Work for the Week of December 22nd

Freshmen

Monday Dec. 21st
Minutes: Helen, James
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Paper due.  If you do not have it due to confusion, I'll accept the paper tomorrow.

Tuesday Dec. 22nd
Minutes: N/A
Reading HW: Consider how school both helps and hurts us.
HW: Paper due.

Juniors
Monday Dec. 21st
Minutes: Cindy
Reading HW: Please read the following excerpt of Virgnia Wolfe's "Professions for Women".
HW: Why does Wolfe need to kill Patmore's "Angel in the House"?

Tuesday Dec. 22nd
Minutes: N/A
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Bring in your paper and your copy of The Awakening.

Seniors
Monday Dec. 2st
Minutes: Jim, Daye
Reading HW: Please finish Sula for tomorrow.
HW: N/A

Tuesday Dec. 22nd
Minutes: N/A
Reading HW: Please finish Sula

HW: What is Sula's legacy?

Work for the Week of Dec. 15th - Juniors

Monday Dec. 15th
Minutes: Philip
Reading HW: Read to ch. XXV
HW:

Tuesday Dec. 16th
Minutes: Rane
Reading HW: Read to XXXV
HW: Begin your latest writing assignment!

Wednesday Dec. 17th
Minutes: Raymond
Reading HW: Finish the book!
HW: Draft Day!

Thursday Dec. 18th
Minutes: Kai
Reading HW: We'll discuss the ending of The Awakening.  Please also read "The Yellow Wallpaper". Print a copy for class.
HW: What similarities can you find between our two texts?

Friday Dec. 19th
Minutes: Tony
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Draft Day!

Monday Dec. 20th
Minutes: Cindy
Reading HW: Please read the following excerpt of Virgnia Wolfe's "Professions for Women".
HW: Why does Wolfe need to kill Patmore's "Angel in the House"?

Work for the Week of Dec. 15th - Freshmen

Monday Dec. 15th
Minutes: Vernita, Derek
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Join in on the extra credit

Tuesday Dec. 16th
Minutes: Zhen, Bhavesh
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Create three strong topic sentences for today.

Wednesday Dec. 17th
Minutes: Alex C., Julia
Reading HW: Read this article for some strategies to help you analyze your quotes.
HW: Be sure to refine your explanations of your quotes.

Thursday Dec. 18th
Minutes: Ashley, Isaac
Reading HW:
HW: Draft Day!

Friday Dec. 19th
Minutes: Deborah, Nishat
Reading HW:
HW:

Monday Dec. 20th
Minutes: Helen, James
Reading HW:
HW:

Work for the Week of Dec. 15th - Seniors

Monday Dec. 15th
Minutes: Aimee, Shazif
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Join in on the extra credit!

Tuesday Dec. 16th
Minutes: Tyler, Veronika
Reading HW: Ch. 1923, 1929
HW:

Wednesday Dec. 17th
Minutes: Bonnie
Reading HW: Ch 1937
HW:

Thursday Dec. 18th
Minutes: Claire
Reading HW: Ch. 1939
HW:

Friday Dec. 19th
Minutes: Christina
Reading HW: Ch. 1940
HW:

Monday Dec. 20th
Minutes: Jim, Daye
Reading HW: 
HW:

E.C - Freshmen - Good and Bad

Listen to the rest of "The Bad Show" podcast by Radiolab.

Considering our discussion of good and evil in Lord of the Flies, analyze the stories of Fritz Haber and James Shapiro and how good and evil function in each story.  Is humanity capable of great evils? What causes us to engage in such terrible behavior?

Respond, post articles and links to relevant media, and read each other's responses.

E.C. - Seniors - Rolling Stone and UVA

It would be remiss to not discuss the unfolding of the controversial RS story about a young woman named "Jackie" and her rape allegations against several fraternity members.  As a result, the university suspended all Greek activities amidst the investigation.

This past week, RS recanted their story.  More questions have arisen.  What happened?  What didn't happen?  What does this very publicized story mean for victims of sexual assault?  What does this story revel about media/journalism's narratives of rape/sexual assault?  Is this an example of a false accusation of rape?

There are many directions for this discussion to take.  Chime in.  Read each other's ideas.  But ,oat importantly, let's be sensitive because this is a sensitive issue.  If you disagree with someone, attempt to understand their ideas.  Try to learn from those we disagree with.  Let's be professional.

Feel free to include links to pertinent videos or articles.

Work for the Week of December 8th - Juniors

Monday December 8th
Minutes: Jeff
Reading HW: Read Chapter One of Book Two.
HW: Purchase of copy of Book Two.

Tuesday December 9th
Minutes:James
Reading HW: Finish Maus
HW: Ask parents/family about their life defining experiences before your birth.  We will use this to create our own comics.

Wednesday December 10th
Minutes:Janice
Reading HW:
HW: Complete your comic!

Thursday December 11th
Minutes:Jessica L
Reading HW: Please read Chopin's Awakening up to Ch. VIII.
HW:

Friday December 12th
Minutes: Michael
Reading HW: Please read Chopin's Awakening  up to Ch. XV
HW:

Monday December 15th
Minutes: Philip
Reading HW: Please read Chopin's Awakening up to Ch. XXV
HW:

Work for the Week of December 8th - Freshmen

Monday December 8th
Minutes: Erik, Matteo
Reading HW: Read chapter six and seven LOTF.
HW: We're going to discuss the pig killing scene in class.  Analyze this scene and be prepared for discussion.

Tuesday December 9th
Minutes: Daniel C., Daniel X.
Reading HW: Read chapter eight LOTF
HW:N/A

Wednesday December 10th
Minutes: Zheng, Ryan
Reading HW: Read chapters nine and ten LOTF
HW: N/A

Thursday December 11th
Minutes: Mason, Gilvir
Reading HW: Finish LOTF
HW:

Friday December 12th
Minutes: Annie, Edwin
Reading HW:
HW:

Monday December 15th
Minutes: Vernita, Derek
Reading HW:
HW:

Work for the Week of December 8th - Seniors

Monday December 8th
Minutes: Max S., Ben
Reading HW: Please read "But Some of Us Are Brave"
HW: Is there a difference between feminism and Black feminism?  Consider the majority of authors we have read so far in this class.  How/does race intersect with feminism?

Tuesday December 9th
Minutes: Chesley, Wilson
Reading HW: Sula pg. 1-30
HW: Familiarize yourself with Morrison's writing style and the characters of our new book.

Wednesday December 10th
Minutes: Yijia, Ben
Reading HW: Women's Wednesday!  If we're focusing on powerful African American women, surely we need to look at Michelle Obama.
HW: How has race influenced Michelle Obama's experience?

Thursday December 11th
Minutes: Jonathan, Amy Z.
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.

Friday December 12th
Minutes: Alisa, Imtiaz
Reading HW: Read Sula 1923, 1927
HW:

Monday December 15th
Minutes: Aimee, Shazif
Reading HW: Read Sula 1937
HW:

Work for the Week of December 1st - Freshmen

Monday Dec. 1st
Minutes: Samuel, Anne G.
Reading HW: N/A
HW: N/A

Tuesday Dec. 2nd
Minutes: Annie H.
Reading HW: Read chapter one and two of LOTF.
HW: Do the police help/hurt us?  How do authorities in our lives walk this thin line between helping/hurting us?

Wednesday Dec. 3rd
Minutes: Sonal, Bingyi
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Full draft due today.

Thursday Dec. 4th
Minutes: Jesse
Reading HW: Read chapter three and four of LOTF.
HW: N/A

Friday Dec. 5th
Minutes: Chaktim, Matthew
Reading HW: Read chapter five of LOTF.
HW: Final draft due today

Monday Dec. 8th
Minutes: Erik, Matteo
Reading HW: Read of chapter six and seven LOTF.
HW: We're going to discuss the pig killing scene in class.  Analyze this scene and be prepared for discussion.

Work for the Week of December 1st - Seniors

Monday Dec. 1st
Minutes: Kazi, Brian T.
Reading HW: N/A
HW: N/A

Tuesday Dec. 2nd
Minutes: Zach, Sheldon
Reading HW: Ch. 13-14 The Bell Jar
HW: It's odd how Esther finds moments of piece in some engulfing body of water.  We note her baptismal bath after her episode with Doreen and now her repeating a mantra as she swims in the ocean.  What is it about these particular moments that bring Esther such peace?

Wednesday Dec. 3rd
Minutes: Mo, Dmitri
Reading HW: Women's Wednesday!  Today we'll be exploring performance artist Marina Abramovic.  Read this profile.
HW: Watch some of Abramovic's performances.  Just type her name into YouTube and go from there. Note, some of the performances are extremely long, you do not have to watch the entire piece.  An excerpt is sufficient.  Be warned, these performances can be perceived as "weird".

Thursday Dec. 4th
Minutes: Darren, Thomas
Reading HW: Ch. 15-17 The Bell Jar
HW: Please react to Dr. Nolan and Joan.  What are your impressions of these characters?

Friday Dec. 5th
Minutes: Brian H., Sisi
Reading HW: Finish The Bell Jar and read the biography of Sylvia Path included in the book.
HW: What does the bell jar signify?  What do you see in Esther's future?  Is Esther meant to be Plath?

Monday Dec. 8th
Minutes: Max S., Ben
Reading HW: Please read "But Some of Us Are Brave"
HW: Is there a difference between feminism and Black feminism?  Consider the majority of authors we have read so far in this class.  How/does race intersect with feminism?

Work for the Week of December 1st - Juniors

Monday Dec. 1st
Minutes: Zhi Rong
Reading HW: N/A
HW: N/A

Tuesday Dec. 2nd
Minutes: Justin
Reading HW: Read Chapter Two of Maus
HW: How does Spiegelman introduce us to the Jewish experience of living during WWII?

Wednesday Dec. 3rd
Minutes: Alina
Reading HW: Read Chapter Three and Four of Maus
HW: Is fair to compare Vladek to Billy Pilgrim?  Is Spiegelman fair in his depiction of the Nazis?  How does Vladek's experience during the war shape his persona as an old man?

Thursday Dec. 4th
Minutes: Frank
Reading HW: Read Chapter Five of Maus
HW: Be prepared to discuss the "Prisoner on the Hell Planet" section and why Spiegelman decides to shift the medium of his work.

Friday Dec. 5th
Minutes: Alanis
Reading HW: Read Chapter Six of Maus
HW: How has the Polish community changed since the outset of the book?

Monday Dec. 8th
Minutes: Jeff
Reading HW: Read Chapter One of Book Two.
HW: Purchase of copy of Book Two.

Work for the Week of Nov. 24th - Seniors

Monday Nov. 24th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Read The Bell Jar Ch. 7-9
HW: Draft Day!  Remember, your paper is due tomorrow!

Tuesday Nov. 25th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Read "Teaching Good Sex" by Laurie Abraham
HW: How would you evaluate your sex ed experience?  What did the class focus on?  What didn't the class discuss?  What is the purpose of sex ed?  Does sex ed prepare young people and satisfy their curiosities ?  How/not?  Which experience reflected in the article matches your own the best?

Wednesday Nov. 26th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Read The Bell Jar Ch. 10-12
HW:

THANKSGIVING BREAK - As per school regulation, you have no work for this break.  Enjoy your time off and I look forward to your return on Monday Dec. 1st.

Monday Dec. 1st
Minutes:
Reading HW:
HW: N/A

Work for the Week of Nov. 24th - Juniors

Monday Nov. 24th
Minutes: Cindy
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Paper is due!

Tuesday Nov. 25th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Alexander Pope's "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", an excerpt of "Eloisa to Abelard".  You do not need to read the entire piece, just focus on the quotation that is this week's blog picture.
HW: Please translate this quote.  What is Pope attempting to argue?

Wednesday Nov. 26th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Read the following analysis of "Eternal Sunshine"
HW: N/A

THANKSGIVING BREAK - As per school regulation, you have no work for this break.  Enjoy your time off and I look forward to your return on Monday Dec. 1st.

Monday Dec. 1st
Minutes:
Reading HW: N/A
HW: N/A

Work for the Week of Nov. 24th - Freshmen

Monday Nov. 24th
Minutes: Marcin, Andrew
Reading HW:  The Kite Runner 21-22
HW:

Tuesday Nov. 25th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Finish The Kite Runner
HW:

Wednesday Nov. 26th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Review your worksheets from the past few days.  Be sure that your evidence is clearly explained.  Make modifications when necessary.
HW: Remember, we'll be meeting in 351 today!

CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR WEDNESDAY NOV. 26TH'S LESSON

THANKSGIVING BREAK - As per school regulation, you have no work for this break.  Enjoy your time off and I look forward to your return on Monday Dec. 1st.

Monday Dec. 1st
Minutes:
Reading HW: N/A
HW: N/A

Work for the Week of Nov. 17th - Freshmen

Monday November 17th
Minutes: Erik, Derek
Reading HW: The Kite Runner Ch. 10 - 11
HW: N/A

Tuesday November 18th
Minutes: Zhen, Gilvir
Reading HW:  The Kite Runner  Ch. 12
HW:

Wednesday November 19th
Minutes: Mason, Ryan
Reading HW: The Kite Runner  Ch. 13-14
HW:Who is the most influential figure in Amir's life?  Consider your notes.

Just a reminder, here are the minutes rules!

Thursday November 20th
Minutes: David, Julia
Reading HW:  The Kite Runner 15-17
HW:

Friday November 21st
Minutes: Alex. T., Isaac
Reading HW:  The Kite Runner 18-20
HW:

Monday November 24th
Minutes: Marcin, Andrew
Reading HW:  The Kite Runner 21-22
HW:

Work for the Week of Nov. 17th - Seniors

Monday November 17th
Minutes: Brian L., Shazif
Reading HW:
HW: Work on your new assignment!  As per request, here are all the links:
Excerpt from The Feminine Mystique
"Killing the Angel in the House" by Virgnia Woolf
"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
"A Room of One's Own" by Virginia Woolf
"The Angel in the House" by Coventry Patmore
"Why I Wrote the Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Tuesday November 18th
Minutes: Ervin, Daniel
Reading HW: The Bell Jar Ch. 1-3
HW: N/A

Wednesday November 19th
Minutes: Saif, Claire
Reading HW: The Bell Jar Ch. 4-6
HW: Do you like Esther?  Why or why not?

Thursday November 20th
Minutes: Victor M., Erik
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Draft Day!

Friday November 21st
Minutes: Sophie, Jacky C.
Reading HW: The Bell Jar Ch. 4-6
HW: We need to catch up on 4-6 as we've missed some crucial concepts that I want to discuss. 

Monday November 24th
Minutes:
Reading HW:
HW: Draft Day!  Remember, your paper is due tomorrow!

Work for the Week of Nov. 17th - Juniors

Monday November 17th
Minutes: Tomer
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Begin your latest writing assignment.  Find a relevant quotation and perhaps a personal moment that you can analyze from both a serious and absurd lens.

Tuesday November 18th
Minutes: Sakib
Reading HW: Please finish chapter eight of Slaughterhouse-Five.
HW: Work on your paper, draft day on Thursday!

Wednesday November 19th
Minutes: Steven
Reading HW: Please finish Slaughterhouse-Five.
HW: Be prepared to discuss the ending of the book.  Why does Vonnegut end the book with a bird tweeting?

Thursday November 20th
Minutes: Hing
Reading HW: Check out these models of successful papers!
HW: Draft Day!

Friday November 21st
Minutes: Alina
Reading HW:
HW: Think about a horrible memory.  If there was an available technology that could eliminate that memory from your mind, would you erase that memory?  Why or why not?  Please write your response.  You do not need to explore the memory itself, I'm much more interested in whether or not you would erase that memory.

Monday November 24th
Minutes: Cindy
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Paper is due!

Work for the Week of Nov. 10th - Juniors

Monday Nov. 10th
Minutes: Amira
Reading HW: Please finish chapter five of Slaughterhouse-Five.
HW: N/A

Tuesday Nov. 11th
VETERAN'S DAY - No School

Wednesday Nov. 12th
Minutes: James
Reading HW:
HW: Please consider the implications of Veteran's Day.  Why do we have no school on Veteran's Day?  What is the function of Veteran's Day?

Thursday Nov. 13th
Minutes: Alex
Reading HW: Please finish chapter six of Slaughterhouse-Five.
HW: Begin your next writing assignment on the truth in absurdity.

Friday Nov. 14th
Minutes: Sally
Reading HW: Please finish chapter seven of Slaughterhouse-Five.
HW:

Monday Nov. 17th
Minutes: Tomer
Reading HW: Please finish chapter eight of Slaughterhouse-Five.
HW: Have a draft of your latest writing assignment.

Work for the Week of Nov. 10th - Freshmen

Monday Nov. 10th
Minutes: Sonal, Matteo
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Final draft (3 drafts total) due today.

Tuesday Nov. 11th
VETERAN'S DAY - No School

Wednesday Nov. 12th
Minutes: Xing, Cynthia
Reading HW: The Kite Runner Ch. 1-5
HW: Find a quote that perfectly characterizes Ali, Baba, Amir, and Hassan.

Thursday Nov. 13th
Minutes: Noah, Lori
Reading HW: The Kite Runner Ch. 6-7
HW: Why did Amir run?  What were his options?  How do you think Hassan feels about Amir after this incident?

Friday Nov. 14th
Minutes: Chaktim, Abington
Reading HW: The Kite Runner Ch. 8-9
HW: Think about a moment in your life when you felt guilty.

Monday Nov. 17th
Minutes: Erik, Derek
Reading HW: The Kite Runner Ch. 10 - 11
HW:

Work for the Week of Nov. 10th - Seniors

Monday Nov. 10th
Minutes:Wendy, Jim
Reading HW: Excerpt from The Feminine Mystique
HW: What is the problem that has no name?

Tuesday Nov. 11th
VETERAN'S DAY - No School

Wednesday Nov. 12th
Minutes: Patrick, Amy J.
Reading HW: Research!  Please watch the following YouTube videos to prepare for our guests:
Liz Miele, Leah Bonnema, Del Harrison, Claudia Cogan, Joyelle Nicole Johnson
HW: Develop three strong questions to ask our speakers.

Thursday Nov. 13th
Minutes:Kim, Sunny
Reading HW: "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
HW: How does our story directly respond to Coventry's "Angel" and directly influence Freidan's Mystique?

Friday Nov. 14th
Minutes: Kenny, Suhbat
Reading HW: "Killing the Angel in the House" by Virgnia Woolf
HW: What does it mean to kill the angel in the house?  Perceive your version of this angel and if you intend to kill it or not and why.

Monday Nov. 17th
Minutes: Brian L., Shazif
Reading HW:
HW: Work on your new assignment!  As per request, here are all the links:
Excerpt from The Feminine Mystique
"Killing the Angel in the House" by Virgnia Woolf
"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
"A Room of One's Own" by Virginia Woolf
"The Angel in the House" by Coventry Patmore

Work for the Week of Nov. 3rd - Juniors

Monday Nov. 3rd
Minutes:Sara
Reading HW: Please finish chapter two of Slaughterhouse-Five.
HW: Continue your work in comparing Harvey Milk's "Hope Speech" with chapter six of The Narrative of Frederick Douglass.

Tuesday Nov. 4th
NO SCHOOL FOR YOU!

Wednesday Nov. 5th
Minutes: Alanis
Reading HW: Please finish chapter three of Slaughterhouse-Five.
HW: Official draft day.

Thursday Nov. 6th
Minutes:Jonah
Reading HW: Please finish chapter four of Slaughterhouse-Five.
HW: Paper due.

Friday Nov. 7th
Minutes:Eli
Reading HW: Catch up!
HW: Do you believe in free will?  Explain.

Monday Nov. 10th
Minutes:Amira
Reading HW: Please finish chapter five of Slaughterhouse-Five.
HW:

Work for the Week of Nov. 3rd - Seniors

Monday Nov. 3rd
Minutes: N/A
Reading HW: "Why Women Aren't Funny" by Christopher Hitchens
HW: Who's funnier?  Men or women?  Why?  Interview friends, family, others.

Tuesday Nov. 4th
NO SCHOOL FOR YOU

Wednesday Nov. 5th
Minutes:Lan La, Ben
Reading HW: "Who Says Women Aren't Funny" by Alessandra Stanley  and "Funny Like a Guy" by Tad Friend.
HW:

Thursday Nov. 6th
Minutes:Afshin, Emily
Reading HW: Read the following excerpt from Tina Fey's Bossypants
HW: How did Fey bring new perspective to the SNL writer's room?  Watch these clips from the excerpt: Kotex Classic, Mom Jeans

Friday Nov. 7th
Minutes: Jamie, Salman
Reading HW: Go on Youtubes and research female comics.  Find a comic you've never heard of.
HW: Transcribe a few particular jokes that you find especially funny.

Link from today's class.

Monday Nov. 10th
Minutes:Wendy, Jim
Reading HW: Excerpt from The Feminine Mystique
HW: What is the problem that has no name?

Work for the Week of Nov. 3rd - Freshmen

Monday Nov. 3rd
Minutes: Farha, Edwin
Reading HW: Read to page 179.
HW:

Tuesday Nov. 4th
NO SCHOOL

Wednesday Nov. 5th
Minutes: Jesse, Annie H.
Reading HW: Here are some strong papers!
HW: Draft Day

Thursday Nov. 6th
Minutes: Miki, Bhavesh
Reading HW: Finish the book.
HW:

Friday Nov. 7th
Minutes: Zheng, Shiva
Reading HW:
HW:

Monday Nov. 10th
Minutes: Sonal, Matteo
Reading HW:
HW: Paper due today.

Work for the Week of Oct. 27th - Juniors

Monday October 27th
Minutes: Cindy
Reading HW: "The Hope Speech" by Harvey Milk
HW: What parallels can you see between Milk's speech and Douglass's Narrative?

Tuesday October 28th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Watch the 1st 20 minutes of 12 Angry Men.
HW: N/A

Wednesday October 29th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Watch another 30 minutes 12 Angry Men.  Start from 34:45
HW: Have quotes selected for your next assignment.  Your job is to compare Frederick Douglass's experience learning how to read with Harvey Milk's "Hope Speech"

Thursday October 30th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Finish 12 Angry Men.
HW: What is the effect of groups on public opinion, especially considering our reading for today?

Friday October 31st
Minutes:
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Prepare a draft for today.

Monday Nov. 3rd
Minutes:
Reading HW: Please finish chapter two of Slaughterhouse-Five.
HW: N/A

Work for the Week of Oct. 27th - Freshmen

Monday October 27th
Minutes: Farha, Anne G.
Reading HW: Read to page 33.
HW:  Rewrite due.

Tuesday October 28th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Read to page 65.
HW: N/A

Wednesday October 29th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Read to page 99.
HW: N/A

Thursday October 30th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Read to page 140.
HW: Period 3 students!  Bring in your consent forms so we can videotape the class!  Here's another copy if you need it!

Friday October 31st
Minutes:
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Draft Day!

Monday Nov. 3rd
Minutes:
Reading HW: Read to page 179.
HW: Draft due Wed. Focus on Christopher's visit to the London train statin.  How do Christopher's perceptions affect him?

Work for the Week of Oct. 27th - Seniors

Monday October 27th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Movie day!
HW: Rumination Paper Due

Tuesday October 28th
Minutes:
Reading HW: "I Was Groped on the Subway"
HW: Read the comments as well.  Pick one that interests you the most, print it up, and bring it in to class.

Wednesday October 29th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Just hopped on Jezebel and found this gem.  How pertinent!
HW: Interview several of your peers, family members.  Write down their answers please.  Consider the following questions: Have you ever witnessed/experienced any kind of street harassment?  What was your reaction?  How did those around you react?  How can we solve street harassment?

Thursday October 30th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Research "Hollaback!", particular the "About", "Research", "Resources" sections.
HW: Please complete this survey.

Both sections of E7WV will be meeting in the library during 6th period.  If you are free 5th period, come a a little early and help us set up for Debjani Roy, Deputy Director of Hollaback!

Friday October 31st
Minutes:
Reading HW: Read this article and then this article.
HW: Take a side.  Should women (and men) slut it up for Halloween?  Consider both articles.  I want you to consider the difference between sexualization and objectification for this conversation.

Monday Nov. 3rd
Minutes:
Reading HW: "Why Women Aren't Funny" by Christopher Hitchens
HW: Who's funnier?  Men or women?  Why?  Interview friends, family, others.

E.C - Juniors - Race at Stuyvesant

In continuation of our discussion on Friday, I want you to engage in debate over the kinds of racism we see at Stuyvesant and whether or not we can consider these instances as "racism".  Where do these instances fall on the spectrum of not racist and racist?  Does Stuyvesant have a racism problem?  Are Stuyvesant students just telling jokes?  Can jokes be racist?  Who determines racist, the perpetrator or the audience?

Consider any or all of these points and comment.  Provide us with important links, relevant ideas, and pointed responses to each other.  Keep it professional and let's explore this topic.

E.C. - Seniors - Judgment

As the "Historical Notes" of The Handmaid's Tale suggests, "If I may be permitted an editorial aside, allow me to say that in my opinion we must be cautious about passing moral judgment upon the Gil-eadeans. Surely we have learned by now that such judgments are of necessity culture-specific. Also, Gileadean society was under a good deal of pressure, demographic and otherwise, and was subject to factors from which we ourselves are happily more free. Our job is not to censure but to understand."  We attempted to ask if we can in fact censure Gilead and Gileadian societies or if we are to attempt to understand them.  We noted how we can often impose our own sense of morality in just and unjust ways.  I want you to take this opportunity to answer the question: Should we censure or understand?  Provide examples from our text or from our world.  Provide links, engage each other in debate, and keep it professional.

Work for the Week of October 20th - Juniors

Monday October 20th
Minutes: Amira
Reading HW: Read Ch. IX-X of Frederick Douglass 
HW: Analyze Covey's apparent hypocrisy and the relevance of this hypocrisy's function within this narrative as a whole.

Tuesday October 21st
Minutes: Jonah
Reading HW: Read Ch. XI and Appendix of Frederick Douglass 
HW: Discuss Douglass's views of Christianity.  What is the source of his conflict?  Is America a Christian country?  Does American identity reflect Douglass's inner conflict?  Explain.

Wednesday October 22nd
Minutes: Ulyana
Reading HW: N/A
HW: N/A

Thursday October 23rd
Minutes: Michael
Reading HW:  Read the following article and this one too!
HW: What's it like being Black at the University of Michigan?

Friday October 24th
Minutes: Rane
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Complete your survey of race for class today.  Be sure to interview three to five students.  Ask questions about their experiences with race at Stuyvesant.  Which responses interest you the most?

Monday October 27th
Minutes: Cindy
Reading HW: "The Hope Speech" by Harvey Milk
HW: What parallels can you see between Milk's speech and Douglass's Narrative?

Work for the Week of October 20th - Seniors

Monday October 20th
Minutes: Wendy, Brian T.
Reading HW: Read through Chapter 39.
HW: Work on your draft.

Tuesday October 21st
Minutes:
Reading HW: "Slow Poison" packet.
HW: Be sure to use as little paper as possible when printing!  Please take extensive notes, annotating your reading to assist in classroom discussion.

Wednesday October 22nd
Minutes:
Reading HW: Women's Wednesday!  Let's read this Vanity Fair piece about recent Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.
HW: Draft Day!  Have a rumination paper draft for today.

Thursday October 23rd
Minutes:
Reading HW: Read through page 295.
HW: N/A

Friday October 24th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Read Historical Notes
HW: Rumination Paper Due Monday

Monday October 27th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Movie day!
HW: Rumination Paper Due

Work for the Week of October 20th - Freshmen

Monday October 20th
Minutes: Vernita, Anne
Reading HW: Read Book III Ch. 1-2
HW: Please isolate yourself for 15 minutes.  Write about the experience afterwards.

Tuesday October 21st
Minutes: Alex C., Lori
Reading HW: Finish 1984.
HW: Is this a happy ending?  Consider both sides of the argument.

Wednesday October 22nd
Minutes: Marcin, Cynthia
Reading HW:  N/A
HW: Draft Day.

Thursday October 23rd
Minutes: Helen, James
Reading HW: Read Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut.
HW: How does this piece compare to 1984?  Please make direct connections.

Friday October 24th
Minutes: Deborah, Bingyi
Reading HW: Read the first few pages of The Curious Incident"
HW: N/A

Monday October 27th
Minutes: Farha, Anne G.
Reading HW: N/A
HW:  Rewrite due.

E.C. - Juniors - "Privilege"

Yesterday we spoke about privilege and the various privileges that we have experienced as a result of our gender, class, race, sexuality, education, and a variety of other factors.  While it is often difficult to recognize our own privilege, I wonder, how privileged do you find yourself to be?

I'd also like you to read this piece by Princeton sophomore Tal Fortgang in which he argues against discussions of privilege.  I'm curious, is Fortgang correct in his assertions?  Is he the product of character or of certain privilege?  Is it an amalgam of both?  If Fortgang did not have particular privileges or advantages, would he still be penning this piece for the Princeton newspaper?  Chime in, express your ideas, post relevant links, respond to one another and let's see what we can come up with!

I'd also like you to consider how our reading of Ta-Nihisi Coates's "The Case for Reparations" as well as Frederick Douglass's autobiography contribute to our discussion of privilege.  How does our brief analysis of African-American history in the United States impact our perception of privilege in America?  How does privilege contribute to the American identity and the American dream?

E.C. - Seniors - Responses to "Feminism" Interviews

As per our assignment due today, I wanted you to ask three parties some neutral questions about feminism.  What is a feminist?  Are you a feminist?  Why/not?  I'm curious to see what your questioning yield and your reactions to your research and to others.  Engage one another, ask questions, add links, and let's get this discussion started!

Work for the Week of October 14th - Juniors

Tuesday Oct. 14th
Minutes: Sally
Reading HW: "The Case for Reparations" by Ta-Nehisi Coates if you haven't read it yet.
HW: Copy three ideas that Coates presents that you find particularly interesting.  We'll discuss these in class.

Wednesday Oct. 15th
Minutes: Zhi
Reading HW: Read about privilege.
HW: Hand in paper with your annotations.

Thursday Oct. 16th
Minutes: Hyunsu
Reading HW: Read Ch. I-III of Frederick Douglass 
HW: Please select five examples that truly exemplify Douglass's upbringing as a slave.  Explain the significance of the quote you've selected.

Friday Oct. 17th
Minutes: Randy
Reading HW: Read Ch. IV-VIII of Frederick Douglass 
HW: Why didn't slave owners educate their slaves?  Find evidence to support your claim.  Focus on the Columbian Orator as well.

Monday Oct. 20th
Minutes: Amira
Reading HW: Read Ch. IX-X of Frederick Douglass 
HW: Analyze Covey's apparent hypocrisy and the relevance of this hypocrisy's function within this narrative as a whole.

Upcoming: Parent Teacher Conferences on Thursday Oct. 23rd/Friday Oct. 24th

Work for the Week of October 14th - Freshmen

Tuesday Oct. 14th
Minutes: Erik, Julia
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Draft day.

Wednesday Oct. 15th
Minutes: Annie L.
Reading HW: Read through Book II Ch. V
HW: Perfect Paragraph Due.

Thursday Oct. 16th
Minutes: Rigneyla, James
Reading HW: Finish Book II
HW: Consider the book O'Brien gives Winston.  What does Winston learn about Oceania as a society? What do the slogans mean?

Friday Oct. 17th
Minutes: Samuel, Derek
Reading HW: Read Atul Gawande's "Hellhole"
HW: How does Gawande portray torture?  What kinds of physical/mental/psychological effects does torture have on an individual?  Should isolation confinement be considered as torture?  Should it be legal in the Unites States?  Why or why not?

Monday Oct. 20th
Minutes: Vernita, Anne
Reading HW: Read Book III Ch. 1-2
HW: Please isolate yourself for 15 minutes.  Write about the experience afterwards.

Upcoming: Parent Teacher Conferences on Thursday Oct. 23rd/Friday Oct. 24th

Work for the Week of October 14th - Seniors

Tuesday Oct. 14th
Minutes: Chesley, Ben
Reading HW: Read the "Feminism" packet
HW: Be sure to use as little paper as possible when printing!  Please take extensive notes, annotating your reading to assist in classroom discussion.

Wednesday Oct. 15th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Finish book through chapter 29.
HW: Interview three people, a friend, a family member, and a student (who you don't know) about their perception of the word "feminism".  Ask about the word's definition, what kind of people are feminists, and if s/he is a feminist and why/not.

Thursday Oct. 16th
Minutes:Victor M., Amy R.
Reading HW: Finish through chapter 29.
HW: Work on rumination paper.

Friday Oct. 17th
Minutes: Sophie, Salman
Reading HW: N/A
HW: Have a quotation selected for your rumination paper.

Monday Oct. 20th
Minutes: Wendy, Brian T.
Reading HW: Read through chapter 39.
HW: N/A

Upcoming: Parent Teacher Conferences on Thursday Oct. 23rd/Friday Oct. 24th

Work for the Week of Oct. 6th - Juniors

Monday Oct. 6th
Minutes: Alex
Reading HW: The Grapes of Wrath 477 - 553 
HW:  5 annotations.

Tuesday Oct. 7th
Minutes:
Reading HW: The Grapes of Wrath 554-588
HW: 5 annotations.

Wednesday Oct. 8th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Finish The Grapes of Wrath.
HW: Select appropriate quotations for your rewrite assignment.  You will hand in this assignment and your annotations on Tuesday.

Thursday Oct. 9th
Minutes:
Reading HW: Please read "Dignity" by William Finnegan
HW: What connections can you make between Finnegan's article and Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath?

Friday Oct. 10th
Minutes: Hing
Reading HW: Begin "The Case for Reparations" by Ta-Nehisi Coates
HW: Draft Day.

Monday Oct. 13th - NO SCHOOL COLUMBUS DAY

Tuesday Oct. 14th
Minutes: Sally
Reading HW: "The Case for Reparations" by Ta-Nehisi Coates
HW: Copy three ideas that Coates presents that you find particularly interesting.  We'll discuss these in class.