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In preparation for your final project, the portfolio essay, I'd like you to write about the class goals. Pick one of the five goals from the class Web site, and write about it. What do you think it means? What are some examples of class work we have done to learn about that goal? Have we learned enough about to fully understand the goal? What more does Mr. Munger need to do to ensure that we know what we need to know for this class?

Post at least two comments on this topic by the end of the week. At least one of your comments should be a response to someone else's comment.

Deborah Tannen has written widely on how to get along with the people you love. Read this chapter from her most recent book about effective communication between adult family members. Do her recommendations make sense?

Do your parents still treat you like a child even though you are now (technically, at least) an adult? How should parents' behavior to their kids change when they turn 18? Should adult children still defer to their parents? Why or why not?

I'm suggesting that you explore this topic as a potential topic for essay 4. Write at least two comments for this journal entry, and we'll discuss them in class next week as we begin work on essay 4.

Check out the Gulf War coverage over at The Onion, "America's Finest News Source." Is this not the best coverage of the war yet seen?

P.S. Just in case you don't figure it out right away, the entire Web site is a joke. What do you think? Is the war on Iraq a joking matter? Is this site funny? Is it appropriate to make jokes in times of war? Please make two comments to the class journal by the end of this week.

This is another possible topic for Essay 4. I'd like everyone to post at least two comments on this topic. You can either post a new response or respond to someone else's comment.

An article in slate.com suggests that modern surgical techniques can do almost anything to improve our bodies--not just surgery to make us look better, but also stronger, faster, smarter. Should such surgical techniques be pursued? Are some of them better than others? Should they be better regulated by the government? Should they be covered by health insurance? Here's your chance to speak out!

I'd like the class to help determine what the topic for essay 4 should be. Remember, Essay 4 is a claim of policy essay, a big research project. So it should answer the question "What should we (or someone else) do?" We've already discussed traffic enforcement and fast food lawsuits. What issues interest you? Post at least one comment by the end of this week suggesting a topic.