Gin and the Cognitive Surplus

First, we’ll get a report from the AP test takers: how did it go? Then, my notes on the Joan d’Arc prompt.

Then, we’ll mark up the some more the museum synth essay sources.

Next, we’ll use small groups to pilot thesis statements and have the groups figure out how the sources can conversate with each other. As a full group, we’ll see what you’ve got.

Finally, I want small groups to create their own synthesis question. Here is how it will go.

• I’ll give you a theme: technology, education, crime, fashion, poverty, or feminism. Your job will be to first come up with an essay question that could be answered in more than one way and with a sufficient amount of sophistication (not Is Iron Man better than SpiderMan? but Should we require all High Schoolers to become fluent in a foreign language?).
• Next, you’ll need to collect at least 6 sources that will give information about the topic. The sources will need to be from 200-300 words each (they can be excerpts), will need to give evidence for many different sides of the Synthesis Question, and be from a variety of sources including essays, memoirs, press releases, advertisements, blog posts, interviews, blog posts, webpages, fiction/poetry, and nonfiction books. One of the sources should be an image.
• Finally, collect the whole shebang together in a Word document and then email it to me by next Tuesday.

We take the Final next week: Tue (R. Analysis and Argument essay) Thur (Multiple Choice and Synthetic Essay).

HW: Finish Group made Synth Essay…