Week 14: Social Class in America

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.

—Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own (1929)

Tu 11.23
Read: ALL—p. 250-329; eR—“Scenes from a Recession” from This American Life (2009)
In-Class: Watch—People Like Us: Social Class in America (2001); Preview—Persuasive essay
Due: Journal 7

Th 11.25
No class—Thanksgiving 

UPCOMING:
 

WEEK 15: PASTIMES IN AMERICA 

Tu 11.30
Read: CR—“Erotica and Pornography” by Gloria Steinem, “Against Exercise” by Mark Grief, “Indelible Love: My Son's Tattoos and Me” by Lois Desocio, Prologue from Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream by H.G. Bissinger; eR—“Scenes from a Mall” from This American Life (2008)
In-Class: Watch—A Fistful of Quarters: The King of Kong (2007); Preview—Process essay

Th 12.2
Read: CR— Excerpt from Joe DiMaggio: The Hero’s Life by Richard Ben Cramer, “On Anticipation” by Alain de Botton, “Why We Crave Horror Movies” by Stephen King
In-Class: Reading discussion; Final exam prep

Sa 12.4
Final exam: BBC 220 @ 8 AM (Bring a large yellow book)

Class Canceled AGAIN: Thursday, Nov. 18th.

I'm really sorry, but I'm still down for the count with this cold, so I'll have to cancel yet again. I truly hate to miss so much class, but we can still get done what needs to get done.

So...

1. Email me your final drafts by this Friday at midnight. I know ALL of you are done with the essay now, but just in case, this'll give you more time to work on them. ;) Also, I'll try something different and give you comments by email.

2. If you signed up for tomorrow for presentations, pick another date even if all the slots are taken. Sorry about this!

Email me with any other questions.

Have a good week. Stay healthy! See you on Tuesday.

Week 13: Social Class in America

People say that money is not the key to happiness,

but I always figured if you have enough money, you 

can have a key made.

—Joan Rivers

Tu 11.16
Class canceled

Th 11.18
Read: CR—“Bienvenidos a Newport Beach” by Firoozeh Dumas, “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, “Transients in Paradise” by Aimee Liu; ALL—p. 127-191; “For Richer” by Paul Krugman, “Growing Up Rich: How It Shapes Identity”; ALL—p. 192-249
In-class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Preview—Extra-credit essay
Due: Editorial essay (Final draft; Attach draft 1) 

***

If, for whatever reason, you have not yet presented, pick a date and leave your name, topic, and section number in the comments section below. 

First come, first served. All names must be in by midnight on Wednesday the 17th.

Remaining Presentation Schedule


Th 11.18
1.
2.
3.

Tu 11.23
1.
2.
3.

Tu 11.30
1.
2.
3.

Th 12.2
1.
2.

Th 12.9
1.
2.
3.

Class Canceled: Tuesday, November 16

I need to cancel class for tomorrow. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Two quick points:

1) Turn your editorials in on Thursday as planned, though you must still attach a first and final draft.

2) later tonight, I'll post an agenda for Thursday and next week. I'll also include a calender of the remaining sessions open for presentations, if you have not yet presented (for whatever reason), pick a date and leave your name, topic, and section number in the comments section. First come, first served.

Editorial Essay

Dating in America today would likely best be described as casual. Gone are the days of chaperones, courting, and waiting for sex until marriage. Today, Americans compete for mates in a dating scene that is largely ambiguous. In a world of He's Just Not That Into You and speed dating, a sense of informality often guides people's behavior. On the one hand, Americans can now navigate dating waters free of stiff formalities and an early expectation of commitment. On the other hand, a dating scene with no rules can be confusing and might cheapen the experience of finding a mate. What is your take on contemporary American dating? Should the country return to more formal dating practices or should we relish the idea of no-strings-attached relationships? Citing from the readings in the relationship section of the reader, write a concise editorial describing your ideal dating scene and what we, as Americans, would gain from it.


To guide your writing:

• Keep in mind, that an editorial is a form of persuasive writing; your goal is to persuade your reader of your opinion.
• Your editorial's "voice" can be more casual than a formal essay, but it shouldn't be so casual that it undermines your argument.
• Be very clear on your position; just like an expository essay, state your position early, then cite evidence to support it. Also, stating personal opinions in editorials is appropriate.
• Use any persuasive techniques you think will be affective, including the use of statistics and humor.

Sample editorials:

• "Video Games and the First Amendment" (New York Times)
• "No More Excuses—It's Time to OK Civil Union" (Chicago Sun-Times) 
• "Pssst, Smoking Can Kill You" (Denver Post) 
• "Cookie Charge Half-Baked" (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Requirements:

• MLA format, including parenthetical citation 
• 2.5 pages minimum

Due: Tuesday, November16th (Draft 1; Bring three copies)

Sikh Americans Oppose Turban Screening at Airports

From the CNN Wire
November 8, 2010

(CNN) -- Three of the largest Sikh advocacy groups in the United States are opposing airport passenger screening measures they say require hand-searches of turbans, despite the use of electronic imaging technology.

The Sikh Coalition, United Sikhs and the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund are lobbying members of Congress in an effort to pressure federal transportation authorities to re-examine a policy they say unfairly scrutinizes members of the Sikh community.

"Sikh Americans are already looked at differently in this country," said the Sikh Coalition's director of programs, Amardeep Singh. "Once you start pulling Sikhs aside for extra screening, it sends a message that the government is suspicious of them for the same reasons [other passengers] are suspicious of them."

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration adjusted security procedures in 2007 to include provisions for "bulky" clothing that includes headwear, according to an agency statement.

Removal of all headwear is recommended, it said, but the rules are meant to accommodate passengers who may not want to remove the items for religious, medical, or other reasons.

Transportation officials would not confirm whether "advanced imaging technology" can sufficiently see through turbans, citing security reasons.

Despite the advent of the advanced technology, transportation security officers are permitted to use "professional discretion" in determining if a particular item of clothing should be subject to further screening, according to the statement.

Authorities say the policy has remained unchanged since 2007, but Sikh advocacy groups argue that airport security procedures were recently ramped up to include extra screening for all turban-wearing passengers.
Singh said U.S. Sikh groups that had once observed "a patchwork of [airport security] policies" are now witnessing a process in which "all turbans are searched."

CNN was not able to independently verify that claim.

Week 12: Relationships in America

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She might've considered kissing him, even after the horrible first
date, but he just didn't seem to know what to do. However, Jeremy
does have one outstanding quality. He likes her. And this quality in
a person makes them infinitely interesting to the person being liked.

—Steve Martin, Shopgirl (2000)

 

Tu 11.9

Read: CR—“Why I Fought for the Right to Say ‘I Do’” by Greta Christina, “Old Faithful” by David Sedaris; ALL—p. 69-126; eR—“Break-Up” from This American Life (2007)
In-Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: Journal 6

Thu 11.11
No class—Veteran’s Day 

UPCOMING:

WEEK 13: SOCIAL CLASS IN AMERICA 

Tu 11.16
Read: CR—“Bienvenidos a Newport Beach” by Firoozeh Dumas, “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, “Transients in Paradise” by Aimee Liu; ALL—p. 127-191
In-class: Reading discussion; Writer’s workshop
Due: Editorial essay (Draft 1; Bring 4 copies)

Th 11.18
Read: CR—“For Richer” by Paul Krugman, “Growing Up Rich: How It Shapes Identity”; ALL—p. 192-249
In-class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Preview—Extra-credit essay
Due: Editorial essay (Final draft; Attach draft 1)