ENGL 2: For What It’s Worth— Poverty and Wealth, American Style

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Week 7 - Mon 3.2/Wed 3.4

Nearly three in 10 (28%) American adults have no emergency savings. One in four have a rainy day fund, but not enough money to cover three months’ worth of living expenses.

Week 7 - Mon 3.2/Wed 3.4
Read: Nickel—Two: Scrubbing in Maine
Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“Inside Kenneth Burke’s Dramatistic Pentad”
Due: REFLECTION 3

Upcoming:

Week 8 - Mon 3.9/Wed 3.11
Read: Nickel—Three: Selling in Minnesota
Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Financial News 2.29

Monday, February 24, 2020

Reflection 3: You Poor Thing⁠—Songs for the Down and Out

For such a bleak subject, impoverishment is a surprisingly common theme for singers and songwriters. Perhaps the topic is so broadly relatable because most of us, at one time or another, have experienced financial stress. For their part, artists have harvested all aspects of monetary destitution for their songs, from desperation to denial to hope.

For this reflection, you will examine, in depth, the lyrics of two iconic songs about being poor. Choose two of the songs from the set of your birthday month to write about.

January - March:

Phil Collins, "Another Day in a Paradise"
Tom Jones, "I Who Have Nothing"
Arrested Development, "Mr. Wendal"
Anaïs Mitchell, "Wedding Song"
Sade, "Jezebel"

April - June:

Loretta Lynn, "Coal Miner's Daughter"
Bruce Hornsby and The Range, "That's the Way It Is"
Crystal Waters, “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)
ABBA, "Money, Money"
Dolly Parton, "Coat of Many Colors"

July - September:

Stevie Wonder, "Living for the City"
Merle Haggard, "If We Make it Through December"
Loggins & Messina, "Danny's Song"
Billy Joel, "Allentown"
Tennessee Ernie Ford, "Sixteen Tons"

October - December:

"It's the Hard Knock Life" from Annie
Lorde, "Royals"
Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car"
Bobby Gentry, "Fancy"
Simply Red, "Money's Too Tight (to Mention)"

Note: You will be responsible for sourcing the lyrics for your songs. It is recommended you find more than one source per song as online lyrics are notoriously inaccurate. Additionally, you should credit the lyricist—which may or may not be the singer—for the words.

Required:

MLA Style
Approximately 300 words
Works cited

Due: Wed 3.4

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Week 6 - Mon 2.24/Wed 2.26

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans spend about 1% of their gross annual income on alcohol—about $565 a year for the average household.

Week 6 - Mon 2.24/Wed 2.26
Read: Nickel—Introduction: Getting Ready - One: Serving in Florida
Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Watch—Excerpts from Generation Wealth (2018)
Due: TOULMAN METHOD

Upcoming:

Week 7 - Mon 3.2/Wed 3.4
Read: Nickel—Two: Scrubbing in Maine
Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“Inside Kenneth Burke’s Dramatistic Pentad”
Due: REFLECTION 3

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Toulmin Model: Should Churches Pay Taxes?

For the past 30 years, a debate has raged over the whether or not churches in the United States should pay federal, state, and local taxes. Proponents often argue that churches do many good works, including attending to the needs of the less fortunate in society. Meanwhile, opponents point to the massive financial reserves and real estate holdings of many churches, all of which is tax-free. What do you think? Should churches’ tax-exempt status remain or must they assume tax liabilities, like everyone else?

For this assignment, you will utilize the Toulmin Model to construct a rhetorically-sound claim for or against churches paying taxes. You will construct ONE claim that will be supported by TWO distinct sets of grounds, warrants, backings, etc.

Note:

Include a Works Cited below your Toulmin Model
Utilize at least three sources: Two articles from the eReader AND one source from your own research.

Use THIS template to present your model in outline form.

Required:

Works cited

Due: Wed 2.6