April 10th, 2013

4/10/13

In Class:
Journal--  Picture your bedroom/living space at home. Describe each artifact in detail; reflect on what it says about your identity, personality, or interests.

GMX--  Complete and Incomplete Sentences

Identify whether the following sentences are complete or incomplete thoughts; edit the incomplete thoughts to be complete.
    __ 1) Josue, drawing in his notebook.
    __ 2) Karl, who wears a black hoodie, loves reading.
    __ 3) Listening to music on his iPod.
    __ 4) When Slyker is on time for class.
    __ 5) Because Seth likes to dirt bike.

To follow up on critical reading annotation techniques from last class, we identified important questions to ask before, during, and after reading:

• What words and expressions do I not understand yet?
• What messages and ideas is the author trying to express? What is the author saying?
• Where is the author coming from? (What gives her the right to write?) 
• Do I agree with the author? 
• What evidence/argument does the author use? (pathos, logos, ethos)

Timed Writing #2: "Salvation" by Langston Hughes
Applying the six traits of writing, each student wrote an essay in 30 minutes in response to the following prompt:

In “Salvation,” Langston Hughes reflects on a specific encounter with religion from his childhood. Reflect on your own interactions with religion in response to one of the following:
    a) Hughes repeats the expression “bring the young lambs to the fold;” what does this imply about conformity, particularly in religious institutions?
    b) Describe an experience in which you’ve had to confront the idea of ‘faith’ (as opposed to ‘fact’ or ‘knowledge’).
    c) Hughes explains that his family and church tried to “save” him at age twelve. When should children be introduced to the ideas of religion, God, and salvation? How should complex and didactic topics like this be approached? 
          OR
   d) Voltaire once said, "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him." How do you see this concept of invention applied in Hughes' memoir? What does this story say about creating religion, God, and salvation?
 
Your response does not need to reflect any particular stance on any particular religion, but write with conviction and consider your personal experiences. 


Exit Ticket: List the six traits of writing.


Homework:
Read and annotate "Stonehenge and the Louvre Were Cool" by Carol Lucci Wisner. Answer the critical reading questions we identified in class.
Catch up on any missing work.