Assignment: Due Wednesday 3/23 Synthesis Essay Prompt: The need to reform campaign financing is a subject that is hotly debated during election cycles, and most likely, you've heard the words "Citizens United" come up during this particular cycle. In 2010, the United States Supreme Court delivered a controversial ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that banned limitations on the amount a corporation could give to a candidate. While many have criticized the ruling, arguing the inevitability of corruption of the electoral process, others view a donation as an act of free speech, which is protected by the first amendment. Carefully read the sources hyperlinked below and watch the videos to the right of this assignment. Choose at least ONE additional source on your own. Then synthesize the information from at least three sources PLUS the additional source and incorporate it into a coherent, well developed essay of a thousand words that argues a clear position on the controversial Citizens United ruling. Make sure your argument is central. Use the sources to illustrate and support your reasoning. Avoid merely summarizing the sources. Indicate clearly which sources you are drawing from by using MLA format, as well as a works cited page. Citizens United Frees Political Speech Dark Money on the Rise also found in pdf form here Corporations Spend More than Taxpayers Twilight of the Super PAC Citizens United Political Cartoon (essay idea and resources adapted from http://sguinan.snappages.com/ap-lang-and-comp.htm) Assignment: Due Wednesday 3/16 Read and/or watch all of the synthesis materials. Write brief summaries for each based on the source analysis handout questions from last week (downloadable below). Formulate your stance, and compose a thesis statement. Briefly summarize which of the materials you will include in your essay either to support or counter-balance your position.
Assignment: Due Wednesday, 3/9
Timed Essay #2 Set a timer and write a timed essay responding to the 2009 AP argument prompt. Do NOT look at or think about the prompt before you set the timer--considering the prompt beforehand defeats the purpose of this assignment. If, when the timer runs out, you want to finish writing your ideas, complete the essay using A CONTRASTING PEN COLOR so that you clearly see where you added your ideas after the time was up. Assignment: Due Wednesday, 3/2
Set a timer and write a timed essay responding to the 2013 AP argument prompt (handed out in class and attached here). Do NOT look at or think about the prompt before you set the timer--considering the prompt beforehand defeats the purpose of this assignment. If, when the timer runs out, you want to finish writing your ideas, complete the essay using A CONTRASTING PEN COLOR so that you clearly see where you added your ideas after the time was up. Remember--this is practice. You will most likely be frustrated with your results this time around, and that's okay! We are working towards feeling confident with the time constraint. Also attached is a handout with tips for responding to the AP essay prompts. |
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Assignment: Due Wednesday, 2/24
Write an argumentative essay based on the topic you chose last week. You may choose to structure your essay using the classical argument outline (attached below); however, do not feel you must confine your ideas according to the structure.
Write an argumentative essay based on the topic you chose last week. You may choose to structure your essay using the classical argument outline (attached below); however, do not feel you must confine your ideas according to the structure.
sampleclassicargumentoutline.pdf | |
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Assignment: Due Wednesday, 2/17
Read the handout from class (Chapter 3 from AP, The Language of Composition--attached in two parts to the right) Each time you reach a box titled "Essay in Progress", follow the prompt. The final prompt asks you to write a full essay draft, but you will do this for next week's assignment. By next week's class, you should have an outline, the three paragraphs you wrote, an idea of how you might use inductive or deductive reasoning, and a supporting visual (photograph, cartoon, graph, etc.). |
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Assignment: ONGOING Download the AP Composition practice book to the right of this assignment. (You may choose to read and complete it online without printing it out. This book includes all types of essays spanning several centuries. Each essay is followed by multiple choice questions, and the book includes answers and explanations in the back. From now until the test on May 12, you should read at least 1-3 essays per week and answer the sample questions. Don't tackle the offerings in chronological order; read a variety of essays and move back and forth between chapters as you go. |
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Assignment: Due Wednesday, 2/10 Read the attached excerpt from Everything's An Argument, which explains and gives examples of Toulmin Arguments. Then re-read the State of the Union speech and see if you can apply the Toulmin model to Obama's presentation. The power point and handout are also attached for your convenience. |
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Assignment: Due Wednesday, 2/3
Watch at least 20 minutes of the January 14 Republican Primary Debate. Choose one subject of argument (for example national security, immigration, etc.) and write a rhetorical precis for 2 of the candidates' arguments regarding the topic (inevitably your precis will be "slimmer" than the one you wrote for the SOTUS). In addition to your precis, list any rhetorical or persuasive strategies, devices, and/or fallacies that you observe in the candidates' arguments.
Assignment: Due Wednesday, 1/27
Write your own argumentative speech in which you deliberately use at least five different logical fallacies.
Watch at least 20 minutes of the January 14 Republican Primary Debate. Choose one subject of argument (for example national security, immigration, etc.) and write a rhetorical precis for 2 of the candidates' arguments regarding the topic (inevitably your precis will be "slimmer" than the one you wrote for the SOTUS). In addition to your precis, list any rhetorical or persuasive strategies, devices, and/or fallacies that you observe in the candidates' arguments.
Assignment: Due Wednesday, 1/27
Write your own argumentative speech in which you deliberately use at least five different logical fallacies.
- Take some time to look through the lists of logical fallacies--use your handouts or one of the websites on the resources page
- Brainstorm potential arguments on your topic.
- Compose your speech. Don’t make the logical fallacies comically obvious--imbed them artfully within the context of your argument
- Type or neatly write your speech (should be 1-2 pages)
- Label the logical fallacies
- On the back of your speech explain how the logical fallacies are represented. (Ex.
“Commercials show fast food workers are happy, therefore we don’t need to raise minimum wage” is an example of hasty generalization because I am making the assumption that commercials represent actual workers.) - Prepare to present your speech on Wednesday. The rest of the class will have the opportunity to hunt for your fallacies.
- Advocate in favor of one of the potential nominees for the presidential election
- Voting age should be raised to 21
- Illegal Immigrants should not be allowed to stay in the United States
- junk food should be taxed at a higher rate than healthy food
Assignment: Due Wednesday, 1/20
Use the Rhetorical Precis Writing handout from class to help you write a rhetorical precis about Obama's 2016 State of the Union address. Post your precis on the blog page.
If you missed class, you can find both the precis handout and the speech with SOAPSTone template on the resources page here or on Engrade, attached to the assignment.
Use the Rhetorical Precis Writing handout from class to help you write a rhetorical precis about Obama's 2016 State of the Union address. Post your precis on the blog page.
If you missed class, you can find both the precis handout and the speech with SOAPSTone template on the resources page here or on Engrade, attached to the assignment.
Assignment: Due Wednesday, 1/13
Click on this link to find the inaugural addresses for all the U.S. presidents. Choose one of the speeches and identify as many propaganda techniques as you can. How many of the seven tactics that McClintock discusses can you find? Write a brief analysis of your findings and share it on the Blog page.
If you missed class today (Wednesday 1/6), we read an essay and a news column and analyzed the arguments of both the authors. Both documents can be downloaded from the resources page. You can find a student essay synthesizing information in the McClintock essay and including the advertisements we analyzed last week at the following link: student essay
To see an article addressing the scientific link between fear and conservatism (the study I mentioned in today's class), click on this link.
Click on this link to find the inaugural addresses for all the U.S. presidents. Choose one of the speeches and identify as many propaganda techniques as you can. How many of the seven tactics that McClintock discusses can you find? Write a brief analysis of your findings and share it on the Blog page.
If you missed class today (Wednesday 1/6), we read an essay and a news column and analyzed the arguments of both the authors. Both documents can be downloaded from the resources page. You can find a student essay synthesizing information in the McClintock essay and including the advertisements we analyzed last week at the following link: student essay
To see an article addressing the scientific link between fear and conservatism (the study I mentioned in today's class), click on this link.
Assignment: Optional
Choose one of the World War II posters pictured on this page to analyze for propaganda techniques. You can find these and other posters on the following website:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/powers_of_persuasion/powers_of_persuasion_intro.html
Post your analysis on the blog page.
Rhetorical Analysis: Advertising, Propaganda, and Visual Media
Assignment
Due Wednesday, January 6--Analyzing 2008 campaign propaganda
Since we had some difficulty deciding whether campaign ads were persuasion or propaganda, I am assigning two ads from John McCain's 2008 campaign which use blatant propaganda techniques. Your job is to use the handout (you can find it on the resources page) to mark down each of the techniques you observe. It's worth noting the dates of each ad and how close to the 2008 election the ad began to air. How do you think the date would influence the type of message the campaign is putting forth?
After you look for the techniques in each of the ads, choose one to blog about. In your blog, write about the techniques you observed and the effect you think they had. Also include your observations about what you believe the campaign was trying to communicate through the ad.
For those of you still contemplating the difference between persuasion and propaganda, here is a "nutshell" idea to go by: "Propaganda ... attempts to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist. Persuasion is interactive and attempts to satisfy the needs of both persuader and persuadee." --Propaganda and Persuasion, Garth Jowett & Victoria O’Donnell
When trying to distinguish between propaganda and persuasion consider the following: intent (What is the intent of the communication? To inform? To manipulate? To deceive?) Truth (Is the message based in truth? Does the message skirt the truth or twist it to suit the message?)
Ad #1 Mar. 2008
Ad #2 Oct. 2008
For those of you who missed class, check out the Washington Post article about the manipulation of images in this ad by clicking on this link.
Assignment
Due Wednesday 12/30--Analyzing campaign ads: persuasion or propaganda? Watch or listen to the candidate's campaign ads (you can access them by clicking on each candidate's name below--listen to Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again 1" Ad. Using the "how to Detect Propaganda" and "Persuasion or Propaganda" handouts from today's class (you can also find these on the Resources page and on Engrade), consider the techniques used in each ad. Which techniques does each candidate use? Can you find logical fallacies in the presentation? Is the candidate using persuasion or propaganda? Choose one of the advertisements to write a Blog analysis about. Your analysis should include your observations of the techniques used, the effect of the techniques, and your opinion--supported by your observations--about whether the advertisement is persuasion or propaganda.
10 Propaganda techniques video
Donald Trump
Hillary Clinton
Ted Cruz
Ben Carson
Wednesday, 12/16--Visual Media and Advertising Rhetorical Terms/Advertising & Visual Media Analysis Packet (you can find these handouts on the resources page if you missed class).
Click here to go to the website with vintage Coca Cola ads
Assignments:
Due Wednesday, 12/23--
Check out at least 4 presidential candidate websites (links below). Choose two of the sites and, using the ideas we discussed today, analyze the splash pages. Determine the effect that each of the candidates is trying to create through the look, layout, content of the page. Are the candidates targeting specific audiences? What types of appeals are they making? How are they trying to brand themselves? Write a one paragraph analysis for each page and a third paragraph in which you compare the two pages. Post your analysis on the Blog page.
Remember: You are analyzing the visual presentation. If the webpage contains a lot of text, keep your focus on how the text is presented visually and the words that stand out and seem poised to grab your attention--the headlines, the words/ideas that "pop" or recur, and the prominence of certain ideas over others.
Links to candidates websites:
Donald Trump
Ted Cruz
Jeb Bush
Hillary Clinton
Bernie Sanders
Ben Carson
Carly Fiorina
Student Prezis Analyzing Advertisements (We looked at one of these in class 12/16):
Rhetorical Analysis of Advertising
Supersized
Assignment
Due Wednesday, January 6--Analyzing 2008 campaign propaganda
Since we had some difficulty deciding whether campaign ads were persuasion or propaganda, I am assigning two ads from John McCain's 2008 campaign which use blatant propaganda techniques. Your job is to use the handout (you can find it on the resources page) to mark down each of the techniques you observe. It's worth noting the dates of each ad and how close to the 2008 election the ad began to air. How do you think the date would influence the type of message the campaign is putting forth?
After you look for the techniques in each of the ads, choose one to blog about. In your blog, write about the techniques you observed and the effect you think they had. Also include your observations about what you believe the campaign was trying to communicate through the ad.
For those of you still contemplating the difference between persuasion and propaganda, here is a "nutshell" idea to go by: "Propaganda ... attempts to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist. Persuasion is interactive and attempts to satisfy the needs of both persuader and persuadee." --Propaganda and Persuasion, Garth Jowett & Victoria O’Donnell
When trying to distinguish between propaganda and persuasion consider the following: intent (What is the intent of the communication? To inform? To manipulate? To deceive?) Truth (Is the message based in truth? Does the message skirt the truth or twist it to suit the message?)
Ad #1 Mar. 2008
Ad #2 Oct. 2008
For those of you who missed class, check out the Washington Post article about the manipulation of images in this ad by clicking on this link.
Assignment
Due Wednesday 12/30--Analyzing campaign ads: persuasion or propaganda? Watch or listen to the candidate's campaign ads (you can access them by clicking on each candidate's name below--listen to Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again 1" Ad. Using the "how to Detect Propaganda" and "Persuasion or Propaganda" handouts from today's class (you can also find these on the Resources page and on Engrade), consider the techniques used in each ad. Which techniques does each candidate use? Can you find logical fallacies in the presentation? Is the candidate using persuasion or propaganda? Choose one of the advertisements to write a Blog analysis about. Your analysis should include your observations of the techniques used, the effect of the techniques, and your opinion--supported by your observations--about whether the advertisement is persuasion or propaganda.
10 Propaganda techniques video
Donald Trump
Hillary Clinton
Ted Cruz
Ben Carson
Wednesday, 12/16--Visual Media and Advertising Rhetorical Terms/Advertising & Visual Media Analysis Packet (you can find these handouts on the resources page if you missed class).
Click here to go to the website with vintage Coca Cola ads
Assignments:
Due Wednesday, 12/23--
Check out at least 4 presidential candidate websites (links below). Choose two of the sites and, using the ideas we discussed today, analyze the splash pages. Determine the effect that each of the candidates is trying to create through the look, layout, content of the page. Are the candidates targeting specific audiences? What types of appeals are they making? How are they trying to brand themselves? Write a one paragraph analysis for each page and a third paragraph in which you compare the two pages. Post your analysis on the Blog page.
Remember: You are analyzing the visual presentation. If the webpage contains a lot of text, keep your focus on how the text is presented visually and the words that stand out and seem poised to grab your attention--the headlines, the words/ideas that "pop" or recur, and the prominence of certain ideas over others.
Links to candidates websites:
Donald Trump
Ted Cruz
Jeb Bush
Hillary Clinton
Bernie Sanders
Ben Carson
Carly Fiorina
Student Prezis Analyzing Advertisements (We looked at one of these in class 12/16):
Rhetorical Analysis of Advertising
Supersized
In Cold Blood Assignments and Due Dates
Due Dates:
Wednesday, November 11--Read Part 1, "The Last to See Them Alive", and be prepared with your answers to the "As You Read Questions". Before Wednesday, publish your brief (1-2 paragraph) analysis/response to the section on the blog page of this website. Your paragraph(s) may address any aspect(s) of the book that you find striking, interesting, intriguing, etc. Incorporate specific details into your response to reflect your observations. You may respond to your classmates' comments if you wish as well.
Wednesday, November 18--Read Part 2, "Persons Unknown" (through page 155). Bring in your answers to the "As You Read Questions" and publish your analysis/response in the blog section. Informal Style Analysis 1 is due in class.
Wednesday, November 25--Read Part 3, "Answer" (through 248). Bring in your answers to the "As You Read Questions" and publish your analysis/response in the blog section.
Wednesday, December 2--Finish Part 4, "The Corner". Bring in your answers to the "As You Read Questions" and publish your analysis/response in the blog section.
Informal Style Analysis 2 is due in class.
Wednesday, December 9--Outline and Thesis Statement for Style Analysis Essay is due in class
Wednesday, December 16--Style Analysis Essay due
Wednesday, November 11--Read Part 1, "The Last to See Them Alive", and be prepared with your answers to the "As You Read Questions". Before Wednesday, publish your brief (1-2 paragraph) analysis/response to the section on the blog page of this website. Your paragraph(s) may address any aspect(s) of the book that you find striking, interesting, intriguing, etc. Incorporate specific details into your response to reflect your observations. You may respond to your classmates' comments if you wish as well.
Wednesday, November 18--Read Part 2, "Persons Unknown" (through page 155). Bring in your answers to the "As You Read Questions" and publish your analysis/response in the blog section. Informal Style Analysis 1 is due in class.
Wednesday, November 25--Read Part 3, "Answer" (through 248). Bring in your answers to the "As You Read Questions" and publish your analysis/response in the blog section.
Wednesday, December 2--Finish Part 4, "The Corner". Bring in your answers to the "As You Read Questions" and publish your analysis/response in the blog section.
Informal Style Analysis 2 is due in class.
Wednesday, December 9--Outline and Thesis Statement for Style Analysis Essay is due in class
Wednesday, December 16--Style Analysis Essay due
ASSIGNMENTS
EPIGRAPH
A translation of the Medieval French of Francois Villon (The French poet François Villon (1431-c. 1463), the greatest writer of 15th-century France, was the first creative, modern French lyric poet. His work is remarkable for its rare inspiration and sincerity.)
L’Epitaphe Villon: Ballade Des Pendus
My brothers who live after us,
Don’t harden you hearts against us too,
If you have mercy now on us,
God may have mercy upon you.
François was born into a poor family. His mother was pious but illiterate; his father died when François was very young. The child's lot would have been miserable had not Master Guillaume de Villon, the canon of Saint-Benoît-le-Bétourné, taken him to rear. He attended to François's early education, and the child affectionately referred to him as "more than a father." Later the poet adopted his name and rendered it imperishable. From this time on, most information about Villon derives from documents of the University of Paris, the prefecture of police, and his own poems.
In March 1449 Villon was received as a bachelor of arts at the Sorbonne, after which occurred his first involvement in civic disorders in the winter 1451/1452. His studies continued, however, and he received the licentiate and the degree of Master of Arts later in 1452. In short, Villon was a well-educated man, and incidental allusions in his works show considerable knowledge.
Brawls and Disappearance
In June 1455 Villon killed Philip Chermoye, a priest, in a brawl, and he immediately fled from Paris. But the murder was well provoked, and in January 1456 Villon was granted two official releases, one in the name of François de Montcorbier, Master of Arts and the other in the name of Master François des Loges, also known as Villon, an indication that Villon was then known by all three names. Perhaps Villon's status as a man of learning or perhaps the later intervention of Charles d'Orléans influenced judicial leniency. Later in the year Villon completed his Lais.
About Christmas, 1446, Villon participated in a burglary at the College of Navarre. He fled to Angers, and then he wandered for more than 4 years. During this period he probably sojourned at the court of Charles d'Orléans, himself a first-class poet, and was in jail twice. At Orléans he escaped a death sentence by pardon; and at Meung-sur-Loire, where he was imprisoned by Thibault d'Aussigny, Bishop of Orléans, he was released, according to a merciful custom, by the passage of King Louis XI through the town in October 1461.
Villon's intense experiences inspired the Grand testament, which he completed in 1461. In 1462 he was confronted with the affair of the College of Navarre; he was imprisoned at the Châtelet but released on a bond of restitution for his share in the theft. Involved in a fight in which François Ferrebourg was wounded, Villon was sentenced to be hanged. He appealed the decision, and Parliament by an edict on Jan. 5, 1463, annulled the sentence and reduced his penalty to a 10-year exile from Paris. After that date nothing is known of him.
As you read the book, consider why Capote chooses this epigraph to begin telling the story.
ONGOING NOTE-TAKING
As you read take notes on the following topics. Do not forget to cite page numbers. In addition, write a brief analysis/response to each of the four sections of the text. One consideration—why give it its title?
- Perry: Is he a prisoner of his past? A tragic figure? Is his personality a result of nature? Nurture?
- Dick: Same questions. Consider Capote's use of creative non-fiction and the motif of tragedy.
- The important settings: Pay attention to how Capote uses the creation of place to create tone, to add to characterizations, and to delineate themes.
- The victims: How and why does Capote characterize them so fully?
- The investigators: How and why does Capote characterize them fully?
- Structure of the text: Explore the sections, transitions, rhetorical strategies, and how they contribute to Capote’s concerns.
- Themes and motifs: tragic figures/tragedy; nature/nurture; American Dream; Garden of Eden
As You Read Questions:
As you read In Cold Blood, provide 1-2 sentence responses to each of the following questions. Your responses should be written as complete sentences.
The Last to See Them Alive
- According to the text, what is Mr. Clutter’s only reason for “disquiet” in his life?
- How do the narrative voice and the sentence structure of the text change when the story shifts from descriptions of the Clutter family to descriptions of Hickock and Perry Smith?
- How does Perry’s obsession with foreign countries and sunken treasures symbolize his social status as an outcast?
- What is the biggest challenge to the friendship between Perry Smith and Willie-Jay?
- How does initial speculation about the murders change the atmosphere within the Holcomb community?
Persons Unknown
- What aspects of the crime scene as observed by Al Dewey examining photographs foreshadow the eventual capture of the suspects?
- What does Susan Kidwell find most disturbing about her visit to the funeral parlor? Why?
- What does Perry’s behavior at the beach and swimming pool reveal about his character?
- How are the police able to determine the order in which the Clutter family members were murdered?
- How are Dick and Perry planning to return to the United States? What does their plan reveal about their state of mind following the Clutter murders?
Answer
- What event in the opening pages of this section turns the investigation around?
- What does the nickname Perry has given himself reveal about his character and his self image?
- Why is Perry disturbed by a newspaper account he reads when he and Dick arrive in Miami, Florida?
- According to Perry, what is his only regret about the night of the murders?
The Corner
- What is Mrs. Meier’s first impression of Perry Smith?
- What changes doe Perry want to make to his initial statement to police? What is his motivation for making the changes? What does this suggest about his character?
- What is the symbolic significance of the big yellow bird?
- Why does Perry go on a hunger strike? Why does he eventually change his mind and end his hunger strike?
- What does Dick pursue in order to appeal his conviction?
AFTER YOU READ
Style Analysis – Informal
Choose two different sections of the text that show Capote’s diverse style. For each section, answer the following questions:
- What is happening at this point in the text?
- What is the overall impression of the section? Select at least two tone words from your tone list to describe the overall tone. Be as precise as possible in choosing tone words.
- What impresses you most about the passage?
- Discuss the diction in each passage: List examples of words that are abstract or concrete. Which dominate the section? What kind of verbs or verbals does Capote use here? Are there notable adjectives or adverbs?
- Discuss the sentence length. Discuss the kinds of sentence and the use (or non use) of clauses, phrases, sentence openings, etc.
- What poetic devices are used? Is there alliteration, consonance, assonance, onomatopoeia, personification? What images are created?
- Discuss any other style elements from your notes that apply to your chosen passages.
- Choose one of these passages and write your style analysis essay.
Style Analysis Essay:
- Choose one passage from the book (you may choose one of the passages you used in your informal analyses). Consider the significance of the passage in terms of the whole novel. What is Capote's purpose in the passage you've chosen, and how do his rhetorical choices effect his purpose? How does the passage help to develop narrative/theme/structure/character (you don't need to discuss ALL of these--choose which ones are relevant to your passage and your focus)?
- Establish the tone and point of view of the passage by examining the following rhetorical strategies (choose those pertinent to your passage): diction, syntax, imagery, rhetorical devices, and narrative strategies. Do not forget to look at the verb tenses.
- Tie the specifics of the passage to the broader concerns of the novel and provide insight into the passage's importance within the context of the whole text.