Transformation and "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings"

During today, we had a difficult and complex discussion about various aspects of "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings."  We considered a number of topics: 1) The Role and Symbolism of the Angel, 2) The Role and Symbolism of the Spider Woman, 3) The Transformation or Lack thereof in the any of the main characters or townspeople, 4) The Purpose of Characteristics of Magical Realism in the story, and 5) Ideas behind what it means to call the story "A Children's Fable."  Choose one of these concepts or another concept of your choice and explain how your view of it changed during the critical conversation, after it, and in later reflection.  How did this affect your understanding/interpretation of the story overall?  Please respond thoughtfully with both analysis and personal reflection in AT LEAST TEN well-written sentences.

Essays and their Effectiveness

So, this is probably the shortest blogpost you'll respond to all year. We argued passionately about what we each considered to be the most effective essay we've read so far. Our debate centered around two or three essays, but there are a number of strong essays that we might not have discussed. Name the two essays that you found the most effective of the essays we have read thus far (they can include any of the essays we discussed today and any you'd like to choose that we didn't mention.).  You just need to name the two essays you want to choose as the most effective.

The Principles and Goals of Harkness Critical Conversations Going Forward

Today we used the Harkness Method officially for the very first time. We will use it a good deal going forward during this year. At the beginning of the class, we mentioned focusing on three points: 1) Posture, 2) Engagement, and 3) Looking at the Class. Given that we will be using this method and you've now had a chance to begin to use it as a group for 9-10 minutes, please reflect on what principles and "rules" (i.e., posture, engagement, etc.) you think that you as an individual and the group as a whole must focus on and develop to make our critical conversations even more effective? Please respond by offering THREE thoughtful ideas about what you think you AND the group must do together to improve our work in class even more. You can respond in bullet points, but if you are make sure they are complete sentences with a clear explanation of what you mean. Avoid using the things we focused on today unless you want to offer another level of reflection on them.

English and "Americans"

Today in class we considered the role that language plays in one's individual and cultural identity. We looked at this concept both in the essays we read, in the video we watched, and in our own observations about society. In a recent Gallup Poll, 79% (4 out of every 5 Americans) stated forcefully that it was ESSENTIAL for immigrants to learn English. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why? Please provide at least 10 thoughtful sentences justifying your answer while considering approaches from a political and social perspective.

The Rush and Perils of Infatuation

Today we discussed two concepts: religious belief and infatuation in preparation to discuss "Araby." How would you define infatuation in as detailed a way as possible? We are not asking you to identify a specific person or thing in response to this next part of the question, but how has infatuation affected you in your life? Describe the feelings you have experienced while infatuated and then how you feel if/when the period of infatuation ends. Please respond to this question and statement in AT LEAST 10 THOUGHTFUL SENTENCES. BE BOLD AND INSIGHTFUL.

Orwell the Hypocrite?

Orwell states that he was against the British in their oppression of the Burmese. However, Orwell himself was British, and in his role as a police officer he was part of the oppression he is speaking against. How can he be against the British and their empire when he is a British officer of the empire? Please make sure you cite at least two sentences or passages and that you write AT LEAST TEN thoughtful sentences of reflection and analysis.

The Death Penalty and the Debate Over "Affirming Life"

In section 4 of his essay "Death and Justice," former New York City Mayor Ed Koch argues that capital punishment does not "cheapen the value of human life," but rather "It is by exacting the highest penalty for the taking of human life that we affirm the highest value of human life." At the same time, David Bruck states in the sixth paragraph of his essay "The Death Penalty," that "For those who had to see the execution of J.C. Shaw, it wasn't easy to keep in mind that the purpose of the whole spectacle was to affirm life." Which statement do you agree with and why? In approximately ten thoughtful sentences in which you cite at least one line of text from one of the articles, let us know. Feel free also to take into consideration both points we made in class and the short articles that I sent in this e-mail today.