Ayn Rand

For those of you who read Rand's Anthem, here's a pretty cool podcast about her and some of her ideas. Take a listen, and please leave some comments on this blog reacting to what you heard. Take care!

--Paul

Read the following blog article and react to its contents. Do you agree? Disagree? Is the author on point? Or is something missing?

Comment on the class blog for credit. Complete sentences and well-presented ideas are expected.

Introducing Hamlet

As we begin Hamlet, many questions will undoubtedly arise. Here's a great site for us to refer to over the duration of the play.

Please, please, please take the time to peruse this site over the next couple of days. I will most certainly incorporate an activity to better acquaint us with this resource. Stay tuned.

The Candidates

Where do the Presidential candidates stand?

Your group is responsible for explaining where the Democrat and Republican candidates stand on your "hot button" issue.

Your group must comment as a group on this blog.

Example:

Senator Obama believes...
Senator McCain believes...

You must also include how Ralph Nader figures into this election, and what he states about this topic.

Here's a site that might help you.

Montoya

Read and look at some of the accompanying images in this article about the Malaquias Montoya exhibit. What strikes you about this art of protest? Do you think anything will come of it? Are the artist's positions valid, or has he failed to consider other factors about society?

Don Q. in 24 hours

Check out this marathon reading that happened in 2005, the 400th anniversary of Don Quixote.

Book Burning

Read the following article and respond to the following questions:


* As a dictator, why would it be in Hitler's best interest to burn books with "unGerman"
ideas.

* How might the act of destroying books impact future generations? How might it affect the victims'? How might it affect the aggressors?

* Book burning sends a strong statement. What might it be?

* Can you make any connections with something that you've seen, read, or experienced?

Journal

Take a look at the above image and think about what it might be suggesting.

September 16th

Here's a short article on the signifcance of September 16th in Mexico. To the left is a portrait of Hidalgo by the great Mexican painter, Jose Clemente Orozco. Remind me to tell you the story about my wife and me at the Prado Museum in Balboa Park.

Position Paper Outline

Title of Paper
* conveys the main point of the essay in 8 words or less
* attracts the readers' attention



I. INTRODUCTION
A. Background information/brief overview of the issue/topic
B. Thesis statement: states the main idea of the essay and answers the research question

II. HISTORY (1-3 paragraphs)
A. Define issue and/or give brief history of your issue

III. ARGUMENTS
A. Position 1 (opposing viewpoint)
1. facts/research
2. well-organized examples, summaries, and/or quotations

B. Position 2 (including a transition, state your position)
1. facts/research
2. well-organized examples, quotations, analogies, summaries

IV. CONCLUSION
A. Clearly restates your position and the significance of the issue
B. A call to action--What should the reader do?

Contacting and Expert

“I Need an Expert!”

Merriam-Webster defines an expert as someone who possesses “a special skill or knowledge representing mastery of a particular subject.” The key word here is “mastery,” which means to be considered an expert, a person should have spent a considerable amount of time effectively studying, performing, and pretty much, breathing his or her respective subject area(s) over a significant period of time. So, keeping this definition in mind, students will be contacting an expert in a field related to student “A Modern Proposal” projects. Experts may be activists, professors, lawmakers, non-profit agency representatives, program directors, or other qualified individuals actively participating in the field of interest.

Each student in the group must contact an expert in the field. Contact may be via email, phone, or live interview.

When preparing initial contact, students should include the following:

· A proper introduction, stating name, age and school;
· Purpose, an overview of the project;
· Topics to be covered;
· Politely inquiring if it would be ok to continue a correspondence and/or interview;
· Plans for the information once interview is completed.

Once students have received a response from the interviewee/correspondent:

· Thank him/her;
· If necessary, ask the interviewee to check your information and quotations for accuracy;
· Offer to send the interviewee a copy of your writing;
· Politely ask the interviewee if he/she would be willing to be a guest speaker

Requirements:
1. Students must contact one person/agency on each side of the issue.
2. Initial contacts must be via email. Students will earn credit for their efforts by
submitting a hardcopy of the email to Paul.
3. Students will also need to include these sources in their final paper.

MLA Citations

Here is a great resource for learning how to use MLA citations correctly.

Radiohead Video and "The Poetics of Commerce"

Check out this interesting video. The band is Radiohead, and the song is "All I need." Think about how this might relate to Espada's "The Poetics of Commerce."

Examples of Collages

Collages by Max Ernst.

Collages by Joseph Cornell.

The Art of Faith Ringgold

from "Representation in Art and Film: Identity and Stereotype" by Martha Savage

"Faith Ringgold is best known for a genre of art she created, the story quilt. Sewn and painted on cloth, text panels recount stories and visual images move in a linear and at times not so linear path." One of her most famous works is the story quilt "Who's Afraid of Aunt Jemima," a quilt that rewrites the stereotypical character's life.

Below, however, is a work by Ringgold that uses oil and canvas. This work was completed in 1971.

The objective for this assignment is to analyze Ringgold's painting in order to respond to some of Lucy Lippard's suggested methods for shattering stereotypes: "[ranging] from opening wounds, to seeking revenge through representation, to reversing destructive developments so the healing process can begin."

First, though, let's identify the subject(s); second, whether stereotypes are, indeed, addressed, and if so, what are they, and which of Lippard's methods is Ringgold using to address them? And finally, does your group think that this piece does an effective job addressing these issues? Is it inspiring? How has it struck you? However, if your group feels that it falls short somewhere, why?

Note: Your group's response will be evaluated based on its completion. In other words, does it address the prompt effectively and completely?

" For the Woman's House"

Lit Circles

Books usually are challenged with the best intentions—to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information. See Censorship and Challenges and Notable First Amendment Cases.

Censorship can be subtle, almost imperceptible, as well as blatant and overt, but, nonetheless, harmful. As John Stuart Mill wrote in On Liberty:

“If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind. Were an opinion a personal possession of no value except to the owner; if to be obstructed in the enjoyment of it were simply a private injury, it would make some difference whether the injury was inflicted only on a few persons or on many. But the peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error.” — On Liberty, John Stuart Mill

Here is a list of the American Library Association's 100 most frequently challenged books of 1990-2000.

Here is the ALA's list of challenged books by authors of color.

Assignment:

1. 4-5 group members
2. Choose one challenged book--book must be cleared with me
3. If your group has another title in mind, see me about using it for this lit. circle.
4. Due:) _______

The Cognitive Basis of Gender Stereotypes

Read the following article and react.

* Do you agree or disagree with this overview?
* What evidence do you find the most intriguing?

Assignment: Poem #3

Your next poem will be composed using the cut-up method. The only requirements are the following:

1. "Sound of Silence" must be the main source of material used in this exercise, but it doesn't have to be the only one.
2. Must be at least 20 lines
3. Must be typed

Due: Monday 4/28

Junot Diaz Wins the Pulitzer and other Stuff

Read the following article about Junot Díaz, paying close attention to the interviewer's question that begins: "Did you have any doubts about having a hero who was such an uber-nerd?" and Díaz' response.

Write a brief reaction to this piece. Also, does this piece on Díaz inspire you to go out and look up some of this work? (of course if you haven't read some already) DUE: THURSDAY 11:59 pm

################################################

ASSIGNMENT: POEM #2

Joe Brainard's great friend, confidante, and collaborator, Ron Padgett, once wrote of Brainard's work "His method had something childlike about it, and indeed Joe did have a taste for things that were free of adult overcomplication." Padgett also admitted "...[Brainard] had made a marvelous discovery, and many of us wondered why we hadn't thought of such an obvious idea ourselves." In the spirit of Brainard's spectacular long poem "I remember," which we will have read excerpts in class, you will be composing a similar poem made up of the following:

1. 20 lines minimum, each beginning with the anaphoric "I

remember" (More about this in class)

2. Typed

3. Due: Friday, April 11th in class (submit to Andrew)

################################################

Here's a copy of the NY Times article "The Color of Mayhem, in a Wave of Urban Games."

Misconceptions

Read the following "misconceptions" and respond to the following:

1. What strikes you most about what you have read? Please cite specific
passages.

2. Out of all of the "misconceptions" listed by this author, which
one deserves the closest attention? Explain.

Point-of-View Piece

Using one of the following formats, write a point-of-view piece from the perspective of one of the individuals below:

-a 14-year-old girl whose family has moved from Tikrit, Iraq to Jordan to stay with relatives until the fighting ends

-a 15-year-old boy who has never been to school and sells matches on the streets of Baghdad to help his family eat

-an 18-year-old female first-year college student in Baghdad who has learned that her younger brother has recently joined an insurgent group

-a 16-year-old boy from Fallujah who wants to earn extra money to help his middle class family rebuild their home

-blog (or MySpace or Facebook profile page)
-letter to a family member
-personal diary
-script of a dialogue between two friends

Enrichment Article

sorry, I can't find the document for the "Enrichment." It's somewhere--I know that much! I will post it tomorrow. More later. Take care, and try your best on that poem. I can't wait to hear them!

Poem #1--"I Am"

Be sure to refer back to Langston Hughes' poem as an example.

"I Am"

* Includes an extended metaphor
* One line includes a combination of the following: I am...color, object, city
* Poem is at least 7 lines
* Typed

Due: Thursday, 4/3

Lebron James Vogue Cover Criticized

Read the following article and think about it critically before you decide to post your response. Here is the image in question.

Do you think this image portrays a racial stereotype(s)? Or do you think the public is overreacting? Whether you agree or disagree with the criticism of this photo, what does this controversy say about race and image in contemporary America?

5-A response is posted to the article
4-A response is posted to the article, along with at least one separate post responding to a peer's response. Be sure to address the peer by name to avoid confusion.
0-No response

Literary Journal

Research a literary journal listed in your poet's list of acknowledgments. You will be presenting your findings to the class on __________. Be sure to include the following:

1. Title
2. When was the journal established?
3. Where is it published?
4. Submission requirements
5. Vision; aesthetic--What kind of writing are the editors looking for?
6. Other writers who have been published in its pages?

MOPA Response

Please comment on the following. Be sure to leave your first and last name with your response.

* Artist and Title
* Subject(s)
* Narrative? Could you identify a story? If not, could you create one?
* Imagery
* What made you choose these pictures?

Bliss

This portrait is entitled "Bliss, 2000." Despite the poor quality of this upload, do you think this image makes for a universal representation of "bliss?" Why? Why not? To support your position, be sure to refer to different elements from the photograph.

Rubrics

Rubric (1) rubric

Reformation Essay

4 = Distinguished

3 = Emerging

2 = Developing

1 = Needs Improvement

0 = Did not attempt

	Student Scored	Teacher Scored
Content
Essay states a problem(s) in a clear and articulate way.
Essay provides a thoughtful solution(s) to this problem, explaining how this issue can be reformed.
Essay provides a “call to action.”
Includes clear evidence that demonstrates effective and thorough research.
Includes a Works Cited page in MLA format with at least 3 sources.
There are at least 3 properly cited passages.
Style/Mechanics
Writing is free of errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar
Use of language is appropriate for a professional context, including proper tone and vocabulary
500-750 Words
Total

rubric (2)

“95 THESES”

4 = Distinguished

3 = Emerging

2 = Developing

1 = Needs Improvement

0 = Did not attempt

	Student Scored	Teacher Scored
Content
Theses contain a well-written preamble.
Theses are focused and organized in a logical manner.
Theses are well-informed.
Includes clear evidence that demonstrates effective and thorough research.
Style/Mechanics
Writing is free of errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar
Use of language is appropriate for a professional context, including proper tone and vocabulary
There are 12 theses in included.	Yes	No
Total

Pope Leo X

For those of you who do not have a copy of the Pope Leo document, you can find it here

Gang Memoir

Read the following article from the New York Times and respond to the following:

a) How will this situation ultimately affect this author's credibility in the future?
b) What struck you most about this article? Be specific.

Due by Thursday 11:59 pm

Video Footage for the Alliance of Guest Workers for Dignity Protest

Click this link to see the news coverage.

Letter of Solidarity

Read the following post and respond. Be sure to focus on key points, quoting text when appropriate. What does this say about the state of workers rights in this country for foreign workers? Immigration? Human rights? The agriculture business? Do you think this is an isolated incident? Or do you think it is more widespread? Can you cite specifics? etc.

Luther's Letter to Pope Leo X

Luther's letter to Pope Leo X found here.

The Photo Project

The Photo Project:

A Documentation of the Reformation and current political, social, and educational issues

I. The Objective

A. First, students will learn about some of the causes that led to

Reformation Europe and some of its effects. Also, in the

revolutionary spirit of Martin Luther, students will take a stand

on a contemporary issue that needs reform.

II. The Driving Questions

A. What does this period teach us about religious tolerance?

B. What are the benefits of protest? What are the consequences?

C. As thinking citizens, what can we do to exercise our moral and/or ethical obligations to a society that we believe must change?

D. What areas today require reform?

III. The Requirements

A. Each class will create approximately eight sets of “95 Theses.” Students may choose from one of the following three categories:

1. Educational Reform (e.g., small schools movement,

bilingual education, nutrition, NCLB, CAHSEE, etc.)

2. Social Reform (e.g., hate crime, living wage, gang violence, gentrification, health care, imminent domain, the etc.)

3. Political Reform (e.g., city council ethics, the war in Iraq, immigration, global warming, etc.)

a. Begin with Governor Schwarzenegger’s homepage.

B. In groups, students will research their topics so as to compile well informed and accurate “Theses” instead of random, poorly-constructed sentences. In addition, each “95 Theses” must contain a well-crafted preamble.

IV. The Literature

A. Primary documents from the Pope, Luther, Calvin, etc.

B. Refer to Dante’s Inferno

C. Excerpts

D. MOPA

E. Images that Changed the World

V. The Final Product

A. Assemble your photographs and written explanations as a slide show.

B. Take photographs of any of the following:

1. Religious structures

2. Symbols of faith

3. The posting of your 95 Theses

4. The creation of your 95 Theses

5. Meaningful images from your area of reform

C. Total pictures will be discussed in class

D. A collaborative written essay

The 95 Theses and their Results

Read the following selection in small groups and complete the graphic organizer in class. Here is another copy of Luther's 95 Theses.

Further instructions will be made available in class.

Literary Circles

LITERARY CIRCLES: EXPLORING CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN POETRY

For your first lit circle this semester, you will be choosing a contemporary American poet to read, discuss, and hopefully contact over the next few weeks. Your first task will be to choose a living American poet to study by _____________. Once your choice has been approved, you will be encouraged to purchase or borrow (from a public or university library) one or more of his/her collections of poetry. If this proves to be a problem, please see your teacher to discuss other options.

Listed below are some sites that might be helpful:

• Poets.org from The Academy of American Poets
• Modern American Poetry

• Wikipedia. List of Poets from the United States

As we discuss these authors in class, it is important that we have a working knowledge of several poetic devices. Here is a comprehensive list that should help us with this.