Monday, July 6th, 2009. LBST 499 Culture of the National Parks

Brainstorming activities. Be sure to save all this material in your first Exploratory Portfolio. Create a folder for this portfolio and keep all of your work from the first week of class in it. Save this portfolio in several places.

1. List words and phrases that come to mind when you think about the National Parks.

2. List specific images that come to mind when you think about the National Parks.

3. List problems that come to mind when you think about the National Parks.

4. List questions that you have about the National Parks.

5. List topics that you would like to explore during this course.

Discuss your responses in groups of three. Choose the most interesting items from your discussion and prepare a list of responses to each number above, based on your discussion, to share with the entire class. Following the class discussion of each group's lists, freewrite a response to the ideas that came up during this activity: How do these lists confirm, enhance, change, or run counter to beliefs and information you have about The National Parks? What surprised you during the discussion? What seemed really familiar to you? What seemed interesting enough to want to research the topic?

Freewriting activities

1.Write several paragraphs in which you consider your goals for this course. Consider responding to these questions as you write--you may choose to respond to some or all of these, or none of these, but please do address your goals.

What do you hope to learn?
What kinds of skills would you like to develop?
What are your concerns about this course?
What kinds of help do you imagine you will need to be successful in this course? 
What would you like me to teach directly about the Parks?
What would you most like to explore on your own about The National Parks?