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 12/05/08

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 12/05/08

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

Before your 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.

American Values and Persusaion

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. How does the speaker include the three appeals (pathos, ethos, and logos)? Are they balanced or is one used more than another?
3. What American values are expressed in the speech? How does the speaker use common values to be more persuasive?
   
4. 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! Here's how to get started . . .

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. 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: Monday August 18th

Who is an American? Examining Native American and Colonial Values

Choose ONE of the following assignments and post on your blog. Use the texts we have read in class and the information in the PowerPoint lesson to inform your responses.

1. Write a letter to one of the writers we read in class agreeing or disagreeing with her/his arguments. Use examples from our world to support your opinion.
2. Using Sitting Bull’s poem as model, write a poem responding to the ideas and themes in this unit. Your poem should convey insight into your stance towards issues of Americanism, identity, race, myths, and/or cultural values.
   

Due: 8/18/08 15 points