Today, we began by introducing the TBS tech usage agreement -- a document that we handed out and discussed in detail during class. You should be getting it signed and returned to school no later than Monday, September 1st. If you have misplaced your handout, go to the main middle-school blog site (here) and follow the link to a copy.
Next, we continued attempting to isolate some of the characteristics of effective speaking. We watched Steven Levitt (the author of Freakonomics) talk at the TED conference, explaining why his research indicates that, contrary to popular mythology, being a gang member is "one of the worst jobs in the world." Lively conversations ensued, as some of his statistics (only 2% of death row inmates die in a year, as opposed to 7% of gang members) raised eyebrows. We ended class by making a list of elements that were -- and were not -- effective.
No homework was assigned tonight.