Wag the Dog? Part Two

``Why does a dog wag its tail?'' Brean asks at one point. ``Because the dog is smarter than the tail. If the tail was smarter, it would wag the dog.'' In the Breanian universe, the tail is smarter, and we, dear readers, are invited to be the dogs."—Roger Ebert in his review of Wag the Dog.

Assignment One: complete at blog before class on April 6

Read Roger Ebert's review first. (also, be sure to do Part One, below)

Write about a favourite scene in the movie. Post your response here as a comment. (Maximum 250 words; minimum 150 words) Make a critical comment, modeling your answer on Ebert's writing. Be specific in your description and be clear on whether you think the scene was (or was not) effective. What were the filmmakers trying to say in the scene?

Please bring a printed copy of Assignment One to class.

Assignment Two: (to be printed and brought to class on Wednesday, April 6) DO NOT POST

Write about your experience with the media unit. What were your favourite activities? What was the most memorable video/film/program for you? What other activities would you have liked to try (use your imagination!)?

Wag the Dog? Part One

Script (by David Mamet) for the film, Wag the Dog. You may also wish to rent or borrow the film to watch it again. Here is a fantastic resource: full cast list for Wag the Dog, plot summary and, best of all, a glossary of vocabulary and idiom with examples.

Make notes on your reaction to the film. Did it seem ridiculous and exaggerated to you? Why do you think the film was made? Was it purely for entertainment or for some other reason?


Watch the following videos at YouTube. You can turn on closed captions if you need to.


Pentagon Blackout (Part 1)
Pentagon Blackout (Part 2)
Pentagon Blackout (Part 3)
Pentagon Blackout (Part 4)


Congress Testimony of Nayirah (before first Gulf War)


Take notes about your reactions to the information presented. Did you know any of this before now? How has this information changed (or not changed) your thinking?


I will post a further assignment before the second week of the holidays that requires a written response. For now, all I ask is that you view and consider the information presented.

NOTE: There is no need to provide a written response to Part One, but good quality notes are always beneficial to helping you keep track of information.

Report on Advertising During a Favourite Show

Watch a favourite TV show (including the commercials). Count the number of advertisements shown. What products or services are being sold? What messages are you being given by the ads? Do you or would you use any of these advertised products? Why or why not? Did you see any advertisement twice? Write about your experience in paragraph form. (150 to 200 words)

Here is a link to an English class in 2009 responding to this assignment.

Links to Sir Ken Robinson's Lecture and Graphic

Here is the link to his lecture, Changing Education Paradigms

Here is the link for the graphic used in the lecture. (note this is a large file and will take time to upload to your computer; save a copy locally if you wish)

Homework (due Wednesday, March 2)

Address one of the following questions in a paragraph answer of 150 words.

Why are drop out rates so high (in secondary and postsecondary education) in your opinion?

What is more important to our future, the arts or the sciences?

Find out more about ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). What is your reaction to this information?

Post your answer here as a comment and please bring a word processed and printed copy to class on Wednesday.

Responding to Kurt Vonnegut's "How to Write with Style"

Write a short, 100-word, paragraph response to one of Kurt Vonnegut's suggestions about style. Include at least one short quote from Vonnegut (not one of his rules; choose from one of the sentences instead) and be sure to incorporate it into your own sentence. Respond to what he says either positively or negatively and explain why you think that.

Here I Am

Put your finished work here as a comment.

If you have trouble joining the blog, here is a document to help you.

Something New; Something Different; Something Memorable

Your words to us and to the class that follows you. Remember what Kurt Vonnegut advised: "Sound like yourself" and "Say what you mean." Oh, and "Keep it simple" too.

I look forward to hearing from you.