Learn » assignment

The American Dream

Mr. Naymik — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:58:20 +0000

The central idea behind A Raisin in Sun is the American Dream. What is it? Where did it come from? How do you obtain it? These are essential questions to understanding the concept that has been around since America has been formed.

As this unit progresses, you will form your own notion of what the American Dream is. In class, we will also read other people’s idea of what it means. The following is from an old speech by Barack Obama:

In big cities and small towns; among men and women; young and old; black, white, and brown – Americans share a faith in simple dreams. A job with wages that can support a family. Health care that we can count on and afford. A retirement that is dignified and secure. Education and opportunity for our kids. Common hopes. American dreams…

What is unique about America is that we want these dreams for more than ourselves – we want them for each other. That’s why we call it the American dream. We want it for the kid who doesn’t go to college because she cannot afford it; for the worker whose wondering if his wages will pay this winter’s heating bill; for 47 million Americans living without health care; for the millions more who worry if they have enough to retire with the dignity they have earned.

When our fellow Americans are denied the American dream, our own dreams are diminished. And today, the cost of that dream is rising faster than ever before. While some have prospered beyond imagination in this global economy, middle-class Americans – as well as those working hard to become middle class – are seeing the American dream slip further and further away.

President Barack Obama, 2007–Read the full speach

He is not alone in his ideas of what the American dream means. Here are two items we read in class.

Question on King and Obama

Dr. King

Summarize Dr. King’s definition of the American Dream
In what way are all men created equal?
What obstacles does Dr. King explain stand in the way of the American Dream?
How does he suggest people overcome those obstacles

President Obama

Summarize Obama’s definition of the American Dream
Is Obama’s American dream a selfish dream? Explain
What obstacles does Obama explain stand in the way of the American Dream?
How does he suggest people overcome those obstacles

Questions are based on the links above. We read these in class.

“Let America be America Again”

Hear it:

Read it:

“Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes (printable)

More Native American Myths Here are a few videos telling Native American myths. This...
Native American and Puritan Images As we read some Native American myths and a couple...
Letter from Birmingham Jail Written in sitting in jail in 1963 following a protest...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Age of Reason group work

Mr. Naymik — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:08:10 +0000

General directions:

Create a PowerPoint presentation for your group’s prompt.
Everyone must contribute
All group prompts require quotes from sources to be show in the PowerPoint and then somehow explained. See the prompts below.
You need at least 1 graphic or picture
Must have title slide with group members’ names.
The slides must be easy to read (good use of colors, bits of information on several slides rather than all info on one slide, etc.) For more tips, click here.
Submitted through the upload form on the Website. In the “Message” field type in “group assignment,” period, and group number.
You will teach the class about your prompt, using your PowerPoint.

Group 1
Find and explain an example of logos, ethos, and pathos from Letter from Birmingham Jail and explain it. Click here if you do not remember what these are. Make sure your audience, the class, know what they mean.

Group 2
Find and explain an example of logos, ethos, and pathos from the Declaration of Independence and/or the “Speech in the Virginia Convention.” Click here if you do not remember what these are. Make sure your audience, the class, know what they mean.

Group 3
State the audience, purpose, and prompt for each of the readings. Explain how, with an example, each is written in a way appropriate to its audience (tone, language, reasoning, etc.). RAPP Info

Group 4
Find an example of the for techniques for emphasis that we studied (remember the cheeseburger?) and explain their use using “Speech in the Virginia Convention”. Make sure your audience understands each technique. Visit the rhetorical emphasis post for more info.

Group 5
Choose an important quote form each reading, show it, translate it, and explain why it is important (what does it contribute to the author’s argument?).

Unit One Review US Lit II Unit 1 Topic Review This first unit...
Declaration of Independence Perhaps the most influential document in American history, The...
Audience Purpose Prompt Format Recognizing audience, purpose, prompt and format in the things you...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Second current event due 9/22

Mr. Naymik — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:18:33 +0000

Your current event is for this week is due Friday, 9/4. You may complete this in class or at home. You have two options for finding articles. First, you can use one of the news values articles. Or, use an article from one of the sites below:

Submit via the current event form.

HTML Practice Practice on your own. Type in the box below and...
Age of Reason group work General directions: Create a PowerPoint presentation for your group’s prompt....
Oral tradition assignment As we read Native American Myths, we are noticing the...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Arguement and Logical Fallacies

Mr. Naymik — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:01:38 +0000

Update: take the quiz

[QUIZZIN 7]
The following presentations contains the notes for argument (logos, ethos, and pathos) and logical fallacies and the homework that goes with it. Remember, this is the foundation for most types of communication will help you to not only be a good student, but a good voter, citizen, consumer, employee, etc.
[goog doc="dc4kzt6f_109gtph32dm"]Logical Fallacies Notes[/goog]

These worksheets were completed in class and rely on the notes.

Name that Fallacy
How do they persuade

Quoting sources for your arguement An important skill for all upper level papers is the...
Catcher in the Rye Intro To wrap up the unit on identity, we will be...
Literary terms Literary elements are the parts, or components of a story....

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Independent Novel Study

Mr. Naymik — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:22:49 +0000

As the name implies, independent study will involve you reading a novel or book and then selecting a series of activities to be completed outside of class. You will be required to complete three journal assignments and one final project.

You can download the assignment description that was handed out in class. Remember, it must be signed by you and a parent and returned.
Indpendent Novel Assignment (1 hit)

Requirements:

Selection of a novel or book written by an American author. You will need to select a book with some literary merit (no romance-type novels) or social/historical value (can be fiction or nonfiction). I will provide a list of suggested books and I will make my personal collection available (though you will probably need to use a library or bookstore as I have a limited number of books). I must approve your book.
Journal assignments. You will complete three journal assignments while reading your book. These will deal with plot, character, theme and personal reactions and reflections. These are self paced, though there are deadlines for each assignment, which you can use to pace your reading. You must keep track of deadlines and get the assignment from me beforehand. See the reverse side for deadlines. These are separate from your class journal.
A final project. There are several final projects to choose from. These will range from traditional writing assignments to more creative endeavors.

A description of each assignment is listed in this file. All will involve some sort of written explanation to go with it.
Independent Novel Final Projects (16 hits)

Make sure you read the grading rubric for your choice before completing the assignments. It will list the specific requirements.
Independent Novel Project Rubrics (13 hits)

These are the deadlines for the assignments. You may also click the .Events and Dates page to see a calendar with the dates
Independent Novel Deadlines (7 hits)

It will be important to keep up with the reading. Class time will not be nearly enough to complete your novel (class time may not be scheduled, so keep you book handy). This independent study will require just that, independent study. Developing independent reading habits is essential for college and life long learning and enrichment. This will be a challenge for some of you but all of you are capable of doing this-and you might find that you enjoy it. The final project will be a test grade (tests are worth 40% of your grade) so failure to complete it will severely hurt your grade. This should boost your first semester grade, not hurt it.

Journal Assignments

Ind Novel Journal 1 (17 hits)
Ind Novel Journal 2 (15 hits)
Ind Novel Journal 3 (16 hits)

Catcher in the Rye Intro To wrap up the unit on identity, we will be...
Welcome to 2009-10 Time for another year Welcome back. This is the class...
College Application Essay Why do you have to write College App Essays? Colleges...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Oral tradition assignment

Mr. Naymik — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:14:56 +0000

As we read Native American Myths, we are noticing the concept of oral tradition, or how cultures pass down their ideas. These can take the form of stories, poems, and songs that convey a culture’s values, concerns, and history. With that in mind, you need to create an oral tradition of your own.

Due Friday, 9/11/09

You need to have someone tell you a story, then you need to retell it. The story can consist of one of two things:

The story can be about you when you were younger as told to you by mom, dad, grandma, Uncle Joe, etc.
The story can be about one of the above people. Then can tell you about when they were younger or they can tell you about some historical event that they witnessed, experienced or remember.

Keep these things in mind as you select a person, listen to the story, and write it up:

The story should have a point–A lesson learned, a cultural significance, or have historical value.
You should take notes during the story or immediately following. The more details you remember the better.
You will have to retell the story in narrative form (like the myths we read in class). This should be written in third person. Remember, this is someone else’s story, even if it is about you.
You may write a straight forward retelling of the event or you may rewrite it as a myth-using a bit of fiction but keeping the essential essence of the story you were told. Feel free to be creative.

You may hand write this, type and submit to website or type and print out.

Example

Day of No Sadness

“It’s going to be a hot day today,” said the Great Chief of the Naymiks. “I think I shall take my children to get some relief.” With four children in tow, the great chief sped down the old trail in the rusting out blue van, coughing smoke into the thunderous skies. His anxiety grew as he thought of his wife, the queen of the one story ranch house in the most ancient of suburban nations, Westlake, as she lay awaiting the birth of, so the prophesies say, greatest of all her children, her fifth son.

Indeed it was a hot day, despite the ominous clouds lingering in the distance. The four Naymik children ran on the hard concrete and cannon-balled into the great lake, Clague Park City Pool, oblivious to the fact that their privileged status in the Naymik tribe was about to be supplanted by their yet-to-born younger brother. The Great Chief paced to a fro wandering when the new child would arrive, as the all-powerful sun baked the earth to a scorching temperature, a reminder to the gentle earth of the greatness to come. He had left his wife safe at the hospital the night before sleeping—the quiet before the great storm. He could only dream of the greatness to come.

A few ideas…

Perhaps a story told about a historical event could be turned into a myth teaching a lesson.
Myths can be about creation but they can also be about loss-something once was but isn’t anymore.
You can do a family creation myth.
If you are told a story about when you were younger, you can write your creation myth.

Be creative

Now, miles away, the queen screamed into life a radiant being, the likes that to this day have yet to be seen. The doctor, fearing punishment from the gods for touching their beautiful creation, quickly handed the child to the queen, and, so some say, the child eased the doctor’s discomfort with a tiny smile. Meanwhile, the ominous clouds that had threatened the fun at the great lake, drifted away, erasing any possible malice the glorious day could have wrought.

Noticing the sign from the Heavens, the Great Chief shouted in anticipation, “What news of my child!” The other four children gathered around eagerly. Moments later, the police spirits appeared through the chain link wall protecting the great lake and approached the Great Chief.

“We have the news you seek,” they said, barely unable to contain their excitement. “A great electrical disturbance has interrupted the great messenger eagle, AT&T, so we had to come ourselves. The prophesies have been fulfilled, your fifth, and by far greatest, son has been born. It seems, at least for today, all sadness has been lifted. All are rejoicing in the streets.”

And so it was, on June 27 that year, and all that followed, none would be sad.

More Native American Myths Here are a few videos telling Native American myths. This...
Age of Reason group work General directions: Create a PowerPoint presentation for your group’s prompt....
A Raisin in the Sun Intro A Raisin in the Sun was first produced in 1959...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

More Native American Myths

Mr. Naymik — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:55:22 +0000

Here are a few videos telling Native American myths. This is an extra credit assignment. Choose one of the videos and answer the questions that follow.

Due Saturday, September 5.
This is easy extra credit so don’t forget.

Answer and submit the following:
[contact-form]

Native American and Puritan Images As we read some Native American myths and a couple...
Oral tradition assignment As we read Native American Myths, we are noticing the...
The American Dream The central idea behind A Raisin in Sun is the...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.