Thursday, September 27, 2012

Literature analysis #1

 
General:
1. Janie Crawford, the protagonist, is a black woman who comes back to her hometown after being gone for a long time. She returns without her husband Teacake and this gives the townspeople a reason to gossip and talk behind her back. The townspeople eventually begin to spread a rumor that Teacake took her money and left her so she came crawling back to her town. When pheoby, her close friend, goes to visit her, Janie tells her how she has been raised by her grandmother but has the primary purpose of marrying Jaine off.  Her grandmother marries her off to Logan Lillicks who is old and doesn't have any respect for her. Feeling is treated she meets a an by the name of  Joe Starks. after a couple of weeks of knowing him she runs off and marries him. Once they are married, Jody becomes the mayor. The power gets to his head and he does not allow Jaime to talk to normal townspeople.  After years of not being heard by her husband, she is berating him and he passes away.  not too long after his death Janie is with Teacake and get married. One night, Teacake taker her money and leaves her alone. Jodie begins to think that he doesn't love her and is only in it for the money. They remain together and after a while they move to the Everglades. When a hurricane hits everglades hey try to flee and Teacake is bit by a rabid dog. a couple of weeks later he falls ill due to the bite and becomes mad. he blames Jodie of cheating on him and as he tries to shoot her with a pistol she is forced to save her life and end his. she is put on trial but is proven innocent. After that she returns to her hometown where the town awaits her to bad mouth her and make her feel unwelcome without even knowing what she has gone through.
2. The main theme in this novel was a relationship of love versus a woman's independence. Although Janie is constantly falling in love with different men and trying to find the right one, she still wants to feel the sense of independence.she believes t hat when she is in a relationship she feels restrained and pushes the man away. when she is alone she is content. After Jody passes away, she feels free and independent. 
3. The authors tone is loving when she talks about her grandmother and how much she loves her. It is loving when the author talks about how Janie's grandmother is very dedicated to her. The author tone is passionate when Janie talks about how she is developing feelings for a man. she talks about Joe starks and how he is a smooth-tongued ambitious man who treats Janie kindly. The authors tone is also frustrating because Janie cant seem to find happiness throughout the novel.
4. The author uses perspective in her novel because the story is told from the protagonists point of view. most of the story is about Janie and her life story so it is told in her perspective. The author uses Bildungsroman because theme is the moral or psychological growth of Janie. The author uses colloquialism when Janie spoke. Janie used words that were not used around the word and more used in her culture and where she lived. The author also used In medias res by opening the story towards he end of the story where Janie was already returning to her home town. requiring filling in past details by exposition
or flashback.The author uses imagery when the protagonist Jamie is talking about what she has gone through and why she has returned to town.

Pre-Will questions



A)     William Shakespeare is the author of many works including Hamlet which is one of his most famous and lengthy pieces of literature. The play consists of the main character Hamlet attempting to gain revenge on his uncle. The play all together is a tragedy.
B)      I know that Shakespeare is known for using iambic pentameter in his style of writing to make his writing unique and different from any other authors of his time. I also know that two of his very famous plays were Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth.
C)      Many students frown at Shakespeare’s writings because they imagine a long boring poem which is made up of words they don’t even understand. Students are not used to the style of writing during Shakespeare’s time or his use of rhetorical devices such as alliterations or imagery.
D)     In order for students to understand what the play is about we should have a visual such as a movie or have students get into groups and reenact parts of the play. In this way we will find the play entertaining and the main ideas of Shakespeare’s messages will come across to us.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Vocabulary Fall list #4

Definitions:
apostate: not faithful to religion or party or cause
effusive: express gratitude
enthusiasm: a feeling of excitement
impasse: situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible
euphoria: a feeling of great (usually exaggerated) elation
lugubrious:sounding sad and dismissal
bravado: show of boldness intended to impress
consensus: general agreement
dichotomy:contrast between two opposites
constrict: make narrow by encircling pressure
gothic: Old architecture 12th to 16th century
punctilio: fine point of conduct
metamorphosis: a change of a person or thing into a complete new one
raconteur: person who tells anecdotes in a skillful amusing way
sine qua non: essential condition that is necessary
quixotic: exceedingly idealistic
vendetta: bitter quarrel Or campaign against someone
non sequitur: conclusion that does not follow previous statement
mystique: fascinating aura of Mystery or awe
quagmire:awkward complex hazardous Situations
parlous: greatly and excessively

Sentences:
1.During her rebellious stage, Stephanie was apostate to her church.
2.Greg was very effusive and emails thank you letters to scholarship foundations.
3. Her enthusiasm to go to Disneyland made her parents happy
4. Because the computers were down the college applications were impassive and all the seniors had to wait patiently
5. Many people spend their whole lives looking for an euphoria To overcome them.
6.the family's loss made tgeembers lugubrious for months.
7. The weight lifter had a very bravado personality and was often called cocky.
8. The parents and their child came to a consensus in her curfew and avoided an argument.
9. The mother and daughter often faced dichotomy and found it ironic because they were complete opposites.
10. The snake constructed the rat to suffocation before she ate it.
11. He studied gothic architecture and found the buildings amusing in detail.
12.He was always punctilious in providing the information for club meetings.
13. After college alex had metamorphosed into a mature educated man.
14. The raconteur was entertaining the whole crowd that night with his stories.
15. The art piece had a random bar that was sine qua non.
16. Erika was very quixotic and was elected spirit leader.
17. The two next door neighbors had an ongoing vendetta that bothered the rest of the neighborhood.
18. Knowing that she had lost the argument she stated a non sequitur and walked away in shame.
19. The men were fascinated by the woman's mystique and wondered what she was hiding.
20. The stranger stood alone in a quagmire position not knowing what to do or who to talk to.
21. He is parlous handsome.

Monday, September 3, 2012

AP Reading List Choice/ Reason

I chose to read Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. This book has been called a "African American feminist classic" and catches my attention. I am interested in reading a book about the struggles of how racism has affected the life of a young African American woman. This book deals with the main character Jaine who faces discrimination and is talked about behind her back by the town when she returns.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Vocab: Fall list 3


1. accolade- an award, praise

2. acerbity-harshness or severity

3. attrition-reduction or decrease in numbers,size, or strength

4. bromide-a boring person

5. chauvinist- a person who believes that the other gender is better

6. chronic- constant or habitual

7. expound- to explain or interpret

8. factionalism- self interest

9. immaculate-free from flaw or errors

10. imprecation-cursing

11. ineluctable- inescapable

12. mercurial- sprightly

13. palliate-to relieve or lessen with out curing

14. protocol- customs and regulations dealing with diplomatic formality

15. resplendent - shining brightly

16. stigmatize- set mark of disgrace or infamy

17. sub rosa- privately

18. vainglory- pride over ones own achievements

19. vestige-visible evidence

20. volition- act of willing

Sentences:

1.      She was well deserving of an accolade for having saved his life although she did not receive any recognition.

2.      The old man’s acerbity made him unapproachable, so he sat in his chair mad and frowning.

3.      The attrition of students in Mrs. Brown’s class made it easier for her to focus on problems her students were having.

4.      They were complete opposites but they got along so well. She was outgoing and funny as he had a bromide personality.

5.      Old customs and tradition have led to some women to have chauvinist thoughts

6.      Evelyn suffered from chronic back pain and couldn’t lie on her back for long periods of time.

7.      Having been caught stealing the box Sam tried to expound why they needed it so desperately.

8.      Her factionalism made her seem overconfident and cocky.

9.      Her police record was immaculate up until she received a DUI.

10.  Their argument led to imprecations which bothered the neighbors.

11.  His high position in the government made him ineluctable to the court case.

12.  Therapy brought her back to being mercurial and social.

13.  The doctor was able to palliate his pain with ice.

14.  As hard as they tried to find one, they couldn’t find a protocol anywhere.

15.  The girls face was resplendent when she saw shoes were on sale and 50% off.

16.  Her inappropriate acts at the party stigmatized her family’s good name.

17.  He was always so sub rosa about his job and why he went on so many business trips.

18.  His vainglory was very well known by those in hos society.

19.  The vestige was very little and didn’t help to solve the case.

20.  Her volition to a testimony made her innocence obvious.

Essay #1


Leisure is a time of relaxation to get away from daily jobs and work and enjoy life. Modern day teenagers will grab their iPod, iPad, cellular device, or laptop to listen to music, play games, text, or surf the web. Ingenious philosophers tell you, perhaps, that the great work of the steam-engine is to create leisure for mankind. Do not believe them… (George Eliot). George Eliot supports her view on leisure with stylistic devices such as pathos and imagery.

George Eliot believes that “Old leisure is defined by escaping into your own world away from works such as the steam-engine.” She believes that leisure in her own time is about embracing the elements of nature and enjoying life. Eliot believes that leisure has modernized so much that it is nearly non-existent. The definition of leisure has evolved greatly and traditional leisure is now gone.

Imagery was a strong factor in George Eliot’s argument on how leisure has changed. “[…] sheltering himself under the orchard boughs at noon, when the summer pears were falling.” Eliot uses strong imagery by describing a scene which can easily be captured in the readers mind. Eliot uses imagery to describe a warm, welcoming scene which the reader feels comfortable in. I believe this can be used to convince the reader to consider her point of view by making it seem wonderful. As Eliot makes her side seem inviting, she is using pathos to evoke feelings in the reader. She evokes feeling by using Imagery as a main factor.

George Eliot describes leisure compared from her times to the present day. Eliot explains how leisure has been lost and a main factor of that is technology. By giving examples of leisure in her own time by using imagery the reader is able to see the difference from leisure today and decades ago. This provokes the reader and personally affects the reader so that they are able to relate to the leisure that they are missing out on because it has almost been driven to extinction.

Socratic Seminar


Most people would say that they have the right to their opinion, while some are willing to accept that it an opinion and not a fact, some people believe that they’re opinion is always right. In an argument or discussion a person will state their opinion and fight to prove that it is correct. If it comes to the point where that person knows that they are incorrect, in some cases they will continue to fight because of their pride. Personally I believe that it is best to admit that they are wrong and then continue on. Although some may see this as sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength because they know that they are wrong and they are willing to admit it rather than continuing to fight for a lost cause.

Reflections on week 1


1. Are there any factors that you think are going to affect your participation or experience in this class? 

2. Think of an awesome learning experience? What was it you learned? Where were you? What happened? Who else was there? Did it teach you anything about how you learn? How did you know what was happening? 

3. What are you most excited about in this class? What do you look forward to in learning?  How do you think it can/will make a practical difference in your life?

 

1.       Any factors that may affect my participation in this class may be family issues that I may have to tend to and have to miss a class period. Another factor that may affect my participation would be that I currently do not have a computer so I am not able to post on my blog as often as I should.

2.       An awesome learning experience for me would be volunteering at a daycare in Guadalupe. I learned many aspects of working with children such as learning to be patient, and how to communicate with them. I was there with my sister who was also working as a volunteer. Going through this experience taught me that I am a visual learner. By seeing how other teachers interacted with the children, I followed their examples and was able to have successful relationships with the children.

3.       I am most excited to learn in a new way by using technology. I look forward to learning about how we can use technology to aide us in learning and connecting to the real world. I am also excited to learn more about literature and analyze them as well. I believe that this class will make a practical change in my life because it will open my eyes to the world of technology and how I can use it to my benefit.