TODAY:TODAY: Introduction to Introduction to Tuesdays With MorrieTuesdays With Morrie

Objectives:Objectives:

* To prepare for the reading of this novel.* To prepare for the reading of this novel.

* To understand and appreciate the subject * To understand and appreciate the subject and/or topics that will be the focus of this and/or topics that will be the focus of this novel.novel.

* To gain an understanding of the author’s intent * To gain an understanding of the author’s intent and purpose for writing this novel.and purpose for writing this novel.

* To review , understand and create aphorisms.* To review , understand and create aphorisms.

"The truth is . . . once you learn how to die, "The truth is . . . once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.“you learn how to live.“

~ Morrie~ Morrie

What’s on your Bucket List??What’s on your Bucket List??

A list of things to do before you die. A list of things to do before you die. Comes from the term "kicked the bucket". Comes from the term "kicked the bucket".

A list of things you think you might need A list of things you think you might need to accomplish because you feel your own to accomplish because you feel your own mortality closing the door on you. mortality closing the door on you.

You feel insecure about your life and You feel insecure about your life and therefore make a list of things to get busy therefore make a list of things to get busy on.on.

A list of hotties that you always had your A list of hotties that you always had your eye on and you most now go conquer. eye on and you most now go conquer.

DO NOW:DO NOW:Think about what you would like to accomplishThink about what you would like to accomplish

before you before you ““kick the bucket.kick the bucket.””

I know itI know it’’s a morbid thought, but humor me s a morbid thought, but humor me

Today, you will start a Today, you will start a Bucket ListBucket List of your of your own.own.

In your notebook, create a list of ten In your notebook, create a list of ten ‘‘thingsthings’’ you would like to do before you are you would like to do before you are ‘‘lying six lying six

feet under.feet under.’’ I want these to simply be the I want these to simply be the first ten things that come to your mind. You first ten things that come to your mind. You will have plenty of time in the near future to will have plenty of time in the near future to

add/change your list!add/change your list!

Tuesdays With MorrieTuesdays With Morrie

An old man, a An old man, a young man young man and life’s and life’s greatest greatest lesson.lesson.

~Mitch Albom~Mitch Albom

Overview:Overview:We all know the ‘age old’ question – Who is We all know the ‘age old’ question – Who is

your hero? Who helps you see the world as your hero? Who helps you see the world as a more profound place and gives you sound a more profound place and gives you sound advice to help you make your way through advice to help you make your way through it?it?

For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly twenty years his college professor from nearly twenty years ago.ago.

Maybe, like Mitch, you will lose track of this mentor Maybe, like Mitch, you will lose track of this mentor as you make your way through life. You may as you make your way through life. You may want or need to see that person again, to ask the want or need to see that person again, to ask the bigger questions that may still haunt you, or to bigger questions that may still haunt you, or to receive wisdom for your busy life . . . receive wisdom for your busy life . . .

Overview Continued:Overview Continued: Mitch Albom had that second chance. He Mitch Albom had that second chance. He

rediscovered Morrie in the last months of rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man's life. Knowing he was dying, the older man's life. Knowing he was dying, Morrie visited with Mitch in his study every Morrie visited with Mitch in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in Tuesday, just as they used to back in college. Their rekindled relationship turned college. Their rekindled relationship turned into one final "class": a class that taught into one final "class": a class that taught him lessons in how to live.him lessons in how to live.

Tuesdays with MorrieTuesdays with Morrie is a magical chronicle is a magical chronicle of their time together, through which Mitch of their time together, through which Mitch shares Morrie's lasting gift with the world.shares Morrie's lasting gift with the world.

Morrie was Mitch’s college professor. He used to live a life full of dancing, helping others, and spending time with his loved ones. After he was diagnosed with ALS, also know as Lou Gherig’s Disease, Morrie stopped being able to do these enjoyable things he loved. He accepted the fact he was dying, and lived a life of helping others . .

He continued teaching classes after he was diagnosed with ALS at the age of seventy-six, incorporating what he

was learning about the meaning of life as he faced impending death. When ABC-TV's "Nightline" producer heard of his classes, Ted Koppel flew to Boston for the first of three interviews with Morrie. The shows were

among the highest rated ever for "Nightline." Morrie Schwartz wrote his own epitaph:

"A Teacher to the Last."

Who is Morrie??Who is Morrie??

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3863455317235235085#http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3863455317235235085#http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3863455317235235085#

I have an Aphorism for you. . . . Aphorism is a brief saying containing a moral, a precise statement of a principle or value given in pointed words.

A LIFE LESSONExamples:Hippocrates: Life is short, art is long, opportunity fleeting, experimenting dangerous, reasoning difficult.Pope: Some praise at morning what they blame at night.Emerson: Imitation is suicideFranklin: Lost Time is never Found again. Miss Territo: An open mind opens doors . . . .

Don’t let go too soon . . . But don’t hold on too long, Find a Balance. ~ Morrie

Who is Mitch??Who is Mitch??Mitch graduated from Brandeis University At that age he made promises easily. Keeping them was another story. "You'll stay in touch?", his sociology professor Morrie Schwartz asked him on graduation day in 1979. Mitch answered his favorite professor, his mentor, his friend, without hesitation, "Of course."

Fast-forward sixteen years to Mitch's life as a successful newspaper sports columnist and broadcast journalist. Adept at juggling phone calls, faxes, interviews, problems, often it seems while driving too fast to another appointment on an overloaded docket, Mitch has a wonderful wife but no time to spend with her, a beautiful house on a hill, a stock portfolio, and a brother he hasn't talked to in years. He lives on a deadline--too fast is the only speed he knows.

Then, one night, . . . Well let’s let him tell you . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuazNYNIl5c

ConflictsConflicts

2. Mitch vs. Himself - Mitch is overcoming a materialistic ,unfulfilling lifestyle. This is an internal conflict because Mitch is struggling with himself on how to live life. Should he live his life full of money and fame, or live with his own interests and good of others in mind?

1. Morrie vs. ALS - Morrie must come to terms with his illness and accept his coming death from ALS. How will he choose to live his final days? What does he have to offer the world?