Arnold Schwarzenegger speech

1. Comment on the use of repetition in the speech. Does Schwarzenegger have any favorite words/phrases? What is the significance?

2. How does he make use of rhetorical persuasion tools (ethos, pathos, logos)

3. How does he describe the American Dream?

4. What do you like/dislike about the speech?

5. Why do you think the speech has such a great impact on the audience(you may want to take a look at the speech on youtube and see the spectacular greeting he receives)

6. Compare the speech to the Creveceour text and consider the question: "What is an American?" (If you promise to stay on the narrow path of neutrality and objectivity, you may bring in your own opinion)

Creveceour: What is an American

1.What does Crèvecoeur's piece (1781) tell us about late 18th century America?

2.How does he describe Americans?
- Who are they?
- What values do they have?
- Put into perspective of the declaration of Independence and historical context

3.In contrast how does he describe the Europeans?

4.Discuss whether the meaning of being an American has changed

5.Put into perspective of the definition of the American Dream

6.Discuss whether this is a reliable source

Seminars - spring 2011

18/1 2011: Aspects of the American Dream

29/2 1011: Horror

5/4 2011: Catcher in the Rye

+ We will meet one more time before the exam.

Plan for Aspects of the American Dream

14/12 + 21/12 2010

The Declaration of Independence*

Martin Luther King: I have a Dream

4/1 2011

Crevecoeur: What is an American?

Arnold Schwarzenegger: Speech

Hand in written assignment to either Sara or Chanett

11/1 2011

Walt Whitman: I hear America Singing

Langston Hughes: I, too

18/1 2011 - Seminar

L. Jones: Our America

Michael Lee Cohen: Adam

*History of America

The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence

Work Points: Pick the work points that you find most interesting. In the end, all work points must be discussed, though!

1. Which view of human nature is expressed in the Declaration?

2. What are the most basic rights of an American citizen and where do they come from?

3. Analyse the oppositions in the text – what values would you say, are expressed through these oppositions?

4. Pick one of the following words and explain, in your own words, its meaning(s), connotations and use:

Despotism, democracy, unalienable right, duty, necessity, colony, declaration.

5. If you did not manage to get to one of the words in 4, please find synonyms for the following words:

Endowed, instituted, transient, accustomed, evinces, constrains.

Martin Luther King "I have a dream"

1. Characterize the effect of Martin Luther King's use of voice and body language.

2. Why does this speech work?

3. Find the most powerful examples of Martin Luther King's use of imagery.

For each example, make a note about the following analytical aspects:

- What is he concerned with in this example?

- Which form(s) of appeal do you find in this example? Provide evidence.

4. What makes this one of the most important speeches in the history of the USA?

5. Why did I make you read this speech together with the Declaration of Independence? ("guess what the teacher is thinking" - my fav game!)

Christmas traditions

Dear all
Christmas is coming the geese are getting FLAT...

I would love to share a little Christmas Spirit with you when we meet. As you know, we are a mixed group of people and I thought; why not make good use of that? So I would like you to prepare a short presentation of your favourite Christmas/New Years traditions - let us hear a little bit from all the wonderful cultures and experiences that you represent!

I am not unwilling to host a small competition: If you want, you may bring a taste of your favourite goodies, cookies, fruits or chocolates....