WELCOME to WELCOME to Seminar 8Seminar 8

We will begin on time. We will begin on time. Meanwhile, enjoy chatting.Meanwhile, enjoy chatting.

Don't duck the most difficult problems. That just ensures that the hardest part will be left when you are most tired. Get the big one done - it's downhill

from then on.Norman Vincent Peale

It’s SHOWTIME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!

Welcome to Seminar #8

How is everyone today? How was your week?

Unit 8 Work

• Project: None, so start working on the final.

• Seminar• Discussion: about

mentoring/life coaching. Post a paragraph & review two other paragraphs.

Crossing the Return Threshold

• After life changing experiences, how do you go back to the “Ordinary World”?

• “The first problem of the returning hero is to accept as real, after an experience of the soul-satisfying vision of fulfillment, the passing joys and sorrows, banalities and noisy obscenities of life” (Campbell, 2008, p. 189).

Crossing the Return Threshold

• The returning hero is required to bring the treasure back to the “Ordinary World” to help others, but how is that accomplished?

• Campbell (2008) says, “that is the hero’s ultimate difficult task”….and “the work…cannot be avoided”(p. 188-9).

• As is seen time and time again, people do not believe or respect new ideas. Change takes time.

Discussion: Background

• A friend has written asking your advice. You believe that he or she could benefit from life- coaching, but you know your friend is unfamiliar with the concept.

• Many people have never heard of a life coach, so your job is to write an introduction explaining this concept.

• A sample has been provided in my first post.

Main Post: Introduction to Life Coaching

• Answer your friend’s letter.• Explain what a life coach is.• Why does your friend need one?• Explain the benefits of having

one.• Be sure the last sentence is your

thesis statement.• Be sure to include

information about the hero’s journey.

Discussion: Postings

• Post your introduction to life coaching.

• Review two other students’ introductions.

• To afford the most feedback for all introductions, please respond to someone who does not already have two responses.

• If everyone on the board has two replies when you post, you may choose any introduction for your peer feedback.

Discussion: Peer Review• Does the paragraph explain what a life coach is,

why the friend needs one, and the benefits?• Is the last sentence a thesis statement?• Does the paragraph flow smoothly from one point

to the next? If not, what could be done to create a smoother flow of ideas?

• How does it make you want to keep reading? • What other ideas could the writer use to be as

interesting as possible? • Do you have other suggestions?

The Final Project

• The final Project is a 750 word (minimum), double-spaced report written in paragraph format.

• The final project is due at the end of the next unit, the end of Unit 9, not Unit 10, so you probably want to start working on it this week.

Sources• The final Project requires the use

of 3 sources, one from the Kaplan Library.

• Some sources have been provided for your use, but you do not have to use those sources and are welcome to find your own.

• A list of potential sources can be found in the expanded directions that were emailed to you.

The Final Project• For the final project, you will pretend

that you are a life coach.• You will need to pick a client, who can

be someone you know, a real person that you don’t know, a character from a book or movie, etc.

• You will need to explain to your client what a life coach is, why he/she needs one, the possible benefits, and what a hero’s journey is.

• You will also need to develop a plan for the client, following the hero’s journey.

Paragraphs in Your Report

• 1) Introduction

• 2) What is the goal? = Problem(s)

• 3) Definition = Solution

• 4) Long term effects = Benefits

• 5) Conclusion

• You will need a minimum of 5 paragraphs, but you may have more.

• In order to have a logically organized report, you will need to pre-write.

Expanded Paragraphs

• Do not label sections.

• 1) Introduction – Explain what a life coach is.– Why does your friend need one?– Explain the benefits of having one.– What is a hero’s journey? – Be sure the last sentence is your thesis

statement.

More Expanded Paragraphs• 2) What is the goal? = Problem(s)

– The goal is to solve the client’s problems. Explain the problems.

– What threshold does the client need to cross? What is holding the client back? What dragons does the client need to fight?

• 3) Definition = Solution– What is the “cure” for the problem(s)?– Be specific and problem focused.– Explain this in terms of the steps of the hero’s

journey. You will need to cite this.

Still More Expanded Paragraphs

• 4) Long term effects = Benefits• What benefits will the client get from

using your solution(s)?

• 5) Conclusion– End on a positive note. This is your

last chance to persuade the person to undertake the hero’s journey.

• Do not label sections.

Designing a Plan• Design a specific plan to help your

client with his/her problems. Research may help with this.

• Be sure to describe the plan using the recognized steps of the hero’s journey.

• This will require in text citations and a references page, both in APA format, so be sure you know where you found your information.

Emailed Directions

• Directions and a sample project have been emailed to you and are also in doc sharing.

• The email also includes – A list of potential sources both from the Kaplan

Library and the Internet– A fill-in-the-blank pre-writing form to help you

organize the project. If you do not use some form of pre-writing, your work may lack organization.

– This information was sent this week even though the project is due next week because you will need time if you are to produce credible work.

The Steps in the Hero’s Journey • There are many different web sites that list the

steps of hero’s journey. These steps were taken from the work of Joseph Campbell.

• Many of the steps should look familiar to you from your own journey through this course.

• 1) The Ordinary World• 2) The Call to Adventure• 3) Refusal of the Call• 4) Meeting with the Mentor• 5) Crossing the Threshold

More Steps• 6) Tests, Allies, and Enemies• 7) Approach• 8) The Ordeal• 9) The Reward (Fire Gift)• 10) The Road Back• 11) The Resurrection• 12) Return with the Elixir• You do not have to include every step, but

you should follow the basic format and mention the steps you are including.

Step 1: The Ordinary World• This is the world where the hero

lived and the life the hero led before the Call to Adventure – the hero’s current and past life.

• By “ordinary,” think “normal for the client.”– Where is your client now? Physically?

Mentally? Emotionally? Spiritually? Career? Life style? Relationships? Family?

– What is his/her life like?– What problems exist?

Step 2: The Call to Adventure• Our class began with step 2, where in Unit 1,

you were asked to answer the call to adventure.

• The hero is called to leave his/her normal world/life behind to pursue some goal, solve some problem, or go on some adventure.

• Not all journeys are physical. Not all journeys involve actually going somewhere.

• Has your client heard the call to adventure? Is your client looking to change his/her life, solve a problem, or pursue a goal?

Step 2: The Call (Continued)• Since life is a journey, everyone receives

multiple “calls” to become their best selves.• Think of it as the process of growing.• One of the biggest calls is the one to leave

childhood behind and become a fully self-actuated adult. This seems to be a difficult journey for some to complete.

• Look around you: do you see people who are past their child/teen years still acting like children, failing to take adult responsibility??

• Growth can be mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.

Step 3: Refusal of the Call• At times, the hero refuses to go, sometimes because

he doesn’t want his life interrupted, sees no reason for change, or is afraid. In fact, the hero’s problems now may exist because he/she refused the call in the past.• Obi Wan tells Luke that he must go with him to learn the ways

of the Force, but Luke refuses, saying he needs to get home. Luke thinks of himself as a child who must obey his uncle.

• “Toys R Us Kid” Syndrome: the trappings of adulthood, but not taking full responsibility. Focuses on toys / games – video games, porn, Facebook, cars, drugs.

• Does your client know he/she needs help? Is your client refusing to get help?

Step 4: Meeting with the Mentor• In Unit 2, you wrote about the amulet and

the elixir, symbols of the mentor because they help the hero in some way.

• The hero needs a mentor, but sometimes the mentor does not take the complete journey with the hero. Ultimately, the hero must go alone and find his/her inner wisdom.

• The “mentor” is a form of help. The mentor can be a person, but does not have to be.

Step 5: Crossing the Threshold• In Unit 3, you wrote about crossing the

threshold.• In order for the hero to leave his/her

“ordinary world,” the hero must get past whatever is holding him back. What is holding your client back? What dragons does he/she need to get past?– Luke Skywalker leaves his farm boy life and

crosses the threshold into a larger world when he first feels the Force. He got past his disbelief.

Step 6: Tests, Allies, Enemies• The hero will encounter many trials and challenges. The

road is not easy. • In unit 4, you discussed “temptation,” which was a test for

the hero. In Unit 5, you discussed how Liz Murray and Murray Barr handled their trials differently.– Luke Skywalker was tempted when Darth Vader told

him he was his father. Vader tempted Luke to join him so they could rule the galaxy together. Luke refused the temptation.

– Peter on the TV show Fringe finds out that Walter is not his father and literally goes over to the other side. He succumbs to temptation, but later returns.

Step 7: Approach (Change)• This involves changing your thinking, going

beyond your group, your country, your people.• In Unit 5, we discussed how Liz Murray

overcome obstacles and in Unit 7: Considering the Mentor & Revising the Journey.

• The hero discovers bigger ideas, a larger world. He/she understands that the inner and outer worlds are the same. He/she is enlightened, filled with compassion for others. This new thinking causes the hero to vary his/her “approach” to the journey.

Approach Examples• The children in Narnia change their thinking to

accept the idea of an all-powerful, talking lion.• Luke expands his consciousness to accept the

idea of something he can not see: the Force. Then he formally joins the rebellion as a pilot. He has joined a larger cause.

• Bilbo changes from a liability to an asset when he recues the dwarves from the spiders.

• Eustace as the dragon finally decides to help save his companions. Prior to becoming the dragon, he was a constant liability and never thought of anyone but himself.

Step 8: Ordeal • As the hero continues on the

journey, he experiences more trials.• This one is the big one: a life or

death trial. Successfully navigating through this potential disaster gives the hero a new life.

• This can be the agony of breaking through our limiting thoughts, fears, relationships, disease or disaster.

• The hero breaks through to Step 9: The Reward.

Step 9: Reward

• Because the hero survived the ordeal, he/she can claim the reward.

• Keeping the reward may be a problem, so this is not the happy ending. The hero still must return home to share the reward, and the way back is not always easy.

• Sometimes the reward is not given, but must be stolen for the good of all, such as the gift of fire.

• The reward can also be understanding or enlightenment (knowledge). Fire brought us “light.”

Step 10: The Road Back• Unit 8: The Road Home.• It’s time to go home. The end of the

quest is not the end of the journey because the hero must return home.

• The same difficulties may await on the road back as were encountered on the road to the reward.

• Sometimes the hero refuses to return home.

Step 11: Resurrection Hero• The hero is tested again, but rises above it. • The hero may “die” in the sense of changing and

becoming a “resurrected” or better person, enlightened, compassionate, etc.

• Sometimes this means that someone actually dies and comes back.– Aslan, the lion in Narnia, sacrifices his life for

Edmund and comes back to life.– Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring, falls off the

bridge while fighting the Balrog, but returns as a more powerful figure.

– Obi Wan “dies” but continues to advise Luke through the Force.

Step 12: Return with Elixir• Unit 9: Paying It Forward• This is the end of the journey, when the hero

finally makes it back home with his treasure (the “elixir”). Once home, he helps others.

• Difficulties when back in the “normal” world:– 1) Accepting what was acquired (learned) as real– 2) Not getting caught back up into the past– 3) How to use what was learned to help others– 4) How to live in the “normal” (real) world after the

journey (living in two worlds).

What can you do if you get What can you do if you get stuck stuck

while writing?while writing?

Used with permission from the artist.Used with permission from the artist.

Even professional writers suffer from writer’s block.

• Many famous writers have had writer’s block, so don't let writer's block stop you.

• Writer Jack London gave the following advice: –"You can't wait for

inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." (LOL)

Strategies to Use if You Get Stuck

• 1) Pre-writing– If you have not completed pre-

writing for the project, go back and do it.

– Planning is important. It is difficult to write if you do not know what you want to write about!!!

– Pre-writing also helps you to organize your ideas.

Strategy #2: Research

• Read more about your topic and take notes.

• If you don’t have anything more to say, do more research. Not only will research give you new ideas, but it will help you to think more about the ideas you already have.

Strategy #3: Save & Take a Break

• Save your work and look at it later.

• Your work will look different to you when you come back to it.

• You might find that it is actually good.

• Taking a break gives your subconscious time to generate creative ideas.

Strategy #4: Keep Writing

• Keep writing no matter how bad you think your writing is. – First of all, it’s probably not as bad as you

think.– Second, if it really is bad, you can change

it tomorrow!– Sometimes free writing will help to break

writer’s block. Set a timer and for ten minutes write or type as fast as you can about your topic. Don’t worry about content or grammar, etc. The objective is to simply get ideas down on paper.

Strategy #5: Delete

• Be willing to use the delete key or to throw out stuff, but not until tomorrow.

• Do you think Shakespeare wrote everything perfectly the first time through?

Strategy #6: Physical ExerciseStrategy #6: Physical Exercise

• Physical exercise helps the brain.• Instead of staring numbly at the computer

screen, walk away from the computer. Clean the house; take a walk; go to the gym and workout.

• Wherever you go, take your notebook with you because all of that blood pumping through your brain may jog ideas loose.

• Now you know why it's called "jog"ging. LOL

Strategy #7: Start in the MiddleStrategy #7: Start in the Middle

• You can work on your project in any order. No one will ever know which parts were written first, so if you have a problem with a particular part, skip that part and write another part.

• For example, if starting the essay is a problem, skip the introduction and go straight into the first main point.

Strategy #8: Talk• Sometimes talking is easier than

writing.• Get out a recording device and talk about

your topic. Then play it back and write down the ideas you hear.

• OR talk to someone else about your topic. Another person will see your topic differently and may be able to give you different ideas.

• Another way of doing this is to have the other person read and comment on your draft.

Finally, realize that your draft is not your finished product.

Finally, realize that your draft is not your finished product.

• Do not expect your draft to be perfect.

• Remind yourself that you will be revising your draft later.