This is the homestretch! Time to finish up those essays and turn them in! I am available all week if you need some extra help.
For our last class, we will turn in our final essays and discuss what we've learned this year--you can give me feedback on how I can improve! Plus, we will have pizza and Dr. Hazell will come in and play guitar for us. Those of you thinking of college, prepare a couple questions for him. This will be Dr. Hazell's first experience in a homeschool classroom, so let's help him to feel welcome. You are all very bright and articulate. I think he will be impressed!
Great work this year!
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Thursday, May 4, 2017
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Class,
Last week we started analyzing Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and I think we can all agree that this text, while it certainly falls into the criteria of science fiction, could also easily be placed into philosophy. There are some very controversial statements made. We have spent the good part of the year learning to analyze the rhetoric and arguments of those around us so that we can respond. Our author certainly has some arguments. We noted he makes disparaging comments about religion, capitalism, eating meat, and even has a hopeless view of the human race. However, this text is written in a very humorous tone. What does such a tone do for these controversial topics? Does humor cause one to dismiss the weight of the argument? Should it? Not all of our attacks will come wrapped up in anger or a polished debate. Often humor is a great tool to both criticize and disarm. Why do you think that is?
I asked you to look very closely at the comments he is making for this week. Find an argument that is made in this week's reading. Bring it in and let's discuss it. How does this make you feel? What is your response? Is there validity to the argument? Is it logical? Emotional? Is there any credibility? Rhetoric makes great politicians and lawyers, but remember--it is everywhere. We are given messages through art, news, advertisements, and music just as much as the political debates. We must become absolutely aware of them, how they are effective, and how we should respond. Our first step is to dismantle the tools they are using, the implications of what is being said, and whether their argument is sound.
I know this last section is fairly controversial. Some of these debates are heavy. They ask us to defend our faith, our government, our art, and our way of life. Good writing responds to arguments with clarity, thoughtfulness, evidence, logic and ( I hope I've stressed this enough) kindness.
Last week we started analyzing Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and I think we can all agree that this text, while it certainly falls into the criteria of science fiction, could also easily be placed into philosophy. There are some very controversial statements made. We have spent the good part of the year learning to analyze the rhetoric and arguments of those around us so that we can respond. Our author certainly has some arguments. We noted he makes disparaging comments about religion, capitalism, eating meat, and even has a hopeless view of the human race. However, this text is written in a very humorous tone. What does such a tone do for these controversial topics? Does humor cause one to dismiss the weight of the argument? Should it? Not all of our attacks will come wrapped up in anger or a polished debate. Often humor is a great tool to both criticize and disarm. Why do you think that is?
I asked you to look very closely at the comments he is making for this week. Find an argument that is made in this week's reading. Bring it in and let's discuss it. How does this make you feel? What is your response? Is there validity to the argument? Is it logical? Emotional? Is there any credibility? Rhetoric makes great politicians and lawyers, but remember--it is everywhere. We are given messages through art, news, advertisements, and music just as much as the political debates. We must become absolutely aware of them, how they are effective, and how we should respond. Our first step is to dismantle the tools they are using, the implications of what is being said, and whether their argument is sound.
I know this last section is fairly controversial. Some of these debates are heavy. They ask us to defend our faith, our government, our art, and our way of life. Good writing responds to arguments with clarity, thoughtfulness, evidence, logic and ( I hope I've stressed this enough) kindness.
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