20. Research progress

Explain the most interesting thing you've found so far in doing your research for this paper. Write for the uninformed reader. Due Monday, 3 November.

19. Research Topic

What specific topic do you want to pursue for research paper? Why does this topic interest you? What, briefly, do you already know about the topic? Due Friday, 31 October

18. Canceled

Because of our adjusted due dates for Essay Three, the blog post due Monday, 27 October is canceled.

17. Free choice

Comment on any aspect of Monday's reading. Due Monday, 20 October.

Essay Three Ideas

Choose the two essays you want to write about for Essay Three. In your post, explain why you chose those two and write a brief statement about each author's philosophy of free will. Due Friday, 15 October.

16. King's Persuasive Techniques

In "Letter from Birmingham Jail," Martin Luther King, Jr., uses multiple strategies to convince his reader of his points about segregation. Find two places in the "Letter" that seem significant to you. Copy the passages (or excerpts, if they're long) and explain how King's writing works to persuade. Due Wednesday, 15 October.

15. Orwell and Imperialism

Toward the end of the nineteenth century, Great Britain exercised a policy of imperialism, by which it established economic and political control over many nations, including great portions of India. Orwell was involved in this practice. Read the biography of George Orwell from Britannica Online Encyclopedia: http://0-search.eb.com.library.acaweb.org/eb/article-9057505.

Then answer the following: how does reading Orwell's biography help you understand some portion of the autobiographical essay "Shooting an Elephant"? Due Wednesday, 8 October.

NOTE: If you cannot access the article off campus via the link, go to the library home page at http://www.lrc.edu/library/. Click on the link that says "Off-campus access to resources" and follow the instructions.

14. Milgram Music

Listen to the song "Buzzer" by Dar Williams at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95082381 (the link is in the box on the left called "Hear the Songs.") Lyrics are available http://www.metrolyrics.com/buzzer-lyrics-dar-williams.html. What is the message of the song? How does it relate not only to the process of the Milgram experiment, but also to the conclusions Milgram drew? How would you describe the mood of the song from listening to it? How does the "feel" of the song relate to the Milgram experiment? Due Monday, 6 October.

13. Protected Speech

Susan Brownmiller writes, "We live quite compatibly with a host of free-speech abridgements" (54); Charles R. Lawrence III claims that certain forms of speech run the "risk [of] making the First Amendment an instrument of domination rather than a vehicle of liberation" (57). When do you think that free speech should--or should not--be restricted? Give specific examples and explain your reasoning. Due Wednesday, 1 October.

12. Essay Two

Copy and paste a selection from Essay Two of which you are most proud. Explain why you picked that selection. Due Monday, 29 September.

11. Advertising to Children

Both Jean Kilbourne and Nadya Labi discuss the practice of advertising to young people from preschool to high school. According to these writers, what makes this demographic (or group) so tempting for advertisers? What is the role of schools in this phenomenon? How do you think that advertising affects young people? Due Wednesday, 24 September.

10. Your World Press Photo

Which image have you chosen for Essay Two? Why did this image appeal to you when you saw it? What have you found out about its context so far? What ethical issues are involved in this image? Due Monday, 22 September.

9. Analyzing an Image

Find an image online that you think is worth analyzing. In your post, explain what argument the image makes, and tell us what types of appeals the image relies upon to make that argument (refer to some of the points on page 254 to help you think about this). Please include a link to the photograph, too. Due Wednesday, 17 September.

8. Lifeboat Ethics?

Garrett Hardin makes a very complex, rather controversial argument in "Lifeboat Ethics." Identify one of the ethical principles that informs his argument and explain whether you think the principle is or is not ethical. Due Monday, 15 September.

7. Arguments Have Goals

Compose your response to the questions about the Sims trailer in your IClaim CD. Due Wednesday, 10 September.

6. Assessing Essay One

Reflect upon your experience writing your first essay. Due Monday, 8 September.

5. Writing Essay One

Post in response to the following questions:
--which essay have you chosen for the first paper?
--why did you pick that essay?
--what main types of evidence / appeals have you identified?
--what is your plan for completing this paper?
--what support do you need from your peers / your professor in writing this paper?
Due 3 September.

4. Adbusters and Arguments in Context

Work through Chapter Two of your IClaim CD. Answer the questions about the Adbusters clip on the blog. Due Monday, 1 September.

3. Why Test?

Think about the tests you took as a high school student and explain what you think their purpose was. Next, explain what you think tests ought to accomplish--how, ideally, should your LR professors test you? Draw on the work of Goodman and Ravitch in your response. Due Wednesday, 27 August.

2. Liberal Education and Core Curriculum

What do you think both Allitt and Menand would say about LR's Core curriculum? What are your thoughts on our Core? (See our Catalog at
http://www.lrc.edu/registrar/catalog/2007-2008/lrc-catalog-pp-96-102.pdf
and scroll down to the second page, printed page 97). Due Monday, 25 August.

1. Why Are You Here?

After reading the articles by Stanley Fish and Dave Eggers in your Current Issues textbook, make a claim of your own based in the arguments they present. Do college students have a responsibility to the greater community? What is the connection between students and the larger world? Make sure to refer to the ideas of both writers in your answer. Due Friday, 22 August.