Freshmen - EC - IQ2 - Are men finished?

As per our classroom discussions about the gender roles presented in The Taming of the Shrew, we began to wonder if such gender roles continue to exist in modern day America.

Are women becoming less submissive in the workplace?  Are men becoming more accepting of gender equality?  Are woman becoming the dominant gender?  Please listen to the first four speakers of this intelligence squared debate and comment on the argument being presented, your individual thoughts, and any questions you might have about this particular discussion.

You can find the debate here.

I encourage you all to participate in the discussion while commenting on what others are saying.  It is important that you engage one another in meaningful debate.

And remember, when we debate, we should not trying to convince someone that we are right and they are wrong.  We should only try to understand those who we debate with. 

Boredom Cure

Hey Stuy.

I'm sure none of you are ever bored with all the work we teachers give you.

But let me share a resource with you that I tend to use when I'm a bit bored ...

TheCreator'sProject

A collection of the newest musicians, artists, fashion designers, DJs, graphic designers, and all around innovators.  It is truly a wonderful site to lose yourself in.  Creative minds from Brazil, UK, South Korea, Brazil and on and on and on ...


Here's a few links to get started:
Door #1
Door #2
Door #3
Door #4
Door #5

Recommendations are appreciated ...

Juniors David Foster Wallace Speech

As per Lisa's minutes gift, I wanted to present this David Foster Wallace commencement speech he gave to a graduating class at Kenyon College.  Please comment juniors, on the message of this particular speech, whether or not you agree, why, and some questions you might want to pose to others.

Transcript: here.

Work for the week of Dec. 19th - Juniors

Due Monday Dec. 19th, 2011
Read the author’s note, chapters one and two of Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild.

SAT Words: Reclusive, Iconoclast
Minutes: Ivy Liu, Lisa Ng, William Han

Due Tuesday Dec. 20th, 2011
Please read Jack London's short story, "To Build a Fire" found here.  Please note direct comparisons to Into the Wild as well as analyzing how London portrays nature and the wilderness in this story.  Is this similar to Krakuer's depictions of nature and the wilderness in Into the Wild?  I expect to see written work for homework.  Please write a minimum of six sentences.

SAT Words: Tranquil, Omnipotent
Minutes: Soulin Haque, Amy Lin, Jahwa Hossain

Due Wednesday Dec. 21st, 2011
Read chapters three and four of Into the Wild.

SAT Words: Exacerbate, Traverse
Minutes: John Horario, Zawar Ahmed, John O'Donnell


Due Thursday Dec. 22nd, 2011
Please read chapters I and II of Emerson's "Nature" essay (nature, commodity).  You can find this here.
Please note direct comparisons to Into the Wild.  I expect to see written work for homework.  Please write a minimum of six sentences.

SAT Words: Prosaic, Circumspect
Minutes: Aaron Lee, John Li, Zuzanna Rybicka

Due Friday Dec. 23rd, 2011
Please read III of Emerson's "Nature" essay (beauty).  You can find this here.
Please try to explain why Alex abandons his promising life and goes off into the wild.  I expect to see written work for homework.  Please write a minimum of five sentences.


SAT Words: Inexpedient, Discursiveness
Minutes: Brandon Lee, Charles Pan, Vlad Shumakovich

Happy non-denominational Winter solstice.

Work for the week of Dec. 19th - Freshmen

Due Monday Dec. 19th, 2011
Read Induction Scene II
Please summarize the plot using quotations as evidence. Signify which line supports your
argument. Students are expected to bring in written work, five sentences minimum, as
homework.



Minutes: Fawn Wong, Edward Shen

Due Tuesday Dec. 20th, 2011
Please complete the thesis statement/topic sentence umbrella graphic from class today.


Minutes: Victor Wu, Elvin Shoyfer

Due Wednesday Dec. 21st, 2011
Continue working on your perfect paragraphs.

Minutes: Thomas Lin, Max Su

Due Thursday Dec. 22nd, 2011
Read Act I Scene I
Who of Baptista, Bianca, and Katherine has the most power? The least? Who is in the middle?
Please explain why. Please provide quotations to support your argument. Students are expected
to bring in written work, five sentences minimum, as homework.


Minutes: Kemraj Sobhai, Brian Tran

Due Friday Dec. 23rd, 2011
Dystopian Thesis and Two* Perfect Paragraphs due today.


Minutes: Joanne Yang, George Triantafillou

Happy non-denominational Winter solstice break.

Extra Credit - Juniors

I know I promised an article about compulsive Guinness Book of World Records breakers, but it isn't available to me yet and so I'm continuing our ongoing discussion of the American justice system.

This week, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the self-proclaimed "toughest sheriff in the United States" faced  backlash from the Justice Department, perhaps for being too "tough."  After finishing a three year investigation, the Justice Department determined that Arpaio's department unfaily targetted Latino Americans, an issue that is all too familiar in Arizona which as of lately, has been a lightning rod of attention in how individual states deal with the "immigration problem," especially since the passing of the stringent anti-immigration law SB-1070. 

The New Yorker, two years ago, released a profile on Sheriff Arpaio and his questionable practices, perhaps foreshadowing the events of this past week.  It is brilliant insight into this man's questionable practices, but also into how our nation, a nation of immigrants, struggles to accept its newest inhabitants.  Please comment your thoughts, impressions, ideas, concerns, devil's advocacy, and so on.

The article can be found here.

Work for the week of Dec. 12th - Freshmen

Due Monday Dec. 12th, 2011
Hope you enjoyed your weekend.  Back to work.  You'll be getting your assignment today.

Minutes: Ali Saad, Shadman Nazmuddin

Due Tuesday Dec. 13th, 2011
Please answer the following question:
Why do we read Shakespeare?  Please respond in AT LEAST six sentences.
When you're done.  Print and read this article.  It is a speech by a Shakespearean professor given to the freshmen class of 2008 at the Catholic University of America.  Bring it in for discussion in class.

Minutes: Tommy Parker

Due Wednesday Dec. 14th, 2011

Minutes: Sadie Solomon, Mindy Qiu

Line by line translation and interpretation of Hamlet Act V, Scene V "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow" soliloquy

Due Thursday Dec. 15th, 2011
Minutes: Dionis Wang, Tiffani Ren

Please read the "Shakespeare's Theatre" preface of The Taming of the Shrew and answer the following questions:
Why did the original Globe theater burn down?  How did this influence the structure of the new Globe?
Who were groundlings?  What was their experience at the Globe like?
Where did nobles sit in the audience?
How did the audience typically behave?
Describe the gender perculiarities of the performers.
Describe the basement and "heavens" of the Globe theatre.



Due Friday Dec. 16th, 2011
Minutes: Fawn Wong, Edward Shen

Please read Induction Scene I.  Utilize No Fear Shakespeare if necessary.

Work for the week of Dec. 12th - Juniors

Due Monday Dec. 12th, 2011
Oh snap.  Edgar Allen Poe Film Noir Paper is Due...
LOLZ
Today we'll be discussing the Angel of the House.  I'll provide you with copies.

SAT Words: Capitulate, Sanctimonious
Minutes: Kibria Islam, John Li, Angely Liang



Due Tuesday Dec. 13th, 2011
Please read "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
We will discuss the story in class.

SAT Words: Machinations, Palliative
Minutes:  Amanpreet Kandola, Alice Liang, Jiaru Liang,



Due Wednesday Dec. 14th, 2011
Please register for the NYPL card and forward me the confirmation at mrericferencz@gmail.com.


SAT Words: Languid, Debility
Minutes:   Surit Mishra



Due Thursday Dec. 15th, 2011
Read 1st half of Is Long Term Solitary Confinement Torture by Atul Gawande
(Stop at the lines that begin "The main argument for using long term isolation in prison..." about halfway through the article)
Questions to consider for annotation:
What is the significance of the Harry Harlow's studies?
What was Terry Anderson's experience with isolation as highlighted in his book Den of Lions?
Describe the moment when Anderson "snapped."
How do John McCain's experiences parallel Anderson's?
How did Bobby Dellelo respond to complete isolation?  What symptoms did he experience?

SAT Words: Cantankerous, Salutary
Minutes: Brandon Lee, Guanming Lin, Patty Nguyen



Due Friday Dec. 16th, 2011
Finish reading 2nd half of Is Long Term Solitary Confinement Torture by Atul Gawande
(Start at the lines that begin "The main argument for using long term isolation in prison..." about halfway through the article)

Questions to consider for annotation:
What is the apparent purpose of long-term isolation in prisons?
How is the prison system a for-profit industry?
What was Justice Miller's argument against isolation confinement in 1890?
Discuss Robert Felton's experience in isolation.  How do his experiences compare/constrast to Delello?
What are some alternatives to isolation confinement?


SAT Words: Turpitude, Despondent
Minutes: Timmy Levin, Ricardo Lopez, John O'Donnell

Do the Evolution - Pearl Jam

Freshmen - For extra credit, I'd like to watch the following music video and find the lyrics to the song "Do the Evolution" by Pearl Jam.

WARNING: THIS VIDEO INCLUDES GRAPHIC REPRESENTATIONS OF WAR.

Please look for the following:

What are some recurring images in this music video?
What is the main theme of the music video?
How do the lyrics influence your viewing?
Please feel free to comment on any particular aspects of the lyrics or music video that you find interesting.  Please feel free to ask questions about the meaning of particular images or lyrics and perhaps another student can assist you in discussion.

Post your findings by commenting.  Don't forget to include your name.

IQ2 - Intelligence Squared

Extra Credit for Juniors:

There is a fascinating prompt on this week's intelligence squared:

Too many kids are going to college.

As you prepare for your futures after high school, the question must be asked:

Why, if so, is college important?

Give the episode a listen and comment on the blog whether you've listened to one speaker, four speakers, or the entire podcast.  What is the necessity of degree in an information career market?

NOTE: The podcast is not available on the IQ2 webpage but can be found on iTunes for free.  Those of us who have heard the podcast, where did you listen to it?

Work for the week of Dec. 5th - Freshmen

Due Monday Dec. 5^th, 2011

Perfect Paragraph Due - Topic - How does Julia use her sexuality as a tool of rebellion?
Read through chapter X, book II.

Due Tuesday Dec. 6^th, 2011

Read Ch. I - II Book III
-What is Winston's cell like?
-What is Ampleforth's crime?
-Please discuss Winston's encounter with O'Brien.  How does this encounter change Winston's perception of the Brotherhood?
-What is Winston's perception of physical pain?
-What do you think of torture as a pratice?
-How does Winston's imprisonment change our perception of our reading of this book?
-How is Winston punished and corrected?
-What do you make of O'Brien's comment when he suggests "They got me a long time ago"?

Due Wednesday Dec. 7th, 2011
Read Ch. III - V Book III
Describe Winston's dreams.
Why does Winston tell O'Brien that he hates Big Brother?
Why is Winston brought to room 101?

What is room 101?  How does Winston escape his punishment?

Due Thursday Dec. 8th 2011

Finish the book - Ch. VI Book III
What is the significance of the last chapter of the book?
Read "The Unknown Citizen" by W.H. Auden and connect the poem to 1984.

Due Friday Dec. 9th, 2011 

How is the world in the Matrix presented as a dystopia?

What is a thesis statement?

Due Monday Dec. 12th 2011 

Work for the week of Dec. 5th - Juniors

Due Monday Dec. 5^th, 2011

First draft of third paper due.  Please complete your introduction and begin at least one body paragraph.  Please have some ideas for a conclusion to discuss.  We will be peer editing today.

AS PER REQUEST: Here is a link of your third essay assignment.

SAT Vocabulary: Dirge, Ineffable

Due Tuesday Dec. 6^th, 2011
Please read "The Devil in the Belfry".  Please annotate your paper focusing on the following questions which will be discussed in class:
Describe the setting of this town.
Describe the townspeople.  What are their daily habits?
What is so different about the young visitor?
How does this young visitor disrupt the townspeople's lives?
What message is Poe attempting to convey about communal thought?

SAT Vocabulary: Circuitous, Fervor

Due Wednesday Dec. 7th, 2011

Think of a particular film that scared you.  Please, try to consider the following questions:
What makes a scary movie scary?  What particular aspects of a scary movie actually scare you?  Do you know why?  Try to understand why the things that scare people are so effective in doing so.

Please note - If your memories of a particular film still bring discomfort, feel free to opt out of this discussion.  While I think this will be an interesting assignment, I do not want to reopen any mental wounds.

SAT Vocabulary: Respite, Portend

Due Thursday Dec. 8th 2011

Begin reading excerpts from Freud's "The Uncanny." posted on my Stuy page.

Consider the following questions:
What are the definitions between heimlich and unheimlich?
Can you give any examples of something you would consider to be hemilich?  Unheimlich?
Why does Freud display the various definitions of the word heimlich?

SAT Vocabulary: Vacillate, Parsimonious

Due Friday Dec. 9th, 2011 

Please find an example of something unheimlich and print a picture and present a paragraph explanation of the picture's "uncanniness."

SAT Vocabulary: Prostration, Flippant

Due Monday Dec. 12th 2011  

"The Yellow Wallpaper"