Thursday, March 17 2011: HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!
Notes by: Cali Mangel
-Check in
The class answered the question: What is the significance of the relationship between Ben and John with the gang?
-Hannah L: The only relationship that Ben feels fully comfortable, Ben is capable of feeling happiness and love --> not a demon. Harriet said that Ben looked happy with Ben, Ben followed a lot of things that John did. Ben never tried to hurt John, Ben hurt the tree instead. John recognized that Ben was something normal.
-Nicole: The relationship was a little brotherly in the beginning, but then she thought it was father-son. Ben never really had a father, only a mother. John seemed to care for him, calmed him down, never pressured him, never discipline him.
-Allie: Ben was comfortable with John because he first saw John in the yard, which is where Ben liked to be. John was unaware of what Ben could be and could do. More open to Ben.
-Alexa: Ben liked John a lot because John was the only person who associated with Ben (except doctors and teachers), accepted him, without judging him.
-Kristine: Everyone outside of the family, is tainted with judgment
-We read page 94, and discussed it. Harriet saw Ben HAPPY! However, Ben was treated rudely, called names by the gang and accepted it and was okay with it. Ben enjoyed being with the gang.
-What is Ben capable of emotionally? Ben is capable of rage, fear, happiness (some), making other people afraid.
-How does Ben learn? He learns by watching and doing things. Closer to an animal than a human, right?
-We read short parts of the book on page 116 & 130 (130= Harriet imagines a life with Ben and his ancestors, categorized as physical Ben and social Ben).
-We have to see what Ben is in our papers. Take our descriptions from our nights reading, and put it in our paper to prove what he is.
-We read page 117-118, Harriet's understanding (Harriet isolated herself from her family and chose to rescue Ben from the institution against David's wants). These pages show what Ben means to them as parents.
--> Why do bad things happen... Rather than looking at the cause, you look at other things (Karma) that have nothing to do with the topic. A way of thinking that is very dangerous. Example: If an earthquake happened, you would think that the Earth was mad at you. (Obviously, we know now that that isn't the reason for it because we have science to tell us).
-Alexa: You can't expect to be happy all the time. :) Hannah L: What should they do? Expect to be SAD? ;(
Silva: Depends on the situation we're in. She believes in science, but if there wasn't science, she wouldn't know because she thinks in the middle of the above bullet.
-WHY ME? WHY US? There are people who believe in this.
ESSAY:
Argument: Ben means _______(society)_______.
What is he? ____ _____ ______ _____ ______ _______.
If you did society: you have to make a case to make people see that Ben is established by doctors, schools, and family.
There is a lot of evidence, look at the little details along the book.
Harriet is saying that the more comfortable Ben gets, the more violent he is getting. Harriet thinks that he will be dedicated to society.
ESSAY IS DUE THURSDAY BY NOON (12 PM) ON TURNITIN.COM!!!!
End of our week check- in.
You will have class time on Monday (70 min period) and Tuesday (45 min period) to work on our essays.
Have by Monday: An argument (this doesn't mean topics), as if you were writing each paragraph. Make an outline for the essay with textual support!
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Tuesday March 15
broke into four groups to discuss Ben
language about him
his physical appearance
the mental aspect of him and his intelligence
his social life
about the book
1. "vision" or plan for their lives "kingdom"
2. human beings can control their own lives
3. people deserve what they get/what happens to them
4. denial of impulses and drives that are irrational
Why do they send him away?
because he is tearing them apart
did it out of keeping the bigger picture in mind and for their happiness
harriet neglected her other children because of him
pg 74 "it's either him or us" "hes probably just dropped in from mars he going back to report on us"74 "hes a little child hes our child"74 David then says he is not his
page 81 has a description of the institution
where unwanted "damaged" children are left
while you are reading think about what ben means to the lovetts and society
READ 5 AND EDIT THE GOOGLE DOC
MOnday, MaRCH 14
Friday, March 11
Notes by Allison Carl
Check in
Chloe and Cali presented their project
Nicole, Melissa, and Hannah played Operation Frankenstein
Nicole won chocolate
Free write:What struck you most about Ben?
Kieran- When Ben broke his brother's arm
Taylor-
Alexa- Killing the animals and standing in the window
Allie R- How he acts
Hannah S- How he acts
Rachel- His behavior
Melissa- He would watch things. He didn't know if he was supposed to be doing what everybody else was doing.
Chloe- He was evil from the start.
Hannah L- Doesn't understand what went wrong. He doesn't feel remorseful when he does things.
Tori- When he killed the dog and the cat. He stalked the dog.
Conor- same a Kieran
David- He was just not normal.
Cali- Reminded her of Paranormal Activity. His strength.
Silva- His behavior. He is strong and yellowish.
Nicole- His behavior.
Kristine- Ben's nature is not normal. His strength, and watchfulness.
Alexa- He was almost neglected from the start.
Kristine- Ben thinks he is playing with the dog and kills it by accident. Is he really evil? Ben represents something.
We don't know what is inside Ben's mind.
Pg. 41-
Harriet thinks she has a creature inside of her.
Pg. 48- the birth of Ben
Harriet never says she loves Ben. She pities him.
Homework: Read #5 for Tuesday.
Wednesday, March 9
Notes by Rachel Scalzo
Check in
Free Write- Why is Appearance so Critical?
Responses:
Nicole- thought about when younger and saw gages, thought it was weird because not used to it, now it's not as big of a deal
Robyn- we want to fit into the norm of society, gotten to the point when we see someone we're afraid for them
David- association with a certain social group
Kristine- we're talking about people who do not fit the human template, not normal people on the street. Don't appear to be human, how we react when we see them
Hannah L- it's important because it's what attracts you to them. Bad appearance makes you uncomfortable.
Alexa- scared because it's the unknown, we don't know what it is. Relates to a kid from her childhood.
Essay Question: What is Ben??
Advice: keep notes about Ben (pregnancy, childhood, etc.) However we never hear Ben's point of view (like with the Creature)
Thursday: in class essay in the Rudin Lab (it's a long period) Bring your book and notes to help you
Homework: read #3 and 4 for Friday, get permission slips signed for Frankenstein Play (March 20th at Ambler Theater)
Question: What Kind of Life do the Lovatts want?
Cali- a calm, lavish life. Nice house, etc.
Melissa- have a huge house, the family always comes over to them for the holidays, envisioned all of their future children in their house, lots of children
Robyn- wants to have it all without always thinking of financial costs
Issues:
Melissa: family is there but supports reluctantly. Also their priorities. Family was more important than David's pride in taking his father's money.
Alexa: family thinks Lovatts don't think things through.
First issue: Harriet gets pregnant very quickly (p. 10) with the first child even though they wanted to wait two years, then have three other children in the next four years. Their ideal plan is taken away.
Why do we plan our lives?
David- we have passions, ambitions that we want to fulfill
Robyn- life will run more smoothly if we can plan it out.
Cali- plans make things easier. You know where you're going, what's going to happen
Melissa- helps you, makes you less nervous for what's to come. Preparation for the future, less scary.
Read p. 22 (Harriet's description of Sarah's baby)
Why do bad things happen to bad people?
Cali- Karma. Example --> If you slipped and broke your arm because you were teasing someone before the accident. Universe is bringing justice.
Allie R- Fate is what carries everything, everything happens for a reason.
Tuesday, March 8:
Notes by Kieran P. Locke
Themes for Frankenstein: Brainstorm:
Appearance does matter
Abandonment
Responsibility
Thinking before acting
Science and limits of Science
Nurture vs nature
Loneliness
Social/personal judgment
Acceptance
all of these themes are in The Fifth Child
Appearance:
Why is it so critical?
Bucci: First impressions; people see how people look and judge who they are. Its important because its the first association the person has of another.
Nicole: making a judgment based off of information.
Gabby: Appearance is the only way to make a estimation of who somebody is. me? not me? friend? foe?
Kristine: Associates similar appearances and makes a judgment
Cali: Appearances can decide the future you have with somebody
Human template: Freaks don't fit into this template. Threatening? Curious?
HW: Read #1 and #2 for The Fifth Child. Thursday class is in the lab
Monday, March 7: class presented Fstein projects; NEW READING: DO #1 IN FIFTH CHILD: SEE READING GUIDE UNDER HANDOUTS ON READING;
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: ANY STUDENT LEAVING EARLY FOR SPRING BREAK MUST MEET WITH KRISTINE ON TUESDAY, MARCH 8 AT BREAK IN ROOM 20.
Monday, Feb. 28 and all week: work on Fstein projects in class: Due Date is Monday, March 7. Check "Commentary" under Homework for evaluation standards.
Friday, February 25: debate on companion for creature;
Homework: Bring in one question about novel you want to answer. Work on projects each day and night next week. Projects due on Monday, March 7.
English 10 Level 3 Notes, February 24, 2011: Hannah Levy
10 things that you noticed were the same in the movie and the book
Talked about the way the film was structured and about how the novel was honored in the parody "Young Frankenstein"
the Creature is afraid of fire and is afraid of the cigarette lighter
The blind man scene --> funny
Creature is never referred to as a monster
Alexa: liked the part with the Constable at Frederic's house and they play darts
Kristine: song and dance was funny and silly
Frederic gives the creature half of his brain
Parody- what would have happened had he been next door to a different set of cottagers, if the Creature had been gay there would have been a happy ending, could play basketball and be discovered by Nike and make sneakers
Quotes: Lift the character of the Creature by choosing quotes that are critical to your understanding of the Creature
Reviewed the quotes (2 of them)
Read quotes with vigor and feeling and emotion!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rachel stands on chair and reads quote to David on floor *claps&snaps*
Allie stands on chair and reads different quote to David on floor
Cali stands on chair and reads TWO different quotes with so much emotion! to David on floor
Nicole screams WOOHOO! YEAH!
Kieren warms up to read a quote to David on floor and then does it minutes later
Alexa reads quote to David on floor
EVERYONE READS QUOTES TO DAVID ON FLOOR!
(David was reenacting Frankenstein)
Hannah & Nicole read quotes (go around in circle and people read their quotes that they chose to best represent the Creature)
CLOSE THE CLASS: DIVISION FROM GABBY TO TAYLOR TO CREATE ARGUMENT FOR WHY HE SHOULD AND WHY HE SHOULD NOT CREATE A FEMALE COMPANION FOR THE CREATURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ORDER! ORDER! IT IS JUDGE KRISSY'S COURTROOM!
no inclass essay tomorrow!
HOMEWORK: COME IN WITH TYPED UP ARGUMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ADD TO IT IF YOU HAVE MORE ARGUMENTS!
YOU WANT TO MAKE THE BEST CASE! add to your arguments and answer the question:
Why doesn't Victor kill the Creature when he has the chance?/Why does the Creature say he's going to kill himself?
Wednesday, FEb. 22
Notes By: Tori Gingrich
What Struck People Most:
Rachel - How intelligent the creature was
Melissa- His emotions and how he reacts to things, how they both have a handicap. The Creature has his appearance handicapped and Felix is blind.
Allison- How intelligent he is and how complex his emotions are
Chloe- How quickly he had caught on
Conor- How he can understand and how he feels things
Cali- How Safie and Felix had accepted him
Allie- The Creature never really knew Felix was blind, Felix said it didn't matter what he looked like because it didn't really make a difference.
Importance Of Creation Scene:
Nicole- Before creation scene, victor is saying that he is going to be "god" and people will admire him. He realizes it isn't what he expected.
Allie - His moment of truth, he really wanted it. He also created a huge issue.
Cali- Turning point for the book, climax/starts the book.
Alexa- Huge piece of the book missing if the creation scene was not there. People would wonder how he had made the Creature.
Kieran - Obsessed with creating the Creature then when he does create it, he's scared of it. Kind of a change in mindset.
Why would Victor be repelled?
Melissa- It's not a baby, he created a man.
Cali- Maybe he thought it wouldn't work and if it does people would admire him
Allie- wasn't expecting it to work, afraid of his ability to do something like that (create the Creature). Realizes it's a living thing.
What's the significance of the dream?
Rachel- Victor is afraid of Elizabeth dying.
Gabby- Because of his loneliness, he was looking for someone to spend time with. He expected the Creature to be on his intellectual level.
Nicole- Victor is a "bringer of death".
Homework:
Lift out 10 quotes about the creature that best represent his character and type them up for tomorrow!
Make the quotes LARGE.
Also, on Friday, we have an in-class writing.
Wednesday, February 16
Read the creation scene allowed and discussed elements that should be in a movie. Then watched several "creation" scenes to see other movie versions.
For Homework: do readings #5 and #6 over the weekend.
Tuesday, February 15th, 2011
Notes by Gabrielle Garza
Moment of Silence
Check in
Quick Writing: What struck you about Victor's life?
Conor: Chemistry scene in novel, what struck him is how it changed Victor.
Nicole: His life and childhood (what perceived as a "Mad Scientist") was normal and ordinary. He just was obsessed with something.
Kieran: How inquisitive he was in his childhood.
Kristine: Relation between his childhood curiosity and scientist obsession
Alexa: Mother's death changed him drastically.
Taylor: How he's interested in things that are "forbidden" or "frowned upon"
Hannah: What his mother said on her deathbed, how she wanted him and Elizabeth to marry WEIRD.
Tori:
Hannah: How much his mother's deathwish changed him. He ignored his mother and instead left home and isolated himself and became lonely.
Rachel: Similar to Nicole, childhood and early life struck her. He grew up in a luxurious home with a great family, but grew up to become an obsessed scientist.
Melissa: Had a drive of making discoveries and figuring how things worked. He wanted to expand his knowledge and science became more than a childhood hobby, but more like his entire existence depended on it.
Allison: Interesting how motivated he was (even as a child) to read about scientists and explore the realm of science.
Chloe: Childhood life was perfect but Victor made an extreme change to "mad scientist"
Cali: How much his mother's death affected him. After she died, his mindset seemed to change once more and his experimentations became more and more important to him.
Allie: Started off with a close-lived family to Victor living alone.
Robyn: After mother's death, knowledge of science skyrocketed and science became his entire life
Silva: How involved he became in science more and more throughout his life
David: Family dynamics were weird. How mother wanted Victor and Elizabeth to marry
Kristine: was a curious person/child. "Fell for science" (23) Only desired to learn the secrets of heaven and earth. Fell in love with science as a child.
ELIZABETH:
"Everyone loved Elizabeth" She was adopted.
Victor felt that he possessed her and that she was "his." His to keep, to protect, to cherish for himself.
Cali attempts to prove that Victor was indeed "obsessed" with science even as a kid.
Kristine proves her wrong.
Melissa: Motives for pursuing science throughout his life.
What are Victor's motives?
Kristine: Motives are- conquering death
Understood a secret- he's able to animate lifeless matter. (bring the dead back to life)
Why does Victor go on this quest to conquer death?
Cali: He's curious (pg 37)
Kristine: Page 33 "Pioneer a new way, explore new powers, and unfold to the world the mysteries of creation. I will discover the secrets of life."
Melissa: Knowing it's challenging and wanting to conquer those challenges.
Kristine: Page 38 "Life brought to me ideal bounds which i must break through and bring a torrent of life into our dark world." We have boundaries of life, but Victor says they're only IDEAS and not REALITY. He's going to conquer death.
Kristine: Top page 39: "A new species would bless me as its creator and source. Many happy creatures and nature would know what it means to me."
What does this mean?
Conor: It must be God
Kristine: Taking on a God-Like role
"No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as i should deserve theirs." (The new species he's creating)
Pro-creating in a very different way.
David: Wants to learn more?
Nicole: Wants the reward of creating that species?
Kristine: NO. LOL.
Kristine: Says, "I'm going to be God and create this species" and "I'm going to have these children and they will obey me."
He wants the glory of expanding human knowledge.Wants to create a species, wants to play the role of father in that species.
Melissa: Victor is making this choice for the species, the species have no choice in their creation.
Cali: He didn't fully think it through or consider the consequences or a possible negative outcome of his experiment
Melissa: MAYBE there's a reason that people die, Victor may be intervening in nature and the way life and the world is.
Kristine: Victor is operating out of EGO. It's all about Victor. "I will be a creator. They will be grateful to me. I will be glorified. I will make great scientific discoveries." It's all about ego. He's intervening where he doesn't belong.
For Tomorrow:
Read creation scene (5,6,7,8) Read very carefully. Tells us some things, doesn't tell us how it happens. Suspend all understanding from the movies.
Tomorrow: Kristine will show us 4 or 5 different creation scenes. Every director has their own image of creation. Think about YOUR version.
Monday, February 14:
Notes by David Di Bucci
Moment of Silence
Check in
Kristine handed back Frankenstein Pre - Questions
Talked about events that we are doing as a class
Watching movie in class: February 23 3:15 - 5:00
Seeing the play live: Sunday March 20 at Ambler Theater
Watched letters part from movie (part that we read over the weekend)
Writing about Walton: Affect of the setting on you
Robyn: it is obvious that he is an adventurer, since it was cold Victor nurtured him back to health
Allie: The affect was dangerous
Hannah L. : Make them more vulnerable, only thing they have to rely is themselves
Rachel: Represented Scientists: Not going to put out after problems: Driven
Chloe: Victor only one who wants do something dangerous
How do we perceive Victor?
Nicole: Gentleman
Cali: Very nice
Rachel: Thinks he is super smart
Melissa: Lonely, Benefiting mankind, sacrificing himself for the world
What is glory? What do people pursue glory
Cali: Fame
Taylor: Accepted by people
Kristine: Catching people's attention
Allie: Glory/Fame different things
Example of somebody who was glorious in history?
Kieran: Columbus
Kristine: Washington
Nicole: Lincoln: One thing????? = Civil war
One word describing Walton in book
Chloe: Determined
Conor: Lonely
Kieran: Adventurous
Nicole: Gentleman
Allie: Caring
Gabby: Independent
Robyn: Desperate
Hannah S. : Seeking
Taylor: Passionate
Silva: Curious
Melissa: Desire/Considerate
Rachel: Driven
Allison C. : Ambitious
Cali: Generous
Kristine: Warned
Page 15: "You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes...."
Madness
Think about why mad scientist would be an image which would be important?
Kieran: Make the movie more interesting: Dramatic Affect
Nicole: New thing making a person, kind of mad, building a person from things you find around
Kristine: Mad scientist is beyond understanding, people fear science, you have to be crazy to do that through science, why is putting body parts of somebody else mad?
Conor: willing to sacrifice anything
Taylor: Victor is doing something out of the ordinary, general idea is people explore
Silva: Willing to take a risk
Rachel: Driven to explore like Victor he doesn't understand disaster
HW: Read 2nd part
February 11: read #3 informal writing; discussed moral and ethical issues raised by scientific experimentation; class turned in Fstein pre-reading Question for review; if you have not turned it in, email piece to Kristine
HOMEWORK: READ #1 in Reading Guide IN FRANKENSTEIN
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February 10, 2011:
read informal writing:
read #1 "outsider" and then responded;
read #2 responsibility and then responded to the question of what makes us feel some sense of responsibility? (class brainstorm)
-"instinct" of protectiveness
-maternal-like/ like animals
-love/ affection
-obligation/ duty
-your "work" "fault" "part of" "involvement"
-guilt
-Idea of: "taking" is "being"
-nature
-action or choice
-mutuality or abstract connection
Not Responsible:
-limit: boundary
-no action
-limit: feeling
NO HOMEWORK
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FEBRUARY 9, 2011: PREVIEW OF FRANKENSTEIN
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February 7, 2011: No class. You must write a response to one of the questions under Pre-Reading on Frankenstein.
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February 4, 2011
Class read informal writing and then turned in all writings. If you were not in class, you MUST Turn in all work on Monday. No other homework.
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February 3, 2011
class wrote a reflection on reptutation, no. 13 on the informal writing list
Due tomorrow: in hard copy in class: #1, #2, #3 or 4; #5 or 6; #7, 8, or 9
February 2, 2011
by Alexa bowman
read 3/4 pieces
3- marrying someone of the same religion.
4- two couples who come from different worlds
Cali- grown up in Jewish household, not sure what to do if she fell in love with someone who's not Jewish
Hannah L- Deffinitly marry someone Jewish but not always date a Jewish boy
Taylor- dad's side of the family told him to marry black girl. Family "racist" mom and step mom both white or parochially white. Taylor would date either. race does make an impact but not enough to destroy a relationship
Kieran- doesn't matter who they are the only matter is love. There isn't a reason to not marry someone because of their religion. Main theme is LOVE.
Alexa- would like to marry Christian like herself but wouldn't oppose to non-Christian.
Tori- most of the time people marry a person of the same religion. All that matters is that people love each other, doesn't matter what they look like or what race they are. Told to marry a person that is like her. Annoyed because relatives wouldn't even give a person a chance.
Allison- Different ethnicity doesn't matter. never gone to church. Religion has never played a big role in my life so it doesn't matter.
David- Uncle wealthy from America, aunt born in Italy. It may cause a clash because they grew up in different areas. Important to take from both worlds. Real Italian v.s Italian American. Aunt and Uncle make it work. Biggest issue with them is Uncle is more laid back. Aunt is more strict.
Gabby- always ways to make a relationship run smooth. Aunt and Uncle, aunt from buffalo 1 outta 4. Uncle from Japan. Relationships are difficult when people are separated by thousand of miles. Had to choose a side to move to, they chose to move to Japan. Aunt had to throw away everything for the guy she loved (learn Japanese, dive into their culture.) hardest adjustment is the language, esspecially on the telephone because you can't see the other person.
Hannah S- Greys Anatomy. Guy is the boss of the girl who is an Asian intern. Afraid he wouldn't like her if he saw the real side. Hannah liked a guy over the summer who was opposite of her, loud outspoken. Girls love bad asses, love guys who is out spoken.
Conor- Avatar. Jake is from Earth. Girl is from another planet. literally from two different worlds. One has a tail. Have a lot of the same values which makes them so compatible.Jake has fallen in love with her. He becomes an alien and lives an alien life and even after that he still chooses her.
NO HOMEWORK
TOMORROW GO RIGHT TO THE LAB!! (work on grammar)
January 25, 2011
by Kristine
We read our #1 pieces aloud and then wrote a reflection. Homework for tomorrow is #2 on the list.
January 24, 2011
By Melissa Spiro
Home Work: informal writing 2 (second semester) first one. Talking about something you have done wrong the cut off age is 7. Look on the web site for more detail about writing. Focus on the feelings behind the action.
It doesn’t have to be criminal just something you felt in your gut that was wrong,
Options:
Lying
Steeling
Braking curfew
Reading someone else’s diary
Hitting someone
Fighting
If you cant remember a specific instance try to get in touch with the feelings!
If you do it, it’s not wrong? Something to think about.
Due tomorrow