AP English Language and Composition:  Controversial Issue ‘REHUGO’ Assignment              

REHUGO is an acronym for Reading, Entertainment, History, Universal Truth, Government, and Observation.  This assignment is designed to help you gather high-quality information about the world for potential use as you respond to various AP essay prompts. While I cannot guarantee this will result in a higher AP score for you, a rigorous education requires that you gain a greater understanding of the world around you. Consider this an assignment on THE WORLD. A written element is due each week on Friday at midnight; you may complete these in whatever order you choose.  You will have time in class to work on these, but most of the class time will be dedicated to creating your altered books.  

 The Particulars:  Choose a potentially controversial topic (Do THIS TODAY)

You have already chosen a fairly broad, potentially controversial topic (meaning many points of view can be brought to a discussion of it); investigate REHUGO items that relate – directly or indirectly – to that topic, and write about those connections. This is to keep you thinking about your research paper, which is really an expanded synthesis essay.

 The following will be included in your short project:

Reading:  Book or Short Story/Narrative Essay (1 of each FOR A TOTAL OF 2; not read in class)

Read a book or short story that is related in a meaningful way to your research subject. (Check my large and small textbooks to see what you can find!)

Format: Write a one-page (250 words) analytical report on this piece. This should include appropriate MLA-styled bibliographical information about the work at the top, followed by:

• A bit of background about the author and the time period it was written.
• A summary of the plot, structure, form. Tell how the work is organized.  Some questions you might address in the report are: Is it a narrative, expository, compare/contrast, problem-solving, etc., format?  Is it told in past or present tense?  Is the story told in chronological order?
• A discussion of the work’s point of view.  Is it first person (narrative)? Is there a third person narrator?  Is the narrator’s point of view limited, or omniscient?  Does POV change, and if so, why?
• A discussion of the work’s setting.  Where/when does the story take place?  How does the setting influence the characters and/or the plot?
• A discussion of the author’s use of diction, syntax, possible imagery, symbolism, irony, and tone.  How do the author’s choices complement the work and/or purpose?
• A discussion of the theme.  What is the underlying idea(s) of the work?  What does the author want you to think about the subject?
• Conclusion – include your opinion of the work.

Reading Altered Book Spread Requirement:  Mixed-media collage

Articles (2)

Find two contemporary newspaper/magazine/journal articles about your topic to read/analyze. Surprise! You should already have this from your database research, so use that.

Format: Write a minimum half-page summary and analysis of each, including bibliographical information, which includes a brief summary, and a discussion of the author’s purpose/point of view/tone relative to your topic.

Articles Altered Book Spread Requirement:  Cut out, Pull-out, or Pocket

Entertainment

Film (1)

View one film related to your topic. It can be an entertainment or documentary film or a combination of the two. It does not need to be longer than an hour; you may find that some documentaries are shorter pieces.

Format: Write a minimum one-page summary and analysis of the film, including bibliographical information following MLA style, brief plot summary, and a discussion of the filmmaker’s purpose/point of view/tone relative to your topic. Are there themes present? Are there motifs pointing to the themes? Does the film reinforce popular ideas or introduce new ones? Does it trade in stereotypes? How does lighting, color, scene-setting, etc. contribute to the overall purpose?

Podcast (1)

Listen to 1 complete podcast series that covers or addresses your topic of choice.

Write a minimum one-page summary and analysis of the podcast, including bibliographical information following MLA style, brief summary, and a discussion of the creator’s purpose/point of view/tone relative to your topic. Are there themes present? Are there motifs pointing to the themes? Does the podcast reinforce popular ideas or introduce new ones?

Song (1)

Must have socially constructed lyrics and messages.

Write a minimum one half-page summary and analysis of the song, including bibliographical information following MLA style and a discussion of the text’s purpose/point of view/tone relative to your topic. Are there themes present? Are there motifs pointing to the themes?

Entertainment Altered Book Spread Requirement:  Your choice

 History (2)

Events

Find one (2) important historical events related to your topic. Crack open your history book and get cracking!

Format: Write a minimum one-half page report on each event. These should include: factual information (dates, a brief description of the event), why you chose this event, how it connects to the other parts of your research, and what big ideas are associated with this event.  Why is this event important and culturally significant?  Why do we remember it and what lessons should we draw from it?  How did the event affect those people who lived through it?  How does the event affect us today? Include proper MLA bibliographic and parenthetical citations for all materials you use to discuss these events.

History Altered Book Spread Requirement: Found poem

Universal Truths

Find two (2) quotations that relate to your topic in some way, and that you would deem universal truths. These will be pretty easy to find online or in a book of quotations.

Format: Write a minimum one-half page report on each that should begin with the quote, attributed to the person who said (or wrote) it originally. Tell why you believe the quote is a universal truth, how it affects everyone else, and how it applies to your own life and your chosen topic. Document the source of the quote using the proper MLA bibliographic citation.

Universal Truth Altered Book Spread Requirement:  Your Choice

 Government (2)

Find two contemporary government actions, proposals, policies, etc., related to your issue. Check out the news! (Again, this helps with your research and can be taken from it!)

These can be the actions of local, state, federal, or international governments.

Format: Write a minimum one-half page describing each and discussing your reaction to the government’s role. Is it a positive development? Negative? How did it come about?

Government Altered Book Spread Requirement: 3D Element

Observation (1)

Find areas in your own community in which your controversial issue is playing out. Check out the newspaper(s) and what you have heard from local citizens in conversation.

Format: Write a minimum one page in which you address questions like this: How is it being handled? Who are the major players? Are solutions being sought? What is being proposed? Do you find them reasonable? Why or why not? What else can/should be done? Why?

Observation Altered Book Spread Requirement:  Texture or Page Shape change

Twelve written submissions total.

Examples

Suppose I choose democracy movements as my issue:

•  Reading: I might read the poem “Democracy” by Langston Hughes, or perhaps “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell. For current articles, I imagine I would find something currently discussing unionization as a “civil right” or, of course, a myriad of articles about democracy movements in the Middle East.
• Entertainment & History: Since one deals with World War II and the other with civil rights, there are numerous historical events, films, and museum displays I can access, but a few include such films as The Patriot, Schindler’s List, Iron Jawed Angels, Mississippi Burning; such historical events as civil rights, the women’s suffrage movement, and World War II.
• A Universal Truth I might discuss would be: Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I would likely discuss this in the context of how even democratically elected governments often become corrupt as they amass power.
• For Government actions, I could again look to the Middle East (check out the Arab Spring there and in northern Africa) or the debate over budget-cutting in the U.S. government.
• Observations: I would look to how my local community has responded to the Occupy movement, or what plans my governor has to cut the state budget and how the principles of democracy are playing into that.

 Bibliographical Citations

You must cite all of your sources at the beginning of each written portion. (Remember, that’s the AP synthesis essay style!) Use the web to find appropriate MLA citations. You can use easybib.com or citationmachine.net to do this.

 Format

Handwritten is fine with me, as long as you are following the directions listed for each assignment. “One page” means 250 words or more, not how much space on the page your handwriting may take up. “Minimum” means just that; the minimum is not a limit, but an encouragement to continue. If you have a folder to give this to me in, I would appreciate it. Stapling is also acceptable.

ALTERED BOOK RESOURCES:

How to choose a book for altering:  https://youtu.be/1JkaHamhOoE 

Preparing books to alter:  https://youtu.be/jlK8m8HZKLE 

Just google altered book images if you need some inspiration!  

Google Slides from class: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ln1G-2thR0NuRoGKuv6rZdFAD90Suu745ZmjTME4kl0/edit#slide=id.p3 

KEEP SCROLLING FOR YOUR RUBRIC :)

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