Week 5: Seeing the Water, Considering the Lobster: Awareness and Choice in Our Lives
Week Breakdown
Monday the 27th - Wednesday the 29th
Finish reading and discussing Judith Jarvis Thomson's "A Defense of Abortion."
Begin reading, annotating rhetorical choices, and discussing David Foster Wallace's "This is Water."
Write down Lexicon #19: Didactic story in your notebook.
Write down Lexicon #20: Default setting in your notebook.
Wednesday 29th - Friday the 31st
Read, annotate for rhetorical choices, and discuss David Foster Wallace's "Consider the Lobster."
Write down Lexicon #21: Footnotes in your notebook.
Identify David Foster Wallace's rhetorical choices in his texts (either "This is Water" or "Consider the Lobster").
Monday the 26th - Wednesday the 28th
Lexicon #19: Didactic story
Definition: A narrative designed to teach a lesson or moral, often about values, ethics, or practical life skills. While its primary goal is to educate, it can also entertain and provoke thought, sometimes blending subtle lessons with engaging storytelling.
Today's reading: "This is Water" by David Foster Wallace
This is Water by David Foster Wallace.docxDavid Foster Wallace delivering his speech
This is Water by David Foster Wallace.mp4
Adam's connection to David Foster Wallace's point on suicide (great watch!)
Check in on those around you -WorldMentalHealthDay.mp4Lexicon #20: Default setting
Definition: The automatic, self-centered perspective people adopt, seeing the world as revolving around their own needs and frustrations. He argues that true freedom lies in consciously choosing to think beyond this default, fostering awareness and empathy for others.
Wednesday the 29th - Friday the 31st
"Consider the Lobster" by David Foster Wallace
Consider the Lobster by David Foster Wallace.pdfLexicon #21: Footnotes
Definition: Footnotes are additional pieces of information or commentary provided at the bottom of a page to clarify, expand on, or provide sources for points made in the main text. They are often marked with superscript numbers (¹,²,³) in the main body of the text.
Why do authors use footnotes?
In rhetorical analysis, footnotes serve several purposes:
Providing Context: They offer historical, cultural, or technical background that enhances the reader’s understanding.
Adding Credibility: They cite sources or offer supporting evidence that strengthens an argument.
Maintaining Tone: Writers can keep the main text engaging while adding more scholarly, technical information in the footnotes.
Injecting Commentary: Some writers, like David Foster Wallace, use footnotes to add personal opinions, humor, or meta-commentary without disrupting the main narrative.
Instructional video on how to kill a lobster
How To Kill a Lobster short.mp4Lobsters in a tank
5 Medieval torture techniques
5 Of The Most Gruesome Medieval Torture Devices.mp4