Assignment for Tuesday, September 29

Read and annotate the "Introduction" to Judith Shklar's American Citizenship (pp. 1-23). Unlike last class, you actually will have a quiz on this reading.

Assignment for Friday, September 25

Finish reading and annotating Wilson's The Piano Lesson (to p. 108). You have nothing to write, but you will have another quiz. Also, in The Craft of Research, read and annotate pp. 3-15.

Assignment for Tuesday, September 22

Read and annotate to p. 65 in Wilson's The Piano Lesson. Write one well-developed paragraph (6-8 sentences) in response to one of the following questions. (Be sure to type and print your response.)

1. After Doaker explains the history of the piano and its place in the Charles and Sutter families, Boy Willie says, "All that's in the past" (p. 46). Do you think Boy Willie is justified in thinking of the piano only in terms of the present? (You might find it helpful to consider more than just Boy Willie's lines on p. 46 to support your position.)

2. In Act One, Scene 2, Berniece and Boy Willie  lay out their claims on the piano (pp. 51-54). Who makes the better case? Who do you think is right? Why?

Assignment for Friday, September 18

Read and annotate up to Scene 2 (p. 28) of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson. Be prepared to answer specific questions about the reading.

Homework for Wednesday, Sept. 16

Read this article by David Blight about the continuing relevance of the Civil War. (It's long, so give yourself some time to get through it.) As you read, think about the following questions (you do not have to write your answers): Is this article reliable? Is Blight persuasive? Why or why not? Lastly, why should anyone care about this topic?

If you missed class, we watched this video about the Civil War. You should apply the principles about evaluating sources while watching it.