Think of something you tried to persuade a parent, a
teacher, or a friend to do or believe. It could be to buy or
pay for something, to change a due date or a grade, to
change a rule or decision, to go somewhere, or some other
issue. What kinds of arguments did you use? Did you use
logic? Did you use evidence to support your request? Did
you try to present your own character in a way that would
make your case more believable? Did you try to engage the
emotions of your audience? Write a short description of
your efforts to persuade your audience in this case.
What does being alive mean to you? How do
you value life? What makes life challenging?
What makes it worth living? Describe a few
examples that help show your thinking about
how people should value life.
Each text we read in this unit defines
“life” in its own way. We will discuss
and explore the definitions and ideas
put forth by these texts.
You will enter the conversation with
your own opinions and insights. As
such, your voice is a valuable
contribution to the discussion about
how we value life.
The following excerpt is from Steve Jobs’ 2005
Commencement Address at Stanford University. Read
the passage carefully. Then write an essay in which
you explain Jobs’ argument and discuss the ways in
which you agree or disagree with his views. Support
your position, providing reasons and examples from
the readings in this module. You may also choose to
include personal observations and experiences when
appropriate. Organize your essay carefully.
How to Answer:
• Investigate a variety of sources, both print and visual
• Choose which of the sources to include in your presentation
• Respond to these sources and discuss how they relate to your
thesis (position)
You must:
• Relate it to the thesis/claim
• Use specific examples (personal and otherwise)
• Use selected sources to support the major point
William Shakespeare’s
Hamlet
What do you know about the play
Hamlet?
Character List:
King Hamlet
Prince Hamlet
Claudius
Queen Gertrude
Horatio
Rosencrantz &Guildenstern
Polonius
Ophelia
Laertes
Fortinbras
Background
At this point in the play, Hamlet feels that he is in a crisis. His
father died a few months earlier under mysterious circumstances.
Hamlet discovers that his father was secretly murdered—by
Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius. Making things even worse, Claudius
then marries Hamlet’s mother. Hamlet does not know what to do
about this knowledge. He wonders whether he can trust anyone
or if perhaps he is going crazy.
As you first read the text, focus on what you see as the “big
picture” Hamlet describes. Based on this first reading, would you
say that Hamlet is an optimist or a pessimist? What are your
reasons for thinking so?
Use your annotations and translations to answer the following
questions:
• What is the big issue in Hamlet’s soliloquy?
• What claim or argument about the value of life does Hamlet
make?
• What do you think about the Hamlet’s claim? (More than a one
sentence response. Really explore your opinion and feelings
about his claim).