Leaders and Power

Hello--

Here is the link to the video you should watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZbJOE9zNjw
*This is clip that should be listened to loud


After watching this four minute clip please spend five or so minutes responding to the clip: you might want to consider the following ideas--
1.) Is Gustavo a leader? If so why? How does he lead?
2.) Is Gustavo powerful? Or does the power come from his leadership?
3.) Are there rules that Gustavo must follow as leader--if he breaks them does he become less powerful or less successful as a leader?

I will leave you with one of my favorite Gustavo quotes:
"I have this conception of music that it is a river--that, like life, it is the particular place where the water is going, but the water is the music."

So for now--here is to finding that river and acknowledging the natural power it possesses.

Good luck and I hope you have a good day.

HW due for Thursday--Revised

You should respond to this post by the start of class on Friday:

You can respond to one of the following questions OR your response can be a fusion that addresses both questions.

Directions:
-You must use at least three quotes (properly cited) in your response.
-Your response can use I, and it can be personal NOT analytical; however, you should make sure that you focus on clearly and aptly articulating your point. Think about what you really want to say--and then the find the best words to say it.
-Your responses should fully articulate what you are feeling; thus, the length of the response is up to you, however, I would encourage you to mine your thoughts, emotions, and ideas for all they worth...simply, do not leave an idea unexplored that pertains to this question.

Questions to consider:
1.) By reading about Holden what are the things you have learned from him? ANOTHER WAY TO ASK THIS QUESTION IS: By listening to Holden's story what ideas have you 'caught' and will keep stored away in your heart long after the book has ended?

2.) In chapter 25, what is Holden so afraid of--do you think he is afraid of writing bad words, do you think he is afraid of Pheobe growing up, do you think he is afraid of missing everybody? What are specific examples of things he might be 'caught' doing, and how is his possible punishment both a good and bad thing?

I would encourage you think deeply about this questions and all you have learned--work humbly when you answer these questions and write truly.

Good luck (Holden would hate the fact that I ended this message like that),
AK

HW for the Night

Hello--

I am sorry this is not finding you sooner, but I hope that it finds you well.

In class, I told you that Mr. Fletcher was not only a smart man--but a wise man as well. I hope that you listened closely to the words he spoke today when he gave Adam Kane an award. Thinking about that talk, our class today, and our class I general--I thought about the Shorris' essay and his reference to Plato's "Allegory of the Cave."

So let me say this--literature makes us rich. And for me the written word is both sacred and holy--it is my church: reading gives me the laws I live by and writing allows me the chance to articulate what laws I have broken and a chance to confess these transgressions; I think that this statement also 'holds' true for Holden. Early this year, I shared a story with you about Pope John Paul and Father Tony--the punch line of that story reads: "The church is not a mausoleum for saints; it is a hospital for sinners. And we are both sinners."

On page 188 it reads--"The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one." Thus--here is what I would like you to consider tonight: because of this year--and what we have read and what we have discussed--what is a cause you want to live humbly for, and how will you make sure get to this goal?

Your responses can take any form--but the should be around 300 words. More importantly, remember that the best words are true words--and true words only come from the heart.

Good luck.

Best,
AK

Questions to Consider when reading "Reading"

Please think about these three questions--you are note required to respond to these questions, but I would be interested to hear what you have to say about them.

1.) Why does Holden start crying at the end of chapter 23? How are his tears like the rain that has been a constant present in the novel? How does Phoebe act as a mirror for Holden--what does her character reflect?
2.) How is Holden 'connected' to James Castle? How does Mr. Antolini act as a bridge between these two characters?
3.) What does Holden hope to gain by going to Mr. Antolini's apartment? In this moment, does he finally get what he is searching for?

Good luck and let me know what I can do in order to be of assistance to you.

Best,
AK