Feel free to post a comment about Staples' essay, the phenomenon he describes, or related issues or experiences.
Here are a few possible discussion topics:
1. How relevant is Staples' essay (written and published in 1986) today? Do you think young black men have the same effect on public space in 2011 as Staples' experienced twenty-five years ago?
2. What IS Staples' attitude about this phenomenon? Is he bitter? angry? disappointed? understanding? (Give evidence). And what IS his purpose? Explore the connection between his tone and his purpose.
3. How does Staples consider and appeal to his audience? Does he avoid alienating or accusing his reader? If so, how?
4. Share your own experiences as they pertain to the essay--when you've instinctively judged someone as a threat, for example, or when you've been perceived as a threat yourself.
5. Explore the idea introduced in par. 2 and reinforced in the analogy of the hiker's cowbell: that "being perceived as a threat is a hazard in itself".
6. What, if anything, can be done to avoid or reduce these incidents? (Where do such assumptions come from? Can we ever stop making snap judgments?)
Friday, November 11, 2011
Friday, November 04, 2011
George Carlin's "Euphemisms" F BLOCK
In the excerpt that I shared with you, George Carlin traces the evolution of our description of a soldier's frayed nerves--from "shell shock" (WWI) through "battle fatigue" (WWII) and "operational exhaustion" (Korea) to "post-traumatic stress disorder" (Vietnam to the present).
If you investigate the etymology of each of those words, you'll find that both "shell" and "shock" have Germanic origins. All the rest are derived from Latin directly or via French.
In class I raised two questions:
1. What does this observation suggest about the use of Latinate diction in the English language?
2. Is there a problem with the progression of language that Carlin is describing? (He thinks there is. Do you?)
Post your comments by clicking on the link below.
If you investigate the etymology of each of those words, you'll find that both "shell" and "shock" have Germanic origins. All the rest are derived from Latin directly or via French.
In class I raised two questions:
1. What does this observation suggest about the use of Latinate diction in the English language?
2. Is there a problem with the progression of language that Carlin is describing? (He thinks there is. Do you?)
Post your comments by clicking on the link below.
Thursday, November 03, 2011
George Carlin's "Euphemisms" D BLOCK
In the excerpt that I shared with you, George Carlin traces the evolution of our description of a soldier's frayed nerves--from "shell shock" (WWI) through "battle fatigue" (WWII) and "operational exhaustion" (Korea) to "post-traumatic stress disorder" (Vietnam to the present).
If you investigate the etymology of each of those words, you'll find that both "shell" and "shock" have Germanic origins. All the rest are derived from Latin directly or via French.
Other examples: I can call myself a "teacher" (Germanic) or an "educator" (Latinate). Would you rather be buried in a "graveyard" (Germanic) or a "cemetery" (Latinate)?
See, too, the attachment I sent you: "Death is Almost Fun These Days"
In class I raised two questions:
1. What does this observation suggest about the use of Latinate diction in the English language?
2. Is there a problem with the progression of language that Carlin is describing? (He thinks there is. Do you?)
Post your comments by clicking on the link below.
If you investigate the etymology of each of those words, you'll find that both "shell" and "shock" have Germanic origins. All the rest are derived from Latin directly or via French.
Other examples: I can call myself a "teacher" (Germanic) or an "educator" (Latinate). Would you rather be buried in a "graveyard" (Germanic) or a "cemetery" (Latinate)?
See, too, the attachment I sent you: "Death is Almost Fun These Days"
In class I raised two questions:
1. What does this observation suggest about the use of Latinate diction in the English language?
2. Is there a problem with the progression of language that Carlin is describing? (He thinks there is. Do you?)
Post your comments by clicking on the link below.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Langston Hughes' "Salvation"
Hi everyone.
Here's a test run of an online discussion. Click on the link below to read existing comments and to post your own.
For now, feel free to share your thoughts about "Salvation" and the ideas that emerged in our discussion. Here are a few prompts: How might a reader's own experiences with his or her family's religion compare to Hughes'? What are/were your own experiences? Is Hughes' making a comment about conformity through the metaphor of lambs and sheep? Is he making a larger point about religion? (Did the "hardened [adult] sinners" mentioned earlier in the story "come to Jesus" for the right reasons?)
A few tips:
This is an online DISCUSSION, so read all previous comments and refer to at least ONE of these when you post (unless, of course, you are first to post).
Keep your response brief (about 150-200 words) so that others will read your post. Get right to your point and avoid wordiness.
Finally, don't leave your FULL NAME. First names--or identifiable nicknames--only.
Here's a test run of an online discussion. Click on the link below to read existing comments and to post your own.
For now, feel free to share your thoughts about "Salvation" and the ideas that emerged in our discussion. Here are a few prompts: How might a reader's own experiences with his or her family's religion compare to Hughes'? What are/were your own experiences? Is Hughes' making a comment about conformity through the metaphor of lambs and sheep? Is he making a larger point about religion? (Did the "hardened [adult] sinners" mentioned earlier in the story "come to Jesus" for the right reasons?)
A few tips:
This is an online DISCUSSION, so read all previous comments and refer to at least ONE of these when you post (unless, of course, you are first to post).
Keep your response brief (about 150-200 words) so that others will read your post. Get right to your point and avoid wordiness.
Finally, don't leave your FULL NAME. First names--or identifiable nicknames--only.
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