Hello Summer!

Not sure if any of you are checking this, but it doesn't matter. Happy summer to all of you! My apologies for not being there on the last two days. I was over in Monterey Bay, California for an AP workshop. Now, I'm back and about to go catch the first of four The Bouncing Souls shows in NYC. I'm so psyched about this. It's going to be fun.

Make sure you do your AP Literature or Senior English summer assignment!

Brolic is as what brolic does.

Benitez

The Great Gatsby Video Game!

Hey guys,

I challenge all the BROLIC students or those that aspire to be BROLIC (because it's never too late to be BROLIC) to go on and play The Great Gatsby video game that is designed to look like an original Nintendo 8 bit video game.

It is most enjoyable.

Extra credit to those who can beat the entire game!

The Most BROLIC Engineer Ever?

Is Shane Carwin, a UFC Heavyweight Fighter, with degrees in mechanical engineering and environmental technology the most BROLIC engineer of all time?

He has my vote. Read the article and decide for yourself. By the way, in the 12 matches, Mr. Carwin has 7 wins by knockout, 5 wins via submission and only one loss.

BROLIC.

~ Benitez

Survival by Any Means Necessary.

Here's another report about creative survival: Right here!

While on the topic of surviving by any means necessary, here is a campy, cheesey song about doing things by any means necessary.

Benitez

College Essay Brainstorming Assignment #1 (All Sections)

Good evening to all,

My apologies for not posting yesterday. As I told some of you, I went out to see a Korean film at the TriBeca Cinemas called Encounter. It's a very cool, mystery type noir about two people.

As I'm sure you all read the title, we are beginning the college essay writing process. I will provide more information about this in class next week, but in the meantime I am asking all of you guys to prepare a list of your individual qualities and traits that make you stand out from the crowds of sheep out there. The college application process is reflective in the sense that you have to look at yourself and see what helps you to be more qualified for college than the rest of your competition.

That being said. please follow the following steps I am listing:

1. Sit down at your desk in your homes and open a note a book
2. Using a pen begin to make a list of your qualities and traits 
3. Think about what helps you be a better student
4. Ask yourselves to think about the following: What aspects/qualities of your life have helped you find success in school and any other ventures (activities, clubs, jobs, responsibility roles, athletics, etc) that have had a positive role in school, in your development as an individual and have prepared you for success in college. 
5. Write down everything that comes to mind.
6. Save that paper and bring it to class next Wednesday (May 17th, 2011).

That's all.

Remember to also read chapter 3 in The Great Gatsby for Monday (May 16th, 2011). Expect some sort of writing assessment covering chapters 1, 2 and 3 of the book on Monday.

Best,

Benitez

How to Survive a Tornado.

How does one survive a tornado? Here's how.

What happens when you need medical assistance at a restaurant?

Think about it and while you think, here is an article of what not to do when you need medical assistance at a restaurant.

Long term effects

Hello all,

For those of you still interested in some of the ideas, issues and motifs raised in Slaughterhouse-Five here's a sombering news article.

The Role of Gender in Othello (All Sections)

Hello All,

This is the post that explains your Spring Break assignment.

The Role of Gender in Othello

Overview:

In the play Othello we as readers see numerous motifs and issues arise through the interaction of several characters. Some of those motifs and issues include love (how it is perceived and how it is actually), betrayal, lies, deceit, race, etc. Each of these motifs and issues are still relevant today and in Othello each of these can be traced back to the role and position of gender. Think about what is expected of the male characters (Othello, Cassio, Iago, Roderigo) and what is expected of the female characters (Desdemona, Emilia, Bianca). Do these characters fulfil their expectations according to their gender? Or do they deconstruct what is assumed and expected of them because of their gender (in other words, do the male characters exude or posses traits and behavior that would be associated with female characters and vice versa)?

Assignment Guidelines:

- Select 3 or 4 excerpts from Othello and analyze and discuss each excerpt at it relates to your thesis and the role of gender in the play.

- Obviously, your essay needs a strong thesis. Your thesis should be built around how you perceive Othello portrays gender. The following are two examples of thesis statements. One of them is acceptable and the other is very weak.

           A) The play Othello deals with an interesting view of gender.

           B) In the play Othello, the roles of both genders are dismantled and reconstructed to demonstrate that gender roles are nothing more than social constructs that attempt to catagorize certain traits and characteristics with a specific gender, while in reality, both genders share traits and characteristics without devaluing males or females.

(Which of these two do you think I would prefer?)

- 2 to 4 pages typed, double-spaced and in size 12 Times New Roman font. The page length is NOT up for debate. I will not accept or grade any paper that is not 2 full pages at the minimum or exceeds 4 pages.

- Refer to MLA formatting for all citations and proper quoting. 

Due Date:

This essay is due the first day I see your class upon returning from Spring Break. Please bring a hard copy to class. You have 10 days off from school so I think it's perfectly fair to request a hard copy after 10 days in which you can find a functioning printer in your, a friend's home, an internet cafe or *gasp* the public library.

Essays Addressing Gender Roles (All Sections)

Hello all,

The following links take you to essays that you are required to read in preparation for your upcoming essay on Othello and the play's portrayal of gender roles. You will not be required to use all the essays, but they do provide some strong insight into gender roles and how are they portrayed, maintained, shattered and exposed.

"The Myth of the Latin Woman:Just Met a Girl Named Maria," Judith Ortiz Cofer

"Being a Man," Paul Theroux

"There is No Unmarked Woman," Deborah Tannen

"Mind Over Muscle," Davide Brooks

In addition to these essays you should also review your precis' on Stephen Jay Gould's "Women's Brains" and Gretel Ehrlich's "About Men."

Best,

Benitez