English 50: Reading and Film Questions
Unless otherwise specified, please answer each question in complete sentences. Answer the questions as complete statements that could be understood by anyone reading them, even if they have not seen the film or read the work in question and do not have the questions in front of them. Begin each answer as if they were mini-essays by beginning with a thesis statement that restates a portion of the question. Check this page regularly for updates to homework assignments. Please note the due dates for assignments! Late work is not accepted!
Homework #1: "The Story of Stuff" film by Annie Leonard (Due 2/16)
1. What are the five steps of the materials economy?
2. Why is the system in crisis?
3. What limitations are there to our obsession with stuff?
4. What percentage of the world's resources does the US use?
5. How many synthetic chemicals are used in the production of stuff today?
6. How many pounds of toxic chemicals are released into the environment by American producers?
7. What are externalized costs?
8. What is the golden arrow of consumption?
9. What percentage of materials are still in use six months after they are run through the system?
10. What is the ultimate purpose of the American economy?
11. What is planned obsolescence? Give some examples.
12. What is perceived obsolescence? Give some examples.
13. Why isn't recycling enough to help solve the problem of stuff?
14. What are some of the solutions that are posed by Annie Leonard to the problem of stuff?
2. Why is the system in crisis?
3. What limitations are there to our obsession with stuff?
4. What percentage of the world's resources does the US use?
5. How many synthetic chemicals are used in the production of stuff today?
6. How many pounds of toxic chemicals are released into the environment by American producers?
7. What are externalized costs?
8. What is the golden arrow of consumption?
9. What percentage of materials are still in use six months after they are run through the system?
10. What is the ultimate purpose of the American economy?
11. What is planned obsolescence? Give some examples.
12. What is perceived obsolescence? Give some examples.
13. Why isn't recycling enough to help solve the problem of stuff?
14. What are some of the solutions that are posed by Annie Leonard to the problem of stuff?
Homework #2: The Story of Stuff "Introduction" Questions (Due 2/21)
1. What does Annie Leonard mean when she calls herself a "systems thinker?" Define the term in your own words.
2. What is the Quaker principle of "bearing witness" and how does that inform the work of Greenpeace and, more specifically, Annie Leonard's work?
3. Why does Annie Leonard argue that problems "can't be solved in isolation?" Do you agree? Why or why not?
4. What is the most important insight Annie Leonard discovered after she realized that the Earth's ecosystems are intimately linked with the human economic system?
5. How can you tell that Annie Leonard's book provides reliable, fact-based information rather than hyperbolic opinion?
6. How does Annie Leonard argue that the economy will kill the planet? And why should we care?
7. What "important facets of reality" does GDP leave out?
8. Why is our current goal of steady GDP growth unsustainable? What does Annie Leonard argue is a better goal for the economy than growth?
9. Why can't problems "be solved from within the same paradigm in which they were created?"
10. Identify and quote Annie Leonard's thesis (goal) in composing this book. In other words, what does she hope readers will get from her book?
2. What is the Quaker principle of "bearing witness" and how does that inform the work of Greenpeace and, more specifically, Annie Leonard's work?
3. Why does Annie Leonard argue that problems "can't be solved in isolation?" Do you agree? Why or why not?
4. What is the most important insight Annie Leonard discovered after she realized that the Earth's ecosystems are intimately linked with the human economic system?
5. How can you tell that Annie Leonard's book provides reliable, fact-based information rather than hyperbolic opinion?
6. How does Annie Leonard argue that the economy will kill the planet? And why should we care?
7. What "important facets of reality" does GDP leave out?
8. Why is our current goal of steady GDP growth unsustainable? What does Annie Leonard argue is a better goal for the economy than growth?
9. Why can't problems "be solved from within the same paradigm in which they were created?"
10. Identify and quote Annie Leonard's thesis (goal) in composing this book. In other words, what does she hope readers will get from her book?
Homework #3: Food Inc. (Due 2/23)
1. What do you believe the purpose of the film is? For instance, is it meant to be persuasive, argumentative, informative, etc.?
2. In a sentence or two state what you believe is the filmmakers' thesis. (Remember the work we've been doing on thesis statements and try to state the thesis as if you were the author.)
3. How do the filmmakers support their thesis? What sort of evidence do they present? Is the evidence believable and/or convincing?
4. A counter-argument is an argumentative device that authors and filmmakers use to give extra weight to their work. In a counter-argument, an author will anticipate the opposition's potential responses to his or her argument and rebut them. For example, if an author is arguing against fast food, he may choose to admit that fast food does taste good and is relatively cheap, but go on to argue that despite its good taste, fast food is neither healthy for the consumer nor does the price on the menu take into account the human, animal and environmental costs that go into its production. Using a counter-argument ensures an audience that the author is aware of the other side's points, and therefore makes an argument appear more balanced. Do the filmmakers of Food Inc. utilize any counter-arguments? If so, what are they and are they used in a way that furthers the filmmakers' argument?
5. What solutions to the problem, if any, are proposed by the filmmakers? Do they seem realistic and enforceable? Can you think of a better solution or set of solutions?
2. In a sentence or two state what you believe is the filmmakers' thesis. (Remember the work we've been doing on thesis statements and try to state the thesis as if you were the author.)
3. How do the filmmakers support their thesis? What sort of evidence do they present? Is the evidence believable and/or convincing?
4. A counter-argument is an argumentative device that authors and filmmakers use to give extra weight to their work. In a counter-argument, an author will anticipate the opposition's potential responses to his or her argument and rebut them. For example, if an author is arguing against fast food, he may choose to admit that fast food does taste good and is relatively cheap, but go on to argue that despite its good taste, fast food is neither healthy for the consumer nor does the price on the menu take into account the human, animal and environmental costs that go into its production. Using a counter-argument ensures an audience that the author is aware of the other side's points, and therefore makes an argument appear more balanced. Do the filmmakers of Food Inc. utilize any counter-arguments? If so, what are they and are they used in a way that furthers the filmmakers' argument?
5. What solutions to the problem, if any, are proposed by the filmmakers? Do they seem realistic and enforceable? Can you think of a better solution or set of solutions?
Homework #4: The Omnivore's Dilemma Chapter 1: "The Plant: Corn's Conquest" (Due 2/28)
1. According to Michael Pollan, what is the definition of "industrial food?"
2. Upon what plant does the majority of the industrial food chain rest?
3. What food products were you most surprised to learn contain corn?
4. How does Pollan argue that our contemporary capitalistic industrial food complex is decreasing variety in our diet despite the fact that there are seventeen thousand new items added to supermarkets yearly?
5. Through what process are carbon molecules captured from the air and introduced into the food cycle to become the building blocks of life?
6. How does Pollan support the claim that "[...] there is every reason to believe that corn has succeeded in domesticating us" (23)? In what ways is corn dependent on us?
7. What uses made corn indispensable to European settlers in early America?
8. Why does Pollan argue that corn is the "protocapitalist plant?"
9. How does hybridization contribute to the success of a domesticated species such as corn? How did such hybridization also contribute to the ease with which corn became a staple of industrial food capitalism?
2. Upon what plant does the majority of the industrial food chain rest?
3. What food products were you most surprised to learn contain corn?
4. How does Pollan argue that our contemporary capitalistic industrial food complex is decreasing variety in our diet despite the fact that there are seventeen thousand new items added to supermarkets yearly?
5. Through what process are carbon molecules captured from the air and introduced into the food cycle to become the building blocks of life?
6. How does Pollan support the claim that "[...] there is every reason to believe that corn has succeeded in domesticating us" (23)? In what ways is corn dependent on us?
7. What uses made corn indispensable to European settlers in early America?
8. Why does Pollan argue that corn is the "protocapitalist plant?"
9. How does hybridization contribute to the success of a domesticated species such as corn? How did such hybridization also contribute to the ease with which corn became a staple of industrial food capitalism?
Homework #5: The Omnivore's Dilemma Chapter 4: "The Feedlot: Making Meat" (Due 3/2)
1. How could reverting back to the closed ecological loop system that cattle raising used to be make meat production both more sustainable and healthier for consumers and the environment?
2. How did corn production benefit from the urbanization of livestock production? How did corn allow for the urbanization of livestock production?
3. How have Americans benefitted from the development of CAFOs?
4. What are the drawbacks and dangers of the industrial farming of cattle to both the cattle and the consumers?
5. How has industrial farming sped up the production of beef?
6. What are the hidden costs of our current system of industrial cattle raising?
7. How is a ruminant uniquely evolved to convert grass into protein? In the absence of grass in a feedlot cow's diet, what instead do feedlots use to increase the protein intake and fatten cattle? What are the risks of using this type of protein to fatten cattle?
8. How has the current diet of feedlot cattle created the E.coli superbug O157:H7?
9. How does our defense budget represent a hidden cost of cheap food?
2. How did corn production benefit from the urbanization of livestock production? How did corn allow for the urbanization of livestock production?
3. How have Americans benefitted from the development of CAFOs?
4. What are the drawbacks and dangers of the industrial farming of cattle to both the cattle and the consumers?
5. How has industrial farming sped up the production of beef?
6. What are the hidden costs of our current system of industrial cattle raising?
7. How is a ruminant uniquely evolved to convert grass into protein? In the absence of grass in a feedlot cow's diet, what instead do feedlots use to increase the protein intake and fatten cattle? What are the risks of using this type of protein to fatten cattle?
8. How has the current diet of feedlot cattle created the E.coli superbug O157:H7?
9. How does our defense budget represent a hidden cost of cheap food?
Homework #6: The Omnivore's Dilemma Chapter 6: "The Consumer: A Republic of Fat" (Due 3/7)
1. In the early nineteenth century, what were Americans using their excess corn to create? What were the results?
2. How has the introduction of HFCS into the American diet helped contribute to the consumption of our corn surplus? How has this contributed to the growing waistlines of Americans?
3. How did soda companies increase profits and get people to consume more soda (and therefore more corn syrup)?
4. What packaging and marketing technique has gotten consumers to eat more? Explain the logic behind this marketing technique.
5. Why don't people stop eating when they are full in the presence of large portions?
6. How does processed food contribute to our growing rates of obesity and food-related illness?
7. Why are food-related illnesses more prevalent in people of lower socioeconomic status?
8. How has governmental policy contributed to our nation's growing ill health?
2. How has the introduction of HFCS into the American diet helped contribute to the consumption of our corn surplus? How has this contributed to the growing waistlines of Americans?
3. How did soda companies increase profits and get people to consume more soda (and therefore more corn syrup)?
4. What packaging and marketing technique has gotten consumers to eat more? Explain the logic behind this marketing technique.
5. Why don't people stop eating when they are full in the presence of large portions?
6. How does processed food contribute to our growing rates of obesity and food-related illness?
7. Why are food-related illnesses more prevalent in people of lower socioeconomic status?
8. How has governmental policy contributed to our nation's growing ill health?
Homework #7: The Omnivore's Dilemma Chapter 7: "The Meal: Fast Food" (Due 3/9)
1. What are some synthetic ingredients added to industrial food such as Chicken McNuggets? What function do they serve?
2. Do you think synthetic additives should be considered normal and allowed in our food? If not, how could we possibly go about removing them from our diet? If you don't have a problem with the additives because of the benefits they offer, do you at least think that consumers should be informed of such ingredients?
3. Why do you think children, like Isaac, have such a limited understanding between the food they eat, like nuggets, and the food's origins? Do you think adults feel the same disconnect with their food as Isaac expresses on page 112? Do you see this as a problem? Why or why not?
4. Pollan argues, "Part of the appeal of hamburgers and nuggets is that their boneless abstractions allow us to forget we're eating animals. [...] That perhaps is what the industrial food chain does best: obscure the histories of the foods it produces by processing them to such an extent that they appear as pure products of culture rather than nature--things made from plants and animals" (115). Do you agree? Why or why not? Why might this be a good marketing strategy?
5. In the absence of huge spikes in American population levels, how has the industrial food system increased profits?
6. How do processed foods consume and waste more energy than simple, unprocessed foods?
7. What are the negative effects of the overproduction of corn?
2. Do you think synthetic additives should be considered normal and allowed in our food? If not, how could we possibly go about removing them from our diet? If you don't have a problem with the additives because of the benefits they offer, do you at least think that consumers should be informed of such ingredients?
3. Why do you think children, like Isaac, have such a limited understanding between the food they eat, like nuggets, and the food's origins? Do you think adults feel the same disconnect with their food as Isaac expresses on page 112? Do you see this as a problem? Why or why not?
4. Pollan argues, "Part of the appeal of hamburgers and nuggets is that their boneless abstractions allow us to forget we're eating animals. [...] That perhaps is what the industrial food chain does best: obscure the histories of the foods it produces by processing them to such an extent that they appear as pure products of culture rather than nature--things made from plants and animals" (115). Do you agree? Why or why not? Why might this be a good marketing strategy?
5. In the absence of huge spikes in American population levels, how has the industrial food system increased profits?
6. How do processed foods consume and waste more energy than simple, unprocessed foods?
7. What are the negative effects of the overproduction of corn?
Homework #8: The Omnivore's Dilemma Chapter 17: "The Ethics of Eating Animals" (Due 3/14)
1. How has the modern meat industry distanced consumers and animals from one another? How has this affected the American attitude toward food animals and meat eating?
2. Peter Singer, in the book Animal Liberation, argues that "equality is a moral idea [...] not an assertion of fact." Through this logic, he argues that "everyone's interests ought to receive equal consideration regardless of 'what they are like or what abilities they have.'" Therefore, "If possessing a higher degree of intelligence does not entitle one human to use another for his or her own ends, how can it entitle humans to exploit non-humans for the same purpose?" (Pollan 307). Do you agree with this logic? Why or why not? If you were faced with this argument, how would you logically defend your desire to continue eating meat? (In other words, "it tastes good" is not an acceptable argument in a moral debate.)
3. What is the "argument for marginal cases" (308)?
4. What is speciesism and how does it affect the meat eater's moral rationale for eating meat? How does Pollan refute notions of speciesism (via the work of animal rightists such as Singer)?
5. What does Michael Pollan argue is lost when one becomes a vegetarian? Do you think these are reasons enough to continue eating meat?
6. How is the behavior of laying hens evidence of suffering (vs. mere pain)?
7. Pollan argues that there is an "economic impulse to erode the moral underpinnings of society" (318). How do the practices of the industrial food system support this argument?
8. How does Pollan argue that the happiness (or suffering) of a domestic animal is a result of "mutualism or symbiosis between species" (320)? How might this argument support the idea of eating meat (in more humane ways, of course)?
9. How does considering an individual animal versus the group of animals as a whole change the moral consideration of eating meat?
10. How does Michael Pollan eventually argue in support of meat eating? What benefits does meat eating (and therefore the production of food animals) provide?
11. How does Pollan distinguish between "animal welfare" and "animal rights" (328)?
12. How has the loss of ritual in contemporary slaughter and animal eating made "looking" and continuing to eat meat less tolerable?
13. How does Pollan's view of "looking" tie into Annie Leonard and the Quaker principle of "bearing witness"?
2. Peter Singer, in the book Animal Liberation, argues that "equality is a moral idea [...] not an assertion of fact." Through this logic, he argues that "everyone's interests ought to receive equal consideration regardless of 'what they are like or what abilities they have.'" Therefore, "If possessing a higher degree of intelligence does not entitle one human to use another for his or her own ends, how can it entitle humans to exploit non-humans for the same purpose?" (Pollan 307). Do you agree with this logic? Why or why not? If you were faced with this argument, how would you logically defend your desire to continue eating meat? (In other words, "it tastes good" is not an acceptable argument in a moral debate.)
3. What is the "argument for marginal cases" (308)?
4. What is speciesism and how does it affect the meat eater's moral rationale for eating meat? How does Pollan refute notions of speciesism (via the work of animal rightists such as Singer)?
5. What does Michael Pollan argue is lost when one becomes a vegetarian? Do you think these are reasons enough to continue eating meat?
6. How is the behavior of laying hens evidence of suffering (vs. mere pain)?
7. Pollan argues that there is an "economic impulse to erode the moral underpinnings of society" (318). How do the practices of the industrial food system support this argument?
8. How does Pollan argue that the happiness (or suffering) of a domestic animal is a result of "mutualism or symbiosis between species" (320)? How might this argument support the idea of eating meat (in more humane ways, of course)?
9. How does considering an individual animal versus the group of animals as a whole change the moral consideration of eating meat?
10. How does Michael Pollan eventually argue in support of meat eating? What benefits does meat eating (and therefore the production of food animals) provide?
11. How does Pollan distinguish between "animal welfare" and "animal rights" (328)?
12. How has the loss of ritual in contemporary slaughter and animal eating made "looking" and continuing to eat meat less tolerable?
13. How does Pollan's view of "looking" tie into Annie Leonard and the Quaker principle of "bearing witness"?
Homework #9: Wall-E Questions (To be completed in class 3/25)
1. What do you believe is the message of Wall-E? Is there more than one? Is it successfully conveyed? Why or why not?
2. Who is the film's intended audience? Is the message appropriate to its audience?
3. How have our course readings affected your reaction to the film Wall-E? Do you believe that the film's message was enhanced by your current knowledge, or do you think it would have been equally impactive without the course's readings?
4. Which of Leonard's five steps of the materials economy are depicted in the film Wall-E? How are they depicted (give some examples)?
5. How does the film Wall-E also comment on concerns expressed in Food Inc. and The Omnivore's Dilemma? How are these commentaries made apparent or depicted (give some examples)?
6. How does Wall-E comment on the impacts of technology (both positive and negative)?
2. Who is the film's intended audience? Is the message appropriate to its audience?
3. How have our course readings affected your reaction to the film Wall-E? Do you believe that the film's message was enhanced by your current knowledge, or do you think it would have been equally impactive without the course's readings?
4. Which of Leonard's five steps of the materials economy are depicted in the film Wall-E? How are they depicted (give some examples)?
5. How does the film Wall-E also comment on concerns expressed in Food Inc. and The Omnivore's Dilemma? How are these commentaries made apparent or depicted (give some examples)?
6. How does Wall-E comment on the impacts of technology (both positive and negative)?
Homework #10: No Logo Chapter 1 (Due 3/21)
Section One: Vocabulary
For each word below, write the definition and then use it in a sentence that makes it clear you understand its meaning.
1. Divestment 2. Bolstering 3. Industrialized 4. Burgeoning
5. Zeitgeist 6. Zenith 7. Inundation 8. Preened
9. Ostensible 10. Cloistered 11. Lexicons 12. Propensity
13. Transcendental 14. Dissemination 15. Purveyor 16. Coddled
Section Two: Understanding the Text
Use a properly cited direct quote or paraphrase to support your answer. Be sure to cite your source using MLA guidelines.
1. What is Klein’s thesis in Chapter One?
2. How does Klein distinguish between branding and advertising?
3. How did the development of the factory contribute to the necessity of branding?
4. How did the ad world benefit from the Kraft purchase in the 1980s?
5. How does Klein define “experiential communication”?
6. How did “Marlboro Friday” affect the concept and value of branding?
7. How does Klein define “brand blindness” and how does a recession contribute to this phenomena?
8. How did companies respond to brand blindness in the early 90s?
9. What two “significant developments in nineties marketing and consumerism” did Marlboro Friday bring into focus (16)?
Section Three: Analyzing the Text
Answer each question below by using evidence from the text in the form of either a direct quote or paraphrase. Be sure to cite your source using MLA guidelines! Use the quote sandwich method to properly introduce, integrate and analyze your evidence.
1. How does the “lifestyle marketing” of companies like Clavin Klein and Absolut Vodka focus on branding rather than the actual product?
2. How did companies like Starbucks and the Body Shop improve and expand their businesses and brands without investing in direct advertising?
3. How has the emphasis on branding led to the outsourcing of production?
4. If a corporation’s primary focus is not on the production of goods, what is the corporation’s primary goal? How do they achieve this goal?
Section Four: Long Answer (Putting it all together)
In a two paragraph (minimum) mini essay, please address the following prompt. Be sure to use properly cited direct quotation and paraphrase to support your answer. Remember the quote sandwich method for integrating evidence into your work.
Why did “Brands, not products!” become “the rallying cry” for marketers (21)? Why did marketing companies, and the corporations for which they worked, shift their focus from products to brands? How does the history of production and advertising contribute to this shift?
For each word below, write the definition and then use it in a sentence that makes it clear you understand its meaning.
1. Divestment 2. Bolstering 3. Industrialized 4. Burgeoning
5. Zeitgeist 6. Zenith 7. Inundation 8. Preened
9. Ostensible 10. Cloistered 11. Lexicons 12. Propensity
13. Transcendental 14. Dissemination 15. Purveyor 16. Coddled
Section Two: Understanding the Text
Use a properly cited direct quote or paraphrase to support your answer. Be sure to cite your source using MLA guidelines.
1. What is Klein’s thesis in Chapter One?
2. How does Klein distinguish between branding and advertising?
3. How did the development of the factory contribute to the necessity of branding?
4. How did the ad world benefit from the Kraft purchase in the 1980s?
5. How does Klein define “experiential communication”?
6. How did “Marlboro Friday” affect the concept and value of branding?
7. How does Klein define “brand blindness” and how does a recession contribute to this phenomena?
8. How did companies respond to brand blindness in the early 90s?
9. What two “significant developments in nineties marketing and consumerism” did Marlboro Friday bring into focus (16)?
Section Three: Analyzing the Text
Answer each question below by using evidence from the text in the form of either a direct quote or paraphrase. Be sure to cite your source using MLA guidelines! Use the quote sandwich method to properly introduce, integrate and analyze your evidence.
1. How does the “lifestyle marketing” of companies like Clavin Klein and Absolut Vodka focus on branding rather than the actual product?
2. How did companies like Starbucks and the Body Shop improve and expand their businesses and brands without investing in direct advertising?
3. How has the emphasis on branding led to the outsourcing of production?
4. If a corporation’s primary focus is not on the production of goods, what is the corporation’s primary goal? How do they achieve this goal?
Section Four: Long Answer (Putting it all together)
In a two paragraph (minimum) mini essay, please address the following prompt. Be sure to use properly cited direct quotation and paraphrase to support your answer. Remember the quote sandwich method for integrating evidence into your work.
Why did “Brands, not products!” become “the rallying cry” for marketers (21)? Why did marketing companies, and the corporations for which they worked, shift their focus from products to brands? How does the history of production and advertising contribute to this shift?
Homework #11: Fast Food Nation Chapter 8 (Due 3/28)
Compose a one paragraph summary for each section of the chapter (there are 6 sections: the introduction section plus five other sections with headings). Therefore, your homework should be six paragraphs of varying lengths. Follow the guidelines we discussed in class:
1. Highlight/underline the main points of the section. Be sure to use a different color or method to indicate that these are main points.
2. Compose your summary.
Your summary should include:
-->A topic sentence that introduces the author name, chapter title, and section title (if there is one)
-->Summary of the main points that you highlighted/underlined previously
-->A brief discussion of how Schlosser supports his main points. In other words, what types of information does he provide (interviews with workers, data from USDA studies, etc.). You do not need to include the actual data or information, but just identify what types of evidence he is using.
1. Highlight/underline the main points of the section. Be sure to use a different color or method to indicate that these are main points.
2. Compose your summary.
Your summary should include:
-->A topic sentence that introduces the author name, chapter title, and section title (if there is one)
-->Summary of the main points that you highlighted/underlined previously
-->A brief discussion of how Schlosser supports his main points. In other words, what types of information does he provide (interviews with workers, data from USDA studies, etc.). You do not need to include the actual data or information, but just identify what types of evidence he is using.
Homework #12: Idiocracy Questions (Due 3/30)
1. How does the film comment on issues of technology? What kind of satirical warning against technology does the film seem to be making? Use specific examples from the film to support your answer.
2. How does the film comment on what Barber in Consumed calls “infotainment”?Use specific examples from the film to support your answer.
3. How does the film comment on issues of consumerism such as those outlined by Leonard in The Story of Stuff? Use specific examples from the film to support your answer.
4. How does the film comment on issues surrounding food and marketing? Use specific examples from the film to support your answer.
5. As a work of dystopian fiction, Idiocracy functions as social satire. Is it an effective piece of satire or is it so over-the-top that its message becomes obscured?
6. Is there a point to the film’s lewdness, or is it simply there for comic effect? Does the crassness and profanity of Idiocracy contribute to its position as a piece of satire?
2. How does the film comment on what Barber in Consumed calls “infotainment”?Use specific examples from the film to support your answer.
3. How does the film comment on issues of consumerism such as those outlined by Leonard in The Story of Stuff? Use specific examples from the film to support your answer.
4. How does the film comment on issues surrounding food and marketing? Use specific examples from the film to support your answer.
5. As a work of dystopian fiction, Idiocracy functions as social satire. Is it an effective piece of satire or is it so over-the-top that its message becomes obscured?
6. Is there a point to the film’s lewdness, or is it simply there for comic effect? Does the crassness and profanity of Idiocracy contribute to its position as a piece of satire?
Homework #13: No Logo Chapter 10 (Due 4/4)
Part One: Vocabulary
Define each word and then use it in a sentence that makes it clear that you understand the word’s meaning.
1. Transience 2. Stagnate 3. Paradox 4. Touted
5. Panacea
Part Two: Understanding the Text
Answer each question below in a complete sentence. When possible, bring in direct evidence from the text in the form of a paraphrase or direct quote.
1. Why does Klein argue that “[e]very corporation wants a fluid reserve of part-timers” (231)?
2. How has the view of service sector employees as “children” (232) affected job security and wages in the service and retail sectors?
3. How does Klein define a “McJob” (237)?
4. According to Klein, to what “compulsive” act do retailers funnel their profits into if not into their workers (239)?
5. How do corporations fight unionization and why do they fight it so hard?
6. What are some of the lies that Klein outlines that corporations use to maintain their part-timer philosophies and keep wages and hours depressed?
7. What does Klein argue will be the fate of “cultural production” if the trend of unpaid internships continues (246)?
8. How does Klein argue against the glamorization of the “free agent nation” (252)? What people benefit the most from the concept of free agency?
Define each word and then use it in a sentence that makes it clear that you understand the word’s meaning.
1. Transience 2. Stagnate 3. Paradox 4. Touted
5. Panacea
Part Two: Understanding the Text
Answer each question below in a complete sentence. When possible, bring in direct evidence from the text in the form of a paraphrase or direct quote.
1. Why does Klein argue that “[e]very corporation wants a fluid reserve of part-timers” (231)?
2. How has the view of service sector employees as “children” (232) affected job security and wages in the service and retail sectors?
3. How does Klein define a “McJob” (237)?
4. According to Klein, to what “compulsive” act do retailers funnel their profits into if not into their workers (239)?
5. How do corporations fight unionization and why do they fight it so hard?
6. What are some of the lies that Klein outlines that corporations use to maintain their part-timer philosophies and keep wages and hours depressed?
7. What does Klein argue will be the fate of “cultural production” if the trend of unpaid internships continues (246)?
8. How does Klein argue against the glamorization of the “free agent nation” (252)? What people benefit the most from the concept of free agency?
Homework #14: No Logo: Chapter 3 "Alt. Everything: The Youth Market and the Marketing of Cool" (Due )
Part One: Vocabulary
Define each word and use it in a sentence that makes its meaning clear.
1. Hackneyed 2. Archetypes 3. Bohemian 4. Blasé
5. Imbue 6. Convergence 7. Manifestos 8. Bureaucracy
9. Cachet 10. Paradigm 11. Sardonically 12. Egregious
13. Implausibly 14. Abysmal 15. Rarefy 16. Enumerated
Part Two: The Text
Answer each question below in complete sentences. When possible, bring in direct quotes or other direct evidence from the text.
1. What caused the controversy over Woodstock ’94? Who found it most controversial, the youth who attended or those who attended the original Woodstock? Why didn’t the youth who attended the festival react more strongly to it?
2. Why did companies and marketers shift their focus to the youth in the 90s?
3. How did the concept of cool affect companies and marketers in the 90s? To what lengths did companies go in order to become and sell “cool”? Give some examples from the text.
4. How did the recession of the late 80s affect companies’ search for “cool”?
5. According to Klein, what are “cool hunters” and what did they do for the companies who employed them?
6. How did the inner city and Black culture influence the marketing of cool? Give some examples from the text.
7. Do you think the techniques used by companies to market inner city cool are exploitative? Why or why not?
Define each word and use it in a sentence that makes its meaning clear.
1. Hackneyed 2. Archetypes 3. Bohemian 4. Blasé
5. Imbue 6. Convergence 7. Manifestos 8. Bureaucracy
9. Cachet 10. Paradigm 11. Sardonically 12. Egregious
13. Implausibly 14. Abysmal 15. Rarefy 16. Enumerated
Part Two: The Text
Answer each question below in complete sentences. When possible, bring in direct quotes or other direct evidence from the text.
1. What caused the controversy over Woodstock ’94? Who found it most controversial, the youth who attended or those who attended the original Woodstock? Why didn’t the youth who attended the festival react more strongly to it?
2. Why did companies and marketers shift their focus to the youth in the 90s?
3. How did the concept of cool affect companies and marketers in the 90s? To what lengths did companies go in order to become and sell “cool”? Give some examples from the text.
4. How did the recession of the late 80s affect companies’ search for “cool”?
5. According to Klein, what are “cool hunters” and what did they do for the companies who employed them?
6. How did the inner city and Black culture influence the marketing of cool? Give some examples from the text.
7. Do you think the techniques used by companies to market inner city cool are exploitative? Why or why not?
Sicko (Due 4/6)
Answer the questions below in complete sentences. When possible, use examples drawn directly from the film.
1. What are some of the problems with our healthcare system identified by Michael Moore? How does Moore support his thesis? Give some specific examples from the film.
2. How does money influence the poor healthcare provided in our country?
3. What is the origin of HMOs? How has privatization negatively affected our national healthcare system?
4. How do the other healthcare systems profiled by Michael Moore differ from the American healthcare system?
5. How is Michael Moore’s film both a documentary and social satire? What techniques of social satire does Michael Moore use in his film?
6. Does Moore’s film seem fair and balanced or obviously biased? Why? Does this make it more or less effective?
7. How do the policies of France help support families and family values?
8. How do the historical clips and sound track affect your reaction to Michael Moore’s film?
9. What solutions, if any, does Michael Moore propose to the problems with the American healthcare system?
1. What are some of the problems with our healthcare system identified by Michael Moore? How does Moore support his thesis? Give some specific examples from the film.
2. How does money influence the poor healthcare provided in our country?
3. What is the origin of HMOs? How has privatization negatively affected our national healthcare system?
4. How do the other healthcare systems profiled by Michael Moore differ from the American healthcare system?
5. How is Michael Moore’s film both a documentary and social satire? What techniques of social satire does Michael Moore use in his film?
6. Does Moore’s film seem fair and balanced or obviously biased? Why? Does this make it more or less effective?
7. How do the policies of France help support families and family values?
8. How do the historical clips and sound track affect your reaction to Michael Moore’s film?
9. What solutions, if any, does Michael Moore propose to the problems with the American healthcare system?
Homework #15: Overdosed America Chapter 6: "American Medicine's Perfect Storm" (Due 4/20)
1. According to Abramson, how is an HMO supposed to work?
2. How does a managed care plan differ from an HMO?
3. How did "prescription drug advertising [...] become a major force in American medicine" (80)? What were the effects?
4. Why, according to Abramson, is the role of primary care physicians diminishing?
5. How has the threat of malpractice suits increased the costs of healthcare?
6. What are some of the negative impacts of the passage of PDUFA?
7. According to Abramson, why did it take so long for Rezulin to be removed from the American market?
8. How has drug company money impacted the functioning of the FDA?
2. How does a managed care plan differ from an HMO?
3. How did "prescription drug advertising [...] become a major force in American medicine" (80)? What were the effects?
4. Why, according to Abramson, is the role of primary care physicians diminishing?
5. How has the threat of malpractice suits increased the costs of healthcare?
6. What are some of the negative impacts of the passage of PDUFA?
7. According to Abramson, why did it take so long for Rezulin to be removed from the American market?
8. How has drug company money impacted the functioning of the FDA?
Homework #16: Overdosed America Chapter 7: "The Commercial Takeover of Medical Knowledge" (Due 4/25)
1. What’s wrong with choosing test subjects who are younger and fitter than those who will likely be prescribed the test drug?
2. Why do drug companies design tests that compare their drugs to placebos rather than similar existing treatments?
3. What are some of the effects of commercially sponsored medical research?
4. According to Abramson, what are the drug companies’ “most important products” (94)?
5. How did for-profit research replace government funded research and what were some of the results?
6. What methods do drug companies use to “make sure that research results are written to best represent their interests” (106)?
2. Why do drug companies design tests that compare their drugs to placebos rather than similar existing treatments?
3. What are some of the effects of commercially sponsored medical research?
4. According to Abramson, what are the drug companies’ “most important products” (94)?
5. How did for-profit research replace government funded research and what were some of the results?
6. What methods do drug companies use to “make sure that research results are written to best represent their interests” (106)?
Homework #17: Overdosed America Chapter 10 "Direct-to-Consumer: Advertising, Public Relations, and the Medical News" (Due 4/27)
1. What argument did the drug companies use to persuade the FDA to allow direct to consumer advertising and when was DTC advertising for drugs first allowed?
2. What rules were placed on DTC advertisements of drugs when the FDA first allowed them? What rules were changed in 1997?
3. How does the DTC advertising of drugs to consumers “make prescription drug use seem like a routine part of life” (151)?
4. How has DTC advertising affected the doctor-patient relationship?
5. Do you believe that commercial speech should receive constitutional protection equivalent to that of individuals and the press? Why or why not?
6. How do public relations firms promote prescription drugs and drug manufacturers to consumers?
7. What are some examples of successful public relations campaigns and how did they successfully mislead consumers?
8. According to Abramson, why are the news stories about the latest medical “breakthroughs” detrimental to the health of Americans?
2. What rules were placed on DTC advertisements of drugs when the FDA first allowed them? What rules were changed in 1997?
3. How does the DTC advertising of drugs to consumers “make prescription drug use seem like a routine part of life” (151)?
4. How has DTC advertising affected the doctor-patient relationship?
5. Do you believe that commercial speech should receive constitutional protection equivalent to that of individuals and the press? Why or why not?
6. How do public relations firms promote prescription drugs and drug manufacturers to consumers?
7. What are some examples of successful public relations campaigns and how did they successfully mislead consumers?
8. According to Abramson, why are the news stories about the latest medical “breakthroughs” detrimental to the health of Americans?
Homework #18: Overdosed America Chapter 14 (Due Tuesday 5/16)
1. According to Abramson, what are the major contributors “to the changed role of medical knowledge in our society” (241)?
2. How did the Medicare prescription drug bill serve the economic interest of drug companies and harm the senior citizens it was supposed to help?
3. What conclusion about the Medicare prescription drug act (or American healthcare in general) can be drawn from Abramson’s analysis of the top drugs prescribed to senior citizens?
4. What policy-changing steps does Abramson propose to solve the problem with America’s healthcare system?
5. How does Abramson propose to accomplish the threefold mission of his proposed “independent board”?
6. How does Abramson propose that the new standards for medical research be enforced and researchers and companies be held accountable for their claims?
7. How does Abramson define the mission of American medicine? What four changes does Abramson outline as being necessary to gear American medicine toward its mission?
8. What personal responsibility solutions does Abramson suggest?
2. How did the Medicare prescription drug bill serve the economic interest of drug companies and harm the senior citizens it was supposed to help?
3. What conclusion about the Medicare prescription drug act (or American healthcare in general) can be drawn from Abramson’s analysis of the top drugs prescribed to senior citizens?
4. What policy-changing steps does Abramson propose to solve the problem with America’s healthcare system?
5. How does Abramson propose to accomplish the threefold mission of his proposed “independent board”?
6. How does Abramson propose that the new standards for medical research be enforced and researchers and companies be held accountable for their claims?
7. How does Abramson define the mission of American medicine? What four changes does Abramson outline as being necessary to gear American medicine toward its mission?
8. What personal responsibility solutions does Abramson suggest?
Homework #19: NL Conclusion Questions (Due 5/18)
1. How have foreigners influenced the Philippines?
2. Who does Klein argue should be drafting “collective labor and human rights codes” (441)?
3. How have corporations “created the surge of opposition described in” Klein’s book (441)?
4. What solutions and ways to fight the multinational corporations does Klein discuss in her conclusion? Refer directly to the text through paraphrase and/or direct quotation in your answer. Be sure to include an appropriate citation for all references to Klein’s text. This answer should be at least two paragraphs long.
5. What solution(s) to the problem did Klein outline in her conclusion, but then reject as ineffective?
2. Who does Klein argue should be drafting “collective labor and human rights codes” (441)?
3. How have corporations “created the surge of opposition described in” Klein’s book (441)?
4. What solutions and ways to fight the multinational corporations does Klein discuss in her conclusion? Refer directly to the text through paraphrase and/or direct quotation in your answer. Be sure to include an appropriate citation for all references to Klein’s text. This answer should be at least two paragraphs long.
5. What solution(s) to the problem did Klein outline in her conclusion, but then reject as ineffective?