For those who are having trouble finding a copy of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” here it is. There is also a .pdf file available on the site. Print it, mark it up, bring it to school Monday. There is a lot to read, so I would break it in half to do part today and part tomorrow. If you have any questions, let me know, but I want you to look for the following:

• What is the author’s main argument (thesis)?
• Who is his audience?
• What rhetorical devices does he employ in supporting his argument?
• Is he persuasive?

I am not asking you to write a paper over this, but I need to see annotations throughout your papers on Monday. We will begin a discussion right off, and it is always awkward to be unprepared. Again, send me an email if you are concerned/confounded by this assignment.

This post has been WinsomeWiki’d.

For this assignment you will be responding to the two attached photographs. Taking into consideration the composition and layout of the two pictures, answer the following prompt in a two-page argument:

Who is affected most profoundly in these two photographs? Using evidence from the photographs, defend your choice in a well-developed essay.

Because this is a argumentative essay, you must state an argument in your thesis then back it with evidence from the texts. This may seem difficult without words to cite, but take a few minutes to look over the images while you mark interesting parts. Some questions to help you get started:

New York Times Image
How would you characterize the boy’s clothing? Is this dress ironic?
How would you characterize the soldiers’ dress? That is the most distinctive thing about the soldier with his back to the camera?
What are the soldiers looking for? Do they have a right to search the boy?

Time Image
What do the eyes in the photograph tell you?

Both
Why is it surprising that children are included in these photographs?

Discuss in the comments section if you are stuck. Remember, you are making an argument. Use your thesis statement to state the argument, then back it with your ideas supported by the text. You will be counted off if you write an opinion paper or stray too far from the photographs.

Just a reminder: Your essays are due tomorrow. Please have them typed in the usual format and ready to turn in at the beginning of the hour.

Also, we will be going over articles in class tomorrow, returning to our schedule of article discussion on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

This essay is a bit different from those we have written before. You are asked to defend or attack the importance of The Island as a piece of cinema. Keeping your personal reactions out of this paper will be difficult, but you should be able to do it. Frame your argument around what it means for a movie to be “quality”; does it mean that it is possible to discuss? Should a quality movie reflect the culture in which it is written? Should it receive excellent reviews and do well in ticket sales? This is where your opinion comes in.

After you decide how you would like to argue your point, begin writing your thesis. Here’s an example: Although The Island was not a critical success, the movie’s representation of popular culture (for better or worse) makes this movie important as a reflection of the contemporary zeitgeist.

We will work on this a bit on Wednesday, but come to class with an outline and be prepared to discuss.