Work for the Week of February 25th - Sophomores

Due Monday February 25th
Minutes: ____, Andy, Ethan

Reading HW: N/A

-For your homework, you will forego using technology for a period of six hours.  This must take place during waking hours.  You are forbidden from watching television, using a computer, listening to any kind of electronic music device, or using a cell phone or telephone.  Please refrain from any lengthy communication.  Please let your parents/family know of this assignment as to allow you the time to be alone.  You are allowed to complete work for other courses during this time period, but not for more than three hours.  Please write, in three short journal entries every two hours, what your experience is like.  What have you done to pass the time?  How do you feel in your period of abstinence?  How do you cope with the boredom?  Homework will be checked in class.  

Due Tuesday February 26th
Minutes: Paul, Douglas, Tanvir

Reading HW: Please read the final chapter of part I of Siddartha by Herman Hesse entitled "Awakening" and reread "Gotama" if you need a reminder

HW: Siddhartha exclaims how he cannot learn from Gotama because while Gotama has found his own path, Siddhartha cannot follow that path.  He must follow his own.  Do you feel that those who educate you in your life are leading you to your own path?  Can you not follow their teachings are Siddhartha exclaims?
Considering Siddhartha's "awakening", how has the first section of the book acted as a kind of metaphor for life?

Due Wednesday February 27th
Minutes: Sunnam, Mohammed, Antony
Reading HW: read the following NYTimes article entitled "In Search of the True Self".
HW: Considering Siddhartha's newly forming identity considering is sexual desires, I would like you to read the following NYTimes article entitled "In Search of the True Self".  What is the central struggle with identity in this article?  Is Siddhartha's sexuality a weakness that pulls him away from his identity?  Or is it a core aspect of who he is?  Can the same be said about Siddhartha's materialism?

Due Thursday February 28th
Minutes: Johnson, Joey, Rebecca
Reading HW: Read "Kamala" and "Amongst the People"
HW:  Is Siddhartha’s sexual desire an aspect of his individual identity or is it a worldly vice?  What about his materialism?  How does sexuality and materialism factor into the construction of one’s identity?  Do we see many individuals in our country relying upon sexual relationships and material goods as a form of identity?

Here's a copy of our worksheet from today.

Due Friday March 1st
Minutes: Noah, Timothy, Patrick N.
Reading HW: Please read the following "A" papers found in this file.   Sorry for lateness! (7:00 PM)
HW: Try to explain why I as an English teacher was inclined to reward these papers with high marks?  How are these assignments successful in their efforts?

Due Monday March 4th
Minutes: Wendy, Dror, Mindy
Reading HW: "By the River" and "The Ferryman"
HW: Rewrite due.

Work for the Week of February 25th - Freshmen

Due Monday February 25th
Minutes: Sabrina, Leon
Reading HW: Read your poet's works thoroughly for your project due this Friday.
HW: Complete your poetry assignment's cover and table of contents.  Continue working on your emulation.

Due Tuesday February 26th
Minutes: Connor, Max
Reading HW: Read your poet's works thoroughly for your project due this Friday.
HW: Please complete a full draft of your letter to the poet for workshopping today.

Due Wednesday February 27th
Minutes: Aritri, Felicia
Reading HW: Read your poet's works thoroughly for your project due this Friday.
HW: Please bring in a final draft of your assignment for final workshopping.

Due Thursday February 28th
Minutes: Abby, Kevin L.
Reading HW:
HW: Compare/contrast an ekphrastic poem's complementary work of art found here.  Please be sure to compare "Musee des Beaux Arts" by W.H Auden and "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus" by William Carlos Williams.  Compare the two poems  writing a minimum of six sentences comparing of the two works and discussing the experience of viewing poems written about a piece of art.

Due Friday March 1st
Minutes: Sam, Mei
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Presentations begin!

Due Monday March 4th
Minutes: Adam, Rina
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Presentations begin!

Sophomores - Extra Credit - "The Chameleon"

For extra credit, I'd like you to read this rather lengthy New Yorker piece entitled "The Chameleon" about a Frenchman who spends the majority of his life posing as different people.  He is an impostor in every sense of the word.  His story is fascinating and should raise particular questions in our minds about identity.  Be sure to read your fellow students' comments before engaging in the following questions:

-Who is Frederic Bordin?  This question appears rather simplistic, but after reading the article, you will note the difficulty in answering this question.

-How is Bordin able to successfully manipulate those around him?  Why are his victims so willing to believe in the truth of his identity?

-Are we ever dishonest about our identities?  Do we manipulate our audiences to believe that we're someone that we are not?  Can you empathize with Bordin?

-How do you know that any student in any of your classes is who s/he claims to be?

-What has this article taught you about identity?


In addition to answering these questions, please feel free to engage one another in conversation  as well as introduce questions of your own.  I'll chime in from time to direct traffic, but feel free to comment and will, post relevant links, and engage in a rather fascinating (and professional) debate.

I look forward to reading your remarks.

Extra Credit - Freshmen - Poetic Devices in Hip Hop

Select ONE VERSE from one of the following songs and find examples of alliteration, assonance, and rhyme.  After doing so, determine the tone of the verse and try to anticipate how this piece might sound aloud and to music.  After doing so, listen to the song and compare your prediction with the actual song.  What is this experience like?  Share your thoughts with us in the comments section.

Songs
Keep Ya Head up - 2Pac
The Light - Common
Can't Live Without My Radio - LL Cool J
Hey Mama - Kanye West
One, Two - The Cool Kids
I Can - Nas
Jurassic 5 - What's Golden

Work for the Week of February 11th - Freshmen

Monday February 11th
Minutes: Xiao Wen, Christy
Reading HW:  "On Turning Ten" by Billy Collins, "A Birthday Candle" by Donald Justice
HW:  Please identify examples of simile, metaphor, and imagery.  How do these poems portray matters of age and maturity?  What is the tone of each poem?  How are these poems similar in nature?

Tuesday February 12^th

Minutes: Jackie, Darwin

Reading HW: "Can I Kick It?" by A Tribe Called Quest

HW: Analyze the song for alliteration, assonance, and rhyme.  How do these components help us appreciate the form of rap?

Wednesday February 13^th

Minutes: Mark, Belle

Reading HW: Start researching a potential poet of interest for your poet study assignment.  Here's a useful website that could help your search.

HW: Please view your poet's study assignment found here.  Pay special attention to its demands.

Thursday February 14th

Minutes: Michael A., Michael D.

Reading HW: Please read "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks.

HW: Identify the poetic devices used in this poem.  Once you've done so, read the poem aloud.  After, listen to Gwendolyn Brooks read her poem aloud (1:46).  What is the experience of listening to the poem being read aloud?  How is this different from reading the poem?  Which is better?

Friday February 15^th

Minutes: Sean, Nino

Reading HW: Read at least three self-selected works from your poet.

HW: You must select a poet for your poet's study by today.

Wednesday February 20^th

Minutes: Sophia, Ahmet

Reading HW: N/A

HW: Please write me a single-paged, double-spaced, typed letter explaining why you selected your poet.

Thursday February 21st 

Minutes: Janet, Elias

Reading HW: Two performances by Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye 1 2

HW: Based upon your notes, what choices did the poets make that drew your interest?  Is "Slam" an effective form of conveying emotion?  How can poetry be a kind of performance?  Share other reactions from yesterday's performance.

Friday February 22nd

Minutes: Cristina, Alex S.

Reading HW: Read a poem that you wish to emulate.  Be sure to identify particular aspects of the poem that make it special to you.

HW: Complete a poem emulation for draft day.

Monday February 25th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Read your poet's works thoroughly
HW: Complete your poetry assignment's cover and table of contents.  Continue working on your emulation.

Work for the Week of February 11th - Sophomores

Monday February 11^th

Minutes: Imtiaz, Tashfiq, Jonathan

Reading HW: Here is a copy of the revised assignment.

HW: Please complete the first paragraph of your paper.  Bring in a draft.

Tuesday February 12^th

Minutes: Lise, Mark, Christina

Reading HW: Please read "A Hunger Artist" found in your book or online here.

HW: Why does the hunger artists's hunger limit is 40 days?  What does it mean that the panther is served food that it particularly enjoys?  Please establish connections between this story and "The Bound Man" as well as "Metamorphosis".

Wednesday February 13^th

Minutes: Alex, Woo Kyung, Kasey

Reading HW: DROPBOX doesn't seem to be working.  I will provide you with the proofreading assistant document in class tomorrow.

HW: Please bring in a complete draft of your assignment.  

Thursday February 14th

Minutes: Julie, Nikkie, Elizabeth

Reading HW: N/A

HW: Are you a spiritual person?  What religious beliefs does your family maintain?  Do you share these beliefs?  Do you have a spiritual connection with a diety?

Friday February 15^th

Minutes: Tina, Jacky C., Labiba

Reading HW: 

HW: Paper due.

Wednesday February 20^th

Minutes: Victor, Brian R., Darien

Reading HW: Please read the first chapter of Siddartha by Herman Hesse entitled "The Brahmin's Son"

HW: In this chapter, Siddhartha leaves his home, rejecting his father's wishes.  Do you think you will make a decision in your lifetime that will reject your parent's wishes?  Will your parents, as Siddhartha's father does, give you permission?  Why or why not?  Additionally, I would like you to interview a parent/older relative and ask that individual if s/he rejected a parent's wishes and what were the repercussions?

Thursday February 21st

Minutes: Danny, Mitchell, Anjelika

Reading HW: Please read the first chapter of Siddartha by Herman Hesse entitled "The Brahmin's Son"

HW: In this chapter, Siddhartha leaves his home, rejecting his father's wishes.  Do you think you will make a decision in your lifetime that will reject your parent's wishes?  Will your parents, as Siddhartha's father does, give you permission?  Why or why not?  Additionally, I would like you to interview a parent/older relative and ask that individual if s/he rejected a parent's wishes and what were the repercussions?

Friday February 22nd

Minutes: Peter, Sara, Theo

Reading HW: Please read the second and third of Siddartha by Herman Hesse entitled "With The Samanas" and "Gotama."

HW: Which lifestyle is more appealing, the lifestyle of the ascetics or that of Gotama?  Which would you choose?  Why?

Monday February 25th

Minutes:
Reading HW: N/A

-For your homework, you will forego using technology for a period of six hours.  This must take place during waking hours.  You are forbidden from watching television, using a computer, listening to any kind of electronic music device, or using a cell phone or telephone.  Please refrain from any lengthy communication.  Please let your parents/family know of this assignment as to allow you the time to be alone.  You are allowed to complete work for other courses during this time period, but not for more than three hours.  Please write, in three short journal entries every two hours, what your experience is like.  What have you done to pass the time?  How do you feel in your period of abstinence?  How do you cope with the boredom?  Homework will be checked in class.  

Tuesday February 26th
Reading HW: Please read the final chapter of part I of Siddartha by Herman Hesse entitled "Awakening"

HW: Have you ever had an "awakening"?  What was it like?  What did you learn?  If you haven't, what do you imagine this experience is like?  How does Siddhartha experience his "awakening"?  Can you think of any films in which a character has a kind of "Awakening"?  (The Matrix, I'm looking at you).

Work for the Week of Feb 4th - Sophomores

Monday February 4th
Minutes: Yusuf, Daniel W., Daniel Z.
Reading HW: Part I of The Metamorphosis
HW: How does Gregor Samsa react to his strange transformation?  Please compare the beginning of this story to the beginning of Aichinger's "The Bound Man".  What is Gregor's job?  Why does he work this particular job?

Tuesday February 5th
Minutes: Natalie, Anna, Anish
Reading HW:
HW: Please spend 15 minutes in a public place and analyze the "insect-like" behaviors of people.  You will act as a surveyor, simply observing the behaviors of people in groups.  Take notes and bring in your findings for homework.

Wednesday February 6th
Minutes: Eddie, Tiffany, Patrick L.
Reading HW: Part II of The Metamorphosis
HW: What are some ways in which we treat our parents like paychecks?  Why do you think young people treat their parents as such instead of human beings with individual struggles?

Thursday February 7th
Minutes: Tyler, Jia, Razwan
Reading HW: Part III of The Metamorphosis
HW: Aside from Gregor, which other characters undergo a "metamorphosis" throughout this story?  What is the lesson of this story?

Friday February 8th
Minutes: Warren, Annique, David
Reading HW:
HW: Begin to contemplate who could be an excellent subject for your paper.

Monday February 11th
Minutes:
Reading: Review "The Metamorphosis" for quotes
HW: Please bring in the first paragraph of your paper, including three quotes from our reading.

Tuesday February 12th
Minutes:
Reading HW: "A Hunger Artist" by Franz Kafka
HW: What comparisons can you draw between "The Bound Man", "A Hunger Artist" and The Metamorphosis?

Work for the Week of February 4th - Freshmen

Monday February 4th
Minutes: Talia, Mo
Reading HW: "The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop, The Echoing Green by William Blake
HW: How does each poet portray the idea of becoming older?  What are the similarities/differences presented in these two works?


Tuesday February 5th
Minutes: Dristi, Mahdi
Reading HW: "For My Daughter" by David Ignatow, "Shoulders" by Naomi Shihab Nye  
HW: Please identify examples of simile, metaphor, and imagery.  How does these poems portray interpersonal relationships?  Can you relate to the message of these poems?  How?

Link to video from today's lesson.

Wednesday February 6th
Minutes: Tracy, Daisy
Reading HW: Read this chapter on "explication" from How To Read Literature by Donald C. Hall.
HW: How does the author go through painstaking lengths to comprehend the message of the poem?

Thursday February 7th
Minutes: Neil, Pablo
Reading HW:   "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Lawrence Dunbar, "The Bat" by Theodore Roethke
HW: Please identify examples of simile, metaphor, and imagery.  How does these poems portray interpersonal relationships?  Can you relate to the message of these poems?  How?

Friday February 8th
Minutes: Carol, Camille
Reading HW:  "On Turning Ten" by Billy Collins, "A Birthday Candle" by Donald Justice
HW:  Please identify examples of simile, metaphor, and imagery.  How do these poems portray matters of age and maturity?  What is the tone of each poem?  How are these poems similar in nature?

Monday February 11th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Please select a poem from this list.
HW: Do a comprehensive analysis on your poem and bring in your work for Monday.