December break homework assignment

To keep up with the daily stream of important developments in the weeks before Donald Trump takes the oath of office and becomes our next president on January 20, your assignment over the break is to keep a "pre-inauguration journal" documenting events, announcements, controversies, appointments, protests, etc. that happen over the next 10 days.

Your assignment is to:

1. Use my list of good news sources, or do your own research from other reputable news sources, and choose at least 4 separate events related to Trump becoming President that you think are important / interesting. The list of news sites is here: http://7icehumanities.blogspot.com/p/the-new-york-times-washington-post.html

2. Read the article/s carefully. You may need to look up words or references, or talk to an adult who may be able to help you.

3. Write a summary in your own words of what happened for each event.

4. Write your thoughts/reactions/questions about each event.

When possible, try to make connections with things we have discussed in class in our discussions of current events, propaganda, rhetoric, and Animal Farm.

Be sure to include the website, title, author, and date of each article you use.

The total length should be at least two typed double spaced pages, or the equivalent amount of handwritten pages.

HW#21

Analyze second piece of propaganda on same google doc, using the questions I sent you. You should have already shared this google doc with me, but if you haven't please do so (jctorpey@gmail.com).

HW#20

Answer the questions about the article "Trump's Threat to the Constitution."

HW: Finish analyzing first piece of propaganda

Yesterday I emailed you a Word document through Jupitergrades that has the instructions and the questions you will be answering to analyze two pieces of propaganda (one of yours and one made by another 7th grader) as the final part of the Animal Farm project. 

Your task this weekend is to finish analyzing the first piece of propaganda.

IMPORTANT: Copy and paste the questions into a new Google doc and share it with me (jctorpey@gmail.com) so I can leave you edits and comments. You will be submitting a second draft.

HW#19

Type up at least a few verses of your Animal Farm rap / song.
Share a google doc with your partner/s and bring in a printed copy.

Open Letter from American Muslims to President-Elect Trump

Read the letter signed by over 300 Muslim-American leaders here.

701 Campaign Websites

Animal Human Alliance

Animal Council

Snowball

Napoleon

Mr. Jones

702 Campaign Websites

Mr. Jones

Animal Council

Animal Human Alliance

Napoleon

Snowball

Edit your group's campaign speech

Elements of a Powerful, Memorable Speech

Elements of a Powerful, Memorable Speech

1) Strong introduction that captures the audience's attention
You may choose to use:
--a rhetorical question
--a famous quote
--a joke (when appropriate)
--a description of how large the stakes are
--Build up your ethos a bit (likability, believability, good character, etc.)
--thesis statement: a sentence or two that clearly lays out your main argument

2) Appropriate tone of voice
--Vary your tone and volume, depending on what you are saying

3) Body Language
--Confident posture
--Hand gestures

4) Use metaphors, similes, and other figurative language to paint a vivid picture
--You should only use a few types of metaphors that reappear throughout the speech. Think of Martin Luther King's use of the nature metaphors in his "I Have A Dream" speech.

5) Use repetition and alliteration (repeating the first sound in multiple words) to drive home your most important points.

6) Rhythm
--Use pauses to add emphasis and let the audience process what you are saying

7) Continue to build up your trustworthiness and good character (ethos)

8) Mix in logos (facts) and pathos (emotional appeals)

9) Prepare a strong conclusion
--Include a call for action
--Circle back to your thesis statement or most important themes

HW#18

Finish reading Chapter 6 and write at least 2/3 of a page about how you can interpret these events to benefit your candidate and attack the other candidates.

Make sure you write about the developments related to:
--trading with humans
--the Fourth Commandment
--the windmill