Ishmael – extra credit reading assignments
WHISL - Bell
Level 3 Honor Code (this means by yourself – no sharing or plagiarizing)
You have the opportunity to read Ishmael over the holiday break and participate in a Socratic
seminar during anchor Wed 1/6 for up to replace one conceptual understanding 4 pt grade.
This book ties together the Socratic method of questioning/learning with the larger philosophical
questions that we have already discussed in the previous unit: what does it mean to be human;
what is civilization; what is justice? As you read, you should be making connections to our
current study of imperialism, and our past study of Siddhartha/Buddha Boy, creation myths, hero
cycle, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
Assignments:
You may choose to answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper for up to 3
homework grades in that section of the grade book – due Wed during the seminar or
during class if you do not attend the seminar. Even if you don’t do the homework, read the
questions as you go through each section since this will guide our Socratic seminar.
Since this is extra credit, you may not turn in any work late – if you are absent on Wed, you
may email me the questions that day, but you may not make up the seminar. You are also
not guaranteed the full amount of credit…that is based on the quality/quantity of the
work/participation.
Section one:
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On page 9, define “koan.” How is this saying an example of a koan: “With man gone,
will there be hope for Gorilla?”
How does the gorilla become “humanized”; how would Ishmael answer our essential
question “What makes us human”?
Section two:
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What is “Mother Culture”?
Begin a running list starting on page 38 – keeping track of what it means to be a “Leaver”
and a “Taker.”
After reading section two and before starting section three, journal on what you believe
our own culture’s creation myth is – how do most American’s believe the world began?
Section three:
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On page 61-63, Ishmael talks about the world being “made for man”; how does he come
to this conclusion? Do you agree?
Before reading section four, journal on what you think the earth would be like if man
didn’t exist.
Section four and five:
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On page 82, Ishmael discusses how humans want to live in a perfect place in peace,
but somehow we “screwed it up” because there is “something fundamentally wrong
with humans.” Do you agree or disagree with this and why? Give examples.
Continue to add to your Takers and Leavers list/definition.
Section six and seven:
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Continue to add to your Takers and Leavers list/definition.
Stop reading on page 116 and answer Ishmael’s question: “What is it they don’t do that
makes this society work?” Make your own guess before reading on and seeing what they
come up with.
Section eight and nine:
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Continue to add to your Takers and Leavers list/definition.
How is agriculture important to both the Takers and Leavers, and how does it help form
civilization?
Section ten:
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How is culture defined in this section?
How would Ishmael answer our essential question “What is civilization”?
Section eleven, twelve, thirteen:
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Are you a taker or leaver? Which one is “better”?
What happens to Ishmael?
What does the author want us to do to save the world from destruction? Do you agree or
disagree with this and why? What do you think should be done – if anything?