Democracy - Poems
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If you are using either of the poems, see below. If you need additional evidence from "Twelve Angry Men," you WILL need to reference your textbooks. You will all need to check page numbers for your citations, as well!!
Democracy, by Langston Hughes
Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Nor ever
Through compromise and fear.
I have as much right
As the other fellow has
To stand
On my two feet
And own the land.
I tire so of hearing people say,
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when I'm dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.
Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need.
I live here, too.
I want freedom
Just as you.
Democracy, by Sara Holbrook
My office is government issue.
The basics, one metal desk, one chair,
a stack of folders,
four rubber stamps and loose paper in need of baling wire, or a match...
A gray office beside a multicolored room full of folks waiting on
government basics.
Thump.
Thump.
A large woman thumps, thumps.
Thumps past my office.
Thump. Thump,
down the hall to the ladies room.
Sounds of water running followed by
the swing of the squeaky door,
it slaps against the wall
oozing toward a bumpy close.
Thump. Thump.
I look up as she passes again.
Dark hallway.
Dark clothing.
White toilet paper.
Thump. Thump.
I watch after her passing.
Thump. Thump.
She stole the toilet paper.
Also government issue,
two rolls per day.
Issued by
the same government that
murders mountains of forests for the
confusion of paper it takes to
purchase a pencil through
proper procurement procedures.
The same government that
offers tax abated housing to
for profit football teams and
levies income tax on where's-the-profit
unemployment compensation.
The same government that
issues food stamps for
koolaid, popsicles and tater tots
but not for toilet paper,
like it's some privilege
that poor folks don't need.
That same government issues us
two rolls per day,
Two rolls.
I rub at the crow's feet which are deepening into my mother's face
and listen to her leaving.
She stole the toilet paper.
I wait for a moment, reluctant to go
once more against the mountain,
knowing the thin air
makes me lightheaded.
Finally I move.
"Ma'am, did you take our toilet paper?"
She looks straight ahead,
She is slow to acknowledge my presence,
slow looking up at the self-conscious stand
I have taken beside her over-filled chair.
In a glance
she reminds me that I am too tall,
too thin, too well-dressed,
and too white.
"I need it," she replies.
And that need, I know,
is not entirely selfish,
that need embraces the needs
of her children,
her grandchildren,
maybe a neighbor.
But it does not embrace the needs
of her neighbors with whom
she shares this waiting room.
"I have to ask for it back," I say,
citing the needs of the others.
Reluctant herself,
she complies.
Practically speaking,
she is a republican.
I retreat to return the basics
to the necessary place,
dizzy with
democracy.
702: Identify Evidence, page 114,115
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Please use the evidence below for questions 5, 6 and 7:
5) "The same government that offer tax abated housing to for-profit football teams, and levies income tax on unemployment compensation..."
6.) "The same government that issues food stamps for koolaid, popsicles, and tater tots, but not for toilet paper..."
7.) "She reminds me that I am too tall, too thin, too blessed white."
8.) and 9.) YOUR CHOICE - choose your own evidence from the Holbrook poem to analyze ("This shows that...")
702, 705
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Classes: I am sorry for the late late posting. If you can do this, I will definitely count it for extra credit, if not, it will not be held against you.
You may choose one of the following:
Google "Famous Football Players" and choose one to do a mini-bio write up on (5 bullets, minumum)
or
Google "Fun Football Facts" and provide five bullets of fun things about the sport that we didn't know!
In addition, do one 5 Dubs, again on a sports article of your choice. Be SURE to complete both the fact (bullets, information) half, and the fictional reporter half!
Class 702 and 704 (Monday 10/27)
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702:
Finish example sentences for Unit 2 Academic Vocab in your notebooks.
Write an entry (1st person pov) on a day in the life of the athlete you chose.
GOOGLE: "[female] or [male] or [just] athletes that overcome challenges" choose one and be prepared with at least 5 bullets to share in class
704: Complete final revisions and edits on your own drafts for tomorrow. Be sure to have peer review sheets with you and all components of your draft with you in class tomorrow! Final call before publishing - you MUST have your drafts!!
705 (MONDAY OCT 27)
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Go to www.dogonews.com and choose one article according to your interests (be sure to check out the VARIOUS categories that might pique your interest!) - you are to READ the article, ANSWER the questions, CHOOSE three of the highlighted vocabulary words and write three sentences using those words in your notebook, AND for EXTRA CREDIT, answer the CRITICAL THINKING CHALLENGE question at the bottom of the page.
So, to recap:
A) Choose an article to read from dogonews.com
B) In your notebook (under the heading of the title of the article you chose, and the author who wrote it), you are to answer the Article Comprehension questions at the end of the article.
C) Choose three of the highlighted vocabulary words to write three sample sentences in your notebook.
D) For extra credit, answer the CRITICAL THINKING CHALLENGE QUESTION at the bottom of the page.
Be sure to have ALL components of your draft in class tomorrow!! Final chance for edits and revision!
Monday Oct 20th
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702:
All drafts must be completed for final revision and editing this week. REMINDER: all Reading Logs for If I Stay are due THIS Thursday, Oct 23rd.
704/705:
All components of the narrative UP to the resolution should be completed for initial revision and editing.
704: Thief Lord - due next Thursday, the 30th
705: Waiting for Normal - due this Thursday, the 23rd