Merry Christmas!!!

Favorite Blog

I believe Jasons "Zeus: Father of Gods and Men" blog was the best in the class because he added a lot of ideas to his blog. It looks like he spent a good amount of time putting his thoughts into the blog. The image he set on his page was cool.

Mikes favorite blog

Honestly i believe that "Zeus: father of Gods and Men was the best blog in this class. the aurthor had good ideas and great annimations on it. it was the most appealing one as well as the one that informed me the most since it spoke about other greek gods.

Final Conferences Monday, Dec. 20, 2010 from 1:00pm to 3:15 pm

Our final conferences will take place on Final Conferences Monday, Dec. 20, 2010 from 1:00pm to 3:15 pm in our regular Monday classroom, C 464. These conferences will be conducted on first come, first serve basis. During the conference I'll return your research paper 2, let you review your final exam and also let you know what your final grade for the course is.
* While this is not a mandatory meeting, I'll ask you to sign an attendance sheet, as the department requires it. Remember that ONLY if you attend the final conference and you have an issue with the grade, can you appeal your grade in the English Department office. You cannot appeal your grade if you do not attend the final conference. Also, please do not e-mail me inquiring about your grade, as I cannot convey this information via e-mail. The grades will be available online after Dec. 22.

Favorite Blog: vote on the best blog in class

Either post on our class blog or respond to this post, telling us which is your favorite blog of all the students' blogs in our class and why? If you are create your own post on our class blog, please title it Favorite Blog.

Blog Post 15: Reflections due today, Dec. 10, in class

Directions: Please answer all the the questions below in a post on your blog, and be sure to label this post as Blog Post 15.
1) What was the one assignment that was fun to do and why?
2) What was the one assignment that made you learn something about something? What was that "something" you learned?
3) What was the one assignment that you did not care for? why?
4) Do you think, overall, Blogger was a useful tool for this class? In what ways?
5.) Describe one kind of assignment or task that we did NOT do that you either did on your own (say, customizing your blog, adding gadgets), OR an assignment you would have liked to have done, or a TYPE of assignment you would have liked to have done more of?

please complete this survey

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3GXVV6X

Make sure to edit/revise your annotated bibliographies as I'll grade them on Dec. 10 when I receive your final drafts

As you should have notices, I only e-mailed comments about the annotated bibliographies for research paper 2 and no points. I'll be grading the annotated bibliographies on Dec. 10, when I receive your final draft of research paper 2 and sources. So make sure that your annotated bibliographies are completed according to the outlines of the assignment.

For Friday, Dec. 10, our last day of class

So Friday, Dec. 10 is THE day, the last day of class. Please remember that your research paper 2 final drafts are due on this day. This means, and this has been the requirement all semester for all assignments, that you submit a hard copy along with a source folder AND post the final draft on your blog.

Also, on Friday, we will complete the final post, blog post 15, and I'll let you know the date of our final conferences.

Important Information about Blog Assessment 3 and Monday's peer review of the first draft of research paper 2

Everyone,
This is a reminder that:
1.) Blog Assessment 3 will be completed on Sun. Dec. 3. Make sure your blog is up to date by Saturday, Dec. 4.
2.) Revisions of Research Paper 1 Due Monday, Dec. 6. If you received a C- or below, you may revise your research paper 1. Be sure to submit the revised version, as well as the original, the source folder and the form with points and grade.
3.) Peer Review of Research Paper 2 is this Monday, Dec. 6. As indicated on the assignment, you must bring in( 3 )THREE, hard copies of your first draft, which must be at least two typed pages and also have a Works Cited page, to class. The peer review is worth 10 of the 30 points for the First Draft. I e-mailed everyone, who posted his/her first draft  before today, Friday, Dec. 3, my comments. Make sure you review these comments and try to make the necessary revisions/corrections.

Vote on the Nov. 15 Debate due on Dec. 3

If you  have not done so, be sure to vote for the group which you believe won the Nov. 15 debate.

Please view our debate from Nov. 15 by clicking on the links included in the Nov. 20 post.  Then cast your vote for the group-women or men- by commenting on the Nov. 20 post. Be sure  to explain why you think the group- women or men- should be considered the winner of the debate. Your vote should be based on the group's arguments, the group's use of supporting evidence from Lara's and Bordo's readings  and the group's teamwork.

Information about Final Exam which will take place on Dec. 3

This Friday, Dec. 3 is our final exam. Much like the midterm, the final exam requires that you write a well-developed, at least 600 word essay in response to one of three prompts.

The prompts will focus on the following pairs of texts:
One prompt will require that you take a position on the issue whether homosocial bonds have an impact on masculinity, and support your position using MLA formatted examples from David Grazian's "The Girl Hunt" and The Wedding Crashers. The second prompt will ask whether women contribute to maintaining double standards that support masculinity's superior status, and to illustrate the position on this issue you'll refer to specific examples from Bordo's "gentleman or beast: double bind of masculinity's" and Lara's "Who's Cheap?" Finally, the third prompt will ask you to compare and contrast Coltrane's "Fathering: Paradoxes, Contradictions and Dilemmas" and Williams' "The Glass Escalator" in order to show that there are certain factors which keep men from becoming involved fathers and entering 'female' professions.

You may compose a Works Cited page at home, and bring it with you to the exam. All the information necessary to compose a Works Cited entry for any of the readings can be found on the class blog under Course Readings-click on first link -Information about course readings for Work Cited/MLA documentation.

During the exam you may have and consult the following: hard copies of all the readings (these should have underlining, and marginal notes/definitions), The Little Penguin Handbook, dictionary, and translator. You CANNOT consult your notes/notebook, outlines you prepared at home or study sheets during the exam. Also you  CANNOT e-mail yourself notes, drafts, outlines and consult these during the exam.
*As we will take the final exam in the computer room, you'll have the option to either write your exam in the bluebook OR type it on the computer. If you choose to type it, you are responsible for saving your work, either on the desktop or on a flashdrive which you'll bring to class, printing and submitting your final exam essay at the end of the two hours.

Please review Blog Assessment Form 3 and 4

Under Blog Assessments and Grading Scale, you'll find a link which will take you to a document containing Blog Assessment form 3 and 4. Please review the required assignments as I'll be completing Blog Assessment 3 on Dec. 5.

Nov. 15th Debate- Are men or women hurt more by double standards?

Please view our debate from Nov. 15 by clicking on the links below. Then cast your vote for the group-women or men- by commenting on this post. Be sure to explain why you think the group- women or men- should be considered the winner of the debate. Your vote should be based on the group's arguments, the group's use of supporting evidence from Lara's and Bordo's readings  and the group's teamwork.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EVdeYkfrto

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHWmXqbRpIE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp3A4P6whhA

Reminder- Read Williams' "The Glass Escalator: Hidden Advantages for Men in the "Female" Professions" by Ch. L. Williams for Monday. Also bring a hard copy of this reading as well as Coltrane's reading to class.

I looked at the wrong day on our syllabus on Friday, and told you to only bring a hard copy of Coltrane to class. As indicated on the syllabus I distributed on Monday, Nov. 15 and on the syllabus which is available on the class blog, please read Williams' "The Glass Escalator: Hidden Advantages for Men in the "Female" Professions" and bring a hard copy of this reading as well as Coltrane's reading to class on Monday, Nov. 22.

Also, bring your research papers which I returned on Friday, and the handout on parts of speech/sentence structure. We will not get to research paper 2 outlines.


Week 10:
Friday, Nov. 19, 2010 Read Actively: “Fathering: Paradoxes, Contradiction, and Dilemmas” by
Room C 238                                                     Scott Coltrane pp. 432-449
Blog Post #12: Research Paper #2: Preliminary Thesis and Annotated Bibliography
                                 **Nov. 19 is  the last day to submit revised Midterm Exam along with original


Monday, Nov. 22, 2010 Read Actively: “The Glass Escalator: Hidden Advantages for Men in the
Room C 464     “Female” Professions” by Christine L.Williams pp. 211-224                         
 * Bring hard copy of Williams’ article and Coltrane’s “Fathering: Paradoxes,Contradiction, and Dilemmas”


Week 11
Friday, Nov. 26, 2010 No Class Thanksgiving Break

Monday, Nov. 29, 2010 *Bring a hard copy of your first draft of research paper #2 to class
Room C 464                  *Blog Post #13/ First Draft Research Paper #2(by 10pm tonight)

-Review for Final Exam

Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 FINAL EXAM
Room C 238                      
           
Week 12
Monday, Dec. 6, 2010 -In class- Peer Review of First Draft of Research Paper #2
Room C464           *Bring in 3 hard copies of your first draft of Research Paper #2 for peer review.


Friday, Dec. 10, 2010 Last Day of Class
Room C 238        - Final Draft of Research Paper #2 Due/Blog Post #14
                    * You MUST also submit a hard copy of your final draft and a source folder
                                  In - class: Blog Post 15: Reflections
                          
Final Conferences   Date: TBA
                                Room: TBA

Comment on a classmate's quick write- "Future Plan #2" and Coltrane's chapter

Please read one of your classmate's post, in response to the Quick Write, and  comment on it. Be sure to comment on the connection between the reading and the photo, as well as use of textual reference(MLA in-text citation).

Quick Write: Pregnant Men in Okada's "Future Plan #2" and Coltrane's "Fathering: Paradoxes, Contradicitons, and Dilemmas"

Look a the photograph which I've included in the beginning of the Coltrane's chapter, "Fathering: Paradoxes, Contradictions, and Dilemmas." How does the image relate to the paradoxes Coltrane discusses? Choose one paradox from Coltrane's chapter, and develop a paragraph which discusses how the photograph reflects that paradox. You paragraph must include MLA style in-text citations.

More sources and some movies related to fatherhood

Since on Friday, we will be discussing Scott Coltrane's article on fatherhood, in the process of planning our discussion, I came across these two interesting articles on fatherhood. If anyone is working on fatherhood and masculinity for their research paper 2, you are more than welcome to look up these articles and use them as sources in your paper.

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen and Lev Grossman's article entitled "Fatherhood 2.0," and Barbara DafoeWhitehead "Women and the Future of Fatherhood"  both accessible via Academic Search Complete database on LaGuardia Community College library website.

Some movies on fatherhood/ men as children's caretakers:  Mr. Mom (1983), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jungle 2 Jungle (1997), Big Daddy (1999), Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), The Pacifier (2005), and  Daddy Day Care (2007).

Event which may be of interest to those of you working on fatherhood and masculinity, or masculinity and violence for your second research paper

LaGuardia’s Student Center for Women Invites the College Community to a Presentation:
Domestic Violence & Its  Effects on Children, Families, and Communities
Domestic violence reaches way beyond the privacy of the homes in which it takes place, negatively affecting the lives of children, families, and their respective communities.
Learn about this pervasive problem in our society, the warning signs, and what you as a citizen, can do about it.
With Special Guest Presenter:
Ms. Erin Salvatore, LCSW, Sanctuary for Families
Date:  Thursday, November 18, 2010
Time:  12noon – 1:30pm
Where:  Room MB10
Light refreshments will be served.
For further information please contact Joanna De Leon at 718-482-5102.
                                     Sponsored by the Office of Student Life.

Little Boys Competing for Pageant Crowns Video

Little Boys Competing for Pageant Crowns Video

This is a really interesting piece which I came across and might be of interest to those of you looking for topics for research paper 2. Also, I encourage you to look at the video and think about how it relates to Coltrane's article on fathering. Consider this: are the mothers who put their sons in pageants somehow endangering their well-being? One of the mothers in this video says her sons are like the daughters she never had and that's why they are in pageants. Are these pageant boys lacking a strong, masculine influence in their lives? Or are these boys representative of a new masculinity, one which encompasses both masculine and feminine qualities?

Friday, Nov. 19th is the last day to submit Midterm revisions

As I mentioned in class few weeks ago, and included this on the syllabus, the last day to submit the Midterm revisions-this applies only to those exams which received a grade of C- or below- is this Friday, Nov. 19. Please make sure that the revision is typed and proofread thoroughly, and that you submit the original midterm, the bluebook, along with the revision.

“I Kiss Them Because I Love Them”: The Emergence of Heterosexual Men Kissing in British Institutes of Education"

This is an interesting and entertaining study that Prof. Matsuuchi came across. The article which describes the study is called “I Kiss Them Because I Love Them”: The Emergence of Heterosexual Men Kissing in British Institutes of Education" and it was written by  Eric Anderson, Adi Adams and Ian Rivers. You can access the article by clicking the link below.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/973m7xr717j1t1v4/about/

Reminder-Final Draft of Research Paper 1 due with source folder and Change of Readings for Monday, Nov. 15

On Monday, Nov. 15, your final draft of research paper is due along with a source folder containing photocopies of your 6 sources (4 primary and 2 secondary). Articles MUST be submitted in their entirety. For book, photocopy the title page and 10 subsequent pages, beginning with the page from which you borrowed a quote or idea.

The updated syllabus is uploaded to the class blog. For Monday, Nov. 15, please bring with you to class a copy of Susan Bordo's "gentleman or beast: double bind of masculinity" and  also a copy of Adair Lara's "Who's Cheap?" I'll distribute a new version of a syllabus, once again, on Monday in class as I've cut another reading to lessen our work load.

Worst Date Group Activity Directions

Read and comment on all your group members’ ‘Worst Date’ posts. In your comment for each post, you are to make an argument either for or against the post’s author giving the date another chance. Be sure to support your position with information from Adair Lara’s “Who’s Cheap?” and Susan Bordo’s “gentleman or beast: double bind of masculinity.” *These two readings will appear on the final, so please treat this activity as a review for the exam. If you finish before the time for this activity is up, you should read the comments your post received and respond to the arguments in follow up comments.( Duration of the activity: 25min.)

Group 1	Student’s Name	Blog’s title
1	Guadia Azize	Guadia-men
1	Johnny Quizphi	Male-Men
1	Gladys Otavalo	Gladys
1	Jerome	muscles
Group2	Student’s Name	Blog’s title
2	Michael Corona	Gender Wars
2	Bryan Navarro	AeroBlog
2	Mikayla Mitchell	Mikayla
Group 3	Student’s Name	Blog’s title
3	Jason Croft	Zeus “Father of Gods and Men”
3	Wai Sing Lam	Masculinities of Men’s
3	Tiffany Quinones	Masculinities
Group 4	Student’s Name	Blog’s title
4	Miguel Gonzales	Future Dilf
4	Dimitrios T	Corruption
4	Jacky	Dollygurl
Group 5	Student’s name	Blog’s Title
5	Radhames0(Rad) Guzman	radGblogs
5	Jeremiah Rivera	TheRealJeremiahRivera
5	Marleny S.	Marleny

Worst Date

Well actually never been the type of person to really date. Never actualed dated someone before or had been in a relationship before. I've been single for quite some time now. But, If I date before I would have to see what type of person they are and how the date goes. If it goes bad, then I wouldn't give the person another chance. If it good well, Then I might consider giving the person another shot. Overall, it depends on the person and how it goes.

Quick Write Nov. 12

Please post this on your blog and title the post -Worst Date. In the post, describe the worst date you have ever been on. Also, mention whether or not you gave the person, who took you on that horrible date, a second chance, and explain why you did so.

Event for physical sciences, engineering, life sciences, health sciences, social sciences,and humanities majors

What:      ScienceDirect Workshop
When:   Today, November 10, 11-11:30...only 30 minutes!
Where:  Library Lab E101-B

Take a look at this new database which provides access to over
10 million full text articles and book chapters in the physical
sciences, engineering, life sciences, health sciences, social sciences,
and humanities.
~ Facilitated by Catherine Stern and Steve Ovadia

Two 1-GB flash drives raffled at each workshop +
FREE CANDY

For further information contact Elizabeth Namei, enamei@lagcc.cuny.edu,
6019, Catherine Stern, castern@lagcc.cuny.edu, x5213 or Alexandra Rojas,
arojas@lagcc.cuny.edu, x6020

Part I of Research Paper #2: Proposal and Preliminary Thesis due Friday, Nov. 12. Research Paper #2 assignment available under Assignments on class blog and Blackboard

Aside form uploading Research Paper #2, which we went over in class today, to the class blog and Blackboard under Assignments, last night I also e-mailed this assignment to everyone in the class as an attachment. As indicated on the syllabus, Part I of Research Paper #2, which consists of the Proposal and Preliminary Thesis, is due Friday, Nov. 12. Please read the assignment and if you have any questions please post them on the class blog.

Second Blog Assessment will take place on Nov.13

On November 13, I'll grade your blogs on the assignments from Oct. 15 through Nov. 12. To make sure that you have completed all the required posts and writing activities, please consult the form which you can find under Blog Assessment and Grading Scale. The form is called Second Blog Assessment.

Blog Post #9: First Draft of Research Paper 1 is due today and in-class peer review in class on Friday, Nov.12

Be sure to post your first draft of research paper 1 today. This first draft must follow the requirements outlined in research paper 1 assignment, which can be found under Assignments on the class blog. I'll comment on your first drafts and e-mail you feedback/comments before Friday's class. During the second hour of class on Friday, we will work on proofreading the first drafts and conduct a peer review. Please remember that the peer review counts toward your first draft research paper points. If you do not attend the peer review and you do not post your draft on time, you'll lose points and this will affect your research paper #1 grade.

Connections between Grazian, The Wedding Crashers and Bordo

Today we continued our discussion of masculinity as a set of behaviors which are dictated by specific context in which men find themselves in. Much like Grazian in "The Girl Hunt" points out the male collective rituals associated with "the girl hunt" and how these include homosocial bonds, the film, The Wedding Crashers, illustrates this in the relationship between the main plot(romance between John, Jeremy and the respective females) and sub or side plot (bromance). These two modes of masculine behavior can be analyzed via the lens of the "double bind of masculinity" which Bordo discusses in her chapter "gentleman or beast: double bind of masculinity." The question which we began considering is it possible for men to successfully negotiate the double bind of masculinity, or gentleman and beast?

Annoyed by word verification required for comments?

If you do not want your blog followers/commentators to be required to type the word verification every time they post a comment, you can undo this setting. On your blog, in the top right hand corner, click on Design. Then click on the Settings tab. Below the Settings tab, you'll see Comments. Click on Comments. Then scroll down to the 10th item, show word verification for comments, and click no. Lastly, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click on Save Settings.

Reminder about Blog Post 8:Reflections on Wedding Crashers and Blog Post 9: First Draft of Research Paper #1

Hope you are enjoying the bromantic comedy, The Wedding Crashers and taking some notes, guided by the handout you've received. Be sure to post Blog Post #8: Reflection on the bromantic comedy by

7pm tonight. 

Also, for Monday, Nov. 8, please read carefully and closely 

“gentleman or beast? the double bind of masculinity” 

by Susan Bordo pp. 242-264. This reading, as all others, can be accessed via our class blog by clicking on Course Readings, and then clicking on the link below the title of this chapter from Bordo's book. Last, but not least, Blog Post 9: First Draft of Research Paper 1 is due on Monday, Nov. 8. Be sure that you read my comments, which I posted in response to your outlines. Aside from basing your first drafts on the outlines, you should also review the reflections you composed for your annotated bibliographies.             

Have a good and productive weekend. Looking forward to reading your reflections to The Wedding     Crashers. 

Due Date for Revisions of Midterm

If you received a C- or below on you midterm exam, you have until Friday, Nov. 19 to submit a revised version of the midterm. Your revision must be typed and a hard copy must be submitted on or before Nov.19, along with the original blue book midterm version. Pleas let me know if you have any further questions.

Grazian's "The Girl Hunt" and performing masculinity

Today we discussed and acted out some of the rituals described by David Grazian in "The Girl Hunt: Urban Nightlife and the Performance of Masculinity as Collective Activity." We should keep in mind "the myth of the pick-up," "collective rituals" and "collective performance of masculinity," as illustrated by Grazian's study, and how these relate to the bromance we will be watching in class on Friday, Nov. 5. Please remember to vote on the bromance, comedy you'd like to see on Friday, by commenting on the previous post. Also, for next week, we should think about how Bordo's reading, "gentleman or beast? the double bind of masculinity," which we will discuss on Monday, Nov. 8, reflects the pressures and dangers which can be a part of "the girl hunt."

Vote for a bromantic comedy you'd like to see on Nov.5

As you know, we will be watching a bromance/bromantic comedy on Monday, Nov.5, and I'd like you to give me some input/recommendations as to which movie you'd like to see.
Here is a list of bromances I've seen or know of:

I Love You Man

Wedding Crashers
40-year Old Virgin
Superbad
Role Models
Swingers
The Wood
The Hangover

Please cast your vote by commenting on this post and stating which movie you'd like to see and why.

Outlines for Research Paper 1 were due yesterday and updates on working with research advisors from LRC 103

Yesterday in class we went over MLA in-text citation guidelines, all of which are in your The Little Penguin Handbook, and which I've organized in a handout that could be accessed on our class blog, by clicking on MLA, link -MLA guidelines for in-text citations. We also reviewed the outline and the necessary information it must contain. So just to reiterate:
The outline must contain a thesis which consist of a claim and a reason. The claim is based on the primary sources= The[insert the men's magazine you are working on] was promoting [insert type of masculinity] masculinity in [insert year] because... The reason for the claim should be based on your secondary sources.
Every main point-these points must support the thesis, must be discussed in a separate body paragraph. The main points MUST NOT be focused on primary sources, as the objective is NOT to summarize individual sources. Instead, the objective is to make points based on primary sources to support the thesis, and illustrate these points with examples from primary sources, as well as analyze/explain these using the secondary sources. *You should consult your annotated bibliography and review your reflections, as these are rough drafts of ideas for body paragraphs, which need revision/proofreading and inclusion of secondary sources.
Thank you, to those students who forwarded the e-mails they have been exchanging with their research advisers. I'm glad that you have been getting feedback and/or at least communicating with the LRC 103 students. For those who have not done so, please attend to this matter as it counts towards your points for Part II of research paper 1.

Father of the term "Metrosexual": Mark Simpson

"Mark Simpson is an author and journalist.  He is credited with coining the term ‘metrosexual’ in the British newspaper the Independent in 1994 and also introducing it to the US in 2002, inaugurating the current global popularity of the term.  He is also credited with coining the ‘retrosexual’ in the sense of the anti-metrosexual."
Url for this brief article below:
http://www.scienceofthetime.com/scienceofthetime/members/mark_simpson/11/

Bibliography of Books on Various Aspects of Masculinity

https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1pWMXYTJPvrAyVWXGbK6k9mq5jvnU4UNVoaoYyvh2X5E&hl=en

For Friday, Oct. 29th class

Today in class, I distributed hard copies of an updated syllabus, effective as of today. I also posted this on our class blog and on Blackboard.
As indicated on the updated syllabus, before Friday, Oct.29th class you must:
1. Receive some feedback about your secondary sources from your research advisor. You should either have comments from your research advisor on your blog OR you should receive feedback from your advisor via e-mail. When e-mailing your research advisor, please cc me by placing my e-mail-mbogacka@lagcc.cuny.edu - in the cc bar. And if you receive e-mails from your advisor, simply forward them to me.
2. Your annotated bibliography, which must contain 4 primary sources, must be completed before Friday's class as I'll be grading it on the morning.
3. You must post a formal outline, which includes reference to all six sources -4 primary and 2 secondary-of your research paper #1 on your blog BEFORE Friday's class.
4. Bring all your sources for research paper 1 to class.
Please e-mail me or post on the class blog if you have any questions.