Fallacy Friday

We are in the midst of fallacies! And for homework, you have the pleasure of creating your own slippery slope fallacy - have fun in the ridiculousness of the task! Your slippery slope should include a minimum of 15 steps! If you need further inspiration, you have the DirectTV commercials, of course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ80SVOHKoo.

Presentation 10

We started off the day with presentation 10 in first hour, which means we have 2 remaining. In the meanwhile, we have presentation discussions and fallacies starting tomorrow with the packet you need to prep for class.

Presentations 4-9

With 9 presentations completed, that means there are 4 (yes, 4) left to complete! Due to the need to complete presentations, our post discussions had to be moved to a later day, but these will occur! Overall, we are still witnessing very clever (conference call) methods to introduce your topic and its pathological importance and very disturbing (that poor teddy bear) means to represent the hardships of the world. More presentations on Thursday, more discussions of the topics on Thursday, fallacies - maybe - starting on Thursday. *If you missed the presentation of your group due to absence of some sort, make sure to see me to discuss a plan for how to make up the assignment. Don't worry - you won't have a whole new topic to research.

Presentations 2 & 3

Out of the 13 presentations that will occur across AP Lang, the first 3 averaged 8.33, which shows a strong usage of logos, ethos, pathos, and - most importantly - engagement of the audience! Fifth hour has been the pioneer of these presentations, and each group has created unique and creative experiences with complete audience interaction. Today, looking at the reality of terrorism on innocent victims, created a serious, tense mood that helped the audience recognize the cruelty and the loss that occurs in a daily basis (and revealed some fascinating stats at the lack of concern for international matters). Following that, the mood shifted to a quartet of guides helping the class understand the lack of education in the world. From beginning to the end, those 4 ladies kept their audience engaged, informed, and impressed - and moving - through a memorable excursion into multi-genre information. Even their classmates commented on the creativity, intelligence of design, and overall visual artifacts that conveyed ethos from beginning to end. Bravo!

You may notice that I'm not giving away too many specific details so as not to cause imitation with our future presentations. However, for those of you in fifth hour or hear about the work in fifth hour, they definitely have offered completely different presentations that completely represent what they want to express about space, Boko Haram, and Malala's educational crusade. Hence, all the future groups have the opportunity to move their audience into understanding and reaction.

What's next after all of these presentations? Fallacies - what you don't want to do in an argument. Argumentation - what you do want to do in an argument. Multiple Choice - hopefully with our limited time frame remaining we can at least start looking at these passages!

Tomorrow will be third and fifth hour presentations; first hour will have their last day (it's a block, so you have double the time) to prepare for Thursday's commencement. Barring an emergency, make sure you are in class to support your group!

Last up, don't forget the Lucy Logs for your two memoirs. You have 10 days remaining for the assignment, and I know many of you have yet to pick up your second text! Procrastination will not help you with this assignment! And don't forget, this log, which is worth a significant amount of points, will help you with an argumentative essay to end the semester, which means if you don't have the log completed, you may find yourself having difficulty with the essay. 

Presentation 1

While the majority of the classes will begin presentations after break, fifth hour had the absolute pleasure to see the first one. Kudos to our pioneers of presenting, communicating so much logos (all those facts and stats), ethos (barely a glance at notes and taking all audience questions with specific responses - even if we began to entire hypothetical territory), and pathos (humor amidst the seriousness that could occur). Plus, we know that it's the perfect time to prepare for space travel!

On a separate note, there are many of you procrastinating your way through the Lucy books and logs. December 6 is the magic date, which means if you have not finished one of the memoirs, you will need to do so over Thanksgiving break in order to complete the second for the deadline. This is a significant assignment, so not completing it will severely impact your grade and your ability to eventually write an essay on the subject.

1: We looked at how pathos can be developed through words, images, music, and presentation to set up your rhetorical appeals group presentations, which were assigned today. If here, you should definitely start brainstorming and preparing for prep days next week. If absent, you will either be a group with other absentees or be merged with the existing groups. (We shall find out with attendance on Monday.)

3: We had our second of three prep days, which means presentations start Tuesday.

5: As noted above, we considered going to Mars - whether from interest or disaster! Today was an excellent model of how to present a topic with logos, ethos, and pathos and how to be an engaged audience member with questions and observations. I learned a great deal about Mars, so thank you, savants, for all of your knowledge.

The Presentation of Pathos

We're all in some phase of pathos now! What is to come after our review of the three rhetorical appeals? We will have a brief unit on fallacies (can't skip my fav slippery slope), start on argumentation (what you have all been waiting for), and begin work on MC passages (it's all about close reading - can't escape it). Oh, and of course, you have your Lucy Grealy readings and logs, which are still due on Thursday, December 6. Not many people have traded for their second text, so hopefully you are keeping up your reading and log pacing in order to trade tomorrow or immediately following your second long break of the month.

1: We wrapped up our tone work - effusively - with looking at "Ode on a Grecian Urn," which means that your tone prompt deadline is Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. The previous blog had the exact prompt and rules and regulations - in case you forget any details. In the middle of class, you received your Keats prompts back and, as the average score jumped up over 2 points into the 5 range! As we move into less participation and more content evaluation, this is a promising move! At the end of class, we looked at advertisements and how these images create varying forms of pathos and purposes. Tomorrow will be more pathos and the introduction of the rhetorical appeals group project.

3: We have our topics and we have our first day of group prep!

5: We have our last day of group prep, which means the order of presentation was determined during class. As a reminder to all groups, make sure that all of you are prepared to go!

Alternatives A & B

While many of your are practicing snow incantations, third hour and I agree that if we all complete our homework assignments for tomorrow, we will more likely have a snow day. If we procrastinate and don't have our work ready to go, we will probably have school. So, be ready for whatever happens tomorrow!

1:

Class Today: We finished up our tone identification of "To a Skylark" and then moved onto our reading of "Ode to a Nightingale." For next class, we will be identifying the tone of the "Nightingale" stanzas. If you were absent today, make sure you are ready to contribute tone and strategies for stanzas 5-8. In addition, you have the tone prompt in your hands: You received your assessment for the tone unit: In regards to Percy Shelley’s “To a Skylark” and John Keats’ “Ode to a Nightingale,” compare and contrast the tone and other rhetorical devices used by these poets in their writing about birds. As with the last prompt, this may be handwritten or typed and will be turned in via hard copy by according to the alternatives. If absent for the entire day, you may send via digital methods and then turn in a hard copy.  

Alternative A: Thursday will feature the remainder of our tone work for "Ode to a Nightingale," a recap of the tone prompt, and the return of your Keats' prompt. If this is the case, the tone prompt will be due by 3:30 p.m. on Monday, November 19. 

Alternative B: Monday will feature the same content as planned for Thursday. However, the tone prompt will be due by 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 20. 

3:

Class Today: With the Keats' prompts returned, you now have feedback to remind you of what to do with a rhetorical analysis prompts, which is fortunate as the tone prompt is due very soon, according to the future alternatives. Afterwards, we returned to our pathos look-see by watching a video to see the different means of how pathos can be introduced into visual mediums. If you want to watch the video, go back in time and check fifth hour's blog from a few days ago - you will find the link there. At the end of the hour, we went over the group rhetorical analysis presentation, which will continue at next class. Currently, you now the requirements and your groups. Next time will be topics and prep days.

Alternative A: Thursday remains the due date for the tone prompt.

Alternative B: If school is not in session on Thursday, the prompt will be due on Monday by 3:30 p.m.

5: 

Class Today: Prep Day for Group Rhetorical Analysis Presentations.

Alternative A: Prep Day as planned on Thursday with presentations beginning Monday.

Alternative B: Prep Day on Monday with presentations beginning Tuesday.