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PART I: THE TRANSCENDENTALIST CHALLENGE Choose at least five of the following activities to perform and then to reflect upon. If you have a “Transcendentalist idea” that is not included on this list, come see me to get it approved. Please include a short summary—who, what, when, where, etc. and then your creative, philosophical reflection/ journal entry.Do something alone—go to a movie, a restaurant, a museum, etc. Write about the experience.Sit alone in silence, doing nothing for a half hour. Reflect in writing afterwards.Take a walk in nature by yourself or with a friend in silence. Observe your surroundings and senses deliberately. Write about it.Experience the morning as Thoreau did. Go watch a sunrise. Reflect.Experience the night and the stars as Emerson did. Reflect.Make a list of your luxuries (wants) vs. necessities in your life. Reflect on the simplicity (or the lack of) in your life.Sit outside for a half hour in order to deliberately observe your five senses at work. Notice every detail of beauty that your five senses detect. Reflect.Look up another Transcendentalist writer. Print out a piece of their work. Read, highlight, think, ponder, and write about it.Read an additional work by one of the authors we have already read. Include your reflection.Reflect and write about your own personal “Walden,” that special place in your life. Capture the details and feelings of that place for your reader.Find a handful of inspirational quotes and reflect on them. Write a piece of poetry in response to a piece of Transcendentalist writing that you have read.Write a song in response to a piece of Transcendentalist writing or idea that you have read.Create a piece of art (painting, drawing, collage, etc) inspired by transcendentalism.Have a philosophical discussion (Different than a debate-- a discussion must fairly and respectfully present different viewpoints) with someone or a group of people. Reflect.Read something, not because it is required, but because you want to better yourself. Reflect on what you learned.Challenge one of society’s (“The Machine’s”) or one of your own pre-conceived notions or prejudices. Write about it.Live as simply as possible for a set amount of time (ideally half of a day to a full day). Use no modern technology—TV, radios, CD’s, IPods, cars, Starbucks, microwaves, computers, fast food etc. Reflect.Read the book Into the Wild, a non-fiction account of Chris McCandless who was highly influenced by Thoreau’s concepts. Reflect.Go see the film Into the Wild. Reflect.Part II:Write a reflection to me. Please include what you have learned about yourself and what you found to be the most meaningful reading and/or activity that we/you did. Also, please include how I can adjust this assignment to make it better/ more meaningful for next year. I appreciate your candor. Please type this (double-spaced) and keep it separate from your journal. ................
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