Go back through the collection of Maya Angelou poems we read and choose one to react to. What images in this poem stick out to you (What do you see/hear/smell/touch/taste?)? What do you think the poet is trying to say? What idea or a lesson should we learn from this poem?
There is nothing more crippling to a human being than for that person to think of himself/herself as a victim. You’ll notice that the writer of this story does not see himself as a victim, even though he CERTAINLY was a victim! Mr. Douglass chose to make the best of his circumstances and sought to better himself instead of wallowing in self-pity. How did he avoid the temptation to see himself as a victim? How can a person avoid the temptation of blaming others for his/her lack of success, and instead choose to be the best he/she can be despite the obstacles?
This week we discussed the three categories of persuasive techniques: logos (logic, facts, reason), ethos (ethics, values, morality), and pathos (emotion, language, story). Which of these three techniques do you tend to find most persuasive? In other words, when someone is trying to persuade you of something, are they more likely to convince you with facts, with morals, or with feelings? Explain why you think this is the case by providing specific examples.
In chapter 2 of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass talks about the songs of the slaves. Many non-slaves mistakenly took the slaves’ singing as a sign that they were happy, but Douglass tells his readers that “They told a tale of woe which was then altogether beyond my feeble comprehension; they were tones loud, long, and deep; they breathed the prayer and complaint of souls boiling over with the bitterest anguish. Every tone was a testimony against slavery, and a prayer to God for deliverance from chains,” (p. 18). Listen to one of the songs below and react to it: What words, phrases, or images stick out to you as you listen? What does the song remind you of?
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Composition: 8th GradeGuidelinesThe whole purpose of this assignment - whether you're reacting to an idea, sharing your own story, or analyzing the reading - is to discuss the ultimate issues of life. With that in mind, make sure that you: Archives
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