Questions for Thinking and Writing:

Your task is to incorporate what you learned about 2004 with your current thoughts and opinions on the world by writing two short, 200-word responses to two of the following topics.  Be clear and interesting in your writing, and include a creative title.  (Please write the topic for each of your responses)

• What events/ideas/people will be the history of the future?  What will have lasting effects?  Explain why this is true.

• How are the times changing even in your lifetime?  Is it a positive or negative change?  Why?

• 2004: Is it a monumental year or an insignificant one?

• Explain this quotation in light of your study of the year: “Our life is but a vapor then it is gone.”

• Why does this (and by this, I mean anything studied here) matter?

• What seems important but won’t last?  What seems important and will last?  How do you know the difference?  Why do you believe that this is so?

• What do we see here that is cyclical, meaning that we have seen it before and we will probably see it again?

• What aspects of American culture is highlighted this year?  Why/how is this so?

Personal Reflections

Here’s where you get to write more about you.  Write two more responses (200 words each) to both of these topics.

• Write an editorial on a major event (Reagan’s death, political campaigns, tsunamis, Fahrenheit 9/11, etc.).  Personally respond to something.  What is your opinion of it?  Try to give a fresh, interesting perspective.  This is your chance to be heard on any issue you feel like discussing.

• Your best/worst/most significant part of 2004. (Pick one of these three so that it can be focused)

Turn in all four responses typed.  We will share them in class, and post some on the bulletin board.