1. Name Date Hour
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence.
The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said “you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.”
You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there. Author Unknown
1. Name Date Hour
2. Lesson Learned
3. Share with a partner
4. Make a list of 10 controversial topics that this anecdote could be used for?
5. Pick one of the above controversial topics and explain how it could be used in a debate. (1 paragraph)
Once upon a time all feelings and emotions went to a coastal island for a vacation. According to their nature, each was having a good time. Suddenly, a warning of an impending storm was announced and everyone was advised to evacuate the island.
The announcement caused sudden panic. All rushed to their boats. Even damaged boats were quickly repaired and commissioned for duty.
Yet, Love did not wish to flee quickly. There was so much to do. But as the clouds darkened, Love realised it was time to leave. Alas, there were no boats to spare. Love looked around with hope.
Just then Prosperity passed by in a luxurious boat. Love shouted, “Prosperity, could you please take me in your boat?”
“No,” replied Prosperity, “my boat is full of precious possessions, gold and silver. There is no place for you.”
A little later Vanity came by in a beautiful boat. Again Love shouted, “Could you help me, Vanity? I am stranded and need a lift. Please take me with you.”
Vanity responded haughtily, “No, I cannot take you with me. My boat will get soiled with your muddy feet.”
Sorrow passed by after some time. Again, Love asked for help. But it was to no avail. “No, I cannot take you with me. I am so sad. I want to be by myself.”
When Happiness passed by a few minutes later, Love again called for help. But Happiness was so happy that it did not look around, hardly concerned about anyone.
Love was growing restless and dejected. Just then somebody called out, “Come Love, I will take you with me.” Love did not know who was being so magnanimous, but jumped on to the boat, greatly relieved that she would reach a safe place.
On getting off the boat, Love met Knowledge. Puzzled, Love inquired, “Knowledge, do you know who so generously gave me a lift just when no one else wished to help?”
Knowledge smiled, “Oh, that was Time.”
“And why would Time stop to pick me and take me to safety?” Love wondered.
Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and replied, “Because only Time knows your true greatness and what you are capable of. Only Love can bring peace and great happiness in this world.”
Author Unknown
1. Name Date Hour
2. Lesson Learned
3. Share Lesson Learned with a partner
4. Develop two paragraphs explaining the lesson learned and then providing an example from your own life of how this would impact you.
"An eccentric philosophy professor gave a one question final exam after a semester dealing with a broad array of topics. The class was already seated and ready to go when the professor picked up his chair, plopped it on top of his desk and wrote on the board:
"Using everything we have learned this semester, prove that this chair does not exist."
Fingers flew, erasers erased, notebooks were filled in furious fashion. Some students wrote over 30 pages in one hour attempting to refute the existence of the chair. One member of the class however, was up and finished in less than a minute.
A week later when the grades were posted, the rest of the group wondered how he could have gotten an "A" when he had barely written anything at all.
His answer consisted of two words: "What chair?""Author Unknown
1. Name/Date/Hour
2. Develop a short concise Lesson Learned.
3. Share this lesson learned with a partner including what led you to this conclusion.
4. Rewrite this anecdote - the environment will be a party. Use two to three paragraphs telling the story and use dialogue.
"All respect the queen of the African plains. If the zebara or the antelope catch sight of me crouching in the bush, they do not forget to gallop. The elephant and the rhino respect me, and they mind not to tread on my children with their big clumsy feet. Even the snappy crocodile stays clear of me, when I come down to drink at the water.
Yes, respect is good.
And that is why I was so angry when a pesky little fellow failed to show me respect.
Buzzzzzzzzzz !
The mosquito buzzed around my ears and even stung me on the nose. I snapped at the horrid little traitor, and I bit my tongue. Oh, how that hurt ! Then I struck at him with my paw, such a blow that would fell a buffalo, but he slipped through my claws and was laughing at me. The he bit me on the bottom ! The cheek of it !
“Oh great queen”, said the Mosquito. “Bow your head before your master, I the Mosquito, have drunk your blood and defeated you in combat.”
I roared an almighty roar that sent the wildebeest and the giraffe scattering across the savanna.
“Ha ha ha, ” laughed the mosquito. And he flew backwards into a spider’s web. And the spider showed respect to his queen by eating the wretched insect.
A little while after this, I was lying asleep under a tree when I felt something tickling my nose.
I opened one eye and saw that a mouse had scampered onto my face!
“How dare you ! ” I roared. And was about to swipe him a deadly blow with my paw when the mouse begged:
“Oh mighty queen, forgive me! I was running through the long grass, and did not mean to run onto your nose or to disturb your sleep .”
And I laughed at this furry creature and said.
“Little fellow. I was about to kill you but you have shown wisdom and respect for your queen. I pardon your sin.”
“Oh, thank you thank you,” said the mouse. “I only hope that one day I may be of service to your majesty. ”
And I laughed again, for how could a little mouse help a mighty queen?
The weeks went by, and I was out for a midnight stroll when all of a sudden, there was no ground beneath my paws.
Thump. I fell to the bottom of a pit. I tried to spring out, but I was tangled in a net. The more my limbs struggled, the more I became entangled.
A hyena came by and saw me in this sorry trap. He cackled with his ugly voice and taunted me;
“In the morning the men shall come and throw their spears into your side. And then we shall have to find a new queen.”
I snarled with fury and swore to tear him apart when I was free from the snare. But he just laughed his silly laugh.
Towards morning, I had almost given up hope when I heard a little voice.
“My queen,” it said. “At last I may be of service to you.”
I saw the pink nose of the mouse.
“My loyal subject. It does my proud heart good to hear your well meaning words. But I am afraid you must now pay your last respects to your queen, for my limbs are caught in this net, and very soon the sun will rise and the men shall come to kill me.”
“You underestimate the might of a mouse,” said my loyal subject. And he called his wife and children, and together they gnawed through the net. I was free within the hour, just in time to spring out of the pit and give the men who had come to kill me a nasty surprise." African Tales
1. Name / Date / Hour
2. Develop a Lesson Learned.
3. Share this Lesson Learned with a partner (reflect on how you came up with your LL)
4. Develop two paragraphs, first describing the relationship between the three characters of the story and second, build a case for your lesson learned - how could this be used to influence an audience?
"There once was a man, who was raising his young son. The mother had passed away in childbirth and he was teaching his son all that he knew. This son, grew up and in time wanted to go to a nearby village and find him a companion. Many months passed and the young man returned to his home, and with him he had a woman, his wife. They lived in the home of his father.
Shortly after, They had a son. And the father, now a grandfather began teaching this young boy all that he knew. How to respect the forest, the animals and life. The mother, tiring of sharing her home with the old man told her husband that she wanted the old man out.
The father spoke "I cannot, this is his home and he built it for us." She spoke "If you do not make him leave then I will take our son and I will leave." The father agreed and spoke to his son. "My son, tomorrow I want you to take Grandpa out and leave him. Give him this blanket." The young boy cried. "Why do you do this? Grandpa has been teaching me all that I know. Why do I have to do this to him?" The father spoke. "Son, follow the wishes of your father." So the next morning, the father went hunting to the North. The son took Grandpa as far as he could walk to the South.
That evening the young boy was sitting on the bed crying when his father came In. He saw the blanket on the bed. "Son, I thought I told you to give Grandpa the blanket?" "I gave Grandpa half of the blanket. The other half, I will give to you some day." The mother and father understood the message. And they went and brought Grandpa back." An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
1. Name / Date / Hour
2. Develop a Lesson Learned
3. Share your Lesson Learned with your partner
4. Develop two paragraphs reflecting on the symbolism of the blanket and the influence this may have on an audience. For example, what type of topic would/could this fit, in a debate environment?
