Meghan's Blog

10^th Grade American Literature

Media and Persuasion

1. Students will watch a video clip of MLK’s “I have a Dream Speech”
2. Class discussion about the video
3. Transition into the writing assignment and requirements

Class Discussion:

• What is your first impression of the video?
• Do you think his speech was persuasive? Why or why not?
• Did he make a good case about equality and freedom for all?
• What made his speech so powerful?
• Does the audience play a role in the importance of the speech? Explain.
• “All men are created equal”. This statement does not necessarily have to be only about race. What else could it be about?

Monday: Students will watch Martin Luther King Jr. “I have a Dream Speech” video clip and Introduction to persuasive writing activity.

Tuesday: Students will be allowed class time at the end of class to work on assignment and ask teacher questions.

Wednesday: Peer review and workshop of rough draft. Students will have time to work on research in the computer lab.

Thursday: work on final draft for hw, due Friday

Friday: Final assignment due; class presentations of the student’s articles

ELA10W1 The student produces writing that establishes an appropriate organizational structure, sets a context and engages the reader, maintains a coherent focus throughout, and signals closure. The student

a. Establishes a clear, distinctive, and coherent thesis or perspective and maintains a consistent tone and focus throughout.

b. Selects a focus, structure, and point of view relevant to the purpose, genre expectations, audience, length, and format requirements.

c. Constructs arguable topic sentences, when applicable, to guide unified paragraphs.

d. Uses precise language, action verbs, sensory details, appropriate modifiers, and active rather than passive voice.

e. Writes texts of a length appropriate to address the topic or tell the story.

g. Supports statements and claims with anecdotes, descriptions, facts and statistics, and specific examples.

ELA10W2 The student demonstrates competence in a variety of genres.

The student produces persuasive writing that structures ideas and arguments in a sustained and logical fashion; the student:

a. Engages the reader by establishing a context and developing reader interest.

b. Develops a controlling idea or formulates an arguable thesis that makes a clear and knowledgeable judgment.

c. Uses specific rhetorical devices to support assertions (i.e., appeal to emotion or ethical belief, personal anecdote, case study, analogy, and/or logical reasoning).

d. Clarifies and defends positions with precise and relevant evidence (i.e., facts, expert opinions, quotations, or expressions of commonly accepted beliefs).

e. Excludes information and arguments that are irrelevant.

f. Organizes points of argument effectively to achieve desired outcome.

g. Addresses readers’ concerns, counterclaims, biases, and expectations.

h. Achieves closure by summarizing main points of argument, appealing to reason, ethics, or emotion, or encouraging action.

ELA10LSV1 The student participates in student-to-teacher, student-to-student, and group verbal interactions. The student

a. Initiates new topics in addition to responding to adult-initiated topics.

b. Asks relevant questions.

c. Responds to questions with appropriate information.

d. Actively solicits another person’s comments or opinion.

e. Offers own opinion forcefully without domineering.

f. Contributes voluntarily and responds directly when solicited by teacher or discussion leader.

g. Gives reasons in support of opinions expressed.

h. Clarifies, illustrates, or expands on a response when asked to do so; asks classmates for similar expansions.

i. Employs group decision-making techniques such as brainstorming or a problem-solving sequence (i.e., recognizes problem, defines problem, identifies possible solutions, selects optimal solution, implements solution, evaluates solution).

j. Divides labor so as to achieve the overall group goal efficiently

Media and Persuasion

Persuasive Writing Assignment

As we have seen in Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream Speech”, he was very persuasive and captured the audience’s attention. Now it is your turn to persuade the reader about a certain topic or social issue. For example, it is ok to be gay and a football player or a sports star, like we have read in “Out of the Pocket”.

• For this assignment you will write your own news article. (Remember the different ways we can be more accepting of one another that we have studied in this unit.)

• The first and most important step for writing a persuasive argument is deciding what you want to persuade someone to believe. Is there a compelling social issue you would like to correct, a situation within the school that you would like to change, an issue from history that needs to be addressed, or maybe even explore a political condition.

• Whatever your topic is about, it needs to deal with acceptance and why society needs to be more accepting of the issue you chose.

• Your article will be due on Friday. You need to have a rough draft ready on Wednesday for peer review and editing.

• You are required to do some independent research on your topic to make sure you have enough knowledge about the topic you choose. Bring materials to class because I will allow you some class time to work on your assignment and I will be available for questions.

Requirements:

1. The final product needs be at least 2 pages long but no less
2. Double spaced;Times New Roman in MLA format
3. The assignment should clearly include:

a)      What your topic is you are trying to persuade the reader to believe

b)      How the topic deals with society’s acceptance

c)      Why do you believe it is important that society be more accepting of the topic you chose? Remember, be persuasive!

1. All research needs to be cited on a separate works cited page. You have to have at least three different, substantial sources.
2. Everyone will be required to present their speech or article to the class

Teacher Name: Ms. Evans

Student Name:     ________________________________________

According to Postman, memes are “contagious patterns of cultural information that are passed from mind to mind and directly shape and propagate key actions and mindsets of a social group”. This is an important tool to understand and even implement in the classroom. Students are constantly browsing meme’s in their technology driven world. There are three characteristics of memes which include fidelity, fecundity and  longevity.

Fidelity refers to the ease of spreading the meme. Meme’s can be spread through many different outlets, however the most popular is YouTube which is an internet site where anyone can browse or even broadcast there own memes. Fecundity refers to how fast the meme spreads and becomes popular. This is usually done through the internet where it can be sent, shared, linked or watched by anyone. Many meme’s become popular instantly because of their rapid spread. Longevity is how long the meme survives. The more popular the meme is, the longer and bigger of an impact it will have on our society. A site such as Facebook is an example of a meme of lasting longevity.

Meme’s are a way people can spread ideas that keep people coming back for more. There are many meme’s all over the internet. Meme Central is a great website to browse through because it not only explains what a meme is but it also gives viewers a chance to take a look at many different types of memes as well.

While browsing I found the Internet Virus Antidote. Before a viewer clicks on the site it states, “Send this page to people who send you annoying chain letters, virus hoaxes, or bad jokes”. I found it quite funny when I opened to read what it had to say. Basically when someone sends an e-mail to someone that says, “Send this to 10 people and you will have good luck for the rest of your life, and if you don’t then you will never find your soul mate”. These are called mind viruses. But there is no need to worry, because the Internet Virus Antidote can fix it. “But never fear: the antidote is here”

The Antidote is a “counter-virus”. Internet Virus Antidote is to be sent to the person who forwarded an e-mail that has sent a MIND virus. A mind virus is an email that instructs you to forward it right away is a mind virus trying to reproduce.

This is just one kind of meme. There are thousands among thousands out there. And they spread like a wild fire!

Metaphors are used everyday, on a daily basis without people really thinking or understanding them. If we were to take a look at various advertisements, one would see a plethora of metaphors used as their selling strategy. In advertising, metaphors are used to associate a product with a semantic domain which has positive connotations. Not only are they used by poets, advertisements and in the English classroom, metaphors are even used by linguistics, scientists, historians  and so on. Many people think of metaphors and they think of the term that is studied in every English classroom across the nation. Take this example for instance,

“These natives are no different than wild animals”

These metaphor makes me think about the Europeans who came over to America to create their “New World”. However, in reality they just took away the land, resources, and brought fatal diseases to the Native Americans who already inhabited the land. The white men stole, alienated, and destroyed the Natives world in order to create their “new” world.This metaphor was in fact an advertisement. Car dealerships use many metaphors, such as that one to try and sell their newest lines of cars. Postman states, “we may conclude that humans live in two worlds- the world of events and things and the world of words about events and things” (159).  Metaphors can be used by anyone to make connections to almost anything. Words are a powerful tool that is used on a daily basis by each and every person. What we learn in our English classroom can be used, translated and connected to everything we do.

I took at look at Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing and I was instantly hooked. As a future English teacher, a site such as this would be so useful in my classroom. I want to incorporate a daily mini grammar lesson at the beginning of each class and I can use Grammar Girl for tips and ideas. I can even play her podcast in class as well.

I took at look at “Dangling Participles” and I liked how she provided a written text of what she is saying. So not only can you hear it but you can see it as well. This would be useful to use in the classroom for students who have different learning styles because I would be incorporating both visual and auditory learning. Because as we all know, not every student has the same learning style or preference.

Nerd Fighters: Made of Awesome was also another neat site that I browsed through. I noticed that under the “Reading” section people can come in and discuss various books. Not only that, but many of the books are Young Adult novels. They had books such as, Catcher in the Rye, The Hunger Games, Speak and so on. I think this a great resource for students to use to have a discussion about the books that they are reading. Even if it is not an assignment for class, it allows them a place to go and discuss the work they are reading. This is a wonderful resource for anyone.

They have Blogs, Photos, Videos and much more. This is an exciting and very user friendly site. It seems as though a lot of young adults (a.k.a Teens) are frequenting this site as well. Our teens are very technologically savvy now, and they enjoy using these kinds of websites. Not only is it fun and creative, but it also is educational. It is a place where they can go and share information and ideas with one another.

I found that Richardson’s statements about technology in the classroom to be very interesting. Again, I have found myself reading about more use of Twitter or sites like it in the classroom. The social web has become so popular that it seems to be used in almost all facets of our every day lives, including education. However, I am still unsure about how I feel about these kinds of resources in the classroom.

There is no doubt that the internet is changing how we think about teaching and learning at every level and social networking sites are no exception to this. Richardson stated, “Finally, it also means that we’re willing to share our ideas and resources with the network for it’s betterment, because we get back just as much if not more” (85). I could not agree more with this statement, however, how much should we allow in a classroom setting?

The internet allows us to find people, connect, learn new things and share information, which in return increases learning. This is something every teacher and future teacher should be excited about. Sites, such as Twitter, allow people to ask questions and get answers, link to resources and share ideas. This is definitely a positive aspect of the social networking site. We want out students to be excited about finding out NEW information and sharing what they have learned with others, but why are social networking sites the only place people seem eager to do this in? It makes it easier, but it also makes it easier for students to cheat, take the easy road and become prey to internet predators. Also, there is a lot of real and substantial information out there, but as we all know, there is also a lot of fluff as well.

Richardson explained, “It’s a blend of professional and the personal…” and this is something students enjoy engaging in (86). After all, at that age, everything is about them and their friends, so what could be better then learning on a site where they can also connect with friends? I found the Youtwitter.com site very interesting. It is a permission only environment where students can create their own social learning environment. A site such as this, which can be controlled by teachers and students alike, seems, in my opinion, a safer and more educationally safe tool to implement into the classroom. It is very important that students interact with one another, share ideas, analyze and think critically about the material they learn. A site such as this seems to be a good resource to implement both education and technology in a more controlled environment, which still allows freedom and expression for students. Technology has evolved so much in the past few years that teachers and students have many more learning opportunities to share with one another, which is another positive.

Almost everyone I know is a part of social networking. Whether it is through facebook, myspace, scype, blogs, twitter or the many other forms of social networking out there, they are being used. Students are no exception to this. In fact, they are what make up this technology craze. Students are the masters of technology and many of them understand it better then we do. However, because technology has become so popular and global, should we incorporate these networking sites into the classroom?

“Tweeting Your Way to Better Grades” by Zach Miners of U.S News and World Reports,  makes some interesting statements about how these social networking sites are being used and who is using them. Miners explains that Sammy Garey who is a fan of twitter uses it in her,”..AP English class, in which they post and share feedback, analysis, and questions about novels such as Crime and Punishment” (Miners). Teachers are using these sites, which students are very familiar with and fond of to help promote discussions on class related topics. It seems as though more and more teachers are adopting this approach because it helps with student engagement. This is what our students can relate to, so why not use it?

Some other teachers do not agree with this approach. William Kist from Kent StateUniversity Ohio believes that these sites,”..could be risky because the sites might expose students to Internet predators” (Miners). It also makes it easier for students to connect with teachers which, for some teachers, could put them into compromising positions. Not all teachers want to experience a personal relationship with students. Some even feel as though it could be dangerous, given the world we now live in.

I have mixed opinions about using social networking sites in the classroom setting. I believe that blogs are a great tool to use for students to share ideas, give feedback, analysis, summaries and so on, especially with Literature. I also feel like blogs are a safer site that could be implemented in the classroom that can offer a little more security. I feel as though using the sites such as twitter and myspace are not yes appropriate to use in the classroom. Although, I am almost positive that one day it will be the norm in all classroom settings.

“Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins has to be, hands down, one of the best books I have read in a really long time. It had the most intriguing story line! I did not know much about the book, if anything, before I started it and once I opened and read the first page I was hooked.

Katniss stepped in place for her sister Prim at the reaping so that her younger sister would not have to go fight to the death against 23 other boys and girls! Two, a male and a female, are chosen from each district. Katniss knew she would be fighting for her life, but she did not know that she would also have to help fight with and for her district’s male nominee, Peeta, who would be going in the arena with her. They have known one other since they were little and they were the “lovers” of the Hunger Games. After the games are over, Katniss has to face her feeling about Gale, her long time boy-friend, and Peeta, the person she endured this horrifying ordeal with. The gamemakers definitely kept everyone, including the reader, on their toes through the course of the novel with the change in game rules, “natural” disasters and allowing two winners form the same district.

“Hunger Games” is considered a sci-fi book but it does not read like a sci-fi. The book takes place in the future, where twelve districts are controlled by the Capitol, or the government. They barely have enough food to eat, they have minimal electricity and they have to persevere to stay alive.  The Hunger Games is a game to remind the districts that they are in control and have the upper hand. From the age of twelve to eighteen, males and females are placed in a drawing to see if they will have to have participate in the Hunger Games, the game they fight to the death.

The idea of being put in an area to fight until there is one man standing was a crazy twist to the book in my opinion. As we talked about the book in class, I thought it was interesting to see how many people were interested in the relationship between Katniss and Peeta. Although right now we think that Peeta does truly love Katness, we have begun to question his motives and I am interested to see what will happen the the following two books of the “Hunger Games” trilogy.

Selina and I have decided to team up together for this project! We have decided to center our focus of the project on DIALCT! We are focusing opn the difference between the northern and southern dialects that we hear on a daily basis. We thought this would be a fun and educational project. Everyone will learn what dialect is and different kinds.

The United States has been experimenting for years. They experimented with NASA and the Space Race against Russia. Apple had many, and I mean many, versions of the first computer before it was actually put into production for consumers to buy. Now, in the 21^st century, America has entered into the world of technology and technological advancements. They are everywhere. From cars, to phones, TV’s and the list can go on for days. Technology has also made its impact in the classroom as well.

When I was growing up we did not even use computers. We hand wrote our papers and we even had to learn how to write in cursive. Once we were introduced to the computer and what it could do for us, the computer industry exploded and more and more people were using new technology. Today most students have their very own laptop and there is a computer in every classroom as well. Teachers rely on technology to implement teaching strategies among other things.

What if people never experimented with technology? What would our society be like today? It is also unimaginable to think what it would be like with out the constant use of computers and technology. If NASA had not experimented with space and spaceships, then would Neil Armstrong have ever landed on the moon? Or what if Henry Ford never experimented with the model-T? All this makes me think that experimentation is probably one of the best things we can do for our nation. It has given us so many advancements that have bettered our lives.

Early this semester I read, Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. I was not to sure about how much I would enjoy this book until I actually started reading it. Little Brother is about a seventeen year old boy named Marcus Yallow who lives in San Francisco. He is a very intelligent young man and knows how to navigate through technology and the internet, and uses it towards his advantage. Marcus is a hacker and a good one. However, Marcus has no idea that his much-loved technology could cause so much angst and betrayal.

Marcus and his friends, Van, Darryl, and Jolu decide to skip school and find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. They witness a terrorist attack on the Bay Bridge, and before they know it they are taken in for questioning by the DHS, Department of Homeland Security. They were interrogated and held in a secret prison for several days before being released. They also had to sign a waiver stating that they would not tell anyone where they had been or what happened to them. All of Marcus’s friends were released, except for his best friend Darryl. This causes Marcus to take matters into his own hands…

The bombing of the Bay Bridge has caused the entire city to become a police state and every move they make is being watched and recorded. Everyone is being treated like a terrorist. Marcus has now discovered that his beloved technology has turned against him because of the DHS. They are being spied on, and the internet is no exception to the prying eyes of the DHS.

Marcus finds a way to use the internet to help stop the interrogations of the DHS and to find his friend Darryl. They use the X-Net as a secure internet site and for communication. He meets new friends and his girlfriend, Ange, who all help him in his quest to take down the DHS and humiliate the police force.

After not knowing whether Darryl was alive or dead, Marcus was contacted by Zeb who was in prison with Darryl. Darryl asked Zeb to contact Marcus, which caused Marcus to come clean about the imprisonment by the DHS to his parents, Darryl’s father and Barbra Stradford, an investigative reporter. Marcus and Ange planed a stunt to confuse the SFPD and to help in their efforts to find Darryl. They get taken in by the DHS and Marcus is tortured again by Severe Hair Cut Lady, who interrogated him the last time he was imprisoned. The DHS is finally busted while interrogating Marcus with Barbra’s help and he is able to find Ange and his best friend. In the conclusion of the novel, The DHS loses their power and Marcus’s life seemingly goes back to normal.

This book is very funny and captivating. It is one I would highly recommend to anyone. I can see myself or any English teacher incorporating this book into their curriculum. The issue of privacy is obviously a theme, along with heroism and so on. It can be nicely paired with the classics as an introductory read of one to wrap up a unit.

I never thought I would be interested in a book such as this one, but I soon found out I was wrong and indulged into it. It makes us think about the possibilities of technology and what could possibly be on our nation’s horizon in terms of technological advancements. Little Brother is very smart, clever, and a definite page turner.