Note: Your seminar grade will be determined by the quantity of your responses (how many questions you answer and how many other students you respond to) and the quality (how well you demonstrate an understanding of the ideas you're responding to, how detailed your responses are, how coherent and in-depth they are, etc.)
Directions:
1. Read chapters 8-11 in The Working Poor.
2. Choose one question and respond with a 3-5 paragraph mini-essay. Include quotes and specific references to the text to back up your responses.
Mind/Body Connection : What, according to Shipler, is the
connection between poverty and illness? How does poverty affect the health of
those experiencing it, and conversely, how does the state of one's physical
well-being affect one's chances at moving up the socioeconomic ladder? How does
the state of the body influence the state of mind, according to Shipler? Do you
find his conclusions reasonable? Why or why not? |
| The Problem with Schools: In Chapter 9, Shipler discusses
why education is not the answer for a lot of people who live in poverty.
Summarize his views on American schools, and why they don’t provide opportunity
for poor people like they do for wealthier students. Do you agree or disagree
with his assessment of the job our schools are doing? Explain. |
| “Work Works”: In Chapter 10, Shipler contradicts his earlier
statement that work itself is not enough to pull someone out of poverty. What
are the conditions under which work really does work? What are some problems
that might remain even when work does help to elevate someone’s socioeconomic
status? What does Shipler propose to make work even more effective? Do you agree
with his assessment of the benefits and drawbacks of work programs? Why or why
not? |
| The Last Chapter: What is Shipler’s thesis, based on what
he emphasizes in Chapter 11? How does he sum up the problem/s, and what are his
proposed solutions? What is your reaction to his ideas in this final chapter?
Explain. |
| Extra Credit Opportunity: If you want to earn up to 10
points extra credit, choose another question from above, answer in a 3-5
paragraph mini-essay (use quotes from the text) and post to the forum. |
3. Submit your response to the Assignment Chamber by midnight on Monday, October 31.
4. Post your responses to the appropriate forum by midnight on Monday, October 31.
5. Read all the other students' posts throughout the seminar period.
6. Respond to at least two other student's post (more is better) . You will have until midnight, Monday, November 7, to read and respond to the other students' ideas in the website.