Junior Theme....

Going over my peer edits, I've learned that I'm having a hard time providing quotes and analyzing them. It's really easy to just pop a quote in and be done with it...but it's the explaining that's the hard part. And then you have to throw in empathy for the reader which makes it even harder! Thank goodness it's due Monday.
But as hard as empathy for the reader is, it is so beneficial to a paper. Everyone is writing about such interesting topics, but it's important to keep in mind that they are topics no one else really knows about or understands. And you are the one that has to teach them. I've tried to keep this in mind as I've been writing, but it's easier said than done. Between providing empathy for the reader, and keeping my paper between the page limit, it's been a struggle. Hopefully with a little more work though, I will be able to finish it!

P.S. Happy Easter!

Junior Theme Post #...?

With just a few days left to go with Junior Theme, the writing process has gotten more intense, but I am actually somewhat enjoying it. I think it is important when writing a paper like this, that you focus on something you care about, rather than just something you think will be a good paper topic. I know for me, it made my paper a lot more fun and interesting to research, and spend so much time focusing on.
I know I've mentioned this before, but it's still been a challenge shortening my paper to the allowed space...5-7 pages. After weeks of researching, there is so much that I want to include, but I have to cut back on. While it's difficult, I understand that it's really for empathy for the reader, and by shortening my paper, I am making it easier to read and understand. While I may have a lot of knowledge on my topic, it's important to understand that the reader may not, and I have to make my paper as clear as possible.
But it's exciting to know that in a week or so I will be completely finished!

Jelly Bean That Looks Like Kate Middleton

During another one of my quick junior theme breaks, I came across this article about a jelly bean that looks like Kate Middleton, its pretty cool. Check it out!!!

Click here to read the article!

THE WORLD'S HOTTEST PEPPER

With everyone writing their junior themes on hot topics in America, I figured I would blog about one hot topic as well. I just found out that a new pepper has been crowned as the world's hottest pepper! WOW!!! The Naga Viper had previously held the crown for the pepper with the most heat, but this is no longer the case. The Trinidad Scorpion Butch T. is now the world's hottest pepper.
Some people may wonder, isn't taste subjective? Won't everyone have a different opinion about whether or not a pepper is the hottest? I know I thought this, but there is actually a scale to measure the heat of peppers! It's called the Scoville Scale, and it measures peppers "by tracking the presence of a chemical compound in chilis" Who knew??
The Trinidad Scorpion Butch T. measure at 1.46 million heat units on the scale, which is one spicy pepper! In case you're wondering, the average Jalapeno falls at around 5,000 heat units.  Many of you may be laughing, but I am serious, this pepper is hot. When making salsa used with the pepper, they have to wear body suits and chemical masks to protect themselves from the dangerous fumes.
I think it's important that everyone takes a break and has time to relax when writing their junior theme. Today, my break was reading about the new Trinidad Scorpion Butch T. pepper, and it was wonderful. So if you ever find yourself stressed, and in need of something to do, don't be afraid to just look around on the internet. You may find something really interesting!
You can read the full article here.

High Five/Junior Theme Post #2

Over spring break I've been trying to make a dent in some of the books and articles I plan to read for my junior theme. I've read about a book and a half so far, and numerous articles, and I've found myself bombarded with loads of information that I don't know what to do with. I'm sure others have come across this problem as well. I know what I want my paper to be about, and I want to include almost everything I've learned, but it is so hard to narrow all the information down and squeeze it into 5-7 pages...double spaced. It's not that I have started to write my paper, not even close, but even this early on in the process I'm worried about how I am going to organize everything, which information I am going to include, and which information I am going to leave out. I believe that this is the hardest part about writing any kind of paper. It's easy to just write down everything you know about the topic, but narrowing it down is the hard part.
As we have consistently stated in class, it is so important to have empathy for the reader, and if someone provides too many facts, quotes, figures etc. in their paper, it becomes overwhelming. This is what is so challenging for me. My topic is so broad, and can be looked upon in so many different ways that I don't know how I am going to decide what information I want to add, and how I want to organize it. I'm sure many people are going through the same problem, but it's definitely going to be a struggle.

On a lighter note, the High Five Choir was featured on NBC Nightly News tonight with Brian Williams! It was broadcast at five-thirty, but the video is online, and you can watch it here. Just click on the Making a Difference tab!

High Five on Channel Five!!

Hey everyone! Tune in to channel five today, during Brian William's Nightly News at 5:30 to see New Trier's High Five Choir! We will be featured on the Make a Difference segment during the last five minutes. DVR IT!!

Meta Blog Post

Please look at "Slavery Film Controversy in Winnetka"