Sunday, March 13, 2011

Could you live without money? Meet a guy who does.


One of the assumptions of American culture is that money equals success and happiness. There is a hegemonic assumption that we should all be pursuing money and we can't live without it. Here is a story about a man who gave up all money. He is educated and happy and he has a website and he even blogs about it! Although this story is an extreme one, it sure is interesting. Maybe we all won't give up our pursuit of money, but maybe we can work on giving up some of our assumptions about it.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Volunteer Op: Habitat for humanity, Spring of Life in Elgin

Please check out our website for information about the current build, the volunteer schedule and our partnership in general. The following are Work Days so we'll need at least 6 volunteers...mark your calendar: 3/12 4/9 4/30 5/14 5/28
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to email either myself: lreidelb@comcast.net or Larry Buettner: larrybuettner@comcast.net

This Saturday, March 12th is a work day. Please register on the website if you will be attending or email myself. If all the slots fill, our volunteer requirements for the day will be complete.

We will be hanging drywall and putting up siding outside. Dress warmly and bring work gloves.

From our newsletter…
This week at Habitat…Volunteers have begun to put up drywall in the 95-year-old cottage the Spring of Life Partnership is rehabbing in Elgin; on the outside of the house volunteers continue to install siding Work begins at 8 a.m.; lunch is provided. Volunteers are urged to sign-up online at www.springoflifehabitat.org, follow the links on the Volunteer tab.

Grading the blogs

Below is the rubric for the blogs. Each blog will get three grades; one for each of the following categories: Academic Standards, Sociology Content, Application.

Academic Standards
3
Student turns in assignment on time. Assignment is properly written using correct prose, punctuation and capitalization.

2
Turned in on time, but student may have a small number of spelling or writing mistakes but these do not distract from the overall understanding of the student’s ideas.

1
Student turns in the assignment late. Student writing is difficult to understand. There are many spelling and grammatical mistakes. The writing is unprofessional and not in proper prose.

0
Student did not turn in assignment at all.

Content
3
Student demonstrates an understanding of the sociological content. Student illustrates a grasp of the ideas and concepts as well as the vocabulary that students use.

Student use readings, videos, activities to support their knowledge of the sociological themes/concepts discussed in class.

2
Student is able to show an understanding of some concept and ideas, but just makes reference to some of the other concepts and vocabulary without demonstrating a grasp of them.

Students discuss their views on the assigned themes/concepts without referencing specific class materials as evidence of their knowledge.

1
Student might mention some sociology terms and ideas, but does not demonstrate an understanding of the sociological ideas, terms, concepts. Student may demonstrate a misunderstanding of the ideas.

Students are not discussing the proper themes/concepts mentioned throughout the course and are not referring to course materials.

0
Student did not attempt to do the assignment.

Application
3
Student is able to fully apply the sociological ideas to his/her own experiences (a real life experience, something s/he watched or read, another class s/he had). Student gives an authentic example of the sociology.

2
Student relates the sociology slightly to an experience s/he has had. Student gives an example but it is not a genuinely authentic example.

Student attempts to identify how concepts might be influential by relating it to society in general rather than their own particular thoughts.

1
Student does not use any example from his/her own life. Student does not apply the sociology at all.

0
Student does not attempt to do the assignment.