Self-Critique and Revision

Check Word Count
Pull up your draft, and run a word count for Lori to check.

Self-Critique
See the handout linked above for instructions for self-critique!

Revise and Write
Make all the revisions you can to make your op-ed like the examples we looked at.

Peer Critique
If you get to a point where you've made all the revisions you can think of, come see Lori for the Peer Critique instructions and handout.

HOMEWORK
If you didn't get to the Self Critique in class, it is homework!  Do it, and revise before class tomorrow.

Have 2 hard copies of your second draft PRINTED before the start of class for peer critique.  DUE: Start of class, Friday.

Op-Ed Examples and RD Writing Time

Starter 2
Take 10-15 minutes and do a rough draft of a political cartoon idea.  Feel free to use captions, symbols, labels, exaggeration, etc.

Op-Ed Examples
Read through one of the two examples linked here: Op Ed Examples.

Then complete the following task: Op-Ed Analysis

Op-Ed Outline and Tips
Review the handout linked above.

Rough Draft Writing Time
Start your rough draft of your op-ed.  Remember the following...

1. You must have a word count of at least 750 words by tomorrow
2. Use evidence (paraphrased or quoted) to support what you are saying
3. Short punchy sentences and paragraphs!

HOMEWORK

Finish the Rough Draft of your Op-Ed.  Must have at least 750 words done.   DUE: Start of class, Thursday.

Op-Ed Thesis Statements

Starter 1:

1. Based on the research you've done, what new opinions or perspectives do you have about your genocide?  List at least two.
2. What is the most important thing you want to communicate about your genocide?  Why should other people care about this?

Op Ed Assignment and Due Dates

750-1000 words (no more, no less!), with a clear and unique perspective.

• Thesis and Evidence List:  Due Weds, 1/30
• Op Ed Rough Draft: Due Thursday, 1/31
• Op Ed 2nd Draft: Due Friday, 2/1
• Op Ed 3rd Draft: Due Friday, 2/1 by end of day to Lori's email
• Op Ed FINAL DRAFT: Due Friday, 2/8 by end of class.

Thesis Criteria

1. Must be arguable (not a fact, or something obvious).  Example: The United States had a responsibility to stop the genocide in Rwanda.
2. Must immediately catch the reader's attention.  Example: The killers in Rwanda were not evil demons, but ordinary men like you, placed in a context where killing seemed like the right thing to do.
3. Must be clear and concise (avoid wordy or overly complex sentences).  Example: The genocide in Rwanda could not have happened without radio propaganda.

Thesis Statements

Write 3 possible thesis statements for your op-ed.  Try to make them fit the criteria above.  They could be 3 completely different perspectives, or the same perspective worded in 3 different ways.

Thesis Critiques

Write your thesis statements on the critique sheet (linked above).  Trade with a classmate.  Repeat (2 rounds of critiques total).

Revise your thesis based on your feedback.  When you feel like you have a solid version, show it to Lori.

Evidence List

For your chosen thesis statement, you need to find evidence.

1. Look through research notes.
2. You should find 6-10 facts, quotes, anecdotes, statistics, etc. that you think would go well in your op-ed, and that would help to support your thesis statement.
3. For each one that you find in your research notes, highlight it and number it so that I can easily check this tomorrow.
4. If you prefer to instead list all evidence in a separate document, that is also acceptable.

HOMEWORK

1. Revise thesis statement.  Come to class tomorrow with a version you are happy with!
2. Finish Evidence List.  DUE: Start of class, Wednesday, 1/30.

Final Research Day!

Research
Finish it up!  You should be done looking for sources at this point, and just working on typing up your research notes.  This assignment is worth 80 points (10 points per source), so make sure you are hitting all the requirements!

HOMEWORK
Finish research notes.  DUE: Tuesday, 1/29/12.

Please email or print BEFORE CLASS.  If you ask to do it after class starts, your notes will be considered late.

Research Like It's 1999

Research, my pretties!
Seriously.  Find your sources, and get your notes typed!

If you have forgotten the format, it's linked on the last blog post.  PLEASE READ THE DIRECTIONS!

HOMEWORK
Work on research notes.  You will have Monday during class to finish them, but you should probably have at least half of them completely typed up before you walk into class on Monday.

Research Notes DUE and PRINTED: Start of class, Tuesday.

Genocide Quiz, Part 2
Take the quiz, and turn it in!

African Map Quiz
If you haven't taken it yet, you have to take it today.

Research Notes, Part 2!

1. Choose an area of focus that you want to dig deeply into.  See the handout linked above for some ideas, or come up with your own idea.
2. Read carefully over the requirements for research notes
3. Start finding some sources!  Remember, Wikipedia is NOT allowed at this point.

Primary vs. Secondary Sources

Go to the website linked above to review the difference between primary and secondary sources.

One thing they don't cover on that website are interviews with perpetrators or survivors.  These would also count as primary sources, as would official government or UN documents from the time period.

Developing Your Google-Fu

We'll talk more about how to research effectively on Wednesday when everyone is here, but for now, here's this amazing infographic (see link above).

HOMEWORK

None!  Please walk into class with a solid and specific topic you would like to research next week.  Remember, this topic will be what you will be focusing on for your Op-Ed writing and your political cartoon, so make it something interesting!

Genocide Research, Part 1

Quiz Prep
Spend 30 minutes getting ready for the quiz on Friday.  You can take your map quiz, make study notes, quiz one another...whatever it takes to get you ready!

Resources
Look at the STUDENT RESOURCES page on my DP for examples of what your research should look like, and some websites that may be helpful for you.

Research
Work on genocide research.

HOMEWORK

1. Study for QUIZ on Friday.
2. Research your genocide!

Genocide Research, Part 1

Genocide Quiz Preparation
Use 30 minutes in class to study for the quiz.  You could use this time for any of the following:

1. Make flashcards for the 8 stages based on the templates on the wall.
2. Study for your African map quiz.
3. Read and code Machete Season (see Friday's post for more details on what to do here).
4. Make study notes from the quiz review posters in the room.
5. Take your African map quiz.

Choose Genocide

Lori will run through a list of the possible genocide choices, and give you a brief overview of each one.  You will have a bit of time to choose your genocide.

Genocide Research, Part 1

In this part of the research process, your goal is to get a good idea of what your genocide was about.  In this part of the research process, you are allowed to use tertiary sources like Wikipedia in order to build your background knowledge.

See the handout linked above for more details and steps.

This research is DUE: Thursday, 1/17, by the end of class.

HOMEWORK: 

1. Work on genocide research.  DUE: Thursday, 1/17, end of class.
2. Study for Genocide Quiz.  QUIZ:  Friday, 1/18.

Genocide Quiz Review

Group Review
You will be creating these review materials in small groups.  The materials you create today will be used by other students to study for the quiz, so please ensure they are NEAT, ACCURATE, and THOROUGH.  Remember to plan ahead before beginning your large poster, and to strategize about how to divide the work.  You may use all your resources for this, including notes, your reader, the internet, videos, each other...

Group 1: Stages 1-4 Create large flashcards on pieces of printer paper.  Each flashcard should have the stage of genocide on one side, and the definition, example, and symbol on the other side. (4 people)

Group 2: Stages 5-6 Create large flashcards on pieces of printer paper.  Each flashcard should have the stage of genocide on one side, and the definition, example, and symbol on the other side. (4 people)

Group 3: Create a T-Chart poster that contrasts situationism and dispositionism.  Make sure that for each concept you include the definition, a connection to the Rwandan genocide, and a relevant symbol. (2 people)

Group 4: Create a poster diagram that links together the ideas of conformity, obedience, the bystander effect, and genocide.  Make sure that each concept is defined, explained (why does it happen), and has the specific study/event written next to it. (4 people)

Group 5: Create an annotated poster that shows 10 important things about the Gacaca Courts.  Each of the 10 things should have an image/symbol and a brief (1-2 sentence) explanation. (4 people)

Group 6: Create a T-Chart poster that shows the pros and cons of the Gacaca Courts.  This poster should include at least 4 pros and 4 cons.  Each pro and con should have a visual symbol to go with it. (4 people)

Individual Review

This will help you to be ready for the quiz next Friday.

1. Machete Season: 132-148.  Read, and find at least two examples each of Obedience, the Bystander Effect, and Conformity.
2. Code in the text where you find these
3. Choose one example that you found, and write a paragraph explaining the connection between what is said in that passage, and the concept it connects to.

Study Time

1. Make study notes from posters
2. Make flashcards from flashcard examples
3. Study for map quiz

HOMEWORK

1. Study for African Map Quiz
2. Study for Genocide Quiz 2

Social Psych and Justice/Tribunals

No Starter

Finish Social Psych Activities
Finish required and choice activities for Conformity and Obedience, and Bystanders and Resistance.  SHOW LORI completed activities before the end of class.

Tribunals and Justice:  Choose ONE of the following to complete.

Gacaca Courts Radio Show

Listen to the PRI Radio story at http://www.pri.org/theworld/?q=node/8032 (you can also follow along on the transcript and see photographs on this same page).  Then answer the following questions (1 typed paragraph per question):

1. Describe a Gacaca Court.  How does it work?
2. Why has Rwanda turned to informal Gacaca Courts, rather than sending people through the formal legal system?
3. Do you think the Gacaca Courts are a good solution to the problems facing Rwanda in the post-genocide era?  Why/why not?
4. What do you think should be done with people who admit to participating?  How would this work when so many people participated?

Rwanda Reborn

Read and annotate the article in your reader.  Then type two complete paragraphs that answer the following question:

1. Based on this article, how well do you think Rwanda has recovered from the 1994 genocide?  Give evidence from the article in each paragraph to support your opinion.  Make sure to address the issue of gacaca courts and justice in your response.

Gacaca Court Lecture

Get the video from Lori and watch it (37 minutes).

1. Draw an annotated image that shows the 8 most important things about the Gacaca system.
2. Write one paragraph that answers:  Do you think the Gacaca Courts are a good way to handle the reconciliation process after the genocide?  Why/why not?  Support your answer with examples.

Study for Africa Map Quiz!

HOMEWORK

1. Finish Justice and Tribunals activity.  DUE: Start of class, Friday.
2. Study for African Map Quiz

Quiz Info and Social Psych

No Starter

African Map Quiz

You must take it by the end of next week, and you have to retake until you get an 85%.  You may take it anytime before next Friday.  You will be given a map with all the countries in Africa numbered, and you will have to match the numbers with the correct name of the country.  Below are some online map games to help you study:

1. http://www.ilike2learn.com/ilike2learn/africa.html
2. http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/African_Geography.htm
3. http://www.purposegames.com/game/countries-of-africa-quiz

If you want to study from paper maps, they are linked to yesterday's DP post.

Genocide Quiz, Part 2:  Friday, January 18

This quiz will cover the following topics.  For more detail on what, exactly, you'll be tested on, look at these sections on your Genocide Content Rubric, in the "got it" column:

1. 8 Stages of Genocide
2. Social Psychology
3. Justice/Tribunals

We will have an in-class review session this Friday (1/11/13), and review sessions at lunch next Tuesday (1/15/13), and after school next Wednesday (1/16/13).

Social Psych Activities

By the end of class, you should have:

1. Shown Lori your completed activities for Conformity and Obedience.  This is a total of 4 activities.
2. Completed the activity for Bystanders, and shown it to Lori.
3. If you finish with the activity for Resistance, show that to Lori too!

Tribunals and Justice

If you have finished and been checked off for all the social psych activities, you may move on to the activities for tribunals and justice.  Ask Lori for this handout when you are ready.

HOMEWORK:  Study for map quiz for 15-20 minutes, using one of the online sites linked above.

Obedience, Bystanders, and Resistance

Starter 15: Review
1. Using your notes and the people around you, define the following terms:

• Social Psychology
• Situationism
• Dispositionism
• Conformity

2. Explain how the terms above connect to our study of genocide.  Try to make connections between genocide and at least 3 of the terms.

Social Psychology Continued

Do the activities below in the following order.  For each topic, you need to do one required activity, and one choice activity.  Follow directions carefully!  Handouts with instructions can be found here:  Conformity and Obedience, Bystanders and Resistance.

1. Conformity (finish these if you didn't before break)
2. Obedience
3. SHOW LORI your completed activities for conformity and obedience before moving on!
4. Bystanders
5. Resistance

Your goal should be to finish at least one concept a day.  That means you should be done with these four concepts when you walk into class on Friday. If you finish early, let me know, and I will move you into the next thing we'll be working on!

HOMEWORK

Study for Africa Map Quiz.  Quiz must be completed by Friday, January 18.  You may take it whenever you feel you are ready.  Study resources are below.

1. Africa Country Map
2. Africa Study Guide By Region
3. Blank Regional Map (colored)
4. Blank Regional Map