"And "Still We Rise" Chunk 1

Miles Corwin's nonfiction novel "And Still We Rise" follows the lives of 12 gifted inner-city high school students who struggle with the oppression of the "ghetto" neighborhood they live and go to school in. Corwin was motivated to investigate the lives of these Crenshaw High School students after the murder of an honor student was blown off as a regular gang shooting. In this chunk, Corwin narratively follows the lives of teenagers who deal with being a ward of the state, who is affected by constant gang violence, and who live with sexually, physically, and mentally abusive parents. These students still excell in school despite their circumstances. History about the community and affirmative action is given to clarify why the community is so bad. Throughout the text, each student's story is told on their path to success.

What make Corwin credible?
Which student can you best relate to?

"Sex, Race and IQ; Off Limits ?

Sharon Begley questions studies and statements about a certain race or gender being smarter than another in her Newsweek article "Sex, Race and IQ: Off Limits?" . She challenges and analyzes facts and commonly held beliefs that men are smarter than women or white people are smarter than black people . With slight humor, Begley weighs "political correctness" and studies performed by scientists and psychologists and how people accept them .

- do you think any race or gender is genetically smarter than another ?
- do you think it is fair to perform such studies ?

http://mobile.newsweek.com/detail.jsp?key=46253&rc=vo

Analysis of "I Can't Believe I'm Still a Vegan"

David Noonan's Newsweek article " I Can't Believe I'm Still a Vegan" expresses Noonan's struggle in his newfound vegan diet. In the form of an extended anecdote, Noonan states his reasons for becoming a vegan - his refusal of "getting fat" and becoming unhealthy as he becomes older. Expert opinions support Noonan's decision and provide information on vegan diets and how a vegan diet is much more healthy than one of a "flesh-eater." Noonan uses conversational and casual diction, showing the good and bad about being a vegan.

chunk 4

In this section, Glassner addresses how and why Americans create "metaphoric illnesses". He points out that Americans create these illnesses out of fear of real illnesses and circumstances. Some metaphoric illnesses, particularly Gulf War Syndrome, were created and carried on in the media to indirectly criticize the government. Glassner says that "fears feed off one another" and states that after one of these illnesses are created, people become afraid and more are brought about. These metaphoric illnesses also give people opportunities to gain money from the government and corporations , which caused corporations to take precautions. Glassner believes that metaphoric illnesses will always be around and more will be created. He also addresses the fear Americans have about plane wrecks, even though it is more likely to be apart of a car accident than a plane crash . Glassner speculates why people focus so much on this little fear, as well as others, but continue to ignore what people should really be afraid of.

Chunk 3

In this chunk, Glassner discusses the misconception of black men. He adresses how the media makes it seem like all innocent bystanders have a chance of being killed in gang or drug violence. Coincidently black men have more of a chance of being killed than anyone. He addresses how white people always are made out to be the victim only because black murder victims are hardly ever recognized by police or the media. Glassner also points out the irony of how people look down at rap music, but rock music also has the same negative aspects but isn't looked down upon.
Glassner also weighs the problem of legal drugs being misused and how the government focuses all of their attention on the illegal drugs and the increase in heroin in everyday life: the new drug of choice. He assesses "roofies" and how society is so scared of the date rape drug. Basically he points out how if society is not scared of one drug then its another and how the cycle continues.

do you think rap is more looked down upon tyan heavy metal because rap is predominately black?

do you agree with the way glassner assesses whites being automatically the victim?

Chunk 2

In this section about youth at risk, Barry Glassner addresses how the media blows up issues such as missing children, pedophiles, and the well being of American children. He demonstrates how the way these issues are represented puts fear into the heart of children and parents all over the country. It makes these people live in constant fear. The media makes Americans believe that our youth is in constant danger of corruption or abduction just because they know it exists. Glassner also addresses the fear Americans have for children with single mothers or teenage mothers. He points out how Americans overlook the reasons and circumstances these mothers go through.


Do you think that if the media didnt portray missing children as blown up as they do, Americans would worry less about it?

Why do you think Americans have such a bad outlook on single mothers?