Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Editorial
Why ? Why don’t you care?
If there is one thing I cannot stand, it is apathy. That is today's biggest problem, especially among high schoolers: people are too apathetic. Kids have grown up with overprotective parents handing their children their heart’s desire on a silver platter, and the consequences are starting to show.
I'm not saying one should care about every single little detail; if that were the case, nothing would ever be accomplished. However, all too often, people are too quick to say they don't care or they don't have an opinion on politics, history, the deeper meaning of dreams, Hamlet, the melting ice caps and drowning polar bears, genocide in Darfur, haircuts, algebra (though I supose I also am guilty of algebraic apathy), Baz Luhrmann, aerobics, the economy, the Apple-or-Windows great debate.
When the answer is continually "Who cares?" or "so what?" eventually, your brain, and heart, starts to decay. What do you care about, then? One can only think or talk about their own problems for so long. If no one cares, global warming wins. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. People still are oppressed, and the question still remains unanswered: Pepsi or Coke?
Apathy among young people has been linked to higher rates of depression and crime, something society has enough already. Our generation will have a weighty burden to lift when we’re running the country. How is homelessness, global warming or war going to be solved with apathy? Apathy is the very thing our world cannot afford. Now more than ever, we need committed, engaged leaders.
One does not need to be completely aware of everything, all of the time. That's impossible. One does not have to be zany, imaginative, ostentatious. But one does have to care. Engage yourself in the world, be informed of the big issues, and maybe a few small ones too, and have an opinion on something obscure. Yes, Salvador Dali's caterpillar mustache WAS great, thank you very much.
If there is one thing I cannot stand, it is apathy. That is today's biggest problem, especially among high schoolers: people are too apathetic. Kids have grown up with overprotective parents handing their children their heart’s desire on a silver platter, and the consequences are starting to show.
I'm not saying one should care about every single little detail; if that were the case, nothing would ever be accomplished. However, all too often, people are too quick to say they don't care or they don't have an opinion on politics, history, the deeper meaning of dreams, Hamlet, the melting ice caps and drowning polar bears, genocide in Darfur, haircuts, algebra (though I supose I also am guilty of algebraic apathy), Baz Luhrmann, aerobics, the economy, the Apple-or-Windows great debate.
When the answer is continually "Who cares?" or "so what?" eventually, your brain, and heart, starts to decay. What do you care about, then? One can only think or talk about their own problems for so long. If no one cares, global warming wins. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. People still are oppressed, and the question still remains unanswered: Pepsi or Coke?
Apathy among young people has been linked to higher rates of depression and crime, something society has enough already. Our generation will have a weighty burden to lift when we’re running the country. How is homelessness, global warming or war going to be solved with apathy? Apathy is the very thing our world cannot afford. Now more than ever, we need committed, engaged leaders.
One does not need to be completely aware of everything, all of the time. That's impossible. One does not have to be zany, imaginative, ostentatious. But one does have to care. Engage yourself in the world, be informed of the big issues, and maybe a few small ones too, and have an opinion on something obscure. Yes, Salvador Dali's caterpillar mustache WAS great, thank you very much.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Opinion Editorial Pre-Writing
1. What is a problem/issue that our entire student body (our school, community, country, etc.) faces today?
Generally speaking, teenagers are too apathetic.
2. What is your view/position on the problem or situation?
Students need to be more aware, more engaged, and more interested in political happenings, history, books and culture ... more than just they're inner circle of friends.
3. What would you like to achieve with your editorial? (What is the desired result?)
Appeal to the reader to care more.
4. How will you persuade your audience to adopt your viewpoint as theirs? List at least 4 persuasive points.
~what does the future hold for such disengaged kids?
~what is in store for the world if those disengaged kids are the ones in charge in 10-20 years?
~the economical benefits of caring
~the social benefits of caring
5. How will you motivate your readership to action in your conclusion?
Maybe humor ... it's really not that hard to care about what we should. No one's asking you to solve cancer.
6. How will your editorial serve a public purpose?
Increase awareness ... self improvement, etc.
Generally speaking, teenagers are too apathetic.
2. What is your view/position on the problem or situation?
Students need to be more aware, more engaged, and more interested in political happenings, history, books and culture ... more than just they're inner circle of friends.
3. What would you like to achieve with your editorial? (What is the desired result?)
Appeal to the reader to care more.
4. How will you persuade your audience to adopt your viewpoint as theirs? List at least 4 persuasive points.
~what does the future hold for such disengaged kids?
~what is in store for the world if those disengaged kids are the ones in charge in 10-20 years?
~the economical benefits of caring
~the social benefits of caring
5. How will you motivate your readership to action in your conclusion?
Maybe humor ... it's really not that hard to care about what we should. No one's asking you to solve cancer.
6. How will your editorial serve a public purpose?
Increase awareness ... self improvement, etc.
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