(LINK: http://www.hbo.com/real-time-with-bill-maher#/real-time-with-bill-maher/episodes/0/236-episode/synopsis/quotes.html)
Mutanatia was now sitting at his desk, looking eagerly at
his students. When his students sat down, he said, “Hello and welcome to Week
#3 of Real Time with Bill Maher, also our third week of this class. Before we
begin, let’s get to the pre-class discussion: Last time on Bill Maher, Mr.
Maher claimed that he “doesn’t know of any other time the institution [of the
President] has been so disrespected in American history. Besides Carter, name
another recent President who has been disrespected. I can think of one off the
top of my head… I wonder if it will be yours.
Now, to the questions and homework:
1) Find
a statement you agree with and explain why. Discuss with others and be prepared
to defend your viewpoint civilly. There may be nothing you agree with. Please
state why this is the case.
2) Find
a statement you disagree with and explain why. Discuss with others and be
prepared to defend your viewpoint civilly.
This episode originally aired on 2/03/2012. Topics included Apple
Manufacturing, the Economy, Afghanistan, Occupy Wall Street, and Facebook. “
He then passed out the homework:
Homework:
1) Fact-check
one of the quotes found in the list (or on the overtime segment) and tell me
why it is, or isn’t, accurate.
2) How
important does the panel find education to be?
3) Finally,
evaluate Michael Hastings.
There will also be a bonus question: Research Mike Daisey
and find out who he his and why his story is so significant--hint: it’s not why
you think it is. This will be covered again when we do the unit on This
American Life.”
Just out of curiosity, where is the rest of the class? I hope you don't mind my skipping the Bill Maher sessions. I find him to be a particularly irritating little piss-ant, and would rather not waste my time listening to his race-baiting bilge, or contemplating anything he says, as if it were profound... or even funny. ◄Dave►
ReplyDeleteLet me post the syllabus. Give me a second. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd no, I do not mind. He's not for everyone :) The reason why we are spending so much time on it leads to the 1st Essay Question, which is "Why should we NOT take Bill Maher, opinion shows (most noticeably on Fox and MSNBC, though CNN does occasionally go off the the rails like those two do), and blogs as 'fact?' What are the dangers of taking them as 'fact?'"
ReplyDeleteAs such, I would recommend, if anything, checking out his quote list just so you can draw some examples from it when you write the essay. :) That, or spend some time dissecting your own blog ;)