Friday,+April+20

Bell Ringer: SAT and ACT Questions of the Day
If you haven't already, you will probably be taking the ACT (and perhaps the SAT) sometime soon. You can subscribe to SAT and ACT questions of the day to be sent to your email. You might also think of downloading these apps on a smartphone or tablet. Your writing and reading comprehension level will also improve with some focused vocabulary study (increasing your chances on the AP exams as well). A good way to do this is to check out some of the free or very cheap apps for smartphones or tablets.

READ-THINK-DISCUSS
Essay (p.186) by [|Lawrence Langer]

Last time you read and annotated Langer's essay. With a partner, compare notes. What did you notice in your annotations? Look for:


 * **His central claim:** What is his thesis? What is he arguing?
 * **His reasons:** Break down his logical reasoning. WHY is his claim true?
 * **His evidence:** What proof does he give to support each reason?
 * **Counter-Claim/Rebuttal:** Counter-claims refer to opposing views. In a rebuttal, the speaker refutes these opposing views, strengthening the argument.
 * **Rhetorical Appeals:** What appeals do you see to ethos, pathos, and logos?

WRITE
Complete a graphic organizer analyzing Langer's argument:
 * What is his central claim?
 * What reasons does he give to support his claim? Are they logical?
 * What evidence does he give to support each claim?
 * How does he deal with opposing views?

Terminology... What is a [|syllogism]?
Major Premise- Birds have feathers. Minor Premise- Penguins are birds. Conclusion- Penguins have feathers.
 * Examples:**

Major Premise- Humans have basic rights that must be protected. Minor Premise- People accused of crimes are human. Conclusion- The basic human rights of the accused must be protected.

Major Premise- The US needs intelligent thinkers in the work force. Minor Premise- An effective educational system will produce intelligent thinkers. Conclusion- It is in the country's best interest to create an effective educational system.


 * Can we break down Langer's argument into a syllogism?**

Model Sentence: Another Colon!
Read the following sentence from Langer's essay. Write your responses to the questions on a slip of paper to turn in.

Perhaps unwittingly, Wiesenthal fills Bolek's mouth with questionable platitudes: "When one is face to face with death one doesn't lie"; "he had no opportunity to expiate the sins which he had committed"; he showed "genuine, sincere repentence for his misdeeds."
 * 1) Explain the purpose of the colon in the sentence. The semicolons?
 * 2) What is the rhetorical purpose of this sentence in the essay?