Assignment for Thursday, Nov. 1

In Coates's Between the World and Me, read pp. 25-64. Be sure to annotate, and be prepared to discuss the following: Coates's narrative persona, his use of emotional, logical, and ethical appeals, and any ways his purpose is developing or changing.

Assignment for Tuesday, Oct. 30

In Ta-Nehisi Coates's Between the World and Me, read pp. 3-25 (stop at the end of the first few lines on the top of p. 25). Annotate the reading, and come prepared to write about it during class. Pay attention to whatever stands out to you. Also, if you have time, read this poem by Richard Wright, which was handed out in class. We'll be reading it in class, so if you don't read it on your own, that's fine, but if you want to know the source of the book's title, feel free to read it.

Assignment for Thursday, Oct. 25

Read the article linked here (which was handed out in class). Write four-to six sentences explaining whether you are persuaded by this author's critique of J.D. Vance. If you are in Google Classroom, submit your response there; otherwise, email it to me by the start of Thursday's class.

In-Class Writing

How do Vance's values influence his insights on "elites" and "ordinary people"?

Write one or two paragraphs in response to the above prompt.

Assignment for Tuesday, Oct. 23

Read chs. 12 and 13 of J. D. Vance's Hillbilly Elegy, which was handed out in class. If you missed class or misplaced it, you can read it here. As you read, keep in mind our observations in class about Vance's sense of isolation from both the "ordinary people" he's leaving and the "elites" he is joining. You will have to write something about this reading during Tuesday's class, so pay close attention to it.

In-class Reading

Advice from a Formerly Lonely College Student

Assignment for Friday, Oct. 19

Read the excerpt from J. D. Vance's Hillbilly Elegy that was distributed in class today. This chapter occurs after Vance served in the Marines but before he begins studying at Yale's Law School. Write a summary of that chapter based on the feedback of the last homework assignment. Be sure to clearly identify the author and the text, and to use your own word choice and sentence structure. As we discussed in Monday's class, you might find it helpful to take notes and identify the main points of the reading before you write the summary. Email the summary to me before the start of Friday's class; if you're in Google Classroom, submit this assignment there.