Logical Fallacies and Toulmin Exam

I know some of you are concerned about the test tomorrow, but given the time crunch with the PSAT, we don’t really have any choice but to go forward tomorrow. A few thoughts that might help, though:

  1. The Toulmin portion of the test will only be worth 21 points—and I will select examples that are easier than the samples from today.
  2. Knowing the six types of warrants and five types of claims will make a big chunk of the test enormously easy.
  3. For the logical fallacies section, I will add a word bank with all of the terms, so you don’t need to memorize their names.
  4. This page has some review options for you as well. Hopefully, that will put *some* of your fear to rest. I hope to be in school tomorrow, but the odds are about 50-50 at the moment.
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Classroom Updates on Facebook

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When  I post new class news on the web page, they should also appear on the class Facebook page now. Wouldn’t it be a lovely idea to to use Facebook for some educational purpose?

You can visit the class Facebook page here.

Notes, assignments, and the calendar page are still only here on the main site.

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Potential Questions for the Great Gatsby Exam

The Great Gatsby exam will require you to answer two questions, each in a well-developed essay with a thesis and 2-3 strong, detailed paragraphs. An200px-Francis_Scott_Fitzgerald_1937_June_4_(1)_(photo_by_Carl_van_Vechten) excellent answer will demonstrate knowledge of the text, classroom discussion and the notes we’ve discussed.

  1. Scott Fitzgerald famously said that "there are no second acts in American lives." Do the life and death of Jay Gatsby demonstrate this claim or refute it? Does the novel ultimately argue that one can never re-invent himself?
  2. Point of View is one of the most powerful techniques of The Great Gatsby. Explain how Fitzgerald’s use of a ‘witness’ point of view impacts the reader and allows Fitzgerald to develop his themes. Why does he occasionally transgress this point of view, and with what impact?
  3. What is ultimately the most to blame for the tragic end of the novel: Gatsby’s nostalgic desire for the past, Daisy’s selfishness, or Nick’s silence?
  4. Analyze Fitzgerald’s use of symbolism in the text. What are some of the most powerful symbols Fitzgerald uses in the text and how do they contribute to the meaning of the text as a whole?
  5. Fitzgerald is known as the preeminent chronicler of the Jazz Age, perhaps better depicting its excesses and virtues better than anyone. How does Nick Caraway demonstrate both attraction to and repulsion from the lives of the incredibly rich inhabitants of Long Island?
  6. Does the novel argue that Jay Gatsby is a tragic hero responsible for his own downfall or is it a critique of a society in which romanticism is no longer allowed/permitted?
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AP Language Essay: Childhood Obesity

It’s time for our third essay (and second major argumentative piece). This time there are attached sources, so please limit your response to the attached evidence and information you know without looking up any extra information.

You should use parenthetical citation for the sources included in the packet.

Resources:

 

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A Man’s Got to Have a Code: AP Language Revision Policy

As we move into the exciting world of revisions in AP Language, there are a few things to keep in mind. When revising your essays, please remember:

  • unless otherwise informed, revisions are due two class days from the time they are returned to you. In other words, an essay returned to you on Monday will be due to me on Wednesday, in class.
  • revisions must be printed and attached to all previous drafts.
  • revisions must reflect substantial change. If you ignore suggestions from previous drafts or leave glaring mistakes in the piece, you will not have further opportunity to revise.
  • revisions must be ready for submission at the start of class. Please have them printed before you arrive for class.

It’s terribly important to remember these rules. Given the massive number of papers that will be generated this year, we absolutely have to follow a workable system with consistency.

Thanks!

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