Today in class we heard from three students: Patrick, Tomas and Ciara. They read their essays to the class and we gave comments. Tomorrow we will do the same, so bring in hard copies of your essay. I'd like students to learn to use the comment tool in Microsoft Word. We will practice on Thursday. Finish reading the book: Elements of Style by Wednesday's class. There will be a quiz.

Also in the earlier class, the freewrite was a reflection on "A Day without Immigrants" protest tomorrow throughout the nation.

Hamlet
In the second class, English 1A, 9-10 a.m. we read from Hamlet. We are now on Act 1, Scene 3 in this class. We have a lot to cover so come on time to class so we can start on time.

Portfolio
Students looked at samples of portfolios from other classes I've taught. The basic format is similar, the only difference is this semester students will submit their portfolios on disc or CD for later posting to the blog. I am working out the kinks, if anyone has any expertise in this area, I'd love assistance.

I added a comment from Davey D, a noted scholar on hip hop culture, which analyzes the whole Stop Snitchin' phenomenon to the April 24 post, as well as a link to a discussion on Hard Knock Radio (KPFA 94.1 FM). I put the link next to the CBS link. No one has commented on the issue in writing, although the in-class discussions have been thought-provoking and lively. Please feel free to comment when you have a moment at the 4/24 post.

We will write the Frankenstein essay in class Monday, May 10. Prepare an outline with citations noted. Bring it in with you. We will write the essay in the Writing Center. I'll meet you upstairs at 8 a.m. The door will be unlocked come inside.

Monday, April 30, the next draft of your research essay is due, the final draft is due Thursday, May 3. Email the essay to yourself and bring in a hardcopy. We will continue reading from Hamlet and discuss Elements of Style, which I want students to complete reading by Thursday, May 3. Today is a good day to catch up. Friday the Writing Center closes early (748-2132). I am not available for assistance this weekend (4/27-4/30) on papers via the Internet or phone.

Read http://www.counterpunch.org/reed04242007.html by Thursday, May 3. We will analyze it in class next week. Ishmael Reed, noted author and Bay Area resident scholar, (he's a retired UC Berkeley English professor), provides a thorough analysis of Imus' recent comments as a symptom of a problem this country has yet to face: the bigotry and racism within American media reflects the bigotry and racism within American society.

It is a long article with a lot of references you probably are unfamiliar with. Give yourself at least one hour to read it with pen in hand. Bring your annotated copy into class, you will need your notes.

The cyber essay is due Monday, May 7. We will write the Frankenstein essay in class.


Re: Day without Immigrants, Tuesday, May 1. If you decide to attend the protest march, it will be an excused absence. If anyone has any data about the march such as articles on its significance, why May 1, and logistical information, please post as a comment here.


Other announcements:
Wednesday, May 2 is "An Evening with Spike Lee," recipient of the Film society's Directing Award, conversation at the Castro Theatre, 429 Castro street, (near Market) in San Francisco. BART and the street car (also located in the BART stations) is an easy way to get there. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. The cost is $25, $20 for Festival members. Visit www.sffs.org or call (925) 866-9559 for tickets and information.

Also on Wednesday, May 2, at the Commonwealth Club of Northern California is Granta's Best: Best of Young American Novelists 2: Judy Budnitz, Anthony Doerr, Yiyun Li, Maile Meloy, ZZ Packer, and Paul Yamazaki, 5:30 reception followed by the program from 6-7. There is a book signing afterwards. The club is at 595 Market Street (at Second), in San Francisco. The cost is $12 for members, $18 for non-members. For reservations call (415) 597-6705.

Other assignments
I will go over the portfolio guidelines with you next week also and give you the questions by Monday, May 7, so you will have adequate time to prepare. The final in this class is a presentation of your paper to your peers and the portfolio. You do not read your paper to us. The presentation is given on the day of the final. Check your syllabus for the date or the schedule of classes, Spring 2007.

I forgot to mention yesterday that we are reading Hamlet. The cast varies daily, so be prepared to participate: have throat sprays handy. We are in two different places depending on the class: 8-9 a.m. pp. 17; 9-10 pp. 27 where Hamlet exits.

We spoke about the Don't Snitch code, which was the topic of the 60 Minutes episode Sunday, April 22. Jose made brought in four songs to share about this phonomena. We talked about it again. He let me borrow the CD he made with music from Lil'Wayne: "Snitch," Millionaire: "No Snitchin'," MacDre: "Stool Pidgeon," and Young Turk: "Letter from that World." We listened to the first one in class. Here is the link: http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=2715238n

Listen to the debate at http://www.kpfa.org/archives/index.php?arch=19554
(Interview starts 7:25 minutes into stream)


If you're interested in joining the conversation please feel free to post comments here after looking at the 60 Minutes tape. This can be extra credit if you leave your name and site sources in your comment.

In both classes we spoke about Dr. Victor Frankenstein's guilt. The question we will explore in the essay due Thursday, May 10 is: If Dr. Victor Frankenstein is guilty, what is he guilty of?

We made a list of several crimes or errs in judgment. We also spoke about whether or not one could say that by the end of the novel if all the projections that Frankenstein had indeed created a monster were true. Was his creature a monster?

Was the same true of its creator?

The answer to both was yes. However, you don't have to agree. (I have a strong personality and its hard sometimes for students to disagree with me, but I encourage it.)

One could look at children who are stigmatized or receive prejudicial treatment simply because they are poor, the "wrong" race, or the "wrong" gender. These children are often called "bad," "worthless," or even worse and what happens? The same thing that happened to the "monster," over time this malevolent treatment or name calling becomes flesh.

The reason this is so is because the one calling the names is often the one the child respects and loves. Reflect on the early days of the "monster's" life, before he had language, before he could read, before he knew what it meant to have family, then reflect on the lessons he learned in society about compassion and acceptance of difference.

Think about the way Dr. Frankenstein looked upon the peasants who were his caregivers at the jail. He is an ungrateful wretch, to borrow his language. These attitudes were what his creature met in a society that was not comfortable with difference, even when the despised character was kind and gentle to you as the creature was to Felix's family. Not even gentle Elizabeth who cried in alarm when she saw the monster in her room, was able to see his beautiful, if scarred, heart.

Frankenstein has issues. Look at how his appearance is described by Walton. Whenever things got difficult for him he conveniently grew faint, passed out, was unable to function, reason, think. This behavior was not expected of a scientist who is regarded as the more rational of the species.

The doctor has trouble facing the reality of what he has done, he becomes almost insane, or maybe he is insane if what Steven King says is true regarding why we crave horror movies:

"I think we're all mentally ill. those of us outside of the asylums only hide it a little better--maybe not all that much better, after all. We've all known people who talk to themselves, people who sometimes squinch their faces into horrible grimaces when they believe no on is watching, people who have some hysterical fear--of snakes, the dark, the tight place, the long drop...and of course, those final worms and grubs that are waiting so patiently underground."

What does the "monster" fear? I think he fears living without love. I think Dr. Frankenstein fears what people think of him, more than he cares about the safety of his loved ones. He seems to take their love for granted until no one is left who cares about him one way or the other. As he chases the monster through the cold regions risking his life, he does so because the monster is the only one left who cares about him so they play the silly came of catch.

Funny how the creature gets his dad in the end, because in the end everyone needs someone who cares about them or at least acknowledges them. Hate is certainly a powerful acknowledgement.

Cyber-Essay
Due May 7 by midnight
Choose 1 or 2

1. Look at the legislation on gun control, specific to handguns. Is the Virginia Tech incident a call for tighter controls on handgun possession or elimination?

2. In consideration of the shooting at Virginia Tech, should the federal government pass more stringent handgun laws? Respond in 250 word minimum essay by Monday, May 5, midnight. Please include your name and e-mail address.

The form should be the 3-part essay where you consider the thesis or pro-argument, the antithesis or con-argument and the synthesis or conclusion, the argument where the two sides meet. This argument should be 4 paragraphs.

Include your name, works cited (2-3 sources) and an e-mail address.

Today the defense and prosecution teams in the early class (8-9 a.m.) were missing key partners so instead of canceling the trial and rescheduling Judge Sabir decided that the litigators would all develop five (5) questions for Dr. Victor Frankenstein. Each student then shared the questions and afterwards one student (Tomas) volunteered to answer a question he recalled. This led to follow-up questions. Most questions were quite thoughtful and engaging.

Both classes post the questions here. Don't forget to include your name and e-mail address. We will continue the query Monday, April 23-24 in class and on-line. See below the question for Monday's free-write.

The next class (9-10) had sufficient team members present to begin. We started with the same free write; however, when most team members we present we began. (We did not share the questions.)

After the prosecution put the witnesses in the order they would be called, Judge Sabir put numbers in a hat to correspond to this order and team members on both sides at random were asked to pull numbers from the hat and answer questions. (Be prepared.)

The first witness called was Dr. Victor Frankenstein. The witness was ill-prepared so another team member was asked to assist (her). He was better prepared but having forgotten key points in the text, his answers were not substantive enough to win the argument presented by the prosecution that Victor Frankenstein was guilty as charged.

This went on and on for half an hour. The prosecution team's led litigator, Jeff asked pointed questions of the witness with follow-up questions from team members: Michael and Tatillius.

The response from students showed that though team members had developed questions they hadn't answered their own questions with citations from the text, nor had the defense anticipated the opposing side's position. This was a serious oversight. In preparation for a debate or an exchange of ideas, one should always anticipate the opposition and prepare for it, this is more important that one's own case.

The Monday, April 23rd free-write will look at Frankenstein's monster and the questions for him will be these:

1.If you had your life to begin over again, would you change any of your actions if nothing changed regarding Dr. Frankenstein's reception of you?

2.Did you consider Dr. Frankenstein's legitimate objections over your request for a mate, the number one issue --she might not like you, the second she might not agree to quit civilized society for the wilds, third, what if you have offspring? How could he believe you would keep your word when you had no control over yourself let alone another yet to be created or manufactured?

3.Do you feel society owes anything to you? If so, what is this?

Other homework: Bring in a draft of your Social Entrepreneur Essay. Don't forget to read the article on Muhammad Yunus. Second draft is due Wednesday. Third draft is due Monday, April 30. (I am thinking about giving you an extension and making the final draft due, Thursday, May 3.)

Consider is done.

The completed final draft should have been e-mailed to me before the class begins (8 or 9 a.m.) on Thursday, May 3. Late papers will not be read. I want to see the drafts, so don't forget to bring them in. We will have have a cyber free-write warm-up from Hamlet, so bring in your suggestions.

Bring the other drafts to class so we can workshop them.) Between the 2-3 draft, please go by the Writing Center and get a teacher or graduate student tutor to review your essay. Have the person sign and date the essay and write a comments: Show them the assignment and then prepare 3-5 questions in advance for him or her to answer, such as,

1.Is my thesis strong and well-developed?

2 Do I clearly state the problem?

3.Are you clear on what spurred my subject to start the project, who the target population is and what the measurable or tangible results were?

4.Is my evidence sufficient and clear?

5.Are there any areas of my essay where the grammatical error interfere with the meaning?

Bring in Hamlet for Tuesday/Wednesday. Bring Elements of Style to class, along with Hacker and a dictionary. Remember, we meet in L-235 on Thursdays, 4/26 classes are cancelled in the Peralta College District.

Preparation for the case
Students will be graded according to how well the argument is framed, if it is valid, how it is presented and the supporting evidence (5 points are possible for each category).

The case is both a child custody case and a murder trial. Is Dr. Victor Frankenstein guilty for the behavior of his creation?

Witnesses are: R. Walton (ship captain), M. Frankenstein (father), M. Waldman (chemistry teacher p. 32), Felix's dad (blind man).

Roles: Lead attorneys for both sides defense and prosecution

We will begin with opening arguments tomorrow. There will be a cyber-response exercise due at the completion of the trial to weigh the evidence and determine the guilt of innocence of Dr. Frankenstein and the sentencing.

Read Women's Brains and Walk on By for tomorrow.

Bring Hamlet to class on Monday, April 23. Over the weekend read two articles: one on Hamlet and the other on Shakespeare. Bring the articles in along with a brief summary of the articles. You can combine the two into a 500 word essay or two 250 word essays. Again, it is due 4/23. Classes are canceled Thursday, April 23. It is a teacher in service.

Beginning next week we will read Hamlet aloud in class for the first 40 minutes. Each day students need to bring in a topic for the free-write thematically connected to the text for posting. I will have a Hamlet entry for students to post to daily. I think we'll just meet in the lab (L-235) for the remainder of the semester then we can have access to the computers when we need to converse on-line. I'll confirm this with you.

Today in class students hadn't read What I've Learned from Men. We discussed the essay in the 9-10 class. In the earlier class we read it. No one had their Initial Planning Sheet to share. I suggest everyone develop a schedule for their research essay with due dates. See Hacker page 370 for a sample. Bring your completed schedule on Wednesday, April 18.

Students were encouraged to use the research guide and go to the college library and get assistance from the librarian to make certain they were on task. The assignment is posted on the website, make certain you print out a copy for yourself; there are due dates you need to note on your schedule.

We looked at the essay, What I've Learned from Men to cite what Frankenstein's creature learned from him, and how much of his actions reflect the personality of the doctor. We used the text to list the doctor's characteristics and then put stars next to those shared by his child, the monster.

In my English 201 class a student offered an insightful comment on the reason why he'd make his creature so frightful. He said: "Dr. Frankenstein was incapable of creating something of beauty because he was monstrous or ugly inside. He had an ugly spirit."

For homework students were to list evidence that supported Dr. Frankenstein's innocence and his guilt. Tomorrow we will write opening arguments. Students who have the number 1 are defending the doctor. He is not responsible for his creature's actions. Those who have the number two, are holding the doctor responsible for his creature's actions.

The setting is the present in the East Bay: The People of California vs. Dr. Victor Frankenstein. Other handouts are a Brent Staples' essay, an essay about women's brains, and a package containing philosophical writings on the "essay." Don't forget, on Thursdays we will meet in the writing lab (L-235-236) to workshop essays. This Thursday, bring in something you are working on for critique. Bring in a class set, about 10 copies. (If you need me to make copies give me a hardcopy by Wednesday.) You can also bring in published writing you think is an example of good writing. Be prepared to explain why: clearly stated thesis, great examples, structure is flawless, use of humor, great research, ease with a difficult topic, style, etc.

Last night on Frontline: World I saw a program about a micro-lending organization called KIVA where lenders who want to help small businesses in Uganda. Now KIVA is all over the world. All loans have been paid back 100 percent. Visit http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/uganda601/video_index.html to see the video.

The organization is in San Francisco. There is a link to other Frontline programs about Social Entrepreneurs. You need to have your introduction and conclusion written by next week, so at this point I'd suggest KIVA or 100 Families Oakland. You don't have time to keep looking so start. We will meet in the lab tomorrow also to discuss the social entrepreneur project and students who have already done such projects will share.

Homework tonight is to watch the press conference for the Rutgers Women's Basketball team. It was conducted yesterday and you can watch it here. There are two parts. Post the short essay (250 words) here. It is due by midnight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd6dsrxd_Qc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCRtBi25Bxg

Here is an interview with Imus and Rev. Al Sharpton. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5JdJnltdRg&mode=related&search=

I found some really interesting responses to Imus' comments and what should happen to him. Rev. Sharpton said the girls could forgive him, but forgiveness doesn't mean there are no consequences. Rev. Sharpton's analogy to his being stabbed by someone when he was protesting for civil rights, did not mean he didn't expect the man to do prison time was a great example of one accepting the consequences for one's actions, good or bad. If Imus didn't want to eventually lose his job he shouldn't have made these type of comments about black women not once, twice, but at least four times, according to the Leheur News Hour interview with journalist Clarence Page on Monday, April 9.

The question I want you to answer is: What is the temperature of the nation around comments like the newscasters? Should he resign or get fired? Why or why not?

By the way, this week is the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's integration of the baseball league.

Today we looked at a News Hour analysis of the Don Imus (MSNBC) anchor comments re: Rutger's Women's Basketball NCAA Championship game last week. We also read the essay "How to Speak of Animals" (handout). If you missed class or are unfamiliar with the controversy watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF9BjB7Bzr0

These remarks came on the anniversary of Title 9 legislation passed about ten years ago which made colleges and universities programs invest in women's sports the same as it invested money and resources into men's sports. This legislation was to encourage high school women to apply for athletic scholarships.

The question considered was: Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press. Does this freedom allow one to slander a particular person or ethnic group? What should be the consequences of such remarks?

For homework students were to respond to the question: Did Frankenstein's monster have prejudicial press like the children mauled to death at the Central Park Zoo (Eco essay)? Support your argument with examples from the text and from your own experience.

We will be developing opening remarks for the trial of Dr. Frankenstein vs. The Monster, this Thursday. Decide which roles you'd like to take and which argument you'd like to prove in the State of California vs. Victor Frankenstein: Frankenstein is guilty for the crimes his creature commits. The charge parental neglect.

The overall context is our theme Nature vs. Nurture.

Welcome Back
Today in class we read aloud sections from Frankenstein beginning in the early class with Chapter 9 (77), 10 (86-89), 16 (125), 20 (155-159). The question posed was to find sections where the creature was shown sympathetically. Most students hadn't read any of the book over the past week so were not able to participate. The attendance was low and so homework was to continue reading for Wednesday and to start working on the social entrepreneur assignment, the first part of which is due next week.

We are going to be looking at revision this week, as well as writing arguments on current event topics related to culpability for one's actions, such as the talk show host who recently maligned the Rutger's women basketball team. The call is for his resignation. When is an apology not enough?