Wednesday, June 29, 2011

FEMA's Failure to Respond

One of the lasting controversies of Hurricane Katrina is the government's slow response to the tragedy, which exacerbated the horrors the people of New Orleans faced. Reflect on this topic based on your reading of both A.D. and the articles in the scavenger hunt.

Consider this from the point of view of a character in A.D.: How do you think the government would have reacted if Hurricane Katrina struck Washington, D.C. or New York City instead of New Orleans? Be sure to justify your answer.

A.D.'s Online Origins

Based on your reading of the online version of the opening chapter, compare and contrast the reading experience of the two formats. Which is more effective and why?

Hurricane Katrina

Reflect upon your reaction to the "Hurricane Katrina" video. What effect do the images have on your ideas about the tragedy? How does the video enhance the understanding you developed in your readings about Katrina in the previous step of the scavenger hunt? Additionally, how does the song Listen to Your Heart enhance the emotional impact of the visuals in the video montage?

What do I know about Hurricane Katrina?

When you hear the phrase "Hurricane Katrina", what comes to mind? Briefly explain, list, etc. your prior knowledge of Hurricane Katrina. After you complete this post, return to the Online Scavenger Hunt to read some articles about this tragedy. Then return to this blog post, and reflect upon three significant pieces of information that you learned as a result of your readings.