Reading Response #1

Chapter 3

1.   Having boys and girls learn in the same teaching environment might not lead to gender equity in education but in fact might accomplish the opposite, according to Dr. Leonard Sax. Sax, who founded the National Association for Single Sex Public Education, is also conducting professional development workshops with Tulsa Public Schools faculty members who teach in gender-segregated classrooms. Sax states that the "lack of recognizing gender differences reinforces gender stereotypes". Sax also claims that "boys don't want to study poetry and art because they think those are girls' subjects. Girls don't want to study computer science or engineering because they're boys' subjects."


     This is the article I found on the benefits of same sex schools. The author used the introductory phrases “Sax states that….” and “Sax also claims that.” which frames the quotation into the paragraph making if flow easier. The author introduces Dr. Leonard Sax at the beginning of the paragraph and then uses a quote by him to emphasize the importance of same sex schools. I think that with continuing this paragraph there needs to be more on the author’s opinion of what Sax says in their own words. By blending the author’s words and Sax’s commentary it will sound a little more persuasive to the reader.


2. I feel that Aquinas was truly an intellectual individual who always found ways of discovering new ideas. William of Tocco, Aquinas’s first biographer said “Thomas Aquinas raised new problems in his teaching, invented a new method, and used new systems of proof. To hear him teach a new doctrine, with new arguments, one could not doubt that God… gave him the power to teach, by the spoken and written word, new opinions and new knowledge.” I really love this quote because it sums up Thomas Aquinas’ life. He spent his life living out God’s works. In my opinion, I think that Saint Thomas Aquinas was inspired by God to create his marvelous works, such as the Summa Theologica, Summa Contra Gentiles, and hymns that are used in liturgical churches. Only a talented individual could master and create these intricate ideas.


     This paragraph is from a paper I wrote regarding Thomas Aquinas, a theologian. I used a quote to show how Aquinas was extremely intellectual. I used an introductory phrase “William of Tocco….said…” to blend in the quote within the text. After, the quote I explained the purpose of it being in the paragraph. I used the quote to express how Aquinas was a talented individual by providing a source that had studied and written about his life.