The Universe of Obligation: Roger & Me

Roger & Me is a 1989 American documentary film directed by Michael Moore. Moore portrays the regional economic impact of General Motors CEO Roger Smith's action of closing several auto plants in Flint, Michigan, costing 30,000 people their jobs at the time (80,000 to date) and economically devastating the city.

This non-fiction film continues our discussion of "The Universe of Obligation."

- If you are not attending class resulting in your missing the viewings and discussions - you may want to make sure you have the required handout and rent the film. I found it available for $1.99 -- http://www.youtube.com/movie?v=XDl6Bt6uO5c&ob=av1n&feature=mv_sr

05 April 2012 (Thursday)
- Finish Discussion & TURN IN Study Guide

04 April 2012 (Wednesday)
- Complete the Questions in the Study Guide - DISCUSS

03 April 2012 (Tuesday)
- Part IV - FINAL View / Discuss -

02 April 2012 (Monday)
- Part III View / Discuss - Desperate times cause for desperate times.

30 March 2012 (Friday)
- Part II View / Discuss

29 March 2012 (Thursday)
- Part I View / Discuss

All My Sons - Arthur Miller

All My Sons by Arthur Miller is the sad Post-World War II story about the Kellers, a seemingly “All American” family. But the father, Joe Keller, has concealed a great sin. During the war, he allowed his factory to ship faulty airplane cylinders to the U.S. Armed Forces. Because of this, over twenty American pilots died (About.com)

29 March 2012 (Thursday)
- DUE FRIDAY:
1. Study Guide
2. Choose Journal #4 or #7
- Reflect and Respond
- 1 Paragraph
- Use evidence to back up your opinions
- Typed - Times New Roman - Double Space - 12 pt font

28 March 2012 (Wednesday)
- Test on whole play (20 Questions MC)
- Read Pages 17 & 18 and respond to questions on Page 18

27 March 2012 (Tuesday)
Discuss ACT III

26 March 2012 (Monday)
- In Class - READ ACT III
- HW - ACT III Questions

23 March 2012 (Friday)
- In Class - Discuss ACT II Questions

22 March 2012 (Thursday)
- In Class - Groups Read the remainder of ACT II
- HW - Questions for ACT II (Assigned to each group)

21 March 2012 (Wednesday)
- In Class - Read / View - ACT II. pg 41-59

20 March 2012 (Tuesday)
- In Class: Groups Report Out on Assigned Questions

19 March 2012 (Monday)
In Class - Groups Discuss Act One Questions
HW - Finish questions assigned in groups

16 MARCH 2012 (Friday)
- Senior Banq. recovery day

15 MARCH 2012 (Thursday)
- In Class - Read in Groups ACT 1
- HW - Finish ACT 1 reading

14 MARCH 2012 (Wednesday)
- In Class - Discuss Journal 1 & 2
- HW Read Page 5 - 15

13 MARCH 2012 (Tuesday)
- In Class - Discuss concept of Universe of Obligation
- HW: Journal Entry #1 and #2 (found in the Study Guide) - on separate piece of paper











Consider to whom we have obligations. Given the "love triangle" scenarios presented within the opening pages of Act I and the video trailer (below) -- what would you do in a similar situation and why?

CREATIVE WRITING: DEFEND YOUR LIFE! (Due March 16th)

DUE MARCH 16 --

"The Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living" - Socrates

TASK:
Imagine you are in front of a tribunal (Judges, etc.), similar to the film, where you have to 'defend' a moment (scene, incident, etc.) from your life.

Choose ONE (1) of the following options:
1. An incident that you feel shows you 'facing a fear' or making a good judgment
2. An incident that you feel shows you not 'facing a fear' or misjudgment

You are to create a no more than 2-page response / reflection paper IN THE THIRD PERSON that develops your incident or scene.

In your response be sure to explain the 'scene.' Be descriptive and detailed to help your reader really see and feel this experience. Include details such as:
- How old you were.
- What you did.
- Why you feel you did what you did.
- What you feel this moment reveals about you (your personality, judgement, etc.)
- What would you do different if you had the chance?
- How do you think this decision might have affected future events?

Note: Will it be a challenge to write about yourself in the third person? Maybe - but are we not the omniscient narrators of our own life? Only you can see into your heart and mind... unless you're using more than 48 percent of your brain! (Plus it avoids having to write "I, I, I" over and over again.)

Besides -- What's more fun to read?
"I was 10 a ten year old nerd. My glasses used to fall off of my head because my head was lumpy. So I took my Dad's staple gun to take care of the situation."
OR
"Johnny was a 10 year old nerd. His glasses taped in many places from years of falling off his misshapened head. It was a warm summer day when Johnny had an idea he thought to be brilliant: staple gun his glasses to his head."

Typewritten
MLA Headings
12 point font
Times New Roman
Double Space
DUE MARCH 16 - (Staple handwritten brainstorm / draft)

Defending Your Life

For this work we will bridge the ideas discussed in Tuesday's With Morrie, by viewing a satirical film on the subject of The Afterlife.

The film will be viewed in class, where students will be expected to practice active note taking skills either using the Discussion Question Sheet. The completed discussion sheet will be a quiz grade.

A writing assignment will be given upon completing viewing of the film.

* If you miss a day of class, it will be your responsibility to obtain a copy (rent it, YouTube it, I don't care) and view the film.

Defending Your Life is a 1991 romantic comedy/fantasy film about a man who must justify his life-long lack of assertiveness after he dies and arrives in the afterlife. The film was written and directed by, and stars Albert Brooks. It also stars Meryl Streep, Rip Torn and Lee Grant. Shirley MacLaine has a cameo appearance as herself, acting as the holographic host of the "Past Lives Pavilion", a reference to her publicly known belief in reincarnation. The movie was filmed entirely in and around Los Angeles, California. Despite its comedic overtones, Defending Your Life contains elements of drama and allegory. (Wiki, IMDB)

Here is the First Part which you can Link to the remaining parts if you miss a viewing in class, or need to refresh yourself.

REMINDER

Test on T.W.M on FRIDAY MARCH 2
Study Guide and Vocab DUE Friday March 2