Freshmen - Work for the Week of September 30th

Monday September 30th

Minutes: Maddie, Alex H.

Reading HW: Ch. VI - VIII
HW:   Why do you think the creature feels such affection for this cottage family?  What does the story so far show us about the role of family in life?  Why does the creature crave to belong?  Why does the monster contemplate the following: “Was I then a monster,” he asks, “a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled, and whom all men disowned?”  Can you think of anyone in society who might feel similar to this? 

Tuesday October 1st

Minutes: Claudia, Gianluca

Reading HW: Ch. 3 They Say I Say, Original Assignment

HW: Begin revision of draft.

Wednesday October 2nd

Minutes: Lucy, Caroline

Reading HW: Part III Ch. 1-3

HW: Revision of PP due.
Thinking Question (you don't have to write): Should Victor create a mate for his creature?  Why/why not?

Thursday October 3rd

Minutes: Bayle, Rozi

Reading HW:  Part III Ch. 4-5

HW:

Friday October 4th

Minutes: Courtney, Xin Yi

Reading HW: Part III Ch. 6-7

HW:

Monday October 7th

Minutes: Jannat, Andrew

Reading HW: Finish book.  Bring in to return.

HW: Considering our early discussions, is Frankenzstein an example of "good" literature?  Why or why not?

Seniors - Work for the Week of September 30th

Monday September 30th

Minutes: Crystal Liu
Reading HW: The Bell Jar Ch. 1-3
HW: Explore Esther's identity.  Is she a Besty or a Doreen?  Find 5 sentences in your reading that you feel you can really relate to. 

Tuesday October 1st

Minutes:

Reading HW: Please review the comments on your personal essay.

HW: Identify three major issues that you'd like to improve in your paper.

Wednesday October 2nd

Minutes:

Reading HW: Ch. 4

HW: 

Thursday October 3rd

Minutes:

Reading HW: Ch. 5-6

HW: Is Buddy a good match for Esther?  Please find four pieces of evidence to support your point.  How can we explain Esther's dissatisfaction with/attraction to Buddy?

Monday October 7th

Ch. 7
HW: How is Esther's life like a "fig tree"?  I'd like you to think of you own life like a fig tree.  Explain six different potential "branches" of your fig tree that reflect the hopes and desires of you, your friends, your family, and your culture, and your country.

Juniors - Work for the Week of September 30th

Monday September 30th

Minutes: Andy Z., Tommy S.

Reading HW: N/A

HW: Rumination paper due.

Tuesday October 1st

Minutes: Oliver, Angela

Reading HW: "In the Field", "Good Form" "Field Trip"

HW: Bring in a photo of importance to you.  ALSO, answer: After reading "Good Form", do you feel betrayed by O'Brien?

Wednesday October 2nd

Minutes: Sean, Noah

Reading HW: “Ghost Soldiers” and “Night Life”

HW: How has O'Brien's character changed over the course of this book?

Thursday October 3rd

Minutes: Joey, Shazif

Reading HW: "The Lives of the Dead"

HW: N/A

Friday October 4th

Minutes: Christina, Bredan

Reading HW: Review your rumination paper's comments.

HW: Rewrite of analysis, not required, due Wednesday.

Monday October 7th

Minutes: Nathaniel, Eric

Reading HW: Ch. 1 Slaughterhouse Five

HW: Why is the alternate title of this book The Children's Crusade?

E.C. - Seniors - Toys That Break Gender Stereotypes

As per our discussion in class, our society is clearly in need of toys that shattered gender stereotypes and let children explore without feeling the tight constriction of gender norms.  Ida introduced us to GoldieBlox, whose website I encourage you to visit.  I'd like you to do one of the following:

1) Conduct some research of your own and find toys that do not limit themselves to gender stereotypes, perhaps working towards introducing children to iconoclastic concepts that may exceed gender norms.

2) Show us some of the worst offenders in marketing shamelessly towards a particular gender such as the controversial "Lego's for Girls".

Be sure to provide a link and an explanation.  Also, read your classmates' comments and chime in on the discussion!

Seniors - Work for the Week of September 23rd

Monday September 23rd
Minutes: Aron H.
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Begin image analysis, due Tuesday.

Tuesday September 24th
Minutes: Farzan A.
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Image Analysis due for workshop!

Here's a link to the 50 rape cases from our article today.

Wednesday September 25th
Minutes: Crystal Lau
Reading HW: Sexism and a Campaign's Collapse, Does It Matter?, "Second Those Emotions"  
HW: Based on our three readings, please assess how women in power are often portrayed in the media. What lessons can be learned from these portrayals?  What do these portrayals teach fe/male audiences? Explain.

Thursday September 26th
Minutes: Laura E.
Reading HW: "Angel of the House", Excerpt from "Professions of Women"
HW: How does this poem represent many of the forms of stereotype and sexism that women face today?  What does Woolf propose to challenge the angel of house?

Friday September 27th
Minutes: Marvin M.
Reading HW: Foreword of  The Bell Jar 
HW: Do something that breaks gender stereotypes.  Tell us about it in class.

Monday September 30th
Minutes: Crystal Liu
Reading HW: The Bell Jar Ch. 1-3
HW: Explore Esther's identity.  Is she a Besty or a Doreen?  Find a sentence in your reading that you feel you can really relate to.

Juniors - Work for the Week of September 23rd

Monday Sept. 23th
Minutes: Kenny L., N/A
Reading HW: Enemies, Friends, How to Tell a True War Story, Dentist
HW: N/A

Tuesday September 24th
Minutes: Aaron L, Aden L.
Reading HW: Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong
HW: Begin rumination assignment.  Due Monday.

Wednesday September 25th
Minutes: Mahir, Corrin
Reading HW: Stockings, Church, The Man I Killed, and Ambush
HW: Please write about a time when you did something that you later regretted.  Please give sufficient details and try to connect with the emotional truth of the subject.  Write at least eight sentences.

Thursday September 26th
Minutes: Marco, N/A
Reading HW: Style, Speaking of Courage, Notes
HW: Twenty minute freewrite in a place that is not school to support storytelling assignment.

Friday September 27th
Minutes: Jonathan W., Nicole
Reading HW: N/A
HW:  Draft day!  Please bring a draft of the assignment.

Monday September 30th
Minutes: Andy Z., Tommy S.
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Rumination paper due.

Freshmen - Work for the Week of Sept 23rd

Monday September 23rd
Minutes: Jaime Solomon, Felix Rieg-Baumhauer
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Perfect Paragraph Assignment DRAFT Due for workshop
SAT Vocab - Approbate, Deprecate

Tuesday September 24th
Minutes: Larissa, Pazit
Reading HW: Ch. V - Ch. VI (58-72)
HW: Revised perfect paragraph draft due.  Please hand in original and revised draft TOGETHER.

Wednesday September 25th
Minutes: Warren, Slee
Reading HW: Ch. VII - Ch. VIII (72-90)
HW: Why does Justine assume responsibility for William's murder?  Why doesn't Victor interject and save her life?

Thursday September 26th
Minutes: Liting, Nick
Reading HW: Part II Ch. I - III(93-112)
HW: How would you characterize the creature?  How does the creature react to his creator's rejection?  How would you react?  Try to explain how you have felt like the creature at any point in your life.

Friday September 27th
Minutes: Rysa, Kaitlyn
Reading HW:
HW: Why do you think the creature feels such affection for this cottage family?  What does the story so far show us about the role of family in life?  Why does the creature crave to belong?   Please show textual evidence to prove this point.  

Monday September 30th
Minutes: Maddie, Alex H.
Reading HW: Ch. VI - VIII
HW:   Why do you think the creature feels such affection for this cottage family?  What does the story so far show us about the role of family in life?  Why does the creature crave to belong?  Why does the monster contemplate the following: “Was I then a monster,” he asks, “a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled, and whom all men disowned?”  Can you think of anyone in society who might feel similar to this? 

Work for the Week of Sept. 16th, 2013 - Senoirs

Monday Sept. 16th
Minutes: Alex P,
Reading HW:  "A Few Essays That Worked", "How To Write a Lives Essay"
HW: Sharing day.

Tuesday Sept. 17th
Minutes: Brenda L.
Reading HW: 
HW: Bring in 3 images of women from current magazines (not images you find online): one inspiring, one disturbing, one with a man and woman in it together.

Wednesday Sept. 18th
Minutes: Othilla W.
Reading HW: Read “Playing at Sexy”, "The Children's Place Sells Wack, "My Anorexic Nine-Year Old Shirts", 
HW: Write a page reflecting on how young women are marketed to.  What techniques to marketers employ to attract customers?  Why might companies utilize such techniques?

Thursday Sept. 19th

Minutes: Gurleen A.
Reading HW:  N/A
HW:  Spend some time online with the about face blog, particularly with posts that discuss how women are portrayed in the media (I like this particular one).  For those who did not complete last night's homework, write a page reflecting on how young women are marketed to.  What techniques to marketers employ to attract customers?  Why might companies utilize such techniques?

Friday Sept. 20th
Minutes: Jamie W.
Reading HW: N./A
HW: Take the night off.

Monday Sept. 26th
Minutes: Michael C.
Reading HW: 
HW: Begin image analysis assignment.

Work for the Week of Sept. 16th, 2013 - Juniors

Monday Sept. 16th
Minutes: Paul K., Tashfiq
Reading HW: The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck
HW: Considering our discussion of conflict and subtext, I would like you identify the underlying conflict of this story.  What kind of message is the author conveying and how does he convey such a message?

Tuesday Sept. 17th
Minutes: Patrick M., Patrick L.
Reading HW: Chapter Three of They Say I Say
HW:

Wednesday Sept. 18th
Minutes: Adam A., Brian R.
Reading HW: Reading 1 The Things They Carried
HW: Please list and explain the different types of "things" carried by this unit stationed in Vietnam.

Thursday Sept. 19th
Minutes: Sam T., Douglas C.
Reading HW: Reading 2 The Things They Carried (Love and Spin)
HW: N/A

Friday Sept. 20th
Minutes: Heebong K., Obi
Reading HW: Reading 3 The Things They Carried ("On The Rainy River")
HW: 

Monday Sept. 26th
Minutes: Kenny L., N/A
Reading HW: Reading 4 The Things They Carried
HW:

Work for the Week of Sept. 16th, 2013 - Freshmen

Monday Sept. 16th
Minutes: Jason Ngo, Hannah Fishman
Reading HW: "Gryphon" by Charles Baxter
HW: Conduct a close reading of the text.  Using the text in your responses, please create four observations, ask three questions, and create three hypotheses based upon the text of this story.

Tuesday Sept. 17th
Minutes: N/A, Nancy Liang
Reading HW:  "Gryphon" by Charles Baxter
HW: Choose three pieces of evidence that support whether or not Ms. Ferenczi is a good teacher.  Use these three pieces of evidence in a paragraph that critiques Ms. Ferenczi's teaching style.  Do not sit on the fence, pick either side of the argument and prove your point with evidence from the text.

Wednesday Sept. 18th
Minutes: Kelly Wang, Tasnia Tabassum
Reading HW: NO HOMEWORK TONIGHT.  I COULDN'T UPDLOAD THE STORY.
HW: 

Thursday Sept. 19th
Minutes: Charles Sang, Leo Au-Yeung
Reading HW: Reading 1 Frankenstein (Pg. 13-32 Walton's Letters)
HW: Research Prometheus the Titan.

Friday Sept. 20th
Minutes: Claire Jin, Anthony Zeng
Reading HW: Reading 2 Frankenstein (Pg. 33-57, Ch. I-IV)
HW: Please find 10 examples of our themes in the text.  Be sure to notate the theme, page number, and a tiny excerpt of a quote.

Monday Sept. 26th
Minutes: Jaime Solomon, Felix Rieg-Baumhauer
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Perfect Paragraph Assignment Due

Homework for the Week of September 9th, 2013

Freshmen
Wednesday Sept. 11th
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Bring in something that you consider to be a piece of "literature."  Be prepared to explain what makes your artifact a piece of literature.  Is your artifact  a piece of "good" literature?  How might you differentiate between good and bad literature?

Thursday Sept. 12th
Reading HW: "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway
HW: Is this story a piece of "good" literature?  Why or why not?  What is the subtext of this story?

Friday Sept. 13th
Reading HW: "The Indian Camp" by Ernest Hemingway
HW: Conduct a close reading of the text.  Using the text in your responses, please create four observations, ask three questions, and create three hypotheses based upon the text of this story.

Looking ahead...
Monday Sept. 16th
Minutes:
Reading HW: "Gryphon" by Charles Baxter
HW: Conduct a close reading of the text.  Using the text in your responses, please create four observations, ask three questions, and create three hypotheses based upon the text of this story.

Juniors
Reading HW: "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway
HW:   What does this story discuss that might not be so obvious to the naked eye?

Thursday Sept. 12th
Reading HW:  "Indian Camp" by Ernest Hemingway
HW: Considering our discussion of conflict and subtext, I would like you identify the underlying conflict of this story.  What kind of message is the author conveying and how does he convey such a message?

Friday Sept. 13th
Reading HW: A& P by John Updike
HW: Conduct a close reading of the text.  Using the text in your responses, please create four observations, ask three questions, and create three hypotheses based upon the text of this story.

Looking ahead...
Monday Sept. 16th
Minutes:
Reading HW: The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck
HW: Considering our discussion of conflict and subtext, I would like you identify the underlying conflict of this story.  What kind of message is the author conveying and how does he convey such a message?

Seniors
Wednesday Sept. 11th
Reading HW: Please read "Intimate Apparel" by April Kilcrease and "Two Discoveries" by Celia Dovell Bell
HW: Draft due Friday.  Please bring in two drafts of your work.

Thursday Sept. 12th
Reading HW: "Doctors Without Orders", "A Few Essays That Worked", "How To Write a Lives Essay"
HW: Draft due Friday.  Please bring in two drafts of your work.

Friday Sept. 13th
Reading HW: Please review the rules for a workshop found here.
HW: Draft due Friday.  Please bring in two drafts of your work.

Looking ahead...
Monday Sept. 16th
Minutes:
Reading HW:  "A Few Essays That Worked", "How To Write a Lives Essay"
HW: Sharing day.

Welcome to the class blog!

Welcome students and parents!  I like to use this blog to post homework, minutes assignments, reading assignments, links to course materials, and more!  It is pertinent that you familiarize yourself with this blog and so I'd like you to test out the blog by creating a post.

In your post, please include your full name, the period that we have class, some of your hobbies, what music you like to listen to (be specific!), and something interesting about yourself.  This will count as part of a homework assignment.

Nice to meet you!