march 31

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Six hundred years after he stopped writing, we are still quoting Shakespeare-- often without knowing it.  Is there a lyricist or a rapper who will be remembered as having such an impact?  Who?  Why?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Masterpiece interviews

march 30

JOURNAL TOPIC:
In school we say, "Do your own thinking/use your own words/don't look at your neighbor's paper."  At work we say, "Be a team player/share your thinking/anything you say or type on company hardware belongs to the company."  When are our thoughts private and when aren't they?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. In-class essay

ESSAY TOPIC:
Some people are more convincing than others.  Using what you've learned over the past two weeks, explain what makes a speaker persuasive.  Be sure to include ethos, pathos, and logos, as well as examples of the logical fallacies (either because a speaker avoids them in using good reasoning, or because a speaker uses them to con listeners with bad reasoning).  Also remember a pre-write, and please be sure to proofread.  Due at the end of the period.

march 27

JOURNAL TOPIC:
How do you expect to do on the exam today?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Exam/correct
3. Masterpiece: mission possible

HW:
1. Do something important to make your masterpiece and post to your blog about it.

teenage driver dashcam video

While writing and thinking about mindfulness this morning, I ran across this video that shows what happens when people aren't mindful.  (Thanks, boingboing!)  Let's be mindful out there.

march 26

JOURNAL TOPIC:

What makes you want to listen to someone and/or trust what s/he says?  What makes you less likely to listen to someone and trust what s/he says?  Describe at least two examples.

AGENDA:
1. Journal/discuss
2. Ethos, pathos, logos
3. John F. Kennedy's speech at Rice University

HW:
Please review the logical fallacies and your notes on ethos, pathos & logos for tomorrow's exam.

Our blogs are important

While looking for fallacies for our homework I came across a blog that seemed to be very similar to mine. Once I looked further into the blog I came to realize that it was a blog from one of Dr Preston's former students from 2011. This just goes to show that what we post on our blogs can actually be seen by other people. So listen to Preston when he says that people are going to be seeing what we post, because I still cant believe I came across a blog from 2011!
Google search: fallacies in commercials
Blog I was taken to: http://emeraldoliver.blogspot.com/2011/04/fallacies-are-common-in-advertising.html

she's only got one post on her new blog...

...but Brigette found a great way to illustrate some of the logical fallacies.  Check it out here!

fallacies

Ad Hominem fallacy: responding to an argument attacking a person’s character rather than the content of their argument.

Circular Reasoning: Someone argues the point they’re trying to make by supporting it with other reasons that are supported by their original point.

Ad Nauseum: Making the argument by repetition; saying the same thing over and over again.

Appeal to Tradition: “We do this because that’s how we’ve always done it.”

Appeal to Ignorance: Arguing that something is true just because it hasn’t been proven false.

Appeal to Numbers: Citing statistics to prove an argument

Appeal to Popularity: “All the cool kids are doing it.”

Cum Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc: “with this because of this” – just because two things happen together doesn’t mean they’re related or one causes the other.  (e.g., just because a student attends RHS doesn’t mean she has two legs)

Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc: just because something happens after something else doesn’t mean the first thing causes the second.

Red Herring: the art of distraction (“SQUIRREL!!!” or “Grumpy Cat!”)

Slippery Slope: Metaphor—taking one step and sliding the rest of the way.  Either giving away the whole argument based on one point, or applying the same standard to everyone without reason: “If I do it for you, I’ll have to do it for everyone else.”  Assuming that if you give one person/point away, you’ll have to give away the whole show.

Straw Man: Putting words into someone’s mouth (and that someone may or may not exist) for the purpose of exaggerating or distorting the opposing viewpoint.

Naturalistic Fallacy: Using nature as a reason to go from fact to value.

You Too: The idea that two wrongs make a right.  “My opponent accuses me of distorting the facts and exaggerating the evidence, but she does too.”

Begging the Question: (this is the same as Circular Reasoning, just make sure to use the phrase correctly rather than suggesting that something is “raising a question.”  Here, the use of the word begging is intended to suggest torturing a topic beyond its logical conclusion.)

Non Sequitur: Something that doesn’t go in sequence; an illogical leap to an unrelated topic or idea.

Appeal to Authority: the fallacy of asserting an idea as correct just because a person/entity in power says it is.

march 25

JOURNAL TOPIC: (today's tunes: "Short Memory" by Midnight Oil)

What did you learn yesterday?  List at least three of the logical fallacies we discussed with definitions and examples.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Review/co-create list
3. New fallacies
4. Applications

HW:
1. Curate the new/improved list of fallacies on your course blog.  Find media examples (pictures, videos, links) that help the reader see what you see.  Correct or challenge the reasoning where appropriate.  Make sure to explain how better logic facilitates the search for truth.
2. Develop & practice tactics for addressing each fallacy.  If you can't find a partner with whom to role play, grab a mirror or argue with the TV.  Report what works on your blog.

march 24

JOURNAL TOPIC: (today's tunes: "Short Memory" by Midnight Oil)

What did you learn yesterday?  List at least three of the logical fallacies we discussed with definitions and examples.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Review/co-create list
3. New fallacies
4. Applications

HW:
Curate the list of fallacies on your course blog.  Find media examples (pictures, videos, links) that help the reader see what you see.  Correct or challenge the reasoning where appropriate.  Make sure to explain how better logic facilitates the search for truth.

march 23

JOURNAL TOPIC:

Why are people so afraid to make mistakes?  Describe a mistake you learned from.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Fallacies in practice

march 20

JOURNAL TOPIC:
How was yesterday's class different?  Was it effective?  What did you learn?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Discussion (continued)
3. Grading

HW:
Choose five logical fallacies from THE LIST; find arguments about police brutality in the media that use these fallacies (*or* you can find five arguments first and then match them up with the fallacies)

Discussion from class (Period 3)

I took it upon myself to put this up for those of you, like myself that have some thought on this. Also I found the CNN Link with a little video from them. Please do realize that this is the media and they tend to blow everything out of proportion. These people have just as much proof as we do.

students finally coming together?

When you talk to a group of high school students and ask them what they think will work to bring people together you can either get them to say all of these ambitious ideas that maybe they can achieve or you get nothing. Well Dr. Preston's 3rd period American Lit class has taken the extra step to create a place where students can post and be able to ask each other questions. Not only is it a place where students will be posting questions but it is also a place for students to see deadlines and things that need to be done right away. Some may see this as just something simple, and may ask "why dont they just look at the teachers post?" Well let me tell you the answer to that. Most students get tired of listening to a teach talk in front of a class, well in this case students are getting tired of looking at the same old course blog. So we students have come together to create such a blog that gives the students a voice, and gives them an easier path to share their work. You will be able to post anything you feel will help other students with the subjects we are talk about in class. The other thing that we have come together to do is create a blog for students to share their mater pieces. You will be able to see the progress within each others works and be able to get feedback throughout the process. Isn't that what we have always asked for? Well here you go American Lit students!
Student Course Blog link:
http://studentdrprestonsrhsamlit14.blogspot.com/
Master Piece Collab link:
http://masterpiecemashup.blogspot.com/

March 19

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Today you have a choice.
1. Why do we as humans judge other humans?
or
2. What makes someone human?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Fallacies/arguments (If you feel like you want to contribute to the class discussion today please sit at the center tables and if you do not we recommend that you sit on the outside.)
3. Masterpiece Consultations
4. Rearrange desk for AP lit class

march 17

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Today you have a choice.
1. Why do we bother celebrating St. Patrick's Day?
or
2. How would you take over the world?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Fallacies/arguments
3. Masterpiece Consultations

march 16

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Why do people take sides?  This may seem like a basic question, but seriously: Why does it matter what side of a sporting event, election, or issue a person is on?  Does it matter?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Come back to your group with the information you promised to get Friday.  Discuss what you found and how it influenced your thinking.  Then pick a side.  (Note: For our purposes, it really doesn't matter which side you're on.  In fact, it will probably be more helpful for you to pick the side with which you personally disagree.)
3. Masterpiece Consultations

masterpiece prep

In order to make the most efficient use of the next Masterpiece Consultation, please consider the following questions and make a list of anything else you don't want to forget.  Looking forward to the conversations!

1. What is your intended outcome?  Who will benefit besides you?
2. How will present your process, findings, and/or results?  How will your method of presenting create value for your audience/community?
3. How much of a plan do you currently have, and how much do you need?  What "next steps" or routines are you currently engaged with, and what do we need to create so that you feel like you're making the sort of progress that will enable you to end your high school career with a smashing success?
4. If you're not already monitoring your own performance, what systems/structures do you need so that you can sustain your momentum and achieve your goals without someone else nagging you?
5. The "Masterpiece Academy" will begin on May 11 (the week after the AP exam).  Please let me know if you need help creating a workflow calendar that will get you where you want to go by then.

we're here for an argument

Form a group of 3-5 people and choose one of the following topics:

• social conformity
• death penalty
• abortion
• police brutality
• censorship
• child discipline
• government transparency
• education
• economy
• medical marijuana

Today, your conversation should focus on two things:

1. The ideas you bring to the topic (What do you think?  Why?  Do you remember where you got the information?)
2. What information do you need to support, refute, and/or inform the conversation?  Where will you look?

march 13

JOURNAL TOPIC: ("Lies" by The Thompson Twins; "Idiot Wind" by Bob Dylan)

How do you know when someone's lying to you?

ALTERNATE JOURNAL TOPIC:

If the above is too heavy for a Friday, consider this quote:

Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn't mean the circus has left town.

-George Carlin

What does he mean?  Why is this message so much more effective as a metaphor than if he just would've come out and given us some personal improvement counsel?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Masterpiece Consultations
3. Group disagreement

HW:
1. Imagine someone telling you that what you are most interested in is stupid.  What is wrong with their argument?  How will you prove this?  Please write these thoughts on paper-- NOT ON YOUR BLOG-- and bring Monday.
2. Research the information for your group's argument and post to your course blog &/or bring to class on Monday.

march 11 & 12

Mrs. Dirkes has the floor.

march 10

JOURNAL TOPIC: (Today's tunes: "Because" by The Beatles; "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven)

Why isn't "Because I said so" a convincing argument?  What is it missing?  If it's such a flawed and incomplete idea, why do so many people rely on it?

AGENDA:
1. Journal topic
2. Review: Did you find a syllogism?
3. Logical fallacies in argumentative rhetoric (a.k.a., "things people get away with when their audiences don't know any better")

HW:
1. Identify your favorite five fallacies from this list and post them to your course blog.  Explain why you chose them: Did you recognize them from conversations/speeches you've seen?  Have you used them yourself?
 
*NOTE: I'll be teaching period 3 and other RHS English teachers will be in class learning along with us.  I won't be teaching period 7.  If you're in period 3, find someone in period 7 to help (consult the Member Blogs list if you're not sure who is in class).  If you're in period 7, don't wait for someone in period 3 to find you-- hunt them down and make them talk.  You're going to need to know what they know for your quiz tomorrow.

march 9

As a class, create and agree on a list of ten topics worth serious debate.  Be ready to discuss Tuesday.

march 5

JOURNAL TOPIC:
The future has been described in many ways, from an unopened present to a train hurtling down the tracks.  Do you see the future as an exciting opportunity or an impending threat?  Is your view of the future consistent or does it depend on today's mood and/or events?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Quiz: yesterday's terms
3. Conflicts, arguments, spats, disagreements, and fights

HW:
1. Ask someone "Why?" and watch them construct a syllogism

march 4

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe a time when you had an argument that was truly important to you.  Did you change your mind?  Did the other person change his/her mind?  What was the outcome?  Why do you still remember it today?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Reflection on motivation
3. "The Argument Clinic"
4. Intro to rhetoric and persuasive communication

HW:
1. Have an argument-- a real argument, with purpose, respect, and diplomacy-- and report it on your course blog.

march 3

(*Please Note: Period 3 will use March 2 agenda today.)

JOURNAL TOPIC:
If you had to leave the house today and make your way in the world, would you seek to master something of value or would you just try to get a job?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Jiro essays

march 2

JOURNAL TOPIC:
What is it about Jiro that inspires, motivates, and/or intimidates the rest of us?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Finish Jiro
3. Essay: "What Jiro Means to Me"

HW:
Finish your essay and post it to your course blog.