September 25th, 2014

ABR PRESENTATIONS PART 2,

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE,AND

THE CHARACTERISTICSOF QUALITY WRITING

WARM UP: INTERVIEW

Warm Up: InterviewDate:_Thursday, September 25th, 2014Prompt: Imagine that you could interview any one of your progenitors (or future progeny) about his or her lifetime and experiences.  Explain in a who you would choose and why.  Next, list five questions you would like to ask.

(Your response must be at least 7-10 sentences.)

Learning Target: Today I will learn the importance of seeing issues from differing perspectives because that is the cornerstone of quality argumentative writing.

ABR Museum Presentations, Part 2Devil’s AdvocateCharacteristics of Quality WritingPredictions

TODAY’S AGENDA

A total of sixteen of you will be presenting your hard work today.

Listen for your name and location assignment.

The rest of you will split up and rotate around to see all of the presentations in up to 3 minute increments.

ABR MUSEUM PRESENTATIONS

How many of you have heard this term?Do you know what it means?What is its etymology (origin)?

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE

Disclaimer: This activity is one geared only toward seeing diff erent perspectives and is in no way intended to be off ensive to or question your own personal beliefs or morals.  This activity will serve only as a segue into the argumentative writing unit for which diff ering perspectives is paramount to writing most eff ectively.

Activity: You will be shown a selection of “hot button” or controversial topics. You will then move from one side of the room to the other if you agree or disagree with the topic. One person will be chosen to be the “Devil’s Advocate” to present three reasons why their point of view could be valid. Another student on the opposing side will present three reasons why their point of view could be valid.

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE

School Uniforms: Students should be allowed to wear what they want to wear to school.

For-However, some say that uniforms make it harder to see who has what amount of money or financial status.

For-Others see uniforms as a way to deter gang colors.

Against- Students use clothes to express themselves.

Against- Uniforms can identify where a student goes to school and can be a safety issue.

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE: THE TOPICS

School Calendar: School should be year-round.For- Some studies have suggested that

students forget a lot of what they learn over the summer.

For- Summer break was established when we were more of an agrarian society and students helped their families harvest food on farms.

Against- Students and parents use that break to plan travel or attend camps.

Against- The breaks once every six weeks force parents to find child care more often.

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE: THE TOPICS

Censorship: It is never okay to ban a book.

For- Writing is protected under our fi rst amendment rights: our freedom of speech.

For- Banning books can work to push a certain agenda and violate the rights and interests of others.

Against- Banning books is okay for required reading at school.

Against- Some books feature inappropriate material or promote genocide, radical beliefs, and things detrimental to society..

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE: THE TOPICS

Sports: Ray Rice should be suspended from the NFL.

For- Athletes are role models and domestic abuse is not something role models should promote.

Against- Ray Rice’s actions outside of work should only be taken into account if he is convicted of a crime.

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE: THE TOPICS

Sports: Hope Solo should not be suspended from the NWLS (National Women’s Soccer League).

For- Athletes are role models and domestic abuse is not something role models should promote.

Against- Hope Solo’s actions outside of work should only be taken into account if he is convicted of a crime.

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE: THE TOPICS

National Politics: The President should always salute military personnel.

For- The President of the U.S. is the Commander-in-Chief and head of all military personnel and it is a sign of respect.

Against- The President is a civilian and is not required to salute any military when in uniform.

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE: THE TOPICS

World Affairs: The U.S. should step in to prevent or stop conflicts around the world.

Some memorable examples: Nazi occupation of most of Europe (WWII) The Korean War The Vietnam War Genocide in Bosnia Genocide in Rwanda The Taliban ISIS

What are your thoughts?

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE: THE TOPICS

Let us see what Tim and Moby have to say about critical reasoning.

http://www.brainpop.com/english/writing/criticalreasoning/

INTRODUCTION TO ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING

We are taking notes now!Pull out your notes notebook (spiral-bound notebook). If you do not have one yet, be sure to get one you can dedicate to ELA notes.

http://www.imschools.org/images/files/menufiles/Overview6Traits.pdf

CHARACTERISTICS OF QUALITY WRITING

Chores!

    Chores! Chores! Chores! Chores are boring! Scrubbing toilets, cleaning sinks, and washing bathtubs take up a lot of my time and are not fun at all.     Toilets! When you’re scrubbing toilets make sure they are not stinky. I’ve scrubbed one before and I was lucky it didn’t stink. I think toilets are one of the hardest things to scrub in the bathroom because it is hard to get up around the rim.     Sinks are one of the easiest things to clean in the bathroom because they have no rims and they are small. I have cleaned one before and it was pretty easy.     Bathtubs, ever washed one? They are big, they are deep, and it is hard to get up around the sides. The bathtub is the hardest, I think, to wash in the bathroom.     All chores are boring, especially making my bed. Cleaning my room is OK because I have to organize, and I like organizing. Dusting is the worst: dust, set down, pick up, dust, set down. There are so many things to dust, and it’s no fun.    Chores aren’t the worst but they’re definitely not the best!

EXAMPLE: SHORT STORY

About six years ago, I received the startling news that I had breast cancer. The diagnosis arrived shortly after I went to work at Cedars-Sinai as chief of surgery. Happiness, of course, was fl eeting during those months as I underwent my own surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.Ironically, I happened to be writing a speech at the time for fellow surgeons titled, "Finding happiness in life and work." As I wrote, I found myself thinking about that great American philosopher Woody Allen. "Life," he said, "is full of misery, loneliness and suff ering, and it's all over much too soon." I also found myself contemplating two questions that apply to anyone who yearns for the elusive feeling of joy: What produces a happy life? And perhaps even more important: Can we meaningfully infl uence our happiness by our attitudes and behavior?I discovered answers in hard science -- specifi cally, the fi eld of "happiness research," which has blossomed over the past decade as it merged with psychology, neuroscience and economics. Much of this scholarship has focused on the relationship between money and fulfi llment. And it has produced a complex picture.

THE SECRET TO A HAPPY LIFE? THINK INSPIRATION, NOT

MONEYBY BRUCE L. GEWERTZ, MD ,  WWW.HUFFINGTONPOST.COM

Read for 30 minutes.Study for tomorrow’s “Vocabulary from Classical Roots” quiz over lessons 2 and 3.

Flashcards are linked on yesterday’s blog post.

HOMEWORK

Predictions:What do you think we will explore in this next unit on argumentative writing?

In your notebook (below your notes) write three predictions.

Choose your best prediction and, when you are called upon, write it in the “crystal ball” on butcher paper posted in the room.

CLOSING