Wednesday, December 11, 2013

This class buffet is definitely the best I've ever seen, but I'm pretty sure I developed diabetes haha.

Monday, December 2, 2013

PRACTICE ESSAY

People judge every action you make everyday, good or bad, people judge people, it is in human nature. A person can be judged by one simple action they make by somebody they don't even know, and they automatically have an idea of what they think that person is like. They way people react to something has to do with the environment they come from. The characters in "Allegory" and "No Exit" each are very similar in the fact that each author uses similar literary elements and techniques such as imagery to portray the story to the reader.

In Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" the prisoners have been so underexposed to anything except being shackled in a cave until finally one prisoner breaks free and realizes to look beyond his own reality. If there was a loud crash outside the cave per say, the prisoner that now is curious and has more than one point of view and way of thinking in the world would most likely be curious to the situation and would want to go see what it was that caused the loud crash whereas the other prisoners would not because they are not aware of anything beyond the cave and the way they have lived their entire lives.

If you were to take the same scenario and place Garcin from Estelle's "No Exit", the opposite reaction than that of the free prisoner from "Allegory." Garcin knows his current reality, but he refuses to except that it is his reality. Garcin would hear the loud crash, but then probably think nothing of it because he doesn't want to face the truth of the situation.

You can take one hundred people and place them in the same situation, but how they interpret the situation are each going to be different, people may have similar interpretations but they still will have their own individual opinions and thoughts. This was clearly displayed by the authors of "Allegory" and "No Exit" because the characters have similar reactions, yet they are so different at the same time.



Monday, November 25, 2013

Thinking Outside The Box

Sartre is talking about denial when he is describing the limitations of thinking and how a person can't fully think when they are in denial. Plato is talking about limitations of thinking when he says a person cannot be taught by having knowledge passed down the them, they must learn it on their own and experience it for their self.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Sonnet Analysis

This cave is all I've ever known
Shadows dancing in the night
All I see around me is stone
The way that they move is quite a sight

These shackles will hold me down no more
This new found light is so very blinding
But now I see what has never been before
This world around me is a new discovered finding

My world in this cave has been a misconception
This is something that myself is incapable of explaining
But these prisoners in this cave have had but one perception
They will not believe the world that is remaining

This is beyond what I ever could've imagined
I can now see what this world truly beholds

Friday, November 15, 2013

Platos Allegory of the Cave

1. According to Socrates, what does the Allegory of the Cave represent?
It represents the fact that the reality we think we know may not even be close to what the real reality is around us, we just haven't realized or seen it yet.
2. What are the key elements in the imagery used in the allegory?
The prisoners represents the ignorance that we have, the sun represents the truth that we don’t know, the shackles represent all the draw backs in life that are holding us back.
3. What are some things the allegory suggests about the process of enlightenment or education?
It suggests that when are given opportunities we must take them.
4. What do the imagery of "shackles" and the "cave" suggest about the perspective of the cave dwellers or prisoners?
The shackles and the cave suggest that prisoners have no idea about life and what its really about. There are shackles on the prisoner’s mind.
5. In society today or in your own life, what sorts of things shackle the mind?
Well there are so many things in our lives that put shackles on our minds. In my life it's usually my parents and other people that I look up to that I'm learning from. I say this because they are the ones basically telling me what is acceptable in society and what is not, what is good and what is bad, but honestly I really don't know, and won't until I'm out on my own living my own life. Another huge shackle can be technology, specifically the internet. The internet can also be a huge influence because people, especially myself often turn to the internet for answers and we basically believe what we see on the internet, we are blind to the actual evidence behind the answer.
6. Compare the perspective of the freed prisoner with the cave prisoners?
The perspective of the freed prisoner is that he has seen what he though was reality, but what it now really is, but the cave prisoner only sees shadows so that is their only known reality.
7. According to the allegory, lack of clarity or intellectual confusion can occur in two distinct ways or contexts. What are they?
The freed prisoner is confused when he is released from the shackles because all he’s ever known is shadows so that is his reality. So when he enters the real world he must question what is reality.
9. The allegory presupposes that there is a distinction between appearances and reality. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Their is a distinction between appearances and reality because the shadows were just the appearance of something but not the true reality of what it actually is.
10. If Socrates is incorrect in his assumption that there is a distinction between reality and appearances, what are the two alternative metaphysical assumptions?
An alternative assumption would be that because all the prisoner’s had come to know were the shadows and because of that the shadows are their reality.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Gymnastics Beam Routine Remix

Well basically in my essay I talked about how Hamlet shows us that sometimes when we are looking for an answer or trying to overcome a struggle the best kind of therapy is listening to ourself. Well a few months ago I injured my knee at practice and as a competitive gymnast getting ready to compete soon, this has been one of the biggest struggles I've had to overcome not being able to do hardly anything except condition, and go to tons of physical therapy in the slim chance that it may work. Well this was my first time getting back up on the high beam in almost 3 months with only being able to do basic skills and I still have a long way to go and am a long way from being better, but the fact that I was able to mentally overcome the fear that I might get up there and get hurt again and listen to myself was a pretty big accomplishment for me.

http://www.youtube.com/v/Djq44Kuon6s?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=VXNMbAASUhoXR3WTfJNEJg&autoplay=1&showinfo=1&feature=share&autohide=1

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

A Poetic Inquiry

My previous big question:

Why is there so much poverty in this world? Why don't we seriously help those in serious need more? Do we not care enough, or too focused on our own lives to worry about anybody else's? Also the thought of the universe going on and on forever bothers me, how does it simply go on and on forever? I just can't seem to comprehend that.

How is it that some of the worst things happen to the best people? I can't understand why and it breaks my heart. Also when am I going to finally get to meet Justin Bieber? (Don't hate! lol)


A Sonnet on Life
These are days of tumultuous struggle and painstaking agony

These are mornings where heartbeats are rhythmic daggers stabbing me

These are nights of tears, wondering, doubt, heartbreak and regret.

This is life, and I relish in the fact that is hasn’t ended yet.

Though pages in my personal existence volume are still being written

Though I ponder the epistemological nature of my metaphysics

Though I know now that I really know not a thing and never did,

I believe life must continue, whether or not I want to live it.

And it goes on for us all, whether we choose to live or die

And there’s only today to live, that we all should recognize

And life itself is precious; seize the day, forget regret;

And relish in the fact that life still hasn’t ended yet.

These are days of life; they last but for so short a time

So let’s relish in the fact you and I are still alive.

Author unknown

I chose this sonnet because it reminds me that as tough as life can get and even though bad things happen to good people we can't live in worry and fear we simply must live each day to the fullest and realize how precious life is.


Monday, November 4, 2013

Hamlet Essay

What is it about Hamlet, that really captivates the audience? Maybe it's the classic "everybody dies in the end", which is typical Shakespeare, whatever it may be there is something about Hamlet that grasps the reader. Performative utterance has an enormous impact to the characters and the plot of Hamlet. Hamlet himself portrays self-overhearing predominantly throughout the play. He shows how listening to our own words can really sometimes serve as the best form of education for ourselves.

Hamlet clearly demonstrates that words and actions are two completely different things through performative utterance and if you really do want to turn your words into actions then you must follow through entirely. Making a promise is easy but keeping that promise and actually committing to it can be extremely tough just as we saw Hamlet struggle after he promised his father's ghost that he would avenge his death which takes him a very long time to do because he realizes his intentions and what he wants to do are very different from that of what others want him to do.

Self-overhearance is a key element in Hamlet. Hamlet is truly able to express his emotions aloud through his words and at the same time listen to them. He really does rely on self- overhearing and anyone who has read the story could basically say it is a form of treatment for himself. Hamlet is able to take self-overhearing and use it in as his way of reevaluation. Self- overhearing is definitely present in my life all the time especially being a competitive gymnast. I constantly have to listen to myself and tell myself that I am able to do something especially when the fear of some of the harder and scarier skills sets in, I have to be able to reevaluate the situation I am being put in.

There are clearly tons of strong elements that draws the readers of Hamlet in. Performative utterance is definitely one of these and has a huge role in Hamlet, and is really about the action Hamlet himself takes and follows through with. Self-overhearing is really that one element where the audience can truly connect with Hamlet on a personal level because we all have and continue to use self-overheaaring in one way or another and gives us a more vivid image to create and place ourself in Hamlet's shoes.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Literature Analysis # 3

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

1. A young boy by the name of Oliver, becomes an orphan after his mom dies. He gets shuffled around from place to place, getting exploited wherever possible. He end up getting in with the wrong crowd, a gang of petty thieves, and doing some things which he knows that he shouldn't. It ends on a positive note with Oliver finding happiness under the care of a law-abiding, wealthy family.
Charles Dicken's purpose is portrayed through the fact that he was a young boy in a very similar situation growing up, and Oliver was able to show people in the upper class that he and so many others in similar situations were suffering terribly.


2. The theme that clearly stands out to me is within all this corruptness there is a spec of purity that grows and is able grow stronger than the corruptness.

3. The author's tone is depressing yet optimistic.
“It is because I think so much of warm and sensitive hearts, that I would spare them from being wounded.”
“For the rest of his life, Oliver Twist remembers a single word of blessing spoken to him by another child because this word stood out so strikingly from the consistent discouragement around him.”
“It opens the lungs, washes the countenance, exercises the eyes, and softens down the temper, said Mr. Bumble. So cry away.”

4. foreshadowing: The truth about Oliver’s parentage is foreshadowed by the portrait in Mr. Brownlow’s house, by the locket that old Sally has stolen, and by Monks’s pursuit of Oliver.
major conflict: Although Oliver is fundamentally righteous, the social environment in which he is raised encourages thievery and prostitution. Oliver struggles to find his identity and rise above the abject conditions of the lower class.
rising action: Oliver is taken care of by a gang of London thieves, but refuses to participate in their thievery. An upper-class family takes him in, but the thieves and a mysterious character, Monks, continue to pursue him.
climax: This is when Nancy is murdered for disclosing Monks’s plans to Oliver’s guardians and Mr. Brownlow gets the full story of Oliver’s origins from Monks.
falling action: Fagin is executed and Sikes dies; Oliver and his new family live out their days in happiness.
setting: the english countryside
protagonist: Oliver
symbols: the character's names definitely, and Bull's-eye
metaphor: the London Bridge representing the division among social classes.

Character Indirect: the response other characters have to Oliver's appearance when the author describes what he looks like.
Direct: when the author is discussing how the Artful Dodger is a young thief.
To show both how the author directly describes the character and show the reactions of the other characters in response to one's actions which does leave an impression for the reader by giving them a better visual.

2. When one of the characters from the upper class of the time is speaking you can see a more proper sophisticated use of syntax and diction, whereas when someone like Oliver is speaking the syntax and diction is the complete opposite and sounds very uneducated.

3. Oliver is a dynamic and round character because he starts off as an innocent push over kind of character, but then learns to fight for himself and rise above his situation.

4. Oh I definitely felt like I had personally been right alongside Oliver in his journey and it literally started from when he first said "please sir, may I have some more?" I automatically have this visual of this frail little boy dying to get something else in his empty stomach, but feeling bad fro him because he picked the shortest straw and was forced to ask this question. I really just wanted to give the little boy a hug!

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Vocab #8

1. Abase: (v) to lower; to put or bring down; degrade

2. Abdicate: (v) to give up a throne, right, power, claim, or responsibility

3. Abomination: (n) anything greatly disliked; detestation

4. Brusque: (adj) abrupt in manner; rough

5. Saboteur: (n) a person who commits or practices sabotage

6. Debauchery: (n) excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; intemperance

7. Proliferate: (v) to increase in number or spread rapidly and often excessively

8. Anachronism: (n) someone or something that is not in it's correct historical or chronological time

9. Nomenclature: (n) a set or system of names or terms by an individual or community; the names or terms comprising a set or system

10. Expurgate: (v) to purge or cleanse of moral offensiveness; to amend by removing words deemed offensive

11. Bellicose: (adj) inclined or eager to fight; aggressively hostile; belligerent; pugnacious

12. Gauche: (adj) lacking social grace; awkward; crude; tactless

13. Rapacious: (adj) inordinately greedy; predatory; extortionate

14. Paradox: (n) a self-contradictory and false proposition

15. Conundrum: (n) anything that puzzles; a riddle whose answer involves a pun or play on words

16. Anomaly: (n) someone or something that is abnormal or does not fit in; peculiarity; abnormality; exception

17. Ephemeral: (adj) lasting a short time; short-lived

18. Rancorous: (adj) full of or showing rancor (hatred)

19. Churlish: (adj) boorish; rude; mean

20. Precipitous: (adj) extremely steep

Saturday, October 12, 2013

DEAR OPHELIA

Well Ophelia, this definitely puts you in a very tough decision, but you have to go with what your heart truly feels is right. If you feel that this prince truly does love you and you truly love him, then I say your life is your life, and sit your father and brother down and explain to them in the calmest way possible that this is what you have chosen to do, and that this is your life to live, not theirs, and that this is what really makes you happy, whether you support me in my decision or not, this is what I have decided and it is final.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

LITERARY FICTION AND EMPATHY

Okay so after reading this article I'm amazed at how much impact literature and what kind of literature you read has on a person's life and how much it affects them socially. Wendland talks about the better understanding people can have for one another when reading about someone's life verses reading fiction all the time, which doesn't give the reader much of a grasp on making an emotional connection through that literature and the real world.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

GREEN EGGS AND HAMLET

a) I don't know too much about Hamlet, I know that "The Lion King" is supposed to be based from Hamlet. I feel like I should know more considering I've grown up in performing arts, but I'm excited to start Hamlet.

b) What I know about Shakespeare is that he considered one of the greatest play writers of all time, and I have read two of his works, Romeo and Juliet, and Julius Caesar. Romeo and Juliet is one of my favorite plays believe it or not.

c) I think the frown upon students when hearing the name Shakespeare comes from the fact that his work is known for being tough and hard to comprehend due to the very old language used. And lets face it when kids here they have to read a classic, especially one this famous and this old, they want to jump out their seats and get as far away from it as possible because they have no appreciation for this kind of work.

d) To make studying this play an amazing experience I think that we should to some sort of acting scenes out as a group and maybe even have to dress up as the characters or something. And we should definitely form a group and go see it when it runs at PCPA this year!

VOCAB #7

Everyone stood there shocked as the black car drove away at such an alarming speed, that the rocks on the floor started to RICHOCHET off the building. Si
nce Haley was a jokester the group began to wonder if this could be just another one of her SHENANIGANS. This prank, however, would have involved a PLETH
ORA of planning so they came to a conclusion that Haley had been kidnapped. Micaela suggested that the group split up in search for Haley, but this sugge
stion formed a SCHISM as not everyone thought it was a good idea. If they split up, someone else might get kidnapped and everyone wanted to ESCHEW anymor
e kidnappings from occurring. Everyone was really nervous but no one was speaking which made an un-GARRULOUS car ride for a few minutes. No one was EBULL
IENT because of what had just occurred. Caroline began to HARANGUE Micaela because Caroline never thought it was a good idea for Haley
to stay out by th
e car unattended. Everyone was INTERDEPENDENCE on one another in search for Haley. It was such a CAPRICIOUS trip no one was sure of what was to come of i
t. Everyone began to become LOQUACIOUS because they were beginning to panic which was not EPHEMERAL. As the day started to go on we didn't even care that
our vacation was INCHOATE. We then decided to JUXTAPOSE all of our belongings to see if there was anything we had that could help us get our friend back
. We knew that in order to get our friend back we had to exhibit PERSPICACIOUS judgment.
Haley's cry for help was no use... Haley was kidnapped and there was no one who could get her out of this. She could only hope for the slight chance that her friends might miraculously find her. She knew she had to tell her friends her secret, but would they think that it was a bunch of COLDSWALLOP? Haley couldn't stand the MUNGO that the men wrapped her in. She couldn't understand the SESQUIPEDALIAN words the men were using, but she knew it couldn't be good. All of a sudden Haley's head felt very WONKY, as she felt like she was going to pass out. She didn't know what was happening to her! She wondered why so many of the words the men were using were DIPHTHONGS?

WHAT I MEANT TO SAY WAS...

Well I'm going to be honest here... I blanked on that essay, I have no clue why I got so nervous, but yes I blanked big time... So here it is, my new thesis statement: Chaucer makes a connection to his audience by showing distinct relationships within social classes through irony and imagery.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

IF I JUST HAD MORE TIME

Okay if I had more time to study for that midterm man I would've studied so much more. Looking back I realize I studied but not well enough to where I could simply come up with a ton of words and their definitions off the top of my head... But now I know for next time I really need to put in a full 110% when it comes to studying and knowing these vocab words, I also think a lot of it had to do with the fact that last week was very stressful with all my classes, and I'm still learning how to balance out everything with having enough time for everything.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Literature Anal. #2

Of Mice and Men

1. Lennie and George travel to Soledad, California to work on a ranch, because Lennie who has some special needs, likes to touch anything soft and was accused of trying to rape a young woman when he touched her dress, and they were run out of town. George is the person that watches out for Lennie, and tries to keep him from getting himself into trouble. The two men want to save up to buy the land to start their own farm. They are so close to being able to buy the farm, when Lennie accidentally kills the farm owner's son Curley's wife by trying to stroke her hair. George knows that Curley has formed a mob to kill Lennie and doesn't want him to have to die a horrible death such as that, so George distracts Lennie by having him dream of the farm they are going to have with all the soft bunnies he wants, and then shoots Lennie in the back of the head.

2. The clearly distinct theme of this novel is the impossibility of the american dream. No matter how much Lennie and George try and make their dream become a reality, it can never seem to happen. There was always something standing in the way of that dream of theirs.

3. The author's tone could very well be described as laid-back even though this is a very serious novel.

4.
magery: Language that contains a lot of physical, aural, or other type of detailed description.

"On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains..."

Characterization: The way an author develops/reveals more about a character in a story.

"A little stocky man stood in the doorway. He wore blue jean trousers, a flannel shirt, a black, unbuttoned vest and a black coat. His thumbs were stuck in his belt, on each side of a square steel buckle. On his head he wore a soiled brown Stetson hat, and he wore high-heeled boots and spurs to prove he was not a labouring man."

Motif: An idea or concept that is repeated often in a book.

"Lay out some cards, why don't you? We ain't going to get no euchre played this way."

Foreshadowing: Hinting that something is about to happen by giving clues related to it.

"'Curley's pretty handy. He done quite a bit in the ring. He's a lightweight, and he's handy.'
'Well, let him be handy,' said George. 'He don't have to take after Lennie. Lennie didn't do nothing to him. What's he got against Lennie?'"

Suspense: A tool that is used in books to arouse expectation about what may happen next.

"George brought the cards together tightly and studied the backs of them. The silence was in the room again."

Round character: A character that undergoes change as the book progresses.

Examples: George, Curley's Wife, Candy.

Flat character: A character that undergoes very little or no change as the book progresses.

Examples: Whit, Lennie, Carlson.

Character foils: A set of two characters that contrast each other greatly so that their important features are more prominent.

Example: George and Lennie.

Symbolism: The act of using symbols to represent something else, such as an idea.

Example: Curley's wife wears red on several occasions, which symbolizes the "woman in red," or the woman that may bring about a character's downfall.

Dialogue: In a book, dialogue is where the characters are talking instead of the narrator.

Characterization

1. Indirect: When we are shown as readers how Curley is threatened by Lennie's size and we realize how insecure hw is about his size.
As the reader I get the assumption that Lennie isn't very bright by the way he speaks.

Direct: When the author describes Curley as a short mean, tough, man.
When the author describes Slim as having an inviting personality.

2. Well all of the characters use slang when they speak, but you can definitely tell who is smarter than another character. When the author is having George speak, even though he uses a lot of slang he still sounds like a smart person, whereas Lennie does even put his words in the right order they are supposed to come out in.

3. George is a dynamic character because of the crazy complex relationship he has with Lennie. George is considered a round character because of the many sides he displays of his personality, he can appear tough and mean at times, but he also shows a very compassionate caring side to him as well.

4. I really felt like I had gotten to know Lennie pretty well. I really understood his sweet, gentle personality even though he had some mental disabilities. I really felt like I could hear him talking when he was describing how all he wanted was soft bunnies for himself to pet on the farm he and George were going to buy.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

The Comparison Tale

I think that there is a strong comparison between our groups tale which was the Monk Tale, and the Lawyer's Tale. The lesson and theme in the Monk's Tale is to not sin and live your life making the right choices, where the Lawyer's Tale was all about Januarie gets married and his wife cheats on him, and he is completely unaware because he is blind but because of his loyalty the Gods give him his vision back, so the theme remains pretty much the same for this tale and is showed in how Januarie is given his vision back.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Character Study (III)

Haley and her friends all cruised down to Disneyland on the long drive. Haley begged everyone to blast Justin Bieber in the car, but everyone turned to Haley with a big fat "NO!" Giving them a scowl she rolled her eyes and put her headphones in and listened to Justin Bieber. Micaela pulled up at a gas station and asked if anyone wanted to go buy snacks. Everyone went except Haley, who decided to get out and make friends with these two guys putting gas into their big black suv. Little did Haley know, is that those men wouldn't be friends with her for long. As Haley finished conversing with the two men, they quickly grabbed her and shoved her into to the suv. She cried for help as her friends came out of the mini mart but it was too late, they tried running after her but the suv sped off, but Haley knew that her secret wouldn't be kept for much longer...

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Character Study (II)

Haley's eagerness had overcome her and she couldn't wait to meet her friends at Starbucks so that they could head off to the happiest place on earth, Disneyland! Just as she pulled up into the Starbucks parking lot, she spotted them. Patsy, Micaela, Caroline, Kayla, and Haley all went in and ordered their favorite drinks and then headed off to Disneyland in Micaela's car.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Character Study (I)

Haley could hardly wait to head out the door and leave! She was super excited to embark on her journey, and the day to do so had finally arrived! She just hoped that she would be excepted for who she is and wouldn't be judged. "I just want to fit in for once!", thought Haley. Haley hoped her friends were as excited as she was! Haley spent hours packing, but realized she needed to leave or she was going to be late, so she ran out the door ready for this new adventure!

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

What a Character

A character that really had an impact on me is from when I was younger Nancy Drew. Oh how I wanted to be her when I was eight. I admired her bravery and how smart she was. She really fascinated me with her ability to be so smart and solve all these different mysteries and let's be honest here, she kicked some butt!

Monday, September 16, 2013

DECLARATION OF LEARNING INDEPENDENCE

Big Question:

Why is there so much poverty in this world? Why don't we seriously help those in serious need more? Do we not care enough, or too focused on our own lives to worry about anybody else's? Also the thought going on and on forever bothers me, how does it simply go on and on forever? I just can't seem to comprehend that.
I think that my question(s) are very hard to answer let alone, comprehend. I don't know if I will ever have an exact answer by the end of the year but I definitely think I will have some new ideas about it.

SMART Goal:

My goal is to get accepted into the Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts and hopefully transfer to Julliard. I would like to earn some scholarships, I don't know which ones specifically yet, but hopefully I find some good ones. I want to major in performing arts and have a career on broadway.

LIT ANALYSIS #1

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

1. A man named Logan who is a U.S. Marine sets off to serve in Iraq. Logan ends up finding a photo of a woman smiling and when nobody else wants it he decides to take it and carry it around with him. He soon finds that this picture brings him a streak of good luck, including saving his life. Logan sets off to find this girl doing anything he can to contact her and finally ends up finding out that she lives in North Carolina. He travels alongside his dog Zeus and when they end up making to North Carolina he finds out that the girl in the photo's name is Beth Green. Logan applies for a job at the dog training center she owns, and then ends up meeting Keith who is Beth's ex-husband, and Keith is a very jealous person and does not want him to have anything to do with Beth, let alone date her. Logan does end up falling in love with Beth and eventually Beth ends up falling in love with him and start dating. Keith finds out about this and does everything in his power to break the two up. But since Logan has still not told Beth about the picture, Keith ends up finding out and tells her himself, and she gets very and thinks that Logan is a creep and a stalker. But she decides to hear him out and listen to the story of what actually happened and she understands and is no longer mad at him. Keith ends up getting so upset he tries to attack Beth and her son Ben who is watching all of this take place runs away to his tree house but there is a really bad storm taking place and the tree house could end up collapsing. So all three of the adults and the dog Zeus hurry to the tree house to attempt to rescue Ben. Both men try to save Ben but Zeus is the one who saves him, and Keith actually ends up getting killed in all of this. At his funeral they try to talk about his life like he was some great person and great father. Logan, Beth, Ben, and Zeus all end up becoming the happy family they each wanted and live together. I believe that the author's purpose was to tell an inspiring story of love, trust, and hope, and to show that as unlikely of a story as this, what's meant to be, will be.

2. I feel that the theme of this novel is that you have to follow your heart, and trust in fate. As I stated earlier, a story such as this seems almost impossible, but I think that the author was implying that it doesn't matter how unlikely anything seems because if you trust in fate and understand what is meant to be is meant to be, then even the most impossible situations can become the most possible. Logan could have easily said forget it, it was just a lucky chance that he picked up the photo and dodged a bomb, but no he felt that this all happened for a reason and this was all up to fate and following what's meant to be.

3. The tone of this book over all is bittersweet. This book has so many sad moments but the over all story is so full of love which is what makes it sweet as well as sad, and through all the different situations in the book, good and bad, there is something to be learned from them.

"She was struck by the simple truth that sometimes the most ordinary things could be made extraordinary, simple by doing them with the right people.."

"I tell myself that I know you, and then when I think about it, I realize that I don't."

"feelings aren't turned off like a switch. But they would pass as surely as the rain would continue to fall."

4. Foreshadowing- The first few chapters of the book consisted of foreshadowing when the story of how the picture is found and how it saves Logan's life and him walking alongside his dog is foreshadowing that he is going to try to find the girl in the picture.

Conflict- When Logan does all this work to find the girl in the picture so he can tell her about how it saved his life, and he finally does find the lady named Beth from the picture, he doesn't have the courage to tell her about the picture and everything that has happened.

P.O.V.- The story gets told from three different perspectives, Clayton, Thibault, and through Beth.

Imagery- "She'd been proud of his decision to serve his country, her heart bursting with love and admiration the first time she saw him outfitted in his dress blues." This quote is so descriptive, and gives such a vivid picture in my mind by using such great descriptive words.

Flashback- This actually gets used throughout the entire story as Logan continues to reminisce and look back on his days in the Marines.

Simile- "How are the Broncos doing?"
"Like a bunch of carrots."

Comparison- "Friends come and go, clothing is packed and unpacked, households are continually purged of unnecessary items, and as a result not much sticks."

Resolution- When Beth finds out about the photo but is finally willing to listen to what Logan has to say and they are able to work everything out.

Protagonist- This is clearly Logan.

Antagonist- This is clearly Keith.

VOCABULARY #5

obsequious: obedient or attentive to an excessive degree
She is a obsequious teacher's pet.


beatitude: supreme blessedness.
She felt so loved and full of beatitude because of all the support she received.


bete noire: a detested person
When they found out about some of the bad things she'd done in her past she became a bête noire.


bode: to be an omen of a particular outcome
The weather didn't bode well for the party.


dank: disagreeably damp, musty, and typically cold
The basement has a very dank feel to it.


ecumenical: worldwide or general in extent, influence, or application
She was ecumenical in what she was asking of them, instead of being specific, which confused them.


fervid: intensely enthusiastic or passionate, esp. to an excessive degree
I am extremely fervid about gymnastics because I love it so much!


fetid: smelling extremely unpleasant
The sulfur in the hot spring has a very gross, fetid smell.


gargantuan: enormous
The crowd was gargantuan at the Justin Bieber concert.


heyday: The period of greatest popularity, success, or power; prime
I reached my heyday after I got my back handspring on beam, it was an amazing feeling.

incubus: a nightmare
It was an incubus, terrifying dream I had last night.


infrastructure: is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise
The city depends on the infrastructure of the water tower to be able to get its water.


inveigle: persuade (someone) to do something by means of deception or flattery
It was an inveigle act she committed by being nice to her just to get invited to the party.


kudos: fame and renown resulting from an act or achievement
I got much kudos from singing the national anthem.

lagniappe: something given or obtained gratuitously or by way of good measure
She was always giving back to others, so her friends sent her on a lagniappe vacation for all she has done.


prolix: (of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy
She had a prolix thesis statement and it seem to drag on forever.

protégé: a person who is guided and supported by an older and more experienced or influential person
My gym sister at gymnastics is my little protégé and always looks up to me.


prototype: an early sample, model or release of a product built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from
He built a great prototype for the science fair.


sycophant: a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage.
He is a sycophant towards the teacher simply so he will get a higher grade than everybody else.


tautology: needless repetition of an idea, statement, or word
Tautology of repeating the word like over and over annoys me greatly.


Wednesday, September 11, 2013

All of the Above

After taking the 1984 A.P. English Test I wasn't shocked at my low score of a 2 because I found that for me it was very challenging. The poetry on the test and the questions that went with them were probably the toughest part of the test for me, and I realized that I definitely need to study my vocab, old and new, on a regular basis. I feel as I may have rushed through the test and not have put the full effort that I could have into to it, which is definitely the one thing that I regret doing because my score clearly reflected it.

Beowulf Essay


Note: I apologize for the fact that this is late, but unfortunately I was pretty sick the whole weekend through yesterday and slept pretty much the whole time with little energy to do anything, thankfully I'm starting to feel so much better and was able to finish this essay. Thanks for hopefully understanding. :)

The idea of the typical "superhero" or hero is different for everyone, in my mind I don't have a "typical" outline of what a super hero or hero in general, is. As it is not the features a character must have, it is the good actions they portray. Both Spider-man and Beowulf are strong examples of heroes. This has nothing to do with the fact that Spider-man has "super spidey senses" or that Beowulf has so much pride, it is the fact that both of these characters commit strong heroic actions. Both characters are dedicated to help others in need before themselves, and that is why I call them heroes.

Spider-man does come from modern era whereas Beowulf is quite the opposite and is a very old character in our modern day, but both regardless, display heroism and solve conflicts in each of their different situations. Both are considered heroes of their time because of the life risking actions they take to save the people of their community when they are in danger. Both characters feel the need to really step up to the plate and take action to save their community's lives when clearly nobody else was going to. As spider-man displayed his heroic actions when he protects and saves his community from the Green Goblin who is out to kill everybody. Beowulf takes charge and saves the Danes from Grendel the demon, and then goes to defeat the beast.


The symbolism of each of them being heroes lies not with only the actions the portrayed but upon how they became a hero. Beowulf had no powers to begin with nor did he ever develop any, it was the want and desire to be this great person who could live up to his own expectations that drove him to be a hero, he was a normal guy who knew he needed to be the one and save his people from danger. Spider-man is a very different type of hero in the sense of how he became one, he was bitten by a spider with no previous intentions of ever being this great well known hero, but after the spider bite resulted in spider super powers all of that changed. Spider-man realized he had to be the one to step up to the plate when it came to defeating the Green Goblin because he felt that he had been given these powers for a reason and they needed to be used to save peoples lives when nobody else could.

So it is not the cape, the super strength, or the cockiness and pride that makes a hero, but the courage and bravery and dedication to save and help others in need. Spider-man and Beowulf may be two completely different characters from two completely different eras but they definitely have one thing in common, they are two examples of what a real hero is.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

VOCABULARY #4

Accolade: An award or privilege granted for special honor.
I received an accolade for making it to regionals in gymnastics.
Acerbity: A sharp bitterness.
I don't understand why shes showing such acerbity she has towards me on behalf of the fact I have done nothing to deserve that from her.
Attrition: The act of weakening by attack or pressure.
The attrition showed in my beam routine at State Championships as I fell of during my routine.
Bromide: An unoriginal idea or remark.
The quotes she puts on Facebook are very bromide because she simply takes them off the Internet for her own use.
Chauvinist: A person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism.
I saw a chauvinist veteran in the parade on Veterans’s Day.
Chronic: Persisting for a long time.
I have had chronic pain in my knee since I injured it a month ago.
Expound: Present and explain systematically in detail.
In order for the students to understand the new topic the teach had to expound the topic several times.
Factionalism: Relating or belonging to a faction (group).
There is factionalism in clubs at school.
Immaculate: Perfectly clean and tidy.
I like to keep my room in immaculate form.
Imprecation: A spoken curse.
The witch placed an imprecation on the man for what he had done.
Ineluctable: Can't be resisted or avoided.
Trying not to hit any red lights was ineluctable.
Mercurial: Subject to sudden or unpredictable changes in mood or mind.
My parents can be mercurial about things.
Palliate: To make less severe or unpleasant.
The girl was in so much pain everyone just tried to palliate the pain.
Protocol: The official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of state.
It was protocol for the public to vote before a president could be selected.
Resplendent: Attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous.
Her resplendent dress stood out amongst the rest of dresses.
Stigmatize: Described or regarded as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval.
His mother stigmatized hers sons new girlfriend because of the way she dressed.
Sub rosa: Happening or done in secret.
In order to throw a surprise parter, one must do things sub rosa.
Vainglory: Excessively vain.
After winning all of the prizes, she was vainglory and nobody wanted to be around her.
Vestige: A trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists.
The missing girl left a vestige of things that led me straight to her.
Volition: The faculty or power of using one's will.
When I get rejected it simply creates volition inside of me to want what I'm going after even more.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

WILL STUDY FOR FOOD

Personally I don't fully understand the whole scholarship process and how every detail works but I'm hoping by attending the college boot camp I'm able to get a full understanding of how I can apply for scholarships. I plan on going into the PCPA conservatory right of of high school and then transferring to a 4 year university. I'm a little bit confused on how the whole scholarship thing works if you are going into a program like I am, but what I found is the AFA Teens for Alzheimer's Awareness College Scholarship. Now this scholarship has maximum prize of $5,000 which I would hope to receive. To be eligible you must be a US citizen and must be a high school senior to apply. I need this money because as I'm not exactly sure of the PCPA program's full cost I know that when I transfer to a 4 year the cost is going to be a dramatic increase and therefor any scholarship money towards this is meaningful and beneficial.

Vocabulary #3

NOTE: I don't know why this thing didnt post I appologize my laptop is making me very upset right now.
Apostate: a person who renounces a religious or political belief or principle.
She has an apostate attitude towards the religious beliefs that her parents instilled in her.
Effusive: pouring out; overflowing
She was very effusive through her poetry because of the deep emotion she put into it.
Impasse: When I got stuck in a playhouse when I was little I felt I was in an impasse situation.
He found himself in complete impasse when put between his wife and mom.
Euphoria: a state of intense happiness and self-confidence
I was in a euphoria when I got my back handspring on high beam.
Lugubrious: mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially in an affected, exaggerated, or unrelieved manner
Sierra made her life sound so lugubrious that everyone felt sorry for her.
Bravado: a pretentious, swaggering display of courage.
This girl on my team has a very bravado attitude and thinks she can do anything and is above everyone else.
Consensus: majority of opinion
My mother and I came to a consensus that instead of arguing with each other we would talk things out.
Dichotomy: division into two parts, kinds, etc.; subdivision into halves or pairs.
The twins have a dichotomy room so that they can each have their own space.
Constrict: to draw or press in; cause to contract or shrink; compress.
When I was in Uganda I had to constrict when we got in the taxi vans because I was the smallest person with the littlest amount of room left.
Gothic: pertaining to the Middle Ages; medieval.
The gothic architecture was very popular during the middle ages.
Punctilio: a fine point, particular, or detail, as of conduct, ceremony, or procedure.
The girls I babysit have a very punctilious schedule that must be followed precisely.
Metamorphosis: a complete change of form, structure, or substance, as transformation by magic or witchcraft.
I believe one of the most beautiful metamorphic cycles is the butterfly one.
Raconteur: a person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly.
My grandpa is very raconteur when tells us his stories and tales.
sine qua non: an indispensable condition, element, or factor; something essential
Grips are some qua non if you what to have an amazing bar routine.
quixotic: extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary, impractical, or impracticable.
I find Nicholas Sparks books to be quite quixotic.
Vendetta: bitter feud, rivalry, contention
The vendetta between the Montagues and Capulets spoiled Romeo and Juliet’s love.
non sequitur: Logic. an inference or a conclusion that does not follow from the premises.
I always get a bit disturbed when someone tells me a math problem is non sequitur because it just makes me over think the problem.
Mystique: an aura of mystery or mystical power surrounding a particular occupation or pursuit
Throughout the novel there was a mystique kind of feeling.
Quagmire: soft boggy area of land
The resi pit at gymnastics is very quagmire.

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Why this book?

The reason I chose The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks is because I was asking my mom if she had any books she would recommend and she absolutely loved this one so I thought I would read it too and she also loves Nicholas Sparks in general for the quality of work he puts out so that is part of the reason I chose it. And not only that but I have seen the movie which I fell in love with so I'm excited to see the differences between the book and the movie I'm looking toward to finishing this book!

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Beowulf Questions

(Me)
Prologue: The Rise of the Danish Nation] (lines 1-85, pp. 33-34)

1.Realize that this prologue introduces the Danes, not Beowulf or his people the Geats. What was unusual about the way Shield came to be ruler of the Danes? What was his funeral like? What relation is Hrothgar to Shield?

It was an unusual way that Shield became a king because he grew up as an orphan. At Shield's funeral the people that he once ruled put his body with his treasure out into the sea. The relation between Hrothgar and Shield is that Shield is Hrothgar's father.

(Micaela)
Heorot is Attacked:
-The magnificent work Hrothgar undertook was Heorot. Heorot is a hall where men gather to drink and listen to music.
-The demon Grendel, descendent of Cain, attacked Heorot and killed thirty men.
-These attacks continued for 12 years. ---Unsuccessfully, the Danes tried to leave Grendel offerings at pagan shrines.

Feast at Heorot:
-Unferth accuses Beowulf of losing a swimming match against Breca and, therefore, will lose against Grendel.
-Beowulf says he was pulled under the water by a sea monster and so he killed that one along with eight others. If he didn't kill them, neither him or Breca would have made it to shore.
- This episode shows Beowulf bragging about himself and his abilities
-Beowulf accuses Unferth of being drunk
-During the feast Queen Wealhtheow offers a ceremonial goblet to everyone in the room and thanks god for sending Beowulf.

(Caroline)
The hero comes to Heorot
1. What does Beowulf do when he hears about Hrothgar's problem with Grendel?
- Beowulf gathers his best soldiers and sets off to defeat the demon.
2. Whom do the Geats first meet when they arrive in Denmark? What does he do, and what do they do?
- When the Geats arrive they first meet a Danish watchman who was patrolling the cliffs. He asks what they are doing on the shores of Denmark dressed in armor carrying weapons and Beowulf replies they are there to defeat Grendel.
3. They next meet Hrothgar's herald. Who is he? What does he tell them? What does he tell Hrothgar? What does Hrothgar respond? Are you surprised that Hrothgar knows Beowulf so well?
- Hrothgars' herald is Wulfgar, a messenger. He asks them of their name and kin and that he will tell Hrothgar of their request. He told Hrothgar that the Geats have traveled from across the ocean to "have speech at will". Hrothgar responds by saying he knew Ecgtheow and Beowulf as a boy. I am not surprised that he knows Beowulf so well, no one could really forget someone who has the strength of thirty men in each hand.
4.What does Beowulf tell Hrothgar when he enters? What did Hrothgar do for Beowulf's father?
- When Beowulf enters, he told Hrothgar that he heard about Grendel's attacks and Heorot is empty because of the demon that comes in the night. Hrothgar said he helped Beowulf's father and paid off all things that he owned.

(Micaela)
The Fight With Grendel:
1) Beowulf's preparation with Grendel is different because he does not fight with any weapons or armor.
2) When Grendel enters he devours a warrior as Beowulf watches. Beowulf grabs onto his arm and attacks him. When Grendel tries to leave Beowulf tackles him and rips off his arm. Grendel does leave to go to the water to die but he leaves behind his arm.

Celebration at Heorot:
1) Beowulf is like Sigemund because they are both heroes for killing monsters: Grendel and a dragon. They also both receive gold treasures. Beowulf is not like Heremod because is an evil king while Beowulf is a kind hero.
2) Hrothgar gives Beowulf weapons, armor, and eight horses. He also says that he has adopted him as a son. Unferth doesn't have anything to say to Beowulf.
3) The story of Finn is about Finn and the Danez who are neighbor tribes. They both made a truce and Ginn married a Danish princess named Hildeburh. The Danes rise against the Fustains and Finn is soon killed.
4) Wealhtheow asks Heothgar not to have Beowulf be the next king but instead one of their children.
5) The necklace is later given to Beowulf's uncle Hygelac who dies in a battle. Wealhtheow asks Beowulf to be kind to her sons and guide them.
6) So many men remain in the bar hall to sleep because Grendel is dead and so they think it is safe to do so. This is a mistake because Grendel's mother comes in hope to seek remember for Grendel.

Beowulf and Grendel's Mother:
1) Unlike Grendel who just wanted to kill men, Grendel's mother comes to Heorot for revenge.
2) Hrothgar asks Beowulf to kill Grendel's mother in return for a chest full of gold. Grendel's mother has killed Aeschere, Hrothgars trusted advisor.
3) The mere is a horrible swamp with magical quality. Animals are even scared to go there because the water burns.

(Caroline)
Beowulf fights Grendel's mother
1. How does Beowulf tell Hrothgar to respond?
- He tells Hrothgar to respond as if a horrible battle had started and to not feel sorrow but revenge.
2. What happens at the mere before Beowulf enters it?
- Beowulf and his men kill a sea monster in the water and Hrothgar and his men find Aeschere's severed head on the shore.
3. How does Beowulf prepare for this battle? What sword does he take with him?
- He prepares by putting on the armor from Hrothgar and uses the sword, Hrunting, Unferth had given him to fight with.
4. What happens when Beowulf enters the mere? What is surprising about where Grendel and his mother live in the mere?
- When he enters, Grendel's mother grabs him and pulls him down as the monsters try and attack him. He is unharmed because of his armor. It's surprising where they live because it takes half a day to get there.
5. What happens to the sword Beowulf borrowed from Unferth?
- The sword Unferth lent him breaks.
6. At one point Beowulf is on the floor, with Grendel's mother sitting on him and drawing her knife. How does Beowulf escape?
- The armor saves him from the knife wound Grendel's mother was trying to give him and then uses his strength to push her off him.
7. How does Beowulf kill Grendel's mother? What weapon does he use? What happens when she dies? What does Beowulf take with him from her home? What happens to the sword he used to kill her?
- Beowulf uses the sword of Eotens and cuts the mother's throat. Seeking revenge for those killed by Grendel Beowulf brings the severed head back home. His sword melts from the mother's acidic blood.
8. What happens when Beowulf returns to the surface? Did his men expect him to return?
- Beowulf swims back to the surface and none of his men are there because they doubted his ability to beat Grendel's mother.


Further Celebration at Heorot
1. What does Beowulf give to Hrothgar?
- Beowulf gives Hrothgar the hilt of his sword and Grendel's head.
2. What message does Hrothgar have for Beowulf? What and why does he tell us about Heremod? Why and how did Heremod die? What lesson does Hrothgar teach with the Heremod example?
- Beowulf is warned by Hrothgar about being a fair ruler. Heremod was a horrible king because of his betrayals and murders was banished and exiled. Eventually he was betrayed and killed.
3. What does Beowulf give to Unferth as he leaves?
- Beowulf gives Unferth his sword, Hrunting, back.


Beowulf Returns Home
1. What does Hrothgar predict for Beowulf?
- Hrothgar predicts Beowulf will come back to protect the Danes again.
2. Who is Hygd and why is she not like Modthryth?
- Hygd is the Queen of the Geatlands. Unlike Modthryth she won't kill and torture her people for looking at her.
3. Beowulf reports to Hygelac that Hrothgar may marry his daughter Freawaru to Ingeld. Why does he plan to do that? What does Beowulf expect the result will be? (Remember the Finn story, lines 1070-1158.) How does Beowulf think the peace will be broken? Is this the type of report we expected from the hero Beowulf, or are we seeing a new side of him?
- Hrothgar is hoping if his daughter Freawaru marry Ingeld he can create peace between the Danes and Heathobards. Beowulf assumes that Hrothgar is only bringing back the fued and certain that more conflict will arise because its not easy to forget history. There is a different side to Beowulf because he normally acts on impulse instead of reason.
4.How does Beowulf report about his own adventures? Does he report accurately?
- Beowulf reports he earned glory. He does report accurately but in a way that makes him seem brave.
5.What does Beowulf do with the treasure he was given? What does Hygelac give him?
- Beowulf gives most of his gifts to Hygelac and Hygd. He gives the kings weapons, armor, four horses and most of the treasures he was given. Beowulf gave Hygd the necklace Wealtheow gave him. Hygelac gives Beowulf land, a sword, and a house.

(Me)
The dragon wakes
1) Heardred and Hygelac both fell in the 50 years after the conference Beowulf had with Hrothgar.
2) he was angry because his pillaged treasure got repillaged by a tribe. And the man was trying to make amends with lord.
3) He burnt down the countryside of Geats.
4) Beowulf orders a new shield that will be able to withstand flames and thinks he will fight the dragon the same way he ought Grendel but he'll die because of how weak he is.
5) Beowulf was going to he revenge by killing the dragon.
6) 13 men.
7) Heardred got killed by the Sweetish kings men. Beowulf decides to kill Onela to get revenge and he killed everyone that killed his kinsmen. This all caused a state of feud between the Swedes am stage Geats.

Beowulf Attacks the Dragon
1) He says that the dragon is his battle so he tells his companions to wait outside for his return and wants to do this alone.
2) He has a realization that his sword and shield are useless against the dragon's breath. His companions went to flee except Wiglaf stayed to fight with and help Beowulf because he felt like he owed it to him.
3) The second time Beowulf meets the Dragon the Dragon spits fire at Beowulf and Wiglaf. Beowulf's sword shatters and the dragon takes this opportunity to bite him and gives him a fatal wound on his neck. Wiglaf stabs the dragon in the stomach hurting him badly and then Beowulf manages to find some strength to take his smaller dagger and stabs the dragon on his side and kills him.
4) He asks Wiglaf to go and bring him some of the treasure from the dragons lair because he wants to see it before he dies. Beowulf requests a mound that is built and named after him so that people honor and remember him and he wants it to be called Beowulf's Barrow.

Beowulf's Funeral
1) when the companions return Wiglaf gets very upset. He says to the men that he predicts bad fortunes for them because Beowulf showed so much kindness towards them and they have acted cowardly.
2) The messenger tells the city that Beowulf has died an did anyone tried to touch the gold will be cursed because there is already a curse on the gold.
3) Wiglaf warns the crowd that if you sacrifice yourself you will end up hurting many people.
4) The dragon gets left alone.
5) A lady sings a song which is about the fall of the Geats while the burning of Beowulf and his treasure are boring on the pyre. And then after the funeral Geats builds a tower over Beowulf's pyre.
6) The last three lines are talking about how kind and gentle Beowulf was and these not necessarily because even though military men fight just like Beowulf did I don't often here them described as kind and gentle, they are more described as out to do whatever they have to do to protect our country and often show little emotion at all.


Wednesday, August 21, 2013

VOCABULARY #1

adumbrate- to briefly outline; foreshadow
My teacher was able to adumbrate that I didn't study very well, based on the test grade I received.
apotheosis- the highest point in the development of something, a climax
The apotheosis of Pretty Little Liars was when "A" was uncovered.
ascetic- a person that dedicates their life to a pursuit of contemplative ideals or practices
A great example of a person that lives an ascetic lifestyle is a nun.
bauble- a small trinket
My friend brought me back a small bauble from her trip that I placed on my night stand.
beguile- to charm or enchant someone
Justin tried to impress her by being beguile towards her.
burgeon- begin to grow rapidly
I started to have a burgeon growth spurt.
complement- a thing that completes or brings to perfection
The color of her shirt complemented her eyes very nicely.
contumacious- stubbornly or willingly disobedient to authority
The troubled young adult was constantly being contumacious towards the law.
curmudgeon- a bad-tempered person
She has a very curmudgeon personality and gets angry over the smallest things.
didactic- intended to teach
The moral message of the story was didactic in teaching kindness.
disingenuous-not candid or sincere
Her apology was disingenuous and meant nothing to me.
exculpate- to prove that someone isn't guilty
Emma's friend tried to exculpate her from getting in trouble by the teacher.
faux pas- an act of embarrassment
When I slipped on the moss by the Black Sea in Turkey it was a faux pas.
fulminate- to explode with loud noise; detonate
When the fireworks went off the noise was fulminate.
hauteur- haughty manner or spirit; arrogance
She had a very haughty attitude and thought she was above everyone.
jeremiad- prolonged lamentation or mournful complaint
There is always jeremiad drama in Jr. High.
opportunist- the policy of adapting actions
She is such an opportunist when it comes to looking for a good deal.
unconscionable- not guided by conscience
One of my previous friends ended up in a lot of trouble because she was unconscionable when it came to the decisions she made.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

REFLECTIONS ON WEEK 1

1.There are not any factors that I for see being an interference with my participation and experience in this class, I have an iphone, a computer, transportation, the only time that might ever interfere is my busy schedule with gymnastics, but I always try to put school first and I always will try and find a way to work with my schedule.

2. Well the learning experience that forever changed me was going to Uganda this past summer and getting to go to high school for a day there. I was able to see how eager these kids were to learn and they had to sit in the smallest desks pact with tons of other kids and not much school supplies, but none of this mattered because they were just so grateful to be in school at all. I realized that I shouldn't take my education for granted because I am so lucky to have the opportunity to get to go to school for free where there are kids in Uganda who can't afford to go to school and would do anything to be able to receive an education like I am, I am now so much thankful to be able to go to school everyday.

3. I'm most excited about being able to be a known individual through my work in this class and being able to work with one another as a class. I'm most nervous about the vocab tests as they are definitely not my strong point, but I am trying my best to make it one. I'm looking forward to learning how to voice my own opinions through my work and this is a really important thing for me to learn because this is a huge deal because I'm learning how to show people who I am as a person instead of just blending in with the crowd, I want to be known for who I am and show people that through my work.

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Senior Resume Worksheet


Objective: To pursue studying music/theatre in college.

Academic Status:

GPA: 3.7
Class Rank: 131

Student activities:

Performance Athletics Competitive Gymnastics
Wrestling Stats Club Secretary
Red Cross Club
Community activities and service:

3 week volunteer trip in Uganda, Africa summer 2013
Sadie Hawkins Dance Committee(set up and clean up)
Volunteer Righetti High School Spirit Commander

Special awards:

Recipient of RHS renaissance award every semester through current
Received 2 golden warrior awards

Employment:

Nanny/babysitter for Murti family
Nanny/babysitter for Clinton family
The Great American Melodrama, Belinda Cratchit
PCPA's The Music Man, Gracie Shinn

1987 AP Exam


Okay I'm going to be honest here... this test was on the tougher side for me. I didn't do terrible but I didn't do great either. My weakest point was definitely the vocabulary. I know that I have a lot of vocab studying to do this year, that's for sure. I'm glad I was able to take this and see what areas I need improvement on.

1.c
2.b
3.c
4.e
5.d
6.b
7.d
8.b
9.e
10.c
11.d
12.b
13.b
14.c
15.b
16.b
17.c
18.e
19.b
20.c
21.a
22.e
23.b
24.a
25.a
26.c
27.e
28.c
29.a
30.b
31.d
32.b
47.b
48.a
49.c
50.d
51.c
52.c
53.b
54.b
55.b
56.b
57.d
58.e
59.b
60.e
61.e

Montaigne/Austen Essay


There are many diverse and similar comparisons between Montaigne and Austen when it comes to comparing the two authors. The line, "What goes on inside is just too fast and huge and all interconnected for words to do more than barely sketch the outlines of at most one tiny little part of it at any given instant." by David Foster Wallace, definitely shows relation to Montaigne's work, but I wouldn't say that it always pertains to his work. Foster's quote explains how challenging it is for a person to explain what is on their mind because a person's thought process is so complex and cannot be described as a whole. There are times in Montaigne's work where he does get overwhelmed in his own thought process, but he is always able to get his message and themes out in each of his essays.

Both Austen and Montaigne do share some similarities as well as many differences. Some of the similarities that stood out to me as a reader were the relationships between people and both expressed strong feelings throughout one another's works. Though each of the author's opinions are very different from one another, they both do strongly express their opinions. Both Montaigne and Austen do a great job of portraying each of their different themes, even though Austen's seem to a bit more clear, Montaigne is still able to get his themes out even when his essays sometimes get confusing.

Though I was able to point out a few similarities that Montaigne and Austen shared, personally I notice more differences between the two. As I previously briefly stated, Montaigne's essays would tend to get confusing and all over the place for me as a reader, where as Austen was quite the opposite as his work was very straight forward with exemplified examples used throughout. Austen uses a very organized thought process where everything flows very smoothly from one event to the next unlike Montaigne who jumps around all over the place going in really no particular order.

I personally feel that it is notable to say that both Montaigne and Austen are two very different authors with two very different writing techniques and styles. I think that Montaigne and Foster hold much more of a connection between one another's works then that of Montaigne and Austen because their works support one another in many ways.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Poetry #1


1. The poem used in the Levi's commercial is "The Laughing Heart" by Charles Bukowski.

2. By Levi's using this poem in their commercial they are trying to say you have the power to have a good life by making your own choices, but it's ironic in the sense that they're saying you get to make the decisions in your life as long as one of them is buying our jeans.

3. Well I've read other works of Bukowski and this one seems to stand out as it is very different from his other works. I feel that this is his view on life, and how one should live it to the fullest based on his own experience.

4. I googled the first line of the commercial to find the poem and then did a little research on his other works and his life's background on the internet and basically clicked on anything I could find about him with avoiding Wikipedia.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Essay #1


As many individuals in there lifetime experience changes that put them out of there so-called "comfort zone" whatever it may be, not many are torn out of there home, the place that is all they ever known to move half way across the world, Leah along with her family members in the Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, did. Leah faces the obstacles of going into the Congo as a young teenager, who has been basically brainwashed by her father when it comes to their religion and faith, but soon comes to the realization that she has an opinion of her own and that maybe what she'd been taught in her home life in America wasn't really her opinion at all, but her father's.

The novel starts off with Leah being the most excited child of the family about going to the Congo to share her father's love for God because to Leah being ripped right out of the only home she's ever known in America doesn't mean anything, home to Leah is being with her dad and pleasing him and making him happy alongside her family. As Leah begins to discover who she is as a person she begins to see all the things that she has been sheltered from her entire life up until this point. Unfortunately, Leah's individual thoughts and opinions creates isolation from the only home she has ever known, her father. Leah is now able to see the "real" person her father is and Leah no longer has a sense of knowing what home is and home was.

Now as hard as this experience has been for Leah there were so many enriching factors that she realized from this experience. She was able to discover the person that she wanted to be and is able to make her life the way she wants it. In the novel Leah is able to grow as an individual not something that her father has brainwashed into being what he wants instead of her. Leah receives a fresh new start in life and is able to rebuild the meaning of "home" in a new found meaning.

So yes, a journey such as Leah's is in many ways is alienating and enriching. But not just Leah, all the girls in the novel realized who they wanted to be as individuals and what life means to them in their own interpretation, which is clearly expressed as a much larger meaning by the author.