Monday Matters: marking period 4

Monday Matters:    Marking Period 4        Beginning Research

While our major research project culminates during marking period 5, you may continue our work with Monday Matters by beginning to think about what contemporary issues you’d like to explore.

Contemporary means that these conversations are brand new.  While many issues, such as abortion, gay marriage, gun control—just to name a few—still vex Americans and polarize the country, these issues already have a long and established record among the electorate. 

The challenge of research is to be transformational—something that changes your opinion, and possibly the opinions of others.

In order to help you locate some contemporary controversies, consider selecting one of the following general categories:
    •science and technology
    •environment
    •economics
    •health and general welfare
    •education
    •immigration
   
For each week, beginning this weekend, find one columnist addressing one new aspect of your category.  Summarize the columnist’s essay in 4-5 points, and then conclude with a statement of how this question may be relevant to your life and/or what possibilities exist for further research.

Marking Period 3--Columnists Ahoy!

Marking Period 3:  COLUMNISTS AHOY!
a)    select one credible columnist who posts on a weekly basis.  The length of the column should be approximately 1-2 pages.  For 4 weeks, paraphrase 3-4 main points about her/his column.
b)    For two of the columns, analyze (1) what the writer’s position is and (2) how the writer communicates her/his position to her/his audience.  Cite text appropriately.
c)    At the end of the marking period, synthesize this columnist’s posts into a statement on how she/he views society.
d)    Provide one image that contradicts this columnist’s position(s).

Marking Period 2--Differing Perspectives

Marking Period 3:  WHO OWNS THE SOURCES?  DO YOU OWN THEM, OR DO THEY OWN YOU?

a)    select one general issue of contemporary controversy.  For this marking period, find 4-5 distinct opinions.  Each week, paraphrase 3-4 ideas from these columnists on this topic.  One  source is non-print.
b)    At the end of the marking period, synthesize these opinions with your own in forming an opinion on this current controversy.

Monday Matters #3--Analyzing Visual Rhetoric

Monday Matters #3: provide a link to an image on a current newsworthy event, and analyze the visual rhetoric.  What's the overall argument?  Analyze 3-4 features of the text in service of this argument.


Be sure to provide a link to the site, and/or correctly cite the location of the text.


Thank you.

Monday Matters: week 2

Monday #2; provide a link to an editorial about this issue and paraphrase 3-4 points. An editorial is an opinion piece--a column often written by an editor, journalist, or freelance writer.   When you paraphrase, you rewrite one opinion in your own words.

Be sure to cite the document appropriately.

Remember this formula:  Paraphrase + Paraphrase + Paraphrase etc. = Summary

Thank you.

Monday Matters

For your first post on your own blog, summarize a story in the news that is both current and of interest to you.  Be sure you that are able to cite the source correctly.  Ideally, this story is something that you have linked to on your newsreel.  Remember, the goal of Monday Matters is to become an informed citizen, and do so in a paperless way.

I look forward to our journeys together in becoming more informed citizens!

Thank you.

Mr. Heller

Welcome to AP Language

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