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.