1. Respond in 3-4 sentences to the quote
Respond in 3-4 sentences to the quote. Explain what it means and whether or not you agree with it and why.
Respond:

2. Civil Disobedience
Quote: By Henry Thoreau. Meaning - Choice is freedom, even if the choice is to disobey. Obeying all orders, even when unjust, is being a slave.
Henry Thoreau coined the term “Civil Disobedience” – when he chose to disobey a law that he saw unjust.
This law was to pay a tax to the state while in his cabin in Walden Pond. He was arrested and spent one night in jail (would have been longer, but someone paid his tax for him).
He refused to pay the tax because he was opposed to the U.S. war with Mexico, which he believed was an excuse to expand America’s slave holding territory.
This night in jail inspired him to write “Resistance to Civil Government”

3. What is the focus of Civil Disobedience?
Civil Disobedience focuses on a central political issue –
To what extent does a citizen have a right, or even a responsibility, to break the country’s laws?

4. Think about people who hold rallies, boycotts, or hunger strikes today to protest perceived injustice. Do you think they are abusing the role of citizens or fulfilling that role in a responsible way?
Unjust law breaking
Chaotic protests/riot
Anger driven, hateful protests
Peaceful protests/ fights for freedom/ rights

5. Violent Protest Peaceful Protest
Protest Examples:
Violent Protest
Peaceful Protest
What is a protest? What is the difference between a protest and a riot?
Protest: a statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something
Riot: a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd.

6. When protesters accept beatings, imprisonment, or even death as a consequence for disobeying laws they view as unjust, are they criminals or patriots?

7. Civil Disobedience in the past:
Henry Thoreau
Mohandas Gandhi
Martin Luther king jr.
FIGHT
Thoreau, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr., viewed civil disobedience as an important expression of citizenship.
Each followed a path of civil disobedience and explained why they elected such a path.

8. What literary devices will you see in Civil Disobedience writing?
Persuasion: Speakers and writers want to move an audience to think, feel, or act in a certain way. There are three ways they can do this.
Logical appeals:
Ethical appeals:
Emotional appeals:

9. What literary devices will you see in Civil Disobedience writing?
2. Paradox: a statement that appears to be self-contradictory but that reveals a kind of truth
Example:

10. Assignment:
Questions:
(Page 212) Thoreau opens his essay with a paradox, “That government is best which governs not at all.”. What does he mean by this?
(Page 212) According to Thoreau, what does the government NOT do? What kind of an appeal is this?
In the middle of the first column on page 214 Thoreau makes an emotional appeal. What is that appeal? Do you think he is correct that one person could change the system?
On page 217 in your textbook complete questions 1, 2, 4, 8, and 9.
Read Thoreau’s “Resistance to Civil Government” (Pg ). As you read complete the questions to the left in COMPLETE sentences. You will NOT get full credit if your answers are not in COMPLETE sentences.
ALL answers must be in COMPLETE SENTENCES to receive credit.

11. Related Reading: “On Nonviolent Resistance” – Gandhi
Mohandas Gandhi (1869 – 1948)
Leader of India’s fight for independence from British rule
Gandhi was often arrested and imprisoned for his actions, yet he encouraged his followers to hold the principles of nonviolent resistance even when faced with violent tactics by those in power.
In 1948 Gandhi was assassinated

12. Reading “On Nonviolent Resistance” PG. 220
As you read complete the following questions:
1. What is Gandhi’s main argument against active, violent resistance to injustice?
2. What is unusual, and especially persuasive, about the following sentence?
“No clapping is possible without two hands to do it, and no quarrel without two persons to make it.”
3. Find an example of repetition in the text. What is repeated? What is the effect of the repetition?

13. MLK Jr. Leader of the U.S. civil rights movement in the 1960’s
Inspired by both Thoreau and Gandhi
Committed to nonviolence and passive resistance captured the attention and respect of the nation.
He and his supporters were on a peaceful march toward city hall, the police turned fire hoses on them and then arrested them.
On April 16th, 1963, while serving his sentence for marching without a permit, King wrote this open letter explaining his philosophy of nonviolent resistance.

14. Related reading: PG
“Letter from Birmingham City Jail” – MLK Jr.
On page 221 what is the paradox that the king admits? How is the paradox explained?
Does King’s final sentence appeal to the reader’s reason, emotions or morals?
Complete questions 3 and 5 on page 223. Remember, all answers should be in complete sentences.

15. Sometimes a government enforces a law that is intended to protect or benefit people but actually infringes on their rights, such as the right to free speech. Reflect for a few minutes on the policies or laws already existing or proposed in your school, community or country (For example, curfews, dress codes, free speech, right to bear arms, smoking regulations).
Free-write for 15 minutes on what you think are the strongest arguments for AND against one of these policies or laws. You will not be graded on grammar, just on content and relativity.
Assignment: