Sample of C2: Independent StudyFormat

The following is a three-page sample of one C2 session [it's actually 9 pages long including Key Notes and Journal Questions]. Remember, this is the student’s manual. The teacher makes a copy of the entire session, gives it to the student, and the student reads it, fills in the Key Notes, answers the Journal Questions, and watches the DVD.

PASSION: Responsibility

Introduction:

Will you devote the next few minutes to change your life?

Will you think about your life and what you will make of it?

Will you examine your belief system to determine why you believe what you believe?

Will you dedicate yourself to do what will make your life richer, better, and more successful, even if doing so is hard work?

Will you think with me about responsibility?

Movie Clip #1: “Coach Carter” View a list of all lessons and movies.

[Please view the first clip, then pause the DVD player]

Developing Your Responsibility

[Directions: As you read, check the sentences on the Key Words handout. When you find a sentence below that matches the handout, fill in the Key Word on your sheet. When finished, you will have the most important points of this session.]

Dr. Albert Schweitzer - “Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will — his personal responsibility.”

Allan Massie - “We are responsible for actions performed in response to circumstances for which we are not responsible.”

Abraham Lincoln - “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”

Doug Larson - “The reason people blame things on previous generations is that there's only one other choice.”

Rose Lane - “As novices, we think we're entirely responsible for the way people treat us. I have long since learned that we are responsible only for the way we treat people.”

Webster’s defines responsibility in two parts. First, a responsible person is “able to choose for oneself between right and wrong.” This means we not only know the right choice; we also make the right choice. Also, we know the things to avoid and we avoid them.

Second, a responsible person is “able to answer for one’s conduct and obligations; accountable; reliable, trustworthy.” This means we can admit when we make a mistake or a bad choice, suffer the consequences, and learn not to do it in the future.

So responsibility is knowing right and wrong, choosing to do the right thing most of the time, and admitting when we mess up. Responsibility is a big part of maturity.

How do we determine what is right and wrong? Obviously the law tells us what is wrong to do and punishes us if we do it.

For example, when I get a checking account, I have a responsibility to make sure I have money in the bank before I write a check. If I make a mistake and write a bad check, I have to get the money to cover the check in the bank immediately plus pay a $30 fee for writing a bad check. If I am not responsible to cover my mistake, then I am breaking the law. I will be held responsible to pay that amount to avoid going to jail.

But many decisions to make about what is right and wrong do not follow a law. For example, there is no law against lying to a friend. Someone at school can call you horrible names and they won’t get suspended. Who says any of this stuff is wrong?

Our movie clip next time will be from Pirates of the Caribbean. In it, they talk of “The Code,” a book of rules that all pirates must follow or they aren’t real pirates. The code isn’t the law. Rather, a code is a way of life we chose because we believe it is the right way to live.

We have codes in real life. Every group has its own code, including this one. The guys on Coach Carter’s basketball team had to sign a code of conduct in order to gain the privilege of playing on his team. Yet his code was temporary.

Other groups write a permanent code for every day life. Are you a member of a group that has a code to live by? Some examples are Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, religions, orders such as Masons, and service groups like Kiwanis and Rotary.

These groups provide a great service to our culture by showing us how we should treat each other and how to get along with one another. They also challenge us to be responsible in our attitudes, words, and behavior.

Of course, a code is only as good as our commitment to follow it. If we fail in our commitment, we remove ourselves from being a true member of our group.

Many of us have not been given a code or a standard of responsibility. We have no real standard to follow and no guidelines for life. While the phrase, “No rules!” has become popular, it is anarchy and really doesn’t work. Just think what driving would be like with no rules! We think the roads are dangerous now!

Having a code to live by is an important part of becoming responsible. What code have you chosen?

Some people choose never to be responsible because they can’t admit doing anything wrong. They fear that if they admit it, they will confirm that they are a bad person. Their insecurity keeps them from admitting any mistake or error.

Do you know someone who never admits when they are wrong? Regardless of how obvious it is to their friends or family, they will insist, “I didn’t do it,” or “It wasn’t my fault!” Their unwillingness to admit their faults becomes their worst fault!

Can you admit when you do something wrong?

A person who refuses to admit his mistakes and bad choices or who doesn’t know right from wrong is called irresponsible. Until he chooses to become responsible, he will continue to make the same bad choices over and over. He will have a hard time in friendship, marriage, and work.

Sample of the Key Notes:

Here are some samples of the Key Notes of this session that is a handout. The students are to fill in the blanks as the s/he reads the presentation. When they are finished, the Key Notes serve as an outline for the larger session.

Key Notes

[The following sentences can be found above. Please find the words to fill in the blanks.]

1. Responsibility has two parts:

a. A responsible person is “able to choose for oneself between ____________ and ____________________________.”

b. A responsible person is “able to answer for one’s conduct and obligations;

accountable; ________________________________, __________________________________________.”

2. Responsibility is a big part of ______________________________________.

3. Having a _____________ to live by is an important part of becoming responsible.

4. Some people choose never to be responsible because they can’t ______________ doing anything wrong.

5. A person who refuses to admit his mistakes will make the same bad ___________ over and over.

Sample of the Journal Questions:

The last section here is the Journal Questions handout. In these, the student writes out answers in order to apply the training to his/her life and relationships.

PASSION: Responsibility

Journal Questions:

1. In the movie, “Coach Carter,” the players were held responsible for their grades and behavior. Some upheld their responsibilities

and some didn’t. Who is the most irresponsible person you know? What proves their irresponsibility?

2. In the movie, Timo Cruz’s irresponsibility hurt the team, but it hurt him worse. What really bothers you about the person’s

irresponsibility you named in #1? Who is s/he hurting most by his/her irresponsibility?