The Atomic Cafe

Starter 16:  How does Howard Zinn describe the rhetorical climate of Cold War America?  (What kind of rhetoric was shaping the public's perception of The Cold War?)

Film:  The Atomic Cafe
1.  Based on these media excerpts, describe the rhetorical climate of Post War/Cold War America?  Use specifics to support your answer.  Does the film support Zinn's analysis?

2.  How have media messages changed since the 50's?  How have they stayed the same?

Write up your answer to Question 1 and turn it in to my box.  If you don't finish, you can turn it in Monday.

Weekend Homework: Dr. Zoltan Grossman website:  Read "A Briefing on the History of US Military Interventions" by next Monday.  Look over his powerpoint.  Do some preliminary research.  Choose the three interventions that you are most interested in studying.

The Rhetoric of WWI

Starter 15:  What does patriotism mean to you?  Do you think it's important to be patriotic?  Is it patriotic or anti-American to criticize the US government during war time?

President Wilson's speeches

Key Terms

isolationism

neutrality

sedition

espionage

The Rhetoric of Protest:  Eugene V. Debs and Charles Schenck

Analyze with a partner or solo

1.       Discuss the rhetorical situation surrounding these speeches (context, exigence, audience)

2.       What is each speaker trying to convince their audience of?   Discuss the effectiveness of each’s rhetoric. 

3.       Are these speeches patriotic or unpatriotic?  Explain your answer.  

Write a paragraph that answers question three.  Turn in to my box.

WWI

Watch The Century, America's Time: Shell Shock (in three parts): 1, 2, 3

Questions for film:  

1.      1.  What is the ideological spin (bias) that the film seems to have about the war?  How does it differ from Howard Zinn’s ideological spin?  Explain your answer with specifics.

2.      2.  What do you notice about the film’s rhetoric?

3.      3.  What reasons does the film give for the United States getting involved in World War I?

Essential Questions
1.  Why do we fight?
2.  How does rhetoric shape the public perception of military conflicts?

Starter 14:  Answer one of the EQ's (to the best of your ability).

Four Corners

Dr. Zoltan Grossman website:  Read "A Briefing on the History of US Military Interventions" by next Monday.  Look over his powerpoint.  Do some preliminary research.  Choose the three interventions that you are most interested in studying.

Starter 13
In  your view, was the Spanish American War a justified military action?
Honors:  How did reading Twain and/or Roosevelt further illuminate the ideology/rhetoric of the times?

Read Around Response 

Respond in the margins and 2-5 sentences at the end.  Look at the person’s rhetoric.  Respond to their rhetoric with more rhetoric.  Comment on the rhetoric itself.    Do not just tell them that you like it.  Tell them what and why.  Correct mistakes if you want, as this speaks to aesthetics.  

Welcome, Rachel!  LINK work time.

This week's readings:
For Wednesday:  Zinn, Chapter 14
For Friday:  Zinn, Chapter 16

For each, answer the following...
1. What does Howard Zinn claim about US involvement in the war?
2. What does he say about the public rhetoric surrounding the war?

Beveridge v Anti-Imperialists

Starter 12:  Interpret the rhetoric.  What effect does this flag have on you personally?

TURN IN STARTERS 6-12!!!


Senator Beveridge's speech and The Anti-Imperialists.  Discuss the rhetoric of each document.

1.        What kinds of noteworthy words and phrases are used?

2.       What can we infer about the ideology of the rhetor?

3.       What value system must the rhetor and the audience share for this rhetoric to be effective? (Aristotle’s enthymeme)?

4.       How does this rhetoric affect you as an unintended “actual” audience member?  Why do you think it has the effect it has?



Homework:  Writing Assignment Due Monday!

Read Clara's letter from Buddha as a model of creative rhetorical response!

The Rhetoric of Empire

The Crucible of Empire: PBS

Finish Film:  continue annotating with attention to 1) its rhetoric 2) the ideology contained in its rhetoric 3) important details about the war and the reasons for getting involved in it

Discussion:  Explore both sides of U.S. involvement in the Spanish-American War.

Essential question:  Is democracy compatible with imperialism?

Homework:  Assigned readings.  For each, annotate and answer the question:  What ideology is reflected by the rhetoric of the document?

"Senator Albert Beveridge Calls for an American Empire" (1900)
"Platform of the Anti-Imperialist League" (1899)


Honors: In addition to the other two readings, read one or both of the following, based on the angle you would like to take with your writing assignment.
Mark Twain, "To the Person Sitting in Darkness" (1901)
Theodore Roosevelt, Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine (1904)


Weekend Writing Assignment