Weekly Agenda: 9/26 - 9/30

Monday 9/26 (3,4,5,6,7)
- Visit with Guidance
Homework: You should have read and completed D.J. for BNW Chapter 6.

Tuesday 9/27 - Day 6
no class

Wednesday 9/28 - Day 5
- The Dystopian Protagonist
Homework: Bring in an interesting print (i.e. magazine) advertisement.

Thursday 9/29 - Rosh Hashanah
no school

Friday 9/30 - Day 4
- Advertisements and Brainwashing
Homework: Create a print advertisement for your assigned slogan.
Don't forget about this week's blog post!

9/21 Homework

Based on the first three chapters of Brave New World, what are the values of the World State? Be specific and support your response with relevant and specific details from the text.

Weekly Agenda 9/19 - 9/23

Monday 9/19 - 5,6,7,1,2
- Discuss "2BR02B"
- Introducing... Brave New World
Homework: Read Brave New World Chapters 1 & 2 and complete 1 D.J.

Tuesday 9/20 - Day 4
- Mind Control: Hypnopaedia, Neo-Pavlovian Conditining & the Caste System
Homework: Read Brave New World Chapter 3 and complete 1 D.J.

Wednesday 9/21 - Day 3
- Values of the World State
- Choral Reading
Homework:Respond to Prompt in post above. Answer using the comment function. If you have any technical difficulties, please print / hand-write your response. No late homework accepted.

Thursday 9/22 - Day 2
- Improving our D.J.'s
- The Dystopian Protagonist
Homework: Read Brave New World Chapter 5 and complete 1 D.J.

Friday 9/23 - Day 1
- Computer Loft
- Work on Blogs
Homework: Read Brave New World Chapter 6 and complete 1 D.J>

2BR02B

Recall that dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case scenario, make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system.  What criticism(s) about society does Kurt Vonnegut make in his short story “2BR02B”?  The story was originally published in 1962, but your response may assume that it is a contemporary story.

In your comments, please present a clear thesis and include relevant and specific details from the text. 

Sample Blog Post

At first listen, Zager & Evans’ 1969 hit song might sound silly and outdated (especially if you watch a video of their performance: http://youtu.be/izQB2-Kmiic).  However, after listening more closely to the lyrics, it becomes clear that it is, in fact, hugely relevant to our current society.  Through imagining the world in successive millennia (2525, 3535, 4545 and so on), Zager & Evans present a bleak future for humankind, ending, finally, in the end of man’s reign on earth.  Their song is, among other things, a strong critique of modern society and a recounting of humanity’s flaws.

The particular issues Zagar & Evans address have become even more pressing in the more than forty years since the song’s release.  Technology – specifically biotechnology – is at the top of this list.  In the future, the lyrics suggest, we will ditch food in favor of a single daily pill, and will select our offspring out of a “long glass tube.”  We won’t even need to use our arms and legs, as all physical work will be done by machines.  Without the need for such basic natural functions as eating and procreating, the “man” and “woman” of the song will exist in a completely dehumanized state. The song also alludes to environmental issues, predicting that in the future man, having “taken everything this earth can give” and “put back nothing,” will live to regret his environmental abuses.

This work can be interpreted as a warning for humankind, perhaps encouraging us to keep hold of our humanity and to be responsible stewards of the earth’s resources.  And with its infectious, repetitive lyrics, the song’s message might just get stuck in your head until it gets through. 

http://youtu.be/1FgSmdfRUus

Weekly Agenda: 9/12 - 9/16

Monday 9/12 - 1,2,3,4,5
- Computer Loft
- In-Class Essay / Writing Assessment
Prompt: What prompts the creation of works of art and literature about the future?  What do these works reveal about society?
Homework: Find a work (short story, poem, song, artwork, etc) which presents a vision of the future.  It should be a short piece or an excerpt/clip from something longer.  Email it to yourself.


Tuesday 9/13 - Day 2
- Computer Loft
- Setting up our blogs
- List of common themes / issues
Homework: Finish your blog and blog post.  Visit one other person's blog and comment on their post.


Wednesday 9/14 - Day 1
- Blogging Project
- "Harrison Bergeron"
Homework: Read and mark up "Harrison Bergeron." Complete one R&A D.J. Then, answer the questions circled in the back of the story. 


Thursday 9/15 - Day 7
- Introduction to Dystopian Literature
Homework: Read "2BR02B."  Mark up the Text. Complete 1 R&A D.J., focusing on dystopian element(s) in the story. Then, respond to the question in post above by using the comment function.  Start thinking about your blog post for next week! 

Friday 9/15 - Day 6
no class

Weekly Agenda: 9/5 - 9/9

Monday 9/5 - Labor Day (No School)

Tuesday 9/6 - Day 7 (Picture Day)

- A "peek" into the future
  Keyhole Assignment

Homework: Finish keyhole assignment.  Extra credit for work worthy of the bulletin board!

Wednesday 9/7 - Day 6

No Class

Thursday 9/8 - Day 5

- Course Expectations

- Syllabus

- Tour of B236

Homework: 

1) Get course contract signed by parent/guardian.

2) Open a Gmail account and email me at nnims@malden.mec.edu.

3) Visit nimsthefuture.blogspot.com and click to "follow" the blog.  

Friday 9/9 - Day 4

- Film clips: visions of the future

Homework: Complete your list of themes and topics from today's film clips.