AP Language Finals Week

Discussion Test Questions

  • In his review of Malcolm Gladwell’s work, Steven Pinker writes, “[t]he reasoning in “Outliers,” which consists of cherry-picked anecdotes, post-hoc sophistry and falsealt dichotomies, had me gnawing on my Kindle.”  Is Pinker’s criticism a fair look at Gladwell’s work? Why or why not?
  • In Outliers, Gladwell argues, “It is not the brightest who succeed.  Nor is success simply the sum of the decisions and efforts we make on our own behalf.  It is, rather, a gift.  Outliers are those who have been given opportunities – and who have had the strength and presence of mind to seize them.”  Defend/refute/qualify this argument.
  • Michiko Kakutani writes that Gladwell’s “assessments turn individuals into pawns of their cultural heritage, just as Mr. Gladwell’s emphasis on class and accidents of historical timing plays down the role of individual grit and talent to the point where he seems to be sketching a kind of theory of social predestination, determining who gets ahead and who does not – and all based not on persuasive, broadband research, but on a flimsy selection of colorful anecdotes and stories.”  Using evidence from the text and class discussion, defend, refute or qualify Kakutani’s assertion that Gladwell unfairly plays down the importance of individual grit and talent as determinants of success.
  • Discuss the 10,000 hour rule and evaluate its relationship to success.
  • Explain how Gladwell’s personal biography at the end of the book either supports or refutes his larger arguments in the book.
  • Explain how the chapters about hockey players and airline pilots prove the same essential argument.

Research Paper

Final draft is due on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. You may hand me a copy in class, but must also submit to turnitin.com.

 

/by

Propaganda Exam and Presentation

Remember that the propaganda exam will take place on Monday and Tuesday this week. Your propaganda presentation is due on Wednesday.alt

On Monday, you’ll be doing the propaganda techniques portion of the test. Seth has made a Quizlet to review the terms and you can access it here.

On Tuesday, the test will cover:

  • the basics of propaganda
  • Chomsky and Herman
  • Orwell
  • Postman
  • Ellul
All of the notes for the test and the assignment sheet for the project can be downloaded under AP Language–>Downloads–>Propaganda.
/by

Propaganda Research Paper (Lang)

Topic Ideas

A few topics you might want to consider for the research paper:

/by

Propaganda Videos and Posters

The collection below contains the videos and images we’ve discussed in class during the propaganda unit.alt

/by

Education Test Questions and Resources

  • Explain how elenchus is the cornerstone of true education, according to Socrates.
  • In his article “Dehumanized,” Mark Slouka argues that our current educational focus undermines civic life in America. What is his problem with current educational trends and what does he propose to do to reverse them?
  • Explain how Paolo Freire’s “subject-object” metaphor drives his beliefs about education.
  • How, according to Jonathan Kozol, does the belief in “adequacy” undermine the promise of Brown v. Board of Education?
  • Both John Dewey and Kenneth Robinson discussed the futility of trying to prepare students for specific jobs. Why does each believe this cannot succeed?
  • Summarize Sol Stern’s critique of the Pedagogy of the Oppressed.
  • How can the work of Eric Hanushek from Stanford improve American schools?
  • Explain Paolo Freire’s banking metaphor and summarize why he thinks it damages students.
  • “Waiting for Superman” argued that charter schools offer better education because they faced less restrictions and interference from unions. What are these restrictions?
  • Using at least three sources, make an argument for how schools can achieve the ideological goals of deschooling without eliminating the schools.
  • Using at least three sources, make an argument for public education not being focused on vocational training.
  • A number of the articles and videos we have watched suggest that public education depends on tracking at the least, and failure of some students at the worst.  Analyze this argument and defend, refute or qualify it, using as much evidence as you can.
  • Defend, refute, or qualify Jonathan Kozol’s argument that American schools are engaging in “apartheid.”
  • There are two schools of thought about curriculum reformed we have discussed: programmed learning, like the KIPP schools and individualized instruction, as promoted by George Siemens and others. Using multiple sources, make an argument that one of these approaches is likely to be more effective.
Notes
/by