Author Archives: davidbdale

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About davidbdale

What should I call you? I prefer David or Dave, but students uncomfortable with first names can call me Professor or Mister Hodges. My ESL students' charming solution, "Mister David" is my favorite by far.

Course Evaluations

Posted on April 16, 2019 by davidbdale

Please help the Writing Arts Department determine my fitness for instruction by completing a brief evaluation of your experiences in this course. Check Banner for a reminder that you have a survey to answer, or check your student emails for … Continue reading →

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Counterintuitive Predictions

Posted on March 27, 2019 by davidbdale

Counterintuitive Predictions 1. True or False. What occurs in the world is not always reasonable, logical, or right. Even so, it might be true. You’ll decide whether the Premises below are True or False. 2. Reasonable or Unreasonable. People act for reasons … Continue reading →

Posted in Counterintuitive Predictions, davidbdale | 14 Comments

Why the Challenger Exploded

Posted on March 12, 2019 by davidbdale

What do we mean by “Why”? Donald Barthelme’s short story, “Views of My Father Weeping” begins with two little sections. An aristocrat was riding down the street in his carriage. He ran over my father. . After the ceremony I … Continue reading →

Posted in davidbdale, Lectures | 27 Comments

Draft Causal Argument—Username

Posted on March 11, 2019 by davidbdale

9/11 Made America More Racist It seems that racism has been around since before the dawn of time itself. It has thrived in the best and worst of times and in every corner of the earth, doing particularly well in … Continue reading →

Posted in Lectures | 11 Comments

Task for WED MAR 13

Posted on March 6, 2019 by davidbdale

You’ll find links to the background material for this task on the Agenda for WED MAR 06. Based on sample Openings provided in the Lecture titled “How to Open Lecture/Demo,” write two different opening paragraphs for your Research Position Paper, based … Continue reading →

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Why We Blog

Posted on March 5, 2019 by davidbdale

Before You Post to Safer Saws We blog to learn from one another. This course is conducted “in public” as it were to benefit every student with the opportunity to view, analyze, appreciate, learn from, even emulate the work of … Continue reading →

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Testing

Posted on February 25, 2019 by davidbdale

I’ve received several texts from students unable to post tonight (this morning). If you’re reading this, WordPress issues have been resolved somehow by 1am. If technology prevented you from posting before midnight, don’t dismay. Just post your White Paper when … Continue reading →

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The Mirror Paradox

Posted on February 20, 2019 by davidbdale

In-Class Task In a brief comment in the Reply field below, describe our common misconception about mirrors and why it’s so hard to talk ourselves out of the illusion that they flip images.

Posted in davidbdale, Riddles | 27 Comments

Snow Day Attendance

Posted on February 12, 2019 by davidbdale

Good News I was encouraged to see that eight of my students logged on to our Counterintuitivity blog during yesterday’s snow cancellation, left good Notes on the MON FEB 11 Agenda, and followed through with very thoughtful responses to the Tasks … Continue reading →

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Barter Explained, Poorly

Posted on February 11, 2019 by davidbdale

Paragraph 1. Bartering is trading services or goods with another person when there is no money involved. This type of exchange was relied upon by early civilizations. There are even cultures within modern society who still rely on this type … Continue reading →

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