Africa+Day+Three


 * Africa Day Three **


 * Begin: Review the compare/contrast essay in class. **
 * Due Next: Complete Top Ten Components Handout, Practice Extending Thinking Handout, Repair Compare/Contrast Essay[[image:Leopold_ii_garter_knight.jpg width="383" height="569" align="right"]] **

**Class Assignment:** King Leopold II is a fascinating historical figure who we do not study nearly enough. He truly sets the bar for cruelty, deception, and greed and sadly, despite being responsible for the murder of an estimated 15 million people, his story often goes untold.

In your group, learn everything you can about King Leopold II. Learn about the rubber trade company, his specific forms of punishment, the wealth he gathered in his palace in Belgium or perhaps investigate the monuments that still stand commemorating his efforts to 'save' Africa. Then, after you have gathered up a pretty good idea about this criminal, create a 'MOST WANTED' poster for King Leopold II on the paper provided. Include a drawn picture of Leopold. Beneath the picture, include a description that would help people identify him if they came across him and include a list at least five crimes against humanity that Leopold is wanted for committing

[|These must be actual crimes against humanity as identified by the ICC.)]. Also, feel free to include any other creative details that make your 'poster' look as authentic as possible like a possible reward price or warning. This background knowledge on Leopold is key to our class discussion the next time we meet as well as important for your understanding of our next few literary pieces.


 * Homework: **
 * Note taking Assignment **


 * Modeling Effective Argument Techniques **

While numbers are impossible to collect, it is suspected that King Leopold II, leader of the small country of Belgium, single handedly devastated the Congo by killing 15 million Congolese. Leopold was aggressively persistent in his desire for the Congo’s ‘free’ resources, specifically rubber. Yet, on the surface, Leopold had everyone fooled. Europe and the United States believed that Leopold’s humanitarian efforts in a region of the world that ‘needed saving’ were selfless efforts by a good Christian. One loyal disciple of Leopold, however, had a serious change of heart when he visited the Congo and saw first hand the very un-humanitarian situation going on.

Assignment: Read  [|“An Open Letter to His Serene Majesty Leopold II”] and pay very close attention to the way Williams approaches his argument. Observe whether Williams meets the ten components for an effective argument. Take notes directly on the essay wherever you find evidence to qualify one of these components. Also, f ill out the 'Top Ten Components' handout: