Language and Composition: The Art of Voice (Muller and Whiting)Chapter 5:
Education and Society: How, What, and Why Do We Learn?Context LinksFREDERICK DOUGLASS, Learning to Read and Write Context Links Watch this 2009 CBS news report on adult illiteracy. Why do you think the report chose to focus not only on larger statistics, but also on illiteracy’s effects on an individual?
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4711567n
RICHARD RODRIGUEZ, The Lonely, Good Company of Books Context Links In this article from The Wall Street Journal, the author argues that the e-book will change the way we read from a private event to a communal one. If Rodriguez had embarked on reading in a world like the one described in the article, how might his experience have been different? What are some advantages and disadvantages of the types of reading described?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123980920727621353.html To put bilingual education in the United States into a broader historical context, study this brief history of the subject, which traces the movement back to the middle of the 19th century.
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/special_reports/bilingual/langhst.shtml For further reading, here is an essay Rodriguez wrote for PBS about speaking Spanish in United States. What thematic links can you make from this reading to "Aria"?
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/essays/may00/rodriguez_5-9.html
LOUIS MENAND, The Graduates Context Links Read this article on the college dropout rate. What are the main factors that cause students to leave college before completing their degree? What do you think Rodriguez would think about these reasons?
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/27/us-attn-andrea-education-dropouts-idUSBRE82Q0Y120120327 This link takes you to a podcast of an interview from NPR on The Marketplace of Ideas. What is the central issue or concern of the interview and the book? What other ideas emerge here, relative to contemporary or current trends, interests, demands and outcomes in education and the job market?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122702647
VARTAN GREGORIAN, America, Still on Top Context Links These links provide transcript and a video of a report and interview of Gregorian with Bill Moyers. How does this interview relate to Gregorian's piece in the text? What are some of the central ideas here about education in the United States?
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/01302009/profile3.html
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/01302009/watch2.html How does this article from The Economist recommend reinventing education?
http://www.economist.com/node/21541398
ANNA QUINDLEN, Sex Ed Context Links Here are several Web sites published by advocacy groups dedicated to preventing teen pregnancy. How do the Web sites’ features contribute to their message? http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/ http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/teen-pregnancy-prevention http://www.healthyteennetwork.org/ http://www.plannedparenthood.org/info-for-teens/pregnancy-33811.asp This article from the CEO of TeachAIDS is about sex education in other areas of the world. In your opinion, what would Quindlen think of this approach?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-piya-sorcar/a-new-approach-to-global-_b_790420.html
SUSAN JACOBY, When Bright Girls Decide That Math Is “a Waste of Time” Context Links Visit the site for BrainCake, the Girls’ Math and Science Partnership. How might an organization like this one address the issues Jacoby raises in her essay? What questions might Jacoby have for its organizers?
http://www.braincake.org/ This PBS article is about a program that encourages girls to stick with math and science. What are the elements of the program? Do you think this program could be successful?
http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2012/01/steering-girls-to-science-and-tech-careers010.html
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