Here we go, the final leg of this semester. Our next project will be worth a total of 300 points, with 180 of them going to your Discussion grade (quizzes, etc), and 120 going to the Paper section of your grade (essays, etc). This means that the rest of the year should look something like this in your calendars:
So, for Monday, each member of your group should fill out the worksheet for his or her position in the discussion. We’ll talk about the final presentations on Monday.
Your assignment for this weekend is to write your own modest proposal in the style of Swift’s . . . erm, “Modest Proposal.” I want sarcasm; I want irony; I want scathing, acerbic wit. I do not want BS. Think about your topic. It can be whatever you like; I know you all hate it when I say that, but this should be a personal reflection.
Requirements:
500 word minimum, 750 word maximum.
Typed, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman, 1 inch margins, header, and a really good title.
No obscenities or profanity (we will be sharing them in class).
Have fun. Really. Do it.
As always, post your questions for the good of the community.
Also, if you would like to know your current grade in the class, please let me know. We have around 16 days in class (by my shaky count) before the end of this semester. Email me, don’t jump me en masse in class. (Careful, poet.)
Also also, I have regained contact with my friend from the local elementary school. I will pick up your pen pal letters this Wednesday, which means we will begin writing the Monday after next (the 22nd). This will be extra credit, but not much. This is more in the vein of “let’s do our part to help the littluns of our community.”
Edit (Also also also): Somehow I forgot about the test tomorrow. Your proposals will be due Tuesday in place of the article analysis. Some of your grades are suffering because you aren’t turning in your analyses, so if you fall into this category you may turn in one (or more) on Tuesday to replace missed assignments. This assignment is worth 50 points. If you did not turn in the 9 questions over “Letter . . .” (also worth 50 points), do so.
Here is the plan for the rest of the week:
Tonight (Wednesday)—If you have not completed your journal for this book, please do so. Consider the three possible essay topics and choose one tonight. Make a note of pages from the book that might support an argument. You do not need a thesis statement yet—just research your chosen question. We will compile this into an outline in class tomorrow.
Thursday in class—We will workshop ideas and each person will come up with a thesis statement based on his or her chosen prompt. We will write topic sentences and begin finding support for each paragraph point.
Thursday night—With your outline nearly completed (I will grade based on progress in class Thursday), refine the outline, making sure every point is filled out (with evidence from the text) and supportive of your thesis.
Friday in class—We will write the essay, turn in the journals and outlines. Writing should be easy by this time as the thesis is clear, the points are organized, and everything is supported from the text.
If you have any questions, let me know.
Here are the links to the articles for each group:
If your name is not listed, please choose an article.
Answer these questions over “LfBJ” by tomorrow:
1. What are King’s reasons for being in Birmingham?
2. How does King answer to the charge of being an outsider?
3. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.†What does this mean for individuals who have ignored the issues of Birmingham? What does this mean today for each of us living in the United States?
4. What are the four basic steps of nonviolent direct action? For each of the steps state the example in Birmingham. Can you think of another example of nonviolent protest which followed these steps?
5. Look over paragraphs 7-9. Why did King and others decide to delay their actions?
6. In paragraph 10, what does King mean by “constructive, nonviolent tension†and how does he define its goal?
7. Paragraph 13 is one of King’s most well-known statements. Choose an historical example which illustrates the point that “justice too long delayed is justice denied.â€
8. Choose three injustices from paragraph 14 to compare to the Bill of Rights and/or the UDHR.
9. In paragraphs 15-17, King describes two types of law. How does he define each? Can you give other examples of unjust laws today?
will continue tomorrow. We will be writing over his impact on the novel and how his death helps illustrate a negative view of mankind’s innate motivations.
Keep reading; we will finish the novel before Wednesday (for the quiz).
If you are confused by the grade on your essay, come talk to me. If you are upset by the grade, come talk to me and re-write it for more points. If you are happy with your grade, keep up the good work!
I only received ONE entry for the extra credit assignment. I will accept no more for this one, but I may assign more in the distant future. (Awk, but you know what I mean.)
