Artistic Freedom vs. Respect for Traditional Values: The Battle Goes On

For a very current example of the on-going conflict between freedom of expression and respect, read or listen to the article, "Tunisians Battle Over the Meaning of Free Expression" on the NPR website.

Resources for Freedom of Speech Issues

 ProCon.org

Issues & Controversies

Google News

ProQuest Newspapers via Marvel Teen Resources

--Search the above sources for articles on your topic and then skim the articles to find examples of loaded words used by those on both sides of the issue.

Euphemisms, Loaded Words, & Double-Speak

A euphemism is a word or phrase used in place of another word or phrase.  Often euphemisms are used in order to mislead, to confuse, or to neutralize the reaction of an audience.  An example of an euphemism is to call a used car a "pre-owned vehicle." 

Loaded words are words used to engage the emotions of the reader or listener.  These are words that have strong connotations.  Some loaded words (especially the ones with positive connotations) are also euphemisms.  When Maine legislators who oppose the "estate tax" started calling it the "death tax," they were using loaded words.

Double-Speak is another term for ambiguous language that is intended to deceive of confuse.  Double-speak involves the use of words or phrases such as "War is peace" or "genuine imitation leather."   Double-speak is the use of words in an attempt to make something untrue, true.

Campaign Bumper Stickers

Your challenge is to create a campaign bumper sticker that communicates who you are, what you believe, and why people should vote for you -- all within the space of less than 0.5 square foot and using fewer than a dozen words.

Resources to Review as a Class:
Sample Stickers with Brief Critiques (slideshow)
Typography Basics 
The Basics of Fonts & Typography  (Site temporarily down)

Additional Resources:
Color as Symbol
How Color Communicates Meaning
Color Symbolism

Tips for Creating Your Campaign Sticker:
1. Use the Drawing Program on Open Office
2. On Open Office Draw, Go to "Format," select "Page," and then change your document width to 9 inches and your document height to 3.5 inches.
3. Set your background color.
4. Add text and images.  (Images can be from clipart or can be located on Google images and pasted to your sticker from your clipboard.)

Welcome to the 2012-2013 School Year!

This blog is a home base for Senior English.  Visiting this page often can help you be successful.

Please bookmark this page on your laptop browser.

Reasons to visit this blog include:

• to complete class assignments
• for links for research and reading
• to get caught up in case you are behind or absent
• if you are confused and need more information
• if you want to challenge yourself and complete an honors assignment
• if you missed a class and want to make sure you are on the right track
• if you are interested in something we discussed in class and want to learn more

Links to the Future

newsoffuture.com Future News for Year 2020 and Beyond

futureforall.org/ A Layperson's View of Future Technology and Society

globalfuturist.com Harnessing the Power of Innovation

thefutureofourworld.ytmnd.com The Future of Our World

wfs.org World Future Society

A template and sample outline for the future essay is at:
http://wirthyenglish.blogspot.com/2011/06/sample-outline-for-future-essay.html

Resources for Freedom of Speech Issues

Issues & Controversies

Google News

ProQuest Newspapers via Marvel Teen Resources

--Search the above sources for articles on your topic and then skim the articles to find examples of loaded words used by those on both sides of the issue.

Additional Resources for Your Report:
--To create pie charts based on your survey data (and bump your grade up toward "exceeds"), see http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/graphing/classic/pie.asp 

--A sample Language & Power Paper (Sections 1, 2, 6) is here.

Euphemisms, Loaded Words, & Double-Speak

A euphemism is a word or phrase used in place of another word or phrase.  Often euphemisms are used in order to mislead, to confuse, or to neutralize the reaction of an audience.  

Loaded words are words used to engage the emotions of the reader or listener.  These are words that have strong connotations.  Some loaded words (especially the ones with positive connotations) are also euphemisms.

Double-Speak is the use of words or phrases such as "War is peace."  Double-speak is the use of words in an attempt to make something untrue, true.

Campaign Bumper Stickers -- Resources

Resources to Review as a Class:
Sample Stickers with Brief Critiques (slideshow)--Block White 1 reviewed this on Wednesday
The Basics of Fonts & Typography 

Additional Resources:
How Color Communicates Meaning
Color Symbolism

Tips for Creating Your Campaign Sticker:
1. Use the Drawing Program on Open Office
2. On Open Office Draw, Go to "Format," select "Page," and then change your document width to 9 inches and your document height to 3.5 inches.
3. Set your background color.
4. Add text and images.  (Images can be from clipart or can be located on Google images and pasted to your sticker from your clipboard.)

Avoiding Plagiarism

The Purdue OWL site provides a good overview on referencing sources and avoiding plagiarism.

Click here for that site.

A 5-Minute Poem to Kick Start Your Week

Use this site to create your own list poem based on your biography:

http://ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/listpoem.htm

Notes:

• A list poem may appear random but it is not
• The poem should end with something surprising, insightful, or important.  One way to do this is to move from the literal to the figurative (see example poem below).
• Once you have made your initial list, consider re-arranging the order of the items.  Also consider adding more detail.  Use precise and concrete language as much as possible.  Provide your reader with a clear image of what you see.

Sample below:

________________________________________________

What’s in the canoe
a sharpened axe with a battered wooden handle
a weathered tent green with mold
a bag of pea flour
a plug of tobacco
three long poles with metal boots
four damp wool blankets
a refusal to turn back
a lot of heart 

--based on the book Great Heart:  History of a Labrador Adventure

Extending, Revising, Polishing Genre Pices

I've spent time reading over your draft genre pieces.  Here are some general suggestions that will help strengthen your pieces:

1. Develop your headings and titles.  A fully developed heading may be 2 - 3 sentences or more.  A title is generally short -- but make the most of it.  "Waris Dirie"  or "Waris Dirie -- One Determined Woman"   The 2nd title is stronger, yet it still doesn't "cost" that much.  Agree?
2. Among your 5 pieces, include at least 3 pieces about specific events or moments in your biography.  General pieces that give an overview of a person and that person's accomplishments can be useful, but don't stop there.
3. Aim for at least one piece from the point of view of a "contemporary" of your subject -- someone who knew your subject and had a relationship of some kind with him or her.  That person undoubtedly had an opinion on your subject and a way of voicing that opinion.

Resource of the Day: ProQuest

ProQuest provides access to news stories not found on Google.

Proquest is accessible via Wirthportal / the Student Research Center .  
Scroll down once you reach that page.

An additional benefit of ProQuest is that it provides ready-made source information for your bibliography,

Getting Started with Your Research

The goal is get started on researching topics related to the biography you are reading.  Don't worry about what the research will be used for.  Follow your interests.  Find some sources.  Save the source information so you can easily go back later.

1. Identify topics for research, using the handout

2. Set up a place to save and organize all your bookmarks.  This could be a folder with Safari or Firefox Bookmarks.  Or you may choose to set up an account on Delicious or Diigo.

3. Start identifying sites that are potential resources.  Don't just rely on Google.   See Wirthportal (also on the right sidebar link of this site) and check out Marvel, Internet Public Library, Google Search tools such as "Related Searches" and Time Defined Searchs, Google News, and Google Blogs.

4. Save your sites you find within your bookmarks folder (or on Delicious or Diigo).

Biography Project Resources

Sample Feature Article 1
Sample Feature Article 2

Sample Interview

Sample Character Sketch

How to Write a Haiku

Sample Annotated Bibliography

Easybib.com 

Plan to complete your biography and the reading sheet by March 8.