Monday, August 4, 2014

Turnitin Info!

It's almost that time--time for school to start and time for those summer assignments to get turned in. =)  We hope you're enjoying the last few days of freedom.  Whenever you're ready to turn in your completed assignments, here is the info you need:

1.  Go to Turnitin and sign in.  You can log in with whatever account you've used in the past.  HOWEVER, if you weren't already using your school-assigned Google email address last year, I'd definitely recommend creating a Turnitin account using that email for this year:  yourschoollog-in@indianola.k12.ia.us.  (It probably looks something like this:  smith123456@indianola.k12.ia.us)

2.  Click Enroll in Class and type in this this info:
Class ID:  8301111
Enrollment password:  ihsaplang

3.  Click on the class and you'll see two separate assignments--one for Fast Food Nation and one for Amusing Ourselves.  Remember you can only upload ONE document per assignment in Turnitin so make sure you've completed all of your Amusing Ourselves (summary and passages) in one document and your Fast Food Nation paper on a separate document.

Let us know if you have questions!  Remember, my summer email is ms.kim.grissom@gmail.com, but I'll be at school starting on Friday so you can also email me at kim.grissom@indianola.k12.ia.us

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

School Google Accounts

In case you don't know how to access this.  (Juniors, you'll be using this a lot next year.)


  1. If you've never changed your school password, you need to do this.  Once you're logged on, hit CTRL + ALT + Delete and choose the change password option.
  2. Once your password is changed, open up your internet browser and go to gapps.indianola.k12.ia.us
  3. Your username and password will be the same as your school account.  You can also get to this account from drive.google.com BUT you will have to enter your whole email address to get in:  lastname6-digitstudentID@indianola.k12.ia.us
  4. Once there, you can use the mail, drive, and other google applications.  If we have shared the Food, Inc presentation with you, it will be in your drive under the Shared with me category.

Monday, May 5, 2014

AP Test-Takers!

Come see your teacher.  We have results for you from your practice exam and will talk through that info with you if you come see us.  It can be during class--just grab us as we come by your group work time.  Or stop by during your open or before or after school.

Friday, May 2, 2014

Food, Inc Presentation

We presented Food, Inc. in class on Thursday/Friday while the music students were gone.  I'm including the slides here in this blog post BUT if you were absent, we will share the google presentation with your school google account.  That way you can see the notes that go with the slides (which is the real analysis part).  This should give you a good idea of the depth we are looking for and how you might address the aspects of analysis the presentation requires.


Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Doc Film Project

Here is a link to the Google Doc for everything we went over in class, the permission slip, the notes pages, and discussion questions.  You may access it for review of info OR if you lose any of the handouts you received in class.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Publishing to Peers

A number of you have arguments you'd like to publish to your peers.  The Indian does not have room in the senior edition for any other articles so you have two possibilities:

1. Send it to Ms. Stone specifically requesting that it be used in the freshmen survival edition of the Indian next year (if appropriate).

2. Make sure your piece is on Google, publish it to the web--to anyone who has the link, and then post a link to Twitter INCLUDING @IHSaplang so Ms. Darrah and Ms. Grissom can see it and give you credit.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Portfolio Logistics


Once your pieces are completed, edited and polished, and totally ready to be turned in:

  1. Create a new document called 2nd Semester Portfolio or something like it.
  2. Begin the document with a list of all of the pieces you have written for AP Lang.  For each, list title, description of the argument, audience, purpose, and a quick description of how well you think you did on it.  You DO NOT need to include the full documents--the list will show us the variety of writing you've accomplished.
  3. Copy and paste all of your NEW pieces into the file.
  4. You MUST have your final draft of your research persuasion argument.
  5. You MUST have your rhetorical analysis of your nonfiction independent reading book.
  6. You MUST have at least one NEW argument you wrote this quarter.
  7. You MUST include one piece from earlier in the year that demonstrates your growth as a writer. Choose something from the very beginning that shows where you started as a writer in this class. Your Fast Food Nation paper or first draft of your definition argument might be ideal choices for this requirement.  Make sure you choose something that IS NOT as good as what you're turning in now as your final drafts.  The point is to show that you HAVE improved!
  8. To show your revisions based on feedback:  pick one piece that has undergone multiple drafts with significant change.  Put those drafts (properly labeled and in order) in your portfolio document to show the change.  You might also consider a screenshot of feedback that prompted those changes, though this part is not required.  If you don't know how to take a screenshot on your particular type of computer, google it.  It is different depending on what type of system you're using (Mac, Vista, Windows XP).
  9. You do not have to put anything in your portfolio to show the helpful feedback you provided your peers.  Your teacher will assess that based on your completion and appropriate participation in the peer reviews this semester.
  10. Once everything is in your portfolio document, add page numbers to the document.
  11. Save.
  12. Upload to Turnitin

Porfolio Polishing


AP Lang
Proofreading & Polishing Checklist

Before you submit your final portfolio, you MUST edit and polish your pieces!!! The feedback you've received from your peers and teacher has been on content only, but the final draft is the time to be sure your mechanics, presentation, and details are clean and correct.  Below are some last revision considerations and a polishing checklist.  Begin at the top, go through EACH step with EACH piece of writing.  Doing so carefully and thoroughly should ensure a reasonably clean final draft.


Add:
1.    Opening sentences that grab your reader’s attention—not in cheesy English 9 ways, but in authentic, thought-provoking ways that get them reading your argument
2.   Sensory detail that creates pathos, ethos, and logos.  Make your readers care about your argument with emotion, trust you because you’ve done your homework and include pertinent details, and understand your logic with solid facts, reasoning, and explanation.

Subtract (Only your rhetorical analysis can be more than 750 words):
1.    The junk—In each sentence experiment with pulling out words you don’t need.  Start with words like “which” and “that” and “started to . . .”  Make your writing FAR more concise than you though you could.
2.   Repetition—read each sentence one at a time out loud.  Get rid of words, phrases, ideas.
3.    Combine and condense sentences so you say the same thing in fewer words and space.  See how tight you can make your argument. 

Substitute and Rearrange:
1.    Use the Find feature.  Find “you”—Do you mean “I”
2.   Find “I” – Do you need third person or impersonal text?
3.   Word choice—Don’t substitute simply using the thesaurus.  Rewrite sentences.  Replace unspecific, or overused words with precise fresh language—but don’t use words you don’t really know or that will sound awkward given your tone and style.

Friday, April 18, 2014

4th Qtr Exam

It's your last one!  And you don't have to study for it!  Happy holiday weekend. =)

Your last quarter exam has two parts:

Part I--AP passages and multiple choice questions
This is a chance to demonstrate your critical reading skills in the moment.  It's not critically reading something you get to spend lots of time on or have discussion opportunities to learn from.  It's just straight-up critical reading skills.  Do you understand the purpose, audience, structure, tone, rhetorical devices and appeals of what you read?  Can you dig into the details of a text and answer rhetorical questions about a short passage?

Part II--Long answer question about Beloved
This is the other side of critical reading.  First of all, Beloved is a long text, a full-length novel, rather than a short text.  Second, you DO get more depth in your understanding if you not only critically read it yourself, but you also have time to study and discuss that text.  So this section asks you to write about your understanding of the last major text of the year.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Beloved Lit Circles


Split into groups of 4 (or 5 when necessary for class numbers).  

Your Journal:
  1. All group members will pay attention to symbols in the novel and make note of ideas regarding their significance.
  2. Each group member will be in charge of tracking ONE motif in their journal.

Motifs:  
  • Repressing the Past & Rememory
  • Dehumanization/Slavery vs. Freedom
  • Love/Family/Motherhood
  • Use of Magical Realism
  • Community vs. Alienation (only for groups of 5)

What You Should Note:
  • When you notice the motif or symbol--page number
  • How the author seems to be using that motif or symbol
  • What point does the author seem to be making at that point?

As a Group:
  1. Determine your reading schedule.  You have designated reading days and discussion days in class, but you can decide how you will “chunk” the novel for those discussion days.  
  2. Determine who will track each of the motifs.  Everyone is responsible for reading the whole book; you’re just focusing on your own motif rather than all of them.
  3. You should have a page in your journal for each of the motifs (even those you are not tracking).  This will give you a place to jot down your own thoughts on those subjects as you read and make note of your group discussions.

Discussion Items as a Large Group:
  • Each member will share out what is going on with the motifs--open up discussion to see what other members think or have noticed.  Also discuss the ways some of these motifs overlap.
  • Symbols and their Significance
  • Significance of the 3-Part Structure
  • Significance of the Title
  • Your ultimate goal is two-fold:  What is the theme of the novel?  How does Morrison’s writing help her achieve that argument?  You won’t know the answers to these questions until the end, but your discussion while you’re still reading should be leading toward answers to these questions.

Dates:
April 4 Hand out books; assign groups
April 7 Reading day
April 8 or 10 Group discussion day (odd periods on 8th, even periods on 10th)
April 11 Reading day
April 15 Group discussion day
April 17 Reading day
April 18 Book completed.  Group discussion
April 21 Quarter Exam. Journals due beginning of class

Monday, March 31, 2014

Portfolio and Rhetorical Analysis


Portfolio Details

Second Semester
Your portfolio will include at least 3 additional final drafts (including your researched persuasion argument and rhetorical analysis essay) to show evidence of your continued use of first semester skills and new learning of the following criteria:
  • Successful understanding and use of claims, reasons, and qualifiers
  • Various modes to include research, persuasion, cause/effect, and rhetorical analysis
  • Use of evidence to convince, including well-used and documented secondary AND primary research
  • Effective and correct use of a visual in a written argument
  • Variety of purpose and audience throughout the year
  • Correct MLA works cited page—at 100%
  • Multiple drafts with revision based on feedback
  • Stylistic maturity
  • Growth as a writer over the course of the year
  • Growth as a reader over the course of the year

To receive an A, you must also show evidence of your own helpful feedback as a peer responder and publish one piece of writing for the appropriate audience.


So here are some more details to help you achieve that:

  1. Your research paper likely covers many of these.  If your "final draft" didn't successfully achieve all of these research components (i.e. perfect works cited page), revise it so it does.  There are comments on your final draft in Turnitin that tell you where you have problems.  Revise it and include a better copy of it in your final portfolio.
  2. Your rhetorical analysis will also help meet several of the criteria above.  For instance, comparing it with your Nabokov paper from first semester or even your Fast Food paper from first quarter may be a good way to show your growth as a reader (and potentially as a writer).
  3. To get credit for publishing a piece, you need to get something you wrote this year to its intended audience.  Your research paper works well for this because you spent a lot of time on it and have a clear audience--and probably an argument you actually want people to hear.  To get credit for it, your teacher needs to "see" your submission.  If you're going to email it to your audience (i.e. Mrs. Stone for The Indian, the Record Herald, a legislator, etc.), just copy your teacher on the email.  If you're going to mail it in paper form, bring it in with an addressed envelope (open, please) and your teacher will even mail it for you.  If there is some other way you need to submit or publish your argument that doesn't fit one of these options, see your teacher for how to do it in a way you can get credit for.
  4. You currently have TWO more pieces to write.  The Google Calendar is updated to show what we are doing for the rest of year, including lab days.  There are a few of them BUT you will ALL need to be doing work OUTSIDE of class.  This is a college class and your credit will go on your college transcript FOREVER.  This is not a time to lazy.  You have basically ONE MONTH to complete your portfolio.  Here are your deadlines:
  • Start your rhetorical analysis NOW--we're giving you reading/planning days this week so USE them.
  • Lab time during class:  All Wednesdays PLUS April 14 and April 28
  • Optional draft due April 11 by midnight.  If you want INDIVIDUAL feedback from your teacher, you need to submit a draft to Turnitin on this day.  It can be whatever piece you like and you don't HAVE to turn one in.  We will read and give feedback on anyone's paper that is turned in BY April 12.  NO LATE SUBMISSIONS!
  • Silent reading table on April 22--bring a PRINT COPY of both new pieces to class with you.
  • Completed portfolio due April 28 by midnight.


Rhetorical Analysis Details

One of your 2nd semester portfolio pieces is a rhetorical analysis of your non-fiction independent reading book.  Hopefully you have completed (or at least made significant progress in) a book that you found a clear argument in.  Your job now is to write an essay in which you achieve TWO objectives.

Objectives:
  • Demonstrate effective critical reading skills
  • Demonstrate college-ready writing

Grading:

A   Successfully achieves all objectives
A-  Successfully achieves all objectives but some minor errors
B   Successfully achieves one objective but has some major problems with the other
C   Does not achieve the objectives; unsuccessful, unacceptable attempt

So how do you make sure you achieve both of those objectives? 

Evidence of your Critical Reading:
Identify argument, purpose, and audience
Analyze rhetorical devices and major modes used
Analyze appeals
Pinpoint BOTH strengths and weaknesses in the argument
Explain an "educated" conclusion of the argument--your opinion of whether the strengths outweigh the weaknesses or vice versa

Evidence of College-Ready Writing:
Lots of detail and evidence to back up your claims (all of them)
Correct MLA parenthetical citations
Clear organization that is easy to follow
Academic purpose and tone BUT with some appropriate personality, voice, and engaging writing
Clean mechanics

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

March 26 Journal Prompts


1.  Consider the answer to one (or several) of the following “Why?” questions.  (Or answer a “burning question” of your own.)
  • Why do we still hear about Lindsay Lohan?
  • Why do girls like to show off their underwear?
  • Why do people listen to Dr. Phil?
  • Why the interest in vampires and zombies?
  • Why is Instagram/SnapChat/Twitter so popular?
  • Why can’t we live without our cell phones?
  • Why are guys so obsessed with body humor and video games?


2.  Consider what the future holds.  What will the world be like when you are old?  Consider what these various aspects of life might be like:
  • Sports
  • Pollution
  • Food/Clothing
  • Military
  • Drugs/Medicine
  • Housing
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Government
  • Careers/Jobs
  • Economy/Money
  • Crime
  • Hobbies
  • Transportation
  • Population
  • Relationships/Dating
  • Religion



Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Journaling Mar. 12

Do this today or later, but do it.  Choose one of the following journal prompts and write about a page in your journal as a potential starter for your last portfolio piece:

1.  Bucket List
What do you want to do before you kick the bucket?  Make a list--brainstorm all of the things you'd like to do, places you'd like to visit, sights you'd like to see before you die.  Once you have your list, choose one that particularly gets you excited and spend some time writing about why this particular item is meaningful.

2.  How to Survive _______
Consider the survival advice you could give:  how to survive IHS, how to survive football two-a-days, how to survive working at A&W, how to survive a younger brother, etc.  Pick something you could help people survive and spend some time writing out that advice for a particular audience.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Sound and the Fury Resources

Here are the slides I used in class yesterday.  If you missed class, DEFINITELY look these over PLUS get notes from a reliable friend in case there were other things you need to write down.  If you were in class, these are posted here as a helpful resource and reminder.

Link to the Google Doc



Monday, March 3, 2014

3rd Qtr Exam

First, the essay on Thursday:

Reading time on Tuesday--15 minutes to read the prompt and source material and then plan out your essay.  You can highlight evidence you want to use and outline in as much detail as you have time for.

On Thursday you'll write the essay in the period.

How to prepare?  Read your first synthesis essay.  Use the scoring guide to determine how you did on it.  Figure out what you need to do to improve on that score for this essay, both in planning and in writing.


Second, the "traditional test" on Friday:

Short answer and multiple choice questions over what we've studied this quarter--visual arguments (you'll actually analyze one), research and sources in arguments, and critical reading (an AP passage and questions following).

Also, you'll cite two sources in a correctly formatted works cited page.  You'll get to use a packet printed out directly from the Purdue OWL that will have all of the information you need to cite the sources provided.

How to prepare?  Review your notes in your journal regarding sources, visual arguments, and works cited.  Read the chapters (Chapter 15 & 18) from this quarter if you didn't read them originally or didn't take good notes.  Go back and look at your practice works cited from the beginning of the quarter or the works cited page you turned in on your D2 to get an idea of the kinds of mistakes you have made and want to avoid.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Final Draft Checklist

Based on our readings of your D2s (and a bit of experience with these papers in general), here is a polishing checklist we STRONGLY urge you to walk through with your paper.  Not everything will apply to every paper but it is definitely worth the time to double-check you're meeting all of the requirements of the assignment AND avoiding these common mistakes.  NOTE:  You should only do this AFTER you've addressed the comments for revision on your D2.

1.  If you have an MLA heading/format, is it appropriate for you to have it?  If you're writing a business letter, magazine article, letter to the editor, etc., the answer is NO.  If it's appropriate for you to have one, is it done correctly?

2.  Do you have a title that informs your piece?  Is it capitalized correctly? Does it add interest to your piece?  Remember, in the real world of writing, if someone thinks the title sounds interesting, they'll read it.  If it looks like something they're not interested in (or it turns them off rather than appealing to them), they won't.  Your FIRST goal is to get your intended audience to actually READ your piece...all the way through.

3.  For each visual you've included in your essay, be sure it has:
  • label
  • caption (that actually tells your reader what to notice or look at--it's not just a title)
  • citation (unless you actually created it) that correctly points back to the full citation on your works cited page
  • text (that's actually talking about the image) wrapped around the image
  • located within the text margins of your paper
4.  If you interviewed someone, be sure you introduce them by name AND credentials that matter:  probably by descriptors of their expertise--definitely not by their relationship to you (i.e. your mom)

5.  If you conducted a survey, be sure to explain:
  • how many people were surveyed
  • what ages/classes/groups were involved
  • anything else that will vouch for the reliability of your results (i.e. how they were chosen--should be randomly)
6.  If you conducted an experiment or observation, be sure to explain how it was conducted, what you did to set controls, when it happened, how long, etc.  Remember that YOU have to provide the ethos for your research.  If you don't give enough information about how the results were gathered, your audience will likely not consider the results credible.

7.  Consider your ethos, logos, and pathos.  Your research could act as any of these three, but specifically, the quality of your sources and information is a huge part of your ethos and probably the information you found in your research is a large portion of your logos.  Do NOT forget about pathos.  This is persuasion.  You will NOT get people to change their behavior or physically get off of their butt and do something unless you make it personal, unless you make them actually care.  Many of you are missing the emotion.  Logic is great and you need it, but it will not be enough to make your persuasion effective.

8.  There are rules for using numbers in written arguments.  Wherever you used numbers in your essay, be sure you followed these basic guidelines:
  • Write out numbers you can spell in a word or two; use numerals for larger numbers that would be more complex to spell out or read.
  • Numbers in a series and comparable statistics should be consistent
  • Always write out a number that begins a sentence.
  • Use a combination of written numbers and numerals when it is needed for clarity.  For example, two 6-year-olds is easier to read than 2 6-year-olds or two six-year-olds.
9.  Make sure your works cited page is on its own page (just insert a page break) and that all of your citations are on it and formatted correctly.  This is a HUGE part of your grade and there is NO EXCUSE not to do it well.  You have a solid resource (Purdue OWL), plenty of instruction and opportunity to ask questions of your teacher, AND you got feedback on your WC when you turned in your D2.

10.  Definitely go back to the original blogpost detailing the objectives and requirements of the assignment.  Read through the whole thing to be sure you have done everything you need to.

Grading of the quality of your final draft:
    A   Successfully achieves all of the objectives
    A-  Successfully achieves all of the objectives with some minor problems
    B   Successfully achieves most objectives; missing something or major problems
    C   Unsuccessful or unacceptable attempt

In addition, a portion of your grade will be for the process you went through to get to your final product and the writing growth demonstrated in that process.  To get full credit for the process portion you need:

  • Proposal accepted
  • All drafts turned in on time
  • Completed peer and self reviews
  • Revisions based on feedback
  • Critical reflection as last page of your final draft (after the works cited).  Like your definition paper, it should be at least a page reflection on your perspective of the writing process:  How did it go?  What did you struggle with?  What was easy?  What are the strengths in your writing skills to date?  What areas still need improvement?  Are there any things you need to explain to your teacher in order for her to clearly understand how hard you worked or how much improvement you made that may not be demonstrated by either the quality of the end result or the process requirements listed above?

11.  Double-check your word count!!!  Remember that your works cited and critical reflection don't count but everything else does.  Highlight your paper from the top to where you end the argument to see your word count.  If it's not 500-750 words, you have work to do.  If you're under the minimum, you likely need more details, evidence, and explanation.  If you're over the maximum, there are three great ways to be more concise (do them in order for maximum results as they cut fewer words as you go):

  • Get rid of anything that is not helping your argument.  If everything is helping but you're way over, kick out your weakest point.
  • Get rid of any repetition of ideas, sentences, or even words.  Reorganize your argument so that you can more efficiently move from one point to another without having to repeat things you've already said.
  • Combine and condense sentences so you can say the exact same thing in fewer words.  I'll give you an example:  He hit a ground ball toward third base.  It was a single.  He slid into first base.  He beat the throw by a split second.  25 words.  Now this:  He hit the ground ball toward third--a single.  He slid into first, beating the throw by a split second.  20 words.  Says the same thing...only better.  Even more concise:  He hit a single toward third.  Sliding, he beat the throw by a split second.  15 words.  The second version keeps all of the details while the third sacrifices a few.  You have to be strategic when you sacrifice details since they often matter for either style, content, or both.  Sacrifice where you can only if you have to.

12.  Obviously read through your final draft several times before submitting it to be sure that it makes sense, uses correct punctuation and grammar, and generally makes sense.  The BEST way to check for these things is to read the whole piece OUT LOUD to yourself.  You'll be amazed the things your eyes/brain will skip over when you read it silently that you'll catch when you have to actually say every word.

When you are positive that your final draft demonstrates your BEST WORK, submit it to Turnitin.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

New Text Notifications Video

Look what I did at professional development today: I added a new tab to our blog. Look above this post to see the tab labeled "Text Notifications" and watch the video to figure out how to set up your Google Calendar texts.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

AoW Feb. 19

Today you're not reading an article, but rather watching a few commercials.  Like the images we looked at in class, commercials are visual arguments.  Their audience is consumers and their purpose is to sell their product.  They use the same concepts of rhetoric to do that...and often have the same mistakes.

Here are links to two current commercials.  For your rhetoric notes, watch each of the commercials several times and analyze how they try to sell their product (ethos, pathos, logos, evidence, rhetorical devices, etc.).  Also be sure to point out at least one fallacy each uses--identify the fallacy, explain what's happening in the commercial and why it is fallacious.  For your 1-page response, write half a page for each commercial responding to how effective you think the commercial is and why.

Direct TV Gorilla Commercial

Bob Dylan Chrysler Commercial


Journal Prompts


The Unofficial and Unwritten (but you better follow them or everyone will think you suck) Rules of Being a Modern Mom:

1.  You can take care of yourself, but only after you’ve taken care of everyone else. Don’t even think about going to bed before the dishes are put away, the laundry is taken care of, and tomorrow’s lunches are ready to go.  If you can’t do it all yourself, make sure you delegate.  You will be to blame if it’s not all done.

2.  Don’t discipline your child in any way in public. Your kids are expected to act like angels, be polite, be cute, but all discipline that would actually make them that way is to be done behind closed doors.  If you discipline in public, you will be seen as harsh, overbearing, or unfair to the adorable little dears that “are probably really sorry.”

3.  Spend LOTS of money on your kid.  Everyone knows that’s what shows you love them. Their little psyches might be damaged if they don’t have name-brand clothes, ridiculously priced baby Toms or Uggs that they will outgrow in three months.  And when Christmas comes, you will be judged as a mom by how many gifts you give your kids and the extravagance with which you spoil them.

4.  Don’t talk about your food standards for your child in public either.  We live in a country raging with adult and childhood obesity.  We have elementary kids with weight-induced diabetes, but if you talk about not giving your kid sugar, requiring healthy snacks, and not allowing junk food, you will be branded a horrible mom who denies her kids their childhood.

5.  Spend every waking second you have with your child.  There is not time for letting your child play by themselves!  You will be considered the worst mom ever if you do not devote all of your free time to spending quality time with your child.  Sure, you should work out, make dinner, take care of the household (see Rule #1), but all of that should not interfere with the limited time you have to bond and nurture your child.

6.  And whatever you do, NEVER complain about your motherly duties.  There are lots of women who can’t have kids. And, after all, you chose to be a mom.  Besides, only the most cold-hearted, horrible mother could not recognize the amazing gift of motherhood and thank God for the pleasure of the job everyday.





Now You…

1.  Write your own unofficial and unwritten (but you better follow them) rules based on your own life experiences.

OR…if you prefer

2.  Sticks have long been used to measure the tides.  Long after the water has receded, a mark on the stick—the watermark—is visible.  It’s a great metaphor for the defining moments in our lives—events that are long past but still leave their mark on us.  Here are some of mine:

·      Choosing Central College
·      Studying abroad
·      Taking a year off to go to grad school
·      Southall convincing me to start running
·      Meeting my husband
·      My first marathon
·      The birth of my daughter

Consider some of your own watermark experiences and explore one or two of them.