Class Two:
Housekeeping issues: (Suggested: 5 minutes) Did the blog work okay? Do you have a Firstclass account yet? If not, you need to see the IT department to set it up.
In-class Writing: (Suggested: 10 Minutes)
Defintion:
Play: Activities undertaken for amusement.
How is “play” represented in “The Untold Lie”? Why might play look the way it does here? Might this relate to income? Why? Be specific!
Group Discussion of In-class Writing: (Suggested: 10 minutes)
Groups spend a few minutes talking about their individual findings, and then come up with a statement one member from each group will present to the rest of the class at the front of the class.
Group Presentations: (Suggested: 5-10 Minutes)
One representative from each group will present from the front of the class.
Class Discussion of Group Findings: (Suggested: 5 minutes)
Class Discussion: (Suggested: 5 minutes)
Topic: How did the reading inform your understanding of the relationship between “play” and “lower-income”?
Lower-Income: Generally, to lack the financial means to choose the materials one uses to meet basic needs: clothing, shelter, food, ect.
Individual List creation: (Suggested: 7 minutes)
Now that we have discussed these issues, it is time to get even more specific about the story. In your groups, I want you to look through the story and identify specific details that relate to either the concepts of play or lower-income financial status as they are represented in this story. Cite the examples and the page numbers.
Break
In-class writing: (Suggested: 10 minutes)
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Reflection on draft one the Précis. What do you like most about this current draft, and what do you like least?
Mini-Workshop: (Suggested 10 minutes)
Swap papers with a classmate, look for the following:
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Précis structure
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Cogent Sentence Structure
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Cogent Paragraph structure
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Write one paragraph on the back of page one: What are the primary mechanical issues here as you see them?
Class Discussion: (Suggested: 10 minutes)
Class discusses group reflections and work.
Mini-Lecture: (Suggested: 7 minutes)
Topic: The Importance of Specific Details in Literature
Substance: When we are talking informally about our own lives, we might bring in evidence from any number of anecdotal sources or make any number of conjectures about why things happen. However, when we are talking about a specific object like a story, our conversation needs to stay focused on what is actually in the text – stuff that can be actually quoted and found in the story…
Group Work: (Suggested: 10 minutes)
Groups identify at least three important details that relate to play and lower-income financial status that could be incorporated into current draft of the precis.
The purpose of this activity is to give you a chance to swap out prejudiced and/or non-specific points in your writing and replace them with actual evidence from the story.
Final Topic: Blogging
Homework:
Revise Precise to reflect our class work today, incorporate better evidence into your observations.
Here, again, is the description of the Precis:
The Précis (Pray-SEE)
There are three simple parts to a Précis.
The point of a précis is to lay out an argument for an audience who needs to know about a text without reading the entire ten-, twelve- or twenty-page document. We have to inform the audience on the argument without “dumbing it down” or oversimplifying it!
To write a précis, you will need to incorporate direct quotations from a story to express those points that are better articulated by the author than you yourself could articulate them.
You will sometimes need to use words in quotes to emphasize the author’s original tone. It is hugely important that you do not comment on or editorialize the story. Do not use “I” anywhere in this piece.
You will need to paraphrase quite a bit in this document. The point here is to report on the narrator’s comments, and to leave your own opinions at the door (there will be time enough for voicing your opinions in the future).
The three parts of the précis: Situation, Issue, Thesis
*Each section should be titled as such. This is okay in a précis.
Situation
- The very beginning of your précis.
- It should lay out what the audience needs to know about the author, the full title (including subtitle), and whatever publication info you have in MLA style (except for the author’s name which should be done first name first).
- Next, you need to establish the basic context for the writing: who is writing it (what do we know about the author and or his or her position, profession etc), to whom are they addressing the piece (audience), when was it written, and whether there is any particular EVENT that has driven this response. Some stories may have this, and some may not. You can expect to take the better part of a paragraph to convey this information.
- SITUATE the writing for an audience who WILL NOT READ THE FULL STORY. What general information do they need to know about it in order to have a clear idea of what the story is about?
Section II
Issue
- The author may use culturally specific lingo in the argument. You need to begin your ISSUE section by defining these terms for the contemporary reader. Clarify for the ready any terms or phrases you think may cause him or her difficulty.
- Lay out the basic questions that the author addresses or raises about the nature of play and how it relates to lower-income financial status.
- END WITH THE MAJOR QUESTION ABOUT THE NATURE OF PLAY and lower-income financial status. The major issue question is the question the author attempts to illuminate.
Section III
Thesis
- Thesis section. This is where the THESIS appears (the statement or argument the story appeasts to be making about the nature of play and its relationship to lower-income financial status).
- It is also where the other, secondary claims about the nature of play and its relationship to lower-income financial status and evidence for those claims (as well as the major claim) will appear.
- This is the lion’s share of the précis.
[...] Class 2 [...]
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Tia Rush
2 June 2010
Adam Crowley
EH 200
Post-Reading: “Class”
Class
We tend to live in a society that likes to judge or put labels on people. For years, people have been judging others and discriminating against one another. These actions could turn into violence in extreme cases. Once such means people go about judging others is by putting them into different economic classes. Lower, middle, and upper class are the terms most often used when describing or, better put judging people. I am willing to admit that I am guilty of classifying people by class just like most other people do. Moreover, when I hear the different class terms I think of different things.
When I think of lower class, I tend to think that these are people who do not have a lot of money. These people can barely get by, and usually need outside assistance. I also think that these people usually work at places like local stores, gas stations, grocery stores, or say McDonald’s because they most likely cannot afford to attend college. Sometimes when I think lower class I think of people just “working the system”, which I know is not the case for everyone. Some people know exactly what they can get out of the system, and they think that they should have everything handed to them. The reason I bring that point up is because I have encountered several examples of where that statement is true.
People who are middle class tend to be better off. They are able to afford the basic necessities to get by and usually not have to worry about money. People who are classified as middle class do not depend on outside assistance to help with finances. I also think that middle class people can afford to do more things than lower class people. For example, they can go more places and spend more money on different things. Middle class people can usually afford to go to college and get a degree so they are able to get a better job. Therefore, when I think of middle class, I think of the average working American people.
Upper class people are the wealthiest out of the three different classes. When I think of upper class, I usually think of doctors, lawyers, or dentists because they make good money. People who are in the upper class can afford things like fancy cars, big houses, and frequent vacations. They really have unlimited choices when choosing what to spend their money on because money isn’t really something they have to worry about. Another thing I think of when someone says upper class is, “oh they must think they are better than everyone else because they have more money”. With that said, people in the upper class are better off than everyone else in the world.
All in all, people have always and will most likely continue to judge other people based on the things they have. There are basically three different classes that are used to judge people; lower, middle and upper. As mentioned before I am guilty of putting people into different classes as well, and judging people based on the class they are in. This can be evident by the above things mentioned in the paper. It is unfortunate that we have to put people into different categories based on what they do or do not have. Furthermore, we are all human beings so shouldn’t we all be in the same category?
Comment by Tia Rush — June 2, 2010 @ 8:57 pm |
Agnieszka Thurber
EH 200
Proffesor A. Crowley
June 2, 2010
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines class as a group sharing the same economic and social status, i.e., the working class. It also uses the terms social ranking, high quality and elegance. The term class was used in a social ranking system in the past to basically determine your status in society, in other words, how much money you made or didn’t make. Today, classis defined as something you have not something you are a part of. The word class in itself is not so difficult to decipher. To have class, however, goes much deeper than just a definition.
In contrast to the definition of class many years ago, today, class has nothing to do with money in my opinion. Just because you have money does not mean you have class. You do nothave to be well dressed or have a lot of money to look and be classy. Class comes from the inside. Class is the way a person acts every day and more importantly when something
good or bad gets thrown their way. It is our everyday actions, reactions, facial expressions, and overall how we carry ourselves. It is being able to maintain your composure when other people have lost theirs. It is having the ability to relate to anyone around you and treat them the same way you would want to be treated without regard to race, religion, economic status, etc. In my opinion people have a choice to be classy.
Class can be described with so many different words, the list may seem endless. It is important to determine what class means to each individual. I think that it is more obvious to point out someone without class only because it is in our nature to see the negative. Whatever your definition of class may be, it is important to remember that having class has nothing to do with having money or possessions but how you conduct yourself in life.
Comment by Aggie Thurber — June 2, 2010 @ 11:27 pm |
My definition of class is how a person relates and responds to people and situations they come across. In a person’s lifetime, they will be confronted with many experiences, good and bad, that can make an impact on them. How they deal with it defines how much class they possess. To me, financial and social status does not play a part in my definition of class. Having one or both of these does not automatically make you a classy person. A person can live in dire straits and exhibit class that money and status could never measure up to. You could associate class with a person’s moral compass.
In “The Untold Lie” by Sherwood Anderson, Ray Pearson had class and he was neither a man of money or social standing. Ray had dreams as a young man but put them aside in order to marry Minnie whom he got pregnant. He works hard to provide for his wife and six children and they still do not have much. Ray could have deserted Minnie when she got pregnant. There is no law that would have forced the marriage. He stayed with Minnie and built a family with her. He had a choice to stay or go and he chose the classy thing to do.
Another character in the story, Hal Winters, was different than Ray. He was younger, thought only of himself, and his father owned a saw mill. Having a family that owned a business placed Hal in a situation of access to money. He stole from his father, drank a lot, and had fist fights on Main Street with his father that ended with them both being jailed. Hal was not a classy person and a good example of how money does not automatically make you one. To his credit, he did make the choice to marry Nell but only as an after thought.
Comment by Sheila Wilkes — June 2, 2010 @ 11:56 pm |
Alisha Gilbert
June 3, 2010
EH 200
Adam Crowley
Class
It’s not uncommon for a person to think they have what they call class. To me there is no definite answer to what the word class means. Class can be associated with the money sign, but then that puts an individual in a specific group. A person’s education level can correlate whether someone has class or not. It has nothing to do with any type of social standing, it’s actually about the way they present themselves.
An individual who takes responsibility for their own actions has class. Someone who is accomplished and successful, has consideration for others, and is generous has class. Accomplished and successful; the individual has accomplished what they feel is necessary, and feels successful in what they have done. They are not afraid to take risks, and weighs out there pros and cons. Someone who has consideration for others’, they don’t think they are better then anyone else, and is willing to help anyone at anytime with no hesitation. Generosity, when the individual is willing to give anything to anyone and doesn’t expect anything in return is a trait someone should have if they have “class.” Respect is a word that many forget about. It’s a positive feeling that you give to another person. Respect comes with the word manners and being polite. It seems like it’s the little things that people forget about throughout the process of growing up.
The way an individual conducts themselves in life is class. If someone is honest, has integrity, and a sense of responsibility is class. If they have the instinct of what the right thing is, is class to me. To be completely honest, you can describe someone who has class, but you will not recognize class until you meet the individual. If you say someone has class just by looking at them that means you’re judging them. Coming up with a specific definition or description of class is almost physically impossible.
Comment by Alisha Gilbert — June 3, 2010 @ 12:17 am |
Heather Leighton
“Class”
The term class is associated with a person’s social standing in a community. What normally determines a person’s class is their income. Low-income families would be considered low-class as well. Reasons for this include assumptions that maybe the family is not educated or does not hold a very high value to the society. Individuals of a higher-class, who have a better job, higher pay, who are well educated, may hold contributions to the society that are more difficult to imitate than, say a lower-class individual. Most of the time, these higher-class families have more say and more power than a lower-class one. They help shape the community with their control and influence, whereas a lower-class family stays back, watches, and is most directly affected by changes within the community. In some cases lower-income doesn’t always mean lower-class. For instance, much of the time people are born into a class and have their whole life set up to succeed and stay high-class, but on the opposite end, a lot of low-class people are stuck under that title, lacking the opportunity to make a good living.
Class is really just a hierarchy designed to separate people, because for some reason humans have chosen to treat other differently. Not only is class associated with income level and importance in the community, it also can be seen as a way to brand someone’s way of life and behavior. A lower-class man may have poor hygiene, fashion, taste, and possibly social skills, whereas a higher-class man is well educated, has manners, is up to par with fashion, tastes, and what is considered normal. It would be expected for different classes to socialize and gather amongst themselves, forever isolated and most likely bitter toward one another. It would be unheard of for a higher-class individual to mingle with a lower-class individual because they would have nothing in common. Class is a terrible way to classify people, but it is surprisingly still used today.
Comment by Heather Leighton — June 3, 2010 @ 1:40 am |
Carrie Cole
3 June 2010
Professor Crowley
“Class”
“Class” is not an easily defined word. It is not at all odd to have a group of people with various definitions as to what “class” means. Any dictionary will incorporate the social and economic aspect to define class. Some definitions will define it as the amount of power and wealth that a person has. Power can be defined as having control over another person with or without their consent. Having power gives you control and the more power you have, the more endless possibilities and opportunities you have to use your power. Wealth means the amount of property a person owns. In today’s society, the more property (wealth) you own, the more “class” you have. “Class” has different characteristics that lie within the definition.
To me, the biggest characteristic in defining “class” is how people control their own lives. This means evaluating how a person interacts with their family members, their friends, the coworkers, bosses, or a random stranger that they have an encounter with while in a public place. A person with high “class” will be able to get along with many people, and handle rough encounters in a mature manner. A person with high “class” will not be arrogant to others and will present themselves in a well-rounded way. Whereas a person with low “class” constantly think of themselves and no one else and abuse their power and wealth.
Conflicts come up numerous times a day, some more severe than others, but a person with high “class” will deal with these conflicts in a responsible way. They will handle the ups and downs of life to the best of their abilities. This means they will always try their best at everything. Also a person with high “class” will be self confident and help others when possible.
In conclusion, the majority of the people feel “class” is related to the economic and social aspect of what people have in their lives, meaning their wealth and power. I can see where the attitude of this comes from but it is important to reevaluate what you are looking at. Don’t look at how people control others, but instead look at how people interact with others. Look at how responsible someone is instead of their wealth. I believe that “class” needs to be based on the person and not what they own and control.
Comment by Carrie Cole — June 3, 2010 @ 3:47 am |
Isaiah Underwood
June 3, 2010
EH 200
Adam Crowley
Class
The word “class” means to me three different classes of people. You have the Lower, Middle, and Upper class. Many years society tries to put people in groups. It matters on where you work and how you save your money. For some people it can be a choice if they want to stay in one class or the other. Other groupls are just born into the group and cant really change.
Lower “class” generally, to lack the finanical means to choose, the materials are use to meet basic needs like clothing shelter, food ect. If your in the lower class you work off paycheck to paycheck. In jobs you do physical labor. Have little to no education . A lower class person may need help to the government may step in. Options are limited to what you can spend and it makes play narrow. If you choose to save you can have a a little amount of play but it would have to be short and not so far away from home. When your in the lower class you tend to set yourself away from other people. The social class is just with other lower class residents.
Middle “class” people have more money than the lower class. The middle class consist of doctors, blue collard people. Also there can be police and fire man workers. In the middle class people don’t have to receive help from the government. College education. The middle class people can play but don’t play for along. Vacations can be other places but don’t stay away for long.
Upper class are on the top of the food chain. They have the most money out of all the other groups. The Upper class the people whose familes are rich and powerful such as landowners and factory owners. They can afford almost anything. They buy nice and new cars, they have big houses on big properties. Money is no object so they are better off than anybody else.
The way a person holds themselves. The only way youll really know a person is if you meet them head on and no class can tell you where to be. Its just a group and groups can be changed.
Comment by Isaiah Underwood — June 3, 2010 @ 4:02 am |
Bruce Jipson
EH200 Approaches to Literature
June 3, 2010
First let me define “class” when used to describe a person. Class would be what income class they fall into based on the amount of money they make. Someone who doesn’t make much money, usually below $25,000 would be in the low income class. Someone who makes between $25,000 and $150,000 would be middle class. Above $150,000 would be the upper class people.
People in the lower income class, are people who don’t have very much money. They usually only make enough money to pay their bills. They can’t afford the extras like people who are in the other two classes. These people usually rely on public assistance to get the basics of living that they need to survive. This is not true for all of the lower class people. Some of the people know the welfare system and use it to their advantage. They know what to do to get the most amount of help that they can. But either way these people seem to spend every cent that they have and expect more.
People in the middle income class are the hard working people who some say are living the American Dream. There are more people in this class then any other class. Some even say that the middle class people pay for everything in this country. That is because the poor can’t afford to pay for it and the rich don’t have to pay as much in taxes. Usually these people work very hard for everything that they have, and when they play they play very hard. They enjoy their time off from their jobs.
People in the upper income class are usually the elite of the country. Usually these people think that they are somebody and that everyone should bow down to them because they have money. When these people throw a party, they usually try to out due one another. They want their party to be the biggest and the best, no matter what the cost may be. They usually spoil their children much more than people of any of the other classes. When their children learn to drive, the parents go out and buy them a very expensive vehicle.
In conclusion, we talked in class about how people choose what class they want to be in. I believe that we may chose what class we want to be in, but there are instances beyond our control that may force us to change classes in a hurry. For example a person who was making $200,000 a year. They was living the high life until they lost their job and now they are going to lose the big house because they can’t make their monthly payment on the house. This is something that is very tragic to an upper class person to go from earning a big paycheck to not having any and no way to pay the bills.
Comment by Bruce Jipson — June 3, 2010 @ 10:53 am |
When I hear the word “class” used in describing an individual my thoughts don’t usually center on that person’s economic standing, rather their social status,personality or even the level to which the person has been educated.
If you hear someone say to you, “that girl has no class!” it probably conjures up a sense of disdain. It may mean that girl is totally ignorant about the proper way to behave in public. Perhaps she dresses in ripped blue jeans and t-shirt when the dress code for the event is a black-tie affair. Perhaps that girl uses foul language frequently and displays inappropriate mannerisms. Certainly, if that girl was in a restaurant, eating with her hands, you’d more than likely state, “that girl has no class!”
While many people cast judgment on others, based on socioeconomic standards, I do not associate the word “class” with a persons financial status. I often recall my mother saying to me, “just because your poor doesn’t mean you can’t be clean and well-mannered.”
In my lifetime, I have encountered many poor people who have an abundance of “class” despite their meager finances and limited opportunities. Unfortunately, I have also encountered well-educated and financially sound individuals who behave with absolutely no “class” what so ever.
Comment by Susan Patten — June 3, 2010 @ 11:27 am |
Pamela Michaud
2 June 2010
Adam Crowley
Eh200
Class
In our lives we all use words to describe the people we meet or to explain someone to another person. One of these words that we use to do so is the word class. It’s a word that I hear being used more and more as I grow up and as well being come used in common TV shows. It’s a word that many uses to describe a person or even an event sometimes depending on how they use the word. When I hear the word class though I mostly think about how it applies to a person in life. Class can be taken as the way someone acts or can explain if one has money or not. We can describe a person has being lower-class, middle-class or upper-class. We can also describe a person as having class at a party or event.
The word class to me really means a mixture of both. I think for me it really depends on how we use it. I could be talking about a person and say they have class, meaning that they “carry” themselves in a respectable manner. I could also use class though to tell someone how much money or their status in life. I could tell someone that a person is lower or middle or even upper-class. Then that person would make their own judgment of that person. That’s the only thing I don’t like about using the word class though, if one says they are lower-class than a person makes an automatic judgment of them, which could be wrong. Class though to me is more of saying someone is respectable, well mannered and can “carry” themselves in a way that’s acceptable to others around them. I don’t really feel that class in my mind relates to money, although it can in many cases.
Comment by Pamela Michaud — June 3, 2010 @ 11:54 am |
What does the word “class” mean to you when it is used to describe a person?
For me there are two separate meanings of “class” when I use it to describe a person. The first is a vague financial societal structure. There is a clear separation of people within society but if you are given the skills and taught the secret handshakes you can move seamlessly between the class levels, fooling even the best of the “class”.
The first type of class are the traditional economic divisions lower class, middle class and upper class. The lower class, those without economic benefit, the chattel of society, the middle class generally represents the working class, which breaks down again into white collar (the professional educated trades) and blue collar (the industrial trades) and the upper class, those with the financial means to put their capital to work for them rather then working themselves such as hiring workers and owning factories.
There other type of class is the one which I find the most important to our society, this is how a person acts and represents themselves in society and towards society. Manners are not class restricted, lower income families to the highest of the upper class families can say please and thank you, being polite does not costs anything but returns on your investment ten-fold. Treating those around you with dignity and respect elevates ones class within society.
If you are going to try and describe me with a class status I would confidently agree that I do fit within the bourgeoisie.
Comment by d.b. — June 3, 2010 @ 12:45 pm |
What does the word “class” mean to you when it is used to describe a person?
The word “Class” has many definitions. Definitions from the dictionary, society, people, philosophers, and of course our own definition. There are many skewed perceptions of what Class really means. Although I may not be able to give you a concrete definition of what “class” means, I can set a general definition as a starting point, and tell you exactly what the definition is not. The word class is not determined by income, job, geographical area, authority, or any type of inheritance of heirs. I truly believe that class is determined by how you present yourself, not necessarily by the clothes you where, or what style you choose, but how you carry yourself. No matter what style you choose, look your best, ironed, clean shaven, matching, and an acceptable odor. Although these are all surface qualities that everyone sees, it says a lot about a person who takes care of themselves. Education is a huge contribution to how class is determined. How one educated themselves on certain issues and their informed opinions. Having class means you are confident in yourself, the people around you, and all that you do. You are not impolite, you try to help others, and you do not gain class at the expense of others. Having class means that there is no financial figure attached to it. There are some people that are loaded with money, and have absolutely no class. There are the lowest-poverty stricken people, that are seeping with the amount of class that they have. Even the people that have no money, seem to give back to others. They carry themselves with confidence and integrity. They find other ways to get money, and they may rely on other for money, but they rely on themselves for discipline. At the end of the day, if you have money and no class, then you don’t have much. Class is something that is learned not earned. If someone wants to have class, and change themselves, it takes themselves to do it and not someone else.
Comment by Jackie Files — June 3, 2010 @ 1:29 pm |
Ashley Homstead
Approaches to Literature
EH 200 Sec. 001
Professor Adam Crowley
June 3rd, 2010
Class
When I hear the word class in the context of describing a person, I think of one’s etiquette. For example, if one were to have class they would have manners, they would be polite, and they would be friendly. If one were to not have class, they would not have any manners, they would be rude rather than polite, and most likely mean or disgusting, or have some other type of awkward and unfriendly personality.
Class has many interpretations in my opinion; even though it has been said that I am not entitled to. Thinking of class as it strictly applies to a person, however, makes me think solely of how a person reacts to another person in a social setting; for example, if a person were to sneeze in an elevator and not cover their mouth and nose, I would find them to be rude and without class. If a person were to sneeze in an elevator and I did not respond with a “bless you,” I’m sure that they would find me just as rude and without class.
Class to me essentially, in the context of describing a person, comes down to a behavioral issue. Upon further dissection of my understanding of the word, I have decided that class is determined by the way that we behave in society. To further my point, it seems as though the amount of class that a person has is determined by the people that make up the community around them. A person does not have any control over their own class. Their behavior is judged by the whim of the people.
Comment by Ashley H. — June 7, 2010 @ 7:19 am |