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Essays

Seniors
Your exam is Wednesday, and the essay is Thursday-Friday. The essay will be typed in class, but you may do some preparation by looking at the following topics and going through the text for evidence. Note that the following are suggested topics for inquiry, but that your essay will be based on specific prompts on the date:
  • What is terrorism? How is defined by the book, and how is this subject explored through the actions of Al Qaeda, the DHS, and Marcus? Is the disruption caused by Marcus, for example, worth the socio-political purpose? In particular, how much loss of privacy is acceptable for our security?
  • What makes San Francisco an appropriate setting for the novel? Consider its geographical location, its multicultural population, its history of activism, and its role in the arts.
  • Discuss Marcus as a central protagonist; how does his character develop, and what factors shape his growth as a character? Consider setting, events and characters.
  • How does the book function as a teaching tool? In general, discuss the various "teachers" in the book, and how the book encourages research and experimentation. What purpose does this serve, and how is it related to the themes in the book?
  • Discuss the form, function, and effectiveness of the various types of media represented in the book. How are the "new" media tools - i.e. the Internet, Xnet, IMParanoid - different from more traditional news outlets - television and newspapers? What does this contrast reveal about the effectiveness, veracity, and quality of the information, and how does it affect the freedom of information?
Sophomores
Your exam is Tuesday, and on Wednesday, we will begin discussing your essay for this week. Generally speaking, you are writing an analysis paper focused on the satire in two current political cartoons. You will choose a focus, research the context, and use the cartoons to discuss the techniques used to satirize the event or attitude. We will start with a discussion of those visual/verbal elements on Wednesday.

Your assignment is to visit CAGLE.COM and print out at least two cartoons that you think are funny.  If the site won't load, then please try http://www.caglecartoons.com/. Your cartoons should be connected by theme or topic. Another possible source for cartoons is The Week.

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