Call me over if you have questions about how to complete any of these steps.
1) Post a repsonse to the question about Our Brand is Crisis and "Latin America in Revolt" outlined write below this post.
2) Print out a copy of your revision in its most updated form. Circle your thesis.
3) Exchange your draft with a classmate. Write your name on your classmate's draft next to the word: "reader."
4) As the reader, go through the essay line by line. Check off each sentence that makes sense. For each sentence that doesn't, give one of the following comments:
- How do you know?
- Says who?
- So what?
- Just plain 'huh'?
If you wish you may also help your classmate by circling grammatical errors or typos but don't correct them.
5) Take your draft back and begin to work through the comments, making adjustments to your essay.
Bring the results of this update to class on Monday, along with the original essay. Be prepared to discuss how you corrected the things your classmates found. Hang onto your classmates' corrected version: you'll turn it in along with the orginal graded version and the final one.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
"Our Brand is Crisis"
Following up on our discussion of yesterday's film and Engler's chapter on Latin America, respond to the following question:
At the end of the film, one of the U.S. political consultants says that leaders like Evo Morales represent a "dangerous form of populism." In the chapter "Latin America in Revolt," from How to Rule the World, Mark Engler describes how Morales and other new leaders in Latin America have been accused of "anti-Americanism," "populism" (260) and "demagoguery" (281). What do these accusations mean? What specific policies are these charges based on? Based on Engler's chapters, do you think these fears are justified? What specific policies has Morales implemented and how do they relate to these fears?
At the end of the film, one of the U.S. political consultants says that leaders like Evo Morales represent a "dangerous form of populism." In the chapter "Latin America in Revolt," from How to Rule the World, Mark Engler describes how Morales and other new leaders in Latin America have been accused of "anti-Americanism," "populism" (260) and "demagoguery" (281). What do these accusations mean? What specific policies are these charges based on? Based on Engler's chapters, do you think these fears are justified? What specific policies has Morales implemented and how do they relate to these fears?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
In-Class work for 10/22
1) If you haven't posted on the Colbert video or Engler on Klein, do so. Some questions to think about : what is ideological part of Klein's argument, beyond the idea of corruption? In what ways does Klein want the government to do MORE?
2) Read through some recent blog posts of your colleagues and leave a comment. Be sure your blog is set up for people to leave comments.
3) Select a paragraph in the essay you're revising. and go through it with the guidelines we used in class yesterday: Says who? How do you know? So what? Rewrite the paragraph so it meets these guidelines, like we did with the sample paragraph in class on Wednesday.
Post this corrected paragraph on your blog as "Revised Paragraph"
4) Begin step 4 (brainstorming) on your revision handout. Post this on your blog as "revision brainstorm."
Look for my comments as you begin work on your revision.
2) Read through some recent blog posts of your colleagues and leave a comment. Be sure your blog is set up for people to leave comments.
3) Select a paragraph in the essay you're revising. and go through it with the guidelines we used in class yesterday: Says who? How do you know? So what? Rewrite the paragraph so it meets these guidelines, like we did with the sample paragraph in class on Wednesday.
Post this corrected paragraph on your blog as "Revised Paragraph"
4) Begin step 4 (brainstorming) on your revision handout. Post this on your blog as "revision brainstorm."
Look for my comments as you begin work on your revision.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Thursday; Monday
Thursday we'll be in C126 - our Thursday room for the rest of the semester. Thanks for your patience with this situation.
For Monday, October 19th, post on one of the topics below on your blog. Also take a look at some of your colleagues and leave them a comment as well. If you blog isn't appearing along the side, be sure to check with me.
On Monday, we'll also start talking about your research projects and have a library visit. You might want to start thinking about a country whose relationship to the U.S. you want to examine in more detail.
If you want to get a head start on the next reading, it will be the next chapter from How to Rule the World in your packet, "Latin America in Revolt."
For Monday, October 19th, post on one of the topics below on your blog. Also take a look at some of your colleagues and leave them a comment as well. If you blog isn't appearing along the side, be sure to check with me.
On Monday, we'll also start talking about your research projects and have a library visit. You might want to start thinking about a country whose relationship to the U.S. you want to examine in more detail.
If you want to get a head start on the next reading, it will be the next chapter from How to Rule the World in your packet, "Latin America in Revolt."
Engler on Klein
In his review of The Shock Doctrine, Mark Engler writes,
Iraq has been subjected to every shock imaginable. But rather than producing a state of regression and acquiescence, the onslaught has provoked intense resistance. As deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage is quoted as saying, “The U.S. is dealing with an Iraqi population that is un-shocked and un-awed.” Beyond the ethical and political implications of the botched occupation, it is just plain bad capitalism: “Bremer was sent to Iraq to build a corporate utopia,” Klein writes; “instead, Iraq became a ghoulish dystopia where going to a simple business meeting could get you lynched, burned alive or beheaded.” The author is ambivalent about the lessons. On the one hand, the corporate contractors who fled Iraq en masse had already reaped billions from government contracts, and energy companies still have their eye on Iraq’s oil. On the other hand, the crisis model has been foiled in important ways.
What do you think Engler is saying about the limits of Klein's argument? What does this tell us about the state of American power in the world today?
Iraq has been subjected to every shock imaginable. But rather than producing a state of regression and acquiescence, the onslaught has provoked intense resistance. As deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage is quoted as saying, “The U.S. is dealing with an Iraqi population that is un-shocked and un-awed.” Beyond the ethical and political implications of the botched occupation, it is just plain bad capitalism: “Bremer was sent to Iraq to build a corporate utopia,” Klein writes; “instead, Iraq became a ghoulish dystopia where going to a simple business meeting could get you lynched, burned alive or beheaded.” The author is ambivalent about the lessons. On the one hand, the corporate contractors who fled Iraq en masse had already reaped billions from government contracts, and energy companies still have their eye on Iraq’s oil. On the other hand, the crisis model has been foiled in important ways.
What do you think Engler is saying about the limits of Klein's argument? What does this tell us about the state of American power in the world today?
Friday, October 9, 2009
Video of Naomi Klein on the Colbert Report
In this video, Stephan Colbert pretends to defend making money off disasters. Despite his jokes, Klein gets her argument across. Notice the connection she makes to Hurricane Katrina. How do you think this argument relates to our overall course theme of America's place in the world?
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Group Work - In your group, answer your question as specifically as possible. Take notes in the comments or in your notes to bring back to the class. For the first ten minutes, use Klein's chapter (or other readings as appropriate). For the second ten minutes, you may also turn to internet research tools.
GROUP ONE: What does Klein's title (The Shock Doctrine) refer to? What might be some examples of these "Shocks"?
GROUP TWO: Who was Milton Friedman? How does he relate to Klein's argument?
GROUP THREE: What is the "disaster capitalism complex"? How does it impact the relationship between government and corporations? Why does Klein think that it's a problem?
GROUP FOUR: What evidence from other cluster texts might support Klein's argument? Other examples you can think of? Might other examples point to a problem with her argument?
GROUP ONE: What does Klein's title (The Shock Doctrine) refer to? What might be some examples of these "Shocks"?
GROUP TWO: Who was Milton Friedman? How does he relate to Klein's argument?
GROUP THREE: What is the "disaster capitalism complex"? How does it impact the relationship between government and corporations? Why does Klein think that it's a problem?
GROUP FOUR: What evidence from other cluster texts might support Klein's argument? Other examples you can think of? Might other examples point to a problem with her argument?
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Thursday's Class!!!
Hi to all -
Tommorow, Thursday, we'll meet again in C126. I've been told the computers have been fixed - either way we'll work around it by working together and doing a mix of writing discussion. I'll update you on our future classroom as I know.
Please text your colleagues to let them know when you see this.
Thanks!
Tommorow, Thursday, we'll meet again in C126. I've been told the computers have been fixed - either way we'll work around it by working together and doing a mix of writing discussion. I'll update you on our future classroom as I know.
Please text your colleagues to let them know when you see this.
Thanks!
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