Monday, March 25th, 2013

Greetings,

I hope you are enjoying spring break so far.

You will notice on the syllabus that there is an assignment due on Wednesday, April 3rd, when you return to campus. You are to watch a TED Talk online. It is a video that runs a little less than 18 minutes. Please take notes as you watch since you will not have the time to view it in class. The link to the video is provided below.

"The Myth of the Gay Agenda"
http://www.ted.com/talks/lz_granderson_the_myth_of_the_gay_agenda.html

Also, as you already know, out of class essay #2 is due on April 3rd as well. Please be sure to review all the details about how to submit your essay.

See you on the 3rd!

Tuesday, March 19th--1 pm

Greetings,

A few reminders:

Tomorrow there is In Class Essay #1 and Quiz #4 on MLA Documentation.

Also, remember to bring your five sample bibliography cards and five sample notecards to class. I will be checking those while you are completing the essay and quiz. These sample cards will replace In Class Writing Response #3 and is worth 50 points.

2nd posting for Sunday, March 17th--5:30 pm

Hello again,
I just realized that I have not posted a copy of Out of Class Essay #2 here on the blog. So...here it is.

English 11, Spring 2012

OUT OF CLASS ESSAY ASSIGNMENT #2

Assigned: Wednesday, March 6

Optional Rough Draft Due (no later than) Monday, March 18 (Note Cards and Bibliography Cards are not required when submitting a rough draft).

Final Draft Due: Wednesday, April 3

Focus: Chapter 2: Between Perceptions (in our text, Between Worlds)

Readings Assigned in Between Worlds:

“If the Genes Fit” Dan Neil

“Black Men and Public Spaces” Brent Staples

“Discrimination at Large” Jennifer a. Coleman

“O.K., So I’m Fat” Neil Steinberg

“ ‘Diabesity,’ ” A Crisis in an Expanding Country” Jane E. Brody

“Bodily Harm” Pamela Erens

************************************************************************************

ESSAY TOPIC:  Discrimination

Select a group of people (that you are interested in learning more about) who experience discrimination.

Conduct research in order to discover why they are discriminated against and how it impacts their lives.

Your thesis (underlined) must be an assertion.

For example:

Overweight people have always faced discrimination, but today, when eating healthy is more emphasized than ever, fat people suffer the most from the hateful attitudes of society.

Possible Topics to Select:

obesity

extreme thinness

dwarfs

physical disability

mental disability

Latino/Latina

Asian

Caucasian

Gay/Lesbian/Transgender/Bisexual

Requirements:

·      Essay must be in MLA format (this includes in-text citations and a Works Cited page)

·      A minimum of five outside sources must be utilized in the essay. (one or more of these sources CAN be from the chapter readings listed above, but you do not HAVE to use any of them.)

·      You may not use Wikipedia for a primary resource.

·      Essay must be submitted in a large envelope with the following:

--Final Draft

--Rough Draft (s) with my comments (optional)

--Note Cards (4”x6”), banded or clipped together, in the order the material appears in the essay

--Bibliography Cards (3”x5”), banded or clipped together, in the order the material appears on the Works Cited page

THIS ESSAY IS WORTH A TOTAL OF 200 POINTS (100 points for content and organization; 100 points for MLA Documentation).

Sunday, March 17th--10 am

Hello,

here are the notes from the Group Work brainstorming last Wednesday on obesity.

What are the traits, habits and values we observe and or know about overweight people?

• comfortable
• lazy
• can be genetic
• insecure
• women may be more conscious of the issue
• hilarious
• in some countries, obesity is very accepted, and even encouraged
• eating for comfort
• embarrassed/shameful
• will commit to being on TV shows
• they get picked on
• they do not talk a lot
• they avoid eating in front of others
• difficult to find a partner for a serious relationship
• make fun of themselves
• sensitive
• eat unhealthily
• athletic
• slow
• obnoxious
• attract attention to themselves
• sweaty
• experience difficulty shopping
• get stared at
• sleep a  lot
• either really nice or mean and agressive
• high cholesterol
• become tired quickly
• unattractive
• unhappy/depressed
• afraid to fail/paranoid
• shy
• lie about how they feel about themselves
• less judgmental
• some would do anything to lose the weight
• joke about their weight
• bulimia/ anorexia
• scared to "face" the scale
• their condition may be genetic
• emotional eating
• more chances of health issues
• miserable

Wednesday, March 13, 2013--9:30 pm

Greetings,

Below you will find links to two articles that comprise the reading assignment due to be read on Monday. Be sure to either print out copies to bring to class, or bring an electronic device so you can gain access in class.

"How are Atheists Discriminated Against?"
http://atheism.about.com/od/attacksonatheism/p/AtheistBigotry.htm

"6 Outrageous Incidents of Discrimination against Non-Believers"
http://www.alternet.org/belief/6-outrageous-incidents-discrimination-against-nonbelievers
************************
A few reminders too:

1. Optional Rough Draft for Out of Class Essay #2 due on Monday
2. Remember to bring a blue or green book to class on Wednesday for our first In Class Essay.

Have a wonderful and safe weekend.

Sunday, March 10th--6 pm

Greetings,

I just finished a phone conversation with my mother. My dad has developed some complications from the surgery. I am heading down to the bay area in a few moments.

I apologize but I will have to cancel class tomorrow. I have never had to cancel two classes in a semester.....thank you so much for your understanding and patience.

I will definitely be in class on Wednesday. Writing Response #2 and Group Work #2 will both occur on Wednesday.

Monday, March 4, 2013--5 pm

Hello everyone,

thank you so much to those who wished my father well in his surgery this morning. It appears that all has gone well and he is recovering as expected so far.

Just a few reminders.

1. for those who showed up to class today because you had not read my posting from last Thursday about class being cancelled, I am so sorry for the inconvenience. However, at least now perhaps you will remember to stay more current on the blog.

2. when you submit Out of Class Essay 1 on Wednesday, be sure to include the planning as well. (we discussed a handout and you worked on the planning in class.) It is part of the assignment. Also, if you submitted a rough draft, please also submit that as well with my comments.

3. be sure to refer to the syllabus for the reading assignments due to be read Wednesday.

Be safe. See you Wednesday.