9/11 Essay Topics

Select one of the topics below for a two- to four-page essay due Tuesday, Feb. 3 (Day 2).

1. How do The 9/11 Commission Report and Loose Change speak to each other? What do you think is the truth of the events of September 11, 2001? That is, what do you think is clear? What do you think is ambiguous? What questions remain to be answered? 

2. In light of The 9/11 Commission Report and Loose Change, has the federal government offered an appropriate or even adequate response to the events of September 11, 2001? If so, what has worked, and why? If not, what did not work, and what remains to be done?

3. Compare and contrast the rhetorical strategies of The 9/11 Commission Report and Loose Change. You may wish to consider the rhetorical strengths and limitations of their respective media as you consider the strategies they employ. 

Assignment for Monday, 1/26

Read to p. 138 in The 9/11 Commission Report.

Also, prepare your report (1-2 pages) on Loose Change. Below are the group assignments, but you should each prepare an individual report.

Rhetorical fallacies and appeals: Mike, Jake, and Mitch.

Evidence: Anna, Brigid, Kate, and Katie.

Visual and sound elements: David, Mark, Morgan, and Steve.

Narrative elements: Arthur, Kendra, and Zach.

Interviews: Chris, Elena, and Maya.

Assignment for Tuesday, 1/20

Read and annotate to p. 104 in the 9/11 Commission Report. As usual, pay close attention to the authors' rhetorical strategies.

Remember, too, that I will show the rest of the 9/11 documentary about the firefighters inside the World Trade Center on Monday night at 7:00 in my classroom. If you can't get in, just knock on my classroom window and someone will come around to let you in.

Slideshow Essay

See the Monday, December 15, post for the slideshow essay's complete instructions.

9/11 Commission Report

Here is a link for the 9/11 Commission web site, where you can find the Commission's full report:

http://9-11commission.gov

Here is the web site for Loose Change:

http://www.loosechange911.com/finalcut