Disciplines/Subjects: AP English Language and Composition
Key Themes: In his reporting on the Iranian revolution, Ryszard Kapuscinki created a narrative that seemed to speak beyond that singular moment. Under the surface, readers found allegories, parallels, and universal truths about the nature of revolutions, political power, continuity, and change. Framing these (and controversially potentially compromising the reportage on them) is the artistic power of Kapuscinski's poetic imagination which in turn opens questions about the conventions and responsibilities of the artist and reporter in their relationship to language itself.
We read this text in the second semester as a way to deepen our reading and writing skills for the course. It allowed for the presentation of a range of texts (historical writing, speeches, conventional journalism, opinion writing, and literary work) and allowed for a deep examination of the conventions of them - something we began in the previous unit with the conventions of scientific texts. At the same time, this unit allowed students to learn about two important parts of the world that they might not be too familiar with.
The summative assessment for the unit provides the learners with the opportunity to refine and extend their skills on an AP-style assessment: either the synthesis or analytical essay.
Habits of mind: Strive for excellence, Continuous learning, Curiosity
Transferable skills: Textual analysis skills, Argumentative Writing Skills
Content Knowledge: Students will learn about the cultural and historical knowledge of Iran and Poland as well as Kapuscinski's biography, methodology, and critical reception.