Friday, November 22, 2013

Assignments for Friday, December 6, 2013

  • Complete your second argumentation essay (due at beginning of class)
  • Send or bring me an electronic copy of your essay
  • Turn in your rewrite
  • Learn the following vocabulary words: brazen, cerebral, complicit, furtive, indispensable, legerdemain, liaison, relegate, visceral
  • Read "Knockouts High and Low"
  • In one or two sentences, answer each of the following questions about the reading, and bring your written responses to class
    • Who are the three famous persons, mentioned explicitly or implicitly by Steyn, who died November 22, 1963?
    • What does Lewis mean by "men without chests"?
    • What, according to Steyn, is the common theme that connects the "Knockout" game and the U.S. Senate's change in filibuster rules?
    • How does Steyn tie together significant ideas from Lewis and Huxley?
    • Does Steyn ever state his main idea? If so, what is it? If not, how would you phrase it?

Friday, November 15, 2013

Assignments for Friday, November 22, 2013

  • Learn the following vocabulary words: bedraggled, brazen, cadre, caveat, comeuppance, conspiratorial, debacle, fiasco, funereal, indictment, misbegotten, modicum, obligatory, plausible, poignant, praetorian guard, scythe, searing
  • Read "Obamacare Schadenfreudrama"
  • Choose a topic for your second argumentation essay and begin finding and using sources
  • Come to class with research materials and be ready to discuss your progress

Topics for second argumentation essay

Choose one of the following topics or subjects.
  • The Affordable Care Act should be repealed.
  • The Affordable Care Act needs a little work and can still be of benefit to the country.
  • Electronic surveillance is a necessary component of national defense with a proven track record of success and should be continued or expanded by the federal government.
  • The federal government's power of electronic surveillance should be severely curtailed, especially against Americans.
  • Describe and argue for a coherent strategy for the United States toward Iran's development of nuclear weapons

In-class reading

"Let JFK RIP? It's Complicated"

Monday, November 11, 2013

Assignments for Friday, November 15

  • Complete worksheet on rhetorical fallacies, and come to class ready to discuss it.
  • Turn in first argumentation essay at beginning of class.
  • Email me an electronic copy of your essay at my Motlow email address.