They never saw it coming :)

Today's reading: Mairs
Before class, I wrote the words/phrases always, all, most, never, obviously, this shows that, we can see, is, and almost up on the side board out of the way so that I could use the main board first without having the list be a huge distraction.

To start, I wrote the overly-used Act II scene II quote from R&J, ("What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet") and asked them if it was true. They all said "yeah..." and that was that. So I asked if it would MEAN the same, and then had them do a quick write on the idea, and told them they had to come up with one example of how renaming something might change the meaning. We discussed their answers, and then, to push it further, I broke them into groups where:

1. Each group had to come up with 5 characteristics of a parasite. 
2. I wrote the characteristics up on the board as they told them to me (gross, dependent, life-sucker, insensitive, carries contagions, doesn't leave the host alone, etc., etc.), and then I asked the groups to re-name the parasite they'd described using a word they thought fit all of the characteristics 
3. Answers varied from Voldemort, third-wheel, someone's mother-in-law, etc., etc., and I added the last one "baby"... which most laughed at, and then followed the laughter with "that's just not right!" 
4. We discussed why the word would be inappropriate (the meaning fits, but the relationship between meaning and people's perceptions of the person who says a baby is a parasite changes for the worse). 

After, I broke them up into groups again to discuss the reading's major terms: Crippled, Handicapped, Differently-abled, and Disabled. They created characteristics for each term, and decided which term they would prefer to use, and why (some had more negative connotations while others seemed a little more broad and less offensive). I asked if it were important to consider the words that they use so as to produce a strong piece of writing without offending their audience, to which they all responded positively, and then I turned to my other list of words and asked how they could be problematic.

They unanimously decided that "only jerks use the word 'obviously,'" and proceded to point out how the other words fail to leave a strong/lasting impression without leaving someone/something out.

And then I lay it on them: "Y'all, that was a great analysis. My only problem is that this list of words came from your papers."

(Insert laughter here): "OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!" ... "She got us good!"

=D Yes, class.... yes, I did.

I passed back their papers explaining that I didn't significantly mark them down for using the list of words this time because we hadn't discussed it, but that they can see how it might be useful for them in the future to be more aware of their word choices. Optional revision is due Monday, and I'm giving 3 extra credit points towards "participation" category for coming to class in costume...

Monday will be amusing for us all :)