Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Sophomore Extra Credit - Are too many people going to college?



Please listen to the following podcast (at least the first two debaters) and engage in the discussion.  Try to acknowledge that we are conditioned to believe that college is important and try to understand why is so important to us and so necessary to our lives.

It is a fascinating discussion that requires you to consider your own life experience and the experiences of others.  Be sure to read your fellow classmates' responses before commenting yourself.  I like to promote inter-student discussion, just remember to be polite and respectful.  Feel free to insert a question into your response for later to students to answer!

Enjoy!  I'll chime in from time to time.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Work for the Week of Dec. 17th - Sophomores



Monday December 17th
Minutes: Demos, Simon, Mindy
Reading HW: Read The Allegory of the Cave
HW: Final draft day.

Tuesday December 18th
Minutes: Eddie W., Gavin, Madina
Reading HW: Read the these two essays (found here and here) about The Matrix and its relation to Plato's Cave.
HW: Hand in your paper, stapled.

Wednesday December 19th
Minutes: Steven, David, Shazif
Reading HW: Take the night off.
HW: Take the night off.

Thursday December 20th
Minutes: Cardy, John, Leina
Reading HW: Read "Book One" of Plato's Republic
HW: Please pick three quotes that display the Socratic dialectic procedure.  How is Socrates taking us out of Plato's "cave"?

Friday December 21st
Minutes: Jean, Andy, Umarbin
Reading HW:
HW:



Over non-denominational winter solstice break:
It is very important to me that you use these days off to spend time with friends and family and catch up on much needed rest.  Aside from voluntary extra credit assignments, you have no reading or homework due over break.  Thank you for a wonderful first few months of school.  Enjoy and I'll see you in 2013.

Work for the Week of Dec. 17th - Freshmen

                                         

Monday December 17th
Minutes: Mahdi, Jenny
Reading HW: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Blue - 42, Black - 42
HW: How would you characterize the men of the ward?  How does McMurphy's arrival affect the environment of the ward?

Tuesday December 18th
Minutes: Mo, Alice
Reading HW: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Blue - 42, Black - 42
HW: Please use 5 post-its to denote quotes of particular interest/themes of machinery or rebellion.

Wednesday December 19th
Minutes: Pablo, Michael A.
Reading HW: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Blue - 69
HW: How does Nurse Ratched run group sessions?  What is a pecking party?  Please use 5 post-its to denote quotes of particular interest/themes.

Thursday December 20th
Minutes: Camille, Joydeep
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Catch up on 5 post-its assignment if you are behind.

Friday December 21st
Minutes: Christy, Abby
Reading HW: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Blue - 84
HW: Please use 5 post-its to denote quotes of particular interest/themes.

Finish Part One of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest for January 3rd, 2012

Over non-denominational winter solstice break:
It is very important to me that you use these days off to spend time with friends and family and catch up on much needed rest.  Aside from voluntary extra credit assignments, you have no homework due over break.  Thank you for a wonderful first few months of school.  Enjoy and I'll see you in 2013.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Freshmen E.C. - Closes Dec. 3rd, 2013



Building off of our creative writing assignment in class, you are to select a song and create a scene based off of that song.

Add a youtube link to your song so we can listen to the song as we read your passage.  Try not write more than 500 words.  It is important that you create a scene that is self-contained; you aren't composing a film.

Don't forget to use ideas like we used in class: appearance, body language, tone, dialogue, colors, and more.  And add detail!  Post your song (via Youtube URL) and your scene to the blog!

Visit this post to remind yourself of some of the wonderful examples and feel free to mimic writing styles that you enjoy!

When you're finished, post to this blog!

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Work for the Week of Dec. 10th - Freshmen




Due Monday December 10th
Minutes: Alex S., Dristi
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Select a song, post a link to the song on the blog, and explain how the song makes you feel.

Due Tuesday December 11th
Minutes: Tracy, Neil
Reading HW:
HW: Read and explain the following quote as it pertains to "show don't tell":
If a writer of prose knows enough of what he is writing about he may omit things that he knows and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, will have a feeling of those things as strongly as though the writer had stated them. The dignity of movement of an ice-berg is due to only one-eighth of it being above water. ~E. Hemingway
Due Wednesday December 12th
Minutes: Carol, Bowen
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Finish your creative writing piece by using subtext/show don't tell.  Don't forget to use ideas like we used in class today: appearance, body language, tone, dialogue, colors, and more.  And add detail!  Post your song (via Youtube URL) and your scene to the blog!

Due Thursday December 13th
Minutes: Jackie, Xiao Wen
Reading HW: Watch this video/Read this transcript about how "Schools Kill Creativity" (you don't need to watch all/read all.  Watch up until the ten minute mark (required), or longer if you'd like.
HW: How do schools kill creativity according to speaker Ken Robinson?  What particular examples strike your interest?  Do you feel like your sense of creativity could be stronger?  Are our schools enforcing a kind of conformity?

Due Friday December 14th
Minutes: Mark, David
Reading HW: Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Blue Book - up to pg. 28
                                                                                        Black Book - up to pg. 18
HW: Can we trust the narrator?  Why or why not?  How would you characterize the narrator?

Due Monday December 17th
Minutes: Mahdi, Jenny

Reading HW: Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Blue Book - up to pg. 42
                                                                                        Black Book - up to pg. 42

HW: Who are the men of the ward?  Be prepared to discuss each.  How would characterize Randall McMurphy?  How does his presence affect the tone of the ward?


Work for the Week of Dec. 10th - Sophomores



Due Monday December 10th
Minutes: Jacky, Aimee, Sheldon
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Begin your draft.

Due Tuesday December 11th- DRAFT DAY
Minutes: Razwan, Mahir, Sharon
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Please bring in a draft, body paragraphs and thesis only.

Due Wednesday December 12th
Minutes: Allen, Alisa, Abu
Reading HW: Read "The Pre-Socratics" found here.  Read through page 10, numbers at the bottom of the page.
HW: Please take notes on each of the Pre-Socratics.  Who are they?  What did they each believe?  Why are they lumped together into a single group, the "Pre-Socratic" thinkers?

Due Thursday December 13th
Minutes: Irena, Thomas Suchecki, Vanessa
Reading HW: Read the story of "Plato".  If the dropbox file does not show up, download the file and open it.
HW: Please take notes on Plato and Socrates, noting their individual beliefs.  How does Socrates reject the need for gods?  What were the Pythagoreans influence on Plato?

Due Friday December 14th - DRAFT DAY
Minutes: Cathy, Tommy Sun, Patrick
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Complete Intro's and Conclusions worksheet.  Please bring in a full draft, introduction and conclusion included (no matter how bad you think they are!).

Due Monday December 17th - Final Draft Day
Minutes: Demos, Simon, Mindy
Reading HW: Read The Allegory of the Cave
HW: Bring in a final draft.  Please type up a reflection page about what you learned about the writing process by writing this paper.


Monday, December 3, 2012

Work for the Week of Dec. 3rd - Sophomores



Monday December 3rd
Minutes: Jim, Antony, Nadine
Reading HW: Read Books 18, 19
HW: Finish updating a classic assignment if not finished.

Tuesday December 4th
Minutes: Radhika, Andy L., Amy
Reading HW: Read Book 20
HW: Begin to brainstorm ideas for your newest draft.

Wednesday Dec. 5th
Minutes: Brian, Abe, Michael J.
Reading HW: Read Book 21, 22
HW: What is the significance of sport in Book 21?  In Book 22, What particular deaths do particular suitors receive?   What is the significance of such specific deaths?

Thursday December 6th
Minutes: Lily, Jared, Sen
Reading HW: Read Book 23, 24
HW: What is odd about Odysseus and Penelope's reunion?  Why do you think Homer chooses to portray Book 24 in such an odd setting?  What kind of message is Homer sending through such an end?  Is it fair how Athena changes the suitors parents' minds?  Has Athena been a worthy goddess throughout this story or a cheap plot tool?

Friday December 7th
Minutes: Ivan, Adriel, Shu Xing
Reading HW: Look through The Odyssey for examples to support your potential thesis.
HW: Create a rudimentary thesis statement.

Monday December 10th
Minutes: Jacky, Aimee, Sheldon
Reading HW:
HW: Email me a copy of your thesis for approval by Sunday 6 P.M.


Work for the Week of Dec. 3rd - Freshmen




Monday December 3rd
Minutes: Rina, Felicia
Reading HW:
HW: How are some ways in which our society separates "aberrations"?

Tuesday December 4th
Minutes: Laura, Kevin L.
Reading HW: "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway
HW: How is this a story about abortion?  Look for examples of subtext within the characters, setting, and prose.

Wednesday Dec. 5th
Minutes: Adam, Derrick
Reading HW: "Rules of the Game" by Amy Tan
HW: What is the figurative meaning of Waverly's learning/mastering the game of chess?  Find evidence to support your point.  Can you relate to Waverly?  Why or why not?

Thursday December 6th
Minutes: Kyle, Kevin M.
Reading HW: Read "The Rich Boy" by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
HW: Consider the following hypothesis: Rich people are happier.  Please find two pieces of evidence in the story that prove that this hypothesis is both true and false (four pieces of evidence total).

Friday December 7th
Minutes: Alina, Lianna
Reading HW: "Though the Tunnel" by Doris Lessing
HW: What is Jerry's relationship with his mother?  Why does Jerry want to be with the older boys?  Does he succeed?  What change can you see in Jerry at the end of the story?

Monday December 10th
Minutes: Alex S., Dristi
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Similar to our lesson on Friday, pick a song and post the song's Youtube video to the comment section of this blog.  Be sure to share what emotions this song creates through show don't tell.  Do the lyrics achieve a similar effect?  We'll use some of these songs in our lesson on Monday.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Extra Credit - Freshmen



Directions:  Please select a film from the list of films below.  Choose a film that you haven't seen before.  Your job is to identify, as you did in the three perfect paragraphs assignment, how the societies presented in these films are dystopias.  Please provide three strong examples and post your findings to the blog.  Be sure to take notes when watching one of these films.

You DO NOT have to write perfect paragraphs for this assignment.  But please write in full sentences.

Be sure to have parental permission before watching these films and you MUST obtain your film through LEGAL means.  I will not condone pirating.

Please choose from the following films:

Blade Runner
Gattaca
Metropolis
Idiocracy
THX1138
V for Vendetta
The Matrix
District 9
WALL-E
Planet of the Apes


Have fun!

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Work for the Week of Nov. 26th - Sophomores


Due Monday November 26th
Minutes: Alex G., Moaz K., Kazi A.
Reading HW: Read Books 13,14,15
HW: N/A

Due Tuesday November 27th
Minutes: Tashfiq H., Maria K., Matt B.
Reading HW:  Book 16
HW: Read "Ulysses".  How does Tennyson characterize Odysseus?   Is this tone accurate?  Is there truth in Tennyson's words?  Please use specific lines in the poem to establish your point.

Due Wednesday November 28th
Minutes: Miad H., Tim L., Victor C.
Reading HW:  Read Book 16
HW: Quiz on Books 13-16.  Review Zeus' omen involving an eagle AND Helen of Troy's importance to book 16.


Due Thursday November 29th
Minutes: Darren H., Xiaohan L., Kermit C.
Reading HW:  Book 17
HW: Find examples of irony, situational, verbal, dramatic.  Consider how the suitors treat Odysseus.  Find specific examples in the text to prove your point.

Due Friday November 30th
Minutes: Girish J., Belinda L., Andy G.
Reading HW: Book 18
HW: What is Odysseus' plan to overtake the suitors?  What is Athena's plan to overtake the suitors?  Who is in control of his/her plan?  Do the two work together or at odds?  Find specific examples in the text to prove your point.


Due Monday December 3rd
Minutes: Jim J., Antony L., Nadine H.
Reading HW:  Book 19
HW: What does Odysseus' autobiographical description reveal about him as a character?  This is similar to how he describes himself in front of the Phaecians, is he conceited?  Why does Odysseus keep his identity from his wife?  What prophecy does Penelope repeat?  Find specific examples in the text to prove your point.

Work for the Week of Nov. 26th - Freshmen



Due Monday November 26th

Minutes: David H., Sam G.
Reading HW:  Finish the book.
HW: Is this is happy ending for Winston?

Due Tuesday November 27th
Minutes:  Max K., Elias G.
Reading HW: Review your recently graded draft of the three perfect paragraphs.
HW: Based upon the lessons of 1984, what do dystopias tell us about our world?

Due Wednesday November 28th
Minutes: Rui L., Cindy H.
Reading HW:  Review your three perfect paragraphs for draft day on Monday.
HW: Based upon your notes, how does THX1138 compare to 1984?  What kinds of dystopian characteristics did you find in THX1138?  Did THX1138 reveal any criticisms of modern society through the lens of a dystopia?

Due Thursday November 29th
Minutes: Mei L., Leon H.
Reading HW:  Half of the solitary confinement article found here.
HW: Considering our workshop today, review/modify your three perfect paragraphs for draft day on Monday.

Due Friday November 30th
Minutes: Jordan L., Anika H.
Reading HW: Finish the solitary confinement article found here.
HW: Considering our workshop today, review/modify your three perfect paragraphs for draft day on Monday.

Due Monday December 3rd
Minutes: Rina L., Felicia
Reading HW:  N/A
HW:  Rewrite of three perfect paragraphs due.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Freshmen - Work for the Week of Nov 19th




Due Monday November 19th
Minutes: Belle, Michael D.
Reading HW: Book 2, Ch. 8, 9,10
HW: What kinds of power does O'Brien have?  How does Winston react to O'Brien's connections?  Explain the phrase "War is peace" using quotations from the Party's speech during hate week about the war in Eurasia.  


Due Tuesday November 20th
Minutes: 
Reading HW: Book 2, Ch. 10  
HW: Find a definition of propaganda.  Find examples of government propaganda through the novel 1984.  Start to think of some ideas for a propaganda poster that you will create with your group in class.

Due Wednesday November 21st
Minutes: 
Reading HW: Book III, Ch. 1 
HW: Bring in images, supplies for your propaganda poster.  Be sure to write up a small explanation connecting your piece of propaganda with a particular quote in the book.

Due Monday November 26th
Minutes: 
Reading HW:  Finish the book.
HW: Is this is happy ending for Winston?

Sophomores - Work for the Week of Nov 19th



Due Monday November 19th
Minutes: Alice, John, Tina
Reading HW:  Book 11 of The Odyssey 
HW: Answer questions in our "Reading Guide" in correlation to each book.

Due Tuesday November 20th
Minutes: Alice, John, Tina
Reading HW:  Book 11 of The Odyssey 
HW: Answer questions in our "Reading Guide" in correlation to each book.

Due Wednesday November 21st
Minutes: 
Reading HW:  Book 12 of The Odyssey 
HW: Answer questions in our "Reading Guide" in correlation to each book.

Due Monday November 26th
Minutes: 
Reading HW:  Book 13,14,15 of The Odyssey 
HW: Answer questions in our "Reading Guide" in correlation to each book.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Sophomore Extra Credit - Let's Talk About Writing



I've provided a link to a PDF file that contains three Oedipus's Dilemma papers.  For our discussion, I'd like you to first read your Oedipus paper along with the comments/problems that I presented to you.  Then, take a look at one of these papers, if not all of them, and analyze these works for their successes.

Here are some ideas you might want to consider:

-Is this thesis clear and understandable?
-Does the author go on to prove his/her thesis throughout the paper?  How?
-How much background information is provided?  Is it enough?  Too little?  Goldilocks?  (just right)
-How does the author utilize evidence?
-Is the quote isolated and explained sufficiently?
-How does the paper flow?  Do you note any successful examples of transition?
-What kind of tone does the author utilize?  What is the effect of this tone?
-Any other suggestions as to why these papers received high marks.

Feel free to comment on the paper or other people's comments.  Don't be shy about your shortcomings in writing.  We're all in the same boat.  At some point in our writing careers, we all made mistakes.  We improved when we not only understood the nature of our mistakes, but engaged in some meaningful discussion about how to improve.

Remember, writing isn't some magical skill that you either have or you don't.  Writing is a skill that anyone can learn, but you have to be ready to put aside your ego and admit that you need help.  Only then can you have some truly groundbreaking discussions that will aid in the process of becoming a better writer.

Make me proud sophomores.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Sophomores - Work for the Week of Nov. 13th



Due Tuesday November 13th
Minutes: Steven, Timothy, Vanessa
Reading HW: Book 5 and Book 6 of The Odyssey 
HW: Hand in "Telemacchus' Hero's Journey" assignment. 
Answer questions in our "Reading Guide" in correlation to each book.

Due Wednesday November 14th
Minutes: Ivan, Belinda, Mindy
Reading HW: Book 7 and 8 of The Odyssey 
HW: Answer questions in our "Reading Guide" in correlation to each book.


Due Thursday November 15th
Minutes: Eddie W., Vincent, Nadine
Reading HW:  Book 9 of The Odyssey 
HW: Answer questions in our "Reading Guide" in correlation to each book.

Due Friday November 16th
Minutes: Sharon Z., Andy L., Sharon
Reading HW:  Book 10 of The Odyssey 
HW: Answer questions in our "Reading Guide" in correlation to each book.  Quiz on books 5-10

Due Monday November 19th
Minutes: Alice, John, Tina
Reading HW:  Books 11 of The Odyssey 
HW: Answer questions in our "Reading Guide" in correlation to each book.

Freshmen - Work for the Week of Nov. 13th



Due Tuesday November 13th
Minutes:  Camille, Stepan
Reading HW: Catch up with reading, finish through Book 2, Ch. 4 and 5
HW: How is the room above Mr. Charrington's shop a kind of respite for Winston and Julia?  How does this place fuel Winston's desire for rebellion?  How does Julia feel about the Brotherhood?  What happens to Syme?  What does it mean when Winston calls Julia a rebel from the waist down?

Due Wednesday November 14th
Minutes: Janet, Sean
Reading HW: N/A
HW: First draft due.

Due Thursday November 15th
Minutes: Sabrina, Sophia
Reading HW: (Read as you please, no assignment for tonight but be aware that we finish the book on Nov. 26th)
HW: Please explain the conditions of Victory Mansions using our assignment from class today.  Be sure to isolate words in the quote that you select and explain how these quotes support your impression of the conditions of Victory Mansions.

Due Friday November 16th
Minutes: Cristina, Darwin
Reading HW: Book 2, Ch. 6, 7
HW: Final draft due.  Make appropriate modifications based upon our lesson today.  Be sure to proofread using the common made errors ditto found here.

Due Monday November 19th
Minutes: Belle, Michael D.
Reading HW: Book 2, Ch. 8, 9,10
HW: What kinds of power does O'Brien have?  How does Winston react to O'Brien's connections?  Explain the phrase "War is peace" using quotations from the Party's speech during hate week about the war in Eurasia.  

Thursday, November 1, 2012

The Election E.C. - Open to Everyone!


Our social experiment is over.  While I certainly felt a bit of apathy and skepticism, I decided to follow the advice of some passionate and well-spoken young people, visiting a local polling place, and voting for the first time in my life.  I thank you all for your input, and I feel a heightened sense of importance in my actions, directly because of your comments.  Whether you think voting is important or not, we can all agree that healthy discussion is an American virtue that we should all honor.  See you in class.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Sophomores - Work for the week of Nov. 5th




Due  Monday November 5th
Minutes: N/A, Alisa, Calvin
Reading HW: Read Book 3 of The Odyssey - Consult our "Reading Guide" to direct your reading.
HW: Considering our discussion in class about quote selection and providing a speaker and context for our quotes, make sure that you have selected effective quotations for your paper due Wednesday.  Begin writing up a draft in which you introduce and explain your quotations.


Due Wednesday November 7th
Minutes: Alex, Antony, Madina
Reading HW: Book 3 and 4 of The Odyssey  
HW: Answer questions in our "Reading Guide" in correlation to each book.  Bring in a draft.


Due Thursday November 8th
Minutes: Jean, Aimee, Shazif
Reading HW: Book 5 of The Odyssey
HW: Answer questions in our "Reading Guide" in correlation to each book.


Due Friday November 9th
Minutes: Sharon, Tik, Sen
Reading HW: Quiz on Books 1-5 of The Odyssey  
HW: Study!


Due Tuesday November 13th
Minutes: Steven, Timothy, Vanessa
Reading HW: Book 6 of The Odyssey 
HW: Hand in "Telemacchus' Hero's Journey" assignment.
Answer questions in our "Reading Guide" in correlation to each book.


Due Wednesday November 14th
Minutes: Ivan, Belinda, Mindy
Reading HW: Books 7 and 8 of The Odyssey 
HW: Answer questions in our "Reading Guide" in correlation to each book.



Freshmen - Work for the Week of November 5th




Due Monday November 5th
Minutes: N/A N/a
Reading HW: Ch. 6
HW: Please define sex as a form of romantic expression and compare this definition to how Orwell portrays sex in 1984.  Why does Winston have sex with a prostitute?  Does he enjoy this sexual encounter?  Why or why not?


Due Wednesday November 7th
Minutes:  Mo, Michael
Reading HW: Ch. 7
HW: How does Winston view the power of the proles?  Consider the "Occupy Wall Street" movement of the past two years.  What similarities/differences can you see between the proles and the Occupy protesters?


Due Thursday November 8th
Minutes: Mahdi, Joydeep
Reading HW: Ch. 8, Book 2 Ch. 1
HW: Please read the following article and compare it to a particular quotation found in chapter 8.  Please explain your quote selection and how it connects to this article.


Due Friday November 9th
Minutes: Pablo, Daisy
Reading HW: Book 2, Ch. 2 and 3
HW: Let's try to make some direct comparisons between Winston's sexual encounter with the prostitute and his former wife Katherine in Book I Chapter Six and his encounter with Julia in these chapters.


Due Tuesday November 13th
Minutes:  Camille, Stepan
Reading HW: Book 2, Ch. 4 and 5
HW: How is the room above Mr. Charrington's shop a kind of respite for Winston and Julia?  How does this place fuel Winston's desire for rebellion?  How does Julia feel about the Brotherhood?  What happens to Syme?  What does it mean when Winston calls Julia a rebel from the waist down?


Due Wednesday November 14th
Minutes: Janet, Sean
Reading HW: Book 2, Ch. 6 and 7
HW:






Thursday, October 25, 2012

Freshmen E.C. - Famine in N. Korea



Considering today's discussion of euphemistic language and the manipulation of ideas, I'd like to read the New Yorker article titled "The Good Cook" found here.  The article follows a N. Korean refugee's experience living in N. Korea and the propaganda machine of the N. Korean government.

Your responsibilities will be to look for connections between 1984 and the content of this article.  How does the government maintain control of the country and its citizens?  What is the condition of the country?
How does the N. Korean government attempt to manipulate citizens' perspective of the rampant famine?

PLEASE LIMIT YOURSELVES TO ONE COMMENT.  I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU CAN RESPOND PAST THIS LIMIT.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Sophomores - Work for the week of October 22nd



Due Monday October 22nd
Minutes: Jim J. ,Tommy Sun, Ava W.
Reading HW: 
HW: Please bring in a draft for revision.

Due Tuesday October 23rd
Minutes:  Daniel Z., Thomas Sucheki
Reading HW: Please review the commonly made mistakes found here.  Reread your work and proofread using these steps.
HW: Final draft due.  In addition to your draft, I'd like you to also include an additional typed page that reflects upon the various steps we have discussed in the past week: Brainstorming, reading our work aloud, connecting premises and conclusions, peer editing, and proofreading.  How will this help you better prepare for writing in the future?  Does this past week help you understand what takes place in writing a successful paper?  How will you manage your time in the future.

Due Wednesday October 24th
Minutes:  Jessica K.
Reading HW: N/A
HW: N/A

Due Thursday October 25th
Minutes:  Shuaib B.
Reading HW: Read book one of The Odyssey
HW: Please begin to brainstorm by reading over your newly distributed assignment and determining what expectations you must fulfill for this next assignment.

Due Friday October 26th
Minutes:  Tashfiq H., Calvin Chen, Amy J.

Reading HW: Read book two of The Odyssey
HW: Please identify Telemacchus' call to adventure and supernatural aid.  Please provide quotations and explain how the quotations prove the existence of each of these steps.  This will be handed in as a major writing assignment.



Due Monday October 29th
Minutes:  Farhan A,Alisa S., Calvin Ye
Reading HW: Read books three of The Odyssey
HW: Considering our discussion in class about quote selection and providing a speaker and context for our quotes, make sure that you have selected effective quotations for your paper due Wednesday.  Begin writing up a draft in which you introduce and explain your quotations.

Freshmen - Work for the week of October 22nd



Due Monday October 22nd
Minutes: Alex S., Bowen W. 
Reading HW: Chapter Two of 1984.
HW: How are we being watched in our own society?  Try to think of three ways that our actions and words are monitored.  How do you feel about this?  Are you comfortable in knowing that most of your actions/conversations are being recorded?  Does this infringe upon your privacy?  Will privacy exist in the future?

Due Tuesday October 23rd
Minutes:  Tracy T., Xiaowen W.
Reading HW: Chapter Three of 1984.
HW: What does Winston's dream tell us about his inner most desires?  What do we know of Winston's past?  Please find quotes to support your answers.  Additionally, write a response for this thought question: Why might the Party directly disassociate people from their pasts?

Due Wednesday October 24th
Minutes:  Carol W., David X.
Reading HW: N/A
HW: N/A

Due Thursday October 25th
Minutes: Jackie X., Jenny Y. 
Reading HW: Chapter Four.
HW: Complete work from class today.  Make the logical connections between quotes and concluding ideas.

Due Friday October 26th
Minutes: Mark A., Alice Y. 
Reading HW: Chapter Four and Five.
HW: Considering yesterday's lesson on euphemisms and reductive language, what is the function of Newspeak?  How does Newspeak help the Party maintain control?  Please find two quotations that supports your argument.


Due Monday October 29th
Minutes: Mo A., Michael A. 
Reading HW: Chapter Six of 1984
HW: Please define sex as a form of romantic expression and compare this definition to how Orwell portrays sex in 1984.  Why does Winston have sex with a prostitute?  Does he enjoy this sexual encounter?  Why or why not?



Extra Credit - Sophomores



And now for something completely different...

As we come to a closing our week long stint of discussing writing, I'd like you take a look at an article from the New Yorker.  I often praise the New Yorker as some of the best analytical and expository writing* that I have ever read.  I think it would benefit all of us to read an article from the New Yorker and discuss the fundamentals of how this article is successful as a piece of expository writing.  So, your job is to consider the following:

-Is the tone of this article professional?  Is it too academic?  How do you feel about the article's tone?  Is it engaging or alienating?  Why?

-Is this article effectively informing you about K-Pop?  After reading the article, do you feel as if you have a firmer understanding of the topic being discussed?

-What arguments does this article present abot K-Pop?  Do you think the author does a good job in proving these arguments?  Does he use sufficient and powerful evidence to prove this point?

-How effective is the article's introduction?  How effective is article's conclusion?  What techniques does the author employ in both introduction and conclusion to achieve a provocative introduction/conclusion?

-Any other general ideas that strike you about the writing in the article.

Here's the article "Factory Girls" by John Seabrook.

Have fun with this, it is a great article that I found fascinating.  I'm excited to see how we react to the writing within this article and how someone like John Seabrook can take something as trivial as mindless pop music and elevate it through intelligent and interesting discussion.  If Seabrook can achieve this discussing K-Pop, we can achieve similar goals with almost any topic.




*Expository writing is a type of writing where the purpose is to inform, describe, explain, or define the author's subject to the reader.  

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Sophomores - Work for the Week of October 15th




Due Monday October 15th
Minutes:  Razwan M., David Y., Matthew B., 
Reading HW: 
HW: Please present notes that display you have brainstormed ideas for your next paper due this Friday.

Due Tuesday October 16th
Minutes Radhika K., VOLUNTEER?, VOLUNTEER?
Reading HW: Please read the following post and its comments.
HW: Please type up the first draft of your paper.  Be sure to read your work aloud and mark up your first draft by underlining sentences that might sound confusing or awkward.  You do not need to modify these sentences.  Simply identify them and their awkward tone.  Bring this draft into class, we will be focusing on how to modify our sentences to make them increasingly comprehensible.    

Due Wednesday October 17th
Minutes:  Jacky L., Brian C., VOLUNTEER?
HW: Please type up the first draft of your paper.  Be sure to read your work aloud and mark up your first draft by underlining sentences that might sound confusing or awkward.  You do not need to modify these sentences.  Simply identify them and their awkward tone.  Bring this draft into class, we will be focusing on how to modify our sentences to make them increasingly comprehensible.    

Due Thursday October 18th
Minutes: VOLUNTEER?, Andy Zou, Leina S.
Reading HW: Review the comments I've given you on your first major assignment.  Attempt to understand and catalogue your mistakes so that you do not make these mistakes again.  Please review this document which explains how to read your essay comments.
HW: Purchase a folder for your many writing assignments.  Revise your draft by using your graded assignment.  Find the mistakes you've made on your first paper and be sure they do not occur on this current draft.  Bring this draft into class.


Due Friday October 19th
Minutes:  Karandeep A., Jared May, Andrew G.
Reading HW: Please finish Sophocles' Oedipus the King.  We will be using an online version found here and here
HW: Do you think Oedipus' punishment is appropriate?  Is his self-inflicted wound appropriate?  Please explain why in both cases.  I'd also like you to analyze the final exultation of the chorus as it speaks rather directly to our assignment.  What example of duality exists in the chorus' final words?


Due Monday October 22nd
Minutes:  VOLUNTEER?, Tommy Sun, Ava Wang