Picture Day! Students who missed it will have an opportunity for makeups.
We worked on diagramming sentences with at least one dependent clause. We diagrammed the following:
It will be your task if you become a rabbi.
Always begin by identifying the verbs: will be and become. For each verb, identify the subject. If they have different subjects, as they do in this sentence, then you have two separate clauses. In this sentence we have an independent clause "It will be your task" and a dependent clause "if you become a rabbi." Note that the dependent clause begins with a subordinating conjunction "if." Without this subordinating conjunction, the clause would have been independent: "you become a rabbi."
Diagram both clauses. To join them, ask what the dependent clause is modifying in the independent clause. It is modifying "will be"; thus it is an adverbial clause. Thus, the subordinating conjunction "if" comes off of the verb from the independent clause on a dotted line and joins to the cross of the dependent clause.
The slaughter of six million Jews would have meaning only on the day a Jewish state was established.
The key to diagramming the second sentence is to first identify the prepositional phrases and ignore them. The clause "a Jewish state was established" is an adjective clause, describing the noun day. Thus it is part of the prepositional phrase "on the day a Jewish state was established."
We are left with "The slaughter would have meaning only." Diagramming this clause is fairly straight forward. The word only may be a bit difficult. To decide what it is modifying, see if you can move it around in the sentence. Adjectives typically must remain in their location next to the noun they modify. Adverbs, however, can move around a bit. "The slaughter would only have meaning." Since only can be moved, it is likely an adverb. Indeed, it is modifying have meaning.
Next, add the prepositional phrases. The phrase "of six million Jews" modifies slaughter. The phrase "on the day..." modifies "would have" (it tells when it would have meaning). Draw a diagonal dotted line off of day as you would if you were diagramming an adjective, connecting the dotted line to the cross of the clause "a Jewish state was established."
After diagramming the second sentence, we looked at the passage from The Chosen from which it comes on page 228. We noted the unique sentence structure of the following sentence: "Only then...; only then...; only then...." We considered why the author, Potok, would use that sentence pattern.
Next, we returned to our study of current events in the Middle East. We watched and discussed short videos on U.S.-Iran relations:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_AHJQiMxIw (Note: we discussed bias in videos, and identified ways in which this video presented a one-sided argument.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woyhimGQgqU
By watching these videos, as well as sharing additional information during class, we found answers to these questions. (If you were absent, you may need to do a little research online.)
Why are U.S.-Iranian relations so hostile?
Why did Iraq invade Iran in 1980?
What were the causes of the Iranian Revolution in 1979?
How did the events of 1953 set the stage for 1979?
What were the causes of the Iranian Hostage Crisis? (1979-1981)
Why were there border disputes between Iraq and Iran?
How did the division of the Ottoman Empire at the conclusion of WWI contribute to border tensions?
Why did the post-WWI borders ignore ethnic/tribal boundaries?
Having explored some specific aspects of the Middle East Conflict (Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran), we are now going to spend some time exploring one of the core sources of conflict: the creation of the State of Israel. We began watching the first few minutes of the following documentary. We will watch the majority of it on Monday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X4JCPckWgY
Please note: the documentary is produce by the BBC. What bias might it have?
The opening shot of the documentary shows the golden dome of the Dome of the Rock. Please make sure you understand why this location is considered holy by Muslims and how it conflicts with Jewish interests in Jerusalem (and the Western Wall).
Please also look at a map of Israel and familiarize yourself with the locations and significance of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Homework: None. Enjoy Conference! We will have a reading quiz from The Chosen on Monday (through Chapter 14.
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