue skies of summer make us feel wrapped up in nature?
• At least one intellectual reaction and/or emotional reaction
• Ex: I think people connect most to the human-like aspects of nature, such as the arm-like branches of trees, or the toughness of a single, tiny ladybug.
• Ex: I loved this line from Emerson's "Nature," too. I definitely felt more connected to nature as a child.
• At least one comment on transcendentalism: To transcend is to rise above and beyond, to exceed limitations. What is being transcended here?
• Ex: Your photo and the Emerson line you chose remind me of the importance of looking up, both literally and metaphorically. In the daily grind, it's easy to forget how vast the Colorado winter sky is. For some reason, it makes me think about tomorrow instead of today. It makes me think about possibility instead of reality.

• Bonus: Make one connection between the blog and what you're reading for your book club.

HW:
1. Assigned book club reading and syllabus-creating for Thursday. Keep in mind the feedback you received on your first and second syllabi.

2. Work on your final speech by gathering evidence (personal stories, others' stories, historical events, parts of literature that we've read, interviews, images). Bring all collected evidence to class this Friday for your last in-class day of speech preparation.