We’ll start by getting our College Essay buddies together and talking about three issues in your writing:

1. Show don’t (just) tell
2. Complex sentence structure and sentence variance
3. Your 2 personal qualities

Then, we might take a walk. Turn ‘em in.

Period 5 needs to talk Civil Disobedience today as well.

Then, we’ll look at the AP exam: This is the 2007 exam. Take a look and we’ll take a look at it. Then, we’ll work in small groups to tackle the Scott Russell Sanders piece on Rushdie. Each small group should create a short Keynote that does these things:

1. Identifies at least 4 strategies and characterizes them.
2. Quotes a bit.
3. Then, analyzes the use of these strategies: the purpose, effectiveness, and the less-than-obvious elements of rhetoric.

Then, we’ll look at the anchor papers for that question.

Finally, I want to look at the Multiple Choice section of the AP exam and do one set of questions. Place your answers here.

HW: Read both “Learning to Read” by Malcolm X (in 50 essays and here) and read/listen to the “Ballot or the Bullet speech.” (text here, audio here) In a 200-300 word blog post, compare and contrast the rhetorical purpose, audience, and strategies in these 2 works.

First, we’ll take the Four Idols quiz and grade it.

Next, we’ll break down Bacon’s essay into five paragraphs and have table groups prepare to lead short discussions about what he is saying. Create leading questions designed to check understanding and connections with real-life situations which are relevant.

1. Paragraph 9
2. Paragaph 12
3. Paragraph 14
4. Paragraph 22
5. Paragraph 29

Then, it’s AP test time. We’ll explore the wonders of the AP rhetorical analysis essay. Here is the test. The Scoring Guide. The Anchors. (Alternative links Test, Scoring Guide, Anchors).

Finally, I want to read Bill Joy’s essay Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us.  For HW: Write a 200-word response explaing what problems Joy sees with the Kurzweil-ian Singularity and what we should do to ensure a future that retains a human sense of dignity and meaning.