Name: ______________________________

Period: _____

Informed Citizenship: An Exercise in Blogging

A major objective of the AP Language and Composition course is to become an
informed citizen. In the 21st century, we are bombarded with information every
minute of every day, and the ability to make a reasonable decision is a complex
task. We are citizens in the 21st century that is dominated by an influx of
information, so much so that we have become reliant on the media.

To assist you in developing the tools to navigate this wealth of information, youll
be involved with Monday Matters, a weekly assignment that asks you to
demonstrate your ability to understand some features of our contemporary
society.

The primary purpose of this exercise in blogging is to provide a forum for you to
become an informed person. Beyond the classroom, we are exposed to ideas--
academic and otherwise--through a confluence of technology and the media.
Thanks to the first amendment, we Americans are entitled to freedom of speech
and freedom of the press, so there is a lot of literature out there. But just because
something is published does not mean that it is right or we have to agree with it.
As such, nearly everything is an argument. In order to be an informed citizen, you
must be able to identify an author's rhetorical strategies, purpose, and audience.
By practicing how to analyze, argue, and synthesize, you will be well-prepared for
the AP Language Exam in May. But where do you start?

In simple terms, you need to know something about something. And you do
this by reading.

How do you know when you know something? You've read a piece, re-read it,
thought about it, formulated an argument, and written about it. That's what we'll
work on here.

Due each Monday (or the 1st school day of the week), you will poston your blog
a response that addresses a key skill in researching and synthesizing current
news issues, observations, and voices.

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 How to Create a Blog
Getting Started
This year you will be creating and using your own blog. The procedures for
establishing this blog appear below.

STEP 1: Please go to https://www.blogger.com/start and follow the steps to

create your blog. If you already have a google account (gmail), log in. Begin by
clicking on Create a blog. Dont feel pressured for a good title this is
changeable, but the url address is permanent. As you fill out the info, PLEASE
BE SURE THAT YOU WRITE DOWN THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

EMAIL ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BLOG:

__________________________________

USER ID: _____________________________

DISPLAY NAME: ________________________

PASSWORD: ______________________________

BLOG ADDRESS/URL: http://www.___________________ .blogspot.com/ (You

have to give this to me, so dont forget it!)

STEP 2: Click on settings and then click on comments and scroll down to the
bottom where it says Comment Notification Email. Enter in the email address you
check most frequently.

NOTE: When editing your blog profile, do NOT use last names on the blog,
do NOT use specific identifiers such as your home address or your school name,
and do NOT provide personal pictures. Instead, you can consider using your first
and middle names or other reasonable and recognizable nicknames.

STEP 3: Once you have created a blog and are logged into your blogpage (which
should be at the blog address in Step 1):
Click Design (on the sidebar)--> click add gadget --> scroll down and click
add link list
Click add a link to add any other links that will make your blogsite more
useful for this course.
You must link to an online newsreel, so that your site will feature current
headlines. Recommended sites: BBC.org, NewYorkTimes.com,
WashingtonPost.com

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STEP 4: Feel free to add pictures and change fonts, layouts, and templates to
make this blog personal and conducive to you! Theres lots of gadgets feel free
to explore them. Make sure its appropriate.

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 MONDAY MATTERS TOPICS
Marking Period 1- Mondays #1-3: NEWS YOU CAN USE (30 points)
Select one current issue, person, or event that is in the news (i.e., ISIS, internet
hacking crisis, immigration, Ukraine/Russia conflict). The purpose of this first
batch of posts is to help you become an informed citizen, a person who knows
something about something!
a) Monday #1: provide a link to a news article and write a brief summary (at
least a paragraph). Title this post MONDAY MATTERS #1.
b) Monday #2: provide a link to an editorial (opinion piece) about this same
issue and paraphrase 3-4 points. Title this post MONDAY MATTERS #2.
c) Monday #3: provide a link to an image (political cartoon, photograph, art)
and analyze the visual rhetoric. Title this post MONDAY MATTERS #3.
a. What is being said? How is it being said? What is the effect?
(Rhetorical Triangle)

Marking Period 2- Mondays #4-8: COLUMNISTS AHOY! (50 points)

Select one credible columnist who posts on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. (i.e. Joel
Klein of Time.com, David Brooks of The New York Times, Peggy Noonan of The
Wall Street Journal, Fareed Zakaria of The Washington Post). The length of the
column should be approximately 1-2 pages. The purpose of this batch of posts is
to follow one writer and become familiar with his/her style of writing and opinions
on current issues.
a) Monday #4: Read the columnists post for this week. Paraphrase 3-4
main points about her/his column. Provide a link to the original article.
Title this post MONDAY MATTERS #4.
b) Monday #5: Part one: Read the columnists post for this week.
Paraphrase 3-4 main points about her/his column. Provide a link to
the original article. Title this post MONDAY MATTERS #5.
a. Part two: Also analyze (1) what the writers position is and (2) how
the writer communicates her/his position to her/his audience. Cite
text appropriately.
i. For example: The columnist is clearly in favor of ____ and is
writing for ____(audience) . She communicates this by using
the rhetorical strategy of ______ to achieve ____(purpose) .
Ultimately, the columnist wants to convince/persuade/inform
the audience to make a decision/meditate/take action
regarding
c) Monday #6: follow the same instructions for Monday #5.
d) Monday #7: consider what the author has written about for the past
few weeks. Pull it all together and synthesize this columnists posts
into a statement on how she/he views society.
a. For example: The columnist has discussed the issues surrounding
____, _____, and ______, all of which deal with the idea of _____.
Therefore, she views society as

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 e) Monday #8: provide one non-print (visual, like a photograph or
political cartoon) that supports this columnists position(s). Provide
the title and source of the image, explore what the image conveys,
and analyze why this non-print source supports the columnists views
of society. (This should be a source that falls in line with the
columnists beliefs.)
a. Scott Stantis of the Chicago Tribune has some excellent political
cartoons: http://galleries.apps.chicagotribune.com/chi-stantis-
cartoons-gallery/

Marking Period 3- Mondays #9-12: WHO OWNS THE SOURCES? DO YOU

OWN THEM, OR DO THEY OWN YOU? (40 points)
Select one general issue of contemporary controversy (war, political policy,
drugs/crime, etc). For this marking period, you will find 6 distinct opinions over
the course of three weeks. Any piece published within the last calendar year is
valid. The purpose of this batch of posts is to help you understand how the media
influences public opinions.
a) Monday #9: select one current issue that will likely be discussed in the
news for the next few weeks. Find two contrasting opinions from two
different authors and provide links to the original sources. Paraphrase
the authors distinct opinions on the issue. Title this post MONDAY
MATTERS #9.
a. Consider: Where did the authors facts come from? Is the information
reliable? Are the authors defining the issue differently? Is there a
proposal, or call to action, present?
b) Monday #10: select the same current issue. Find two new, but
contrasting, articles discussing the issue and provide links to the original
sources. Paraphrase each authors opinion on the subject. Consider the
same questions from above. Title this post MONDAY MATTERS #10.
c) Monday #11: still regarding the same current issue, find two final
differing opinions on the controversy. ONE of these two sources must be
non-print (a political cartoon, photograph, youtube video etc) and
provide links to the original sources. Paraphrase each authors opinion
on the issue. Title this post MONDAY MATTERS #11.
d) Monday #12: now that you have read several different opinions, write a
post stating where you personally stand on the subject. Synthesize these
opinions with your own in forming an opinion on this current controversy.
a. For instance, I agree with Sources A, C, and D because I found
flaws in the arguments of sources B and E in that

Marking Period #4- Mondays #13-17: EDUCATION

a) Monday #13- Select one reputable news publication (Washington Post,
New York Times, Huffington Post) and go to the EDUCATION section. Choose
one editorialist and read his/her post for the week. On your blog,
paraphrase the main issues that the author is addressing about education.
Include a hyperlink to the original article (try to be creative and embed the
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 link by clicking on the blue LINK button). Title this post MONDAY MATTERS
#13.
b) Monday #14- Select a DIFFERENT news publication and go to the
EDUCATION section. Choose one editorialist and read his/her post for the
week. On your blog, paraphrase the main issues that the author is
addressing about education. Include a hyperlink to the article. Title this
post MONDAY MATTERS #14.
c) Monday #15- Select yet another DIFFERENT news publication and go to
the EDUCATION section. Choose one editorialist and read his/her post for
the week. On your blog, paraphrase the main issues that the author is
addressing about education. Include a hyperlink to the article. Title this
post MONDAY MATTERS #15.
d) Monday #16- You have now read three different articles on education. This
week, write a post that synthesizes these arguments on education. Explain
how these three pieces enter into a conversation with one another; note
which pieces agree with each other and which do not. Title this post
MONDAY MATTERS #16.
e) Monday #17- Find one non-print (visual) source that represents one of the
arguments you recently read. Explain how the non-print source illustrates
the conflict laid out in one of the articles on education. This may be a video,
news clip, political cartoon, or photograph. Provide a hyperlink to the
original image. Title this post MONDAY MATTERS #17.
Marking Period #5 (Mondays #18-20): EDUCATION REFORM
Now that you are abridged on some issues in the field of education, lets examine
possible solutions. Well be visiting the websites for education reform activists
and seeing what they have to say.
a) Monday #18- Diane Ravitch writes a blog about education reform. She
responds to contemporary issues in the news with her own opinions. Visit
dianeravitch.net and read the About section to learn about her background
(and ethos). Then go to the Blog Topics tab and scroll down to Education
Reform. Select one of her posts and paraphrase the main ideas. Provide a
hyperlink to the original article. Title this post MONDAY MATTERS #18.
b) Monday #19- Sir Ken Robinson is an English author and writer on
education reform. Visit sirkenrobinson.com and navigate to the Blog tab.
Read one of his articles or watch one of his talks. Summarize the main
ideas in one of his posts. Provide a hyperlink to the original post. Title this
post MONDAY MATTERS #19.
c) Monday #20- Non-print sources. You have two options for this week:
Jonathan Kozol has dedicated his life to providing equal education to all
students in public schools. Watch one of his six videos entitled
Education in America (uploaded to youtube by ChallengingMedia.
Summarize his lecture in your own words. Title this post MONDAY
MATTERS #20.

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 Visit ted.com and enter the word education in the search bar. Watch
one of the TED Talks about education and write a summary about the
speaker and their talk. Title this post MONDAY MATTERS #20.
Marking Period #6 (Mondays #21-24): POLITICS
For the third marking period, we will switch gears and move away from education
policy and into public policy. For the remainder of the trimester, we will study
issues in politics. The following posts require you to be an informed citizen, to
differentiate news with lasting power versus potato chip news (a story that is
awesome for a moment, but has no lasting value and then fades into distant
memory).
a) Monday #21- Choose a conservative political website (like townhall.com,
redstate.com, weeklystandard.com, or foxnews.com) and read one opinion
piece. Paraphrase the main points. Provide a hyperlink to the article. Title
this post MONDAY MATTERS #21.
b) Monday #22- Choose a liberal political website (motherjones.com,
cnn.com, dailykos.com, or thenation.com) and find an opinion piece ON THE
SAME ISSUE. Paraphrase the main points. Provide a hyperlink to the article.
Title this post MONDAY MATTERS #22.
c) Monday #23- Compare and contrast the arguments of the previous two
weeks. Which piece deals with factually-based opinions versus assertions?
Describe how these differing opinions enter into a conversation with each
other. Identify if the authors agree at all, and what is the primary aspect for
disagreement. Title this post MONDAY MATTERS #23.
d) Monday #24- Using the They Say/I Say Templates, compose one
paragraph that shows where you position yourself on the political issues
you researched during this marking period. Write a paragraph response to
the particular issue you examined. Title this post MONDAY MATTERS #24.
Marking Period #7- Mondays #25-29- YOUR FUTURE (50 points)
For the next four weeks, you will select an area of interest that you may want to
study in college. Broaden your horizons by selecting areas of interest and reading
about current events in the news. Consult content-specific websites with current
news events. Each week, report on one new story or trend in the news. One
catch: you may not report on anything in the world of sports. Remember: each
post is due on Monday evening by 11:59pm. Be prompt with your postings!
Suggested websites:
Business- OpenForum.com, Businessweek.com, Forbes.com,
businessnewsdaily.com, business-ethics.com/
Art/Theater- artspan.com/articles, artnews.com, worldphoto.org,
theatermania.com, playbill.com
Technology- digitaltrends.com, Mashable.com, extremetech.com, zdnet.com,
technewsworld.com
Marketing/Advertising- marketingpower.com, adage.com, dmnews.com,
marketingland.com, adweek.com

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Earth Science- geology.com, sciencedaily.com, geologytimes.com,
astrologynewsservice.com, archaeology.org/news
Medicine- breakthroughdigest.com, medicalnewstoday.com, Medscape.com,
medicinenet.com
Sociology/Psychology- sociologytimes.com,
esciencenews.com/topics/psychology.sociology,
theguardian.com/education/sociology, psychologytoday.com

a) Monday #25- Select a category from above in an area that interests you.
This week, select one website from that category and summarize a current
event in the news or a recent editorial or article. Provide a link to the article
and images (if appropriate). Title this blog post MONDAY MATTERS #25.
b) Monday #26- Within the same category from above, select a different
news site listed. Summarize a current event in the news or a recent
editorial or article. Provide a link to the article and images (if appropriate).
Title this blog post MONDAY MATTERS #26.
c) Monday #27- Within the same category from above, select a different
news site listed. Summarize a current event in the news or a recent
editorial or article. Provide a link to the article and images (if appropriate).
Title this blog post MONDAY MATTERS #27.
d) Monday #28- Within the same category from above, select a different
news site listed. Summarize a current event in the news or a recent
editorial or article. Provide a link to the article and images (if appropriate).
Title this blog post MONDAY MATTERS #28.
e) Monday #29- Synthesize your posts from the previous four weeks. What
seems to be a common trend in the field? Which issue are you interesting in
exploring further? Do you think you might major in this area in college?
Explain.

Marking Period #8- Mondays #30-33: POPULAR CULTURE (40 points)

a) Monday #30- Select one celebrity or figure in pop culture and report on
the stories that arent being told. Yes, many celebrities are in the news for
their antics, ridiculous spending, and bizarre behavior, but some celebrities
are do-gooders behind the scenes. Find one positive and uplifting story
about a celebrity and paraphrase the article. Provide a link to the article
and images (if appropriate). Title this post MONDAY MATTERS #30.
b) Monday #31-due Monday May 19- Research one charity that is
endorsed by a celebrity (UNICEF, St. Judes Childrens Hospital, etc). Provide
a link to the charitys website and summarize the organizations purpose.
Explain why this is a cause worth supporting. Title this post MONDAY
MATTERS #31.
c) Monday #32- due Monday May 26- Propose a solution for how the
media can use pop culture to promote these worthy causes. Whether it be

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 guaranteed ad space, billboards in arenas, or ticker tape during television
programs, identify one way to raise awareness for charity while using social
media or other forms of media. Consider possible counterarguments. Title
this post MONDAY MATTERS #32.
d) Monday #33- due Monday June 2- Final Reflection. What did you learn
in this course? Describe your academic development and skills learned.
What were the biggest challenges that you faced? In which areas did you
make the most progress? Do you think you are a stronger student because
you have taken this course? Would you recommend the course? Title this
post MONDAY MATTERS #33.

ALTERNATE POSTINGS ON POPULAR CULTURE: Mondays #30-32

a) Monday #30- Visit pbs.org (or the PBS app on your smartphone). Watch one
FULL episode of American Masters, a series that profiles famous figures from
American pop culture
(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/category/video/watch-full-episodes/).
Write a summary about the person profiled, and how he or she changed the face
of pop culture. Title this post MONDAY MATTERS #30.
b) Monday #31- Visit http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/ and select
one article about pop culture. Summarize a current event in the news or a recent
editorial or article. Identify the authors claim in the piece, as well the tone. Is the
author critical or complementary of the topic in the piece? Provide a link to the
article and images (if appropriate). Title this blog post MONDAY MATTERS #31.
c) Monday #32- The Emergence of Advertising in America: 1850-1920 (EAA)
presents over 9,000 images, with database information, relating to the early
history of advertising in the United States. The materials, drawn from the David
M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Duke University, provide a
significant and informative perspective on the early evolution of this most
ubiquitous feature of modern American business and culture. Visit
http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/eaa/#tabs-Product. Select one
advertisement. Compose a post that identifies the following: the product,
company, and title of advertisement, and year of publication. Download a picture
of this advertisement and upload the image into your blog post. In your own
words, explain the visual rhetoric in the advertisement. Title this post MONDAY
MATTERS #32.

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 They Say/I SayTemplates
Academic writing requires presenting sources and ideas effectively to readers. Great writers can read
many sources and enter a conversation with the literature. This conversation is between youthe
writerand your source; here, you must demonstrate your critical thinking by synthesizing multiple
viewpoints. The series of sentence starters allow you to organize your ideas in relationship to your
claim, supporting evidence, opposing evidence, and the conclusion of the argument.

The Most Important Templates:

On the one hand, __________. On the other hand, __________.
Author X argues __________, and I agree because __________.
Author Xs argument that __________ is supported by new research showing that __________.
In recent discussions of __________, a controversial issue has been whether __________.
Author X contradicts herself. At the same time that she argues __________, she also implies _______.

Introducing Standard Views:

Americans today tend to believe that __________.
Conventional wisdom has it that __________.
My whole life I have heard it said that __________.

Making those Views Something You Say:

I have always believed that __________.
When I was a child, I used to think that __________.

Writing a Summary:
Author X demonstrates that __________.
In fact, Author X celebrates the fact that __________.

Introducing a Quote:
Author X insists, __________.
As the prominent philosopher X puts it, __________.
According to Author X, __________.
In her book, Book Title, Author X maintains that __________.
Author X complicates matters further when s/he writes that __________.

Disagreeing:
Author X is mistaken because s/he overlooks __________.
Author Xs view that __________ is not without flaws because, as research has shown, __________.

Introducing Your Point of View:

Author X overlooks an important point about __________.
I wholeheartedly endorse what Author X calls __________.
My discussion of X topic/event is in fact addressing the larger matter of __________.
These conclusions will have significant applications in __________ as well as in __________.

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