1. Politics (Ch. 13)
Essential Question: What is the nature of the relationship between the citizen and the state?

2. Politics The process by which groups make decisions
Cause of social change
Democratic governments exercise power through the will of the people
With that power comes responsibility, even the responsibility to dissent if necessary

3. Discussion Questions (think, write, discuss)
Hence, what is the nature of patriotism in a democracy?
Is it loyalty to the government or loyalty to the ideals of the nation?
How is American patriotism colored by the fact that our country was born out of a revolution?

4. Literature from this chapter
Writers on American politics examine the rights of citizens to resist, and remind us of connection between political action & social change
As Americans, former subjects of a colonial power, colonialism is an especially interesting subject
Is our view of colonialism affected by our nation’s origin? Is this view outdated?
Does colonialism ever have positive benefits?
How does patriotism work when the government is a foreign power?

5. Literature continued…
Selections in this chapter raise those questions & remind us of the effects of both colonialism and post-colonialism on language, culture, social change, and global politics (read Literary Context handout).

6. Purpose
Educated citizens—the root of the word politics is the Greek word for citizen—must know about the politics of the world & politics of their own country
This chapter presents variety of voices & perspectives on national and world politics
Examine the interrelationships among citizens, their states, and the world

7. Readings & Selections
“On Seeing England for the First Time” by Jamaica Kincaid, p. 904 due Thurs. 2/11
“A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift, p. 914
“Thoughts on Peace in an Air Raid” by Virginia Woolf, p. 935 due Tues. 2/16
“On the Duty of Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau, p. 939 due Thurs. 2/18
Choose your own non-fiction article or piece, must be contemporary ( ) on politics due Mon. 2/22
“Guernica” Painting by Pablo Picasso, p. 975 due Mon. 2/22
Colonialism: “The Empire Fights Back” by Chinua Achebe, p. 985 due Weds. 2/24

8. Lessons
Closely read each selection using a close reading strategy: Cornell Notes, post-it notes, DJs, T-Chart, etc. I will check this the day the reading is due.
Be prepared to discuss the piece in detail. See discussion questions at the end of the selection to guide your reading.
Remember you are looking to understand the paradigm, exigence, rhetorical triangle, rhetorical devices & strategies, etc. of the piece and how the author uses the piece as a voice for his/her opinion on the topic of politics
Review essay prompt that you will write after reading & analyzing all pieces

9. Essay Prompt, p. 1007
Each of the statements on pages addresses the nature of politics. Select one that interests you, and write an essay defending or challenging its assertion.
To support your argument, refer to your knowledge of history, the selections in this chapter, and the selection you chose.

10. Discussion Questions
Share your thoughts with your group members. Write down your responses.
You will turn in your responses at the end of the period.

11. Kincaid Discussion Questions
Why does Kincaid spend so much time describing what she ate, what she wore, and what her father wore? What is the significance? What do these details mean?
What type of conflict does she have with England? What is her view of England? Why?
What does she mean when she says, “I had long ago been conquered” (906).
What does she means when she says, “The space between the idea of something and its reality is always wide and deep and dark”? (908).

12. Kincaid Discussion Questions
Discuss (with your group) the type of rhetorical devices Kincaid uses. How does she use these devices to develop the meaning or achieve a particular effect or purpose? Explain the meaning, effect, or purpose.
What is her relationship to England? How do you know? Use textual evidence to support your response.
How does Kincaid use the piece as a voice for her opinion on the topic of politics? What is her commentary on politics?

13. 40 minute Essay

14. Essay Questions
What is Paine’s characterization of America? How do you know?
Does Paine’s characterization of America hold true today? Why or why not?
What evidence do you have to support your claims?

15. “Thoughts on Peace in an Air Raid” by Virginia Woolf Discussion Qs
What is Woolf’s argument? How do you know?
How important is ethos (personal experience) in conveying her argument? Why?
In paragraph 2, what kind of fighting does Woolf call on women to do?
How do the hornet metaphor (para. 3) and the sawing simile (para. 5) serve Woolf’s purpose as she argues for women to fight the war?
In paragraph 5, Woolf writes, “Hitlers are bred by slaves.” How can such a paradoxical statement be accurate?
What are the purpose and effect of the rhetorical questions in paragraph 7? She concludes para. 7 with the aphoristic statement “We must compensate the man for the loss of his gun.” What does she mean?

16. “Thoughts on Peace in an Air Raid” by Virginia Woolf Discussion Qs
In para. 8, Woolf refers to “this roof” and “this very room,” and counts the seconds. What is the effect of such details?
What is Woolf’s attitude toward war and peace as revealed in the last two paragraphs? How does she try to appeal to Americans?
Explain whether you believe that Woolf’s suggestions about the relationship between gender and warfare, between gender and aggression are still relevant today.

17. “Thoughts on Peace in an Air Raid” by Virginia Woolf Discussion Qs
Discuss (with your group) the type of rhetorical devices Woolf uses. How does she use these devices to develop the meaning or achieve a particular effect or purpose? Explain the meaning, effect, or purpose.
What is her relationship to England? How do you know? Use textual evidence to support your response.
How does Woolf use the piece as a voice for her opinion on the topic of politics? What is her commentary on politics?

18. Thoreau’s “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience”
What is Thoreau’s idea of government?
What is civil disobedience? What is Thoreau’s position on civil disobedience? How do you know?
How did events of the 19th century impact Thoreau’s fundamental beliefs?
What is Thoreau’s moral dilemma?

19. (Q1) Thoreau’s essay is based on the paradox that a good citizen is justified in breaking the law under certain circumstances. Find 2-3 paradoxical statements that reinforce and extend this basic paradox.

20. (Q2) What war is going on when Thoreau is writing
(Q2) What war is going on when Thoreau is writing? How does Thoreau believe most people feel about the war?

21. (Q3) Thoreau holds an assumption—an opinion that is taken for granted— that civil disobedience is the only sensible and moral course to take. What evidence and explanations does he use to support his assumption?

22. (Q4) Explain Thoreau’s attitude as a prisoner of conscience
(Q4) Explain Thoreau’s attitude as a prisoner of conscience. What part of Thoreau did the locked doors of the jail confine?

23. Discuss (with your group) the type of rhetorical devices Thoreau uses
Discuss (with your group) the type of rhetorical devices Thoreau uses. How does he use these devices to develop the meaning or achieve a particular effect or purpose? Explain the meaning, effect, or purpose.
What is his relationship to America? How do you know? Use textual evidence to support your response.
How does Thoreau use the piece as a voice for his opinion on the topic of politics? What is his commentary on politics?

24. Write an Essay
Do you agree or disagree with Thoreau’s argument on civil disobedience? In a well-written essay, develop your position and use appropriate evidence to support your argument.
What is Thoreau's argument?
Defend, challenge, or qualify
Appropriate evidence
Use precise diction, rhetorical devices, varied sentence structure