Humanities

~ Mrs. Small

Humanities uses literature and classroom discussions to answer the essential question, “What does it mean to be human?” With historical stories and readings, we learn how the definitions and understandings of “humanity” have changed over time. In the end, our teacher encourages us to analyze and interpret ideas from multiple perspectives to enhance our understanding of the world around us. Scroll down to read about some projects and assignments I have completed through this course.

Education Essay

At the beginning of the year, we analyzed the public education system and discussed aspects that worked and ones that need more reform. Through class discussions and readings, we learned about the history of public education and how it changed over time. In the end, we wrote synthesis essays that reflected our educational experiences and created an argument about the education system.

After reading about book banning and new laws that limit classroom instruction, I was interested in researching and reporting on the effects of censorship in education. Initial research showed me that book bans are implemented to gain control over the system, but actually undermine American education instead. Read my essay to learn more!

Satirical Analysis

Satire is a literary device that uses humor, irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to criticize something or someone. Websites such as The Onion have a lot of satire, especially around current events and politics. We learned about common rhetorical devices used in satire and how they contribute to the author’s intended message. After analyzing multiple satire pieces as a class and creating our own, we had to independently analyze the rhetorical devices of a satire of our choosing.

I chose to analyze the irony and logical fallacies present in “A Presidential Candidate” written by Mark Twain in 1879. His piece satirizes politicians and their deception, especially during campaign season. Read my essay to learn more!