M.F.K. Fisher, “Young Hunger” NR206; Chang-Rae Lee, “Coming Home Again” NR 3. Think about how Fisher and Lee make us care about both them and the food they describe. Following their example, write a one-page paper (no more) describing a dish that matters a lot to you. (This might be the dish you focus on, but it’s o.k. if you change your mind along the way.) Your description should include both information on how to make the dish and why it’s important to you (perhaps its importance is cultural, personal, or perhaps it has some other significance: part of the choice and challenge of this paper is figuring out how to make that cultural significance relevant to us.)
Malcolm Gladwell, “Java Man” NR 248; Charles Lamb, “A Dissertation upon Roast Pig” NR 266. Write a paragraph about the main claim of each essay. (That is, this exercise consists of two {2} separate paragraphs.) Your paragraph should identify that claim and the main evidence each author uses to support that claim; then, you must assess the strengths and weaknesses of the claim (maybe its powerful or weak evidence, maybe persuasive or faulty reasoning, etc.). Please post your responses by Saturday, 9/27 at noon. Then, over the weekend, read through the threads, and comment on a few paragraphs.
The essays by Carr and Kozol each discuss a larger force that has an effect on our educations. Read both and then, for one of the two essays, post a thoughtful paragraph in which you discuss, analyze, and respond to that essay.
Post your paragraph by Thursday, 9/18 at 3PM. Choose either Kingston’s or Alexie’s essay. Choose a brief passage (2 or 3 sentences) from Kingston’s OR Alexie’s essay in which the essay’s personal account connects to a larger issue of becoming literate. Write a strong paragraph in which you explain and analyze that link. Your paragraph must include the quotation, properly integrated and punctuated. It might help to think of the quotation as the “meat” of your paragraph. you are surrounding it with the bread (mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, and hot peppers) of your analysis.
Post your paragraph by Thursday, 9/11 at 3PM. After reading Douglass’ essay, compose and post a substantial question for discussion. The title of your post should reflect the topic of your question. Your question should have an interesting answer (something more than a yes or no), should draw the readers back into the essay or the issue (rather than asking for personal experiences), and should be linked to specific moment in the essay (Quote it if that helps). Your question should be 2–3 sentences long.
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