Senior Year The Freedom Writers Diary Take a

Senior Year The Freedom Writers Diary

Take a Stand • This activity will require movement, thought, and understanding. You will need your legs, your ears, and you minds. • We will show you a statement to which you will either agree or disagree by moving to that area of the room. • You will have the chance to share your thoughts and opinions, but will only be able to do so while holding the MONSTER SPEAK STICK! • You are allowed to change your position if you change your mind.

Take a Stand Dogs are better than cats.

Take a Stand Breakfast foods are better than lunch foods.

Take a Stand Ice Age is better than Frozen.

Take a Stand Omaha is segregated.

Take a Stand People should not be allowed to videotape police officers while in the line of duty.

Take a Stand You should turn your friends in if they commit a crime.

Take a Stand The Confederate Flag should be allowed to be flown wherever people like.

Take a Stand Theft is at times excusable.

Take a Stand Government employees should be allowed to refuse a marriage license to a homosexual couple if they feel it goes against their religion.

Take a Stand Race should not play a role in who receives scholarships or gets accepted to college.

Journal They Say, I Say They say I am brown I say I am proud. They say I only know how to cook I say I know how to write a book So don’t judge me by the way I look They say I am brown I say I am proud They say I’m not the future of this nation I say Stop giving me discrimination Instead I’m gonna use my education to help build the human nation. ~Freedom Writer, pages 203 -204 You have 10 minutes. Create.

Epilogue • Turn to page 272 of FWD so that we can read the Epilogue together. • The Afterword follows the Epilogue in the 10 th anniversary editions of FWD. If you like, these are diaries written by original Freedom Writers updating you on how their lives are 10 years after high school.

Persuasive Writing • Presents an opinion supported by information and evidence • Tries to convince others to agree with this opinion and adopt that way of thinking • Sometimes involves convincing the reader to perform an action

Persuasive Strategies • Claim – State your argument • Big Names – Important people can make your argument seem more convincing • Pathos – Getting people to feel happy, sad, or angry can help your argument – Often through anecdotes or humor • Ethos – If people believe & trust in you, you’re more likely to persuade them • Logos – The appeal to reason relies on logic or reason • Kairos – Convince your audience the issue is so important they must act now • Research – Using reliable research can help your argument seem convincing

The Chippewa Cree Native Americans of the Turtle Shell Agency should be federally recognized. The first reason is that they are the only tribe in the United States that are not federally recognized. In 1885 the U. S. government began selling land that they had set aside for the Chippewa Cree with out their consent, this in turn started a rebellion. Because of the rebellion they were never granted a reservation again. Another reason for federal recognition is the free tuition that Native Americans acquire if they have enough blood decadency. It is estimated that fewer then ten percent of Native Americans attend secondary schooling with the inclusion of Chippewa Cree that number could raise. Finally federally recognizing Chippewa Cree would put an end to the neglect and give the people a place where they could be together and support their customs. Many Chippewa Cree are not educated on their background so they are clueless to why they are neglected. Adding the Chippewa Cree to the federally recognized Native Americans would end many years of lost opportunity, neglect, and lack of culture. Some say that creating another reservation will cause another breeding ground for social ills. However if the government could apply what they have learned from other reservations then they could make proper changes so that the reservation could become a place where people thrive and become unified. ~(c)Ashley Neill 2005

Laughter is one of the greatest healing devices known to man. Laughter is powerful and can help people in many different ways. It has the power to cure something as little as a bad day or to heal the wounds of a terminally ill person. Laughing has helped create the smile which is the universal sign of well being. Generally, individuals who do not laugh live miserably and have unhappy lives. Dr. Robert Holden found out that smiling and laughing releases endorphins in the brain which gives people a overall happy well being. Using comedy, many doctors have stimulated the healing process in manic depressants and fatally ill patients giving them hope and ambition. In many clinics laughter is being used in replacing anti depressants and reduces the need for pain killers. (Dr. Gael Crystal). Take comedians for example, they usually live long and happy lives. Putting a smile on faces and laughs in souls is what makes life complete. Laughter helps heal people and brightens spirits for a better and healthier life. Laughing is a sign of joy and hope and keeps people normal and the world happy. Using the techniques of laughter and happiness is the best medicine known to man. Laughter is the universal sign of well being and happiness within health. Laughing brightens the spirit and heals the mind and body of people who allow it to overcome them. So try a smile and laugh on for size and live a longer happier life with loved ones. ~© Jace Oeleis 2005~

Hunters, hikers, and park recreationalists should turn in poachers. Poachers are people who kill animals illegally by hunting without a proper permit, or trespassing on someone’s property. Not only is it cruel to leave an animal carcass lying out to rot, but it can also spread disease among the other animals. It also brings up the price of hunting licenses for other hunters. That is why it is important we turn poachers in. The first thing that can be done is calling 1 -800 -TIP-MONT. When a call is placed, the operator will ask some questions. They ask where and when the event happened, a physical appearance of the person or a vehicle description, and was their any physical evidence left behind. So when you see this happening, either write it down on paper, or just try to remember it. The second thing a person can do is try to get on the Internet. There you can find out more information about what you need to do. If anyone sees one of these illegal acts being done, now you know what to do to turn them in, and make Montana a better place for everyone and everything. ~© Justin Campos 2005~

Test Prep • Next block, you will be writing a 5 paragraph persuasive response to the following prompt: It is important for students to read books like The Freedom Writers Diary in schools. • You will not be allowed the use of your book, but you will be allowed the provided graphic organizer.