Prompt: Most presidents are faced with at least one critical moment in history, a time when events demand some sort of action on the president’s part. What is the purpose of a critical moment speech? How did these presidents try to accomplish that purpose?

Begin your introduction with a detailed description of one of the events. Use sensory details to set up the scene.

Describe the dilemma the president faced – what did he need to say to the country to comfort, inform, incite, etc.

Transition to the idea that many presidents have to make these critical moment speeches.

End your introduction with your thesis that answers the questions in the prompt.

Write five AP-caliber questions based on a recent opinion article from a reputable news source. Print out article and staple it to your paper.

One question must deal with a pronoun or other word and its antecedent.

Pronouns – a word that takes the place of a noun or refers to a noun. Examples: he, him, their, it.

Other words referring to antecedents: this, those, these, them

Antecedent – that which came before the pronoun that the pronoun relates to. As in: Bob dropped the carton of eggs; he then had to clean them up.

Bob is the antecedent for he.

Eggs is the antecedent for them.

 Examples of sources: L.A. Times, Washington Post, NY Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN.

Generally not credible or worthy: blogs, any sort of review

Examples of opinion writers:

Liberal: Sandy Banks, LZ Granderson (?), Robin Abarcian (?), Michael Hiltzik… (business)

Politics – George Skelton (California politics), Doyle McManus (national politics),

Conservative – George Will, Jonah Goldberg

Huck Finn Journal

1. 1.      Give the chapter a title. Explain why you would give it that title.
2. 2.      Write a couple of sentences summarizing the chapter.
3. 3.      A quote, with page number, that you find interesting or significant. Explain its significance.
4. 4.      How does this chapter expand upon a theme introduced earlier in the book? OR What new theme is introduced in this chapter and how is that theme developed?  OR What is an interesting literary device or technique used in this chapter? Give an example of its usage and explain its significance.

Research and bring in detailed information about a teen movie character who seems to transcend (goes above or beyond the limits of something) the stock characters of the teen movie genre as the author defines them.  Keep in mind you’ll be writing about whether this character supports or refutes the author’s assertion that “geeks rule.”

The more detailed your information the better. You will be writing this essay in class.

Write a letter to the author of your opinion piece. State why you either agree or disagree with the author’s position and give evidence to support your position.

Include a counterclaim addressing what the other side believes but countering it with your own evidence and argue why you are right.

Find an opinion article on a topic that interests you.

Answer: What's the author's position? Be specific.

List three pieces of evidence the author uses to support his or her position. Label each as an emotional, logical or ethical appeal and write a sentence explaining what makes it that type of appeal.

 Bring the article and your answers to class with you.