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AP Language Essays for December

No doubt fortified by a few days off and at least one incredibly large meal, you are certainly ready for some additional writing once we return from break, so I thought I’d go ahead and give you your next two writing prompts. Both can be downloaded here if you are feeling ambitious about getting started. […]

November 24, 2012/by dpogreba

Daily Wisdom: November 21, 2012

Daily Wisdom

It’s Only History The Plymouth settlers signed the Mayflower Compact in 1620. Thomas Edison announced the invention of his phonograph in 1877. Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev met in Geneva to discuss arms control in 1985. Argument Starter Since we spent a fair amount of time discussing articles and a film critical of teachers unions, […]

November 21, 2012/by dpogreba

AP Language Essays for December

AP Language

November 24, 2012/by dpogreba

Daily Wisdom: November 21, 2012

Daily Wisdom

November 21, 2012/by dpogreba

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AP Language Essays for December

AP Language

Essay 8: Argument Choice

Your next essay is another argument, this time with a choice of topics. Building from the introduction practice we did last week, I’d like you to complete one of the essays as a fully developed response of 800-1300 words.

Because we have switched quarters, the deadlines have changed. Periods 3/4 will have their essays due on Saturday, December 1 and Periods 5/6 will have theirs due on Sunday, December 2. The deadline is 1:00 p.m. for all four classes.

In an exciting twist, this essay is likely to be one draft only. No revisions. That should provide incentive for a bit of proofreading and careful consideration before submission.

Essay 9: Propaganda Research Paper

Your next assignment will be to research and write about a propaganda event or campaign. This will require some research and planning, so I would start thinking about a topic really soon.

The first draft of this paper will be due on December 22, 2012, with the final draft due the last day before finals.

The research paper is an individual project this time.

November 24, 2012/by dpogreba

Daily Wisdom: November 21, 2012

Daily Wisdom

It’s Only History

The Plymouth settlers signed the Mayflower Compact in 1620.
Thomas Edison announced the invention of his phonograph in 1877.
Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev met in Geneva to discuss arms control in 1985.

Argument Starter

Since we spent a fair amount of time discussing articles and a film critical of teachers unions, this response from Amy Dean certainly merits conversation and discussion:

Teachers unions have played a critical role in advocating for public education, but you’d never know it from mainstream media coverage. Therefore, there is a great need to lift up this tradition and highlight the efforts of teachers to collectively push for top-notch public schools.

Fascinating Factoid

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which those who lack skills or knowledge believe they are superior to those who actually, are, rating their abilities as much higher than they are. In fact, according to professors Dunning and Kruger, those with the poorest performance are least aware of their own incompetence. As Chris Lee notes, this becomes quite complex:

The results of research performed by Dunning, Kruger, Ames, and Kammrath tell us something that every one of us has expressed at some time or another. The incompetent are readily able to escape detection by those who count. At its most cynical—though it is also a logically inescapable conclusion—this is best expressed by the Peter Principle: people are inevitably promoted to a position that is just beyond their level of competence.

Word of the Day

OLIGARCHY (ol-i-gahr-kee): rule by the few.
Example: “Back in my country I have many family members, but only my grandparents can make decisions. It’s kind of an oligarchy, but my grandma makes the best pies so it is worth it,” stated Francesco.

[pextestim name=”Quote of the Day” img=”https://quixoticpedagogue.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/chopin_pic.jpg”]”As if a magician’s wand had touched him, the garland of roses transformed him into a vision of Oriental beauty.” Kate Chopin, The Awakening [/pextestim]

November 21, 2012/by dpogreba