Group A: Week 9 - Valentine's Day

In the spirit of Valentine's Day...

You receive an anonymous Valentine’s Day message through a Facebook app. It's from a secret admirer. According to the love note, the secret admirer will reveal his or her identity on Valentine’s Day at a location mentioned on the card. Oddly enough, this is the same location you are taking your current love interest out on a Valentine’s Day date. Write about how this evening plays out.  (Your creative response should be at least 1-2 well-written paragraphs.)

Due: Friday, February 14th

Group B: Week 8 - "What Do Women Want?"

Greetings, scholars. Some of you have been doing very well with the blogs. Thank you!  :-)  

This week, I'd like you to read, analyze, and hopefully, discuss an interesting poem with your groupmates.

Please complete the following assignment, based on the poem: TP-CASTT Poetry Analysis:

• TITLE: Consider the title and make a reasonable prediction about what the poem is about.
• PARAPHRASE: Translate the poem line by line (yes - line by line) into your own words on a literal level. Look for complete thoughts (sentences may be inverted) and look up unfamiliar words.
• CONNOTATION: Examine the poem for meaning beyond the literal. Look for figurative language, imagery, symbolism, puns, and sound elements.
• ATTITUDE/TONE: Notice the speaker’s tone and attitude. Humor? Sarcasm? Awe?
• SHIFTS: Note any shifts or changes in speaker or attitude. Look for key words, time change, punctuation.
• TITLE: Examine the title again, this time on an interpretive level.
• THEME: Briefly state in your own words what the poem is about (subject), then what the poet is saying about the subject (theme).

Due: Friday, February 7th

Group B: Week 6 - Corporate Sponsorship

The following is a slightly modified, but actual Advanced Placement (AP) English Language & Composition prompt. Consider the background information carefully; write a short response with at least two examples supporting your opinion. 

For years, corporations have sponsored high school sports. Their ads are found on the outfield fence at baseball parks or on the walls of the gymnasium, the football stadium, or even the locker room. Corporate logos are even found on players’ uniforms. But some schools have moved beyond corporate sponsorship of sports to allowing “corporate partners” to place their names and ads on all kinds of school facilities —libraries, music rooms, cafeterias. Some schools accept money to require students to watch Channel One, a news program that includes advertising. And schools often negotiate exclusive contracts with soft drink or clothing companies. Some people argue that corporate partnerships are a necessity for cash-strapped schools. Others argue that schools should provide an environment free from ads and corporate influence. Using appropriate evidence, write a short response in which you evaluate the pros and cons of corporate sponsorship for schools, and indicate why you find one position more persuasive than the other.

Due: Friday, January 24th 

Group A: Week 5 - Wrongful Testing

1. Read the following article: Wrongful Testing by the U.S.

2. This is a weighty issue. Take some time to mull it over. For your post: Consider which of the "four primary ethical violations" is the worst:

The four primary ethical violations: 
a) study subjects 'were members of one or more vulnerable populations;'
b) there is no evidence they gave informed consent;
c) they were often deceived about what was being done to them;
d) they were intentionally infected with pathogens that could cause serious illness without their understanding or consent.

3. In your comment, follow each of the following steps:
    a) Decide which of the violations is the most abhorrent to you. Explain your rationale with a minimum of three logical examples.
    b) Each sentence in your comment must start with a different word.
        Example: The word "I" may not be used to begin a sentence more than once in a single post. Choose your words carefully. Make each one count.
    c) When citing a quote from the article, use this resource: The Owl is Your Friend (see: Sources from the Internet or Electronic Resources).   

EXTRA CREDIT:

Thoughtfully and respectfully comment on another classmate's post.

Deadline: Friday, January 17th

Group B: Week 4 - Segregation

Background:

An essential skill in education, especially in the study of English, is to be able to interpret and view events from different historical perspectives, constantly assessing and formulating opinions as you learn. This week's topic: segregation. For thousands of years, people were separated by race in a divisive battle of moral, social, and political wills. In the famous precedent-setting court case, Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), it was ruled that separate but equal facilities are okay. But were they ever really equal? And was it ever really okay to separate people in the first place?

In Brown v. Board of Education (1954) the ruling in Plessy was overturned. "Separate but equal" was deemed no longer constitutionally adequate. Although it was slow to actually be put into practice, the legal precedent changed the United States forever.

Assignment:

1. Read the article "Pennsylvania school experiments with 'segregation'" (link below).

2. In 2-3 paragraphs, answer the following questions as carefully and thoughtfully as possible. Include at least two in-text citations from the news article. Please write in 3rd person point of view - this means NOT to use the words "I", "me", "my", "mine", etc. 

        a) What are some of the effects, beneficial or detrimental, of segregation on American society?

        b) How does McCaskey East High School's recent "experiment" toe the line between right and wrong? Given the potential "success", should this kind of segregation permissible?

        c) How could racism or discrimination shape a person's self-perception? What, if anything, can be done to alleviate racism/discrimination in the United States?

Links:

• "Pennsylvania school experiments with 'segregation'"
• How to Create In-Text Citations  (See Sources from the Internet or Electronic Resources)

Optional, extra credit assignment: 

Engage in a meaningful, respectful conversation (at least one paragraph or more) with at least one of your classmates.

Final due date:

Friday, January 10th