APELC Class Notes

Objectives: APELCers 1) wrote an argument (synthesis), and 2) processed an autobiographical text.

Period 3 juniors and seniors, you completed timed-writing 7 today (actually your twelfth if we count A, B, and your three practice free-response essays from the penultimate week of the fall semester), and we went on to discuss The Autobiography of Malcolm X and the subject’s time as Detroit Red. Lauren suggested the purpose of the text was an exposition of Malcolm X’s life in which he laid out his worldview for his audience; Andrew argued further that the purpose of the book is apologetic.

Megan noted Malcolm’s ability to evaluate himself and his worldview critically without fear (I would add this is a product of his reflection later in his life as broke from the Nation of Islam); and, in an attempt to define the terms in response to Andrew’s claim that Malcolm’s worldview was merely pragmatic, Megan also astutely differentiated between utilitarianism and pragmatism: the former promoting the greatest good, the latter encouraging the greatest expediency.

January 22, 2009 | Filed Under AP Language

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