Homework due March 29

Our final session assignment

1.   Imagine a friend caught you reading To Alpha From Omega and asked you the following questions: (Individual comments)

a.     What’s the book about?

b.     Why is it called To Alpha From Omega?

c.      What are main messages of the book? Are the messages positive or negative?

d.     Which characters did you particularly like?

e.     What was your favorite episode or passage?

f.       Is it easy to read?

g.     How does it end?

 

2.     More in-depth analysis: (Group discussion)

a.     Are all the characters including Jason flawed in some way?

b.     Did you dislike any of the main characters? Why?

c.       Summarize what you believe might be in Jason’s report when he returned to Omega.

d.     What do you think Jason’s attitude to Alphans would be at the end of his tour of duty?

e.     At which moments in Jason’s time on Alpha did he consider the possibility of staying on Alpha?

f.       Did Jason’s disappearance from his secured facility remind you of any other great escapes in history?

g.     How would you judge the behaviour of Jessie, Joanne and Sandy towards Jason?

h.     How likely is the genetic engineering project in the latter part of the book?

                   i.        What is the significance of the ending of the book? 

Homework due March 22

Next lesson's theme: The Meaning of Life!  Try to finish the novel by next lesson or, at the latest. our last lesson on Match 29. Background reading: Useful Links column 'The Meaning of Life'

Homework due March 15

Read up until chapter 33. Focus especially on the last few pages of chapter 31 and all of chapter 32. 

The focus on our next class will be 'Dying, Grieving and Mourning'

Try to read a number of articles in the Useful Links column on death, dying and grieving.

Reading for March 8

 

Today we examined briefly some Justice myths arising out of Jason's brush with the criminal justice system

 Next week’s set reading: Chapters 13, 18, 22--24.

Play particular attention to chapters 13,22-24 which will be the subject of next week’s tutorial.

Les had kindly volunteered to lead this tutorial next Thursday.

The agenda for these tutorials will be:

• 1.       Plot development: What new challenges is Jason facing?
• 2.       Themes and issues: What themes are developing or beginning?  What key issues were raised in          these chapters?
• 3.       What is your opinion on some of these issues?
• 4.       Any questions directed at the author?

On another note, the Term 2 U3A schedule will soon be published. Mythbusters will only continue if enough students enrol. Please indicate by email if you want to continue with Mythbusters in Term 2. Otherwise we will finish up this Term. 

Homework due March 1

\Today we explored some myths around our education system. If you want to explore these myths in  greater depth or if you were away, maybe purchase my book ‘The Elephant in Our Classrooms’ (amazon.com $6) 

Next session we will explore myths surrounding our criminal justice system. Please read chapter 14, 15, 17 and the start of chapter 18 for next session. 

I have also called for volunteers to lead the discussion in future sessions, either alone or in pairs.

Homework due February 22

 Read chapters 12-16. Identify themes, patterns, sub text, popular references and in-jokes.  Any sections that particularly resonated with you? 

Homework due Feb 15

Read chapters 7-11. Identify themes, patterns, sub text, popular references and in-jokes.  Any sections that particularly resonated with you? 

From the Useful Links column watch two film clips: Secret Science of  Advertising and TV as Mind Control. Jot down a few ideas that came to you during the clips.

Please remember to bring a large name tag for your desk as well as the book to every class.

I have resent an email inviting you to write your comments on our blog.