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Reading and Writing for Civic Literacy:The Critical Citizen’s Guideto Argumentative Rhetoric |
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Reading and Writing for Civic Literacy
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Table of ContentsPart
One: Introductory Preface
to Teachers Chapter
1: An Appeal to Students I.
English as a Survival Skill Politics
Is Interested in You Who
Makes the Rules? Go
to the Mall Instead? The
Role of English Studies Avoiding Political Correctness II.
Critical Education in Historical Perspective: Intellectuals as
Dissenters Topics for
Discussion and Writing Readings: Mario Savio, “An
End to History” Adolph L. Reed, Jr.
“Majoring in Debt” David Moberg,
“Students Stand Up for Workers Rights” Henry A. Giroux,
“The Abandoned Generation: Democracy Beyond the Culture of Fear” Young America’s
Foundation, “About YAFoundation” Topics for
Discussion and Writing
III. A Preview Case:
September 11, 2001 Readings: David Gates, “The
Voices of Dissent” Susan Sontag,
“Thoughts on September 11” William J. Bennett,
“Faced With Evil on a Grand Scale, Nothing Is Relative” Topics for
Discussion and Writing
Chapter 2: What Is
an Argument? What Is a Good
Argument? What Is an Argument? What Is a Good
Argument? Reading: Michael
Kinsley, “The Intellectual Free Lunch” Analysis, Synthesis,
and Judgments Style and Tone.
Eloquence and Moral Force Conclusion Rhetoric: A
Checklist for Analyzing Your Own and Others’ Arguments Topics for
Discussion and Writing “A
Historical-Causal Analysis of ‘The White Problem’” Chapter
3: Definitions and Criteria of Critical Thinking Critical
Thinking and Cultural Literacy Making Connections Dialogue in Critical
Thinking and Literature Recursiveness,
Cumulativeness, and Levels of Meaning Drawing the Line and
Establishing Proportion Topics for
Discussion and Writing Readings: Ralph Waldo Emerson,
from “The American Scholar” Topics for
Discussion and Writing Walt Whitman, “A
Noiseless Patient Spider” Topics for
Discussion and Writing Martha Nussbaum,
“Can Patriotism Be Compassionate” Topics for
Discussion and Writing Diane Ravitch,
“Multiculturalism” Topics for
Discussion and Writing
Chapter
4: Writing Argumentative Papers I.
Pre-Writing Rhetoric:
A Checklist for Analyzing Your Own and Others’ Arguments II.
Writing
Outlining
Drafting and Revising
Attributing Opinions to Sources
Continuity, Transitions, Connections
More About Introductions and Conclusions III.
Post-Writing
Proofreading and Polishing Reading
Outloud IV. Locating and
Evaluating Sources
Levels of Education of Audiences and Credibility in Sources
Political Viewpoints in Sources A Model of the
Writing Process in a Student Paper
“Make-Up Veils” by Susan Brooks
Class Discussion
Susan’s Outline for Revision
“Make-Up Veils” Revision A Guide to Peer
Editing Readings: Naomi Wolf, from The
Beauty Myth Christina Hoff
Sommers, from Who Stole Feminism? Part Two: Attaining an Open Mind: Psychological, Social and Semantic
Dimensions of Critical Thinking Chapter
5: Viewpoint, Bias, and Fairness: From Cocksure Ignorance to Thoughtful
Uncertainty Reading:
Plato, from The Apology Relativism
and Commitment Biased and Unbiased
Viewpoints:The ESBYODS Principle Acknowledge Your Own
and Opposing Viewpoints Rogerian Argument,
Believers and Doubters A Semantic
Calculator for Bias in Rhetoric Topics for
Discussion and Writing A Case Study: Anita
Hill vs. Clarence Thomas Rush
Limbaugh, “The Attempt to Destroy Clarence Thomas” June
Jordan, “Can I Get A Witness?”
Topics
for Discussion and Writing
Thomas vs. Hill: Postscript One
Thomas vs. Hill: Postscript Two David
Brock, “Strange Lies” Topics
for Discussion and Writing Chapter
6: Questioning Culturally Conditioned Assumptions and Ethnocentrism Totems and Taboos
Ethnocentrism American
Ethnocentrism Reading: Larry
Rohter, “Battle Over Patriotism Curriculum” Questioning
Capitalism Phallocentrism Other –centrisms Readings: Virginia Woolf, from
“A Room of One’s Own” Maureen Dowd,
“Rescue Me, Please” Mary Field Belenky
et al., from Women’s Ways of Knowing Richard Applebaum
and Peter Dreier, “The Campus Anti-Sweatshop Movement” David Henderson,
“In Defense of Sweatshops” Benjamin Franklin,
“Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America” Topics for
Discussion and Writing Chapter
7: Overgeneralization, Stereotyping and Prejudice Prejudice Class Prejudice Reverse Prejudice Readings: Becky
Wildman-Tobriner, “Will
Sex Stereotypes Never End?” Stephanie Salter,
“An Unexpected Education at St. Anthony’s” Donald Barlett and
James Steele, “Life on the Expense Account” James Patterson and
Peter Kim, “Beverly Hills Versus the South Bronx” Stephen Moore,
“How to Slash Corporate Welfare” Russell Mokhiber,
“Corporations: Underworld, U.S.A.” Topics for
Discussion and Writing Chapter
8: Questioning “-Centrisms,” Authoritarianism, Rationalization,
Compartmentalization Ethnocentrism Other
“-Centrisms” Authoritarianism and
Conformity Rationalization,
Compartmentalized Thinking, and Double Standards Defense Mechanisms Readings: George Orwell, from 1984 Paddy Chayevsky,
from Network Adrienne Rich, from
“An Interview With Adrienne Rich” Katha Pollitt, “On
the Merits” Jeff Jacoby, “Are
Environmentalists Responsible for the Unabomber?” Topics for
Discussion and Writing Chapter
9: Semantics in Rhetoric and Critical Thinking Definition
and Denotation in Argument Connotation
in Argument: “Cleans” and “Dirties”
Reading: GOPAC, “Language as a Key Mechanism of Control” Euphemism Abstract
and Concrete Language Unconcretized
Abstractions Literal
and Figurative Language Literal
and Figurative Language in Literature A
Semantic Analysis of Rush Limbaugh Summary:
Applying Semantic Analysis Readings: Henry
David Thoreau, from “Where I Lived, and What I Lived For”
Mary
Ann Glendon, “When Words Cheapen Life” George
Lakoff, “Framing the Issues” Thomas
Sowell, “Look Behind Statistics for Changing Definitions” Topics
for Discussion and Writing Chapter
10: Avoiding Oversimplification and Recognizing Complexity Recognizing
Complexity Reading Between the
Lines Irony Verbal Irony
Appearance versus
Reality, Words versus Deeds Extremes Meet Intention versus
Outcome Historical Irony Paradox Reading: James
Baldwin, from The Fire Next Time Topics for
Discussion and Writing
Part
Three: Elements of Argumentative Rhetoric Chapter
11: Some Key Terms in Logic and Argumentation Deductive and
Inductive Arguments Varieties of
Induction Varieties of
Deduction Topics for
Discussion and Writing Implications and
Inferences Setting the Agenda Tone and Style Polemics Ground Rules for
Polemicists Readings: Deroy Murdock,
“Vouchers, Choice: Opposing Views” Thomas Sowell,
“Chicken Little Calling Out, ‘Global Warning’” Charles Krauthammer,
“Lies, Damn Lies, and Racial Statistics” Robert Weissberg,
“White Racism: The Seductive Lure of an Unproven Theory” P. J. O’Rourke,
“Closing the Wealth Gap” Topics for
Discussion and Writings
Chapter
12: Logical and Rhetorical Fallacies Topics
for Discussion and Writing Chapter
13: Causal Analysis Common Causal
Fallacies Readings: Meredith Willson,
“Ya Got Trouble.” Jonathan Kozol,
“Other People’s Children: Lawndale and the South Side of Chicago” William J. Bennett,
“Crisis in American Education” Susan Douglas,
“Post-Feminist Swill Redux” Thomas Sowell,
“Equality: A Grand Fallacy” Topics for
Discussion and Writing
Chapter
14: Uses and Misuses of Emotional Appeal Appeals to
“Cleans” and “Dirties” Puff Pieces and
Hatchet Jobs Predictable Patterns
of Wartime Rhetoric: Appeals to Fear and Pity Readings: Holly Miller,
“Bunker Hunt’s Greatest Investment” Mark Twain, “The
War Prayer” Paul Fussell, from The
Real War 1939-1945 “War Is the
Ultimate Drug.” Interview
with Author Chris Hedges Topics for
Discussion and Writing
Part Four: Thinking Critically About the Rhetoric of
Politics and Mass Media Chapter
15: Thinking Critically About Political Rhetoric Pre-Study Exercises Political Semantics Liberalism,
Conservatism, Democrat, Republican Socialism,
Communism, Marxism The World Political
Spectrum The American
Political Spectrum A Guide to Political
Terms and Positions Notes on Guide to
Political Terms and Positions Predictable Patterns
of Political Rhetoric Political Viewpoints
in Sources Readings: California Voter
Information Booklet, “Political Party Statements of Purpose” Steve Brouwer, “If
We Decided to Tax the Rich” David Horowitz,
“The Intellectual Class War” James Pinkerton,
“Ventura: Act Got Old, but Message Remains” Lawrence Britt,
“Fascism Anyone?” Topics for
Discussion and Writing Chapter
16: Thinking Critically About Mass Media Do
the Media Give People What They Want? Reading:
Gabriela Montell, “A Professor Challenges the Press” Topics for
Discussion and Writing Are News Media
Objective? What Are Their
Biases? The Debate Over
Political Bias in Media Topics for
Discussion and Writing Conclusion Readings: Edward Herman,
“The Illiberal Media” Bernard Goldberg,
from Bias Fred Barnes, “My
Sports Right or Left” Susan Gerhard, “Outfoxed
Tweaks Rupert Murdoch’s Mayhemosphere” Topics for
Discussion and Writing Assignment for a
Paper
Part
Five: Deception Detection Chapter
17: Special Interests, Conflict of Interest, Special Pleading Readings: Allan
B. Hubbard, “‘Iron Triangle’ Would Quash Competitiveness” Henry A. Waxman,
“Quayle Group Meddles With Our Safeguards” Edward
M. Kennedy, John D. Dingell, and Henry A. Waxman, “Letter to Dr. David
Kessler” Topics for
Discussion and Writing Readings: Jim Mann,
“Corporate Funding Taints Public Debate” Bruce J. Schulman,
“The Historic Power of Special Interests” John Brain, “When
Money Talks” Mildred K Cho,
“Secrecy and Financial Conflicts in University-Industry Research Must
Get Closer Scrutiny” Jeffrey H. Birnbaum,
“Fat and Happy in D.C.” Topics for
Discussion and Writing
Chapter
18: Varieties of Propaganda Invective, Smearing,
Disinformation Lobbying and Public
Relations Government Public
Relations; The Military-Industrial Complex Readings: Aldous
Huxley, “Propaganda Under a Dictatorship” Bret
Watson, “How to Watch the Next War” Joel
Bleifuss, “Flack Attack” Sixty
Minutes, “Confessions of a Tobacco Lobbyist” Manohla
Dargiss, “Truth, Moore or Less: Fahrenheit 9/11” Topics
for Discussion and Writing Chapter
19: Advertising and Hype Are You Taken In By
Ads? Advertising Sells
More Than Products Hype Readings: Daniel J. Boorstin,
“Extravagant Expectations” Center for Science
In The Public Interest, “10 Food Secrets You Should Know” Joan Ryan,
“Children Now Facing Adult Heath Issues” Robin Andersen,
“Road to Ruin: Sport Utility Vehicles and the Greening of
Environmental Destruction” Topics for
Discussion and Writing
Part
Six: Putting It All Together in a Long Paper Chapter
20: A Case Study: Analyzing Arguments About the Rich, the Poor and the
Middle Class Dueling
Statistics Readings: Holly
Sklar, “Let Them Eat Cake” John
C. Weicher, “Wealth-Gap Claptrap” Hinteraker
and Johnson versus Barlett and Steele Reading:
John H. Hinderaker and Scott W. Johnson, “George Bush’s Tax
Return” Applications
in Student Papers Summary Readings: David
R. Francis, “The CEO Makes What?
Return of a Fair-Pay Debate” Elizabeth
Carnell, “Why Try Holly
Sklar’s Socialist Plans for Economy When United States is Doing
Just Fine?” George Will,
“What’s Behind Income Disparity?”
An
Outline of Conservative and Leftist Arguments on the Rich, the Poor, and
the Middle Class Topics
for Discussion and Writing
Chapter
21: Collecting and Evaluating Opposing Sources. Writing the Research
Paper Sample Working
Outline, Annotated Bibliography Entry Sample Research
Paper: Peter Hammond, “Reaganomics Rides Yet Again” Part
Seven: Documentation and Research Resources Chapter 22:
Documentation Chapter 23: Research
Resources Glossary
of Rhetorical and Critical Thinking Terms
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