Monday- Cynical Seminar + Reflection

DUE DATES- ON TIME

1. ​Seminar Prewrite. DUE: Monday, 8/29, Start of Class.
2. Seminar Reflection. DUE: Friday, 9/2, Start of Class
   

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)

1. ​Habits of Highly Cynical People Annotations/Vocab. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Friday, 9/2, Start of Class.
2. Syllabus signed by you and parent/guardian. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Tuesday, 9/6, Start of Class.

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Seminar Style:

1. 2 circles with extra chairs in the middle OR one big group
2. We’ll switch once, 30 minutes in (could also switch every 10-15 minutes…give kids the choice)
3. Feel free to jump into chairs in the middle at any point- for 30 seconds or the whole seminar, it doesn’t matter
4. Note-taking is highly encouraged!

Seminar Questions
Opening Questions

1. What is Solnit’s definition of a naïve cynic?  What are the two types (see paragraphs 8 and 11), and what characterizes their thinking?

Core Questions

1. In paragraph 6, Solnit talks about now naïve cynicism “…flattens out the past and the future, and because it reduces the motivation to participate in public life, public discourse, and even intelligent conversation that distinguishes shades of gray, ambiguities and ambivalences, uncertainties, unknowns, and opportunities.”  What does she mean here?  How does the attitude of naïve cynicism do this?
2. Is there a difference between cynicism and skepticism?  What is it?
3. In paragraph 7, Solnit offers a number of criticisms of naïve cynicism.  What is the most important/cutting critique she offers in this paragraph?  Why?
4. In paragraph 7, she says, “The openness of hope of dangerous.”  What does this mean?  Do you agree?
5. What point is she trying to make with the OWS example on page 3?  How convincing is this example?
6. What point is she trying to make with the climate change example on pages 3-5?  How convincing is this example?
7. In paragraph 20, Solnit says, “Accommodating change and uncertainty requires a looser sense of self…”  What does she mean by this? 
8. To what extent is cynicism useful?  Harmful?  What is a healthy level of cynicism?
9. What motivates/causes this attitude of naïve cynicism?
10. What kind of thinking habits do we need to cultivate to move beyond naïve cynicism?
11. How do we see naïve cynicism playing out in this election (think about BOTH parties!)?

Personal Questions

1. In paragraph 6, Solnit makes a number of points about complexity, uncertainty, and ambiguity.  To what extent are you comfortable with complexity and uncertainty?  Give a concrete example.
2. To what extent are you a naïve cynic?  How much of what Solnit describes rings true to you about yourself?  Explain.
3. How does this article connect to your education?  To your goals this year in Humanities?  To our class values and behaviors?
4. If we acknowledge naïve cynicism, can we remove it from our classroom?  Do we want to?  How?

Seminar Reflection:
Choose any of the seminar questions listed below, and write a 500-750 word response to the question.  Make sure to quote and use evidence from the text.  Feel free to draw on our seminar discussion.  This should be organized in formal academic paragraphs, and proofread before you turn it in to me.  HINT- Write a thesis statement at the top, but don’t worry about writing an introductory paragraph.  Just write your thesis, then jump right into your argument paragraphs.

1. What is Solnit’s definition of a naïve cynic?  What are the two types (see paragraphs 8 and 11), and what characterizes their thinking?
2. In this essay, Solnit offers a number of criticisms of naïve cynicism.  What is the most important/cutting critique she offers?  Why?
3. To what extent is cynicism useful?  Harmful?
4. What kind of thinking habits do we need to cultivate to move beyond naïve cynicism?
5. In paragraph 6, Solnit makes a number of points about complexity, uncertainty, and ambiguity.  To what extent are you comfortable with complexity and uncertainty?  Give at least one concrete example.
6. To what extent are you a naïve cynic?  How much of what Solnit describes rings true to you about yourself?  Explain.
7. How does this article connect to your education?  To your goals this year in Humanities?  To our class values and behaviors?
8. If you have a proposal for a different question to address, please let me know- I am open to this, but I need to approve it before you begin!

HONORS:  You have 750-1000 words.  This is your honors application! You must incorporate one of the additional sources linked below, and write a short essay on one of the following, that draws from Solnit’s essay and your second text:

1. To what extent are you a naïve cynic?  How much of what Solnit describes rings true to you about yourself?  Explain.
2. What are the larger impacts of the mindset of naive cynicism?  In other words, what are the real consequences?
3. How do the ideas in the second text you read relate to Solnit’s ideas?  To what extent do the ideas of the two texts reinforce or build on one another?  To what extent are they contradictory?
4. How can we reduce the prevalence of naïve cynicism?

Additional Resources:

• For 'Millenials,' A Tide of Cynicism and a Partisan Gap
• We Must Fight Political Cynicism in the Media
• Cynicism, Irony, and Politics
• Reconsidering Political Cynicism and Political Involvement
• The Relationship of Entertaining Political News Use to Political Cynicism and Mistrust
• Substance Matters: How News Content Can Reduce Political Cynicism
• Cynicism Isn’t As Smart As We Think It Is
• The Inevitable Cynicism of Youth
• Combating Cynicism