Week 2 Primary Assignment

Note on Primary Assignments:
Each week you will submit a Primary Assignment. In many weeks, you can choose between two options for this assignment. Before you opt for which assignment option to answer, you will want to consider which option affords you the best opportunity to demonstrate learning based upon the assigned course materials. All Primary Assignments include a thesis statement, a bibliography (APA style), and the use and citation of three assigned reading articles from the current week and one assigned reading article from a previous week.

Role of Civic Engagement in a Republic

Learning Objective: Social Psychologist Jonathan Haidts Three Great Untruths are examined: 1) life is a battle between good people and evil people, 2) what doesn’t kill you makes you weaker, and 3) always trust your feelings. Civic engagement is the antidote to the divisiveness and self-centeredness that belief in these untruths fosters.

Option 1: Words & Music.
Its been suggested that a photograph is worth a thousand words. So imagine what a video is worth! For your Primary assignment this week, post a music video that demonstrates your thoughts on the importance of civic engagement. In at least 600 words, analyze the songs lyrics and images to help the reader make the connection between the song and the need for civic engagement. Use the assigned course reading materials to support your argument. You can choose your music video or select one of these. If you select a music video that is not on the provided list, you are responsible for it appropriateness. If in doubt, dont. Be sure to link the video to your assignment.

Band/ Act    Song Title    Genre
Black Eyed Peas w/ Justin Timberlake    Where is the Love?
Hip Hop/Rap
Green Day    American Idiot
Punk
Lady Gaga    Born This Way
Pop Vocal
Billie Holiday    Strange Fruit
Jazz
Dixie Chicks    Not Ready to Make Nice
Country
The Who    Wont Get Fooled Again
Classic Rock
Bruce Springsteen    Born in the USA
FM Rock

OR

Option 2: Political Speech and Civic Engagement (a/k/a Deeply Flawed Article)
In June 2019, the Gallup polling organization reported that 23% of Americans viewed immigration as the most important political issue facing the United States. Although we frequently hear American society described as a nation of immigrants, concerns over immigration is not a new topic. In 1896 Senator Henry Cabot Lodge delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate, titled, The Restriction of Immigration. For this assignment, write a paper of no less than 600 words analyzing and critiquing three arguments presented by Senator Lodge. In your role as an engaged citizen, how would you respond to the views expressed by Lodge? Use specific ideas from the assigned readings in weeks one and two to support your argument.
    The Restriction Of Immigration by Henry Cabot Lodge – Speech in the Senate, March 16, 1896, Nationalists.org

This Weeks Required Reading / Videos
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/09/the-coddling-of-the-american-mind/399356/
http://content.bellevue.edu/cas/la/400-410-420/id/kss/the-pursuit-of-truth.pdf
https://www.archives.gov/files/press/exhibits/dream-speech.pdf
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/07/why-its-a-bad-idea-to-tell-students-words-are-violence/533970/
https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/04/the-harm-in-free-speech/

Previous Week Required Reading / Videos
https://archive.org/details/JusticeWhatIsTheRightThingToDoByMichaelSandel/page/n7
https://archive.realtor.org/sites/default/files/BowlingAlone.pdf
https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/civic-virtue
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
https://www.newstatesman.com/sites/default/files/combined_executive_summary.pdf
https://www.oecd.org/insights/37966934.pdf
https://youtu.be/kBdfcR-8hEY