Word Of the Day: 5th 6 Weeks

Serendipity –n 1. an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident. 2. good fortune; luck

Languish -verb to be or become feeble, weak, or enervated, to be or live in a state of depression or decreasing vitality

Culpable -adj: deserving blame or censure; blameworthy.

Aberration –n 1.the act of departing from the right, normal, or usual course. 2.the act of deviating from the ordinary or normal type.

Microcosm -n.1.a little world; a world in miniature 2.anything that is regarded as a world in miniature.

Xenophobia -n. an unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange.

Masticate -v 1.To grind with or as if with the teeth in preparation for swallowing and digestion; to chew; 2.To crush into a pulp.

Enigma -n 1.a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation .2.a person of puzzling or contradictory character. 3.a riddle.

Precarious adj. 1.Dangerously lacking in security or stability. 2.Subject to chance 3.Based on uncertain or unproved premises.

Auspicious -adj 1: promising success, favorable 2: fortunate, prosperous

Contemp Issues: Frontline Assignment

As you know this week we are knee deep in high stakes SBA testing and on Wed and Thurs we have a slightly different school schedule because of the testing. Due to this alternate schedule, we will be working on some side assignments in class that can easily be made up by the juniors who are currently testing.

Frontline: Growing up Online

The video is 55 minutes long, to watch the whole episode, click the link BELOW the embedded video.

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

Watch the video above and write a one page compare/contrast paper:

The Internet is sometimes labeled the new "Wild West." Is this true? Do a Web search to learn about what life was like in what is characterized as the Wild West. Come up with a list of five themes that represent the Wild West and compare them to what the Internet is like. Is this an good representation of online life?

Continue your writing for another one page reflection paper where you reflect on the following questions:

How would you characterize your experiences online? Think about the benefits and the dangers of the internet, does the good outweigh the bad? Or does the dangers of the internet make more trouble than it’s worth?

Is the internet something we need to protect young people from? If so, how? Is the even something we should be worrying about?

Both of these papers are due next week on April 11 & 12.