Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Group 201-204 Homework: Rewarding words and phrases from your easygoing teacher

Winston Churchill, 1874-1965
Please use ten of these words and phrases in complete sentences, showing that you understood how we used them in class. (They're all drawn from Afanasyeva chapter 14, listening comprehension tasks.)

You can use more than one of these words/ phrases in a sentence, so you may end up with fewer than ten sentences.

Please bring your sentences to class on March 19 or 20.

Task 1 (theme: success)
rewarding
regret
decide on
keep an open mind
to give up
to make up one's mind

Task 2
easygoing
to jump on

Task 3
to make the effort
surprisingly
regarding


Thursday, March 6, 2014

Sarah Masen, The Dreamlife of Angels, "Girl on Fire"


Прослушать Sarah Masen Girl On Fire на Простоплеере

Amazon.com purchase link.

Girl on Fire, written and performed
Source.   
Amazon.com link
by Sarah Masen

i think we’re coming to a standstill
i think you’re magic with your strong will
but this is love and not justice
he’s hurting everything he touches
you cannot carry what he clutches
he needs a mother and confession
and he does not tell you you are precious

well how about some love and charity
a sense that you are family
i’d like to help but you’re on fire
how about some peace and honesty
some hard-core hope and clarity
you are a precious girl on fire

i think we’re coming to a standstill
i think you’re magic with your strong will
but this is love and not justice
he’s hurting everything he touches
he cannot carry what he clutches
he needs a father and some healing
and he forgets his own words

how about some love and charity
a sense that you are family
i’d like to help but you’re on fire
how about respect and dignity
some hard-core hope and clarity
you are a precious girl on fire

and there is so much in forgiveness
but he is sticking with his business
how about some love and charity
a sense that you are family
you are a precious girl on fire

you are a careful mystery
not someone’s sweet commodity
you are a precious girl on fire
on fire
on fire

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Back to Chicago! "On the Road Again," by Johnny Young



Johnny Young, the great blues mandolin and guitar player, died in 1974. I could not find a single decent video of him, so here's a photo of Johnny Young, taken from this discography site. (More information about Johnny Young here. You can hear him on mandolin here--this was the first track of his I ever heard.)

According to the discography site, "On the Road Again" was recorded in November 1965 at Sound Studios in Chicago, Illinois, by Pete Welding, with a band of musicians from the very top of the Chicago blues scene. Musicians: Johnny Young (vocal, guitar, mandolin); the great pianist Otis Spann; James Cotton on harmonica; Jimmy Lee Morris (bass); S.P. Leary (drums); produced by Chris Strachwitz (the "Chris" mentioned by Johnny Young in the lyrics below).


Link to purchase track.

On the Road Again, Johnny Young

back on the road again, I’ve taken you just to be my friend
I’m back on the road again, darling, and I’ve taken you just to be my friend
you treated me wrong twice baby, darling I hope you never do that again

you’ve heard my warning, darling you hear me, what I say
you have heard my warning darling, darling you heard me, just what I say
back on the road again, I would be out here for so many days

out in old California, where the green grass grows around my door
out in old California, where the green grass grows around my door
it hurts me so bad to think about Chicago just once more

(I’m back on the road again, Chris,
Lord I take Chris just to be my friend)

ain’t it a miserable feeling, darling, when the woman you love is really gone
miserable feeling and the woman that you love has really gone
it’s a cold cold feeling when your darling is not at home


Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Groups 201-204 Homework: You're the expert, part two

Write another essay on a topic of your choice. This time I would like you to cite at least one other author, using a quotation or a paraphrase from that author (or those authors) and telling the reader where the quotation or idea came from.

First, think about an interesting subject or theme, or about a news story or public concern that you know about. 

(Ideas: Russia and the world; the Olympic ideal; a perfect vacation/holiday; fate and freedom; should animals ever be kept in zoos?; intellectual property in a world of torrents; the cost of education; alcohol and addiction; starting your own business; finding a soulmate; online friendships; are libraries obsolete?; preserving historic buildings.)

In your essay, use these phrases if they are helpful.  

Write an opening paragraph, perhaps with a phrase from this list:
  • What would you do if you only had _____? According to ______, the most important ______ is _______.
  • The increasing number [or amount] of ______ has become an urgent problem.
  • Many of my friends think that ______. I agree with them, and here's why. OR However, I believe they are wrong.
  • Ever since the events at ______, journalists and politicians have argued for more ______.
  • One day I was on my way to _______, when suddenly ________. I realized that ________ and decided to do something about it.
In this first section, if you wish, you could draw upon another author (perhaps a journalist or analyst or eyewitness) to help you describe the situation you'd like to address.

In your second section, express and explain your point of view. Here you might use another author to explain how you learned about this point of view or why you think it is correct.

In your third section, express and explain the "other side's" point of view, or explain the weaknesses of your own point of view. Here you could use a quotation or a paraphrase that represents the viewpoint you disagree with.

Finally, draw a conclusion or make a recommendation to the reader.

At the very end of your essay,  list the authors, their books or articles or Web pages. If you use only one source, put the full details of that source here, as we discussed in class. If you have more than one source, put "Works Cited" at the top of the list, and then list the individual sources. See this page for more guidelines.

By the way, the guidelines I'm quoting and linking are based on American standards for the humanities. Rules and guidelines are different in other English-speaking countries. In anything you write, choose one standard and use it consistently; don't mix standards from different countries or systems in one paper.

Here are a couple of Web sites that explain both the methods and the rules for finding and citing other people's work:
You have two weeks for this assignment. Next week (March 5 or 6), tell me what your topic is, and the following week (March 12 or 13), please bring your finished essay of 200-250 words to class.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Kim Wilson (and Little Walter), "Just a Feeling"

Kim Wilson
Little Walter

This song was originally recorded by Little Walter at the legendary Chess studio in Chicago. Here's his version:



It can be found on this album, which I love!--The Essential Little Walter.

The version I used in class was by Kim Wilson. He's playing as part of Mark Hummel's Blues Harp Meltdown, Vol. 1.

Here's Kim Wilson's version:



Before we go to the words, here is one of the few videos that exist showing Little Walter playing harmonica, accompanying Hound Dog Taylor in 1967:



You can also see Little Walter's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame here, with James Cotton--another legendary musician--playing the harp, and Ben Harper subbing for Little Walter's vocals.



The words to "Just a Feeling" are by Little Walter (Marion Walter Jacobs), but I've modified them to follow Kim Wilson's performance:

Just a feelin', a feelin' I had on my mind
Just a feeling, a feelin' I had on my mind
You know, I lay down dreaming,
I woke up this morning screamin' and cryin'

Just a dream, a dream I dreamed last night
Just a dream, a dream I dreamed last night
I do everything to try to please you,
But still I ain't doin' [it] right

Just another pain, really [it] hurts so bad
Just another pain, really it hurts so bad
You know it's the worst old feeling*
A man most ever had

Black night is fallin',
you know the pain is comin' down again
Deep black night is fallin',
the pain is comin' down again
You know I feel so worried,
Junior, I ain't got no friend

*Originally: Got the funniest feelin'

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Groups 201-204 Homework: Letter to Johan

Jean Le Tavernier, portrait of Jean Miélot, adapted; source.


You have received the following letter from your pen friend Johan, who writes:
Some of my students prefer writing essays, because they have more freedom to write what they want. Others prefer writing letters, because they are shorter and the expectations are often clearer. Which kind of homework do you prefer—essays or letters? Why? How long does the assignment take to complete?

I’m writing a paper for an educational conference in October. Teachers have homework, too!
In 100-140 words (twenty minutes), reply to Johan’s letter. Answer his three questions, and ask three questions about his paper or the conference in October. Remember the rules of letter-writing.

Please bring your letter to class next week.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

The Kills, "Pots and Pans"




Прослушать или скачать The Kills Pots And Pans на Простоплеер

Pots and Pans, Alison Mosshart, Jamie Hince (performed by The Kills; lyrics below are as performed on the audio track)

I can't find enough pots and pans
Let alone knives in my kitchen
To keep you cooking
I can't find enough love in my heart
Let alone in my bones
To keep you standing

Ain't enough salt in the ocean
That cares enough to keep you floating
There ain't a drop left in my tank
To move move move your dead weight

I ain't joking
You're so good
I ain't joking when I said
You're so good

I can't find enough pots and pans
Let alone knives in my kitchen
To keep you cooking to keep you cooking
I can't find enough love in my heart
Let alone in my bones
To keep you standing

These are the days we'll never forget
When the dawn, dawns on you
These are the days we'll never forget
When the dawn, dawns on you
These are the days we'll never forget
When the dawn, dawns on you
These are the days we'll never forget
When the dawn, dawns on you...