What Would Jesus Think of Simpson's Bar?

Read the Christmas story, How Santa Claus Came to Simpson's Bar. After reading it, make one of two arguments:
Jesus approves of the story
OR
Jesus does not approve of the story.

You must provide logical reasons and textual evidence to support your position.

Gaudete Sunday! Rejoice!

This Sunday is know as Gaudete Sunday. Here is an awesome 11 point summary of what it is and why it is so incredible!  http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/gaudete-sunday-11-things-to-know-and-share-.-  I would like you to read this throroughly, then, I want you to construct an argument about why people should wait until Gaudete Sunday to start decorating for Christmas. Make sure to follow the guidelines for a classical argument. Use evidence based on the traditions of the church. You may use other outside sources if you wish including but not limited to the New Amercian Bible.

Hurry Up and Wait!

Happy Advent!

Read this short article and complete a rhetorical analysis!

https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2017/12/03/advent-hurry-up-and-wait/

And don't forget our novena. We need to pray on weekends too!

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment In which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, 
[here mention your request] 
through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

I am grateful for this guy's argument!

Well,
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for all of you. Thank you for trusting me, for working hard, for praying with me and for being young and energetic and curious! Here is a great, great article about being grateful. What is the author's argument? And HOW does he convince us that he is right? This is another way of saying that you must do a rhetorical analysis of this article. It really is fantastic. In the comments, please post under at least 5 classmates names what you appreciate about him or her. And comment on two of your classmates rhetorical analysis as well!

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/22/opinion/sunday/choose-to-be-grateful-it-will-make-you-happier.html

I love you all very much and will be thanking God for each and every one of you by name. I am excited to spend the advent season with all of you upon our return!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Messineo

Liar Liar Pants on Fire!

This week, you will practice writing fallacies so that you can better recognize them in your own and in other people's arguments.

Choose a topic of some controversy.

Write a speech and insert AT LEAST 4 fallacies. Properly ORDER the speech. (Exordium, narration, partitio, confirmation, refutation, peroration)

Here is a list from which to choose:

Affirming the consequence
denying the antecedent
Undistributed middle
Fallacy of Relevance
     ad baculum
     ad misericordium
     ad populum
     ad hominem
     red herring
     straw man
Fallacy of Presumption
     complex question
     either-or
     hasty generalization
Fallacy of Clarification
     equivocation
     accent

When commenting on the blogs of your classmates, you are to identify at least two of the fallacious statements and name them. Be sure to check your blog often so you can confirm or deny the guess made by your classmate. In other words, tell them whether or not they got them right. All fallacies must be identified, so comment a lot and help the class out. If there are 27 bloggers with four fallacies each that gives us 108 fallacious statements that must be identified. Do your part. Guess again if you got them wrong.

Rhetorical Analysis Take 2

Here is another attempt at a rhetorical analysis. Print out the text, set a timer for 40 minutes. Read and annotate the piece, and then do your rhetorical analysis on the blog. 

You can reach the prompt by clicking on this link, and scrolling down to page 9. Print it out and go for it. 

https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap14_frq_english_language.pdf

By the way, we are not going to have our test on Monday. I don't think we're ready. We will practice using the words more this week and we will take the test on Friday. Have a good weekend. 

Once Upon a Time...

Choose a fairy tale. Rewrite it in high style AND in low style. For a high style, you might choose the vernacular of one of the following: a doctor, a lawyer, a US president, or Shakespeare. For a low style, imagine the speaker as one of the following: a surfer, a country bumpkin, an urban teenager, or a chatty girl on her cell phone. Here are some fairy tales to choose from:

You should find and read the fairy tale before attempting the assignment. Also, once a fairy tale has been chosen, it cannot be repeated. THese are just a few suggestions. When the list runs out, you are expected to find your own. There are hundreds of fairy tales, so it should not be a problem. Be sure that you're telling the WHOLE story, in chronological order. 

"The Three Little Pigs""
"The Ugly Duckling"
"Hansel and Gretel"
"Rumpelstiltskin"
"Rapunzel"
"The Elves and the Shoemaker"
"Sleeping Beauty"
"Little Red Riding Hood"
"The Fisherman and His Wife"
"The Gingerbread Man"
"Henny Penny"
"Puss in Boots"
"Jack and the Beanstalk"

Why My Vote Matters

Post your Voices of Democracy Essay here, on the blog. To get in the window of 3-5 minutes, your essay should be a minimum of 390 and a maximum of 650 words. 

Edit your essay and be sure that it is good. The veterans from the VFW post take this very seriously and really enjoy listening to what young people have to say about the United States of America. Make sure you are respectful of them. Perhaps you might consider doing some research about the VFW to learn more about your audience. 

On Monday, you will turn in a

1. paper copy of the essay with your name on it. Use proper MLA format

2. a disc or a zip drive marked with your name

3. permission slip

DO NOT SAY YOUR NAME ON THE RECORDING!!!!!!!!!!!!! It will be disqualified. 

Tell Us About Your Topic!

Write a 250 word summary of what you know about your topic so far. At the end of your summary, write a tentative thesis statement.

When you are commenting, you are to comment a question asking for clarity on something your classmate has written.

So, if you were asked a question, you must answer it.

Put on the boxing gloves....

Time to argue....

1. Give us a scenario in which someone is proposing something that you either agree with, or disagree with OR
 2. something you are proposing to someone else.
THEN, write a letter making an argument for or against what it is the person or group of people is considering.

For example,
1. You school is considering extending the school day an extra hour.
2. You have just had a birthday, and you were hoping your parents would extend your curfew but they didn't. Argue for a one hour extension.

So, first you need to choose a scenario and tell us what it is, then, you pen them a letter. You must use 5 of the 6 logical means we discussed in this last chapter.
Enthymeme
Historical Example
Comparison
Fable
Maxim

Be creative, and BE SURE your letter is fully developed. (ie make sure your blog isn't too short!)

Top Down versus Bottom Up

Since this is homecoming weekend, I am going to make this short and sweet. You need to make two arguments, one should be deductive, one should be inductive. Use this link or your book to figure out what these mean and how to design an argument so that it is deductive or inductive. Label your arguments A. and B.

Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

When commenting, choose a classmate and try to guess which statement is deductive and which is inductive.

The Powers of a Good Cry

Using the rhetorical triangle as your guide, complete a rhetorical analysis of this commercial. What is the argument of the ad? Is the ad effective, why or why not? Which of the three rhetorical appeals is dominant in this ad? Defend your choice.

Scarecrow Ad

PS. Do not be afraid to conduct a little research on the ad. You can read criticisms, you can look up the year it was released, etc. How was it received by the public etc?

PSS. Make sure you have read section 2, chapter 3 and have taken Cornell notes. We will have a quiz Monday or Tuesday.

Good One George!

Now that you have done a close reading of George Washington's "A Faithful Friend to the Army", you will write a rhetorical analysis. Which appeal, ethos, pathos or logos predominates? Your analysis should reflect that.

If you are struggling, take a look at the questions on pages 40-41. Also, make sure you include in  your introduction the kairos of the speech. That is a good way to set the stage for your analysis.

One more thing, make sure you comment on the posts of AT LEAST two classmates. And each comment, if you want full credit, should be a minimum of 20 words and should discuss the content of the post. Do not tell someone they did a good job. You are supposed to be either qualifying what they wrote or challenging it. Wimpy comments will not get credit.

Lou Gherig, What a Speech!

Watch this short video of Lou Gehrig, and then read the speech in it's entirety  Then a well developed essay, complete a rehtorical analysis of the essay paying close attention to the kairos.
What is the rhetorical situation? You may have to do a little research on this, but what is the kairos? And how do the surrounding circumstances contribute to the effectiveness of the speech?

While in our time the word rhetoric may suggest deception, this speech reminds us that rhetoric can serve sincerity as well. No wonder one commentator wrote, "Lou Gehrig's speech almost rocked Yankee Stadium off its feet."

Why is this an effective speech? First of all, rhetoric is always situational. It as an occasion-the time and the place the text was written or spoken. The occasion exists within a specific context-the circumstances, atmosphere, attitudes, and events surrounding the text. Purpose is the goal the speaker wants to achieve. In the case of Gehrig's speech, the occasion is Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day. 

Your essay should also address the speech itself. Complete a close reading and point out some strategies that Gehrig employs that make this one of the most famous speeches of all time.

350 word minimum. Even though the speech is short, there is a lot to say about it.

Allegory of the Cave

Set a timer for 40 minutes. During that time, write a rhetorical analysis of Plato's Allegory of the Cave.


What the heck is a rhetorical analysis?

Sense of Place

https://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2014/05/on-the-importance-of-place


In reading the Scarlet Letter, it is essential to know a bit about Nathaniel Hawthorne and from where he writes. He begins the novel with the long, long, long initial reading of "The Custom House". Ugh, can I just skip this and move on to the novel! No, and this is why. It provided a vivid image of the author's workplace during is tenure at the Salem Custom House. But it does much more than merely present the reader with humorous details of the author's co-workers. For one thing, it underscores Hawthorne's fatalistic sense of place by meditating upon his attachment to Salem, or perhaps better said, upon Salem's claim on him. In "The Custom House", the narrator views Salem as a place of tragedy, and this sense of place is mirrored in the novel. Because of the long connection of his family with one spot, Hawthorne states, "I felt it almost a a destiny to make Salem my home". This theme is echoed in Hester's decision to remain in Boston after the sentence of the scarlet letter is imposed upon her. Salem was a place of literary failure for Hawthorn.  It was also a place of shame as the place is tied to a family legacy of which he is not proud.

So, a sense of place is on the tap for this week's blog. The link I have provided gives you an understanding of the importance place can play in one's own life. We certainly see the significance of place for Hawthorne, and for Hester. What about you? Reflect on what a sense of place means, and speak to your sense of place. Then, compare your sense of place with that of Hawthorne's. Do you have a negative sense of place or a positive sense of place and what role has that played in your development a person? You can write about Elk County, or another specific place that has relevance to you. Maybe it is a business, a vacation spot, a hospital, a room. A place with which you identify and that has had a significant impact on you either negatively, or positively is a good choice!

Just for reference, this blog, if done thoroughly, will probably be anywhere from 375 to 600 words. Just giving you a ballpark. That is not as long as you think!

Summer Assignment 7 Post Reading

POST-READING

​1. Identify the sin of Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth, and trace the consequences of that sin on the person’s life and character.

2. Explain the symbolic significance of each of the following items: Light and dark; The scaffold; The rosebush and weeds; The letter “A”; The forest; The town

3. Some literary critics argue that Hester Prynne is one of American Literature’s first feminists. Agree or disagree with this assertion using specific examples from the text.

4. Explain Hawthorne's view on human nature regarding passion. Justify your response.

5. Hawthorne uses real historical figures in this text, including Governor Bellingham, John Wilson, and Ann Hibbins. Conduct some research on these figures. Provide a brief summary of each person and explain how they add authenticity to Hawthorne's work.

6. Conduct research on the figure of Anne Hutchinson. It has been said that Hester Prynne may be modeled after the historical figure of Anne Hutchinson. In what ways are these two women similar? Explain using details from the text.

7. Describe Hawthorne’s use of dramatic irony, and cite specific examples to support your response.

8. How does Hester’s attitude change from the first moment she emerges from the jail through the last scene of the novel. What major events assist in her transformation?

Summer Assignment 6 Chapters 20-24

CHAPTERS 20-24

1. The meaning of the scarlet letter changes throughout the story. Hester tells Chillingworth that the scarlet letter has been her teacher. What lessons does she learn from it? Explain.

2. The narrator urges the reader to learn from Dimmesdale’s experience. Do you think “Be true!” is the most important theme in The Scarlet Letter? If you agree with the narrator explain why. If you disagree, explain which theme you think is most important.

Summer Assignment 5 Chapters 15-19

CHAPTERS 15-19

1. Choose one character and identify 2 examples of that character’s good deed or traits. Then identify 2 examples of that character’s bad deeds or traits. (Use the same character) Why do you think Hawthorne gives both good and bad qualities to his characters?

2. Dimmesdale’s guilt is destroying his health. Yet he says Chillingworth is more evil than either himself or Hester. Why does Dimmesdale believe this? Do you agree? Explain your opinion.

Summer Assignment 4 Chapters 10-14

CHAPTERS 10-14

1. The title of Chapter 10 is “The Leech and His Patient.” Explain why ‘the leech” is a fitting allusion to Chillingworth.

2. Hester believes she is partly responsible for Chillingworth’s “ruin.” Who or what do you believe is most responsible for the doctor’s ruin?

Summer Assignment 3 Chapters 6-9

CHAPTERS 6-9

1. The narrator calls the Puritan children “hearless.” Describe the way they treat Pearl. Why do you think the children act like this?

2. Dimmesdale is the only person who supports Hester’s plea to keep Pearl. Is this the position expected of a Puritan minister? Do you think Dimmesdale is an effective religious leader?

Summer Assignment 2 Chapters 1-5 "The Scarlet Letter"

CHAPTERS 1-5

6/6/2016

0 Comments

1. What political, cultural, and religious conditions are already presented in the story? Give specific examples for support.

2. Hester is now protecting two men. In your opinion, does this make her a strong or a weak character? Who do you think she has a loyalty to protect? Give support for both answers.

Summer Assignment 1 Pre-Reading

INSTRUCTIONS

Make sure to read Adler's  How To Mark a Book and use the tips to annotate The Scarlet Letter. You will be able to use your annotated novel on the test when you return from summer break. Annotating texts is an important skill that will be utilized heavily throughout this school year so practice makes perfect!

This is the Scarlet Letter forum. For each group of chapters, there will be a series of questions of which you are to respond. You must also reply to at least one other student's original responses. I will continuously review responses and contribute to the discussion as the summer progresses. You must make at least two total responses per chapter (your original response and one reply) in order to receive full credit. The entire forum must be completed by July 31.

Here is a link to relevant notes on the authors background information. Please review the notes prior to reading the novel. Be prepared for a reading test on "The Scarlet Letter within the first week of school.
Nathaniel Hawthorn

PRE-READING

1. What are some of the advantages of living in a society controlled by the church?
​
2. What are some of the disadvantages of living in a church-led society?

AP Language 2018-2019 School Year

Please respond "Test"  so we can make sure you are able to post.

(Your Name) of the Americas

Read and consider the poem Child of the Americas by Aurora Levins Morales

            I am a child of the Americas,

            A light-skinned mestiza (Mischling) of the Caribbean,

            A child of many diaspora (verstreute Völker), born into this continent at a crossroads.

            I am a U.S. Puerto Rican Jew,

5           A product of the ghettos of New York I have never known.

            An immigrant and the daughter and granddaughter of immigrants.

            I speak English with passion: it’s the tongue of my consciousness,

            A flashing knife blade (Klinge) of cristal, my tool, my craft.

            I am Caribeña (aus der Karibik), island grown. Spanish is my flesh,

10         Ripples (fließen) from my tongue, lodges (wörtl. logieren, wohnen) in my hips:

            The language of garlic (Knoblauch) and mangoes,

            The singing of poetry, the flying gestures of my hands.

            I am of Latinoamerica, rooted in the history of my continent:

            I speak from that body.

15         I am not African. Africa is in me, but I cannot return.

            I am not taína (Name eines Indianerstammes). Taíno is in me, but there is no way back.

            I am not European. Europe lives in me, but I have no home there.

            I am new. History made me. My first language was spanglish.

            I was born at the crossroads

20         And I am whole.

After reading the poem, decide what the tone of the poem is. Cite specific words that support your response.  How does the speaker describe herself? Why does Morales introduce the characteristics in the order that she does? Speak about the structure of the poem. And finally, what is the argument that Morales makes?

After an analysis, write a poem about yourself that mimics this poem, its structure and its tone. It does not need be about your nationality, but that is okay too, but I want to encourage you to be creative! Have fun with it.

Jesus's Last Words

Choose one the 7 last "words" Jesus said and reflect on one. Also, make an argument about why Holy Week is the climax of the liturgical year.

1.

“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.”
(Luke 23:34)

Do you really believe God has forgiven your sins? Do you take time on a regular basis to confess your sins so that you might enjoy the freedom of forgiveness? Do you need to experience God’s forgiveness in a fresh way today?

2.

“I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
(Luke 23:43)

Have you staked your life on Jesus? Have you put your ultimate trust in him? Do you know that, when your time comes, you will be with him in paradise?

3.

“Dear woman, here is your son.”
(John 19:26)

What does Mary’s presence at the cross evoke in you? Why do you think was it necessary for Jesus to suffer physical pain as he died?

4.

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
(Mark 15:34)

Have you taken time to consider that Jesus was abandoned by the Father so that you might not be? What does this “word” from the cross mean to you?

5

“I am thirsty.”
(John 19:28)

How do you respond to Jesus’ statement “I am thirsty”? What does this statement suggest to you about Jesus? About yourself?

6.

“It is finished!”
(John 19:30)

 Do you live as if Jesus finished the work of salvation? To you have confidence that God will finish that which he has begun in you?

7.

“Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”
(Luke 23:46)

Have you put your life and, indeed, your life beyond this life, in God’s hands? How do you experience God’s salvation through Christ in your life today?

Gone Too Soon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CrOL-ydFMI

Listen to Wallace’s speech and read the transcript again.  Please articulate what you believe is the main point that Wallace tries to convey to the graduates. In your answer, you may, of course, write about more than one of the ideas that Wallace uses to help him make his point. Do you agree or disagree with what Wallace says? Be sure to use examples that are not taken from the speech to support your agreement or disagreement.

Education and You!

Minority education is something we have been discussing in regards to Baldwin's "A Talk to Teachers". Compare this discussion of minority education with Alexie's discussion of the same topic in "Superman and Me". Both pieces touch on similar themes, and comparing the two essays should lead to complex thinking about the purpose and value of education in America. So, first write about how the two essays are similar and why, and then, write a paragraph about the purpose and value of education in America, according to YOU!

It Only Takes a Spark

Read the following essay, "Superman and Me" by Sherman Alexie.
http://www.qcounty.com/SCC/Spring10/Eng305_10035/Readings/ShermanAlexie--Superman.pdf

It is both an eye-opening account of what life was like for an intelligent child on an Indian reservation and a skillful rendering of the moments surrounding language acquisition, the spark for reading and writing, and the influence on a child of a well-loved parent.  Use any or all of these avenues for discussion of the essay.

 Also comment on what rhetorical devices Alexie uses in the essay.  For example, by using the analogy of a paragraph to a fence, Alexie is providing a visual connection that all readers can understand in order to express his moment of epiphany that opened him to the world of reading: an understanding that words "worked together for a common purpose".  The use of this visual analogy between a paragraph and a fence lends meaning to the extension of his analogy in the remainder of paragraph 3.  As Alexie explains his understanding of the reservation as a paragraph within the country, his home and neighborhood as paragraphs on the reservation, and each member of his family as a separate paragraph yet part of a larger "essay of seven paragraphs," the reader grasps Alexie's inherent desire to write and his identity as a writer.  This is just one example.  You should find and cite at least two. Do your best not to repeat the devices used by other students.

Debate Practice

Open this link and scroll down to the bottom where you will find a video on 12 different debate topics. If you are one of the first half of the class to respond to the blog, you may choose a topic and make a position statement on the topic of your choice. If you are blog poster #4, #5 or #6, you will have to respond to a position statement already posted. Only one response per debate topic, so we will end up having a pro and a con argument for three different topics.  IF YOU ARE A LATECOMER, you must take what is left. Only three topics can be discussed.

For your comments, you are to:
1. write a rebuttal to your partners position statement.(under their original post)
2. Respond to your partners rebuttal of your argument (under your original post)
3. Write a position summary(Under their original post)


Your blog response should be posted separately even if you are responding to a topic already posted,  but you should begin the blog by stating your subject and position in all caps.

For example

COUNTRY LIFE IS BETTER THAN CITY LIFE-PRO
(Then continue your argument here).

There are 7 students on the blog, so IF YOU ARE THE LAST ONE TO POST, you are in charge of reading all of the posts and deciding who the winner is for each. You  must also give a reason for your choice and be prepared to defend it. 

Lent

Using at least 3 of these resources OR one you locate on your own, make an argument for why the observation of Lent is important. Although other christian religions do not observe lent in the same way that we do in the Catholic faith, many do indeed still observe their own lenten customs. So, using a classic argument style, make a case for Lent.


http://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/religious-observances/lent/6-reasons-to-observe-lent-even-if-youre-not-catholic.aspx

https://aleteia.org/2017/03/01/heres-why-catholics-dont-eat-meat-on-fridays-during-lent/

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/february/13.54.html

Whose Fault Is It Anyway?

So, this week, we had an interesting incident at school when the iPad cameras were mistakenly turned off for about ten minutes. What ensued after that was something I found pretty eye opening. Read this article about education. Sum up what the author's argument is and then speak to what you feel the attitudes of the majority of students at ECCHS.  Additionally, list what you consider your number one strength as a student and one thing on which you could improve.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/tim-elmore/from-entitled-to-empowere_1_b_4855109.html

Celebrate!

https://www.dailywire.com/news/26931/walsh-matt-walsh#



Read this article. Matt Walsh is known for being extremely harsh, but truthful. What is his argument here? Do a rhetorical analysis of this piece. Also, find another article by Matt Walsh that in some way pertains to your bio ethics topic. Provide us with a url and give us a synopsis of the additional article in 2-5 sentences.

Preach Walt!

Read the following poem. Then, complete the tasks written below. 

When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer 

BY WALT WHITMAN

When I heard the learn’d astronomer, 

When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me, 

When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them, 

When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room, 

How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick, 

Till rising and gliding out I wander’d off by myself, 

In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, 

Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.

Write a poem in free verse on a subject of your choice. 

Which discipline better presents and captures the mystery and awe of the universe: science or poetry.  

What was Walt Whitman's attitude toward science? 


Give 3 possible paper topics as well. 

Pick and Argument, Any Argument

Because I have lost confidence in your commitment to writing thoughtful, thorough blog posts, I am going to change the due by time to Sunday at 10 am. Your blog must be posted by 10 am and your comments must be posted by 6pm. Also, all blog posts must be AT LEAST 350 words. Your comments must be at least 20 words.


Choose one of the following:

How is Frankenstein a Man vs. Nature story?



How is Frankenstein a Man vs. Self Story?



How is Frankenstein a Man vs. Society story?



Make your best argument. Use textual evidence.

What is His Argument?

The Eucharist

In this extremely informative AND entertaining talk, Fr. Mike Schmitz builds an argument about the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

THIS VIDEO IS 45 MINUTES LONG. You will NOT be able to bang out this blog in just a few minutes.

Watch the video and take notes. How does Father establish ethos? In what ways does he appeal to the emotions of the audience? And explain how he uses logic to unfold his argument. Because this argument is so complex, you might want to use your notes as an opportunity to make a little outline so that you don't lose track of his argument. Finally, what is the part that resonates with you?

This video was sent to me by two recent ECC alumni who were lucky enough to attend the FOCUS conference in Chicago a few weeks ago. They loved it so much that they sent it to me in hopes that all of you would get the opportunity to see it! It is not one you want to miss.

Holy Science?

https://aleteia.org/2018/01/12/neil-degrasse-tyson-concurs-catholicism-is-the-science-friendly-religion/


Read this article. Make an argument about the relationship between science and religion. Use evidence from this article and from the two letters we read this week in class.