Critical Thinking at LIAT March 15, 2021

Today we will continue with work left unfinished last week. 

1. We open with a short film for discussion: Backward God, directed by Natalie Cook, writer and producer. The film tells the story of how man made God in his image. The film interweaves elements of ecology and spiritualty to retell the book of Genesis through a womanist lens.

Natalie Cook is a filmmaker, poet, and theater-maker. Natalie’s poetry film, “Backwards God,” received the Best Social Justice Film Award at the New York International Film Awards and was the Grand Prize Winner of the AT&T Film Awards. She is the founder of Atlanta Word Works, as well as an alumna of the First Wave Hip Hop Theatre Ensemble, the BARS Workshop at The Public Theater, and the Gates Millennium Scholarship Program. She received a Bachelor in Arts in English with an Emphasis in Creative Writing and Afro-American Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Master of Arts in Film, Black Studies, and Art Education from the NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study. 

2. Discussion or analysis (chose an Essential Intellectual Trait p. 24-25 in MGCT). What is her argument? Concession? Premises? What analogy is present? What visual clues reinforce the thesis or plot? 

3. Summary -- Let's look at the op ed from last week on Bloody Sunday. 

4.  Share WA 7 with class for discussion.

5 Homework. Read Chapter 5 pp. 94-121. We will look at definitions and how what is certain can change (smile). 

Critical Thinking at LIAT

Last week we reviewed WLTC, Chapter 3: The Structure of Argument (50). We practiced reducing arguments to Standard Form. We spoke about assumptions, especially hidden assumptions in an argument. 

1. Today we will review Exercise 3C (62). We are also going to practice writing a summary together. Let's review Strategies for Wrting a Summary (65). 

2. Review difference between Arguments and Explanations (68). Review (70-71).

3. Share Writing Assignment 6. 

4. If we have time identify the parts of the essay: 

I want to give everyone the link to the 56th Annual Bloody Sunday Virtual Anniversary program in Selma, Alabama, March 7, 2021.  

Article about Bloody Sunday: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/03/07/time-some-more-good-trouble-voting-rights-56-years-after-bloody-sunday/

See The Miniature Guide p. 29 for response(s)


Homework: 
Writing Assignment 7. Send to your classmates for feedback. Here are guidelines on how to respond to a classmate's work. Purdue OWL is a great academic resource. 

The essay should be 2-3 pages. The two page option does not include a Works Cited page. The documentation should be minimally 3. You do not have to cite from all your sources. Put the additional documents (uncited) in the bibliography. 

Works Cited Resource: Purdue OWL  Look on the left margins and scroll down for Chicago Style Guide. 

Sample paper using MLA citations. 

Extra Credit or Optional (for now)
If you like, start reading Chapter 5 (94). Just work on your essay. 

For practice, watch some of the footage from the virtual Bloody Sunday Commemoration (link above) or analyze the Washington Post op ed (or a related article). 

You could also write a summary response to one of the two documents.