English Assignments

Assignment #1

Journal 1: must answer all of the questions comment on 2 students

Questions

1. What is the speaker’s main argument? Or what is his thesis?
2. Name at least 3 specific examples/pieces of evidence he uses to support his argument? What kind of evidence does he provide to prove his point? Were you surprised by his findings? What does he claim is happening in the United States? Why?
3. What was the biggest takeaway that you had from this video? What interested or shocked you the most?
4. John Oliver uses humor to present a very important issue, food waste: why do you think he chooses to present the information in such a way?
5. What might be Oliver’s purpose for using humor in this segment? Is his use of humor successful?
6. Are you guilty of food waste? What was the last thing you threw away (food-wise)? Could it have been eaten?

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8xwLWb0lLY

Assignment #2

Journal #2 : Must answer all of the questions and comment on 2 students

Questions

1. What is the speaker’s main argument? Or what is his thesis?
2. Name at least 3 specific examples/pieces of evidence he uses to support his argument? What kind of evidence does he provide to prove his point? Were you surprised by his findings?
3. What was the biggest takeaway that you had from this video? What interested or shocked you the most?
4. How does Stuart first become concerned with food waste?
5. What are some of the consequences of food waste? To humans? To the environment?
6. Looking back to the first video by Oliver: how does Oliver’s segment compare to Stuart’s? Who do you find more credible? Why? (Be specific.) Both author’s present true facts: how does the way they present those affect their reliability and relatability?
7. As many of you identified in your charting activity, Stuart’s tone is much more serious and academic. What would happen to the reliability of his argument if he used a tone more similar to Oliver’s?
8. In the end, Oliver and Stuart present almost identical information (content) and argue a similar claim. Why do their presentations, then, look and sound so differently?

Video: https://www.ted.com/talks/tristram_stuart_the_global_food_waste_scandal

Assignemnt #3:

Now that you have some knowledge about the issue of food waste, please complete the following chart by developing three questions you still have about the issue at hand. Once you have your questions, think of what you may already know or what you can guess about the answers. Finally, as you watch the two videos and review your articles from last week, fill in any information the sources give you that can be helpful in finding these answers.