Article: Most People on Depressants Don’t Need Them
Vocabulary Explanation
Reading Practice
Cultural Background: American health insurance and pharmaceutical companies profit off the citizens. Americans are mostly dependent on some kind of drug.
American work culture and labor laws.
Americans are not required to see a doctor to refill a prescription.
Placebo Effect – patients take fake medicine (sugar water for kids) for fake illnesses.
Scientific Background: serotonin levels need to be maintained, endorphins from exercise; withdrawal symptoms, tapering off eg. Prozac strips akin to Nicotine patches to quit smoking
The Kite Runner
Chapter 6 p.59 – 65 Amir and Hassan’s childhood
Chapter 7 p. 65 – 74 The Kite Tournament
Story Recap: Review of storyline, cultural and historical background, character tensions and personality traits.
Character Analysis: Amir vs. Hassan: Amir is manipulative and Hassan is honorable. Amir is child-like and Hassan is mature beyond his years. Hassan’s love for Amir means he will do anything to stay loyal but Amir sees Hassan as beneath him. Amir and his dad: Amir wishes to win his approval by winning the kite tournament. Amir will do anything to win his dad’s love. Amir and Hassan’s child-like world vs. the adult world of politics and war.