Presentations - Thank you

Period 4 &; 6 Thank you for blowing me away. Your thoughtful stories and words to walk were inspirational and made your audience pause. You can pick up rubrics with comments on your presentation tomorrow if you would like them.

Per. 6 - if you did not present come see me tomorrow

Per. 1 - I wait in anticipation for your stories! Per. 4 & 6 set the bar high!

To all: I will not accept anything after Friday 13th 12:00 noon.
Please check your grades and make sure everything is shared with me.

The last projects have been great. 1 more day to seniorhood!

Final Presentation

Final Words 

Extra Credit - search and share in class a ted talk from the teen summit. Explain how you think it serves as a good model to speak from. 5 points be prepared to share this Thursday or Friday.

Reminder: Synthesis papers are graded. You should see a grade on your google doc. If this was not shared - share immediately. If this was not finished - this was given partial credit.

End of the Year Projects - DUE FRIDAY JUNE 6 2:15 P.M.

Option #1 COLLEGE Exploration Project 
Option #2 CAREER Exploration Project
Option #3 Alternatives to College & Career Search (Blogs & Books) 
Option #4 Creative Writing & the personal statement

College Exploration Project

Top 12 Strengths & Experiences Colleges Look for in High School Students
Is double majoring a good idea?

Purpose: To help prepare you prepare for college applications –

from “I have no idea where I want to go to…. I know where I want to go … now what?”

Directions:

• Choose 6 of the following tasks to complete
• Put together in a google doc and share with me at jenmurphy11@gmail.com
• Title it ____(per) _______(name) College Project
• Include a table of contents at the top of the page
• Extra points? Every bit helps. Give back to your class… Add a resource that is not included below to the community resource poster in the classroom. Include the URL and sign your name (add it & share it at end of the period 2pnts)

1. Types of Colleges

Review the types of colleges and draw some conclusions on what type of school(s) are right for you and explain why. (1 paragraph)

College Board’s step-by-step college snapshot

Basic Types of Colleges

Big Vs. small colleges

2. What major is right for me?

Take one of the quizzes below or another major quiz of your choice. Write a reflection (1 paragraph):

·         Summarize the results

·         Do the results align with your interests? Explain

·         What do you see yourself studying and why do you feel this is a good fit for you?

St. Louis University’s Quiz

Loyola University Chicago’s Quiz

Collegehelper.com major quiz

3. Which College is right for me? What do they require? (College information spreadsheet)

Naviance family connection

·         SuperMatch™ college search

·         college match

·         college compare

College Board’s college search interactive tool to find the right colleges for you. Search by type, size, location, majors, cost and more.

Common Core Application

• List of Colleges using the common core application
• List of schools deadlines - The application requirements grid lists the application deadlines, fees, and other requirements for first-year applicants to all Common Application member colleges.
• College Ranking by U.S. News
• Search Colleges by Major 
• search by major and state 

Task:

a.       Make a list of 4-6 colleges you are interested in applying to and explain what do they have to offer that appeals to you?

b.      Create a college spreadsheet of the following information

School Name  Type	School forms required	Test Policy	Deadline	Contact Information	Address	Supplements (Essay requirements
California Lutheran University Private Science programs Rank 18	1 Academic Teacher Evaluation(s) School Report, Final Report,	SAT w/o Writing or ACT w/o Writing	Early Action II: 1/15/2011	Phone: 805-493-3135 / 877-258-3678 Fax: 805-493-3114 Email: admissions@callutheran.edu	60 West Olsen Road, #1350 Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 United States of America	None ***select scholar app.
Connecticut College	2 Academic Teacher Evaluation(s) School Report, Mid Year Report, Final Report,	Test Optional	Fall 2011 First-Year Regular Decision: 1/1/2011	Phone: 860-439-2200 Fax: 860-439-4301 Email: admission@conncoll.edu	Connecticut College Admission Office 270 Mohegan Avenue New London, CT 06320 United States of America	1)What, in particular, influences your desire to attend Connecticut College? 2) Please share something about yourself that you have not addressed in your Common Application and which may not be revealed in a recommendation.

Sample spreadsheet

School Name	School forms required	Test Policy	Deadline	Contact Information	Address	Supplements Programs or Majors of Interest / Tuition
School  Type Ranking	1 Academic Teacher Evaluation(s) Transcripts School Report, Final Report, GPA required	Do they take SAT scores and  / or ACT? Other tests needed	Early acceptance 1/15/2011 Regular Acceptance	Phone: 805-493-3135 / 877-258-3678 Fax: 805-493-3114 Email: admissions@callutheran.edu	Office of Admissions 60 West Olsen Road, #1350 Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 United States of America	Anything else required? Essay Questions What do you want to study there? Ex: Business What makes this school special Ex: Low student: Teacher ratio

4. 4. Getting ready to apply – Brag sheets & recommendation letters 

Complete a. Brag Sheet in Naviance & (you submit this for teachers to write recommendation letters – link to your completed brag sheet in google docs) with a b. generic recommendation letter of request

What to give your teacher 

b.      Request letter of recommendation in writing 

I am writing to ask whether it would be possible for you to provide a reference for me. I am applying to ....(colleges)

If you were able to attest to my qualifications and the skills I attained while a student in your class, I would sincerely appreciate it. 

Please let me know if there is any information I can provide regarding my experience to assist you in giving me a reference. I can be reached at jsmith@abcd.com or (111) 111-1111.

Thank you for your consideration.

What to give your teacher

·         Deadline information.

• Your full name, address, e-mail, and telephone number.
• Two copies of any forms they need to fill out (one copy to be used as a rough draft, and one to be used as a final draft).
• The name and address of the institution you are applying to, along with a copy of your completed essay and application. Provide a stamped, addressed envelope for their convenience.
• Information about the school (e.g., viewbook).
• A copy of your résumé, activities, accomplishments, and achievements (brag sheet)

5. I applied – what now? Make a list of the suggestions – and see if there are particular dates you need to pay attention to from your individual colleges you apply to. Some have a what do I do after I appy section.

UC’s recommendations

Next step U

6. Money, Money, Money – How to afford college

FASFA – student aid website

1. Click on deadlines and find deadlines for submitting your FASFA application _________________
2. Create a chart that includes: list of colleges you want to apply to, graduation rates; retention rate

College	Under school code search, research the graduation rate	Under school code search research the retention rate
Pitzer College	87%	90%

3. Scholarship search – Find 3 scholarships you would be eligible to apply for

Scholarship name Website	Application deadline	Eligibility & Application requirements

• Naviance – look up scholarships on college resources
• FastWeb scholarship search – sign up with email
• College Data scholarship search
• Other types of student aid available

7. Personal Statement or Scholarship Essay – Complete 1 of the following (required for college project) 

OPTION #1: Common Application Essay 

OPTION#2: UC Personal statement

OPTION #3: An essay prompt from a private university 

Option #4: Scholarship essay

Personal Statement Directions & Tips for the personal statement 

essays referred to in the tips 

Sample student personal statements - Read 3 

First and last sentences of an essay 

UC Berkely outlined statement 

First lines from essays of Stanford's entering class
Mum, I'm Gay
"Si no quieres estudiar entonces te vas a tener que poner a trabajar!" 
Baseball & event that changed my life (great narrative description)
living alone 
my parent's influence - multiple experiences that shaped me
home
travelling abroad
cheese: a cross-cultural story
my best friend goes to rehab
I don't watch television 
poetic I am comfortable curled up 
growing up 
I'm privileged .. I sought diversity (be honest about your privilege)
What I don't want to be (a story of growing up rough)
Daughter of immigrants
Growing up on a family grown farm (details are important)

Overcoming a problem (speech impediment)
Hard Dreams (ballet)
A sports story - (not a personal statement, but an example of writing with a unique perspective) 

personal statements needing work 

8. Prepare for a College interview

Visit bigfuture.com’s suggestions

• Choose 8 questions
• Answer 8 question that provide quality answers (1 paragraph each) 

Example College Project 

Career Exploration Project

Purpose: To help prepare you prepare for work –

from “I have no idea where I want to go to…. I know where I want to go … now what?”

Directions:

• Complete all 7 of the following tasks
• Put together in a google doc and share with me at jenmurphy11@gmail.com
• Title it ____(per) _______(name) Career Project

1. Career / Personality Test Reflection or (Take Career / Personality / Major Test & write a 1-2 paragraph thoughtful reflection about careers that would suit you and how you agree or disagree with this assessment. A suggested outline is below)
1. what your strengths & weaknesses according to the test. Do you agree or disagree with this and why?
2. according to the assessment – what is one career / industry you would do well in? Why? What major (s) would prepare you for this? What specific jobs would this lead to? Do you see yourself in this job in 5 years? 10 years?
3. what is another career / industry you would do well in? Feel free to veer away from the assessment’s recommendations. Why? What major (s) would prepare you for this? What specific jobs would this lead to? Do you see yourself in this job in 5 years? 10 years?

Visit:

Naviance family connection – select on career tab under Naviance
or try
career test  - scroll to the end of the page where it says take test 

2. Career Expose – research & summarize the field you want.
1. 1^st paragraph – duties / responsibilities, salary, where is it most prominent (i.e. lots of biotech jobs available in San Diego)  
2. 2^nd paragraph – requirements (school, training, experience)

U.S. Career guide

Career Onestop
Types of Jobs and their descriptions 

3. Resume – complete resume

Visit Naviance family connection – resume builder

Sample High School Resumes

More sample high school resumes highlighting academic accomplishments  

4.  Cover letter to a potential employer

Cover letters usually consist of:  what do you offer to the company, why do you want X job , include awards and accomplishments and power verbs

Sample Cover letters for high school students

5. Cost of living
1. Research the salary you would make in your ideal job and what cities this would be a liveable salary in – write a 1 paragraph reflection, what would you need to make? Does your ideal job provide this? Provide specific evidence from your research. See links below.

·         Cost of Living Calculator CNN money

·         Living wage calculator

6. Interview

Task: Find 10 interview questions and thoroughly answer 10 questions.

Sample Interview Questions for typical teen jobs

Sample interview questions

7. Create a brochure or poster of your findings with images, cited sources

  

Thursday night

Look over synthesis sample papers if you want more

Review note sheets

Go to bed at a decent hour!

Good night!
Good luck!
Eat!

Wed night - Argument practice

Try on the Freedom vs. safety argument prompt on pg. 10 

see sample responses 

Homework: Write only:

• Thesis statement 
• 1 Body paragraph (examples & discussion you would use to support your stance) 

Score your rhetorical analysis paper - HW Tuesday night

1. Read the introduction paragraphs on the back of your outline and try to score them on a scale of 1-9

2. Choose a high paper, medium paper and low paper to read from the sample Florence Kelley essays

Scores are on the last page.

3. score your paper you wrote in class today and turn in with a brief justification written on the paper
Turn in Wednesday

Wilson paper extra credit (10 pnts)

Sample Papers 

Questions to think about for a sample essay 

What is the effect of having such a discussion as this?

thesis: how does Wilson present the unproductive nature (techniques & purpose)

Using ____, _____, and ______, Wilson highlights the unproductive nature of both parties to suggest_____

1. How does he make the groups appear
technique & examples from 1st and 2nd passage

ex: name-calling - "wackos" vs. "brown-lashers" - (always draw examples from both passages)

What image does this create and suggest about the group?

How else is this image created?

2. 2nd impression Wilson gives us about the groups

techniques & examples from 1st / 2nd passage

what does this suggest about the productive nature of groups?

How else is this reinforced in the text? (device & examples)

Conclusion

why does Wilson frame the arguments in this manner?

what parallel conversations does this reflect?

JFK outline / Essays

Today we discussed the JFK prompt :

Here is the JFK prompt on page 1
sample essays follow (each new essay starts with a large capital letter)
scores for the essays can be found on pg. 10

Here are 3 sample papers from the College Board (a 9, 5, 3)

Your Homework: Outline how you would approach the JFK essay 

Thesis: (JFK's purpose and how / why) _____________________________(see handout for analysis)

1. 1st move by JFK: he gives the audience a sense of _________
(patriotism? injustice? understanding that a wrongdoing has been committed? establishes common ground?)

• How does he do this (choose 2 examples from the section) - the smaller the better 
• ex: creates sense of injustice - portrays sacrifices "Reservists..leave homes", "serviceman killed," to convey the magnitude of the irresponsible behavior of the steel companies 

2. 2nd move by JFK: to create a sense of _____________

• uses ________(device)  ex: "_________"(text)  in order to ____________
• uses ________(device)  ex: "_________"(text)  in order to ____________

3. 3rd move by JFK: to create a sense of _____________

• uses ________(device)  ex: "_________"(text)  in order to ____________
• uses ________(device)  ex: "_________"(text)  in order to ____________

Extra Credit: Write full essay instead of outline 

If you were absent yesterday - you need to take the multiple choice test and see me for grading

Create your own synthesis question

Synthesis project 

Synthesis Rubric 

Sample Final Synthesis Paper 

Post Office Synthesis Intro & Body Paragraph

If you were working with a partner pair - I will give you time on Monday to finish this.

Post office Prompt 

Sample Papers 

Introduction 

• give background to the problem (changing world) 
• role of the post office in your opinion 
• Thesis - should the post office be restructured and if so, how?

    Possible Thesis: While we should remember _______________, it is important to __________(answer to question) and how / why ________ (solutions/ reasons)

Body Paragraph 1 

• Reason 1 
• Evidence to support (Doc A, B, C, etc) 
• Explanation of how / why your suggestion is important (Big ideas: value, unity, economic development) 
• Further evidence to support your point OR evidence that goes against your point (Docs) 
• Explain / Justify your rationale - what does the evidence give individuals / society / business? 
• Conclude - why is your solution essential? 

Sample Body Paragraph 

The world cannot ignore the demands of a changing world and with it our need to advance our communication. It is impossible to maintain the symbol of the post office unless, the USPS is restructured at a technological level. (Reason 1). O'Keefe informs us that 3.8 billion dollars are being lost with the down sizing of mail usage. (Source C) This is a reality that cannot be ignored if we want to preserve the postal system in any sense (Problem / Evidence). Essentially, the post office needs to walk into the modern age and use digital communication to enhance it's services and attract more customers. Perhaps it is time to look beyond email, but broadband service to which would, as Stone argues "define the Postal Service as a communications-delivery service, rather than just a team of letter carriers" (Source A). This is not a merely a replacement, but an expansion of the role of the post office. Source A reminds us that "most people are e-mailing" and we need to maintain the current trend of communication. We can celebrate our advancements by taking a selfie with our local post master! On the other hand, Kevin Cullen gently reminds the public that we do not want to replace the tradition of the letter and the paper (source F), but it is possible to hold onto these relics while reinventing ourselves (businesses) for the modern world. In fact, it is essential. If we want to preserve the historical integrity of the mail system in any fashion, then embracing the current communication trend of the modern world is essential to preserving a respectful and legitimate business in today's world. Yes the postal system is history, but it will be gone if it does not embrace technological developments. 

Post Office synthesis outline

Outline your reasons (3 problems, solutions, explanations of why this is important) see chart below

Organizing for a synthesis paper

Choose a position:

Yes we should restructure Choose 3 problems, solutions, & reasons why

What problems are presented?	What solutions exist? (Evidence that leads you to this) What might complicate the solution? (source)	Why is this important? (What will the solution create, foster, develop, preserve?)
Problem: 3.8 billion dollars is being lost in revenue due to mail volume decreasing	Increase mail volume by expanding services technologically -          Need to expand through e-services (source A) -          Expand does not destroy the post office’s identity, an image we are reminded of in a photo of one of the last individual post office’s (source G) but it does add to it	-          We have to preserve the U.S. -          Foster economy -
Or No – we shouldn’t restructure the post office Explain 3 reasons, justifications, & why
What exists that we want to preserve?	What solutions exist? (Evidence that leads you to this) What might complicate the solution? (source)	Why is this important? (What will the solution create, foster, develop, preserve?)
Preserve: the symbol of the U.S. post office – it represents progress – don’t change it	-          Cullen (Source F) argues we need to keep the “handwritten letter”	-          It gives the organization more value, more important than speed and progress -          It is tradition

Argument Thesis Practice

Choose 7 prompts

Write 7 thesis statements and briefly identify the reason and evidence you would use to support

argument thesis practice 

Due Monday - April 14 on google docs. see assignment for further directions.

Timed Write: Ideas to think about

Certainty
Doubt 

These are sample essays on relationship between ownership and identity that we discussed today. Your prompt tomorrow will be similar.

Practice Argument: Ownership / Self

1. Read the following Prompt (Per. 1) 
(Suggested time—40 minutes. This question counts for one-third of the total essay section score.)
For centuries, prominent thinkers have pondered the relationship between ownership and the development of self
(identity), ultimately asking the question, “What does it mean to own something?”

Plato argues that owning objects is detrimental to a person’s character. Aristotle claims that ownership of tangible
goods helps to develop moral character. Twentieth-century philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre proposes that ownership
extends beyond objects to include intangible things as well. In Sartre’s view, becoming proficient in some skill and
knowing something thoroughly means that we “own” it.

Think about the differing views of ownership. Then write an essay in which you explain your position on the
relationship between ownership and sense of self. Use appropriate evidence from your reading, experience, or
observations to support your argument.

2. Write a thesis statement (2 examples are below) 

Ex 1: The verb “to own doesn't just mean to have something, it means that we know something, or that we have made it a part of ourselves.

Ex 2: Ownership can be found within yourself or through experiences that help you discover your sense of self.

3. Briefly explain 3 bullet points you would use to support your answer

• Ex: owning a book - physically, tangibly, own book, but not your own until you own ideas, experiences shapes your self giving you a sense of the world
• Ex: Russia owns Crimea - geographically, legally, has acceptance from "97%" of its citizens / U.S. contends they don't own because it broke constitution of Crimea & international law - the debate has contributed to citizens having a fractured identity , Russia argues it has returned rightful citizenship to the people of Crimea returning their stolen identity -
• Ex: a baby owns nothing and to develop one's sense of self they begin to own / claim their parents through crying, demonstrating basic needs - they establish a sense of belonging to their parents as a means to develop their sense of self - our first sense ownership creates survival and knowledge

Article 5 due Monday March 17

Your last article for the Columnist project (#5) is due Monday.
There will be no end of the unit project - you have done enough.

You should turn in
1. annotated article #5
2. 4 sentence precis
3. Response - what did your author argue? Do you agree / disagree? To what extent? Why? What evidence is your opinion based on?

Book Project due Monday, March 24th

Finish your books you are currently reading. You have a project on social commentary in your novel 

EAP Tuesday

Tuesday you will do the essay portion of the EAP. (Early Assessment program)

This can help determine your college writing level and readiness for writing at the college level.

The scoring guide

See Sample Essays: Topic 1  & Topic 2

Deadlines

1. Adversity Rewrite due Monday
Turned in typed rewrite on Google Docs or bring in printed
Turn in original with reflection

2. Article 4 Due Monday

3. Some of you have Debates due Monday

4. Independent Reading Book New Deadline to be read - March 17

Debates

1. Review the Debate Process & Procedure 
2. Find a partner a team to debate with.
3. Sign up for a topic to debate

Each person or team will submit notes for:

·        Their introduction

·        Contention / claim 1

·        Contention / Claim 2

·        Anticipated reubuttal

·        Conclusion

·        Bulleted notes are recommended. One document can be submitted for the entire team.

Sources – mention where you are getting this information in the debate (i.e. According to the U.S. Cenus Bureau….)

Article #2 & 3 from Columnist Project should now be turned in

Articles should include :

• annotation (what is author saying, your questions & responses, & how techniques & devices you see) 
• 4 sentence precis (sentences should be typed and separated out
• response with concrete examples 

• bio - what has your writer done? accomplishments? awards? publications or other ventures? 100 - 200 words with picture (helpful) & mla format - only with the second article 

Ted Talk Friday

Preview transcript or video for Friday

Kelly McGonigal: How to make stress your friend

Bring in notes
Find her claim (s)
Grounds - evidenced she researched to prove her claim
Warrant - what is her belief about stress
Backing - where did this belief stem from? (This is exigence if we were talking rhetorical analysis)

To what extent do you agree or disagree with her claim (s)?
Do you want to support her evidence with a parallel example?
Do you want to challenge her evidence with a personal observation / experience?
Bring in specific examples to support your point

Toulmin Ad analysis due Thursday

Bring an advertisement for a product (it can be from on-line, a magazine, or newspaper)
Ad analysis
Claim + Reason
Grounds (evidence) given
Warrants (beliefs that the claim rests on)
Backing (where do these beliefs come from?)
Qualifiers (one word that shows the strength or limitation of the claim "probably", "every")
Rebuttals (exceptions, limitations the other side would recognize)

Columnist Project Due Dates

Article 1: Tuesday February 18
Article 2: Monday February 24 + biography of your author
Article 3: Monday March 3
Article 4: Monday March 10
Article 5: Monday: March 17th
Creative response: Monday, March 24th

Each week, you will turn in:

• annotated column 
• precis
• 1 paragraph response 

Columnists

Prominent Newspaper Columnists

Anne Applebaum (Washington Post)

Mark Bowden (Philadelphia Inquirer)

David Brooks (NY Times)c

David Broder (Washington Post)- L

Mona Charen (syndicated) C

Richard Cohen (Washington Post)- l / I

Gail Collins (NY Times)

Megan Daum (LA Times)

E.J. Dionne (Washington Post) L

Ross Douthat (NY Times)

Maureen Dowd (NY Times) - L

Thomas Friedman (NY Times)l

Georgie Anne Geyer (UPS – uexpress.com)

Jonah Goldberg (LA Times)c

Ellen Goodman (Boston Globe)L

Fred Grimm (Miami Herald)

Jane Healy (Orlando Sentinel)

Bob Herbert (NY Times)- L

Carl Hiassen (Miami Herald)

Christopher Hitchens (The Atlantic)

Arianna Huffington (huffingtonpost.com) L

David Ignatius (Washington Post)

Molly Ivins (Texas Monthly, )- L

Fred Kaplan (Slate.com)

Charles Krauthammer (Washington Post)c

Nicholas Kristof (NY Times)- L

Paul Krugman (NY Times)- L

Lawrence Lessig (Wired)

Dahlia Lithwick (Slate.com)

Doyle McManus (LA Times)

Peggy Noonan (Wall Street Journal) C

Andres Oppenheimer (Miami Herald)
Kathleen Parker (Washington Post)

Leonard Pitts (Miami Herald)

Jeanine DiGiovanni (Newsweek)

William Raspberry (Washington Post)

Rick Reilly (Sports Illustrated/ESPN mag.)

Frank Rich (NY Times)- L

Eugene Robinson (Washington Post)

Gregory Rodriguez (LA Times)

Debra Saunders (San Francisco Chronicle)

Jackie Bueno Sousa (Miami Herald)

Thomas Sowell(Hoover Institute scholar) – C

Andrew Sullivan (The Atlantic)

Lynn Sweet (Chicago Sun-Times)

Liz Taylor (Seattle Times)

Phil Taylor (Sports Illustrated)

Cal Thomas (Washington Times)

Mike Thomas (Orlando Sentinel)

John Tierney (New York Time)c

George Will (Washington Post)C

George Will (Washington Post)

AND MORE —

The New York Times    http://www.nytimes.com  Click on Editorials/Op-Ed.  (You get 10 freebies monthly)

The Washington Post   http://www.washingtonpost.com  Click on Opinions to see a list of regular contributors.

The Boston Globe  http://www.boston.com/globe  Click on Editorials/Op-Ed.

The Nation  http://www.thenation.com/  (note this is a left-wing publication)

Townhall.com – (note: right wing publication)

Chicago Sun-Times  http://www.suntimes.com/index/  Click on Commentary and use list of columnists.

Chicago Tribune  http://www.chicagotribune.com/   Click on Columnists.

Miami Herald   http://www.miami.com/herald/  Click on Opnion; Columnists are on the right; Click on

The San Francisco Chronicle  http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/  Click on Columnists.

The Washington Times  http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/  Click on Opinion/Editorial and scroll down to Regular columnists.

Columnists By Topic

News & Politics Anne Applebaum (Washington Post) Steve Chapman (Chicago Tribune) Richard Cohen (Washington Post) Gail Collins (NY Times) Joe Conason (Salon.com) E.J. Dionne Jr. (Washington Post) Maureen Dowd (NY Times) Thomas Friedman (NY Times) Michael Gerson (Washington Post) Nat Hentoff (Jewish World Review) Jim Hoagland (Washington Post) David Ignatius (Washington Post) Derrick Z. Jackson (Boston Globe) Al Kamen (Washington Post) Mickey Kaus (The Daily Caller) Bill Keller (NY Times) Michael Kinsley (The New Republic) Joe Klein (TIME) Morton M. Kondracke (Roll Call) Nicholas Kristof (NY Times) Harold Meyerson (Washington Post) Mary Mitchell (Chicago Sun-Times) Peggy Noonan (Wall Street Journal) Clarence Page (Chicago Tribune) Kathleen Parker (Chicago Tribune) Ronald Brownstein (National Journal) Robert J. Samuelson (Washington Post) Mark Shields (Creators.com) Thomas Sowell (Jewish World Review) Andrew Sullivan (The Dish) Lynn Sweet (Chicago Sun-Times) George F. Will (Washington Post)

Business Bloomberg Columnists Chicago Tribune Business Columns Rance Crain (Advertising Age) Pual Krugman (NY Times) Gail MarksJarvis (Chicago Tribune) Steven Syre (Boston Globe) Schumpeter (The Economist)

Computers/Technology Mike Cassidy (San Jose Mercury News) John C. Dvorak (PC Magazine) Andrew Leonard (Salon.com) Walter S. Mossberg (All Things D)

Sports

• Mitch Albom (Detroit Free Press)
• Bill Plaschke (LA Times)
• Sports Illustrated Writers
• Patrick Reusse (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)
• Rick Telander (Chicago Sun-Times)
• ESPN Page 2 Columnists
• Washington Post Sports Blogs & Columns

Humor Columnists

Dave Barry
Hey may well be the funniest man in America, and you can sift through his columns to find incisive political commentary. And no, he is not making this stuff up.

Art Buchwald
Read the latest musings from the king of American political satire in the Washington Post.

Maureen Dowd
Pulitzer Prize winner Maureen Dowd’s insightful and wickedly funny column appears twice a week in The New York Times, on Sundays and Wednesdays. The Times' web site features links to all of her columns from the last month.

Jim Hightower
The latest commentary from "America's #1 Populist." Hightower calls himself "a leading national voice for the 80 percent of us who no longer find ourselves even within shouting distance of those at the top."

Arianna Huffington
The complete syndicated columns of Arianna Huffington, who, with wit and irreverence, has taken to railing against the corruption of the political system and advocating reform.

P.J. O'Rourke 

Carl Hiassen