Thinking/Writing Unit Argumentative Thinking/Writing Unit

Learning Target 02/01/16: Students will demonstrate their understanding of episode 11, “Rumors” by learning how to discern bias and formulating their own opinions about the rumors they hear.

“The Best Defense is a Good Defense” Episode 10 Review “The Best Defense is a Good Defense” What role does Adnan’s culture play in episode 10? Compare and contrast the first and second trial. (Think about Christina’s choice with requesting a mistrial and how it affected the outcome of Adnan’s case) How does Christina’s way of representing the Whitman's shed light on the way she dealt with Adnan’s case?

Christina Gutierrez The state paid out $282,328 on 28 claims against Christina.

Charles P. Ewing Law Professor and Forensic Psychologist

Adnan Syed Picture taken in 1998

Bias Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair. Rumor A currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth.

"For two months now, I've been grappling with rumors about Adnan "For two months now, I've been grappling with rumors about Adnan. People tell me 'there's stuff you don't know about Adnan. Stuff you need to know to understand what you're dealing with,'" said Koenig, who acknowledges that while "none of it is directly connected to the crime," there are "a great many things I don't know about Adnan." 

Vocabulary Succumbing (4:54), Duplicitous (9:40), Liminal (24:58), Façade (27:00), Glib (29:20), Ingratiate (37:10)

Homework for Tuesday: Finish listening, completing vocab, and taking notes on episode 11 “Rumors” Consider the rumors that have been spread about Adnan, how might bias play in to these rumors? Or how might these rumors affect ones bias? Adnan admits to stealing from the mosque. Does this justify him as a serial killer? Do these rumors have any relevance to the killing of Hae? Are they evidence of bad character?

Next time… Koenig reads a letter Syed wrote to her. "'At this point,' he wrote, 'It doesn't matter to me how your story portrays me — guilty or innocent — I just want it to be over.'“ "It will be. Next time, final episode of Serial."