Argumentative Structures / Pap Finn

English 11 - We worked through Chapters 4-7 of Huck Finn today.  Students brought in quotations that lined up with a reading focus (American Romanticism, American Gothic, Slave Narratives, Regionalism).  In groups, they shared the quotations they had identified and slowly compiled a set of notes that they then entered into the computer.  These notes will end up getting compiled into a larger document that students will use to write their first paper. We spent most of today working out mechanics and looking at few passages.  Our discussion was limited but we get time to focus on Pap Finn's discussion of the government.  While Pap Finn is primarily characterized as drunken selfish fool in the novel, his discussion of the government is at times reminiscent of Henry David Thoreau's critique of the government in Walden.  Both of these individuals believe that the government that governs best, governs least.  Interestingly enough though, Pap Finn's ramble about the governments quickly descends into a racist speech where Pap demands that the government remove a freed slave's right to vote and re-enslave him.  The juxtaposition of these two statements reveals something about the story of early American history - on one level, it can be seen as the story of individuals who persevered without the help of government; on another level, it can be seen as the story of individuals who persevered thanks to the government's support of expansion and slavery.

AP - We slogged through three types of argumentative structures.  This period was a difficult period for students and I am planning on adjusting around it.  Hopefully, students came out with a basic understanding of Classic Oratory and Rogerian Arguments.  I also hope they came out with some understanding of how claims, reasons, and warrants are connected.  For AP students who are still unclear on how the three connect, here is one of the three examples from pg.191 of Everything's An Argument:

Claim: The federal government should ban smoking.

Warrant: The Constitution was established to "promote the general welfare," and citizens are thus entitled to protection from the harmful actions of others.

Reason: Smoking causes serious diseases in smokers and endangers nonsmokers as well.