Author: Jason W. Ellis

After today’s class, write at least 250 words summarizing your reading of Stephen Jay Klein’s “What is Technology?” and our discussion of the essay. Remember to save your writing someplace safe and then copy-and-paste it into a comment made to this blog post.

Some links that we’ll look at during class today include:

https://news.stanford.edu/pr/97/971028kline.html

https://archive.org/details/senecasmoralsby03senegoog

Before our next class, post a comment to this blog post of at least 250 words summarizing your reading and our discussion of Nicholas Wade’s “Early Voices: The Leap to Language.” The article has a lot of details, all of which you probably don’t need to include in your summary. Focus on the larger take-away messages and the points that I raise during our discussion–the biological roots of language, the processes about how language likely emerged in the human animal, etc.

During class, we will also talk about the issues surrounding:

Contemporary Examples of Plagiarism

https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/2/7/18215477/jill-abramson-plagiarism-controversy-merchants-of-truth

There’s lesser stuff too; still problematic. At various points in Merchants of Truth, rather than toil in the archives, reading old issues of the magazine or watching old Vice videos, Abramson liberally borrows from those who have: https://t.co/Ux6gdDO9Qg pic.twitter.com/mEvufhFJ3J

— Michael C Moynihan (@mcmoynihan) February 6, 2019

Nicholas Wade Controversy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Troublesome_Inheritance

https://cehg.stanford.edu/letter-from-population-geneticists

Shadows of The Bell Curve

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bell_Curve

Other Controversies – Research Misconduct/Falsification

https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2012/09/hauser-research-misconduct-reported

James Mitchell shares this video taken from the British sketch comedy show A Bit of Fry and Laurie. Stephen Fry (on the right) shares his insights on language with Hugh Laurie (on the left, who you might know from the American TV show House). Fry is an expert on the use of language for comedic effect. The word play is quick, but the payoff is worth paying attention for. Perhaps it isn’t surprising that in a film he portrayed another British writer famous for his word play, Oscar Wilde.

If our readings or class discussion remind you of something that you’d like to share with the class, please email it to me.

Before our next class, write at least 250 words summarizing your reading and our lecture on Victoria Fromkin’s “What is Language?” chapter. Remember to write your summary elsewhere such as in Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Save your work. Then, copy-and-paste it into a comment made to this blog post. After you click “Post Comment,” wait a moment to verify that your comment is successfully posted on the page.

Before our next class, please do these things to reflect on today’s reading and our in-class discussion.

1. Using a word processor, such as Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or LibreOffice, write at least 250 words summarizing your reading of Ted Chiang’s “The Truth of Fact, and the Truth of Feeling” and our discussion of the story in class. 250 words is about 1 page, double-spaced. You may write more than this, but at least 250 words are needed to receive credit on the assignment.
2. Save your file someplace safe for your own records.
3. Copy what you have written.
4. Go to OpenLab.citytech.cuny.edu, login, and navigate to our class blog.
5. Click on the title of this blog post on OpenLab and scroll down to the comment entry box at the end of the page.
6. Paste your work into the comment box and click “Post Comment.”
7. Wait a moment to verify that your comment is posted. If not, try again.
8. If you encounter technical difficulties or you cannot create an OpenLab account yet, email your work by copy-and-pasting your writing into an email with a brief message explaining what’s going on to Professor Ellis (jellis at citytech.cuny.edu). This shows me that you have completed the work, and you can post your work on OpenLab later (but don’t forget to do this when you are able to do so).

Become a Read Ahead Mentor

Who? All City Tech students/staff/faculty welcome!
What? Fun reading & mentoring
When? Weekly or every other week at lunchtime till May
(Mon or Tues 12:05-12:50 or Weds, Thurs, or Fri 12:50-1:35)
Where? At PS 287 or PS 67, just 1/2 mile away
Why? Over 90% of these students are from low-income backgrounds. Your
critical 1-on-1 attention gives them confidence, motivation, &
skills to succeed. Mentoring is also a valuable resume addition &
you’ll receive a certificate upon completion!
How? Visit readahead.org/mentoring to learn more & sign up!
Mentor training is provided on Thurs Feb 7, 6-7:30pm,
nearby in MetroTech—register for more details!
Become a mentor!
Sign up by Feb 6 at readahead.org/mentoring or
email volunteer@readahead.org with questions!

I would like to say hello to everyone taking ENG1710 this Spring 2019! During our first class, we’ll go over the syllabus, talk about the upcoming readings and assignments, and read Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky” together.

Also, I want to point out that this is the regular, non-ID designated ENG1710 course. It is for regular course credit and it does not satisfy ID requirements.

These links relate to some things discussed in class today: https://www.biography.com/people/lewis-carroll-9239598,  http://www.todaiji.or.jp/english/map02.html, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C5%8Ddai-ji.