The Best Text: recommendations for FALL 09 students

Which of the various texts we examined (book, novel or other) this semester meant the most to you personally, either emotionally or aesthetically? Share your comments/opinions/suggestions with the students who are going to take this course in the coming fall. (Anonymous comments will be deleted.)

Questions and ideas about your version of "Old Neighborhood"

Click "Comments" to ask for suggestions, give a preview or a synopsis of your version (outline only) of "My Neighborhood."

Questions and ideas about your version of "Old Neighborhood"

Click comment to ask for suggestions, give a preview or a synopsis of your version (outline only) of
"My Neighborhood."

"OLD ITALIAN NEIGHBORHOOD VALUES"

"That's the way it was in the old neighborhood."
You will find this or a similar comment very frequently in this book.

Student n. 1:

Select one example of old customs, quickly describe what it refers to (give the page n.) and comment whether in your opinion it was strange, or bizarre, or backwards, or very smart, if it is/was common to other cultures, if it was peculiarly Italian, why it made an impression on you etc. etc.

Student n. 2 and following students.
Paragraph 1: Comment the comment left by the student before you. Then

Insert a full-line break, either >>>>>>>> or ======== or ********

and write another paragraph about a different custom/habit.

Post your comments on "The Godfather" (the book only)

PROHIBITION

Do a quick search on the web and select ONE website that gives good information about the era known as "Prohibition" (no wikipedia)

Post the link with a short comment.

Post observations and comments about "The Godfather"

1) The first student will write 0bservations about the novel, approx. a paragraph in length. Try to avoid 'opinions' and focus on 'critical judgment' instead.

2) The second student will write two paragraphs: first s/he will respond/comment about the observations of the first post. Second: s/he will write his/her own observations.

3) The third will comment about the observations of student n. 2 and will post his/her original thoughts.

Continue this way until everyone has done his/her work.

The first person to post, of course, will get away with writing only one paragraph.

Suggestions for group work

Post proposals for group work. Try to make it general, and not specific to a book or novel. For instance: "Compare a novel and its film version. Discuss merits and demerits of each and decide a good title for a writing assignment."

Think hard about what works best when you function as a group. Is it the process or is it the outcome?

Design a survey about BC

Propose and discuss possible questions (and answers/options) for a satisfaction survey about BC. As you know, a certain percentage of students wish they had chosen a different college. Suggested questions could inquire when the person became dissatisfied (if they are so); what aspect is paramount in their dissatisfaction (academics, scheduling, bureaucracy, advisement, social life, sub-standard facilities, technology etc.)
You can also decide to adopt the 'projective' approach, that is a question like: "What do you think other students find most unsatisfactory at BC?" This avoids the problem of choosing one single thing when there may be several and helps identifying larger, collective problems.

Interview with an immigrant from Italy

Part 1) Propose and discuss possible questions for an immigrant from Italy. The age of the person and the age at which s/he immigrated to the US is irrelevant, however it must be someone who was born in Italy. Propose and select questions that address at most one of two relevant themes:
for example, discrimination; attitude toward other groups; the Italian family (myths and realities); religiosity, superstition, anti-clericalism; the notion and the symbols of success; organized crime etc.

KEEP IT SIMPLE: approach your subjects as if you were having a conversation over a cup of coffee, not as if you were interviewing a PhD in sociology.


Part 2) Propose or discuss proposals for an opening paragraph for the interview. Imagine you are writing an article for a newspaper: how would you introduce the person, what background information would you give (obviously this is an imaginary person at this point, since you haven't interviewed your informant yet.)

ASSIGNMENT 2 RATINGS

Check here to find out how many times each paper has been rated.


N. 1 = 3 ratings

N. 2 = 3

N. 3 = 5

N. 4 = 5

N. 5 = 4

N. 6 = 2

N. 7 = 4

N. 8 = 4

N. 9 = 2

N. 10 = 3

N. 11 = 4

N. 12 = 3

N. 13 = 3

N. 14 = 2

N. 15 = 3

N. 16 = 3

GROUPS

Use this post to correspond about forming groups.

SURVEY COMMENTS

Anyone can comment here on the questions posted in "SURVEY PROPOSALS." Each 'commenter' will receive the customary 1 point credit for posting.

SURVEY PROPOSALS

Here only group representatives can submit the 3 questions for a survey. Individual opinions on these questions can be posted at "SURVEY COMMENTS."

ASSIGNMENTS -- DUE WED OCT 3

1) Given that "Christ in Concrete" is a challenging book I will give you more time to read it and to digest and we will discuss it on WED OCT 10. Next week, WED OCT 3 we will screen "L'emigrante", an Italian film with subtitles about the vicissitutes of an Italian coming to America in the 1920's.

2) Writing assignment for WED OCT 3: if you have missed a paper here is your opportunity to make it up. Send an attachment indicating clearly the assignment number. ONLY ONE MAKE UP.

The filename must be:

lastname-assignment X

If you turned in all three papers, do a REVISION or, if you want, a complete REWRITE of any assignment and send it as an attachment. The filename must be:

lastname-assignment X revision

Obviously, instead of the "X" you will enter the assignment number

3) GROUP WORK: as I announced in class, each group will prepare a survey with 3 questions to measure the reaction and attitude of your class toward using blogs. Each group will select a spokesperson. They will post the questions on the blog under "SURVEY PROPOSALS" and they will decide the 3 final questions. The resultin survey can be created by taking the individual questions from different proposals.

The rest of the class individually will express comments and opinions at another post: "SURVEY COMMENTS"

DEADLINE WED OCT 3.

ASSIGNMENTS -- DUE WED SEPT 26

TO ALL:

I want to apologize for the disruption caused by my absence this past Wed. I assure you I would have preferred a million times to be in class rather than in the place where I had to be.

Those of you who submitted Assignment 1 following the directions, will receive shortly the assignments back with corrections, comments and an evaluation. I limited the evaluations to EXCEEDS EXPECTATION, MEETS EXPECTATION, DOES NOT MEET EXPECTATION.

I will return Assignment 2 by the next class, again to those of you who submitted it following the instructions.

==========================

WED SEPT 26: mini quiz on SON OF ITALY

===========================

ASSIGNMENT FOR WED SEPT 26:

1) READ THE ATTACHED PASSAGE FROM A CRITICAL ARTICLE BY MICHAUD ON "THE FAMILY ON VENDETTA STREET."

DISCUSS HOW THE ARTICLE AND THE ISSUE OF HARDSHIP IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN IDENTITY APPLY TO "SON OF ITALY" AND TAKE A POSITION EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THE ARTICLE'S THESIS.

MAX 2 PAGES, HOWEVER YOU CAN STAY BELOW THAT LIMIT IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS.

THIS IS THE KIND OF ASSIGNMENT FOR WHICH YOU MUST ORGANIZE YOUR THOUGHTS BEFORE YOU START WRITING. AND, IT ALSO REQUIRES GOING OVER THE FIRST DRAFT UNTIL YOU ARE SURE YOU ACTUALLY SAID WHAT YOU MEAN. PRECISION OF LANGUAGE IS CRUCIAL.

Filename . In the subject: Assignment 3 (those of you whose email address does not allow identification know what to do.)

DEADLINE, CLASSTIME WED 26.

==============================

2) ON THE BLOG: POST A COMMENT ON "ARE TODAY'S ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BETTER OR WORSE OFF THAN LAST CENTURY'S LEGAL IMMIGRANTS?"

The first FIVE posts can simply post a comment. All posts after the first five, MUST quote at least TWO previous posts and discuss them (in addition to expressing one own's opinion.)

=============================================

Next WED we will finish screening "The Italian." Be ready to engage in a discussion on the film (film majors should have a field day analyzing the script, construction of text etc.)

=============================

We will skip the screening of "A Night at the Opera." For the following WED OCT 3 we will discuss "CHRIST IN CONCRETE." This is a challenging book. I strongly recommend that you start reading it right away. Take notes, many notes, make mental notes. We will talk about it in next class.

==============================

As always, use QUESTIONS on the blog to clarify doubts, or email each other.

Fabio Girelli-Carasi

fgc-courses@brooklyn.cuny.edu

http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/modlang/carasi/

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TODAY, LEGAL IMMIGRANTS 100 YEARS AGO: WHO GOT IT BETTER?

The first five to post can limit themselves to expressing an opinion.
Every post after the first five will comment on at least two previous posts.

STATISTICS (comments are optional)

Based on the questionnaires handed out the first day of class:

Out of 34 questionnaires, reasons for taking the course (multiple answers)

31 for requirement
16 fun
11 teacher's reputation
5 to learn new skills
4 needed an elective
4 for the challenge

Attitude toward the course

22 enthusiasm
9 anticipation
6 anxiety
1 fear

Motivation in course

19 high
14 average

Motivation in college

23 high
10 average

Grade sought

5 A + 14 A 1 A/B+ 1 B

Weekly hours of work expected for this course

1hr lowest; 10hr highest; most frequently chosen 6; Average 4.7hr; median 5hr

34 have a computer, either desktop or laptop

28 have broadband (DSL or Cable)

31 check email AT LEAST once a day

SURVEY RESULTS

SEE NEW SURVEYS IN THE SIDEBAR TO THE RIGHT



These are the final results of the first survey. What do they suggest about the overall attitude toward experimentation, technology in teaching, and general motivation?
You may anwser anonymously if you prefer.
Named comments will be awarded 1 point in Non-rated assignments.

SON OF ITALY

Leave a comment about what the aspect that impressed you the most about the book, the author or the story.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

I am looking for volunteer for 3 small projects for class:

I uploaded pdf's of the index cards on personal and projected reactions to Italian Americans. The results are very interesting, to say the least. However the quality of the image is poor.
Is anyone interested in spending a couple of hours -- at most -- transcribing the cards as they are, warts and all (i.e. mispellings etc.)?

Transcribe (using OCR) the article on Playgrounds, so as to make it more readable. It shouldn't take more than one hour at the most.

Transcribe the Anti - Immigrant poems I posted (the pdf file is too big and hard to open.) 1hr at most

If you want to volunteer, please let me know by email.
Sorry, no extra credit. Sometimes we do things for free just because it's the right thing to do.

PROPOSE A TOPIC FOR A COMPOSITION

REMINDER:
name corresponding to your photo
attendance
groups' leaders: ratings of autobiographies



Use the "Comment" button below to leave your proposed topic for a composition based on the film "L'Italiano," and to explain your reasons. Alternatively, you may support or disapprove disapprove proposed topics and give your reasons why.

The first two students to submit a relevant and well argued proposal will be exempt from writing the composition/assignment.

YOUR QUESTIONS

Click "Comments" below to post your questions.

EMAIL LOG

TO ALL:

I want to apologIze for the disruption caused by my absence this past Wed. I assure you I would have preferred a million times to be in class rather than in the place where I had to be.

Those of you who submitted Assignment 1 following the directions, will receive shortly the assignments back with corrections, comments and an evaluation. I limited the evaluations to EXCEEDS EXPECTATION, MEETS EXPECTATION, DOES NOT MEET EXPECTATION.

I will return Assignment 2 by the next class, again to those of you who submitted it following the instructions.

==========================

WED SEPT 26: mini quiz on SON OF ITALY

===========================

ASSIGNMENT FOR WED SEPT 26:

1) READ THE ATTACHED PASSAGE FROM A CRITICAL ARTICLE BY MICHAUD ON "THE FAMILY ON VENDETTA STREET."

DISCUSS HOW THE ARTICLE AND THE ISSUE OF HARDSHIP IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN IDENTITY APPLY TO "SON OF ITALY" AND TAKE A POSITION EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THE ARTICLE'S THESIS.

MAX 2 PAGES, HOWEVER YOU CAN STAY BELOW THAT LIMIT IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS.

THIS IS THE KIND OF ASSIGNMENT FOR WHICH YOU MUST ORGANIZE YOUR THOUGHTS BEFORE YOU START WRITING. AND, IT ALSO REQUIRES GOING OVER THE FIRST DRAFT UNTIL YOU ARE SURE YOU ACTUALLY SAID WHAT YOU MEAN. PRECISION OF LANGUAGE IS CRUCIAL.

Filename . In the subject: Assignment 3 (those of you whose email address does not allow identification know what to do.)

DEADLINE, CLASSTIME WED 26.

==============================

2) ON THE BLOG: POST A COMMENT ON "ARE TODAY'S ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BETTER OR WORSE OFF THAN LAST CENTURY'S LEGAL IMMIGRANTS?"

The first FIVE posts can simply post a comment. All posts after the first five, MUST quote at least TWO previous posts and discuss them (in addition to expressing one own's opinion.)

=============================================

Next WED we will finish screening "The Italian." Be ready to engage in a discussion on the film (film majors should have a field day analyzing the script, construction of text etc.)

=============================

We will skip the screening of "A Night at the Opera." For the following WED OCT 3 we will discuss "CHRIST IN CONCRETE." This is a challenging book. I strongly recommend that you start reading it right away. Take notes, many notes, make mental notes. We will talk about it in next class.

==============================

As always, use QUESTIONS on the blog to clarify doubts, or email each other.

=================================
This past SAT and SUN the college's IT system suffered a major breakdown and, as a result, the email server was down for almost two days.

If you sent me a message during that time spam, it was not delivered (you probably received a message "undeliverable" or something similar.) Thus, please, re-send your messages.

OTHER TOPICS

Check the roster with photos and let me know which one is yours (use http://core10-bc.blogspot.com/ as an entry point).

GROUPS: let's do it over, since some people were left out. Using the photo page, the groups will be formed in the order in which the photos appear. FOUR PERSONS PER GROUP. So, the first group will be composed of the students with photos 1 to 4; group 2 photos 5 to 8 etc.

There is a blank box, n. 25. Just skip it. One group will end at 24 and the following one will begin with 26.

When you come to class WED, please sit with the people in your group.

Looking ahead: I will assign a 2-page comp for WED 12 and another one for WED 19 based on the outcome of our discussion this week.

Questions? Post them on the blog.

========================

1) Assignments etc in new postings

2) you were supposed to form groups of 4 people. (hint to those who went overboard)

==================================

DUE SEPT 5

1) Send a brief autobiography by email, in the email body, NOT as attachment.

2) Read carefully the Syllabus (yes, you will be quizzed)

3) Read the article "American Children at Play...." on the Course Webpage (link in sidebar.) Yes, you will be quizzed on this too.

==================

1) Search the Web about "Sacco and Vanzetti."

2) Search and find out the details of the tragic lynching in 1891 in New Orleans, LA.


If your web searches are unsuccessful, contact your group-mates and ask for help.

Express your personal reaction(s) to those facts in the Comments below and remember to sign (or I won't count your post.) Keep it brief and try to engage your classmates in a conversation (hint, ask provocative questions; ask how they feel etc.)

Link to photos etc.

Thank you all for a good beginning.

In the LINK sidebar, open the PHOTOS link, browse and send me an email with your full name (First, Last) and the number of the corresponding photo.

Also in the same sidebar you will find a link to Time Management Chart that will take you to the homepage of the Center for Teaching. On the left sidebar you will see the link to the Chart. I will leave it there so you can download it anytime you need it. If you think it's worth it, let friends know about it. Don't give them the link to the blog, though, just the link http://centerforteaching.brooklyn.cuny.edu/. The blog is open but if outsiders start posting comments, etc, I will be forced to limit access only to my class, and this means you will have to register etc. etc. etc. So, with your cooperation, we can keep it simpler.

At the bottom of the photo page you will find a list of groups with the respective members. If your name does not appear anywhere, I suggest that you get busy fast.

Before the semester begins

Welcome to CORE 10.03 Italian American Literature and Film.

If you want a preview of the course requirements, check the syllabus in the sidebar under Links.

I have ordered three books that should be available at Shakespeare Bookstore on Hillel Place. I will order an additional book later in the semester: the choice will depend largely on what your preferences will be as a class. I will also hand out a package of short stories and a critical essay. The charge for this package will be at most $10.00.
I tried very hard to select books with a reasonable price and that, I hope, you will keep in your personal library.

Please answer the survey at the top of the page (anonymous answers).

The email address for the course is fgc-courses@brooklyn.cuny.edu

Click "Comments" below if you want to leave a message viewable to everyone.

With best wishes to us all for a good semester of solid, meaningful work and great achievements.

Fabio Girelli-Carasi