I passed out a number of articles in class today, most pertaining to religion in schools. If you snagged one, read over it. Our goal in this section is to gain a solid understanding of this issue. By the end, we should all have a solid understanding of the nuances of this issue, the rationale behind many sides of the argument, and a much clearer view of our own opinions. Simply, in a few weeks we all should be able to hold an intelligent conversation about religion’s place in the public school system.

As with all of our discussions, we are not striving for consensus ((Remember “groupthink” from psychology? If not, ask your teacher.)), nor are we looking to establish a two-sided, pro/con debate; this is a complex issue ((Overview from ReligiousTolerance.org)) ((Overview from Pew Forum)), and I expect each of you to do enough research so you can thoughtfully contribute to our discussions. This means some independent study: confine your article analyses ((Here’s a non-argumentative article about headscarves in Belgium schools. While our focus will be on the American system, this is a very recent addition to the debate.)) to this subject, talk with family members, religious leaders, teachers, and such about their thoughts, read up on important court cases ((Scopes Trial)) ((Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District)), etc.

We will continue our discussion of rhetorical devices, logical arguments and fallacies, and appeals throughout this session.

If you come across any resources, please post them below or print them out. Bring all information to class; share the wealth!

Two quick articles I promised my Seniors, but think all should read:

• Vonnegut Style
• Vonnegut explains drama

We begin Hamlet tomorrow. I realize that the name Shakespeare strikes fear (or ironic eye-rolling) in the hearts (or faces?) of many-a high school junior. For those few, I offer a cheat sheet.

More to come.

I was a bit startled that most of you are unaware of the health care debate raging around us, but that’s what this class is for, isn’t it?

I mentioned OpposingViews.com in class today, and while I haven’t had a chance to explore it thoroughly, they have a section on the health care debate. Might be worth thumbing through, as the people writing the arguments must meet one of the following criteria:

• They are a recognized leader in their field
• They have a significant following or constituency
• Their views have been widely published or broadcast
• Or they have a unique personal experience in a specific area

I mentioned TED.com as well. We are watching a video on the morality of liberals and conservatives in my senior English class, so pop over there if you’re interested. We’ll discuss articles tomorrow.

“Stallings wants us to find articles? From where?”

Anywhere. But, I know that’s a big place, so:

• Arts & Letters Daily—Brilliant site bringing together articles from all over the Interwebs. Mostly scholarly, but all well-written.
• In These Times—Began as an “Independent Socialist Newspaper,” but is primarily progressive (left of center) in its leanings today. Kurt Vonnegut was a frequent contributor until 2005.
• Slate.com—Online-only news magazine. Gotta love the Explainer (not argumentative, but interesting nonetheless).
• The New Republic—Often insightful, this magazine focuses on politics and the arts.
• Time Magazine
• Bad Idea—A British magazine that publishes “young journalism.” Definitely worth checking out, as it brings a fresh face to opinion and editorials. Check out the Butcher’s Shop for an overview of the editing process articles go through before publication.
• AdBusters—Popular amongst my students for the past two years. Worth checking out.
• National Review—Very well-written conservative magazine.
• The New Yorker
• Popmatters—Articles on popular culture; music, video games, the Interwebs, and movies are all topics. Great place to find an article and a new favorite band.

In no particular order. You may now be asking, “How do I find the time to read all of this? I found three that I like, but I can’t go to all of these sites just to find an article.”

My philosophical response: “That’s not the point. While it is important that you are able to find and analyze arguments, it is even more important that you begin a habit of consuming thoughts and opinions about the world around you. If you don’t use the skills you learn, you’re just going through the motions.”

My practical response: “Use an RSS reader, like Google Reader. You can subscribe to the sites you like (even My Life is Average, if you must), and even take a peek at what I’ve been reading. Check out the Feeds page for more information.”

And no, I won’t stop talking about RSS readers until all have signed up. 🙂