Language+and+Power

Essential Questions:

 * How do people use language to negotiate "power" and form relationships.
 * How does the multi-faceted and malleable nature of words allow for manipulation and misinterpretation of the message?
 * How can ensure that we use language ethically?

Learning Outcomes:

 * Analyse how audience and purpose affect the structure and content of the texts.
 * Analyse the impact of language changes.
 * Demonstrate an awareness of how language and meaning are shaped by culture and context.

Lesson 1-2: The Power of a Single Word (02/20/2012 and 02/21/2012)
Today we will watch a documentary exploring the power of a controversial word and its effects on society/culture.

//Huckleberry Finn// and the N-word:
media type="custom" key="12563180" [] The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Chapter 35

Articles about the controversy: Room for Debate: Do Word Changes Alter Huck Finn? Twain's Huck Finn Transcends Its Time and Prejudice Huck Finn: Sanitized for Your Protection Effort to Sanitize Huck Finn Is Pure Insanity A Sanitized Huck Finn? Sanitized Huck Finn Causes Furor What Is the Harm of Sanitizing Huck Finn? Upcoming New South Huck Finn Eliminates the N Word Sanitizing Huck Finn Teaches the Wrong Lesson Huckleberry Finn Was Never Supposed to Be Good For You New Version of Huck Finn not Censorship but Conversation Starter The Debate about Huck Finn and the N Word Sanitizing Huck Finn Don't Underestimate a Teacher's Problems with Huck Finn Is Huck Finn without the N Word Still Huck Finn Erasing the N-Word in Huck Finn Erases History MU Scholar Defends Huck Finn Revision Huck Finn Minus the Hurt Cleaning Up a Classic: Huck Finn Revised Leave Huck Alone Light Out, Huck. They Still Want to Sivilize You. Huckleberry Finn: Sanitizing the Great American Novel

HWK: Annotate and analyze your assigned article (using color-coded annotation). Come to class on Friday prepared to discuss the articles. (To annotate and analyze, copy and paste the article to a Word document.)

Lesson 4: The Power of One Word Research Project (February 28, 2012)
You will randomly select 1 word and research the various meanings, connotations, contexts, historical background, etc. of your word. Your goal will determine what power the word has and where it gets its power from. You will use prezi to present your research in a 1-2 minute presentation on Friday, March 2.

Lesson 8 and 9: What Is Propaganda (March 8, 2012, March 12, 2012)
Definition of Propaganda Prezi

After we have finished defining propaganda, we will compare and contrast it to advertising. What do advertising and propaganda have in common? How are they different. To complete this comparison, you will work with a partner to complete a venn diagram. You must use the websites below (read them all) as well as the information we learned last semester about advertising to complete this assignment. We will discuss your findings next class.

What Is Propaganda? Modern Propaganda Propaganda Techniques Propaganda PPT 2 Jacques Ellul on Sociological Propaganda

Lesson 10 and 11: Propaganda Techniques (March 13, 2012 and March 15, 2012)
Today you will be investigating a propaganda technique to present to the class. You will, individually, create a poster (using glogster) and embed it on the projects page of the wiki. You will choose a propaganda technique from the list below. Your poster must contain a definition of the technique (in your own words) and an example of real propaganda (not an advertisement) using your technique. You must also include a metaphor to help the class remember your technique and it's definition. You will present your technique next class.

__List of Propaganda Techniques__: Simplification Plain Folks Appeal Testemonials Bandwagon Card-Stacking Transfer Glittering Generalities Name Calling Eiither/Or Lesser of Two Evils Assertions Evidence Claims Big Lie Slogan Patriotism Scapegoat Weasel Words Wit and Humor

Hint: To find information on your technique, google "propaganda technique ___"

Lesson 12: Analyzing Propaganda (March 16, 2012)


How to Analyze Propaganda

Lesson 13: More Practice Analyzing Propaganda (March 20, 2012)
Today you will analyze a propaganda poster independently. Be prepared to present your analysis next class.

Lesson 14: Commentary Practice (March 21, 2012)
Over break you will write a commentary analyzing the propaganda poster you chose in class. Please share your commentary with me as a googledoc by class on Monday, April 2nd.

Lesson 15 and 16: //War Made Easy// (April 2 and 3, 2012)
While we watch the video, take note of the propaganda techniques used to encourage warfare.

= =

Lesson 17, 18 and 19: FOA Preparation (April 5, 9 and 11)
We will be working in class to prepare FOA Presentations. We will begin presentations on Thursday, April 12.

Lesson 23: Exploring Style (April 20, 2012)
In small groups, you will create a glog presenting your assigned style. The directions for your glog can be found on the project page.

HWK: We will be working together to create a powerpoint for the terms we will explore in relation to rhetoric and propaganda. You will each be responsible for participating in the creation of this powerpoint. Each rhetorical term requires a definition (in your own words), an example, and a metaphor to help your classmates understand the term. You will each be responsible for 2 terms (and two slides). I will share the powerpoint presentation with you on googledocs. (To find the definitions, google "rhetoric" and your term.

__Rhetorical Terms:__ subtext, connotation, denotation, rhetoric, anaphora, parallelism, rhetorical question, ethos, logos, pathos, allusion, hyperbole, alliteration, assonance, syntax, register, diction, imperative, declarative, imagery, emotive language, metonomy, synechoche, repetition, anecdote, narrative, cadence, rhythm, semantics

Lesson 24: Analyzing a Speech (April 24, 2012)
"Ain't I a Woman?" by Sojourner Truth

"On The Mindless Menace of Violence" by Robert Kennedy

Lesson 25: More Analysis (April 25, 2012) Discuss "On the Mindless Menace of Violence" by Robert Kennedy

HWK: Annotate ""The Perils of Indifference" by Elie Wiesel. Be certain to look for rhetorical devices AND propaganda techniques.

Lesson 26: Continuing to Practice Analysis (April 27, 2012)
Discuss "The Perils of Indifference" by Elie Wiesel"

Write a commentary on "The Perils of Indifference" by Elie Wiesel using googledocs. Share your completed commentary with me by Monday, April 30. For a real IB commentary exam, you will be given 1 1/2 hours, so you should take no longer than 2 hours on your own to draft this commentary. I will make revision comments on your commentary.


 * You will write a summative commentary before this semester is over, so please take this opportunity to receive feedback.

HWK: Annotate by the beginning of E block Wednesday, May 2nd.