This time, we’ll be considering Na’vi, Esperanto, and the idea of community. As mentioned in Conlanging, the Art of Crafting Tongues, many conlangs, even ones created for media like Na’vi was, have enough structure in them that they can be used for real, practical communication. Auxlangs like Esperanto naturally accommodate this because they were expressly created to be used. If these languages can be used for real communication, then, a question arises: Can there be a notion of “community” for people who speak an invented language?

To begin thinking about this question, do the following:

1. Read Christine Schreyer’s 2015 article “The digital fandom of Na’vi speakers.”

2. Watch Esther Schor’s TEDx talk “The Transformative Vision of Esperanto.”

3. Think back to what you saw in Conlanging, the Art of Crafting Tongues as well. If you want to review, go to 15:05 for Esperanto, 36:27 for Guosa, and 1:04:20 for Klingon and Na’vi. You may also want to think about the discussions of heartlangs as well starting at 1:16:50 – Aluhrsa, Itlani, Idrani, and Sandic.

Having done that, respond to this prompt in at least 5-7 sentences. Make sure to touch on all of the questions in the prompt.

In this response, please reflect on the ways in which Na’vi and Esperanto differ, in the following ways. First, based on what you read in Schreyer’s article and saw in Schor’s talk, what do you think are the distinctive elements in the Na’vi and Esperanto communities? Then, based on what you come up with, how do those different communities might lead to different ways the languages change or develop? In either case, you should talk about how your reasoning relates to what you read and watched and, if helpful, your own experiences.

Unlike the Dovahzul/Animalese and aUI/Solresol comments, you will be coming up with a response to this prompt on your own. As always, a key component of your comment is to write not only what you think, but why you think it. Make sure to explain your thoughts. You can use the responses that you responded to in the first two Conlang Comments as models for the kind of “what I think and why” type writing that I’m looking for.

partone HED

Your Tasks

TASK 1- READ/RESEARCH

Please take a few moments to review the SCHOOL Act (Links to an external site.), which was introduced in August 2020. You can also conduct your own search for article commentaries regarding the Act. 

TASK 2- ORIGINAL POST

Next, you will need to create your discussion post. Your post must address the following (point values indicated in bold): 

1. What are positive and/or negative outcomes that could result if the SCHOOL Act is passed? (5 points)
2. Given your research into this topic, do you support the Act or not? Explain. (5 points)
3. What are other means with which we can lesson educational inequalities? (6 points)

TASK 2- PEER RESPONSE 

1. Respond to at least 2 classmate’s posts. Discuss whether you agree or disagree with their opinion and why. (10 points)

part two

TASK 1

First, you will create a fictional applicant. You will need to consider the following before trying to go through the enrollment process:

1. Number of individuals in the household, including children, spouses, and elderly parents. 
2. Whether the applicant is enrolled in any other supplemental services or is receiving other financial support. 
3. Citizen status
4. Job status/annual income

TASK 2 

You will be comparing SNAP enrollment pages for 2 different US states. One of the states must be California. Once you have decided on the other state, go to their enrollment pages [you will be finding this on your own…after all, most people don’t have an instructor telling them what to do ;)]. 

TASK 3

Begin the SNAP enrollment process. Make sure to keep track of what answers you put for each question asked. 

**IMPORTANT** Stop when you get to the “Tell us about yourself section”. We are not creating a real account for this assignment!!!

TASK 4

Answer the following reflection questions for this assignment (point values included in bold): 

1. Which state, in addition to California, did you try to apply for SNAP benefits?
2. How easy or difficult was it to find the enrollment page in each state? 5 points
3. How easy or difficult was it to enroll for SNAP benefits in each state? Consider factors such as health and computer literacy. 5 points
4. In your opinion, would you recommend someone enrolling online in each of these states? Why or why not? 5 points
5. Describe any other thoughts that you had as you were completing the enrollment process. 5 points

Week 6 Discussion 1

The article “Young Writer With a Following Admits Fabricating Dylan Quotes in Book” describes the situation of Jonah Lehrer, a writer who violated expectations regarding the integrity of his work. (The article is in the attachments)

Expectations for writers can vary from one context to another. In WRTG 112, we have been studying how to use sources in a research paper. In this discussion, we will explore how the expectations for college research writing are similar and/or different from expectations in other writing contexts.

Initial post

Respond to the following in 1-2 paragraphs.

1. Summarize the expectations for use of sources in a college research paper, as you understand them.
2. In what ways are these expectations similar to or different from expectations you have observed in other contexts, such as workplace, personal, or journalistic writing? You might use observations from your reading about Jonah Lehrer in addition to personal experience in your response.

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Week 6 Discussion 2

Post one paragraph from any of your recent writing, and do the following: (The paragraph I picked is below)

1. Identify all pronouns in your paragraph. Remember that pronouns include personal pronouns like “she,” “her,” and “it”; indefinite pronouns like “everyone,” “each,” and “all”; and relative pronouns like “that” and “which.”
2. Identify the antecedent of each pronoun in your paragraph. The antecedent is the noun to which the pronoun refers.
3. If you found any of the three types of pronoun problems—unclear pronoun reference, vague subject pronoun, or agreement error—in your paragraph, identify the problem and revise the problematic sentence.

Paragraph below:

The current challenges the world is facing in relation to SCM are because it is more than a century since we were hit by a pandemic. In addition, war has, for a long time, been a thing of the past; hence there were no strategies in place in the event of an eruption in war, especially involving two global superpowers in Russia and Ukraine. Therefore, we will use the knowledge-based theory of supply chain management to trace back how the world bounced back from the Spanish flu in 1918 as well as from major wars such as the world wars. The knowledge-based theory will be significant in helping us develop accurate information that is credible and reliable.

For this reflection, you’re going to do a short brainstorming exercise. The goal is to come up with a large pool of ideas for Project 2, then to choose the best one (or one of the best ones).

Usually brainstorming is better as a group activity. You can generate ideas on your own, but groups tend to come up with more ideas. And some of those ideas are more creative too. So if you want to do your brainstorming as a group, or if you want to invite friends from outside the class to brainstorm with you, please do!

Step 1 – Define your project’s function.

Think about project 2. You’re designing something for someone you know. In order to be successful, what does your design need to do? For example, remember the bunny enclosure project we talked about before. The student’s bunny didn’t have enough room. So in order to be successful, the design had to give the bunny enough space to live, eat, play, sleep, etc.

Step 2 – Write down 5 BAD ideas

I like to use this activity as a brainstorming warm-up. Come up with 5 bad ideas for your design. They can be bad for any reason, but it’s fun to choose ideas that are kind of funny.

Step 3 – Write down AT LEAST 20 more ideas.

Don’t worry about evaluating these ideas right now. Just write down every idea that pops into your head. In many brainstorming sessions, the best ideas come after everyone gets stuck. So keep going until you can’t think of any more (even if it takes more than 20 ideas before you get stuck), then push yourself to think of 5 more. These ideas are often the most creative ideas in the list.

Step 4 – Choose your 3 favorite ideas

Write down your 3 favorite ideas. Explain how each idea could make project 3 successful. And tell us why it’s (potentially) the best idea in the list.

Step 5 – Submit your final list

Submit your list via Canvas. It should include:

• A description of your design’s function (from Step 1)
• 5 bad ideas (from step 2)
• 20 more ideas (from step 3)
• You favorite 3 ideas, along with an explanation of why they re your favorites (from step 4)

1. Describe how the process of redistricting relates to representation in the U.S. Congress. In your
answer, be sure to distinguish redistricting from apportionment, the role of the census in the
process, and how redistricting happens in the state of California (distinct from most other states).
Also, be sure to distinguish the relevance of redistricting for both the House and Senate.

2. What is the VEP in federal elections and how does voting legislation impact both voter
registration and voter turn–out in federal elections? Discuss how one federal law (HAVA OR one of the current bills being
considered in Congress) and one state law (from Texas, Georgia or North Carolina) are likely to
impact voter turn–out for both the Republican and Democratic parties’ candidates in 2022.

3. Describe how a bill becomes a law, focusing on the relevance of leadership and the bicameral
structure of Congress. In your answer, describe the relevance of either Nancy Pelosi or Mitch
McConnell to the process, including their role in the process and an example of how they
influence the legislative process.

4. Define and describe the filibuster and the cloture vote and whether you think it should be
abolished and why. In your answer be sure to identify why each procedure is used, the
chamber(s) of Congress to which it applies, and an example of it’s use.