9/25 Collaborative Activity: Exploring Mental Health Issues

1. As as group read "Florida to Execute Severely Mentally Ill Man Unless Supreme Court Intervenes"
and discuss:

• How do you feel about states legally executing mentally ill people for crimes?
• How do you think mentally ill people who commit crimes should be treated?
• Did anything from this article surprise you?
• What connections can you make between this article and the novel, Of Mice and Men?

Compose a short 3-5 sentence response that is reflective of the different views held by different members of your group and post to our class blog.

To do:

Email: whs.tucker.classblog@blogger.com
Subject line: Executing Criminals Who Are Mentally Ill
Message: 3-5 well written sentences explaining your group's views on this topic. Please honor the different opinions in your group. You do NOT need to agree.

2. Explore the Infographics below about mental health.
         Facing Mental Illness 
        The Science of Mental Illness
        Mental Health in America

• What information did you find most interesting or surprising in these infographics?
• Which infographic did you like the most? Why? Which strategy or strategies were used in this infographic that were compelling to you -- pictures, graphs, color schemes, organization? 

To do:

Email: whs.tucker.classblog@blogger.com
Subject line: Mental Health Infographics
Message: Identify the information your group found most compelling about mental health. List the strategies used in the infographics that you liked. 

3. Look at the Pro vs. Con chart for your online discussion from last night's Collaborize Classroom discussion. Identify the 2 strongest arguments from our class debate and explain why you think they are the best "claims."

• How would you argue this topic? 
• Did reading the online debate on Collaborize impact your feelings about this issue? If so, how? If not, why not?
• As a group, find textual evidence (quotes) to support the two strongest arguments. Your textual evidence should be a quote from the novel with a complete citation. 

To do:

Email: whs.tucker.classblog@blogger.com
Subject line: Of Mice and Men Claims and Evidence
Message: Identify 2 strongest points from the pro vs. con list generated by your class. Find one piece of textual evidence (quote) to support each point.