The Line: Poverty in America

DUE DATES- ON TIME​​​​​​​

1. Seminar Pre-Write. DUE: Monday, 10/2, Start of Class. Google Classroom OR Hard Copy
2. Idea Fishing Part 2. DUE: Wednesday, 10/4, Start of Class (9:25 AM). Google Classroom.

DUE DATES- LATE (-10%)

1. Revised College Essay + Display Board. LAST DAY TO TURN IN: Wednesday, 10/4, Start of Class (9:25 AM). Google Classroom.

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Announcements:

1. I am sick sick sick, so I am staying home today. I will hopefully be back tomorrow, where we will pick up our Socratic seminar on the two texts we coached on Friday. Your seminar prewrite is still due at the start of class today (turn it in now if you haven’t yet!).
2. Expectations while I am gone:
   1. Do what Grayson tells you
   2. Stay in the classroom please (no working in the hall or other locations today)
   3. No phones or earbuds/headphones until independent work time in the second half of class

Framing:

1. This starter is going to show you data about poverty trends in the United States. In the weeks to come, and in your thesis research, you will be looking at many pieces of data and learning how to interpret them- this is our first stab at that.

Starter 3- 7 Key Trends in Poverty Graphs
Each student should choose 2-3 of these charts to focus on- not all of them!

1. Describe what you see here in terms of data. Summarize the main ideas, and discuss what stands out to you. 
2. What are some potential explanations for this data?  How do these graphs inter-relate?
3. What questions does this raise for you?  List at least 3.

Debrief

1. Have students find someone who looked at one of the same charts they did (you might designate places around the room for them to go for this).
2. Have them discuss question 2.
3. Return to whole group- have 5 people share out questions that were raised, or specific insights that stood out to them.

Documentary: The Line: Poverty in America
Students should watch this. After each segment, have them pause and talk through the questions below in their table groups.

1. Part 1: The New Face of Poverty (ends at 14:17)
   1. What stereotypes do we have about what poverty looks like?  How does this story challenge these stereotypes?
   2. Suburban poverty is outpacing urban poverty.  Why do you think this might be? What are the implications of this trend?
   3. What impact might using government assistance or resources like food banks have on someone who has always seen themselves as “successful?” Explain.
2. Part 2: The Violence of Poverty (14:17-22:40)
   1. Where are the neighborhoods or communities like this near you?  What are they called? What do you know about them, and how and where have you learned this?
   2. How is violence connected to poverty?  Connect to chapter 1 of Poverty by America.
   3. How is education connected to poverty?
3. Part 3: The Nature of Poverty (22:40-29:15)
   1. What is the connection between nature and poverty?
   2. What are the lessons we can learn from this story?
4. Part 4: The Labor of Poverty (29:15-37:30)
   1. What are the major struggles James describes?
5. Part 5: Drawing the Line (37:30-43:00)
   1. What unites each of the stories in the film?
   2. What needs are shown here?  What solutions are mentioned?
   3. What connections do you see between this film and the two readings we did?  The starter graphs?
   4. What new questions does this raise for you?