The Idler, though sluggish, is yet alive, and may sometimes be stimulated to vigour and activity.

Let’s start with honesty. We’ll get groups to share homework and compare/contrast the Insufficiency of Honesty and the Ways we Lie pieces in terms of the Critical Reading Analysis questions.

Then, on to the Idler. In small groups again, pull out how Johnson creates a persona, uses evidence and examples, and achieves his purpose.

Time for individual work. Go to Arts and Letters Daily, browse, and then choose the essay/article/review you like the best. Read it and then write a 300-400 words reaction that quickly summarizes what it says and then analyze what it does by using the Interpretation Asks questions.

HW: Read William F. Buckley’s Why Don’t We Complain (also in 50 Essays) and use the Evaluation questions to evaluate the validity of Buckley’s thesis.

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