PDF of Cuckoo's Nest

Here is a copy of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. you download this free copy.

Coen Brothers Reading Due May 11

For Monday May 11 read and annotate the following readings. We will do an in-class write test, and you will need annotations and citations.

You will need to answer the 1 of the following 2 prompts:

     1, Which of the movie scenes we watched best exemplifies the Coen Brothers' Style? Explain,            with examples from the reading and evidence from your movie notes.

     2. Describe the Coen Brothers' auteurship; what exactly is their signature style? Use as many              examples and citations as you need to prove your point.

These are the readings:

 "The Woman who Froze in Fargo" on Grantland (this is about the woman who died looking for the money- you need to be able to explain how this article is relevant to the question...)

"The Coen Brothers Know How to do Murder" on Trans/Plant/Portation and asnwer one fo the above questions on a 1-2 page response, including citations from the reading.

For extra credit, you will need to read and annotate one of the following articles:

• extra credit read "Fargo Forum: Minnesota, masculinity,  Mike Yanagita, and more" on Dissolve
• extra credit (30 page PDF) "from Blood Simple to True Grit" (this is long and will count as two assignments).
• extra credit "Coen Heads" from New York Magazine
• extra credit read "Death in the Snow" from the Guardian

In class Summarizing and Paraphrasing activity readings

1. Read this article about Up in the Air by Owen Glieberman.

2.Read this article about Up in the Air by Weslesy Morris.

3. Read this article about Up in the Air by David Cox.

Pick one of the articles and summarize its content in two sentences and use it as part of your response.

Pick one of the articles and paraphrase the author's main argument.

Rom/Com reading and essay due for Spring Break

We are doing an exploration of the Romantic Comedy Genre. It is my belief that the traditional "Rom/Com" is dead. For me, the traditional "Rom/Com" existed from 1980-2001. After 9/11 we have seen a dramatic shift in the way we view and define the genre. Pay attention to the definition of the traditional genre we have been creating in class, as well as be able to identify your own new version of the term "rom/com". Don't forget that tone plays an integral part in the definiton.

TASK: It will be your job to identify what we should call this new era of the "Rom/Com", define its elements and explain what caused the new era.

In order to complete this you will need to read each of the articles below and annotate them. Keep in mind what you have learned about the definition of the traditional "Rom/Com" and remember that you are doing a comparison as you define the new era.


1. Read "25 years later, When Harry Met Sally... is still the perfect Rom Com" from Time by Megan Gibson

2. Watch this CBS news report on how When Harry Met Sally... is the quintessential Rom Com

3. Read "Knocked Out: Have Romantic Comedies Become Obsolete?" from Grantland by Wesley Morris

4. Read "The Rom Com Hall of Fame, Champions and Challengers" from Grantland, by Grantland Staff

5. Read "Juno and the culture Wars" from Slate by Anne Hulbert.

6. Read "Where has the Love Gone? from Grantland, by Andy Greenwald

7. Read "How the Mindy Project Brought Stealth Feminism to TV" from RYOT, by Maureen Lee Lenker

8. Read "Paulie Bleeker is Totally Boss" by Billy Mernit

9. Read "Silver Linings Playbook Shatters Rom Com Mold" from Breitbart by  Julia Tayles

If these links are not working, drag the link to the URL bar and it should open from there.

Paper: After reading all these articles, you will be writing a 5 paragraph essay. (MLA format, as always) that defines the new era of "rom/com", identifies the elements of this new era and explain how it came about. You must use at least 3 direct quotations and one summary or paraphrased citation.

Extra credit 1: watch Knocked Up, or the 40 Year Old Virgin, take notes and write a jounral on whether it is a Traditional Rom/Com, or a modern Rom/Com or something else. If you can think of another movie that fits your definition of the new era of Rom/Com you may watch that and explain how it fits the definition.

Extra credit 2: Explain in an academic response, with citations whether The Fault in Our Stars, is a traditional Rom/Com or something else.

This is due Monday 4/20 by 3pm via Turnitin.com, upon return from Spring Break. Contact Mr. U before April 20, with any password or login issues.

Turinitin enrollment info:

• first period: FAL1> ID 9147916, PW english1
• second period FAL2> ID 9211029 PW english2
• fourth period FAL 4> ID 9147990 PW english4
• fifth period FAL 5> ID 9147999 PW english5

Extra reading regarding Alfred Hitchcock

1. Use this link to find info about Hitchcok's "Rear Window"
2. Use this link to find info about Hitchcock's Legacy

extra credit
1. Read andtake notes on this article about Hitchcock's legacy to the Bay Area.
2. Follow this link to YouTube of some of Hitchcock's most famous scenes. If it doesnt work, just copy paste the link into the a new window. Take notes.
3. Use YouTube to view the famous shower scene from Psycho.

Using at least 1 direct citation from an article you find on your own and 1 from the links above I provided. Explain which is your favorite Hitchcock scene and how it exemplifies his legacy. Cite your sources. Turn in all your notes.

Reading due March March 10,11 (Homework to do during my absence).

Read "A Good Man is Hard to Find", by Flannery O'Conner

listen to "True Detective" by David Sedaris (linked below under "listening")

This American Life, did an episode with Davd Sedaris about detectives and detective stories This American Life broadcasts in 3 Acts. You may skip ahead to start of Act 2, as this is where Sedaris reads. The story is meant to be heard. You may stop listening after the David Sedaris story, I have linked the transcript so you can read the story here:
                       "True Detective" by David Sedaris
                           -> (Skip just below the "prologue" and you will the story in written form).

For each story, you may download the PDF onto an e-reader if you prefer and annotate from there using Evernote or Diigo or Google Docs. Otherwise, for each story, you need 1 full page of notes minimum. We will review the stories upon my return. It will be helpful to have an annotated copy of each story Your notes should include:

• at least 15 plot points, ie main character, narrative structure, main obstacles etc
• 5 vocab words 
• 3 most important quotations, cited with 1-2 sentences expalining importance
• at least 5 pieces of personal commentary

MId Winter Break Reading Assignment

Both of these readings are due in class, Monday Feb 23. 

1. Read "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", by F. scott Fitzgerald

2. Read "It had to be Murder", by Cornell Woolrich

Extra credit:

Read "A Good Man is Hard to Find", by Flannery O'Conner

For each story, you may download the PDF onto an e-reader if you prefer and annotate from there using Evernote or Diigo. Otherwise, for each story, you need two full pages of notes minimum. Your notes should include:

• at least 15 plot points, ie main character, narrative structure, main obstacles etc
• 5 vocab words 
• 3 most important quotations, cited with 1-2 sentences expalining importance
• at least 5 pieces of personal commentary
• for Ben Button, pay particular attention to how he is treated and why
• for Murder, pay attention to the clues as to who committed the crime

We will need this when we come back, so I am putting it here for anyone who may want to listen ahead. This American Life, did an episode with Davd Sedaris about Detectives. You may stop listening after the David Sedaris story, "True Detective".