Emergency: Cannot Make Class Meeting Today!

If you want to review your final, come to my office tomorrow between 10:30 and 11:30.

So sorry!

If you can't make that time, I will be posting grades and you can see them at end of week.  Most everybody did fine.  You will receive the grade reflected in your work for English 101 and English 103.

Reminder: Meeting Tomorrow 11:45 in Regular Lab Classroom

Greetings Reason Passion Cluster!

See you at 11:45 for return of finals and grades.

Grades will be posted at end of week.  You will be able to see them on your CUNY First Page.

Thanks for an invigorating semester :).  Hope to see you in a future English course.

Dr Van Slyck

Final Essay Exam

Final Essay Exam

English 101-103

Liberal Arts Cluster

Reason, Passion, Justice, Revenge

Fall 2013

Dr. Van Slyck

Choose one of the following topics based on films we have screened in relation to our course themes and write a 600 word essay a) responding to the question and b) inserting at least one example of research related to the topic that you have found in the last month.  Correct citations for the films are listed after the questions.

1.     The film, Far From Heaven, explores homophobia in the 1950’s and the emotional pain this attitude causes for both homosexuals and their families.  The film also shows how the medical establishment handled homosexuality in this era.  Briefly summarize the situation in the film.  Then describe the ways the main characters deal with their feelings.  For your research, investigate and share information about “conversion therapy.”  In your conclusion bring us up to date on this issue and make your own policy recommendations.

2.     Far from Heaven introduces us to the dangers of an interracial relationship in the 1950’s.  Briefly describe that part of the film and analyze how members of the community in the film reinforce prejudice against these relationships.  For your research find information about laws against interracial relationships at that time in the U.S. For your conclusion, share your own ideas about how interracial relationships have changed since the 1950’s, whether you think acceptance has increased and if there are still problems.

3.     In the film, Milk, we watch a courageous man gradually become a political activist in order to gain rights for homosexuals in his district in San Francisco, the Castro.  Briefly describe the social, political and personal problems Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician in the U. S., confronts in his struggle and the way his opposition tries to fight him.  Is it now safe for gays to openly declare their identities and hold public office?  For your research compare Milk to one other contemporary politician who is openly gay and contrast the acceptance (or lack thereof) between Milk’s time (1970’s) and today.

4.     In And the Band Played On we learn about the prejudice, indifference and corruption that caused lives to be lost during the struggle to identify and find a test for the AIDs virus.  Briefly describe the attitudes of the political establishment, the blood banks, some AIDs carriers, some gay men frequenting the San Francisco bath houses, and even one scientist portrayed in the film.  For your research choose one of the above and enlighten us a little about details that are not in the film.  For example, why were the blood banks so slow to respond?  Or why were gay men in San Francisco so suspicious of those who wanted to close the bath houses?  In your conclusion explain what the film show us about the need for trust, commitment, collaboration and ethical behavior when it comes to a pandemic that threatens a community or a nation.

5.     The film, Maria Full of Grace, raises ethical questions about poverty and freedom.  Briefly describe the situation of the film and then argue whether or not you agree with Maria’s decision to become a drug mule. You may also discuss the consequences for some of those around her and the role of the attorney in the film. For your research you may look at the book chapter in Jackson Heights Chronicles that tells Maria’s story; you may also research the issue of Colombian women becoming drug mules.  You may also refer to philosophers who discuss conditions enabling (or impeding) free choice. For your conclusion, discuss who are the ethical and unethical individuals in the film, and explain why (choose two—one for each side).

Film Citations:

Far From Heaven. Dir. Todd Haynes.  Focus Features. 2002.

Milk. Dir. Gus Van Sant. Focus Features. 2008

And the Band Played On. Dir. Roger Spottiswoode. HBO Films. 1993.

Maria Full of Grace. Dir. Joshua Marston. HBO Films. 2004.

Final Instructions for End of Semester Submission of Final Essay

1. We will meet from 10:30-2pm on Wednesday December 4.  You will begin and hopefully finish your final essay.  Please come prepared, topic chosen, research already posted on blog for convenience.

2.  Thursday December 5 at 2:15 pm please come to E242 for Liberal Arts Cluster Showcase.  There will be refreshments, raffles, and many students sharing what they did in their clusters.

3.  We have a schedule for when you will stay with our poster to answer questions about our cluster.

4.  5 students have volunteered to answer a few questions about their cluster experience--to be videotaped and possibly used for recruitment for future cluster students.  Thank you!!

5. VERY IMPORTANT: WE NEED YOU TO COMPLETE BRIEF SURVEY OF YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE CLUSTER WHICH IS POSTED ON THE BLOG.  YOU CAN DO THIS ON WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 4.

THANK YOU FOR BEING A REALLY DEDICATED, HARD-WORKING GROUP OF STUDENTS.  YOU TOOK THE WORK SERIOUSLY AND CARED ABOUT THE BIG IDEAS AND THE SMALL DETAILS WHICH TELLS ME THAT YOU WILL DO WELL IN COLLEGE AND IN YOUR CAREERS!  AND YOU MADE GOOD FRIENDS TO SUPPORT YOU IN FUTURE COURSES :)

Hope to see you in a future English course!

CLUSTER SURVEY--VERY SHORT--PLEASE COMPLETE DECEMBER 4

HERE IS LINK:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FSLHR5W

We need to know what was most beneficial for you about the cluster experience and what recommendations you have!

Thanks from your cluster faculty, Prof. Sertich, Prof. Rizzieri and Prof. Van Slyck

Schedule for End of Semester Fall 2013

Reason, Passion, Justice Revenge Cluster

Fall 2013

Professor van Slyck

Schedule and Assignments for Final Weeks of Class: English 101-103

Wednesday November 13: Finish Laramie Philosophy Essay and Send to Prof. Rizzieri

Thursday November 14: Finish screening of Milk and discuss essay: Causes and Consequences of Homophobia in the Fifties through the Seventies

Monday November 18: Return (hopefully) of Laramie essays; discussion of Homophobia topics: use films and your research for this essay

Wednesday November 20: Homophobia essay due

Thursday November 21: Screening of Maria Full of Grace

Monday November 25: Creation of Poster for Liberal Arts Showcase

No classes November 27-28: Thanksgiving  (Nov 27 is a Friday schedule)

Monday December 2: Review of films and preparation for final essay

Wednesday December 4: In-class Final

Thursday December 5: Celebration: Liberal Arts Showcase

Homework in Preparation for First Laramie Essay due Monday November 4

Complete your  600 word essay in which you show how The Laramie Project  is a play about 1) reason, 2) passion (or compassion), 3) justice and 4) revenge (or vengeance).  

Choose one of the characters to represent EACH of these qualities and explain why they are a good representative for this quality.  It might be useful to get a really good dictionary definition of each of the qualities.  We will start drafting this essay on Wednesday October 30.  You will bring first drafts to class October 31.

Blog #6: Researching Gay Experience in the 1950's and '60's: Post Sunday evening Nov 3.

Conditions for Gays in America in the 1950's and '60's

Your blog assignment here, discussion of which will begin next week, is to find your own specific source of information and write a summary of what you have found, why it is important.  Be be sure to include link to article or video.

This assignment will help us begin discussion for your final research project on the history of gay rights in America.

You should be looking for key moments where rights of homosexuals were challenged, abused, fought for.  An example in NYC would be the Stonewall Rebellion in Greenwich Village in 1969 where gay protesters were beaten and arrested; in California the story of Harvey Milk, made into a film, shows the fight for recognition and equality that took place. Milk was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in the U.S. in the 1970's.


Here is an excerpt from Oberlin College's LGBT History Website that shows how difficult it was to be gay because that orientation was considered a mental illness:

Especially in the late 1950s and early 1960s, many male narrators recalled being so disturbed by their attractions to other men that they sought psychological help. Mental health professionals, as well as the general public, considered homosexuality to be a mental illness at the time, and it was listed as such by the American Psychiatric Association in their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders.

The website goes on to give cases of individuals who testify that they did not want to be gay and tried to go through conversion therapy; others became extremely depressed.  The general campus consensus at Oberlin at that time was that "homosexuals were “sick, unnatural, [and] perverted,”  recalled one student of that era.

Finally, this is not a particularly authoritative source but I like this summary of the situation in the 50's to the 70's from yahoo.answers.com

No, no one could be openly gay to their friends let alone in public, even into the 1970s. But in the 1950s, people had to hide their homosexuality because they could get fired from a job. They had gay bars but these places were raided by the police just because they were there, and people were arrested. Being gay was illegal in a lot of states and there were no laws to protect them. They were considered mentally disturbed, they had to hide their sexuality and frequently got married and pretended to be straight just to be accepted in the community. They got attacked and beaten up regularly. It was considered shameful to be homosexual and Lesbian and people spent their lives hiding it.  (Yahoo Answers.com)

Blog #5:Laramie Research--Post What you Find Here--due Monday (Sunday night)

I would like you to research the story of Matthew Shepard, the trial of his murderers, and interviews that have taken place since the trial and incarceration of Henderson and McKinney--this information will help you with your essays.

You may also research the Hate Crime Law that Obama signed and possibly cases where that law was invoked.  Other cases of homophobia and abuse of gays in college or elsewhere will also be relevant.

So go forth and find good things to share: blog rules--put link to source, summarize what you found and why it is interesting--quote!

Finally, check out Course Documents for the upcoming Laramie essay which will be graded by Prof. Rizzieri and Prof. Van Slyck--a joint assignment!

Blog #4: Trifles: Post Your Blog Here by Monday 6am! (or Sunday evening :)

Blog #3 for English 101:  Perception and ideas of justice in Trifles: Do women and men have different ideas about justice?  Why is evidence different for men and for women?  Explain the differences between ways men and women look at the law in  Trifles. When does it seem right to conceal evidence?  Why do the women in the play seem more "right" ethically, even though the men have the law on their side?  Use at least three examples from the play.

Alternately, you may do a literary analysis by examining one or more of the symbols in the play!  Consider for example quilts and quilting, trifles, hidden boxes, the bird and singing, jar of cherries.  You may "cheat" by looking at notes at end of play but you need to build your own essay around one or more of the symbols and create a thesis related to the main character!

Blog #3d: Bias in the Media Surrounding Trayvon Martin Case

Several of you have noted that the media reported information about Trayvon, Zimmerman and the events of that fateful night in different, contradictory ways and in ways that increased confusion and suggested or supported racial bias.  Find one or two examples and post them here--cite exact source and author if there is one--where possible show contrasting representations to prove the bias you are describing.

Blog#3c: Neighborhood Watches: Post Your Information Here

Step Two of your research is to find one RELIABLE source on this topic: how were neighborhood watches started, why?  who is protected?  what is training? is there screening?  Related issue: what is a gated community and is it true that those who do not live there have no legal right to pass through?

State what the source is, who is author, what are his credentials?  Summarize facts and issues presented and then explain how this article helps us understand more deeply the purpose and role of Neighborhood watches and whether they are good or bad--whom they protect and whom they threaten!

Blog#3b: Stand Your Ground: Post Your Research on this Law Here

Step Two of your Research Process is to identify specific issues about this law: the reason the law was put in place, how exactly the law is being used, whether it is a good or bad law, how it has replaced duty to retreat and why. . .  Post one RELIABLE source here: state what the source is, who the author is and summarize content of article or video.  Explain why/how this piece deepens, clarifies our understanding of this law.

Blog #3a: Stop and Frisk--Post Your Blog Here

Step two of our research process is for you to find one RELIABLE source for this topic.  Post link to this source in blog--state title of article or youtube etc and summarize main point of piece.  Then explain why, how this deepens or clarifies the issues surrounding this policy.  Please complete post by next Tuesday evening, before our Wednesday class.

Blog #2 on Antigone: Choose your Essay Topic and Give Supporting Arguments Here

There are three topics in your course pack on Antigone.  You should choose one and find three scenes in the play that will help you develop your essay.  In your blog (post here at bottom of page)

> state your thesis or claim you are going to argue/defend

>give and summarize three pieces of evidence (scenes) from the play (give quotations, page numbers; explain what the scene is about that you are discussing in your argument)

>include relevant quotes in your blog which should be about 300-400 words.  The final essay due September 26 should be 600-800 words.

Exampleof opening paragraph that announces thesis and explains situation (briefly), providing examples to be developed:

  Antigone is facing a difficult decision: she wishes to bury her brother against the command of the King, Creon. Antigone and Creon have conflicting values: Creon values the laws and the survival of the state; he believes he must take a strong position to be trusted as a new leader.  Therefore he decides that one of the brothers, Eteocles, must remain unburied. Creon, it becomes clear, is concerned about his reputation and his power. Antigone stands up to Creon, announces she is willing to die and commits suicide, all in the name of the gods. Antigone's position is the morally correct one.  First, she is loyal to her family and is guided by her belief that is better to die honorably than to allow her brother to be eaten by dogs.  Second, she believes that the laws of the gods are higher laws than the laws of the state.  Thjird, Antigone's passion for ethical behavior towards her family and obedience to the gods is morally superior to that of Creon.

Blog # 1:Beginning Research on Trayvon Martin

Stop and Frisk: High School Senior Video 

  For your first blog for English 103, The Research Paper, please google the Trayvon Martin case and respond in the blog here in class, September 10.  We will screen the Stop and Frisk Video and discuss it to give you ideas.  Your blogs for The Research Paper may be expanded and included in your essay, so think of each blog as a possible draft of what may become an essay :).

1. Research one of the issues or questions or laws we discussed today: at beginning of your blog state what issue you are researching.
2.  Summarize important points the article or video presents (put link in your blog and include brief quotations).
3. Describe your personal response to the issue and identify what we should consider or question in this case.  For example, what laws, policies, behaviors, attitudes need to change?  For what reasons was Zimmerman found not guilty?  How did Stand Your Ground policy affect what happened in this case?

IMPORTANT:make sure your name appears above your blog (so you are signed in).

Posted by Dr VAN at 9:27 AM No comments:

Welcome to Your Liberal Arts Cluster: Reason Passion Revenge and Justice

Please create a gmail account if you do not have one and send me your email address so I can invite you to this blog: http://reasonjusticecluster.blogspot.com

All texts for English Composition are contained in your Coursepak: you may purchase the Coursepak in NEKO, the print shop located in the basement of the B building.  You should bring this Coursepak to our second day of class.

Mondays and Thursdays: 1:00-3:15: English Composition

Wednesdays: 10:30-11:30 Team Taught Hour: English and Philosophy

Wednesdays: 11:45-2:00: Research and Writing in Computer Lab

Essays and Due Dates for English Composition:

Essay #1: Antigone—due Thursday September 26

Essay #2: on Trifles—due Thursday October 17

Essay #3: on Short Story—due Thursday October 31

Essay #4: on Laramie Project—due Thursday November 14

Essay #5: on Disgrace—due Thursday December 12 (FINAL)

Assignments and Due Dates for The Research Paper:

(Wednesdays: 11:45-2:00)

Your research essay for this course will focus on the Trayvon Martin Case.  It will be a staged essay consisting of the following parts, each receiving partial credit:

1.     gathering of information to be shared on our blog

2.     group work focusing on key aspects of the case and oral presentations

3.     policy paper thesis and summary of main arguments (including critique of opposition)—due October 10

4.     annotated bibliography of 4-6 sources—due October 24

5.     policy paper draft 1 for peer critique in class—due November 7

6.     policy paper revised with correct MLA documentation: due November 22

On Wednesdays there will be readings and film screenings related to the Race and Prejudice in America including the film: Rosewood (about white woman who falsely accuses black man of rape); excerpts from Eyes on the Prize, including story of Emmet Till and acquittal of KKK; film, Mississippi Burning, about murder of civil rights workers in the 1960’s.

Team Taught Hour: Wednesdays 10:30-11:30

In this hour your English and Philosophy professors will connect readings, themes and issues related to the course theme; your theatre professor will also participate in this hour when available.  The purpose of this hour is to enhance your critical thinking and by extension your essays in all your courses.  The focus or theme for each week is listed at the beginning of each week in the English course syllabus.  Topics will include definitions of reason, passion, justice and revenge; ideas about evil and its origins; how we justify our positions; different perceptions of virtue and vice; how we arrive at forgiveness and love.