Counting Beer Bottles
*This story talks about abuse and alcoholism* Today, we’re listening to Miller & Januszewski’s StoryCorps, “I Remember Counting the Beer Bottles” As you listen consider the following questions:
Tag: ENGL090
Be Real Social Media
Today, we’re reading Terry Nguyen’s Vox article,“Are We Ever Authentically Ourselves on the Internet?” In your small groups, please consider the following questions: Do you share content across platforms? Why? What is authenticity? What does it mean on social media? What aspects of your life/personality do you perform? Would you use BeReal over TikTok or… Read More Be Real Social Media
Selfie Dysmorphia
Today, we’re reading Elle Hunt’s article, “Faking It: How Selfie Dysmorphia Is Driving People to Seek Surgery,” from The Guardian. In your small groups, please answer the following questions and post them here: What is the central claim of the article? Can you identify a specific sentence? How does the series of images at the… Read More Selfie Dysmorphia
Vintage Beer Signs
In his photo essay, “Vintage Beer Signs in the Midwest,” Praslowicz argues that, “a perfect symbol for my upbringing is probably the large Pabst Blue Ribbon or Old Style name signs that every single bar in the region had displayed outside of their establishment.” He suggests there’s a deep connection between these signs and locale.… Read More Vintage Beer Signs
van Houtryve Migrant Trail Exhibit
We’ll check out van Houtryve‘s Traces of Exile. as a class. We’ll also look at the featured story from The New Yorker, “Europe’s Migrant Trail, Through the Instagrams of Refugees” As we look through the exhibition, consider the following questions: What story is van Houtryve telling us with these videos? What does he want his audience to learn… Read More van Houtryve Migrant Trail Exhibit
Robb Van Gogh Selfie
Today we’re reading Alice Robb’s New Republic article, “Would Van Gogh Have Taken Selfies? Probably. In your small groups, consider the following questions: Why do you think it’s such a big deal that the Oxford English Dictionary declared “selfie” the word of the year? What are the aims of selfie? What are selfies trying to do? How might this differ from… Read More Robb Van Gogh Selfie
The Cost of Low Literacy
In Nietzel’s Forbes article, “Low Literacy Levels among U.S. Adults Could Be Costing the Economy $2.2 Trillion a Year” (PDF below), he points out that “54% of U.S. adults 16-74 years old – about 130 million people – lack proficiency in literacy, reading below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level.” What is most surprising to… Read More The Cost of Low Literacy
Left Behind in Public Schools
Today, we’re reading Erickson’s “Many Children Left Behind” published in The Nation. Read the article and in your small groups answer the following questions: What does Erickson mean when she says that public schools provide more than they should? What services to public schools provide to students besides education? Is education the best anti-poverty program?… Read More Left Behind in Public Schools
Heart of Atlanta and America
Today, we’re reading Justin Glawe’s New York Magazine piece, “The Message from the Heart of the Atlanta Attacks: ‘America Is Getting Worse’”. After reading the article, answer the following questions: What event in Atlanta is the article referring to? If you don’t find it clear from the piece, try googling it. What does Glawe’s description… Read More Heart of Atlanta and America
Operation Santa and Poverty
Today we’re reading Caleb Brennan’s “Operation Santa Is a Horror Story About American Poverty” The New Republic. After reading the article answer the following questions: What is the article’s thesis? Feel free to copy and paste it here. Why do you think the author provides the history of Operation Santa? What does it tell us… Read More Operation Santa and Poverty
Alison A. Lukowski 