Monday - March 5, 2018

Class Work

Over the weekend, you:

• Kept a food diary and defined "healthy eating." (Discussion)
• What is "healthy eating?" 
• Read a presidential inaugural address and noted persuasive techniques. (Table Talk)

Problem/Solution Writing - Technology

How technology has changed our lives?

1.       Entertainment

2.       Romance

3.       Communication

4.       Education

5.       Health

6.       Travel

7.       Religion

8.       Politics/Government

9.       Family

10 Food






This is the assignment:

Technology – Friend or Foe?

For this essay, you are writing to convince the opposition. Consider the dangers and advantages of technology. Consider mental and physical health along with changes in society.  For this essay, you must pick a side. Think of this essay as a debate on paper. You must know what the opposition thinks, but you do not support that point of view.

I.                    Introduction –

a.       Identify the specific technology you will be discussing – cell phone, computer, automobile, dishwasher, microwave, GPS, video games, etc.

b.      Capture the attention of the audience in the normal way with startling statistics, an interesting anecdote, a quotation from an expert, lines from a song or poem, a thought provoking question, etc. In short, make sure that what you say makes the reader want to know more.

II.                  In addition, state your thesis – make your point of view clear!

III.                The body of the paper will do several things –

a.       Convince the reader that they either need or do not need the technology.

b.      Provide a brief history of the specific technology you plan to discuss. What was life like before its invention? When was it invented? How has it evolved? What is its story?

c.       Provide clear evidence to support your point of view. You must have proof from at least four of the following:

                                                               i.      At least three experts/sources. You may use the articles studied in class and articles that specifically relate to your chosen technology.

                                                             ii.      A current news source such as a newspaper or magazine article or news cast.

                                                            iii.      An interview with at least one user.

                                                           iv.      A personal anecdote.

                                                             v.      Lines from literature – poem, short story, or novel. “There Will Come Soft Rains”  was a homework assignment.  You may use other SciFi literature.

                                                           vi.      A work of art

                                                          vii.      Strong statistics from an expert source.

The body of the paper will be several paragraphs in length.

IV.                Conclusion –

Wrap it up for the readers. Leave them with a call to action to either give up or get the gadget you are supporting. Be sure they know why they need or do not need one. Consider:

a.       Convenience

b.      Cost

c.       Safety

d.      Environmental impact

e.      Impact on society

f.        Ethical concerns

 

Let's get started - Your first step is to select something from technology. What is your favorite gizmo or gadget? (Discussion)

Now, locate a work of art that features your chosen favorite!

Looking at Art -

• What is the title of the work? How does the title help you to understand the message? What is the message?
• What is the most obvious image in the work. To where is your eye drawn?
• Look at the colors. Are they symbolic? Would the message be different if the colors were different? Explain.
• Study the shading and shadowing. How do these elements impact the overall message?
• Who is the artist? When was the work created? Is the artist's message about a specific event? What was going on in the world when the work was created? Is the art universal - speaks to people of all times and in all places in all places, or is it limited to the audience for whom it was created?

• How does the work relate to the 20th and 21^st centuries? 
•  

Prepare a slide to share with the class. We will create a mini art gallery. You will be the docent and tell us all about your work of art.

Here is an example:

http://legomenon.com/salvador-dali-persistence-of-memory-melting-clocks-meaning.html

You have 30 minutes in class to work on this today. On Wednesday, you will need to have the work of art showing on your computer and talk to others as they drop by as they visit our class art gallery. 

Articles of interest

https://www.artinstitutes.edu/about/blog/the-history-and-evolution-of-cell-phones

What are the five most important points in this article? To what extent do you agree or disagree with these points?

 

 Has technology impacted human ability to think? (In class activity)

http://www.sharonlbegley.com/the-science-of-making-decisions

Homework

Discover the history of your chosen technology.  (Three sources required. One must come from the school library - on-line or hard copy.) 

Create a practice Works Cited page.

March 2, 2018 - Friday

Class Work

If you were absent on Wednesday, you have the opportunity to share your slides with the class today. Be sure your slides are posted by your name in CANVAS.

Persuasive Techniques-

Activity #1
Advertisers want to get you to spend your money of their product or service. Politicians want you to give your vote to them. Writers and speakers want you to believe their words and agree with them and possibly support them with time, energy, and money.  No matter what one is selling, the speaker or writer uses several well known and well used techniques.

(Class Activity - select an ad from a magazine. Rip it out! Put your name on the top.

• Review the following: http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson1166/PersuasiveTechniques.pdf 
• Do watch the 13 slide PowerPoint at the top of this site. The show provides excellent advice: http://www.slideshare.net/16ardmanc/persuasive-techniques-23100937
•  If you are into games, try this site: https://quizlet.com/17906359/persuasive-techniques-flash-cards/

You may either work with a partner or work alone.  After reviewing the information about persuasive techniques, you are now ready to watch and review some ads. You will see the most expensive advertising on television during the Super Bowl.  Your assignment is to select any two ads from any year. Sometimes those voted the worst are actually quite entertaining!

Here is a link: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2017-super-bowl-commercials-watch-the-latest-leaked-ads-best-and-worst-of-all-time/
  and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7Lun4hcRnA

 

Before we begin working on this, jump to "With These Words I Can Sell You Anything" - We are going to take a look at one of the articles . . . listen for the instructions for an Open House!

1) Identify the product
2) In a sentence or two, describe the ad.
3) Identify the persuasive techniques used.
4) Identify the target audience. A target audience can be identified by, among other items, age, health, and wealth. Also, is the ad geared to people who already use the product or service, or is it aimed at new customers?
5) Explain if you think the ad was effective and tell why or why not. The bottom line is: Will this ad make people spend their money?

Post in Canvas. (30 points)

  Politics - Activity #2 - Finish for homework.

Read an inauguration address from any president of your choosing.

• What persuasive techniques are used?
• Use the lists from the links at Activity #1.
• Write a brief essay, up to two pages but no shorter than one, and identify the techniques. Explain if the techniques are effective. (This is your opinion. Justify with evidence from the address.)  Be sure to identify the president, date, and note if this was the first term or second term address. It makes a difference! Did the President seem to be speaking to a friendly audience, or was he speaking to the voters who supported the other candidate? Perhaps he was addressing both audiences? How could you tell? What did he say that convinced you of the audience?

This will be a challenge, but do not use first person point of view in this essay. That means to avoid phrases such as "I think. I feel. I know. I believe." Your writing will be more powerful in third person.

Here is a link to the addresses: http://homeofheroes.com/presidents/inaugural/index.html

If you don't see your favorite, Google it.  In addition, some of the later speeches are on YouTube. Watch and listen if you like.

(60 points)

Activity #3- Readings
. "With These Words, I Can Sell Anything" by William Lutz
https://12ap.wikispaces.com/file/view/with+these+words.pdf

This essay explains the use of "weasel words" in advertising. Read the essay and answer questions 1, 2, and 4.

"The World of Doublespeak" by William Lutz

 http://www.cusd80.com/cms/lib6/AZ01001175/Centricity/Domain/318/The%20World%20of%20Doublespeak-William%20Lutz.pdf Answer the following questions:

• Questions on meaning: 1, 2, 3, 4
• Questions on writing strategy: 1 & 2
• Questions on language 1 & 3
• Read "William Lutz on Writing" Answer question #1 OR #2.

(60 points)

Homework

In your own words, define "healthy eating."
 
Keep a food diary for 24 hours . . . simply jot down what you eat during a 24 hour period.

Evaluate . . . according to your personal definition, how healthy are you?

Locate an "expert" article that defines "healthy eating." Share the source and the definition. Then explain in a paragraph or two how closely your definition matches the definition of the expert(s).  (50 points)