Assignments for Tuesday, Nov. 3, and Thursday, Nov. 5

For Tuesday, read and annotate ch. 7 of Griftopia (pp. 206-240). In class, we will conclude our discussion of Griftopia, and you will prepare potential topics for the in-class essay on Thursday.

On Thursday, you will write an in-class essay about Griftopia. You will be able to use your book, and I expect you to quote from it.

Below are some links to information about income inequality. Some recent reports, which I had not seen before, suggest that income inequality may be declining in the US.

What Is Inequality? (click through the cards)
Capitalism v. Democracy
Wage Inequality
It's Not the Inequality, It's the Immobility (here's a follow-up interview with the author)
Top 1% by State
Inequality Isn't Inevitable

Assignments for Wednesday, Oct. 28, and Friday, Oct. 30

If you haven't turned in your mentor commitment letter, I need it this week.

For Wednesday, Oct. 28, finish the research prospectus. Be sure to address all of the questions in the instructions for the research prospectus. It does not have to be two full pages long; answer the questions to the best of your ability and convey your interest to the reader.

For Friday, Oct. 30, read and annotate pp. 100-123 in Griftopia.

Assignment for Monday, October 26

Work on the research prospectus that is due on Wednesday, October 28. I would like you to come to class with at least one page written, and bring an electronic copy of your research prospectus so you can continue working on it in class. Also, read pp. 78-100 of Griftopia. Stop when you get to the first break near the top of p. 100.

Assignment for Tuesday, October 20

Read and annotate Ch. 1 of Matt Taibbi's Griftopia. You have nothing to write, but you will have a quiz. Pay attention to the ways Taibbi tries to persuade the reader of his main point, and be mindful of potential information that he leaves out of his analysis.

Assignment for Friday, October 16

Your essay on the historical and contemporary significance of race is due.

Also, bring in your copy of The Craft of Research. We will use it during class.

Lastly, bring in your signed Mentor Commitment Letter. If you misplaced the form or did not receive one in class, you can pick one up in my classroom, or you can print it out from the link on the right.

Assignment for Wednesday, October 14

Write one page of the essay that was originally due today. (The complete essay is now due on Friday, October 16.) The topic is posted to the right; it's labeled Essay 1. Bring your Pocket Style Manual to class so we can review Chicago-style citation formatting.

Also,  give your mentor the STP mentor guidelines and STP mentor commitment letter distributed in class (and posted to the right), and return the signed mentor commitment letter by Friday, October 16.

Assignments for Monday, Oct. 5, Wednesday, Oct. 7, and Friday, Oct. 9

Monday, Oct. 5: Student's choice. Bring something of intellectual interest to you to share with the class. It may be something to read (in which case you should give it to me to photocopy ahead of class), view, or listen to.

Wednesday, Oct. 7: Read and annotate ch. 1 of Shklar's American Citizenship, "Voting" (pp. 25-62).

Friday, Oct. 9: Read and annotate ch. 2 of Shklar's American Citizenship, "Earning" (pp. 63-101).

Wednesday, Oct. 14: Essay due on Wilson's The Piano Lesson, Shklar's American Citizenship, and related readings.