1. From Book (THE NORTON READER Edition: 14TH 14 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company ISBN: 978-0-393-26411-1) The Norton Reader Read Isaac Asimov “The Relativity of Wrong” (Under section – Science) How would you characterize the tone of Asimov’s essay? Does his tone make you more or less receptive to his argument? Around 100 words

2. From Book (THE NORTON READER Edition: 14TH 14 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company ISBN: 978-0-393-26411-1) The Norton Reader Read Frederick Douglass “Learning to Read” (Under section – Education) Frederick Douglass’s story might today be called a “literacy narrative”—an account of how someone learns to read and write. What are the key features of this narrative? What obstacles did Douglass face? How did he overcome them? Support your response with quotations from the text. Around 140 words

3. From Book (THE NORTON READER Edition: 14TH 14 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company ISBN: 978-0-393-26411-1) The Norton Reader Read Barack Obama “Eulogy for Clementa Pinckney” (Under section- Philosophy and Religion) Barack Obama notes that despite Reverend Pinckney’s achievements, he lived without “high station” (paragraph 15). What do you think he wants to communicate to his audience with this observation, and how does it help you understand what he means by calling Pinckney “a good man”? How does he support his argument? Discuss briefly. Around 120

4. From Book (THE NORTON READER Edition: 14TH 14 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company ISBN: 978-0-393-26411-1) The Norton Reader Read Teresa Lust “The Same Old Stuffing” Teresa Lust includes both family anecdotes and historical research in her essay. Was there anything about her description of the development of Thanksgiving as a holiday that surprised you? Around 110 words

5. From Book (THE NORTON READER Edition: 14TH 14 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company ISBN: 978-0-393-26411-1)  Read Pilardi, Jo- Ann. “Immigration Problem Is about Us, Not Them”
(Under section – Op Eds) According to Pilardi, who benefits from illegal immigration? Who loses? Cite specific examples to support your answer. Around 110 words.

6. From Book (THE NORTON READER Edition: 14TH 14 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company ISBN: 978-0-393-26411-1)  Read Tasneem Raja “Is Coding the New Literacy?” (Under section – Media and Technology) According to Raja, what are some of the main obstacles to teaching coding and computational literacy? Do you think coding should be an academic requirement? Why or why not?
Around 115 words

7. From Book (THE NORTON READER Edition: 14TH 14 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company ISBN: 978-0-393-26411-1) Read Mark Twain “Advice to Youth” (Under section – Ethics) Briefly list the Underline the various pieces of “serious” advice that Mark Twain offers. Around 130

Solution

THE NORTON READER

Question 1

 From Book (THE NORTON READER Edition: 14TH 14 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company ISBN: 978-0-393-26411-1) The Norton Reader Read Isaac Asimov “The Relativity of Wrong” (Under section – Science) How would you characterize the tone of Asimov’s essay? Does his tone make you more or less receptive to his argument?

I find Asimov’s tone in the essay “The Relativity of Wrong” stern but very informative. Some people might find his attitude arrogant but I feel his argument is very informative especially to a layman. His writing is also very simple and conversational such that everybody understands his point regarding his topic; the relativity of wrongness. I agree with his argument about the degree of wrongness in scientific theories. An idea cannot be absolute right or absolute wrong but should be partially wrong or partially right. The ideas we think as wrong should be stated as incomplete ideas.

Question 2

From Book (THE NORTON READER Edition: 14TH 14 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company ISBN: 978-0-393-26411-1) The Norton Reader Read Frederick Douglass “Learning to Read” (Under section – Education) Frederick Douglass’s story might today be called a “literacy narrative”—an account of how someone learns to read and write. What are the key features of this narrative? What obstacles did Douglass face? How did he overcome them? Support your response with quotations from the text.

During the slavery period in the United States, Education among African-American was prevented except for religious teachings. Literacy was seen as a potential tool to rebellion among the slaves. Fredrick Douglass did not want to be a slave for life and he knew his freedom would be achieved only if he knew how to read and write. Ignorant and its consequences are highly prevalent in Douglas story.  “I have no accurate knowledge of my age,”(pg 1).

Douglas hope for education was stirred when the wife to his master started teaching her the ABCs but she later stopped after her husband discouraged her stating that literacy “would forever unfit him to be a slave”(pg 33).This incidence motivated him to want to succeed and hence started looking for ways to learn how to read and write on his own including giving bread to white children in exchange of reading lessons. He would finish his chores quickly and run to white kids he had befriended to learn from them. Little by little and with sheer determination, he was able to learn how to read and write on his own.

Question 3

From Book (THE NORTON READER Edition: 14TH 14 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company ISBN: 978-0-393-26411-1) The Norton Reader Read Barack Obama “Eulogy for Clementa Pinckney” (Under section- Philosophy and Religion) Barack Obama notes that despite Reverend Pinckney’s achievements, he lived without “high station” (paragraph 15). What do you think he wants to communicate to his audience with this observation, and how does it help you understand what he means by calling Pinckney “a good man”? How does he support his argument? Discuss briefly.

I think Mr. Obama phrase ‘he lived without “high station” (paragraph 15)’ means that Reverend Clementa was a humble ,simple and a regular person despite his many accomplishments both as a religious leader and as a state legislator. He was a successful man and highly regarded but he interacted with common people in his neighborhood and his state at large. He fought for the rights of his community especially the African-Americans.  Mr. Obama challenges his audience to be humble and to give back to the community. Obama refers to the Reverend as a good man because he was gracious, encouraging, wise and loving to his family, church and community at large. He was also very empathetic and that is why one senator had referred him as ‘’the most generous of the 46 of us’’.

Question 4

From Book (THE NORTON READER Edition: 14TH 14 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company ISBN: 978-0-393-26411-1) The Norton Reader Read Teresa Lust “The Same Old Stuffing” Teresa Lust includes both family anecdotes and historical research in her essay. Was there anything about her description of the development of Thanksgiving as a holiday that surprised you?

It is surprising to know that thanksgiving traditions date back to the nineteenth century. It was eye-opening to learn from Teresa Lust’s essay that Thanksgiving holiday was initiated by the same lady who came up with the popular nursery rhyme ”Mary had a Little Lamb”. It is also amazing to learn that she pushed for the recognition of the tradition as a holiday in the United States of America for nearly twenty years. It is also very interesting that she wrote letters to the state governor annually. This level of dedication is incredible.

Question 5

From Book (THE NORTON READER Edition: 14TH 14 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company ISBN: 978-0-393-26411-1) The Norton Reader Read Pilardi, Jo- Ann. “Immigration Problem Is about Us, Not Them” (Under section – Op Eds) According to Pilardi, who benefits from illegal immigration? Who loses? Cite specific examples to support your answer.

Pilardi’s essay is full of sarcasm. She ridicules and criticizes the Americans for keeping a blind eye on the fact that there are so many (12 million) undocumented immigrants living and working in the United states but instead Americans want to only concentrate on the few individuals trying to get into the states through the border fences. She points out the fact that the government, business people and even home owners knows about the illegal workers but would not talk about it because they benefits from the cheap labor. The illegal immigrants are exploited as cheap labor and this also weakens the wages, benefits and unions of the American workers.

Question 6

From Book (THE NORTON READER Edition: 14TH 14 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company ISBN: 978-0-393-26411-1) the Norton Reader Read Tasneem Raja “Is Coding the New Literacy?” (Under section – Media and Technology) According to Raja, what are some of the main obstacles to teaching coding and computational literacy? Do you think coding should be an academic requirement? Why or why not?

Some of the obstacles to teaching coding and computational literacy include a monotonous and tedious school curriculum and unqualified teachers. In addition, some states do not count computer science a mandatory subject. I do not think coding should be an academic requirement because I believe coding is like an art. Just like any other art, different people are talented in different type of art. Therefore, coding, just like art, should be a course of choice and only availed to interested students only.

 

Question 7  Week Eleven

From Book (THE NORTON READER Edition: 14TH 14 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company ISBN: 978-0-393-26411-1) The Norton Reader Read Mark Twain “Advice to Youth” (Under section – Ethics) briefly list the Underline the various pieces of “serious” advice that Mark Twain offers.

Mark Twain advices the youth to obey their parents and urges them to also respect everyone whether they have wronged them or not and should always avoid violence. In addition, he advices the youth to get up early and sleep early as people who wakes up early have good reputation. He beseeches the young ones to avoid lies and tell the truth always as lies always come out and destroys the character of a person in the eyes of their peers. Moreover, the young ones should be careful when handling firearms because they are dangerous when mishandled. Finally, he encourages the youth to read good books for their self improvement.

References

In Goldthwaite, M. A., In Bizup, J., In Brereton, J. C., In Fernald, A. E., & In Peterson, L. H. (2016). The Norton reader: An anthology of nonfiction.