Global Weirding is Here: February 18, 2010

This week in class we read a chapter of our text entitled "So What? Who Cares?", dicsussing how we address all audiences on topics that may or may not be of interest to them, and how we make an issue rise to importance. Oftentimes, you may make an argument to an audience that is saying to themselves, "why should I care about this?" This is a challenge of rhetoric, and writers use many tools to convince audiences that their topic and argument are valid.

Please read the following op-ed entitled "Global Weirding is Here" by Thomas Freidman. The topic is global climate change, and the debate over whether it exists or not. Some people think that this is a topic that has been overrated, and are asking "so what"?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/17/opinion/17friedman.html?em

Then, write a response in which you address the following concerning the article:
1) Who is the audience?
2) What is the topic?
3) What stategies does Friedman use to convince the audience that his topic is important?
(Hint: Appeals/rhetorical devices)
4) Are you personally interested in this topic? why or why not?
5) What information would a writer need to provide to convince a skeptical audience that this topic is important?
6) What do you think Friedman's purpose, or objective is?
7) In your opnion, does he do a good job addressing "so what" and "who cares" or would you do it differently?

Weekly News Blog February 4, 2010

This week we learned that our school placed third in a regional "AP Challenge" index and was written up in the Washington Post (see website for article). As you know, public education is a matter of great debate within national and local politics; how much money education recieves, how it is spent, teacher observations, etc.

Please take a look at the blog below called "Class Struggle" that is published by the Washington Post. Read the postings over, and then when you are done, write an analysis of some arguments presented in the blog, naming the speaker, the topic, the argument, and any RHETORICAL STRATEGIES, being used...

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/class-struggle/

Weekly News Blog January 25, 2010: Censorship, killing our spirits left and right

In class I am handing out a packet of news articles regarding the Chinese goverment censorship of both the internet and citizens' text messages and emails. Recently this has been in the news because Google has suspected and accused the Chinese government of hacking into the Google system and using searches done on the internet to identify potential anti-government citizens. The Chinese government is communist, and unlike the U.S., does not have a Bill of Rights that protects the press and freedom of speech.

After reading and annotating your articles, please write a response regarding how "censorship", or the restriction of free speech, affects the lives and freedom of citizens. Get fired up....this is a huge issue!!!!

Weekly News Blog, December 7th

This week, 56 papers in 46 countries across the world published a joint editorial about climate change. Usually, papers publish their own thoughts and opinions on the editorial page, but this week, they decided to come together and publish the same message: we must help defeat climate change before it defeats us.

Please take a look at the article below, and answer the following questions:
1) Why would all the papers unite and publish a common editorial?
2) Who or what si the intended AUDIENCE for their message?
3) What is their argument?
4) Can you find one newspaper that has published the editoiral? Search around the internet and find out...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/07/56-papers-in-45-countries_n_382135.html

Weekly News Blog November 18

"Gay marriages should be allowed because the U.S. Constitution does not discriminate against individuals based ont heir sexuality."

This is a controversial statement. It is big news right now. It is an issue, a discussion...and more importantly, an argument. Please read the following update on gay marriage legislation here in DC, and answer the following question:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/17/AR2009111703492.html?hpid=sec-metro

Who is making a proposal in this debate?
(Please frame the rhetorical triangle to dicuss the proposal, or say who the speaker is, the audience, the thesis/topic, the occasion, and the purpose.

Weekly News Blog November 10, 2009

This week's blog posting is an argument about Education...specifically, rating schools versus rating teachers on how they work effectively to raise student achievement.

Please read the following article, and define the author's argument, as well as include your own thoughts and personal argument on the topic. :-)

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/class-struggle/2009/11/those_unfortunate_people_in_th.html?hpid=sec-education

Weekly News GRASPS November 2, 2009

This week I want you all to investigate and consider what is happening right now in Afghanistan. Afghani whaaaaaat? That's right, Afghanistan. The U.S. sent troops to the country after September 11, 2001 to look for Osama bin Laden, mastermind of the 9/11 attacks here in New York and Washington. They have not found bin Laden yet....but they have encountered resistance and conflict with local tribes affiliated with the Taliban, the Islamic fundamentalist movement/government that was running Afghanistan prior to September 11. It is believed that the Taliban, who operate heavily on the border of Pakistan, may be harboring bin Laden, and are considered a threat to regional stability.

We have many troops in Afghanistan today, and American military members are dying in the conflict. President Obama is considering sending an additional 20,000 troops to the country--and the national debate is whether we should pull our troops out of Afghanistan all together, avoiding more American deaths...or send more troops and try to crush the opposition and increase stability in the country.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
Please read the following op-ed:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-engelhardt/too-big-to-fail-why-all-t_b_341599.html

You assignment is to break down this writer's argument, answering the following questions:
1. What are the pros and cons of sending more troops to Afghanistan, according to the author?
2. What are President Obama's options?

You must then research one RECENT (last month) news article about Afghanistan from a credible source, and include reference to the news article in your response.

Good luck....this is a huge and important issue right now for the United States...so get involved and understand all sides of the argument!!
k.