Humanities: Closing Arguments, Of Mice & Men, OJ Simpson, Ethos, Pathos & Logos

Today we'll be starting with some review of Roots #5 using Quizlet.  There's a quiz over Roots 1 - 5 on Thursday.  Word maps are due as well.

Then we'll dive into the closing arguments in the death of Lennie trial.  We will learn about the three types of appeal: ethos, pathos & logos

Ethos: Appeal based on the character of the speaker
"Mom, I'm a decent human being.  I treat people right.  I get my homework done.  Please, let me go to the movies."

Pathos: Appeal based on emotion

"Mom, everyone is going to be at the movies tonight and I just won't fit in any more if I'm the only one who hasn't seen Fast 19.  I'm just . . <snif>  . . so . . . upset right now."

Logos: Appeal based on reason

"Mom, if you let me go to the movies, you can call Aunt Laura and have a ladies night.  I won't be here.  I won't have any friends over.  And I won't be home until after 11.  When else will you get a chance to do what you want to do?"

It's not about using one of those strategies.  It's about using a equitable balance of those strategies depending on your goal and your audience.  You might want to use a little more ethos sometimes, and other times you will want some heavy logos.

We'll analyze the closing speech from the O.J. Simpson trial.  You can get a little background on the O.J. Simpson trial here and by watching the clip below.  Remember, this event happened in 1994.

We'll look at this closing argument from O.J. Simpson's defense attorney, Johnnie Cochran.



Use a coding strategy to help you find examples of Ethos, Pathos & Logos (E, P, L) and then questions you might have (?).

This is all to help you with your closing arguments in the death of Lennie trial.  Remember, you will be playing a lawyer, delivering either a closing argument in the trail of a character you choose to either defend or prosecute.  The big question: should that character be held accountable for the death of Lennie?


Homework

Blog: 3+ Posts
Req'd Creative Post:
Get suited up.  Using a tool such a Polyvore.com or Pinterest or even just by finding images from various sources, design your "lawyer" wardrobe for yourself.  What would you wear in the trial of the death of Lennie and why?

Also, what would the person on trial wear?  Post images and explain your thinking there.

The idea is to consider the types of appeal (ethos, pathos, logos) and how what we wear can influence how audiences think.  Also, consider, what makes this extra challenging for people from poverty to tell their stories and be heard?

Closing Argument:
Write the closing argument in the death of Lennie
Due: TBA (after Thanksgiving)

Roots 5 Quiz & Word Maps
Due: Thursday!!!!!

AP Lit 2B/3B: Hamlet 1.2 and Synthesis #2 Workshopping

How to Read Lit Like a Prof

We will start with a quick How to Read Lit Like a Professor warm up to help us with our workshop.

1. Get a stack of index cards from the white design tools cabinet.  
2. Everyone gets two blank cards.
3. Find two sentences from the chapters that seem to be of particular value or resonance for you.
4. Put the sentences on the cards (one sentence for each). 
5. Next . . . put the cards together as a deck and shuffle them.
6. As a class draw a single card. 
7. Imagine that sentence is the thesis statement for a synthesis essay.  
8. Work as a class to brainstorm the evidence that could prove that thesis. Fast.  Super fast.  Quick on our feet thinking.

Workshop

We will also take time to review our effective feedback criteria using a Quizlet collection of our feedback from the book projects.

We will use this to calibrate ourselves before looking at one or two class papers and provide some effective feedback through Google docs.

Hamlet

We will read 1.2 aloud and learn more of this castle and it's goings on.

Homework

Blog: 3+ Posts
Req'd Creative Post:
Allusion-Palooza. Shakespeare's work can be incredibly dense, in part because it is built upon most every idea that came before it.  Historical, Biblical, and mythological references abound.  Now it's your turn. Craft a monologue or soliloquy (take the time to research the distinction) of around 20 lines or so in which the character expresses an inability to take action or a lack of confidence in decision making.

Pack it full with as many allusions as possible -- they may be classical or modern -- the intention here is to explore how allusion can inform a text and tune your thinking to Shakespeare's strategy.

Due: Friday, November 21

Read: Hamlet, 1.3 (Click for Folger edition online; download PDF from them for handwritten markups)
Due: Thursday, Nov 21

Next Draft: Synthesis #2

Source material is anything you've read for class by assignment or choice
2nd Workshop Draft Due: Thursday., November 21st
Submission Draft Due: Tuesday, November 26th