Sky Kalfus • Silver • Experience with Language

Speaking has never been my strong suit. Quite the contrary, in fact. As a child, my speech was dotted liberally with ums and often concluded with neverminds.  I spoke too quickly and too quietly. I slurred my words. As I was told hundreds of times, I needed to “enunciate”.

While I don't currently have an ILP, I hope to be working at the Fabric Workshop. I don't know exactly what I'll do there, but I'm interested in screen printing and textile arts. I look forward to it.

I wonder if Shakespeare had any idea that 4,000 years after he wrote Hamlet, students would still be reading his play and finding it engaging. Like the Oddesey, the story of Hamlet has incredible vitality. It's ability to resonate with people so many years after its time shows how little human beings have changed, and makes us wonder what current texts will have the same longetivity.

When I began Hamlet, I expected it to be interesting- but not very engaging. I didn't expect to be reading ahead of the assigned pages. But despite the unfamiliar language, I find it relatively fast reading.

For this benchmark, we worked in groups to create presentations that showed how to use various functions, or 'blocks', on moodle. Our groups focused on the 'upcoming events', 'search forums', and 'section links' blocks. Attached is the powerpoint.

This was one of my favorite projects this quarter. Each group was assigned a topic- ours was M.C Escher- and had to give a presenation about how geometry was relevant to it. We also had to individually write pamphlets explaining why geometry's applications in the world are important, and why it should be in textbooks. It was interesting, because it gave us an opportunity to use what we had learned to gain a deeper understanding of M.C Escher's work.

*Attached is the powerpoint- I would attach the pamphlet as well, but I can't find the file.

During this quarter, we worked on conveying emotions and a narrative without props or speech. In our benchmark, we had to work with a partner to create and perform a silent scene. We also had to make a playbill to accompany it. I worked with Taylor Valentine. In our scene, she played the role of a model who is having her picture painted, and I performed as the artist. Attached is our playbill.

For this benchmark, we studied the effects of sugar, water, and oxygen on yeast respiration. My partner Beth Knibbe and I did two labs- the first focusing on sugar, the second on the specific ratios of sugar, water, and oxygen necessary to stimulate respiration.

This quarter, we read 'Kindred' by Octavia Butler. Our benchmark was to write an essay that addressed a disscussion topic concerning the book. I chose to compare Dana's influence on Rufus with the influence of Rufus's environment.