Early Days

2/13: E Block: Read Frank Bruni's essay about the debate in America about the purpose of education. As you will see, this debate traces back to our founding. After you have read, on the front of the notecard: react to the ideas presented here. Summarize the two arguments, then write about what you think – what makes sense to you and WHY? How does your experience and your plans for the future fit into the debate? (if you are having trouble, copy down lines that strike you –either because you agree or disagree with them- and tell me why you chose them). After you are finished, talk in groups of three about what you’ve read. On the back of the notecard: tell me about that discussion. Highlight new ideas, opinions classmates had that you had not thought of, tie this to your own lives, to what we’ve talked about all year in terms of the purpose of education, etc. Fill both sides of the notecard.

2/12: You will find resources for the assessment on the link "resources for the assessment" below. We also looked at the poems: "Talk," "Laughter of Women" and "Eulogy" today. All of those can be found below and they can be used on the assessment.

2/10 (homework): For Thursday. read and react to “The Stereotype Trap.” As you do so, keep in mind the discussions we’ve had over the past few days – particularly about the articles you read and discussed, the Echo article, etc. On the front of the notecard, react to the article – tell me what you understand, what surprises you, what you question and why, how you have seen any of these ideas play out in your own experience. On the back of the card, explore connections between these studies and what you read and talked about in your groups. Be specific and clear and make strong, insightful connections about why these experiments and their results matter to issues in our culture today.

2/9: I have posted the assessment for this unit (below). Please read through it. You can get a "jump" on the work by checking out the links at "resources for assessment" below.

2/6 (homework): Use the article packet I gave you in class today. Our purpose here is the same as it was watching the videos online – to explore issues related to race, to feminism and to war in the present because these issues are central to American culture now and in the time period covered by the course. Read each article in an effort to understand the issues, the evidence presented, the ways in which the evidence in interpreted and the opinion/ideas presented. For each article, as you read underline the evidence you find (facts, statistics and their sources) and put an asterisk (*) next to the analysis of that evidence. After you have read, write down, in your blue book, three points central to the main focus of the article. Then, write down two ideas that you most agree with and two that most challenge your thinking.

After you have finished the work for each article, reflect on what you read. What have your learned/discovered about each topic? How does new information help to shape your thinking? What more do you want to know/understand? What do these articles say about the issues at hand in American culture today? Write at least a page.

2/4: Tonight, go back to the website and watch one of the two videos you did not watch for today’s class. The assignment remains the same: take notes while you watch then reflect on the issues presented (use the questions posted on the original assignment below as a guide). I am going to collect the blue books on Friday, so make sure yours is complete (I’ll count this round 1.5 times in the “process grade” category. Usually they count 2.5 times). Here’s what should be in the blue book: the initial entry from the first day, the Rockwell painting blue book, the Inaugural poems video lists, these two issues video entries and Thursday night’s article entries. See “Cont Am Culture initial blue book entry” on the main “Contemporary American Culture” page for grading criteria.

2/2: Please watch and respond to one of the following: John Stewart and Bill O'Reilly debate white privilege, a news report about the controversy surrounding American Sniper, a news report about sexism in gaming and the violence that such discussions inspire. While watching, make a list (in your journals) of points you find interesting (6-10). After you've watched, respond in the journal. What struck you as important? What surprised you? What 2-4 points did you agree with and why? What 2-3 points challenged your thinking and why?

weekend homework (1/30): You can find a video of Richard Blanco's inaugural poem here (OR copy and paste the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkSRy8SGTEE) and Robert Frost's here (OR copy and paste the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rov3usRnu64). Start at 39:55 where Frost tries to read the poem he wrote for the occasion - watch at least :30 of this before fast-forwarding to 41:50 where he regains his footing by switching to "The Gift Outright." Watch all of that. Response prompt is attached below.

1/30 (in class): Respond to Norman Rockwell's Post cover painting Game Called Because of Rain ((attached below). First, describe what you see - "plot," characters, relationships, action, setting, etc. Then look more carefully at details and at Rockwell's use of the elements and principles of art - light, dark, color, tone, shape, balance, contrast, etc. Make note of what you discover here as well. Finally, read over what you have written and brainstorm 4-6 American values words that you see represented in the piece.

1/29: Assignment is at the top of the article "Citizen Exams as Classroom Aid") below. You will need that article and "America, Who Are We?"