Staking Your Claim

Aim: How do we establish a sophisticated, precise, and convincing claim?

Quick Write: We have been studying social psychology and the influence groups have on individual behavior this semester. State one really strong opinion you have personally formed about group behavior and explain why you believe this.

Yesterday, we reviewed the assignment, guidelines and rubric for the argument essay challenge. Did the assignment overwhelm you? It shouldn't. Convincing people of your position on an issue is something you do every day. In this sense, life is one long argument essay.

Click here for a short video on writing an argumentative essay.

Writing an argument essay is a process, and you are at the beginning. This is an exercise in stretching yourself to complete a challenging task. There will be  mistakes and obstacles to overcome along the way. It's all part of the learning process. As long as you keep trying, you cannot possibly fail. That is my unconditional guarantee. 

Step 1: To review, an argument is a reasoned, logical way of

demonstrating that a writer's position, belief or conclusion is valid. In ELA, students make claims about the worth or meaning of a literary work, defending their interpretation/opinion with evidence from the text. The same holds true for non-fiction works except that students defend their positions with facts, studies, and other information from the text.

A CLAIM is an argument or opinion that is powerful, unique, and can be supported by evidence. This is another word for "thesis" or "controlling idea."

A COUNTERCLAIM is any opposing idea. (The prefix "counter" means against.) Just as the best athletes anticipate what their opposing teams will do (the best defense is a good offense), good debaters anticipate what the opposing side will say and disprove their counterclaims before they even get a chance to make them. This is why we say it is important to dismiss, disprove or rebut the counterclaim.

Step 2: Review your quick write for today and the suggested topics. Decide what your claim will be. Write your claim at the top of this double-entry journal (Click Here!!!!!!) 

Step 3: Use the double-entry journal to take notes as you review the experiments, studies, articles and videos that relate to your topic. As you review, take notes on evidence supporting your claim and your analysis as to why this evidence matters (the "So What?" factor). If you haven't yet identified your topic, then you might want to use the Claims and Counterclaims GO that we used for the crowdsourcing lesson to take notes as you review the course material. You can find an electronic copy of the GO under "Resources" on this page. Hard copies also are available in the classroom. 

Step 3: For your final reflection, explain why your claim (topic) matters. Why do you believe it is important to argue this topic? Post your refection on your blog along with your quick write for today. Don't forget to give your readers some context for your writing.

Discussion Question!!!
What was the most interesting question or comment you heard today in class and why? Put your thoughts on the comment board below and earn one extra Accountable Talk II point for the day.

Discussion Question!!!!
What was the most interesting question or comment you heard today in class? Put your thoughts on the comment section below and earn one extra credit Accountable Talk II point.

What's Due

• PowerPoint on the human behavior experiments
• Daily classwork/blog posts
• Independent reading book

***Don't forget to complete and turn in your "Six Elements of Engagement Daily Self-Tracker" before leaving class.

****Always check Engrade for your up-to-the-minute progress in this class.****

If you read this far, see me privately for the keen observer award.

Argument Essay Challenge

Aim: How do we establish a claim (strong opinion) about conformity, obedience, crowd manipulation or crowdsourcing?

Quick Write: Select one of the five prompts below. Answer the question as best you can at this point in time.

• Is crowd manipulation a worthwhile endeavor? (Why or why not?)
• Is following orders a sign of weakness in character? (Why or why not?)
• Does the Bystander Effect prove that we are all mostly weak-willed and dumb? (Why or why not?)
• Is it wrong to manipulate a crowd for your own interests? (Why or why not?)
• Is conformity a building block of society? (Why or why not?)

Congratulations, Critical Thinkers! You are ready to take on the first essay challenge in this course. Your challenge for this unit on the power of the crowd will be to write an argument essay. Choose an issue or controversy related to conformity, obedience, crowd manipulation or crowdsourcing. Take a strong position on this issue and support it with facts and evidence from the articles, videos, and discussions we have had in class related to these topics. You may also use facts and evidence you gather from outside resources as long as the material relates to conformity, obedience or the power of the crowd.

Those prompts you just reviewed for your quick write? They are among the topics you may choose for your essay. Just remember that a claim is an argument that is p o w e r f u l, unique, and can be supported by evidence. Take a stand! Don't sit on the fence!
Here are the suggested topics once again:

• Is crowd manipulation a worthwhile endeavor? (Why or why not?)
• Is following orders a sign of weakness in character? (Why or why not?)
• Does the Bystander Effect prove that we are all mostly weak-willed and dumb? (Why or why not?)
• Is it wrong to manipulate a crowd for your own interests? (Why or why not?)
• Is conformity a building block of society? (Why or why not?)

Or, run your own topic/claim by me. 

Here are some critical questions you should think about as you plan your essay:

• How do conformity, obedience and crowd manipulation work for the common good?
• In what ways are groups a good or bad influence on individual behavior?
• Why are people so influenced by groups?
• What does this say about human nature?

Argument Essay Guidelines

Write a 750-word essay in which you:

• Establish a sophisticated, precise and convincing claim, maintaining the focus across the essay. Explain what's at stake. Why is the topic important? 
• Defend your position with a range of different types of  evidence, facts, and information from the articles and videos  we watched and discussed in class.
• Include any other research that you may have conducted independently.
• ADDRESS AND RESPOND TO COUNTERCLAIMS TO YOUR POSITION.
• Draw your own conclusions.

Start with an outline. You may choose to use this graphic organizer to outline your essay.

Here is the rubric by which it will be graded.

*Here's the twist: You may write your essay as a group. Think of all the positive and negative influences groups have on individual behavior. Ironic assignment, isn't it?

**Set up a conference with me if you want to modify (change) the question and/or work independently.**

Discussion Question!!!!
What was the most interesting question or comment you heard today in class? Put your thoughts on the comment section below and earn one extra credit Accountable Talk II point.

What's Due

• PowerPoint on the human behavior experiments
• Daily classwork/blog posts
• Independent reading book

***Don't forget to complete and turn in your "Six Elements of Engagement Daily Self-Tracker" before leaving class.

****Always check Engrade for your up-to-the-minute progress in this class.****

Wikipedia and Crowdsourcing

Aim: How does Wikipedia make use of a crowd--for good or for bad?  

Quick Write: Why did people get brainwashed so easily by Hitler? 

Today we will explore the idea of crowdsourcing. In groups, you will read and analyze a Wikipedia article on crowd manipulation, annotating its claims and deciding if they are reliable or not.

Wikipedia article about crowd manipulation.

Before beginning, it's important to understand two important terms:

A CLAIM is an argument or opinion that is powerful, unique, and can be supported by evidence. This is another word for "thesis" or "controlling idea."

A COUNTERCLAIM is any opposing idea. (The prefix "counter" means against.) Just as the best athletes anticipate what their opposing teams will do (the best defense is a good offense), good debaters anticipate what the opposing side will say and disprove their counterclaims before they even get a chance to make them. This is why we say it is important to dismiss, disprove or rebut the counterclaim.

Step 1: Working with a partner, use the Claims and Counterclaims graphic organizer (available under "Resources" on this blog or in the classroom) to identify claims made by the article. After identifying a claim, find the evidence (studies and facts) that support this claim. Note: In many if not most cases, you will have to check the footnotes for the source of the evidence.

Step 2: Write a final reflection at least one paragraph long considering these questions:

• How is Wikipedia's use of what is called "crowd sourcing" similar to conformity, the Bystander Effect, and/or crowd manipulation and how is it different?
• How is Wikipedia good and how is it bad as a reliable source of information?
• What does all this say about the benefits of relying on crowds for information?

Discussion Question!!!!
What was the most interesting question or comment you heard today in class? Put your thoughts on the comment section below and earn one extra credit Accountable Talk II point.

What's Due

• PowerPoint on the human behavior experiments
• Daily classwork/blog posts
• Independent reading book

***Don't forget to complete and turn in your "Six Elements of Engagement Daily Self-Tracker" before leaving class.

****Always check Engrade for your up-to-the-minute progress in this class.****

The Spring Break Happy Dance

Aim: How do we establish a claim (strong opinion) about conformity, obedience, and/or crowd manipulation?

Quick Write: Check out your progress on Engrade. See what work you are missing. Make a workable plan for catching up over spring break.

Remember independent reading books? Spring break is a good time to start thinking about your reading projects. Here's a list of suggestions. However, other ideas are encouraged. Just run them past me.

Now we will step back one post and introduce you to the Argument Essay Challenge. Follow all the directions carefully. Prepare yourself to jump into this project as soon as we return from break!

Last, but not least, have a joyful Spring Break!

*****Always check Engrade for your up-to-the-minute progress in this class.*****

The Power of the Crowd

Aim: How do we analyze the concept of crowd manipulation and relate it to conformity?  

Quick Write: Do you believe it is right to manipulate a crowd for your own purposes? Why or why not?

Today we will continue to explore the idea of crowd manipulation. Manipulate means to control or handle in a skillful way. For what purposes would people want to manipulate groups or crowds?

Step 1: Watch the two videos below, making note of what happens and what exactly the speakers say to convince the crowd to act and behave as they do. For each video, take notes on techniques that are used to manipulate the crowds such as music, posters, tone of speech. Listen to what each speaker specifically says to convince the crowd to follow them and their ideals. Write down something they say in the exact words. Then generate two questions you have and one reaction. There is a graphic organizer for these notes available in the classroom or by clicking here.

The two videos are below.

Hitler's speech to German youth.

I Have a Dream speech

Final Reflection: Write a reflection on one of the critical questions below. Submit your notes on the videos along with the reflection or post your work on your blog.

Critical Questions

• Why would politicians, advertisers, celebrities, or community leaders want to "work" a crowd?
• How are crowds manipulated for the common good?
• How are crowds manipulated for bad purposes?
• How do we analyze the ethics (right and wrong) of crowd manipulation?
• How can we prevent ourselves from being manipulated by crowds? Should we?

Discussion Question!!!!
What was the most interesting question or comment you heard today in class? Put your thoughts on the comment section below and earn one extra credit Accountable Talk II point.

What's Due

• PowerPoint on the human behavior experiments
• 1st MP Journal or blog
• Daily classwork
• Independent reading book

***Don't forget to complete and turn in your "Six Elements of Engagement Daily Self-Tracker" before leaving class.

****Always check Engrade for your up-to-the-minute progress in this class.****

Conformity in Music

Aim: How do we analyze how the theme of conformity is developed in music?

Quick Write: (Day 1) Hip-hop is often seen as art form that is both conformist and non-conformist. What do you think? How might hip-hop be an act of conformity? How might hip-hop speak to non-conformity? (Day 2) What is your favorite type of music? Explain how music speaks to you as an individual and also how it speaks to you as a conformist?

Conformity and non-conformity are on view anywhere there is a group of people. We see it at home, school, neighborhood, fashion, music, politics. For this lesson, we are going to view and listen to Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)” and Kanye West’s “All Falls Down,” read the lyrics, and consider what each respective musical artist has to say about conformity.

Step 1: View the video and read the lyrics to Pink Floyd's “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2).”
Click here to view "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)"
We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it’s just another brick in the wall.
All in all you’re just another brick in the wall.

We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it’s just another brick in the wall.
All in all you’re just another brick in the wall.

“Wrong, Do it again!”
“If you don’t eat yer meat, you can’t have any pudding. How can you have any pudding if you don’t eat yer meat?”
“You! Yes, you behind the bikesheds, stand still laddy!”

Step 2: Answer the following questions on your blog:

• According to the song, what is the function of schools? What are schools compared to?
• What is the significance of the students’ deformed and indistinguishable faces?
• What is meant by the title, “Another Brick in the Wall”? How does this relate to conformity?
• What is the overall message in the song?
• How might the students singing in chorus be construed as ironic?

Step 3: View the video and read the lyrics to Kanye West's (feat. Syleena Johnson “All Falls Down.”
Click here to watch "All Falls Down."
Oh when it all, it all falls down
I’m telling you oh, it all falls down
Oh when it all, it all falls down
I’m telling you oh, it all falls down

Man I promise, she’s so self conscious
She has no idea what she’s doing in college
That major that she majored in don’t make no money
But she won’t drop out, her parents will look at her funny
Now, tell me that ain’t insecure
The concept of school seems so secure
Sophomore three years ain’t picked a career
She like **** it, I’ll just stay down here and do hair
Cause that’s enough money to buy her a few pairs of new Airs
Cause her baby daddy don’t really care
She’s so precious with the peer pressure
Couldn’t afford a car so she named her daughter Alexus [a Lexus]
She had hair so long that it looked like weave
Then she cut it all off now she look like Eve
And she be dealing with some issues that you can’t believe
Single black female addicted to retail and well

[Chorus]

Man I promise, I’m so self conscious
That’s why you always see me with at least one of my watches
Rollies and Pasha’s done drove me crazy
I can’t even pronounce nothing, pass that Versace! 

Then I spent 400 bucks on this
Just to be like ***** you ain’t up on this!
And I can’t even go to the grocery store
Without some ones that’s clean and a shirt with a team
It seems we living the American dream
But the people highest up got the lowest self esteem
The prettiest people do the ugliest things
For the road to riches and diamond rings
We shine because they hate us, floss cause they degrade us
We trying to buy back our 40 acres
And for that paper, look how low we a’stoop
Even if you in a Benz, you still a ***** in a coop/coupe

[Chorus]

I say **** the police, that’s how I treat em
We buy our way out of jail, but we can’t buy freedom
We’ll buy a lot of clothes when we don’t really need em
Things we buy to cover up what’s inside
Cause they make us hate ourself and love they wealth
That’s why shortys hollering “where the ballas’ at?”
Drug dealer buy Jordans, crackhead buy crack
And a white man get paid off of all of that
But I ain’t even goin’ act holier than thou
Cause **** it, I went to Jacob with 25 thou
Before I had a house and I’d do it again
Cause I wanna be on 106 and Park pushing a Benz
I wanna act ballerific like it’s all terrific
I got a couple past due bills, I won’t get specific
I got a problem with spending before I get it
We all self conscious I’m just the first to admit it

Step 4: Answer the following questions on your blog:

• Identify at least two lines that reveal Kanye West’s awareness of his conformity.
• What does he identify as the source of his desire for material goods?
• Rita Mae Brown wrote: “The reward for conformity is that
  
  everyone likes you but yourself.” How does this quote relate to the song? Identify specific lines that show that Kanye West agrees.
• Kanye West is talking about conspicuous consumption – a term sociologists use to explain the buying of goods for displaying wealth or some kind of social status (Google it for more detail!) – in “All Falls Down.” How is conspicuous consumption similar to conformity?

***Don't forget to complete and turn in your "Six Elements of Engagement Daily Self-Tracker" before leaving class.

****Always check Engrade for your up-to-the-minute progress in this class.****

The Human Behavior Experiments Challenge

Aim: How do we demonstrate our understanding and analysis of a human behavior experiment?

Quick Write: Of the four experiments we have studied so far--Asch, Milgram, Darley and Latane, and Stanford--which resonated with you the most? Explain why.

Create a Powerpoint!
(Using Google Drive)

The final project for this marking period and our unit on human behavior experiments is to create a PowerPoint using Google Drive. Your presentation should demonstrate your analysis and interpretation of your selected experiment. It's most important to think about what the experiment you choose to analyze says about human nature.

Step 1: Choose one of the following topics:

• The Milgram Experiment
• The Stanford Prison Experiment
• The Asch Experiment
• The Darley and Latane experiments

Step 2: Review the experiment that you’ve chosen. Do further research online and find at least two additional text sources. As you’re reading, you are trying to learn more about your particular topic and how it relates to conformity or obedience. You may want to copy and paste (into a Google document) certain sections as you go, or if you prefer, you may choose to print out your sources and highlight/annotate important sections.

Step 3: Using your resources, create a presentation using Google Drive (about 7-10 slides) that can be used to teach your readers about your topic. If you are using information from a website or any source, make sure to put the link or source information at the bottom of each slide. Make sure to include visuals too.

Follow this general outline (it doesn’t have to follow exactly):

• Slide 1: Title and Author
• Slide 2-5: Background--What event(s) prompted the experiment? What problem or question was the researcher trying to solve or answer? What was the hypothesis driving the research?
• Slide 6: How does this relate to conformity or obedience?
• Slide 7: What were the findings? What can be concluded?
• Slide 8: How does this connect to other ideas or events you’ve studied, researched or observed?
• Slide 9-10: What does this say about humanity?

Step 4: Ask a partner to review and proofread your presentation. Share the link on your blog and email it to msbecker4@gmail.com Congratulations! You are done. We will present our work next week.

The PowerPoint will be graded using the rubric you see by clicking here. It is classified as a project and will be worth 100 points. As a result, it will represent one-third of your grade for the 1st marking period. It is due Friday, March 20.

***Don't forget to complete and turn in your "Six Elements of Engagement Daily Self-Tracker" before leaving class.

****Always check Engrade for your up-to-the-minute progress in this class.****