NPR series: "Becoming American"

NPR (National Public Radio) has a series this week on becoming American. This week they interviewed authors Junot Diaz, Jumpha Lahiri and Joseph O'Neill. For this assignment, go to the interviews on NPR, listen and/or read the transcripts of one writer (to hear a writer other than O'Neill click on their name in the article) in order to answer the following questions. Your answer should be in a paragraph form addressing all of the answers in your paragraph.

1. Why did he/she get into books? What was her/his motivation?
2. What two sides does she/he find in American culture?
3. What internal conflict does she/he face as a writer, as an immigrant? How does she/he resolve that?
4. Compare his/her story to Alexie and Malcolm X.
5. Compare her/his story to your own.

Extra Credit up to 40 points; due 12/03/08

Extra Extra Credit: Listen to one author read from their current book. Title you blog: "Reactions to {insert writer's name}readings." Write about the impressions the reading left upon you as well as the experience of listening to a writer read his/her book online. 10 points; due 12/03/08

Critical Response to Fahrenheit 451

Using your freewrites and the Socratic discussion in class, respond to one of the following prompts on your blog:

• p. 30 “Do you notice how people hurt each other nowadays? . .. I’m afraid of children my own age. They kill each other.” Clarisse says this to Montag while they are talking. Why do you think there is so much violence in this society, especially with teenagers? How do you you think this compares with your own society now? Explain your answer with a half page response.
• p. 62: “Montag, take my word for it, I’ve had to read a few in my time, to know what I was about, and the book say nothing! Nothing you can teach or believe.” Beatty says this to Montag when he visits him at home. He obviously has read books, so why hasn’t he been punished? Why does Beatty hate books so much? Why does this society accept not being able to read books? Respond with a half page response.
• p. 74: “Maybe the books can get us half out of the cave. They just might stop us from making the same damn insane mistakes!” Montage says this to this wife, Mildred, as he is reading books. Why does call their society a “cave”? Why does he think books can help the people in society from making the same mistakes over and over? How do we use books to help us avoid mistakes? Respond with a half page.
• How does Montag change from the beginning to the end of the book? What is the significance of his change? What caused his change?
• Describe and analyze Montag's society. What is the point that Bradbury is making about his/our society in creating the society shown in Fahrenheit 451?

In your paragraph(s) you must include the following (20 points each):

1. A clear thesis statement that gives your position on the question posed in the prompt. (I should be able to read you first sentence and know which prompt you are answering).
2. Three pieces of evidence to support you interpretations in form of direct quote or reference to the book.
3. Each piece of evidence should include commentary, or an explanation of how you interpret this evidence to support your interpretation of book in response to the prompt.
4. A clear conclusion statement readdressing the prompt and stating your opinion/interpretation.
5. Proper use of English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

Note: Since you cannot underline titles in Blogger, place titles in italics.

Due November 21, 2008 at midnight.

Period 3: What book are you? Extra Credit

If you lived in the world of Fahrenheit 451 and left society to become a book person, what book would you become and why?

Post your answer in complete paragraph from. Be sure to use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Have a friend proofread your work before posting.

Due: 10/31/08 10 points extra credit

All 10th Grade: Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes . . . Time may change me

Yesterday in class we discussed how what we see, hear, or read can change us. I gave you an example of how reading Don Miguel Ruiz's The Four Agreements changed my perspective and, in at least on instance, my behavior. In a blog entry, take the freewrite you responded to the prompt:

• Write about something that you read, heard, or saw over our two month vacation that changed your beliefs, attitude, perspective, and/or behavior.

Before you post your entry, be sure to rewrite your response in proper paragraph form (a topic sentence restating the prompt, a description of what you saw/heard/read, your interpretation of it -- what it meant to you, and how it changed you). Be sure to check your grammar (that is why we do grammar warm ups!), spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. Remember, just because this is on the computer, it is not the same as text messaging or posting messages to your friends on sites like myspace or facebook.

I look forward to reading about what things impact you and how you see yourself as evolving.

Due: 10/31/08 30 points

5 points extra credit: Artist and song from which the title of this entry comes.

Persuasion: Shaping the Next Four Years of America

Background:
Over the next few months, and particularly this week and next week, we have the privilege of being witnesses to a key historical presidential election. The high stakes of this election and the buzz created by the first woman to run for President and the first African American Presidential candidate has created an environment where speakers are inspired to use the power of language to inspire citizens to act for change.

Assignment:
Go to YouTube or any search engine and look for speeches from the 2008 DNC (Democratic National Convention) and/or RNC (Republican National Convention). You can read speeches for the Democrats or the Republicans.

Choose one to three speeches to analyze.

1. SOAPSTONES the speech (see notebook assignment if you forget what each letter stands for). Be sure to give examples from the speech as evidence for your conclusion.
2. What rhetorical devices does the speaker use (repetition, metaphors, analogies, diction, etc.)? Give examples.
   
3. Evaluate the delivery of the speech (may include elements such as tone, volume, pacing, etc).
   
4. How does the speaker include the three appeals (pathos, ethos, and logos)? Are they balanced or is one used more than another?
   
5. Do you think the speech is effective? Explain why or why not.
   

Each analysis of a speech is worth up to 15 points. Post each in a blog entry with the title of the blog: "Persuasion: Speaker's Name and Date of Speech." Be sure to answer each question above in a separate paragraph (or use numbers or bullet points).

Due: 10/28/08

Welcome

Welcome to our class blog space! Here you will find interactive assignments to support what we are doing in class. I encourage you to email questions and to read and comment on each others' blogs. However, you must maintain use of accountable and professional talk. Anyone who does not abide by this will be excluded from class and receive a zero on all upcoming assignments in addition to regular disciplinary measures (calling parents, etc.). Also, you must read and have your parents sign the LAUSD Accountable Use Policy (print or ask me for a copy).

Now that we are clear on that . . . let's get started.

Setting up your account:
You should have by now activated your new LAUSD issued email. You may use that email to set up your blogger account and your own blog to be used for class assignments only. Follow the steps below:

1. Go to www.blogger.com
2. Click on the big orange arrow to create your new blog
3. Sign in using your LAUSD email address (which is your Google account address). If your email does not work, click on "Create a Blogger Account" to create and set up your account. Remember you log in and password as you will need it again.
4. Read and follow the steps to set up your blog. Remember, this is for school work, not socializing.
5. Be sure your blog title is school appropriate.
   
6. Write down the URL address so you can tell me where to find your blog. (http://xxxxxxx.blogspot.com)
7. Make your display name your first name ONLY. If there is someone else in class who has your first name, put the first letter of your last name. If you do not do this, I will not know whose blog it is and you will not get credit for your work!
   
8. Go to edit profile and uncheck the box to show your real name. In display name, type your first name only. Do not upload a picture of yourself. If you want to upload an appropriate icon, that is ok, but it cannot be you. This is for security reasons as this is public and you do not want to be identifiable to strangers.
   
9. Once you set up your blog, email the URL to me so that I may add it to our blog

Completing assignments:
Assignments will be posted as blog entries here. Please pay attention to the periods in the subject as sometimes, different periods will have different assignments. If not period is specified, everyone is expected to complete it. Here are the steps for posting your work:

• Read the assignment on this blog and follow the instructions
• On your blog, log-in and go to the "Dashboard"
  
• Click on "New Post"
• In the Title, Title the blog according to the assignment title.
  
• In the body of the blog, post your response according to the instructions in the assignment.
  
• Email questions to me or ask in class
• Once complete, check out your classmates' responses

I hope you enjoy bringing our classwork into the future of virtual classrooms and to the public (yes, anyone can see this who happens to stumble along, so edit and proofread -- hint: there is spell check-- before you post).

Due: Friday, August 8th

Speaking Like

Overview: As you prepare to debate your classmates, after gathering your evidence, incorporating persuasive devices, and writing your speeches, we need to consider how to deliver our speeches.

Objectives: Using the link below, you will listen to speeches and analyze how the speeches are delivered. From your observations and analysis you will draw conclusions about how to more effectively deliver your speech. Finally, you will do your best to implement these techniques when debating, speaking like the famous speakers from history.

Assignment: Follow the steps below and post your responses to you blog in a new post titled "Speaking Like"

Go to the website "American Rhetoric: Top 100 Speeches" and spend a bit of time checking out a few of the speeches. If you click on the name, you will see a copy of the speech and the text for the speech. If you want to know more about the speaker, you will have to do a search with whichever searche engine you like (google, yahoo, etc.).

Next, choose two speeches you want to listen to completely. Listen to each speech and answer the questions below for each one (post your answer on your blog; be sure to name each speaker and speech above your responses, number 1, 2, 3 for each one -- so you will have this twice):

1. Describe the pacing (how fast or how slow) the speaker speaks. Note any long pauses and their effect (do they make you think more or less? do they make it easier or more difficult to absorb what is being said?). If there are long pauses, do you notice any reason why the speaker paused at that point? Is the pace the same throughout or does it change (fast in some places, slow in others)?
   
2. Describe the volume and diction. Is the speaker easy to hear (remember, some of these are very old recordings, so try to not consider the static when evaluating if they are easy to hear)? Can you understand each word? Can you 'hear' the punctuation? Is there any variation in the volume of the speaker's voice? If so, why does it change? How this help you understand the meaning?
   
3. Describe the tone of the speaker's voice. What emotions does she/he express through voice? How does she/he do this? How does it help the listener follow the speech?
   
   Based on your observations and analysis of both speeches, answer the following:
   
4. Describe in your own words what needs to be done to deliver a speech effectively, that is, to deliver a speech that is easy for the audience to follow and understand and one that will likely convince the audience to agree with the speaker.

As always, if you have any questions, post a comment here or email me.

This assignment is due on Sunday, 8/24, 11:oo pm and is worth 30 points as a homework grade.