Blog #6 - "The Politics of Fear"

“The Politics of Fear” Reading Questions – Due Thursday 9/20 – Eta and Theta Blocks Due Friday 9/21 – Zeta and Epsilon Blocks

Please answer each of the following questions in 5-7 thoughtful sentences.

1. When reading Hobbes and Machiavelli, we discussed as a class how the following strategies helped in getting through Hobbes. While you read, “The Politics of Fear” by Al Gore, choose 1-2 strategies you will use to get through his reading. Explain in 3-5 sentences how you think the strategies will help you get through the reading.


•look up definitions of words
•make a personal connection
•take up to a 5 minute break from the text
•highlight places to focus
•talking to the text to process the main points in your mind
•re-read out loud because some of us remember better reading out loud
•read it slow: take your time, be patient
•skip over adjectives and adverbs, and focus on nouns and verbs - decode the sentence
•don't over-analyze each word, look at the sentence as a whole
•recap in your head what was read or what's happening
•ask another person to read it to you


2. Why does Al Gore say that “[f]ear is the most powerful enemy of reason?

3. According to this chapter, what was supposed to be the function of the press? How is working now according to Al Gore?

4. Al Gore mentions the use of a new technology FMRI, according to his writings, what are the implications for democracy?

5. What mental structures do we have as human beings which dominate our decision making according to new research?

6. Describe the process of how fear operates in our brain. What is the significance of the amygdala?

7. What is vicarious traumatization?

8. According to Al Gore, how is television a vital link in creating fear in our culture?

9. What is probability neglect?

10. According to Al Gore, how has the current Bush administration used fear for their own ends?

Blog #5 - "The Origin of Life and Fire"

“The Origin of Life and Fire” Reading Questions
Due Wednesday 9/12/07 All Blocks!

After reading the myth “The Origin of Life and Fire”, please answer the following questions in 5-7 awesomely crafted, carefully thought out sentences:
1.How does this creation myth reflect the people to whom in belongs?

2.What is the nature of Bumba and the universe he creates?

3.How does this myth view human beings and their purpose?

4.When Bumba visits each village and speaks of the wonders that he has created, what does this reveal?

Blog #4 - Machiavelli Reading

Machiavelli Reading
Eta and Theta – Due Monday 9/11/07
Zeta and Epsilon – Due Tuesday 9/12/07

1) Make a list of vocabulary words you did not know from this reading. Write the definitions in your own words, and make a sentence of those words showing you understand the meaning.

2)Summarize the reading in no less than 250 words (about a page hand-written). Highlight what you think are the main points. Make an attempt to define the purpose of Machiavelli’s writing.

3)In 5-7 sentences, describe the difficulties you had with this reading.