Summative Response to East of Eden: Determinism vs. Free Will: Where do you stand?

In responding to the questions below, please reference the articles you read for homework, and use these articles to support your opinions.  

Do you believe in the concept of free will? Or do you think we are too influenced by those around us and by the way we have been raised to make decisions based on what we truly feel and believe?  How have you seen the concept of free will played out in your own life?  

A period The Scarlet Letter Seminar Response

Great job in seminar today. You got me thinking: If Hawthorne's goal was to build this super strong, independent character, then why does he make her seem so dependent on Dimmesdale's affection, respect, and presence in her life??

The Scarlet Letter - B period response to Socratic Seminar Day 1

Today in class, you did a great job discussing the idea of justice, judgement, and sin, and the fact that in regards to these three ideas, guilt can be personal.  I think we were moving towards the idea that guilt can also be defined differently:  as Sarah asked, "Do you think someone has to feel guilty in order to be guilty?"  I would even take this idea a step farther and ask you this:  can an institution bear guilt?  And again, I don't mean would/could it FEEL guilt - but could an institution be guilty because of its complicit role in any given situation?  Respond to this question in the comment section.  

P.S. I would encourage you to write this in a Google doc, then copy and paste it into the comments to avoid any mishaps with the Blog post.  (Just speaking from experience!)

The Danger of a Single Story: Ted Talk

http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story

Junot Diaz reading How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie

Gender in Literature & Media: Junot Diaz homework: Due 10.10.14

Please answer the following questions:

1)  In the short story "Ysrael," Diaz toys with the concept of deformities.  There is the obvious issue of Ysrael's physical deformity, but what other elements of the story could we attach to that word?  Do we always need to associate the term to a human physicality?  Explain, using examples from the text to support your ideas.

2) In "Fiesta, 1980," some human frailties are exposed.  Identify at least two characters who have some kind of weakness about them, and explain the purpose you think Diaz attaches those weaknesses to them.

Be prepared to discuss your responses in class during the Socratic Seminar.

 24 points!

American Literature: The Scarlet Letter

Question:  Is The Scarlet Letter a valuable teaching tool that should continue to be taught in American Lit classes in high school?  Why/why not?