Transcendentalist Book Clubs, Day #4: December 12, 2017

Focus: What larger patterns and themes are emerging in our transcendentalist texts?

1. Warming up with a few thoughts on yesterday's discussion

• A Rogerian Argument
• Martin Luther King, Jr and Civil Disobedience
• Final thoughts on your blog: 
• How was Martin Luther King, Jr. seeking common ground?
• What should you do when your belief system collides with someone else's belief system or with your society's belief system?

2. Enjoying the penultimate day of our transcendentalist book clubs

Challenge 1: Putting the puzzle pieces together

• What patterns (motifs) have emerged at this point?
• What are some of the prominent symbols, and are their meanings shifting?
• What larger themes are starting to take form?

Challenge 2: Making the transcendentalist connection

We've dabbled in the following transcendentalist concepts:

• Self-reliance
• Nature (and its connection to human nature)
• Living deliberately and redefining "essential"
• Civil disobedience

Which ones are surfacing in your books? How so?

3. Wrapping up with an informal exit (no clicking necessary--simply discuss with your groups): What do you hope to accomplish in your final book club meeting on Thursday? What questions need to get answered? What topics need to be discussed?

HW:
1. Assigned book club reading and syllabus-creating for Thursday. This will be your final book club discussion.

2. Work on your final speech by writing/outlining, preparing your media, and practicing every night. Be ready to deliver it on the day you signed up; THERE IS A 50% DEDUCTION IN YOUR GRADE FOR NOT GOING ON THE DAY YOU SIGNED UP FOR.

3. Click HERE if you'd like to preview the rubric for your transcendentalist blog posts. Your blog, as well ALL MAKE-UP WORK / REVISIONS FROM THE LAST 6 WEEKS must be completed by 3:00 pm on Thursday, December 14. Please note: This will be one of the few assignments that you will not be able to revise or take extra time on because we are at the end of the semester.