E.C. Juniors - Tragic Heroes

Many of you asked for the opportunity to discuss tragic heroes that either (a) were not of the past two decades or (b) were not actually real people.  Now is your opportunity to discuss such figures. Be sure to incorporate Arthur Miller's qualifications for a tragic hero, found here in his article "Tragedy and the Common Man."  Have fun with this and open our eyes to the myriad tragic figures that color our world.

E.C Seniors - Riot Grrrl

Continuing our discussion of the 1990s 3rd wave riot grrrl movement, let's research the movement further while also analyzing strong, positive female role models in the music industry.  Feel free to share any example and support your ideas, reflecting upon how this particular figure is a positive female figure, opening doors for female artists everywhere.  Who are the female figures who have broken free from the hackneyed gender tropes we've come to expect in music/art?

Work for the Week of Dec. 16th - Seniors

Monday December 16th
Minutes:
Reading HW: 1939
HW: N/A

Tuesday December 17th
Minutes: Asma
Reading HW: 1940
HW: Begin your writing assignment.  Here's a link to the assignment.  Cool your jets, it's only a page long.

Wednesday December 18th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Finish the book.
HW: Draft due today.

Thursday December 19th
Minutes:
Reading HW:
HW: Paper due today.

Friday December 20th
Minutes: Farzana
Reading HW:
HW:

Thursday January 2nd, 2014
Minutes:
Reading HW:
HW:

Work for the Week of Dec. 16th - Juniors

Monday December 16th
Minutes: Alex, Karandeep
Reading HW: N/A
HW: 1st Draft Writing Assignment Due

Check out your next writing assignment!
Here's the Miller article that accompanies your assignment.

Tuesday December 17th
Minutes: Raymond, Clement
Reading HW: Scene Six, Seven, and Eight
HW:

Wednesday December 18th
Minutes: Isabella, Joyce
Reading HW: Finish the play!
HW: Draft Day!

Thursday December 19th
Minutes: Samiha, Karandeep
Reading HW:
HW: Draft Day!

Friday December 20th
Minutes: Ricky, Nicole
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Paper due.  MOVIE DAY!

Thursday January 2nd, 2014
Minutes:
Reading HW: N/A
HW: N/A

Get some rest.

Work for the Week of Dec. 16th - Freshmen

Monday December 16th
Minutes: Bayle, Felix
Reading HW: Ch. IX and X Angela's Ashes
HW: Draft Day.

Tuesday December 17th
Minutes: Lucy
Reading HW: Ch. XI and XII Angela's Ashes
HW:

Wednesday December 18th
Minutes: Ming, Arnab
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Paper is due.  We will be reading out stories in class.

Thursday December 19th
Minutes: Claudia, Alex
Reading HW: Ch. XIII and XIV Angela's Ashes
HW:

Friday December 20th
Minutes: Claire, Nick
Reading HW:
HW: Finish the book.  Bring in to school to hand in.

Thursday January 2nd, 2014
Minutes: Jaime
Reading HW:
HW:

Work for the Week of Dec. 9th - Seniors

Monday December 9th
Minutes: Othilla
Reading HW:  Sula pg. 30-66 
HW: What's it like to be African American in New York City?  Consider your every move through the city (and at Stuyvesant) and what it would be like.

Tuesday December 10th
Minutes: Colin
Reading HW:  Sula pg. 67-85 
HW: N/A

Wednesday December 11th
Minutes: Ida
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Considering your notes for today, what useful information can we take from today's presentation?

Thursday December 12th
Minutes:
Reading HW: N/A
HW: I'd like you to think of a sacrifice you've made in your life.  What have you sacrificed, for friends, family, or a romantic relationship? What would you sacrifice for them?

Friday December 13th
Minutes: Kathryn
Reading HW: Sula pg. 89-111
HW:

Monday December 16th
Minutes: Asma
Reading HW:  Sula pg. 112-137
HW:

Work for the Week of Dec. 9th - Juniors

Monday December 9th
Minutes: Andy, Andrew
Reading HW: "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner - PRINT for class AND READ
HW: Please identify five gothic characteristics of this piece.  Annotate your story to identify these characteristics.

Tuesday December 10th
Minutes:  Karen, Angela
Reading HW: "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allan Poe
HW: Read "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allan Poe (on the class blog) and write about these two pieces similarities.

Wednesday December 11th
Minutes: Sean, Hyunwoo
Reading HW: Finish Scene One of Streetcar
HW: Who is the hero of this story?  Analyze the major characters for their redeeming traits and their flaws.

Thursday December 12th
Minutes: Aaron L.
Reading HW: Finish Scene Three and Four of Streetcar
HW: Who is the tragic hero of this play?  Look for evidence to support your point.

Friday December 13th
Minutes: Tommy, Jarek
Reading HW: Finish Scene Five and Six of Streetcar
HW: Explain the title of the play.Why is Blanche so dishonest about her identity?  Is she superior or inferior to the characters she looks down upon?  How does she react to her first husband's infidelity?

Check out your next writing assignment!
Here's the Miller article that accompanies your assignment.


Monday December 16th
Minutes: Alex, Karandeep
Reading HW: N/A
HW: 1st Draft Writing Assignment Due

Work for the Week of Dec. 9th - Freshmen

Monday December 9th
Minutes: Claudia, Gianluca
Reading HW: Ch. III and IV (132-151)
HW: Consider Frank's shame when his classmates mock his poverty.  I'd like you to consider a time in your life when you felt great and deep shame.  Make a list of the details of that specific moment.  We'll use those details in class for a writing assignment.

Tuesday December 10th
Minutes: Daniel A.
Reading HW: Ch. V (132-151)
HW: Edit your draft from today and bring in a polished copy of your work.

Wednesday December 11th
Minutes: Cassandra
Reading HW: Ch. VI and VII (152-186)
HW: We witness Frank's humility when he visit's Paddy's house, seeing someone whose life is perhaps worse than his own.  I'd like you to consider a moment in your life when you came to realization that your seemingly important problems were little compared to the suffering of others.  We'll explore this anecdote through some creative non-fiction writing.

Thursday December 12th
Minutes: Karen Y.
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Draft Day!  Have a memoir draft prepared.

Here's a copy of your writing assignment!

Friday December 13th
Minutes: Tommy, Karen J.
Reading HW: Ch. VIII and IX (187-215)
HW: Explore Frank's burgeoning relationship with storytelling.  What stories does he like to hear?  What is his fascination?

Monday December 16th
Minutes: Felix
Reading HW: Ch. X and XI (216-234)
HW: Is Frank wrong for stealing?  Would you do the same if you were in his situation?

Work for the Week of Dec. 2nd - Seniors

Monday Dec. 2nd
Minutes: Crystal Liu
Reading HW: N/A
HW: N/A

Tuesday Dec. 3rd
Minutes: Michael
Reading HW: "Rape Jokes Can Be Funny", Patricia Lockwood's "Rape Joke", Sarah Silverman's "Rape Joke" (read the comments as well!), "Can Rape Be Funny?", "What's So Funny About Rape?"
HW: Should rape be an "off-topic" subject for comedy?

Wednesday Dec. 4th
Minutes: Shareear
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Extra credit!

Thursday Dec. 5th
Minutes: Brenda
Reading HW: "Ten Things Not to Ask a Comedian" by Leah Bonnema
HW: Prepare for our speakers Lean Bonnema and Desiree Burch by scouring the internet for their bios.  Watch some stand up clips and think of some questions you'd like to ask.

Friday Dec. 6th
Minutes: Laura
Reading HW: Sula pg. 1-29
HW: Explain the name Bottom and the dynamics of National Suicide Day.  What kind of impact does Rochelle have on Nel?

Monday Dec. 9th
Minutes: Othilla
Reading HW: Sula pg. 30-66 
HW: What's it like to be African American in New York City?  Consider your every move through the city (and at Stuyvesant) and what it would be like.

Work for the Week of Dec. 2nd - Juniors

Monday Dec. 2nd
Minutes: Albert, Tashfiq
Reading HW: N/A
HW: N/A

Tuesday Dec. 3rd
Minutes: Meril, Abhimannu
Reading HW:
HW: Revise!

Wednesday Dec. 4th
Minutes: Mahir, Brian R
Reading HW: Act I of All My Sons
HW: Who is Larry?  Why is Keller skeptical about Chris wanting to marry Annie?  What is the significance of the tree?  How would you characterize Kate?

Thursday Dec. 5th
Minutes: Dmitriy, Sisi
Reading HW: Act II of All My Sons
HW: What is Joe's explanation for his crime?  What is Steve's version of the story?

Friday Dec. 6th
Minutes: Heebong, Jarek
Reading HW: Act III of All My Sons
HW: What do we learn about Larry's letter?  Why does Joe choose such a fate?

Monday Dec. 9th
Minutes: Andy, Andrew
Reading HW: "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner - PRINT for class AND READ
HW: Please identify five gothic characteristics of this piece.  Annotate your story to identify these characteristics.

Work for the Week of Dec. 2nd - Freshmen

Monday Dec. 2nd
Minutes: Kelly, Andrew
Reading HW: N/A
HW: N/A

Tuesday Dec. 3rd
Minutes: Casey, Andy
Reading HW: Finish 1984.
HW: Begin rewriting one paragraph.  Rewrite is due tomorrow!
Here's a copy of the assignment.
Here's a link to an online version of 1984.

Wednesday Dec. 4th
Minutes: Alex, Mohammed
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Rewritten paragraph due today.

Thursday Dec. 5th
Minutes: Daniel, Rozi
Reading HW: Ch. I of Angela's Ashes (11-46)
HW:

Friday Dec. 6th
Minutes: Courtney
Reading HW: Ch. II of Angela's Ashes (47-90)
HW:

Monday Dec. 9th
Minutes: Caludia, Gianluca
Reading HW: Ch. III-IV of Angela's Ashes (91-132)
HW: Consider Frank's shame when his classmates mock his poverty.  I'd like you to consider a time in your life when you felt great and deep shame.  Make a list of the details of that specific moment.  We'll use those details in class for a writing assignment.

E.C. - Seniors - Female Comedians

My choice - Jessica Williams!

Let's take the opportunity to introduce each other to our some of favorite female comics or even some female comics that we've recently discovered!  But we should be academic in our endeavors; I would like us to identify the comic's style, topic of discussion, sense of humor, and appeal.  What draws you to this comedian?  Be aware of each other's choices and try not to repeat a comedian twice.

Work for the Week of November 25th - Seniors

Monday November 25th
Minutes: Humira
Reading HW: Today, we'll have the chance to speak with comedian Maysoon Zayid.  Watch some of her standup and TV appearances. 
HW: Please come up with 5 UNIQUE, informed questions about what it takes to be a female comedian.  Ms. Zayid will be taking YOUR questions so let's make the most of this experience.

Tuesday November 26th
Minutes: Bianca
Reading HW: Read and print attached excerpt from Tina Fey's "Bossypants" for class!
HW: How does Fey characterize fe/male comedians?  What point does she try to make through her work about gender and comedy?

Wednesday November 27th
Minutes: Miranda
Reading HW:
HW:

Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
I am not assigning you any work for the Thanksgiving break.
Get the rest that you need.

Monday December 2nd
Minutes: Crystal Liu
Reading HW:
HW:

Work for the Week of November 25th - Juniors

Monday November 25th
Minutes: Sean, Eric
Reading HW: N/A
HW: See extra credit.

Tuesday November 26th
Minutes: Jonathan, Brian L.
Reading HW:  "The Pit and the Pendulum"
HW: Scan the story for Gothic characteristics.  This story reminds me of the first Saw film.

Wednesday November 27th
Minutes: Joey, Aden
Reading HW:
HW:

Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
I am not assigning you any work for the Thanksgiving break.
Get the rest that you need.

Monday December 2nd
Minutes: Albert, Tashfiq
Reading HW:
HW:

Work for the Week of November 25th - Freshmen

Monday November 25th
Minutes: Claire, Anthony
Reading HW: Finish Book II
HW: Check out the extra credit for this week!

Tuesday November 26th
Minutes: N/A
Reading HW: Read Book III Ch. 1-2
HW: How does physical pain affect Winston's views?  Please find three quotes to support your argument.

Wednesday November 27th
Minutes: Jessica, Karen C.
Reading HW: Is Long-Term Solitary Confinement Torture?
HW: How is our prison system comparable to the torture tactics of 1984?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday December 2nd
Minutes: Kelly, Andrew
Reading HW:

E.C. - Juniors - Uncanny Images

Let's create a library of uncanny images!  Post a link to an uncanny image and please explain why you find this particular image to be uncanny.  Explain what is both familiar and unfamiliar about your image.

E.C. Freshmen - Colleges Are Spying On You!

Please read the following NYTimes Business Day article "They Loved Your GPA, Then They Saw Your Tweets".  Engage the article in a discussion about its argument and the role of social media in your life.  Is it fair for colleges to consider one's Facebook page or Twitter account as complements to a college application?  Is this an invasion of privacy or should we be more careful what we post on the internet?  If this is certainly a growing trend, could colleges gain access to our multiple screen names and avatars?  Would you like an admissions counselor trolling through your Reddit up posts?  

Consider this surveillance in conjunction with our text 1984. Does this kind of monitoring connect with the authoritarian government of Oceania?  Provide a quoet to show a connection.

Engage the article by referring to specific quotes, read each other's posts, and refer to one another in your responses.  Feel free to bring in outside resources (links provide of course) and let's discuss!

Work for the Week of Nov. 18th - Seniors

Monday November 18th
Minutes: Marvin
Reading HW: Read this New Yorker piece!
HW: Quote for rumination paper is due.

Tuesday November 19th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Finish this New Yorker piece!
HW: What is the history of the Cesarean?  Why was it once considered criminal?  How did modern obstetrics standardize childbirth?  What is the Apgar score?  As the article asks, is medicine (particular obstetrics) a craft or an industry?

Wednesday November 20th
Minutes: Alvin
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Women's Wednesday!  Bring in a topical article about women's issues!  Type up a page explaining your interest/rationale in selecting such an article

Thursday November 21st
Minutes:
Reading HW: Why Women Aren't Funny by Christopher Hitchens
HW: Identify how Hitch arrives at such a radical conclusion.  Why does Hitch believe women aren't funny?  Explore this topic in your own life.  Do you know funnier men or women?  Are men more commonly funny than women?  Do you follow any comedians?  Are they male or female?  Ask your friends/family, who is funnier, men or women?  Let's discuss!

Friday November 22nd
Minutes:
Reading HW: Research female comedians who broke the barrier.
HW:  Bring in a bio of a female comedian who paved the way for modern female comedians.  Find an iconoclast and research her biography, the struggles she faced, and the impact she has left on the comedy world.  Bring your research into class.

Here's a link to the video we watched today!

Monday November 25th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Today, we'll have the chance to speak with comedian Maysoon Zayid.  Watch some of her standup and TV appearances.
HW: Please come up with 5 UNIQUE, informed questions about what it takes to be a female comedian.  Ms. Zayid will be taking YOUR questions so let's make the most of this experience.

Work for the Week of Nov. 18th - Juniors

Monday November 18th
Minutes: Sam, Kim
Reading HW:
HW: Final draft for draft day.

Tuesday November 19th
Minutes: Christina, William
Reading HW: Print for class - Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven"
HW: Poe's work is often considered to be "spooky" or "creepy".  Please identify five examples (annotate your printout) in this work that you find spooky/creepy.

Wednesday November 20th
Minutes: N/A, David
Reading HW: "The Masque of Red Death"
HW: Paper due today.  Annotate story.  Find 6 gothic elements.

Thursday November 21st
Minutes: Austin, Theo
Reading HW: "The Cask of Amontillado"
HW: Identify this story as a cautionary tale.  ALSO, please research "Carnival"

Friday November 22nd
Minutes: Mahir,
Reading HW: "The Black Cat"
HW: Identify 6 gothic elements within this story. 

Monday November 25th
Minutes: Sean, Eric
Reading HW: N/A
HW: N/A
Check out our extra credit!

Work for the Week of Nov. 18th - Freshmen

Monday November 18th
Minutes: Maddie, Jessy
Reading HW: Finish part one of 1984
HW: Final draft due.

Tuesday November 19th
Minutes: Ming, Leo
Reading HW: Research Pat Tillman.  Read Book II Ch. 1-2
HW: Thinking question (How does his death connect with 1984's depiction of Ogilvy?)

Wednesday November 20th
Minutes: Liting, Caroline
Reading HW: "The Good Cook"
HW: How does modern day N. Korea relate to Oceania?  Note five particular details within your reading and establish a connection to 1984.

Thursday November 21st
Minutes: Jason, Matthew
Reading HW: Read through Book II Ch. V
HW: How do Julia and Winston utilize sexuality as a tool against authority?  How can sexuality be used as a tool against authority in our society?

Friday November 22nd
Minutes: N/A, Sam S.
Reading HW: N/A
HW: N/A

Monday November 25th
Minutes: Claire, Anthony
Reading HW: Book II VI-VIII
HW: N/A

E.C. Juniors - They Loved Your GPA, Then They Saw Your Tweets

Please read the following NYTimes Business Day article "They Loved Your GPA, Then They Saw Your Tweets".  Engage the article in a discussion about its argument and the role of social media in your life.  Is it fair for colleges to consider one's Facebook page or Twitter account as complements to a college application?  Is this an invasion of privacy or should we be more careful what we post on the internet?  If this is certainly a growing trend, could colleges gain access to our multiple screen names and avatars?  Would you like an admissions counselor trolling through your Reddit up posts?  Engage the article by referring to specific quotes, read each other's posts, and refer to one another in your responses.  Feel free to bring in outside resources (links provide of course) and let's discuss!

E.C. - Seniors - Anti - Rape Clothing

Please visit AR Wear's indiegogo website and do a little bit of research.  Find out what exactly this product is and how it works.  After doing so, visit Feministing.org's criticism of this product.  Be sure to read the comments in response to the post.

Do you think AR Wear is a good idea?  Would you feel more safe wearing this clothing?  What problems does this kind of clothing present?   Is a woman who doesn't wear AR Wear "asking for it"?  Be sure to engage not only the source material and some of its critique (and praise) but be sure to read each other's comments and openly debate the use/need for this kind of product in our world.

E.C. - Freshmen - Do Schools Kill Creativity?

In response to "Harrison Bergeron", our class asked if our society marginalizes our individuality for the sake of "equality".  Well, let's explore a familar realm and decide if we are somehow taught to limit our creativity to achieve uniformity.

Please watch the following TED talk by Sir Ken Robinson entitled "Do Schools Kill Creativity?"  Here is a transcript for the speech.

Your job is to assess Robinson's argument.  You have spent a massive portion of your life in school and so you are perfectly capable of weighing in on Robinson's ideas using your own experience as evidence.  How does Robinson establish his point?  Have you ever attend a class that stifled your sense of creativity?  How do academic institution teach young people to become servile, complacent automatons?  Or is your experience different?  When have you been encouraged to express your creative, individualistic side?  Do you feel as if you are free to explore your interests?

Let's not only analyze Robinson's ideas, but each others.  Read your fellow commenters' words and chime in.  Add a link to a releveant article and we'll respond.  Get started!

Work for the Week of Nov 12th - Freshmen

Tuesday Nov. 11th
VETERAN'S DAY - NO SCHOOL

Tuesday Nov. 12th
Minutes: Kelly, Xin Yi
Reading HW: Ch. 1-2 1984
HW: Identify unknown terms.  We'll discuss these terms in class.

Wednesday Nov. 13th
Minutes: Ming, Sam
Reading HW: Ch. 3-4 1984
HW: N/A

Thursday Nov. 14th
Minutes: Lucy, Kaitlin
Reading HW: Ch. 4-5 1984
HW: How can manipulating a language be used as a form of control?  Think about it!

Friday Nov. 15th
Minutes: Charles, Hannah
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Workshopping day!

Monday Nov. 18th
Minutes: Maddie, Jessy

Reading HW: Finish book one.
HW: Perfect Paragraph and a thesis paper due.

Work for the Week of Nov. 12th - Seniors

Monday Nov. 11th
VETERAN'S DAY - NO SCHOOL

Tuesday Nov. 12th
Minutes: Aron
Reading HW: Handmaid's Tale 255
HW: Has Moira fallen farther?  Is she more broken? Is it better to know what’s going on, for real? Does knowledge lead to hope? Does Offred sell out?

Wednesday Nov. 13th
Minutes: Jesse
Reading HW: Slow Poison packet.
HW: Is wearing a veil a form of disempowerment?  Is a burka a form of disempowerment?  Why do women wear veils/burkas?

Thursday Nov. 14th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Handmaid's Tale 295
HW: Please select a quote from your rumination assignment.

Friday Nov. 15th
Minutes: Kaitlyn
Reading HW: Historical Notes
HW: Mine for quotes for your latest assignment!

Monday Nov. 18th
Minutes: Marvin

Reading HW: Read this New Yorker piece.  It's long!
HW: Have a quote for your rumination paper or face the consequences!

Work for the Week of Nov. 12th - Juniors

Monday Nov. 11th
VETERAN'S DAY - NO SCHOOL

Tuesday Nov. 12th
Minutes: Kenny, Corrin
Reading HW: Read to Ch. 36
HW: Review your writing assignment for this book.

Wednesday Nov. 13th
Minutes: Marco, Erik
Reading HW: Read to Ch. 40
HW: Review your writing assignment for this book.

Thursday Nov. 14th
Minutes: Paul, Mcvvina
Reading HW: Finish the book.
HW: Review your writing assignment for this book.

Friday Nov. 15th
Minutes: Aaron, Noah
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Draft Day!

Monday Nov. 18th
Minutes: Sam, Kim

Reading HW:
HW: Draft Day!

Work for the Week of Nov. 4th - Juniors

Monday Nov. 4th
Minutes: Nathaniel, N/A
Reading HW: Huck pg. 90
HW:

Tuesday Nov. 5th
ELECTION DAY - NO SCHOOL

Wednesday Nov. 6th
Minutes: Patrick M., Jarek
Reading HW: Read to Ch. 21
HW: The Grangerfords and Sheperdsons hypocritical peoples.  Show how their values often contradict their actions.  Write up a single page exposition using quotations to support how each family can be viewed as hypocritical.  How might Twain be satirizing the Civil War through these two families?

Thursday Nov. 7th
Minutes: Victor, Patrick L.
Reading HW:  N.A.
HW: Consider the comments on your rewrites and let's schedule a meet up.

Friday Nov. 8th
Minutes: Adam A., Douglas
Reading HW: Read to Ch. 26
HW:

Monday Nov. 11th
VETERAN'S DAY - NO SCHOOL

Tuesday Nov. 12th
Minutes: Kenny, Corrin
Reading HW:  Read to Ch. 30
HW:

Work for the Week of Nov 4th - Seniors

Monday Nov. 4th
Minutes: Gurleen
Reading HW: Read to pg. 140 in Handmaid's Tale
HW: (Thinking question) What is character foil?

Tuesday Nov. 5th
ELECTION DAY - NO SCHOOL

Wednesday Nov. 6th
Minutes: Crystal Lau
Reading HW: Read Feminism packet. (sorry no Women's Wednesday today).
HW: Before reading the packet, answer the following question.  Are you a feminist?  Why or why not?  After reading the packet, I'd like you to reflect upon how this reading differs from your/your friends'/your peers'/your parents' perceptions of feminism.

Thursday Nov. 7th
Minutes: ?
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Survey five people, friends, family members or classmates.  What is each's definition of feminism?  Are they feminists?  Why or why not?  Show the interviewee a strong definition of feminism from your previous night's reading and gauge his/her reaction.

Friday Nov. 8th
Minutes: Alex
Reading HW: Read to pg. 188
HW: Review the ceremony scene on pg. 91? and compare the power dynamics from that scene to Offred's current relationship with her commander.

Monday Nov. 11th
VETERAN'S DAY - NO SCHOOL

Tuesday Nov. 12th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Read to pg. 255
HW: Who is better off?  Moira or Offred?

Work for the Week of Nov 4th - Freshmen

Monday Nov. 4th
Minutes: Bayle, N/A
Reading HW: Review the Purdue OWL's explanation of your selected punctuation mark.
HW: Mark that paper up!  Highlight, underline, and circle central ideas that help you best understand the nature of this punctuation mark.

Tuesday Nov. 5th
ELECTION DAY - NO SCHOOL

Wednesday Nov. 6th
Minutes: Courtney, Nancy
Reading HW: Read this successful punctuation assignment for some inspiration.
HW: Latest draft of your punctuation assignment (assignment found here).

Thursday Nov. 7th
Minutes: N/A, Pazit
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Final draft of punctuation assignment due.

Friday Nov. 8th
Minutes: Daniel S., Tasnia
Reading HW:  Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron and MLK's "I Have a Dream Speech"
HW: How does each author present equality?  What is the intended absurdity of Vonnegut's work?  What message is Vonnegut perhaps attempting to depict?

Monday Nov. 11th
VETERAN'S DAY - NO SCHOOL

Tuesday Nov. 12th
Minutes: Kelly, Xin Yi
Reading HW: Ch. 1-2 1984
HW: What are some unfamiliar terms being used in this book?  What do you think each term may mean?  We'll try to understand these terms in class.

Work for the Week of October 28th - Seniors

Monday October 28th

Minutes: Othilla

Reading HW: Read up to page 33 The Handmaid's Tale

HW: What is different about this world?  What is the society that Atwood has created?

Tuesday October 29th

Minutes: Sean

Reading HW: Read to page 66.
HW: Define freedom in the United States.  Define freedom in Gilead.  What is the difference between freedom to and freedom from?

Wednesday October 30th

Minutes: Gurleen

Reading HW: Women's Wednesday!  Hooray!
HW: Select an article of interest and provide a one page reflection about the significance of your article and its connection to our class.

Thursday October 31st

Minutes: 

Reading HW: Read to page 106.
HW:

Friday November 1st

Minutes: Michael

Reading HW: Sexual Danger packet
HW: I'd like you to reflect upon one particular moment/idea in this packet that strikes you the most.  What emotions are you feeling?  Why does this particular idea stand out to you?  Explore.

Monday November 4th

Minutes: 

Reading HW: Read to page 140.
HW: N/A

Work for the Week of October 28th - Juniors

Monday October 28th
Minutes: Ray, Pierre

Reading HW: "Running" by Gil Scot Heron and the correlating song.
HW: Compare the lyrics of this song to our class discussion about forgetting memories.  What is the inherent value of "running" away from our memories?  I expect six sentences.  I will check this on Monday.

Tuesday October 29th
Minutes: Cheuk, Clement
Reading HW: http://www.radiolab.org/story/91570-eternal-sunshine-of-the-spotless-rat/

HW: Reaction to this RadioLab piece.  Please explain the content of the podcast and your reaction to such technology.

Wednesday October 30th

Minutes: Betty, Karandeep

Thursday October 31st

Minutes: Isabella, Jarek

Reading HW: Huck - Read to pg. 37

HW: 

Friday November 1st

Minutes: Dmitriy, Erik

Reading HW: Huck - Read to pg. 67

HW: 

Monday November 4th
Minutes: Nathaniel, N/A
Reading HW: Huck pg. 90
HW: 

Work for the Week of October 28th - Freshmen

Monday October 28th

Minutes: Larissa, Hannah

Reading HW: "Best Qualities" "Magpies"

HW: What lesson can we learn from the birth of the magpies?  I'd like you to take a situation in your life that makes you sad and try to see how you can overcome this sadness by looking at the "brighter side" of life.  

Tuesday October 29th

Minutes: Kasey, Felix
Reading HW: "Waiting Between the Trees" "Double Face"

HW: Which animal represents your birth year?  What similarities/differences do you share with your year animal?  Are you a "ghost" of your animal as Ying-ying feels she is?

Wednesday October 30th

Minutes: Jessica, Pazit

Reading HW: "Two Tickets"

HW: I want you to imagine or remember an experience where you visit your family's home country before coming to the United States (whatever generation that may be).  Where would you go?  What would you see?  How could you better understand your identity through such a trip.  Please write a full page.  Interview a family member to aid in your research.

Thursday October 31st

Minutes: Jannat, Karen C.

Reading HW: N/A

HW: N/A

Friday November 1st

Minutes: Rysa, Nick

Reading HW: Go to the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University and look up the rules for your particular punctuation mark.  

HW: Please PRINT, HIGHLIGHT, AND TAKE MARGINAL NOTES – these will be checked and will be used later on.

Monday November 4th

Minutes: Bayle

Reading HW: 

HW: Begin writing assignment.

E.C. - Freshmen - Amy Chua and Parenting

As a  class we discussed Amy Chua's controversial article "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior".  We noted how Chua's parenting style emphasized a particular kind of success.  I'd like you in the extra credit to comment on Chua's perception of success and if happiness has any role in this definition.  Be sure to quote Chua when necessary.  I would like you to also dig deply through the article's comment section for any particularly insightful/ridiculous ideas.

This should then lead you to consider, if someday you are a parent, how do you intend to raise a child?  What do you want for your child?  I think it behooves us to ask our parents these very questions as they surely had considered such questions in their lifetimes.  Interview a parent and ask how to raise a child.  How can a parent ensure that the child comes out the way that s/he wants?  Were your grandparents successful in raising your parents?  Let's see what you can find and how your research influences your future child.

E.C. Juniors - Do Schools Stifle Curiousity?

Please watch the following TED talk by Sir Ken Robinson entitled "Do Schools Kill Creativity?"  Here is a transcript for the speech.

Your job is to assess Robinson's argument.  You have spent a massive portion of your life in school and so you are perfectly capable of weighing in on Robinson's ideas using your own experience as evidence.  How does Robinson establish his point?  Have you ever attend a class that stifled your sense of creativity?  How do academic institution teach young people to become servile, complacent automatons?  Or is your experience different?  When have you been encouraged to express your creative, individualistic side?  Do you feel as if you are free to explore your interests?

Let's not only analyze Robinson's ideas, but each others.  Read your fellow commenters' words and chime in.  Add a link to a releveant article and we'll respond.  Get started!

Work for the Week of October 21st - Seniors

Monday October 21st

Minutes: N/A

Reading HW: Ch. 15-17

HW: Paper due.

Tuesday October 22nd

Minutes: Asma

Reading HW: Finish the Bell Jar

HW: What is the symbol of the bell jar?  Does Joan exist?  What future do you foresee for Esther as the novel ends?

Wednesday October 23rd

Minutes: Gurleen

Reading HW: Find an article of interest.

HW: Women's Wednesday!  Select an article and provide a short analysis of its contents.  Why does this article stand out to you?  What are the implications of this piece?  Why is it important for our class to address this issue?

Thursday October 24th

Minutes: Chris

Reading HW: Watch part one of Anita Sarkeeshian's Tropes Vs. Women in video games.

HW: How do these tropes influence our perception of female gender roles?  Do you play video games? What is the experience of being a female gamer like?  Why are the dynamics between male and female gamers so pronounced in the virtual world?

Friday October 25th

Minutes: Ida

Reading HW: "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

HW: What parallels can you establish between "The Yellow Wallpaper" and "The Bell Jar"?  How is illness depicted in both pieces?  Why is Esther successful where the narrator of "The Yellow Wallpaper" is not?

Monday October 28th

Minutes: Othilla

Reading HW: Read up to page 33 The Handmaid's Tale

HW: What is different about this world?  What is the society that Atwood has created?

Work for the Week of October 21st - Freshmen

Monday October 21st

Minutes: Jason., Momo

Reading HW: Voice in the Wall, Half and Half

HW:  Perfect paragraph draft due.

Tuesday October 22nd

Minutes: Ming, Karen J       

Reading HW: Read "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior" by Amy Chua, comment section,

HW: Is Amy Chua making a strong argument in her piece?  What are her goals as a parent?  Do you believe her children are happy?  How does Chua's parenting style compare to your parents?
 Final PP draft due today.

Wednesday October 23rd

Minutes: Claudia, Karen Y

Reading HW: "Two Kinds" and "Rice Husband" 

HW: N/A

Thursday October 24th

Minutes: Warren

Reading HW: "Four Directions" "Without Wood" 

HW: Both of these stories reveal several examples of paranoia.  I'd like you to find four examples of paranoia, jotting down each textual example and the corresponding page number.

Friday October 25th

Minutes: Kenneth

HW Postponed for Monday

Monday October 28th

Minutes: Larissa

Reading HW: "Best Qualities" "Magpies"

HW: What lesson can we learn from the birth of the magpies?  I'd like you to take a situation in your life that makes you sad and try to see how you can overcome this sadness by looking at the "brighter side" of life.  

Work for the Week of October 21st -Juniors

Link to "A" rumination papers.

Monday October 21st

Minutes: Alex O., Andrew G.

Reading HW: Ch. 7 + 8

HW: Why does Vonnegut wait so long to write about the firebombing of Dresden?  How is the aftermath of the fire bombing depicted?  Why does Vonnegut portray the soldiers as a sort of barbershop quartet?

Tuesday October 22nd

Minutes: Samiha, Joyce

Reading HW: Ch. 9, 10 Slaughterhouse Five

HW: Paper due.

-Let us suppose that this is not a story about time travel.  How could you explain the "time travel" and the extraordinary events that Billy Pilgrim experiences in a rational manner?  How is Pilgrim a kind of proxy for Vonnegut?  How is this war novel just as real as O'Brien's work?

Wednesday October 23rd

Minutes: Austin, Jiaqi

Reading HW: Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron and MLK's "I Have a Dream Speech"

HW: How could Vonnegut's 2081 be inspired by MLK's speech?  What is the intended absurdity of Vonnegut's work?  What message is Vonnegut perhaps attempting to depict?

Thursday October 24th

Minutes: Meril

Friday October 25th

Minutes: Edward, Hyunwoo
Reading HW: "Running" by Gil Scot Heron and the correlating song.
HW: Compare the lyrics of this song to our class discussion about forgetting memories.  What is the inherent value of "running" away from our memories?  I expect six sentences.  I will check this on Monday.

Monday October 28th

Minutes: Ray, Pierre

Work for the Week of October 15th - Juniors

Tuesday October 15th

Minutes: Karen H., Mcvvina L.

Reading HW: Ch. 5 Slaughterhouse Five

HW: How and why does Vonnegut choose to insert himself into Billy Pilgrim's story?  How is Vonnegut's storytelling similar/different to Tim O'Brien's?

Wednesday October 16th

Minutes: Tommy C., William T.

Reading HW: N/A

HW: Please bring in a draft of your paper.  Email me a draft as well so that I can see your progress.  You will lose credit if you do not email me a draft by midnight October 15th.

Thursday October 17th

Minutes: Victor M., David L.

Reading HW: Ch. 6 Slaughterhouse Five

HW: How does Billy describe Dresden before its bombing?  Please find a description of Hiroshima/Nagasaki before their bombings.  What did these cities look like?

Friday October 18th

Minutes: Jason L., Kim C. 

Reading HW: N/A
HW: Draft for revision.