facebook   linkedin   goodreads    Buy the Book
  • Home
  • Authors
    • Sister Authors
    • Meet Leslie
    • Meet Meryll
  • Book
    • About the Book
    • Discussion Questions
    • Beyond the Pale
    • Behind the Scenes
    • More about the Dedication Page
    • Reviews
  • Blog
    • Latest Blogs
    • Featured Books
    • Blog Archive
  • Extras
    • Deleted Chapters
      • Choose Your Beginning
        • The Missing Introduction
        • Alternate Chapter 1
      • Ballerina Alla
      • Baubie Chapters
        • Celestial Tea and Essig Flaish
        • Celestial Tea and Mandelbrot
        • Celestial Tea and Poppy Seed Cookies
    • Recipes from Baubies
      • Recipes from Grandma Rae
        • Essig Flaish
        • Mandelbrot
        • Mohn Cookies
  • Press
    • Press Kit
    • In the Media
    • Reviews
  • Events
  • Contact
Font size: + –
Print
Bookmark |

Melania's Speech: Three Made-To-Order Lesson Plans

Friday, 22 July 2016
Meryll
Jewish Luck Blog
1793 Hits

I've been retired for six years now from teaching high school history, but sometimes I can't help reading the news and turning it into a lesson plan, or, in this case, three lesson plans.

Melania's speech was perfect material for the first week of school. So, English and history teachers, enjoy the dog days of summer and stop scrounging around for introductory units. I'll share my thoughts for your beginning lessons.

Lesson #1: What is Plagiarism

Both history and English teachers spend a lot of time defining plagiarism and trying to convey to students why it's wrong. While students are deftly thumbing texts to their friends while we speak, it's hard to make sure the lesson sinks in. But, side by side comparisons of Michelle Obama's Denver speech and Melania's Cleveland address should demonstrate quite neatly what plagiarism looks like. Even if you change one or two words, it's still plagiarism.

Smirking students believe they can get away with plagiarism if they're clever. It's probably time to alert students to turnitin.com and to sign on to the service if your school isn't already using it. Many of us were clued into plagiarism when our monosyllabic students produced a coherent paragraph with complex sentences and high falutin' words. Encyclopedia style language usually meant the work was copied directly from the encyclopedia.

Lesson #2:  Why plagiarism is wrong

Melania faces no substantive consequences for her plagiarism. I'd like to imagine Donald Trump saying to his wife, "You're fired!" but it won't happen. It hasn't even happened to her speechwriter. Trumpophiles will ignore the "lapse" and plagiarism may not lose Trump the Ohio electoral votes, so here's the moment to let your students know your school is a lot more serious about the consequences for plagiarism. In our school, it meant an F on the assignment and suspension.

Students may think that college with its large lectures means anonymity and professors won't have time to catch plagiarism. Not necessarily true. Many college applicants who cribbed their personal essays have learned even before arriving on a college campus that professors may be more attuned to plagiarism than they think. Some may even have some computer skills to uncover plagiarism. As for consequences, plagiarism is an automatic denial for admission and plagiarizing a paper for a course can result in suspension or expulsion.

If you have the inclination, try engaging students in a philosophical discussion of instrumental behavior versus ethical behavior. Students who don't plagiarize because they are fearful of being caught demonstrate instrumental behavior. (See H.J. Eysenck). For psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg who wrote a seminal work on moral development of children, (The Philosophy of Moral Development), this represents level one of moral development—avoidance of punishment. You might try to move high school students to a higher level of morality with a discussion of ethical behavior and why plagiarism is a form of stealing and should be avoided because it's wrong.

Lesson #3: Irony or Paradox (may take longer than one day)

English teachers have been battling students' misperceptions and misunderstanding of these two words for years. Alanis Morissette's song "Ironic" released in 1995 exacerbated the confusion since many of the situations she references in her song are not truly ironic. There is a host of articles bashing the song. You can check those for yourself.This is the perfect time to set up your definitions of the two words.

The ensuing discussion is worthy of an essay which can have a political science bent.

Is it ironic or a paradox that Melania's husband has campaigned against other Republicans and against Hillary Clinton claiming they're "liars,""crooks," "cheaters," etc." while she stole another's words and then denied the action? Make sure to prove your assertions in your essay. 

Or, you can quote Trump's tweet,

"Good news is Melania's speech got more publicity than any in the history of politics especially if you believe that all press is good press!" Is it ironic or paradoxical to sidestep the issue of plagiarism and reserve all moral judgments for your opponents? "Discuss amongst yourselves." (Linda Richmond, Coffee Talk on SNL)

More lesson plan fodder is certainly on the horizon before school begins. Perhaps more people ought to contemplate issues we teachers debate in the classroom with our students. 


Tags:
Consequences of plagiarism Lesson plans on irony Students and plagiarism Melania's speech Lesson plans on plagiarism
Applause for Encore Careers
Part III: In Places I Don't Belong

About the author

Meryll

Meryll

  http://morejewishluck.com
View author's profile More posts from author
Meryll Levine Page is a retired high school history teacher with a special interest in women’s history. She taught extensively about the Soviet Union and its break-up. Currently she co-facilitates the Minneapolis Jewish Artists’ Lab.
Author's recent posts
Friday, 09 April 2021 Jewish on the Down Low
Sunday, 02 July 2017 Hack Attack
Sunday, 02 July 2017 July Book of the Month: Bloodlines by Neville Frankel
Sunday, 11 June 2017 Haunted by the Past; Family Pictures, Part II
Friday, 26 May 2017 What happened to Meryll's blogs?

Recent Blogs

Meryll
Meryll
09 April 2021
Jewish on the Down Low
I snapped up the invitation to speak at a zoom meeting for the Jewish Affinity Group from Columbus School for Girls. Self-quarantining for almost a year has made me hungry to talk about Jewish Luck. It's certainly clear from the news that Vera and Alla's perceptions about the "New" Russia are just as relevant now as they were when Vera first encountered Putin in Leningrad.More than the intellectua...
Read More
Leslie
Leslie
07 February 2021
American Kompromat
What I learned from American Kompromat by Craig Unger (2021) Dutton: NYC has prompted me to write a blog. Trigger Warning: This book contains potentially distressing content that could trigger trauma that we have experienced regarding the previous US President. I whisper this mantra to myself: "We're safe now. He's gone. We're safe now." The purpose of this exercise is to reduce my blood pre...
Read More
Leslie
Leslie
31 January 2021
Alexey Navalny: Intrepid SuperHero of Russia
"Faster than a speeding bullet." .Organized anti-government rallies in 109 cities across Russia from jail for January 23 and January 30, 2021. Watch each weekend. "More powerful than a locomotive."  Able to make a miraculous recovery from Novichok poisoning on Aug. 20, 2020 after remaining in a coma for nearly a month. His is the only known case of survival of that strain of Novichok. "...
Read More

Invite Us To Speak

invite

We were featured speakers at Hadassah Brandeis Institute and Levy Summer Series. Our speaking engagements include JCCs, synagogues, libraries, book groups, retirement communities, schools, and organizations (e.g. ORT, Hadassah, and Women's League). References are available. 

Invite Us To Speak
 

Talk Review

"I was very fortunate to be able to hear Meryll and Leslie speak at a Hadassah event in Israel. Each of the ~50 participants really enjoyed the event because Meryll and Leslie were so engaging. While they had a natural rapport with the audience, you could also tell they had prepared well so they could connect with our particular group's interests. I learned a lot from listening to them, and I found their sisterly interaction unique and fun. If you want an enlightening and uplifting experience, attend one of their book talks."
Lisa Shimoni, Modiin Israel

Book Review

"Truly, you have written a story that makes accessible the reality of existence in Russia, through the eyes of individuals who lived through the various regimes and dictates.  It is fascinating and very well told.  As I read Vera and Alla's story, I learned more Russian history than I had known from a textbook.  That's a big deal, women!  You tell the tale with vivid detail and hook us on the two women and their stories, then weave in the history to illuminate their journeys. It is such a necessary book.  I am thrilled that the two of you collaborated, as I can see the uniqueness of your personalities come through in the stories, and that, too, makes the book a gem."
Margaret Leibfried, Danielson Group consultant

Buy the Book

Online:

Click here to order your copy of Jewish Luck: A True Story of Friendship, Deception, and Risky Business on Amazon.com.

The Kindle version is available here

In Stores:
cgb250
logo-sholom
Make a donation to Sholom Home and enjoy Jewish Luck at the same time. Jewish Luck is now available at the Sholom Home West gift store. Meryll and Leslie will donate 50% of the proceeds back to Sholom Home. Enjoy!

Tasting Torah

Nourish mind, body, and soul with Meryll's Tasting Torah, which will bring oneg (joy) and limmud (learning) to your Shabbat, broaden your culinary horizons, and draw your Shabbat guests closer together.

logo tasting torah

Highlighted Books

Meryll
Meryll
02 July 2017
July Book of the Month:  Bloodlines by Neville Frankel
July Book of the Month: Bloodlines by Neville Frankel
Leslie and I began writing Jewish Luck with an underlying question in our minds—what would life have...
Read More

Copyright © 2016 All Rights Reserved by More Jewish Luck

Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Login

Site created by LiveSites