Here is 1C Schedule for remainder of Spring 2020:
Essay #2 (1,000 words)
Minimum of 2 sources for your MLA Works Cited page.
Choice A
Watch Netflix documentary Ronnie Coleman: The King. Considered to be the greatest bodybuilder of all time, Coleman is now on crutches, faces a lifetime of excruciating pain, must take opioid pain medication, may have to be consigned to a wheelchair, and by most accounts the abuse he took to become a champion bodybuilder is the reason for his condition. The film celebrates Coleman’s life principle to persist in doing what he loves, but doing what he loves comes with a price: excruciating, life-altering injuries. Is doing what we love worth it? In this context, develop an argumentative thesis that addresses the notion that in order to achieve exceptional success, we are justified to make sacrifices of our body, minds, and souls. Is Coleman’s current condition justified by his success and his heroic drive to do what he loves? Answer this question and be sure to have a counterargument section.
Choice B
Read LA Times editorial “Why not let homeless college students park in campus lots?” and develop and argumentative thesis that addresses the claim that community colleges are acting in students’ best interests by providing sleeping spaces in the parking lots.
Choice C
Read Yoni Appelbaum’s essay “How America Ends” and develop an argumentative thesis about the role of massive demographic shifts on American democracy.
Choice D
Read Derek Thompson’s essay “Workism Is Making Americans Miserable” and develop a thesis that supports or refutes Thompson’s claim that work has become a false religion that doesn’t deliver on its promises.
Choice E
Read "Should the Government Give Everyone $1,000 a Month?" by Spencer Bokat-Lindell in The New York Times and develop a thesis that argues for or against UBI as a viable solution to the crisis of mass unemployment.
Essay 3 (1,000 words)
Minimum of 2 sources for your MLA Works Cited page.
Choice A
Read New Yorker writer Joshua Yaffa’s essay “The Kremlin’s Creative Director: How the television producer Konstantin Ernst went from discerning auteur to Putin’s unofficial minister of propaganda” and develop an argumentative thesis that addresses the role of media in producing a new type of “postmodern propaganda” that shatters critical thinking.
Choice B
Read the online essay "It's been hot before" and write an argumentative essay about the role of logical fallacies in the dangerous denial of global warming and global drought. For another source, you can use Netflix Explained, "The World's Water Crisis."
Choice C
In the context of Jasmin Barmore’s essay “The Queen of Eating Shellfish Online,” develop an argumentative thesis that addresses the alleged benefits of mukbang, the glorification of binge-eating on a webcam. In your essay, address the lonely factor by reading Read Judith Shulevitz’s essay “Why You Never See Your Friends Anymore,” and use the essay to support or refute the contention that mukbang addresses the depression and anxiety of loneliness.
Choice D
Read “The Coddling of the American Mind” and “Have Smartphones Ruined a Generation?” and develop an argument about the authors’ claim that a “coddling culture” is creating a generation of dysfunctional people.
Essay 4 (1,000 words)
You need 3 sources for Works Cited
Option A
Read Allison Arieff’s “Cars Are Death Machines. Self-Driving Tech Won’t Change That” and support or refute her contention that self-driving cars are not the solution to traffic dangers.
Choice B
Read "It's Time to Confront the Threat of Right-Wing Terrorism" by John Cassidy in The New Yorker and "Does the banning of Alex Jones signal a new era of big tech responsibility?" by Julia Carrie Wong and Olivia Solon in The Guardian and agree or disagree with the claim that big tech companies are morally obliged to censor right-wing white nationalist trolls such as Alex Jones. For another source, you can also use “Free Speech Scholars to Alex Jones: You’re Not Protected” by Alan Feuer.
Choice C
Read Alexandra Sifferlin's "The Weight Loss Trap" and Harriet Brown's "The Weight of the Evidence" and develop an argumentative thesis that addresses their claim that losing weight is a nearly futile quest.
Choice D
Read Andrew Marant’s “Free Speech Is Killing Us” and support or refute his claim that free speech does not apply to private companies.
Choice E
Read Spencer Bokat-Lindell’s “Do We Need to Break Up Facebook?” and develop an argumentative thesis that addresses some people’s claim that Facebook has gotten too big and should be divided into smaller parts.
Choice F
Read “What Women Know About the Internet” by Emily Chang and agree or disagree with the author’s contention that regulations are more important than free speech for protecting women.
Choice G
Read the following: “Speaking Ill of Hugh Hefner,” “Why Hugh Hefner’s Haters Won’t Let Him Rest in Peace,” “Negative Obituaries Prove Hugh Hefner Was Right,” and 10-minute video Maher vs. Douthat. Then develop an argumentative thesis that addresses this question: Was Hefner a warrior for equal rights, free speech, and higher culture, or was he a selfish, salacious Peter Pan who denigrated women? Or a bit of both?
Choice H
Read Conor Friedersdorf’s “In Defense of Harvey Weinstein’s Harvard Lawyer” and agree or disagree with the contention that representing someone as monstrous and diabolical as Harvey Weinstein performs a civic good.
Choice I
In the context of Peter Pomeranstsev’s online essay “Russia and the Menace of Unreality,” address the claim that the “mass hallucination” of misinformation is at war with the powers of democracy in the United States and abroad. Also see David Roberts address “tribal epistemology.”
March 24 Go over Derek Thompson’s notion of “Workism.” Homework #8 is to read "Should the Government Give Everyone $1,000 a Month?" by Spencer Bokat-Lindell and in 200 words explain the pros and cons of UBI.
March 26 Go over the UBI debate. We will grade Portfolio #1, based on responses 1-8.
March 31 Chromebook In-Class Objective: Write first half of your essay.
April 2 Chromebook In-Class Objective: Write second half of your essay.
April 7 Essay 2 due on turnitin. We will read the online essay "It's been hot before" and discuss an argumentative essay about the role of logical fallacies in the dangerous denial of global warming and global drought. For another source, you can use Netflix Explained, "The World's Water Crisis." Homework #9 is to read Jasmin Barmore’s essay “The Queen of Eating Shellfish Online” and Judith Shulevitz’s essay “Why You Never See Your Friends Anymore,” and use the essay to support or refute the contention that mukbang addresses the depression and anxiety of loneliness.
April 9 Go over “The Queen of Eating Shellfish Online” and “Why You Never See Your Friends Anymore.” Homework #10 is to read Read “The Coddling of the American Mind” and in 200 words explain how some colleges are cultivating dysfunctional students.
April 21 Go over “The Coddling of the American Mind.” Homework #11 is to read “Have Smartphones Ruined a Generation?” and explain in 200 words how smartphones are part of a coddling culture that is impeding the emotional growth of young people.
April 23 Go over “Have Smartphones Ruined a Generation.”
April 28 Chromebook Objective: Write first half of your essay.
April 30 Chromebook Objective: Write second half of your essay.
May 5 Essay 3 due on turnitin. We will ead Allison Arieff’s “Cars Are Death Machines. Self-Driving Tech Won’t Change That” and support or refute her contention that self-driving cars are not the solution to traffic dangers. Homework #12: Read "It's Time to Confront the Threat of Right-Wing Terrorism" by John Cassidy in The New Yorker and "Does the banning of Alex Jones signal a new era of big tech responsibility?" by Julia Carrie Wong and Olivia Solon in The Guardian and in 200 words agree or disagree with the claim that big tech companies are morally obliged to censor right-wing white nationalist trolls such as Alex Jones.
May 7 Go over the Alex Jones controversy. Homework #13: Read Alexandra Sifferlin's "The Weight Loss Trap" and in 200 words explain why it is so difficult to lose weight and keep it off.
May 12 We go over Harriet Brown's "The Weight of the Evidence." We will see Netflix Explained on this subject of weight loss. Homework #14: Read Andrew Marantz’s “Free Speech Is Killing Us” and in 200 words agree or disagree with his position that free speech doesn’t apply to private companies.
May 14 Go over “Free Speech Is Killing Us.” Homework #15: Read Spencer Bokat-Lindell’s “Do We Need to Break Up Facebook?” and in 200 words explain the pros and cons of breaking up this huge social media company.
May 19 Go over “Do We Need to Break Up Facebook?” Homework #16: Read “What Women Know About the Internet” by Emily Chang and in 200 words agree or disagree with the author’s contention that regulations are more important than free speech for protecting women.
May 21 Go over Emily Chang. Homework #17: Read “Speaking Ill of Hugh Hefner,” “Why Hugh Hefner’s Haters Won’t Let Him Rest in Peace,” “Negative Obituaries Prove Hugh Hefner Was Right” and then explain in 200 words why Hugh Hefner is such a controversial figure.
May 26 We will examine the Hugh Hefner debate: Was Hefner a warrior for equal rights, free speech, and culture, or was he a selfish, salacious Peter Pan who denigrated women? Or a bit of both? We will study the following: “Speaking Ill of Hugh Hefner,” “Why Hugh Hefner’s Haters Won’t Let Him Rest in Peace,” “Negative Obituaries Prove Hugh Hefner Was Right,” and 10-minute video Maher vs. Douthat. Your homework #18 for next class: Read Conor Friedersdorf’s “In Defense of Harvey Weinstein’s Harvard Lawyer” and in 200 words agree or disagree with the contention that representing someone as monstrous and diabolical as Harvey Weinstein performs a civic good.
May 28 Go over Conor Friedersdorf’s “In Defense of Harvey Weinstein’s Harvard Lawyer” and agree or disagree with the contention that representing someone as monstrous and diabolical as Harvey Weinstein performs a civic good. Your homework #19 is to read Peter Pomeranstsev’s online essay “Russia and the Menace of Unreality,” and in 200 words address the claim that the “mass hallucination” of misinformation is at war with the powers of democracy in the United States and abroad.
June 2 We will cover “Russia and the Menace of Unreality.”
June 4 Chromebook In-Class Writing Objective: Write first half of your essay.
June 9 Chromebook In-Class Writing Objective: Write last third of your essay.
June 11 Essay 4 Due on turnitin. We will grade Portfolio Part 2.
Here is 1A Schedule for remainder of Spring 2020:
Essay Assignment 3 due April 27. Be sure to have a minimum of 2 sources and an MLA Works Cited page.
Option A:
In a 1,000-word essay, compare Dr. David Pilgrim’s Jim Crow Museum explanation of Jim Crow laws of yesterday to Childish Gambino’s exploration in “This Is America” to Jim Crow exploitation today. You may consult “Hidden Meanings” video, Dr. Lori Brooks’ Hidden Meanings video, “Childish Gambino’s Genius Absurdity,” and PBS analysis. Your claim will be to address the argument that Jim Crow still exists or not today.
Option B
In the context of the John Oliver Confederate Flag critique video, defend or refute Oliver’s claim that Civil War figures should not be memorialized in the public square but relegated to museums and history books. For research sources, consult Jamelle Bouie’s “Remembering History as Fable” and Jack Schwartz’s “It’s Time for the Lost Cause to Get Lost.”
Option C
Read bell hooks’ essay “Learning in the Shadow of Race and Class” and “Keeping Close to Home” and develop an argumentative thesis about hooks’ contention that social class can be an impediment to climbing the educational ladder.
Option D
Read Rachel Monroe’s essay “When GoFundMe Gets Ugly” and develop an argumentative claim that supports or refutes Monroe’s claim that the appeal of GoFundMe is based on an over simplistic narrative that conceals unsavory contradictions and complexities.
Essay Assignment 4 due May 18. Be sure to have at least 2 sources and an MLA Works Cited page.
Option A
See Monica Lewinsky Ted Talk video “The Price of Shame” and John Oliver video on “Public Shaming” and develop an argumentative thesis about what type of shaming is good for society and what kind of shaming cannot be defended. Consult Conor Friedersdorf essay “John Oliver’s Weak Case for Callout Culture.”
Option B
Read Kajsa Elas Ekman’s essay “All surrogacy is exploitation” and write an argumentative thesis that supports or refutes her claim.
Option C
Develop an argumentative thesis that addresses the human inclination for staying within the tribe of sameness as explained in David Brooks’ “People Like Us.” Consult Vice video about social media and tribalism; also consult Brian Klaas video on how tribalism in social media is undermining democracy. Also consult the role of Backfire Effect and tribalism.
Option D
Develop an argumentative thesis that addresses the claim that community college should be free. Be sure to have a counterargument section. For research, use Rahm Emanuel’s “A Simple Proposition to Revive the American Dream” and Jay Mathews’ “Maybe tuition-free community college comes at too high a price” and any other credible sources.
Default Setting Essay Template for 1,000-word essay
8 Paragraphs, 130 words per paragraph, approx. 1,000 words (1,040 to be exact)
Paragraph 1: Attention-getting introduction
Paragraph 2: Transition from introduction to argumentative claim (thesis)
Paragraphs 3-5: Body paragraphs that give reasons for supporting your claim.
Paragraphs 6 & 7: Counterarguments in which you anticipate how your opponents will disagree with you, and you then provide rebuttals to those counterarguments.
Paragraph 8: Conclusion, an emotionally powerful re-statement of your thesis.
Make sure to include a Works Cited page.
Essay #5 Due June 10.
You need 5 credible sources for the MLA Works Cited page in your final capstone essay.
Your guidelines for your Final Research Paper are as follows:
This research paper should present a thesis that is specific, manageable, provable, and contestable—in other words, the thesis should offer a clear position, stand, or opinion that will be proven with research.
You should analyze and prove your thesis using examples and quotes from a variety of sources.
You need to research and cite from at least five sources. You must use at least 3 different types of sources.
At least one source must be from an ECC library database.
At least one source must be a book, anthology or textbook.
At least one source must be from a credible website, appropriate for academic use.
The paper should not over-rely on one main source for most of the information. Rather, it should use multiple sources and synthesize the information found in them.
This paper will be approximately 5-7 pages in length, not including the Works Cited page, which is also required. This means at least 5 full pages of text. The Works Cited page does NOT count towards length requirement.
You must use MLA format for the document, in-text citations, and Works Cited page.
You must integrate quotations and paraphrases using signal phrases and analysis or commentary.
You must sustain your argument, use transitions effectively, and use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Your paper must be logically organized and focused.
Default Setting Essay Template for 1,200-word essay
9 Paragraphs, 135 words per paragraph, approx. 1,200 words (1,215 to be exact)
Paragraph 1: Attention-getting introduction
Paragraph 2: Transition from introduction to argumentative claim (thesis)
Paragraphs 3-6: Body paragraphs that give reasons for supporting your claim.
Paragraphs 7 & 8: Counterarguments in which you anticipate how your opponents will disagree with you, and you then provide rebuttals to those counterarguments.
Paragraph 9: Conclusion, an emotionally powerful re-statement of your thesis.
Make sure to include a Works Cited page.
Final Essay #5 for 1,200 words
Option A
In context of Alfie Kohn’s “From Degrading to De-Grading,” support, refute, or complicate Alfie Kohn’s assertion that grading is an inferior education tool that all conscientious teachers should abandon. In other words, will students benefit from an accountability-free education? Why? Explain.
Option B
Develop an argumentative thesis that analyzes the intersection of tribalism and fake facts as anti-vaxxers bring disease back to the world. Consult the following: “The Real Horror of Anti-Vaxxers” by Frank Bruni, Michelle Au’s fear tactic essay in Slate, John Oliver video on vaccinations. See Bulwark “Contagion of Folly.” See New York Times logical fallacies video. Also see "Why Vaccination Refusal Is a White Privilege Problem."
Option C
See video “3 Arguments Why Marijuana Should Stay Illegal” and read Annie Lowry’s essay “America’s Invisible Pot Addicts” and support, refute, or complicate the argument that legalizing weed is a bad idea. See Netflix documentary Grass Is Greener.
Option D
Develop a claim that supports or refutes the claim that vaping dangers have reached a level that compels individuals to quit using all vaping products. Or you can argue for an outright ban. Or you can argue for raising the legal age limit. Consult "The Actual Harms of Vaping" by James Hamblin, "Have We Hit Peak Vape Panic?" by Spencer Bokat-Lindell, "Vaping Illnesses: Tracking the Outbreak" by Jonathan Corum, "Is It Time to Quit Vaping?" by Karen Zroick and Jacey Fortin, "The Promise of Vaping and the Rise of Juul" by Jia Tolentino, "Student vaping epidemic has California schools frantically mobilizing" by Howard Blume, Sonali Kohli, and NIna Agrawal.
March 30 Essay 2 due on turnitin. We will compare Dr. David Pilgrim’s Jim Crow Museum explanation of Jim Crow laws of yesterday to Childish Gambino’s exploration in “This Is America” to Jim Crow exploitation today. You may consult “Hidden Meanings” video, Dr. Lori Brooks’ Hidden Meanings video, “Childish Gambino’s Genius Absurdity,” and PBS analysis. Homework #10: Read Jack Schwartz’s “It’s Time for the Lost Cause to Get Lost” and in 200-word paragraph explain how some people rewrite the history of slavery.
April 1 Go over Jamelle Bouie’s “Remembering History as Fable” and Jack Schwartz’s “It’s Time for the Lost Cause to Get Lost.” We will watch John Oliver’s video about Confederate statues. Your Homework #11 is to read bell hooks’ essay “Learning in the Shadow of Race and Class” and “Keeping Close to Home” and develop an argumentative 200-word paragraph about hooks’ contention that social class can be an impediment to climbing the educational ladder.
April 6: We will go over bell hooks’ essay “Learning in the Shadow of Race and Class” and “Keeping Close to Home” and develop an argumentative thesis about hooks’ contention that social class can be an impediment to climbing the educational ladder. Homework #12 is to read Rachel Monroe’s “When GoFundMe Gets Ugly” and explain why this fund-raising campaign has a dark side.
April 8: We will go over Rachel Monroe’s “When GoFundMe Gets Ugly.” We will grade Portfolio Part #1, which should include 12 typed homework assignments. Homework #13: Read P1 Commas and take the 10 tests, report your scores, and explain your confidence level.
April 20 Chromebook In-Class Writing Objective: Write an introduction, thesis, and two supporting paragraphs. Homework #13 is due next class.
April 22 Chromebook In-Class Writing Objective: Write supporting paragraphs, counterargument-rebuttal paragraph, conclusion, Works Cited page. Homework #13 on commas is due.
April 27 Essay #3 due on turnitin. See Monica Lewinsky Ted Talk video “The Price of Shame” and John Oliver video on “Public Shaming” and develop an argumentative thesis about what type of shaming is good for society and what kind of shaming cannot be defended.Homework #14: Read Kajsa Elas Ekman’s essay “All surrogacy is exploitation” and in 200 words explain why surrogacy should be banned.
April 29 Will will go over surrogacy debate. Homework #15: Read David Brooks’ Atlantic essay “People Like Us” and explain why we gravitate people who share our values.
May 4 We will go over “People Like Us” and watch two videos about social media and tribalism from Vice News and Brian Klaas. If we have time, we will go over surrogacy essay topic. Homework #16: Write 200-word paragraph that explains the free community college debate covered by Rahm Emanuel’s “A Simple Proposition to Revive the American Dream” and Jay Mathews’ “Maybe tuition-free community college comes at too high a price.”
May 6 Go over free community college debate. Your homework #17 for next class is to read Harlan Coben’s argument from “The Undercover Parent” and in 200 words argue if spyware is a reasonable and compelling safety measure that parents may need to use for their children’s computers. Homework #18 is to read P-2 Semicolons and take the practice tests. Explain your confidence in using semicolons.
May 11 Chromebook In-Class Writing Objective: Write first half of your essay. Go over Homework #18. Your Homework #19: Read P-5 Quotation Marks, take the 5 Practice Tests, report your scores, and explain your confidence level.
May 13 Chromebook In-Class Writing Objective: Write second half of your essay. Go over Homework #19.
May 18 Essay 4 Due on Turnitin. November 6 Go over the crisis that anti-vaxxers represent to reason and science. We will develop an argumentative thesis that analyzes the intersection of tribalism and fake facts as anti-vaxxers bring disease back to the world. Consult the following: “The Real Horror of Anti-Vaxxers” by Frank Bruni, Michelle Au’s fear tactic essay in Slate, John Oliver video on vaccinations. See Bulwark “Contagion of Folly.” See New York Times logical fallacies video. Also see "Why Vaccination Refusal Is a White Privilege Problem." If time, we will read Alfie Kohn’s “From Degrading to De-Grading” and go over how Kohn supports his claim that grades are bad for education. Homework #20 is to read Annie Lowry’s essay “America’s Invisible Pot Addicts” and in a 200-word paragraph support, refute, or complicate the argument that legalizing weed is a bad idea.May 20 We will see video “3 Arguments Why Marijuana Should Stay Illegal” and go over Annie Lowry’s essay “America’s Invisible Pot Addicts. See NYT editorial “Marijuana Damages Young Brains.” If we have time, we will also see Netflix documentary The Grass Is Greener. Homework #21 is to read "The Actual Harms of Vaping" by James Hamblin and "Have We Hit Peak Vape Panic?" by Spencer Bokat-Lindell and explain why some are arguing for a ban on all vaping products.
May 25 Veteran’s Day Holiday
May 27 We will cover the following: "The Actual Harms of Vaping" by James Hamblin, "Have We Hit Peak Vape Panic?" by Spencer Bokat-Lindell, "Vaping Illnesses: Tracking the Outbreak" by Jonathan Corum, "Is It Time to Quit Vaping?" by Karen Zroick and Jacey Fortin, "The Promise of Vaping and the Rise of Juul" by Jia Tolentino, "Student vaping epidemic has California schools frantically mobilizing" by Howard Blume, Sonali Kohli, and NIna Agrawal. The following videos should be helpful: "Why Vaping Is Bad for You," "Researchers Looking for Vape-Related Illnesses," and "Dissecting the Vaping Illness Mystery." Homework #22: Read P-6 Pronouns, take the 7 tests and report your scores before explaining your confidence level.
June 1 Chromebook In-Class Writing Objective: Write first third of your essay.
June 3 Chromebook In-Class Writing Objective: Write second third of your essay. We will go over Homework #22.
June 8 Chromebook In-Class Writing Objective: Write final third of your essay.
June 10 Essay 5 Due on turnitin and turn in Portfolio Part 2 (13-22)
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