Monday, September 16, 2013

Unit 1:Chapters 1 and 3 - Blog It!

After reading Unit 1: Chapter 1 of Urban Reader for College Writers, answer the following question:

Do you support the call for more civics in the classroom? Why or why not?

Be as detailed and as opinionated as you like. You may speak about a personal experience, or just discuss the idea in general.

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 Last week you read Unit 1: Chapter 3 of Urban Reader for College Writers. Now, answer the following question:
Some people think that young kids should not have much homework or out-of-class projects, so that they have more time to act like kids while they still can, while others think these activities help the children immensely. Do you think elementary school students should take time to volunteer in schools or in their communities? Why or why not?


You must post a comment answering both of these questions by Friday, September 20th, and you must reply to at least one post by a classmate before class on Monday. You may feel free to post as many times and as much as you like beyond the minimum requirement. Remember, this counts as class participation and a homework grade. Have fun with it!

53 comments:

  1. Hi,this is Ling Yang.
    1.I definitely support the call for more civics in the classroom. Because civic education are very important for every people. Studies and reports showed people don't know the history of the United States,and they can't answer those basic questions about their country who born over there as a citizen.It will affect voting,too.If people is lack of civic knowledge in what the government and parties do,their vote can't count in the results.But there are many people do not know the things which they must need to know about their country.For those people,they even can't be a real citizen for the United States.A real citizen will care about his/her motherland.So inform and support more civic knowledge in the classroom become a significant thing in education.

    2.I think elementary school students should take time to volunteer in their communities.Because it can be an experience and memory for their future.They are children.They just need to know the knowledge that they have to learn as an elementary students.They can study more when they grow up because they have much time to study in the future.Volunteer in their communities can let some children find the potential and interest in which things or aspects that they have.So children can focus and strive in the side.It will good for their future.Volunteering also can increase their patience through different volunteer works.They will become more carefully.Those things are very important for every person's future.

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    1. i think you have the good pinot.

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    2. I think your point about voting is a very good one, Ling. It really worries me to think of all the uninformed Americans who decide the fate of our country by voting. I believe everyone should be able to vote, but also that voters should work hard to educate themselves. I believe our schools should take a big part in that.

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    3. Ling, I like your point about: lack of civics knowledge can affect our vote. This is a good one.

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    4. Both interesting answers and i like it , great work.

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    5. You got some important and interesting points.

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    6. I think you pull out the good points ..nice xD dot for that

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  2. T totally support the idea that elementary schools students should be part of volunteering in schools or communities service. That will help them to think and act positively and be more concern in what is happening in their country.
    In this chapter, the report shows an immense differences between students who participated in volunteer or community service and those who did not. An avarage 41% more likely to graduate from college than those that did not and more efficient in Reading, Science, Math and History.
    I believe, that this generation is the one who will be taking over in the next decade. Starting now, they must take part in volunteer or community service to be well prepared so they could be valuable citizens and serve their country as they should.

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    1. Very good points, Lissa, and I am glad to see you referring to the chapter. I agree that volunteering can really help children be better prepared to grow into productive members of society.

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    2. your answer is very connected to the article red(read)

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  3. 1.Yes,I support the call for more civics in the classroom. I think people should care more about civics when they're young.Citizen has responsibility to the government,like voting.If people have lack of civic knowledge,it may affect the decision of voting.It may not be evry knowledgeable,but at least take it seriously without personal emotion or .Knowing more about the historicl events and effects would help people feel more connection to the communities.Young people should take civic class to know more about what the government is going on!

    2.yes,I think elementary school student should volunteer in school or their communities.Children should have less homework so they have free time to do other things.They can learn more and get experience while they're volunteering.Also,it can help them have more connection to other people or communities and may learn to be independent.They can found out what they're interested in and have fun.It's a good way to learn and it's helpful for their future.I mean not force them to do,just have fun and learn by helping people.

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    1. i reply your question 2, i agree with you said all of advantages for students do volunteer. yes, volunteer means people who want to do and do it, no force them and not because less homework. maybe some students have no homework,but they go out to play,not go to do volunteer.

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    2. You have made some good points, Jianyi. While voting is a right in this country, the citizens here have a responsibility to their country to be educated about its civics before voting.

      I also agree that maybe less written homework and more active learning would benefit today's elementary school children.

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  4. Hi everybody!
    In Unit1 Chapter1 this is what I think: The call for more civics in the classroom is a positive and progressive way for young students to feel connected to their foundation and be part in it. And I certainly support it. In the future we will need more leaders than followers, who will keep our country moving in a right direction. And the future is the young people today. For that, they need to be prepare by having civics classes, so they could have the foundation they will need. They must know their rights, how to approach a political party, how to oppose, how to take charge and how to conduct themselves in the society. Everything is possible with more civics classes. As the central of the world, it would be critical and embarrassing for Americans if they don't know about their civics.

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    1. That is a good point, Lissa. How can young people grow up to run a country that they don't even understand?

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  5. 1)One can certainly agree the call for civics in the classroom.Youngsters will affect by the lack educations.Which may be good for short term, but bad for long term.The article states that only "one in four" American students got high scores.In other words, young people need education.
    2)I think the elementary school students should take time to volunteer in school.They are not strong enough to slove the difficulties by their own.So, they can ask for help easily.That's how I agree with it.

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    1. I'm not sure what you mean, Youda. How would volunteering equate to students asking for help?

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  6. 1. yes! i support call for more civics in the classroom. The reason are, it educate a young people to have knowledge in democracy in term voting system, current affair, and challenges facing a country or nation.it help them to make right decisions during the voting period. the sweet talk of representative candidates and lack of knowledge or experience of young people can leaded their hand in dirty work and affected their decision of voting for a right candidates. it is good to have civic back to our classroom. it carry more weight in our education sector.

    2. yes! i support elementary school students volunteer in their school or communities because it will improve their memory and knowledge. the little knowledge they have right from their learning stage will guide them in their future. it really help them to tackle a very big challenge in future.

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    1. Olajire, I agree with you that the knowledge children get from doing physical work will definitely compliment the knowledge they are gaining from books. Good point.

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  7. 1) yes,i absolutely agree with the call for more civics in the classroom. Because civic knowledge develop a democracy that involves participation in group decision making.For example,if we had more knowledge then will make a right voting for president.When we take the citizen test will have many questions about the history government.Also,We have to know more things happened in the past about the government and expand to the historical culture in the world.
    2)i think i am in both side of this question. first,elementary school students have time to do volunteer can gain more experience and communities.opposite,they will have excuse for don't finish homework.i think elemntary school students may doing good and pratice assignments at home is important to them. Some students have extra time to do volunteer and they can do it, not for the teacher give them less homework.

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    1. It's true that sometimes we can't really decide which point makes more sense, and you did a good job of explaining both sides, Jingyi. Volunteer work is good, but so is getting all your school work done and having time for yourself.

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  8. hi,this is feifei.
    I support the call for more civics in classroom. A good civic education leads the union to become a better and stronger country. People with good civic knowledge know how to get involved with the polity. The well civic education should start from the youth since young people have better a learning ability. But according to Andrea Batista Schlesinger’s article, “Remember civics? Here’s why we need it”, there are only a few high school students actually have the deep understanding in civics. Young people are the most important elements of our communities as they represent our futures.

    I think elementary school students should spend time on volunteering in their communities. Volunteer in community can help youth to learn some new skills and experiences for which they can never learn from in school. It can also help young people to expand their social networks and grow up with an atmosphere of unity and fraternity.

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    1. Good job referring to the article, Feifei. I also think it's a really good point that volunteer does more than just teach kids things, but also builds social networks. Great point!

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    2. I am also agree that they can get some work experience out of it!!

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    3. I am really cheerful that have a common in this question with someone.

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  9. Hi.this is Qin Lin.
    I support the call for more civics in classroom because civic obligation is important.People should take civic education when people young,then people can get more civic knowledge for them.It is better for people get vote for future.When people know the civic knowledge,they can not get individual emotions by their own.people can make correct methods.An best citizen will care and help their own country become more powerful.Citizens have responsibility take vote and something serious.


    I think elementary school students should take time on volunteer in school or their communities.Elementary school students have enough time to do homework.when they finished homework,they can play computer or go outside play with friends. They can spend surplus time to do some volunteer.When they do the volunteer in their school or communities,it can help them get experience and learn something from volunteering.Furthermore,when they doing the volunteering,it's best way to help them become sensible and conscientious.

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    1. I think you are absolutely right, Qin. The more knowledge a country's citizens have, the more power that country has.

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  10. HI,everyone i am jace . plase feel free to talk to me or e-mail me . those are my opinions below :
    This is a very interesting topic ,and my answer is yes and no . because more civics in the classroom is a way to making the united state a better country , and every vote is very effective way to making your community and your country better.therefor it is important that young people have the experience of getting their hands dirty , talking about current events as they unfold and learning how government works through firsthand experience . Not only helping the country but also helping you to be a better student in school .Nevertheless ,add or study about civics in the classroom is symptoms and not the cause, Thus i answer no because everyone in this great country should learn about its government as well as you always learn the way to home .

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    1. Do you think elementary school students should take time to volunteer in schools or in their communities?
      Firstly ,i think everyone is not disable should volunteer in school or in their communities at last once a year ,because volunteering is fun and helpful .Secondly you can learn some very valuable experiment from it which help the children become a better person .In the end , also more people will know you as a kindness and a person with great responsibility.

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    2. almost miss the second question :p

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    3. Very interesting points here, Jace. I too believe that volunteering can help children grow up to be better people.

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    4. Thank you , it is exciting that someone agree my opinions. Also i want to ask you a question professor Kelsey Fox , Dose ESL student become a better learner by communicate with others or study alone ?

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    5. Jace, I think that depends on the student. Studies show that using language (even if you might make mistakes sometimes) helps you learn it better than just studying it from a book, but some people like to supplement the former with the latter. I encourage to use English as much as possible in your everyday life. You will learn it much more quickly that way.

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  11. Question 2: I think elementary schools students should take time to volunteer in schools or in their communities. It is easier to motivate kids to volunteer than motivate young adults. It is better to teach them the importance of helping others at a shortage, so when they grow up have the habit of volunteering.

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    1. I agree with your point, they should be taught how to do things from outside the school, i also think they shouldnt give them too much, they need time to be kids.

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    2. I would like to hear a little more detail . :)

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    3. I also believe that volunteering as a child will make that person more likely to help people later in life.

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  12. Question 1: I do support more civics in the classrooms,specially in elementary school because is for better for kids of those ages to know what their rights are as well as their responsibilities as young citizens. And it is also the best way for young adults to get information about all the politic stuffs and the events that conform the organization of our nation.

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    1. That is a good point, Melanie. Learning civics keeps people informed not only about their rights, but also their responsibilities as a citizen, both of which are incredibly important.

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  13. hey this is Luis,
    1)I definitely agree with this article. I think young people need to start leaning about their government civics from at least the 7th grade. it will do them well in the decisions that they make when voting, it will show them what really the candidates are talking about , and not just go to vote because you like the candidate, but because you want the things they are offering, and you want to know how they do their business inside their jobs, see if they really care about what they say. is also good to teach young people these things to have more knowledge about how everything came to be and how it happens, that way they are not just wondering around not knowing why the president did something. they also need to know that they have a voice in every opinion that is made from the president, and how to change things they don't like in a society.

    2) i think that kids should have a time to be kids and to also learn outside the school. because it helps them grow their minds more, it helps them develop ideas from young age, that way when they are older it would be easier for them to do things. but i also think that they should have time to be kids, they shouldn't be given too much knowledge of something and not make them be kids, because kids are allowed to enjoy their moment and be free, they are kids they dont know so much, but than again thats where the point of giving them a little, just a little of outside knowledge would be good for them , that way they have a sense of the things from outside.

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    1. You brought up a really good point, Luis. Many people vote for a candidate based on things that have no bearing on how they will run the country. This is because people are uneducated about how our government works and so are easily swayed by irrelevant details. Educating people about civics more might lead to elections where the important issues are the only ones that matter.

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  14. 1.I think the call for more civics in the classroom is really important because it will help the youngsters to learn to choose their leader in the future.School life is the best time to start getting civic knowledge.If they are lacking of civic knowledge,they might make a wrong decision.That's why I totally agree with it.

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  15. 2.Elementary school students should take time to volunteer in schools or in their communities because they can learn a lot of things from it.It will help them to keep out of drugs and alcohols.
    They can get some good experiences by volunteering and it can make them responsible.

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    1. That's a good point, MD. The more free time kids have, the more opportunities they have to get into trouble!

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  16. 1. I think more civics in the classroom is important because it will result a better future for the country. The more civics in the classroom, the more young generation can learn and think about what is our country doing right now. In the future they have learned about how does our government work in our country, so they will join vote/election for the best person in their heart. Less civics will result in not knowing "what is going on with our government" basically they will give up vote/election.

    2. For elementary students, volunteer is important, but we can't push them too hard, also don't give them too much free time. Some volunteer work will probably make them happy and they can still act as kid as they can. It's the best time for kids to remember things they've enjoyed because their brain are in developing period and volunteer helps them to have more ideas about the society. Volunteer for kid will helps them when they grow up, when they are older, they can help people in the school or community because they have the experience when they were kid.

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  17. You're right, Raymond. It is tricky to find the balance between making young students participate in things and build their character but also giving them enough time to be kids.

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  18. 1.i agree with r more civics in the classroom. civics is good to the citizens and students.I enjoyed Civics and included it in every history/social science/lit class i ever taught. r. for reminding me why I did. from the civics class i learned more about democracy, human rights, and freedom living abroad then I did living in the US. "non-voting results from...." (from page 5). after u know enough about civics people will vote seriously and the government will be seriously too.


    2. i think children should not have too much homework or out-of-class projects. for the children the happiness is the most important, too much homework and projects will cause children fear of schools. too much homework will excessive burden on students , knowledge is that people have curiosity so they want to learn it rather than forcing, so if children they want to learn more they will do enough homework and projects by themselves . anything too much the opposite of one's wish.

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