Author: Caroline Chamberlin Hellman (Page 7 of 7)

Weeks 2 and 3: Reading, Writing, Learning, Life (Due 9/10)

We kick off Unit 1, Education, by reflecting on online vs. in-person educational experience, and thinking about both the ideas in a text and the writing techniques the author employs.

Class discussion: LAF 2021 Welcome video; Diana Diaz, “Overnight Pandemic” (2020) in City Tech Writer;   Toni Morrison, “The Reader as Artist” (2006); Class Google Doc Annotation

ASSIGNMENT:

  • Read Mike Bunn, “How to Read Like a Writer” pages 1-6 (2011). Annotate and apply reading strategies. What are his main ideas? Bring your notes to class for discussion.
  • Save to your computer folder for this class and review  Reading Strategies and How to Write A Summary Powerpoint
  • Apply Reading Strategies to Caroline Hellman’s “In Defense of the Classroom” (2020)
  • Reply below this post, numbering your answers:
    • 1. Copy and paste a quote (1-2 sentences) from “In Defense of the Classroom” that you found meaningful. Then paraphrase (put the quote in your own words)  and explain why you were drawn to it, commenting either on the idea or the writing technique. You might want to think about Bunn’s “How to Read Like A Writer” as you consider the writing itself.
    • 2. Consulting the Summary Powerpoint slides,  write a complete 3-4 sentence summary of “In Defense of the Classroom” in your own words. Check your finished summary against slide #5 and revise as needed.
    • 3. Respond with your own thoughts about the ideas in my article.   Be creative, be honest! College is about independent thought!

In our next class on September 13 (no class 9/6 or 9/8), we will discuss “In Defense of the Classroom” and “How to Read Like A Writer” and go over summary writing. Be ready to share any unfamiliar words that you looked up and ideas/questions that arose for you while reading.

Caroline Chamberlin Hellman

Hi Everyone!

I’m your professor and colleague, Caroline Chamberlin Hellman, and my preferred pronouns are she/her.  I’m really looking forward to meeting you all. A little bit about me:  born in New York City, grew up in the Hudson Valley, went to Wellesley College (near Boston), then moved back to New York for graduate school.  I have a PhD in American literature from the CUNY Graduate Center, and I’m very proud to share the CUNY connection with you.  I’ve written two books on American literature, and now I’m shifting my scholarly focus to public education policy.  Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my new nephew, Sidney, who is currently 8 months old. You may get to meet him virtually! I like historic houses, fruit trees, and old musicals.

I’d like to share a simple space that has been important to me these past months. This is the window adjacent to the chair where I write and work, and it is my window onto the world (Red Hook, Brooklyn). Gazing out, you see people’s homes on the block and the church steeple in the distance.

The first photograph is the sunrise on March 10, 2020 one day before the college closed, and shortly before the pandemic fully bombarded the city. It reminds me of the reach of the cosmos and the natural world– as well as the beauty of New York–before the onslaught of sirens and loss. The second photo is the window this past winter. During this challenging time, I’ve tried to add some peace and calm to my space: paperwhites and amaryllis bulbs, a topiary from the grocery store.  Right now I have a rosemary plant, which smells terrific! Each day I watch these plants grow, and their  determination offers hope. I also like the idea that we’re all in this together; the apartments across the street hold folks who are probably looking for some hope and determination, too.

Week 1: Getting Started (Due 9/1)

Welcome! Our class meets on Zoom, Mondays and Wednesdays 8:30am-11am. The Zoom link is on the right side of our course site and also in the Weekly Schedule.  Our first class will be Monday 8/30. See you soon!

1.  Sign up for your OpenLab account with your name and a profile photo.  Log in, then return to our course site. Click on COURSE PROFILE (to the left of HOME), then JOIN THIS COURSE (under the avatar photo). If you need  help, or you don’t have a City Tech email address yet and you want to request a bypass code to sign up for Openlab,   contact the OpenLab Community Team

2. Fill out the technology survey below (AFTER completing Step 1!).

3. Look around our course site to familiarize yourself

4. Introduce yourself.  To write a new post, click the + sign at the top of the page, fill in the subject heading with your name, then add your info and photo below.  After your work is complete, scroll down and check off OUR COMMUNITY under Categories (right side of page), then click Publish.

    • Paragraph 1: Include how you would like to be addressed, your pronouns, and any other info you’d like to share. This could include where you are from, where you reside now, your academic interests or major, any hobbies or NYC activities you enjoy, how you feel about beginning college. Feel free to be creative!
    • Paragraph 2:  Include a photo of something (place, space, person, pet, object, etc ) meaningful to you, and tell us about it.  You can paste the photo into the body of your message, or Add Media  to upload it to your post.
    • Before next class, check back to read your classmates’ responses and reply to a few. Getting to know each other, we start building our community.

We are all in this together!  See you soon!

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