Watchmen: Socratic Circle
For today's class, listen to the song "The Times They Are a Changin'" by Bob Dylan (above) and annotate the song lyrics I've given you in class. Think about how Dylan's lyrics relate to the discussion we had about time yesterday.
As a reminder, our definition of time (noun and verb) was "a sequence of events as it is happening in reality; time occurs outside human perception yet is is also observed: we can measure time in seconds, minutes, years, etc."
Time can also be used to define a specific moment (e.g., "It is time," or, "at the same time").
When you have finished break into socratic circles and discuss these ideas as well as Chapter 5 for today. Further instructions may be found below.
Audience members: in the comments section of this post, make thoughtful observations about the conversation taking place in the "fishbowl." Good observations will do the following:
- Identify when you agree/disagree with observations and specifically state why (ASR: Apt Specific Reference).
- Observe what specific group members did that helped to
- "propel" conversation forward,
- respond to their group members,
- and provide thoughtful observations.
Fishbowl members: students who do well in the "fishbowl" will do the following:
- Come to discussion prepared, having read and researched materials beforehand.
- Work with peers to promote a civil, democratic discussion, set clear goals, and establish individual roles.
- Propel conversations forward by posing and asking questions that probe reasoning and ask for evidence.
- Respond thoughtful to diverse perspectives, synthesize (combine) comments, claims, and evidence, resolve contradictions, and investigate meaning.
Katherine and Mari begin the discussion on Chapter 4
ReplyDeleteCatherine starts conversation with an open topic.
ReplyDeleteMari compares the events inside of the chapter to those in other super hero themed stories.
The group talks about the Jon origin story and how it's purposefully a cliche
ReplyDeleteMari transitions to chapter 5 and begins to talk about Rorschach
ReplyDeleteEmilie brings up Rorschach's mask and how much it means to him, and the forshadowing of it
ReplyDeleteKatherine brings up the secret-identity inversion that Rorschach exhibits, where his mask is his true self, and his "regular" identity is his disguise.
ReplyDeleteAnnie connects a component of the story into the outside world.
ReplyDeleteMari analyses how Rorschach speaks.
Ben starts talking about what Bob Dylan's songs were mostly about.
ReplyDeleteBen starts the discussion with Bob Dylan, who has not yet explored in a Socratic Circle.
ReplyDeleteJay makes predictions about the book.
ReplyDeleteJay talks about how the parallels between history and what is happening in the story. He makes a prediction that the world will end at the end of the story.
ReplyDeleteBen starts off talking about Bob Dylan and Jay kind of changes it to talk about the book
ReplyDeleteJay agrees with what Ben is saying and talks about how this world paralleled to what happened in the real world. He predicts that the book might end with the end of the world.
ReplyDeleteBen begins the discussion by talking about Bob Dylan's song, and Jay continues by making predictions about Watchmen.
ReplyDeleteAlso Noah goes on to say the song is irrelevant and everyone else disagrees
ReplyDeleteNoah takes a different perspective on the conversation disagreeing that the song isn't within the book.
ReplyDeleteSam expands upon the discussion with her own opinion, and respectfully disagrees with Noah.
ReplyDeleteNoah counters Jays point - Rudy
ReplyDeleteSam discusses how the song is relevant and Noah continues to argue his point
ReplyDeleteSamantha believes that most of the main characters are accepting that the times are changing except Rorschach who tries to hold onto the past. Making the song relevant to the book.
ReplyDeleteSam thinks that the change taking place with all the superheroes, especially with Rorschach, creates chaos.
ReplyDeleteSam brings in a point to compromise Jay and Noah's points - Rudy
ReplyDeleteNoah points out that the theme behind the Dylan song is that no one accepts change, which is not a problem in the book.
ReplyDeleteEthan explains how Rorschach was framed
DeleteAsh explains why she disagrees with Noah and connects Bob Dylan's music to the book in another way.
ReplyDeleteAsh talks about Rorshach’s past and why he is so disgusted by people “gettin down and dirty”
ReplyDeleteAshlynne brings up how the song talks about how to cope with times changing and how in the story people cope to it in different ways. She also makes a prediction of Rorschach's origin story that seems to be plausible.
ReplyDeleteNoah believes that the song is irrelevant to the book , and a comversation begins from it.
ReplyDeleteBen agrees with Sam and continues with her line of discussion.
ReplyDeleteAsh changes the topic smoothly by connecting the song to a character and discussing Rorschach and his character.
ReplyDeleteJay mentions the disappearance of all the superheroes
ReplyDeleteBen asks questions to promote conversation
ReplyDeleteBen asks the group their opinion on how Rorschach got framed.
ReplyDeleteThe discussion shifts to Rorschach and his actions in Chapter 5.
ReplyDeleteBen explains the connection between Raw Shark and Rorschach.
ReplyDeleteThe group discusses whether Moloch killed himself to frame Rorschach or if it was someone else.
ReplyDeleteBen brings up the use of "raw shark" in the tip to the police and how it could be a hint that the boy on the sidewalk reading the comic gave the tip to the police.
ReplyDeleteBen connects the comic within the story to the story. (Raw Shark - Rorschach)
ReplyDeleteThey talk about how the guy died but they forget to mention it’s incredibly difficult to shoot yourself in the forehead and get your arms back to your sides tHANK you Taylor
ReplyDeleteSam asks Taylor what she thinks about the frame up. Taylor finds the position of the bullet hole wrong if Moloch had killed himself.
ReplyDeleteThe group discusses the setup of Rorschach's capture and the death of Jacobi.
ReplyDeleteSam asks Taylor a question to bring her into the discussion.
ReplyDeleteThey talk about the "Raw Shark" police call, which I found extremely interesting when I first read the chapter.
ReplyDeleteSam inquires whether the killer was just someone who had a grudge against Rorschach or if it was the mastermind.
ReplyDeleteKatherine suggests a starting point in chapter 4, but there is no specific mention of where/what in the chapter to start with. Mari then picks up the conversation by mentioning the origin story of Dr. Manhattan and talking about her dissatisfaction with the origin of his superpowers. Lif mentioned that it feels cliched. Annie wonders if that story is meant to be cliched as a juxtaposition with the idea that superheroes in this novel are not held in as high regard as they are in other comic books. Thomasina and Rudy agree with Annie, and think that the origin story wasn't as important as the backstory in the surrounding chapter. Hannah found the story a little ridiculous because it seemed highly unlikely that someone so smart would leave his jacket inside a highly scientific intricate machine. Annie thinks that small mistakes in this instance lead to disastrous consequences. Mari moves the discussion to chapter 5. She thinks that Rorschach might be gay, because he is referred to as "queer" and he's disturbed by the heterosexual relationships around him. Katherine speculates that it might just be people having sex that disturbs him. Emilie talks about how Rorschach talks about how much he loves the mask just before it is taken away. She argues that it makes the removal of the mask predictable. Several people discuss his costume and how he uses it to preside over others and cast doubt and fear in his opponents.
ReplyDelete