Answer one of the following questions in paragraph form:
1. How do you feel towards the lecture and why do you feel this way?
2. Does the lecture confront or confirm your personal beliefs? Explain.
3. Write about something important you learned from the lecture.
4. What stayed in your mind after the lecture was over? Why do you think that happened?
5. What made the lecture effective (or ineffective) in your opinion?
Write between 100 and 150 words. Provide a word count, please.
If you would like to read some published narrative essays from last year's class, visit these links.
Powerful Blood Ties Rosemary recounts the tale of her brother's death on Christmas eve.
Home, Sweet Home Rita's terrifying experience of the Kobe earthquake in 1995 leads her to a new appreciation of home.
Remembering the Folly Maryann remembers a fateful meeting with a good friend and regrets her actions that day.
The Railroad Man: A New Journey Marc writes of the death of the "backbone of his life," his father.
Disguised Donors In the aftermath of monsoon floods, Jatinder discovers that not all is what it seems on first glance.
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7 comments:
Barry Schwartz reminds me of the awesome responsibility of being a teacher. It is a bit scary, however, that a teacher is considered to be “always teaching” and, even more, that someone is “always watching.” Although Canadian law is clear on this and agrees with Schwartz that we are “moral exemplars,” it is both a burden and a blessing. How can I ever be good enough? I don’t follow a script (in fact, his kindergarten example appalls me) and by not doing so, each term is a work in progress, a response to the unique needs of each of my classes. To my relief, most terms, my students do feel what they’ve learned is important. I am therefore certain that Schwartz’s challenge to me personally is correct: “What is my responsibility?”—131 words
From Mr. Jerry Braun:
In today’s society, “practical wisdom,” is becoming harder and harder to see in people. Practical wisdom was explained to us through a quote by Aristotle during Barry Schwartz lecture, “Practical wisdom is the combination of moral will and moral skill.” What this means to me; is even though there are polices and procedures set in place to guild us on what we should do in a certain situation, we all posses the practical wisdom to look past those guild lines and become sensitive to our surroundings. If we all made a conscious effort to do what was right and not just what we were told, this world would become a much delightful place to live. (115 words)
I know I’m over the 100 words, sorry. Brad, you can’t give us these topics and expect us to write so little! :)
I also strong agree with another point Barry Schwartz made during his presentation and that was that if we teach our children and students more ethical skills at a young age and not so much polices and procedures, you will find that the next generation will be far more caring! If we continue to go down the path that we are on today, we will continue to see the school push out more wealthy business men and women, but most will be money hungry and shroud to whom ever gets in their way. The majority of them will be lacking the very skill that makes us humans, and that is morals or practical wisdom.
Barry Schwartz’s lecture on “Our Loss of Wisdom” confirms my beliefs. I’m fond with these words, “someone is always watching… the camera is on.”I had heard these words since I was child. It is the worthy ethical value I believe in. Yes, the camera is on, everywhere and every moment. Nothing better than to be the watcher on yourself. I believe totally with Schwartz’s opinion that children should be fed ethical skills with their foods because it will grow their spirits while foods strengthen their bodies. They will be more wisdom in the future. For improving the twin part of the wisdom, moral will, could be by volunteering. Indeed, volunteering is a fabulous opportunity to improve our moral skill and moral will.
Words: 122
After I watched Barry Schwartz’s talk about “Our Loss of Wisdom,” it confirms my beliefs; we need to improve our quality of life in our society. Schwartz says, “To serve other people, no to manipulate other people.” In today’s world, is difficult to see people who care about human being. Most of the people are selfish and the only thing that is important for them is their own convenience. If we want to have a success in our society, we have to pay more attention about feelings. We have to be prudent and have common sense to look after others correctly. Also, Schwartz mentions “A wise person is made, not born.” A person learns from watching others, and this start from home. Parents have the responsibility to be a good role model for their children. They need to teach them about values, morality and empathy. Raising the children in this way, our next generation will improve the quality of life in our society.
- 163 words
Barry Schwartz’s lecture “Our loss of wisdom” told us his opinion about rule, moral and incentive. His opinions sounded great, but I doubt the effectiveness of them. In fact moral or fortune which is the most importance puzzled me till now, especially recent two decade, people is crazy to pursue treasure. In order to be rich, they use all the methods by hook or crook including cheat, robber, smuggle drugs, make lower quality products, deprive workers (low pay and overtime), bribe, etc. These methods may be not moral, but they are efficient; they could make the user riche more quickly. Why people went this way? Because our society was built this way, people need not to be taught about the advantage of to be rich like you try to instruct them to be moral, even you have many exemplars, so people despise the poor not the whore – they evaluate others by wealth not the moral. Can we really resolve economic crisis by appealing virtue?
164 words
Barry Schwartz lecture made me realize the importance of human awareness in our society. It’s sad to say, but the true facts are that, we don’t acknowledge the duties and rolls of jobs that some people partake; such jobs as a janitor. We, as a society need to have more sympathy and compassionate for what they do, “any moral work depends upon practical wisdom.” It definitely takes a person with “moral skills” to do these types of jobs. If we can show a little appreciation such as saying a simple “thank you,” to someone who comes in to change the paper roll in the bathroom. It shows that we are aware of them and because they know this, this may then lead to improve their quality of work. Which then, leads me to an agreement to what Barry Schwartz had to say, “kindness, care and empathy are an essential part of the job.” Everyone should be respected, no matter what field of job they are in.
~Word count 167~
Barry Schwartz’s lecture on “Our Loss of Wisdom” made us think a serious problem "virtue" in social environment and kids education .I am strongly agree him "any moral work depends up practical wisdom". I think the virtue education is more important than knowledge education to kids because every kids will merge with the social environment when they grow up, they will be abandoned if their character to be not displayed such as honesty, kindness, and courage. The same situation plays in the work place, the virtue is the important than work skill. Actually doing work is easy like a robot, but "practical wisdom" is an essential part of the job, the kindness ,care and empathy will help you to keep the job and promote. In summary, although appealing virtue is difficult, it is imperative in the present time. Every one ought "to do the right thing in the right way for the right reasons". (152 words)
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