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?

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• The Affordable Care Act should be repealed.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"

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.