The passage discusses revising and rewriting history. It notes that history should be revised to correct factual inaccuracies and adjust dates based on research, but should not falsify events, rationales, or change history for political or ideological purposes. The passage discusses different "lenses" through which history can be revised, such as racial, economic, sexual, or political lenses. However, it cautions that revising history could create fiction rather than fact if abused.

1. American Literature and
Composition
4 September 2012
The fact is that censorship always
defeats its own purpose, for it
creates, in the end, the kind of
society that is incapable of
exercising real discretion.
~Henry Steele
Commager

4. “Established, 1790, t0 burn English-influenced books in the
Colonies. First fireman: Benjamin Franklin.
RE-DEFINE,
RE-MODEL,
RE-FORM

5. Not long ago, American schoolchildren learned a
quaint tale in history class about the nation's first
president. It had to do with a precocious George
Washington cutting down a cherry tree against
his parents' wishes. When confronted by his
angry father, Washington had to decide whether
to lie and avoid punishment or own up to the
offense. As the tale goes, young Washington
replied that he couldn't tell a lie and confessed to
axing the tree.

6. Revise and Rewrite
Good use
Not so good
• Correct factual
inaccuracies
• Adjust dates based
on research
• Offer an additional
point of view (without
diminishing the actual
facts of the history.
• Falsify events
• Falsify rationale for
event
• Change history for
political purposes
• Change history for
a particular agenda

7. Lenses of Revisionism
• Racial
• Economic
– Writing history to promote – Writing history to
promote one ethnic
one system over another
group over another
(e.g. capitalism v
• Sexual
communism)
– Writing history to
• Political
include or promote a
– Writing history in order to
particular gender
affect perceptions of
foreign policy, political
When done for the right reasons,
structure, and
revising history can offer a clearer
nationalism.
picture of past events. However, it is
easy to abuse the process and create a
“history” that is more fiction than fact.

8. Life blur
Ray Bradbury would probably
not be surprised at the speed
of 2012. Drivers on cell
phones speed past
pedestrians who have the
right of way-and then curse
the walkers. Family sit down
dinners are more often than
not purchased at a drive
through window and eaten in
the car. Advertisements rely
on size and titillation to
capture attention. Amusement
parks seek to draw in visitors
by promising greater thrills,
faster rides, and more
terrifying drops. Eight
teenagers die every day from
motor vehicle injuries.

9. Consider the lilies of the field

10. Consider the lilies of the field

11. Consider the lilies of the field

13. Can you focus?
pp 78-80

14. The Definition Paper

15. • Cite different meanings of X
Your essay will be a
definition paper
The prompt will come
next time.
In the
meantime,
WRITE
THIS
DOWN!!!
– Clarify uses
• Contrast X with what it is not
• Trace the history of X
– Origin
– Etymology
– Context
• Restore the original meaning of X
• Formal meaning of X
– Term,
– Class
– purpose
• Compose a new definition of X
– Establish need
– Explain new purpose
• Explain a social definition of X
– New uses for old words (sick, phat…)
• Combine any of the previous

16. Homework
•Re-read “The Sieve and the Sand”
•Research how to write a definition
paper and compile a list of questions.