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.

Work for the Week of Oct. 6th - Freshmen

Monday Oct. 6th
Minutes: Sonal, Matteo
Reading HW: Finish part one of 1984.
HW: Watch this video.  What connections can you make to Orwell's novel?

Tuesday Oct. 7th
Minutes: Daniel, Bhavesh
Research Pat Tillman.  Read Book II Ch. 1, 2
HW: Thinking question (How does Tillman's death connect with 1984's depiction of Ogilvy?)

Wednesday Oct. 8th
Minutes: Zhen,
Reading HW: Read some of these "successful" papers to understand what strong writing looks like.
And, read this poem!
HW: Be prepared to discuss why the paragraphs you read were effective.  Be sure to bring in your folder with you first two writing assignments.  We'll need them.

Thursday Oct. 9th
Minutes: Miki, Isaac
Reading HW: Book II Chapter 3, 4, 5
HW: N/A

Friday Oct. 10th
Minutes: Chaktim, Matthew
Reading HW: Please read the following NYTimes Business Day article "They Loved Your GPA, Then They Saw Your Tweets".  
HW: 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?  

Monday Oct. 13th - NO SCHOOL COLUMBUS DAY

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

Work for the Week of Oct. 6th - Seniors

Monday Oct. 6th
Minutes: Mohammad, Sheldon
Reading HW: Read The Handmaid's Tale up to page 66.
HW: Define freedom in the United States.  Define freedom in Gilead.  What is the difference between freedom to and freedom from?  Please find correlating quotations in the text to support your argument.

Here's a copy of your new assignment.  Pay no attention to the date.

Tuesday Oct. 7th
Minutes: Saif, Max
Reading HW: Read to page 106.
HW: N/A

Wednesday Oct. 8th
Minutes: Victor G., Mahlia
Reading HW: Woman of the Week!  This week's subject: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
HW: Read the profile and in addition, find a piece of current events relating to/of interest to our class.  Look for current events that discuss women's issues and bring in an article to class.  Here are some wonderful resources to explore:
-Speaking of Women's Rights
-Huffpo Women
-Feministing
-Geek Feminism
-Bitch Magazine

Thursday Oct. 9th
Minutes: Tyler, Amy Z.
Reading HW: Read the "Sexual Danger" 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.

Friday Oct. 10th
Minutes: Ervin, Sean
Reading HW: Read up to chapter 24.
HW: N/A

Monday Oct. 13th - NO SCHOOL COLUMBUS DAY

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.