Monday, December 1, 2008

Welcome to the Blog!

Hello all,

Welcome to the blog for my Global Studies classes at Westview! Before I begin with posting updates and all that, let me give you a little introduction to this website.

First off, comments can be made on any post by anyone, and they can be anonymous (though I would really prefer that you leave your name - by selecting "Name/URL" on the right, underneath the comment box - so that I can follow up with you in person). Please try to use good spelling and grammar in your comments! I see the comments before they are posted, so don't worry if you don't see your comment right away. :-)

Secondly, because I will be putting up the class agenda and homework, as well as any interesting links (after class has met), I will attempt to give you ways to download the relevant files and documents you may have missed in class or would be interested in seeing again for your homework (or just because). For instance, here is the PowerPoint that I made for my lecture on Forms of Government:

Forms of Government PowerPoint

To view the documents, click on the link and then select "Save" to view it. Make sure you save it to a place on your computer that you will be able to find! You might also be able to select "View" after clicking on the link, but I have found that this is much slower.

Finally, to contact me personally (other than leaving a comment - which I may or may not see immediately), please e-mail me at
luke_fritz@beavton.k12.or.us - this can always be found by clicking on "View My Complete Profile" on the right, where my picture is, then clicking on "Email" on the left sidebar. I will get back to you ASAP! Again, please use grammatically correct language and spelling, to the best of your ability. It really is appreciated and will go a long way for you in the future!

I know it might be a lot to take in, but hopefully we will all get used to it! I envision this blog as a place where you will be able to come to converse with your classmates and me, as well as get all the latest assignments, updates from class, and further information.

If you have any questions or comments, please never hesitate to let me know!

Welcome again - thanks for visiting! Please favorite this site and come back soon! :-)

48 comments:

  1. Hahaha I am the first to comment! THis is so cool.


    -CJ Garcia

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  2. Mr. Fritz...
    Just leaving a comment as I was assigned to do so.
    Great idea to create a blog for the whole class.
    See you Friday,
    Zack

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  3. Hey Mr. Fritz.
    Great idea on the posting the homework assingments on the blog.
    See you on Friday,
    Brandon

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  4. Wow Zack and Brandon said like the same thing! Hahah well just leaving another comment for you!

    - P.S. Falcons Are The Best!!!!

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  5. okay im doing my assignment
    bye

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  6. I am going to have the most comments on the site. Everyday of the week i am going to comment! ok?ok!

    -P.S. Falcons Are The Best

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  7. Just doing the assignment.
    see you friday.

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  8. Yay a blog ok my letter to you sort of sucks but thats ok and wow CJ a little obsessive much oh well thats ok!!! :)

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  9. hahahahhaha hi McKenzie you posted a minute before me yay!

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  10. Hahaha well Scout sorry for being so cool! Hahaha

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  11. hahaha geez cj is into it.. and brooke and mackenzie.. arent
    oh well.. we cant all be as cool as cj?

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  12. Hahahaah thank you for understanding Ben! haha

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  13. hahaha cj are you just on this checking it every few mintues to see what new things people said?

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  14. Hahaha ya i am doing my paper and checking it to see what people said! hahah:)

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  15. Hey Mr. Fritz
    Just doing the assignment. This blog is awesome. See you tomorrow. Carson Kelly

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  16. Okay he mr. fritz!
    So we should watch a movie with popcorn and have a christmas party the day before a christmas break... just a thought :)

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  17. Okay so like no one is doing their homework assignment to comment. Even though its so easy. Im really bored so im being an over achiever and doing this homework assignment a bunch of times instead of doing my other homework :P

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  18. Wow i was reading over all the comments and CJ is so wrong if he thinks he is going to comment this thing more than me. SO WRONG. haha

    MR FRITZ IS THE BEST TEACHER EVER!

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  19. Brooke stop commenting and do your real homework!

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  20. That speech thing is really hard!!!!! I don't like it :(

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  21. ughhh i don't wanna do the speech oh well too bad for me and YAY!!!!!! im so excited to dress up to do the speech sooooooo much fun sorry Mr. Fritz theres probably bad spelling in this comment :(

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  22. I agree with CJ. 5 minutes is such a long time to give a speech! How could you do this to us Mr. Fritz?

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  23. cj how did you comment at 10 somthing this morning?

    but i agree.... with the speech being hard.. and brooke's idea of popcorn and a movie..

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  24. CJ, Scout, Brooke, and Ben: I know the speech will be hard. However, if you really contemplate the things we have been talking about in class, it should make you want to work hard to actually do something. This is your chance. As I wrote you guys in my letter: I am working as hard as I possibly can for you, so that you will work hard for me. Let's try and keep that going.

    Do not stress about writing your speech. Remember, you are not actually giving the speech that I assigned for Tuesday. I am using it as a way to check and see if you are actually understanding what we have talked about, as well as a source of good ideas for your group.

    The group (which you will be placed in on Tuesday) will write the final speech, to be given next Monday. What I want from you for Tuesday is what YOU (on an individual level) would say. Once you get together in your group, you should be able to take the best part of the speech you have already written and use that for the ONE minute you will be talking in front of Mrs. DeFrance, Mr. Chamberlain, and myself.

    Sound good? PLEASE do not feel overwhelmed. I am here to help. Have a great night!

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  25. mr. Fritz,
    im tring to do the speach assignment but im not finding any information that works with the assignment and i can't leave the computer untill i finish or i'm eating... so i was wondering if you had any good websites that i can use for information... my e-mail address is mommysgirl56@yahoo.com... (all lowercase by the way)
    *Miranda Lawrence*

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  26. thank you for the email... its really helping... ive sparked an idea... thanks mucho!
    *Miranda L.*

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  27. wait... the speach that we are writing isnt the one we will be giving? did i read your comment right mr. Fritz?
    *Miranda L.*

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  28. Miranda,

    You will use the speech you are writing for Tuesday to help develop a group speech (you will be in your groups in class to peer review) which is the one you will actually be giving, when each student will be talking for one minute, but as part of the groups of 5.

    So, by writing the speech this weekend, you will be able to bring all sorts of good ideas (and if you do it right, you won't have to write anything else for your part in the group) to talk about on Tuesday.

    Sound good? I know it is kind of a lot - I will explain it more next class. For now, just write the speech as you would actually be giving it, because it will make life much easier the next week. :-)

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  29. oh ok... did not know thats what was gonna happen... sounds good... and sounds way easier...woohoo
    *Miranda L.*

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  30. Okay so im almost done with my speech! Its a lot of work though. :)

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  31. this speech is ridic work...

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  32. almost done with the speech... im running out of things to write about... but im sure i can finish with the info i have...

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  33. Keep it up guys! Remember, once you are done with this speech, you are pretty much done until break with homework in this class! All that's left do to is make the group speech and present it - then we'll be watching Hotel Rwanda next week. I really appreciate all your hard work and can't wait to see what you come up with tomorrow! Remember to print TWO copies! :-)

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  34. Wow Mr. Fritz--you are so tech savvy and dedicated to your students. I am so impressed. Kate Woicke

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  35. Mr. Fritz,
    my printer is low on toner and isnt printing... can i send the speach to you and print it out at school?

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  36. Miranda,

    Go ahead and e-mail it to me and I will print it out for you tonight. If you could also e-mail me your typed up letter to me, that would be fantastic - I'll even be able to get it back to you tomorrow morning!

    Thanks for working so hard!

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  37. ok... i just have to type that and send those two things and ill be done with homework for the night... bed can wait...haha

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  38. mr.fritz this is so illegitimate........

    i've been working for about an hour and have a solid intro but am having issues with the reasons without sounding stupidly obvious and repetitive.

    as far as winning the students over popularity wise i would've waited a bit to put this assignment on us.. jk..kinda....for the most part.. but really..kinda..

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  39. Ben,

    I love your useage of "illegitmate" - that made me laugh. It is really okay if you are repetitive. That's essentially what a good, short, persuasive speech is all about: driving home a few main points and making them stick in the listener's head.

    Remember as well that I will have other things for you to consider when it comes down to your group writing the speech. The really important (and individual) part is actually writing down and showing me what YOU know about the genocide. The rest will come with your group deciding how to combine everyone's speeches into one. That is much easier. By working hard tonight, you will basically have all your individual work done.

    Also, don't try to pretend like I'm not your coolest teacher. You know I am. :-)

    Keep working hard! I really do appreciate it!

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  40. well it was up in the air but the fact that you just used ":-)" sealed the deal..

    ugh back to work..

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  41. DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  42. i sent you the two assignments... and i am getting off the computer now... i can barely see straight...

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  43. Hi Mr. Fritz,
    This really has nothing to do with any of the things we're doing in class, sorry, but that game was so depressing! And I know you were there, which would have made it even more deflating, but it was a well fought game. ALL the players were on fire!!! Oh well, it's not the end of the world, and I still love the Blazers! Better luck next time I guess :)
    See you thursday,
    Archana
    P.S. Blazers are the best!

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  44. Hi Archana!

    Thank you so much for posting on the blog, and also thank you for your thoughts on the Blazer game (UGH!). I responded to you and put my own thoughts about the game in the comments to the most recent entry, here: http://westviewgs.blogspot.com/2008/12/period-1-genocide-in-rwanda-day-3-class.html

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  45. yeah didn't really read the blog. just finally commenting for the assignment thing after a week it was assigned haha. yeah i don't really like the whole idea of the shirt and tie thing for the speech... just a heads up

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