QUOTE OF THE DAY

If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

Class Schedule Week of October 5-9

Monday, October 5

FINAL DUE:  "Into the Light" papers on ONE short story
Warm/Cool Feedback Protocol
Debriefing

Tuesday, October 6

Collaborate with another student in class on an activity

Wednesday, October 7

Meet outside College Office - Room 239 for consultation with Dr. Powell and visit by rep from Skidmore College in Saratoga Spring's NY

Thursday, October 8
College office consultation follow up
Making a Match

Friday, October 9

Making the Plan

College Student in G's Pace Class Shares Segregated Prom Link

ALL students are welcome to forward links and resources they think most relevant to our course work.

Whitney has passed along this link and I want to share her note about it, too:

After our discussion in class last night, I thought it would be appropriate to send you a link about a story that you may or may not have read. It was a story that came out in the NY Times earlier this year about segregated proms in Montgomery County, GA. I did not live in Montgomery County, and the segregated prom in my area stopped almost 10 years ago, but this story, from May of this year, shows that it is still going on in some parts with the only explanation being "tradition". I wanted to pass this along because I heard alot of people in class respond with shock and disbelief that segregation still exists, so I thought this would be something to supplement our discussion about the way that the issues from the past we have read about are still relevant today.

Here's the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/magazine/24prom-t.html?_r=1

What does it mean to be "ready for college"?

MAXIMUS (at right) has no use for college, of course, but everyone in the class will end up in college some day.

Some of you WILL go directly to college from high school and others will delay it until you discover that you want to be in college and you need college to get ahead.

So, where are you in the college admissions process?  I ask because one of your classmates said, "I have 15 colleges to apply to."

I was a little alarmed.  Fifteen!  And he plans to stay at home and not go away to college!

My response to him (and all of you):  Choose wisely.  Narrow the college choices to FIVE:

1. ONE "safety" CUNY school you are willing to attend.  More on "safety" school below.
   
2. TWO CUNY colleges with your intended major
   
3. ONE or TWO SUNY colleges out of the city with your intended major
   
4. ONE or TWO private colleges out of the city with your intended major

Another option:  Add a NYC private college

A "safety" school is a college you are willing to attend, qualify to get admitted and if you receive no acceptance letters from your first choices, you have a fall-back plan with the "safety" school.

Let's give you some time to think about it.  I will ask you next week to discuss your plans in class.

College Reading & Writing Tip: Read George Orwell and Follow His Commands!

This post is ONLY for students serious about college-level reading and writing!

You've earned an A in the course.  Congratulations, you've got the job!  Welcome to the team, when can you start?

It's nice to hear these kinds of things, right?  Or how about a letter in the mail that begins:  "We are pleased to inform you of your acceptance to the university"?

What's going to set you apart from other candidates - in college, at your job, as you begin a career - will be your ability to WRITE AND SPEAK clearly and creatively.

George Orwell (more on him here ) has a famous essay called "Politics & the English Language" and I want you to read it.  I want you to make a page in a notebook to write down all things he suggests to write with CLEAR MEANING and fresh, vivid metaphors.

On Friday, October 2 when we review your drafts for the first "into the light" essay, we will be able to talk about what Orwell recommends for your writing.

Here for the link to "Politics & the English Language" 

FREE! FREE! FREE! Meet Powerful & Inspiring Writer Cornel West this Weds. at B & N!

DOG STAR knows and respects Cornel West for his enlightened, clear and articulate views on race, civilization and life in general.  Among those with "West" for a last name, it is Cornell who should get your attention most.  Kanye has much to learn from Cornel, too, humility chief among them and having a values-centered philosophy of life is another.

This Mr. West, Mr. West, Mr. West (a reference to a lyric on Kanye's "College Dropout") has tackled issues of hip hop's place in our culture, has rapped a few songs of his own and is a a professor at Princeton University.

Now, he shares his memoirs in a new book "Living & Loving Out Loud: A Memoir."  And he will read from the book and be available for signings and conversation this Wednesday, September 30 at Union Square Barnes & Noble.

If you are starving for something richer than the usual playlist of your life, consider heading over to B & N by 6:30pm to get a seat.  Mr. West is very funny, very accessible - he talks plainly and truthfully - and you will surely become a fan of his too.  When you do become a fan there is a treasure of previous books to dive into DOG STAR recommends "Democracy Matter" for the chapter on hip hop culture.  It will open your eyes and, no, he does not bash it, he sees it in a different light.

Will you give yourself the chance to see life in a different light, too?

Here for the Barnes & Noble event website for details

Here to read excerpts from "Living & Loving Out Loud: A Memoir" 

Here for Cornel West on the web (including audio and video) 

Here for Cornel West on Wikipedia 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.

Mark Twain (1835-1910)