1. Write a paragraph about your experience doing the debate (The debate you did last time)Debate summaryFor the topic, “industrial organic food production is better than conventional industrial food production when it comes to the environment, farmers, public health, and taxpayers, but is still unsustainable” (182-184), before reading the debate, 14 classmates were for and 12 were opposed. After reading the debate, 14 were for and 13 were opposed. One person was undecided before the debate and moved to the con position; therefore, the con position wins, although more students were in support of the pro side. Those on the pro side were mainly for organic production and the benefit in not using chemicals and artificial fertilizer, as well as a reduction in subsidies. Those on the con side felt organic was much more expensive and continued to have negative impacts on the environment, such as in the use of fossil fuels. In the chapter “Big Organic,” Pollan is critical of how industrial organic is similar to conventional industrial in many of the production methods, such as mass production of animals, feeding cows corn, and the use of fossil fuels for transportation. However, he ultimately thinks organic is better because it is produced without pesticides and artificial fertilizer which impact the environment and possibly consumers.2. Discussiona. Choice 5: Given the circumstance that your topic doesn’t lend itself well to observation or participation (for field work), you may need to write a fictional account based on the facts that you can find out. Look again at the Student Samples excerpted from Proteus papers in Professor Fischer’s class. In particular, look at the fictional reconstruction of the experience of an arranged marriage in sample 4, based on a photograph and family stories. How do you think this could be integrated into the overall research paper? Remember that these are actual excerpts from the papers. If you need to write a story for your participation/observation, how will you go about this? What factual evidence and research will you base this upon?b. One paragraph response to one of the other postings by your classmates. You may agree, disagree, ask a question, or try to come up with a transition connecting two of the ideas in different postings.
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PROTEUS STUDENT SAMPLES
Seven “Chapters” from Proteus — enjoy
These are examples of a variety of approaches to writing Proteus Project in Mr. Fischer’s classes. All
of them reflect the kind of writing and thinking that Fischer is encouraging. Allstudents have given
permission to have their samples used in perpetuity; you might too. Use these models to inspire and
shape the writing of your Project.
Two things to consider: (1) what do you think the CQ was in each case. In other words, what
questions do you think are being answered by these writings (2) how the pieces are written. What
surprises you? engages you? Informs you? I’ve done this for #1
1.
TODAY TRACY, TOMORROW THE WORLD By Tony Favrat
CQ: What accounts for the ongoing interest in the Nazi party – both by Nazis and the culture.
Note: status life details from “Floyd Patterson” and original interior monolog. As you read note
(a) SLD (status life details) (b) interview technique (c) as usual at *** ask Fischer this question:
what would a more effective essay done at this point?
The road soon turned very bumpy and I bounced the rest of the way until I found myself resting out
front of a white building. Half a dozen American-made sedans guarded the front and a sign which said
HEADQUARTERS OF THE NATIONAL SOCIALIST WHITE PEOPLE’S PARTY kept watch over the entire
neighborhood. I quietly parked my car and walked to the door. Cursing myself for not bringing some
sort of weapon, I opened the door and forced my heart back down my throat and jotted down some
notes. Continuing cautiously down the corridor, I noticed that my shoes were squeaking and just
shook my head: What else could happen I questioned myself. The hard wooden floor of the building
seemed springy to the touch of my foot, and white walls reminded me of a prison cell. I noticed a
portrait hanging in the corner and decided to investigate. As I drew nearer, I recognized the fanatical
face of the king rat himself, Adolph Hitler. . . .
(interview subject finally walks in) His appearance was not that of a Gestapo Major, but that of Santa
Claus. His face seemed both oldish and kindly and his dark eyes stood out like raisins on cottage
cheese. His hair was silver-grey and cut short. The wrinkles in his face made him look about 65, but I
couldn’t be sure. The face may have surprised me, but the clothes did not; his tan shirt, with black tie
and pants, carried the standard swastika on the armband. Yes, he was a Nazi all right.
“Now what would like to know?” he asked, bracing himself.
“Your name please,” I responded, trying to be the confident newsman type, but failing dearly.
“I’m sorry,” he said with a sigh, “but I cannot give you my name; we’ve been harassed much too much
as it is.”
“Why that dirty . . “ I thought to myself. I wanted to yell, but knew my grade depended on the
interview, so I regained composure.
“What are the goals of the party? I asked, already knowing the answer. ** (ask question listed above).
What’s missing here?
“Our only main objective is to tear down the present government and replace it with the party’s”
He had just fallen in to my first trap. “Excuse,” I said smugly, “But isn’t that treason?”
“My dear boy,” “was it treason when the Russians, French, and Americans had their
“revolution”? Certainly you don’t consider Jefferson Franklin, and Washington to be traitors?”
“But wasn’t that different?”
“Not as far as I’m concerned,” he responded nonchalantly as possible.
“how do you know that there are that many people out there who will join you?” I asked starting to feel
more confident.***(ask question) Why should Tony feel confident?
“Our nationwide membership ensures this?’
“About how many is that?”
“Hard to say.”
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“Just an estimate?” I pressed.
“How about approximately 750,000 nationwide!”
“Are you serious?”
“Deadly serious,” he said sounding like a madman in a Grade B movie.
“how about World War II?”
“What in particular?”
“If Nazism is so great, how did you ever lose?” I joked to myself
as my pencil came to attention.
#2 NUNS by Cindy Kenney (note: use of Studs Terkel oral history technique for interviews.
Omits questions, no comment, status life details would be intro (which she omitted). Can you
infer the questions?
Let’s see, when did I decide to become a nun? Well, I was in high school, a girl friend and I used to joke
around about becoming nuns, then suddenly it wasn’t a joke anymore. My family was shocked, but
finally realized that I meant business. I visited a few convents and decided on Dominican Sisters. They
were very helpful and urged me to go out in the world and get a job, my own apartment and go out on
dates. They don’t want naïve high school girls going straight into the convent without being out in the
real world first. I really learned a lot about myself and how to stand on my own two feet.
After two years, I returned to the convent and made my promises. It was a real cultural shock for me. I
had to do a lot of things for the good of the community, that I would have rather not done. Getting up at
5:45 in the morning is still tough and I’d rather not eat at the hours we have, but I’m only one out of
120 sisters and if it pleases God then that is all that matters. I guess there is bound to be a few
unexpected inconveniences. It’s like a mother with a new-born baby. She thinks it is cute and cuddly,
but then she realizes she has to get up at 4:30 a.m. to feed it. (laughs).
#3 ATTENTION ALL MIDDLE-CLASS AMERICANS…WAKE UP!!!
By Christie Rohrberg
(note how elements of the Proteus Project are linked here; interviews, reading, personal opinion –
synthesis). Note: synthesis
To understand the destruction of the middle class in America, you must first recognize the middle class
for who they are, and how they got there. Contrary to popular belief, the middle class is not a group of
people with similar economic stature. They are, however, a group of people with similar economic selfimage. According to Andrew Barlow, sociology instructor at both the University of California at
Berkeley and Diablo Valley College, in the 1970s you could ask an American which social class he
belonged to and without giving any guidelines, 80% would identify themselves as middle class;
however, their incomes would range anywhere from $3,000 to $800,000 annually. Today in the 1990s,
although the percentage of people calling themselves middle class is lower, the majority of Americans
are still calling themselves middle class. This issue is caused in part by the stigma of being associated
with the other two social classes. If you are from the lower class, you’re on welfare , the dregs of
society; if you’re from the upper class, you’re a snob and inherited your money . . . In his book, Boiling
Point, Kevin Phillips agrees with Barlow and outlines just a few of the economics of higher education.
He reminds us that over the past two years, the student fees in the UC System have increased by 65%,
60% in the CSU system, and over 100% in the community college system.
#4 ~~ My People by Jan Line (note: required observation based on family stories, photographic
observation; no first-hand observations possible)
Inn-Yeh sat demurely on the gilt-coated chair, clasping and unclasping her hands. She longed to quiet
the anxious rumbling of her stomach, but knew that the guests had not finished staring. Her rear was
quickly tiring from this inaction, the lengthiest she had to remain still in all of her seventeen years.
Despite Mom’s pains at teaching the social graces, there was a still a bit of obstinate rebellion left in
Inn-Yeh’s blood. She contemplated shouting, “BER AI! NO! I do not want to get married to some fogey
stranger. “ It would have been interesting to see the matronly aunts fall flat on their faces. But no, she
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couldn’t be wayward and disgrace the family. Father was a respected Landlord; besides, there was the
sugar company to think of. That was where he worked. Sue Rong, her husband-to-be. She rolled the
syllables under her breath, and it tripped all over her tongue. What a lousy name.
Her foot had gone to sleep, but she dared not move a muscle. Mom’s hawk eyes were glued onto her
veiled figure. Inn-Yeh’s eyelids were getting heavier; where was the groom? Couldn’t he find his pants/
A sigh of relief flitted through the crowd. Ah, finally. The bakers shuffled in, hauling hundreds of moon
cakes on their backs. An appreciative murmur reached Inn-yeh’s ears at the same time that her
delicate nostrils picked up the scent of warm, flaky crusts.
#5: WHAT DOES ALEX HALEY KNOW? — Jeanine Jirka (based on photographic “saturation”)>
Sunlight filtered through smog and clouds to peek through the slits of Venetian blinds to make bars of
light across woven rugs. A ceramic statue with chips and cracks stands atop a yellowed crocheted
doily like a wounded soldier on a bloody battlefield. An olive davenport covered with a white quilt and
lean white chair with covers on the arms line the white walls. A cabinet bulges with fine bone china
pieces and crystal glasses. A dark stained dinner table in the corner has been prepared with the
everyday dishes and silverware. A porcelain pitcher of milk, a basket of breads and rolls and a glass
jar of honey are neatly arranged in the middle of the table for easy access.
Leaning back with his legs crossed is Robert, sitting on a large dark chair that has heavy arms and
sturdy legs. A sour grin finds him in striped shorts and white cotton undershirt. His head is topped
with the short cropped hair of a Marine, and enormous ears jut out from the sides of his face. At the
end of his high typically Czech forehead are thin, pencil eyebrows and dark, deep-set eyes covered by
gold-rimmed glasses. His thick, flat nose, like that of an old boxer, centers around the thick, deep
cracks that traverse his face from the bottom of his nose to the top of his thin, almost non-existent lips.
His chin is clef in two and rests atop a mound of flesh. His square face sets on his sparsely hairy chest.
His knowledge of hard work is shown in his massive trunk and heavily muscular arms and legs. The
year is 1908. Robert is only 21.
#6: COMMUNISM: AN AMERICAN NIGHTMARE BY JAMES THEIL
Interview with Angela Davis — ** who’s that?
Note: How did James solve the problem of not being willing (or able) or brave enough to
challenge Angela Davis in person?
Question: How would you describe the situation in
Poland? (the national strike in Poland, a communist
country)
Davis answers: Well, I think of course, that’s a very
complicated question. Much of the information about
what has happened in Poland has never reached the
people of this country. I would just say that it’s very
strange the U.S,. government cries out on behalf of the
workers in Poland; on the other hand, what about the
workers in this country/ You saw banner headlines
about the situation in Poland. When have you ever
seen banner headlines in this country where the
newspapers in the U.S. express solidarity with the
workers on strike? What did Reagan do with the
PATCO workers? What is their reaction to any strike?
James’ reflection – he was silence but thought this:
For a very complicated question, she never does
answer it. Strikes are common in the U.S. and are both
supported and opposed. This is the ONLY Polish strike.
The mere fact that there is a need among the people in
a socialist, workers’ state is proof that socialism in this
case has not fulfilled its ideals.
#7: ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG BY Henry Franco (subject: terminally ill teenagers).
Two adults came in, one was a counselor, one a psychiatrist. They announced there was a guest present (namely
me) and started the meeting. The discussions were all very depressing and especially two of them stayed in my
mind. For a while, everyone talked with a young boy (age 12), about how he started to urinate blood more than
normally (as if urinating blood at all is normal, I thought). All of a sudden he started to pray and plead to God to
make it stop. There was silence and then there was his crying. All of a sudden this other girl (age 17) who had
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to have more chemotherapy started to cry because she will lose of her again. This will make it her fourth time.
For the last part, the time was spent saying good-bye to a departing patient. He had been there for two-and-ahalf months. After hugging everyone, he began to cough; strangely, it looked like the coughing really tired him
out as if he’d just run around the block. The meeting had come to an end so I went into the hall and talked for a
little while before I left:
Patient 17
Patient 14
Patient 15
On my 16th birthday, I was on an operating table getting my uterus removed. Now they tell me it
was all for nothing.
I wish I could just die sometimes cause I think of my parents and all the money they’re spending
on me. There’s no cure for what I got. It’s ridiculous.
At night I wet the bed and I wake up with blood all over me. It’s been going on now for about
three months. It will happen three or four times a day. It really hurts and I wish it would stop.
On the way home I cried. I couldn’t help it. Now I really understood. I think I could comprehend what it would
be like, how I’d react, and what life would be to me if I knew I was going to die from a terminal disease.
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