LAQ "A Child Called It." #3

General
1. "A Child Called It." is the story of David Pelzer's abuse when he was a child. This book has very lurid descriptions of Davids childhood abuse. It describes the events that took place and how he fought his best to press through and survive. Because the authort tells the story in a narrative it makes the story easier to sympathize towards.
2. Human Endurance. Through Faith and persistence we can overcome remarkable odds and obstacles. David Pelzer survived brutal and surreal abuse because he was persistent to survive.
3.Angry, this story was based on true events that went on in the authors life. The abuse that took place was cruel and disgusting so you could sense the anger in the authors tone when he had to describe those events. He constantly describes his mother with harsh words and the anger he felt after her punishments such as when she burned his hand or had him eat his infant brothers fecal matter.
4. The tone is what truly made this story. The authors emotions were so powerful and strong that it was almost impossible not to feel as if his emotions were your own. A majority of the story was narrative so the author used little dialogue but when he did it was captivating. Every time one of the characters spoke i felt as if i was there living Davids life with him.The author uses multiple flashbacks of his life to enhance events that happened earlier in his life.The events that take place in this story are cruel yet the purpose is intended to be didactic

Characterization:
1. The story is mainly told in Indirect characterization. Each character is describe by what the author(main character( see's, thinks and feels about those characters.
2. The authors diction changes towards every character . He talks highly towards a nice teacher or person who helps him in the story but his tone and mood quickly changes back to anger whenever he describe his mother, father and brothers. Because of the abuse the author experienced throughout this story his way of writing changes when he talks about those who hurt him.
3. The author/main character is definitely a dynamic and round character. He learns and grows from mistakes learns how to avoid brutal beatings and how to act around certain people. As the character grows his emotions grow as well.
4. I didn't feel like i knew the author but i did feel as if i was sitting there and watching the author be tortured by his mother throughout the story. I remember when the author describes how his mother forced his to swallow ammonia and how he felt as if he was dying. He describe how his tongue was raw and his throat burned violently. I knew the character was real and i wished i could reach out and help him so badly. This was a very well rounded story.

Fall Final Project.

My idea for the Fall Final Project is to go and make an interview tape. First someone would go around and interview people who are currently in Dr. Prestons Class. Then we would interview someone whose in a normal class. Lastly we would interview someone whose already passed the class and ask questions like:
* How has English affected your everyday life?
*Do you think you will/have used anything you've learned in English after you graduate?
*What do you see happening from what you've learned in English class in 10 years?
**Ask if anyone being interviewed recognizes some of the vocabulary we've used.**
And so on.   I also think it would be cool to have the background music be the poem "Laughing Heart." It kind of ties into what we've learned in Dr. Prestons Class.

LAQ's #2

GENERAL
1. The book i am currently reading is the sequel to the previous book i read named Tyrell. This sequels name is called "Bronxwood." As i posted in my previous LAQ's the narrative of the story is in first person. Tyrell tells the entire story throughout the entire book. Bronxwood is a continuation to Tyrells life in the book Tyrell. After Tyrells brother Troy is taken out of his mothers custody and put into "the stystem." Tyrell moves in with his friend Cal and begins to DJ for a living but when Tyrells father is released from jail Tyrell struggles with the fact of his fathers controlling choices over Tyrells life. He must choose to take risks to be independent or to make amends and settle back down with his father.
2. The way i see the theme is that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. (I understand this is a little cliche.)  Tyrell overcame great odds and struggles to earn his independence and even though he know it wouldn't be easy he took the risk.
3. The entire tone of the book is angry. When Tyrells father is let out of jail he tries to avoid him because he wants nothing to do with him,  when his ex girlfriend Novisha attempts to make her way back in his life and apologize Tyrell snaps at her and gets angry with her and even when Tyrells dad goes to visit Troy in foster care Tyrell is angry because he knows his father is nothing but trouble.
4. The tone and mood was enforced in this book. When the author spoke for Tyrell she made sure you felt every single feelings Tyrell was feeling. His anger was your anger and his pain was your pain. It was consistently noticeable.
CHARACTERIZATION:
1. As was the last story, a majority of Bronxwood is indirect characterization. You never really hear or understand whats going on in any other characters head but Tyrells because everything you read is what Tyrell is describing. The only direct characterization there is, is the characterization used throughout the story when Tyrell is talking.
2.Both syntax and diction remain the same throughout the story. Tyrell isn't a very well educated teen so the narrative of the story can be difficult to understand
3. Tyrell is a dynamic and round character. His personality and life are fully in place when the reader begins the book. He makes mistakes, decisions and learns life lessons throughout the story.\
4. I feel the same way as i did when i read Tyrell. This character was real Tyrell wasn't another "character in a story." He was a real person with real feelings and real life choices. When his friend Cal's brother kicked him out because Tyrell refused to sell dope and he had to decide whether he was going to live on the streets or move back in with his dad my heart broke. I was hoping  and reading glutinously to find out whether he would be ok and if everything would work out. After reading the sequel i can definitely say Tyrells made an impact on me. 

Teenage Mind Maps

think this is a good Mind Map most teenagers need to study. We all struggle with time management but as a teenager it's important we practice good time management habits now so when we get into the real world, we know how to function. My mom was just telling me today how I'm not ready for a job because i have poor time management. I feel like this mind map is not only creative and attractive but helpful and effective.


I also found this mind map interesting. It's another thing that can be very helpful for teenagers of todays world. A healthy lifestyle is the key to future success and sadly most teenagers fail to realize that. This mind map lays out a healthy lifestyle that will not only help physically but mentally as well.

Big Question.!?

So does sign language develop in different languages?

Actually it does, different versions of sign language form in different countries where different languages linger!!  Sign language differs in different parts of the world but even though each form of sign language is different, it is often easier to interpret foreign sign languages than it is to interpret another language. Wherever deaf communities exist, sign language often develops.

Wikipedia has a List of Sign Languages. If you take the time to look an read over it you can see that there are quite a lot of different forms. In most cases the alphabet remains the same. The only two that were really different were English and Chinese.

American :



Chinese:

Big Question

At different assembly's and rally's at Righetti High School i can always see the sign language teachers on the side decoding and explaining everything to the deaf kids. I know there are deaf people in every country and i'm also aware that most countries all speak different languages. Is sign language different in those countries as well? Or do all people sign in English?

** I got the idea of this MARVELOUS question from the amazing Danny George (:  Check out her blog. She's got some amazing material !

Late: Sleepy Hollow Questions:

1. The main character in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" was Ichabod Crane.
2. Ichabod enjoyed stories about ghosts and goblins.
3. Ichabod was in love with Katrinas wealth.
4.  Ichabod gains Katrinas affection by teaching her to sing.
5. At the end of the party, Ichabod is a very happy man.
6. Ichabod solves conflict by thinking his way through them.
7. Ichabods main antagonist is Brom Bones.
8. Irving makes fun of the American Revolution by
9. At the end of the story Ichabod had a career as a teacher, lawyer and politician.
10. We can assume that Ichabod Crane was Spirited away by the headless horseman.
11. Irvins stories usually had to do with humor and fantasy.
12.  Irving made fun of topics by describing serious things in ridiculous ways.
13. One generalization that can be made about Ichabod is that he wasn't capable of hardwork.
14. One generalization about the characters in the story is that all the characters were not very smart.
15. Irving wrote this story to entertain.
16. Ichabod and Brom are similar because they both like Katrina.
17. Ichabod and Brom are different because Ichabod works with his head and Brom works with his body, Ichabod is skinny and weak while Brom is muscular and strong,  Ichabod is not good with horses while Brom is very skilled with horses
18. Because food is always on Ichabods mind he stayed with students whose mothers were good cooks,  was more interested in food than in women, he sees animals as prepared food.
19. Because Sleepy Hollow is far from big cities people there don't change much.
20. Pedagogue means teacher.

The Legend of Sleep Hollow

This is my comparison of the video of Legend Of Sleepy Hollow and the text.

I found many similarities within both of them, actually the video is pretty much exactly the same as the story, the only difference that was truly noticeable was the opening and how the headless horseman wasn't announced until the end. The way i see it is that the text is like a base, it gives you the information and understanding. The video is the clarification, it provides imagery and makes the text easier to break down. This video was a very good animation of the Legend of Sleep Hollow. I highly recommend it.

Vocab # 10

Pedagogue: a strict teacher

Cavernous : vast in shape or atmosphere, cave

Coquettish: flirtatious women 

Tête-à-tête: confidential

Suffice: sufficient

Amorous: in love

Vocab #9 Remix

Bosom: Intimate, close to the heart


Prudently: Wise or judicial in practical affairs


Inveterate: Habit that won't likely change



Propensity: natural tendency


Repose: state of rest


Stripling: Youth


Sequester: isolated


Purport: intend

Imbibed: taking in an idea


Apparition: supernatural


Incessant: ongoing


Cognomen: name


Reverie: Trance


Gambol: Frolic


Spectre: ghost


tarry:  linger

Hessian: german soldiers

Novel Synopsis

My story is about a girl named Kamiisha Taylor. Her character is built off of bits and pieces of both my and my close friends experience. All events in her story were true events that were lived in my friends lives.

Kamiisha Taylor is a beautiful 17 year old musician who lives in Wisconsin. She attends Liberty High School and lives quite the extravagant lifestyle. Any normal person would think she had it all, the grades, looks and popularity, who wouldn't want to be in her shoes? But everything isnt as it seems for Kamiisha. Ever since she was four years old she hasnt seen her father, he took everything they had and left never to be seen again, leaving her mom bitter and broken-hearted. Her mom blamed Kamiisha for her fathers departure and left her and her older sister Mariah at a foster home for three years. Her mother would constantly call for Mariah, telling her not to blame her sister and to stay strong until she came back. Over the years Mariah grew hateful towards her and by the time her mother returned for them it was as if she was invisible. Both Mariah and her mom constantly abuse her both physically and mentally. Its hard but with the support of her best friends Kamiisha can fight on. Though her family is broken and her pain is deep her acquisition for knowledge is impervious.  Will she be able to overcome these obstacles and make it to the college of her dreams?

Information about Kamiisha:

* Plays piano and violin

*Best friends are Ellias and Tiana

*Main friends: Tiana, Ellias, Marcus, Jennifer, Kiara and Isaiah

*Struggles throughout story: Unsupportive family, abusive home, low self esteem, and of course every high school girls has to have a little boy drama (; 

*4.0 GPA, Well known around school.

*Housing life is kept a secret

*Has many mental battles

*Supported by her teachers and church family

*Not confident in herself

EDIT: Vocab #8

 flout: to openly disregard 
 caveat: exception
 blazon:  adorn 
 filch: to steal casually 
 fractious: bad tempered; easily irritated
 equitable: fair or impartial
 autonomy: Independence
 addendum: in addition
 amnesty: forgiveness for a pass offense; official pardon
 axiomatic: self-evident; unquestionable
 extricate: free from constraint or difficulty
 soporific: medicine inducing sleep
 scathing: critical or scornful.
 unwieldy: difficult to carry or move because of size; awkward
 vapid: boring; not stimulating or challenging 
 prognosticate: foretell a future event
 sepulchral: gloomy or dismal
 salutary: positive effect; beneficial
 straitlaced: extremely strict.
 scourge: a whipped used as punishment
 precept: A rule used to regulate.
 transient: impermanent 

Self Reliance Video

Self Reliance Remix
Information from :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq_Gt5GIznI
http://www.emersoncentral.com/selfreliance.htm

Picture from Google


Youtube Link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DBYnnqC4UI&feature=plcp

Nothing But The Beat

Honestly i figured out how the course was connected to this video within the first 30 minutes.  It clearly connected with self- reliance. David Guetta did something that was unheard of, by relying on his ideas and thoughts he turned something that was looked down on into something that is around the world. People tried to push him down but the "strings" in his heart were as hard as "iron" *Hint hint!!* and he managed to make his American dream into a reality. It also ties to Romanticism and the Romantics, David Guettas new genre was looked down on many times before people caught on to it because the music he was altering was seen as a "religious dogma" in a sense, nobody questioned why music was the way it was, if they liked it they went with it. But to sum off my little paragraph I'm just gonna get the the point,  David Guetta's self-reliance was the reason why he was able to become who he is.

Ad hominem

Ad Hominem:  argument appealing to emotions instead of logic

I heard a mother and a daughter arguing about self hygiene the daughter was telling the mother she had no need to shower everyday because it took a few days for her body to produce an odor so showering wasn't a necessity. Her mom was trying to tell her that showering everyday was part of personal hygiene and its important that she keeps up on it and the entire time her daughter was getting defensive saying how showering every day isn't of importance this ad hominem was quite blatant but very interesting to listen to.

Self Reliance

1.  Discuss the meaning of the verse in the beginning of the essay.
Every man is their own person who possesses the power to rise above the expectations of others

2. Looking at the entire essay what does Emerson mean by self reliance?
Trust yourself, dont doubt and question yourself.
"The need for an individual to avoid conformity and alse consistency and follow his or her instincts and ideas."

3. Interpret the first sentence: What does every person realize at some moment of their education?
That you must better yourself to make it in the world.

4. Interpret the following quotes: "The eye was placed where one way should fall, that it may testify of that particular ray"
Where you put your focus on is whats intensified.

5.What does Emerson mean by the divine idea which each of us represents?
I feel Emerson is saying we are all individuals, we all stand for and represent different things

6. Explain the significance of the "iron string".
Iron is one of the strongest types of metals. Hes saying to guard our hearts heavily so we can defend ourselves from attacks of the world.

7. Define transcendentalism
To surpass others expectations

8.Interpret this quote: "security everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of the members."
Society causes restraints on people by stripping us of our opinion *Transcendentalism*

9. The virtue in most requests is conformity, self reliance is its aversion.
The best was i can describe this quote is that self reliance is stepping out of peoples comfort ones and doing the untold.

10. Interpret the metaphor: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen, philosophers and divines."
An idiotic habit is foolish and the easiest to manipulate

11. Discuss the use of the simile: "Words as hard as cannon balls."
I feel like this the same as the famous quote "Words can be the most powerful of weapons" because your words can and will affect someone.

Vocab List #7

ad infinitum: infinity
The thought of ad infinitum gives me a headache.
 apportion: approval
* I need my moms approbation to get a piercing.
 bona fide: genuine 
 Romeos love for Juliet was bona fide.
buoyant: to keep afloat
* A boat must have bouyancy in order to float.
 clique:a small group of people who share the same interests
* You can find me with my clique in the Greek Theatre at lunch.
 concede:to admit
* i conceded to cheating on the test.
 congenial: pleasant personalities
* My friends are known to be very congenial.
 lofty: proud
* My feelings towards my piano recital was lofty and content .
 migration: seasonal movement
* The ducks migrate every year.
 perceive: realization
 * After  studying the vocabulary it was easy for my to perceive the story of Young Goodman Brown.
 perverse: unacceptable behavior
*His manners were considered pervese at the resturant.
 prelude: introduction
 * Bach's perlude in C is a beautiful piano piece.
 rancid: unpleasent smell or taste
  * The milk became rancid
rustic: simplicity
 *The design of the house gave it a rustic complement.
 sever: break off
* She severed all ties with her mother after the abuse
 sordid: unethical
 * Murder is an unethical crime
 untenable: indefensible
 * His crimes were severely untenable 
 versatile: able to adapt
 * You have to be versatile to join the military 
 vindicate: defend or justify
 * She chose to vindicate her rights and start a petition 
 wane: decline
 *His grades began to wane as his study habits grew weaker

LAQ's: Tyrell and Catcher on the Rye

Please read after the jump.

Walden Translation

I went into the woods so i could live freely, to reveal the importance of life. Not to learn anything, but because i knew it would help me become more didactic  so that i could live with no regrets. I didnt want to give up on life, i wanted to live life to the fullest and to live it on the edge so i can gain more experience in life, because when you live a petulant mindset you will never be able to fully live. Many people live their lives in a cursory fashion and become conclusive with a misconstrued understanding of life.

Yet still we live as curmudgeon and continue to make error upon error and receive hit by hit so that our virtue has become belabored  with an interceded dread. Our lives have been wasted by meticulousness. An honest man barely has to do anything. Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!! 

Study Strategy

Monday - Wednesday: Read words and try to learn 4 vocabulary words every hour (2 vocab lists a day) Study remaining and review Vocabulary before bed. Send a reminder text to Emily and Shelbi to make sure they have studied. Refresh memory in the morning.
Thursday: Review all vocabulary throughout the day and quiz self at night. Refresh memory in the morning and send an encouragement/reminder text.
Friday: CUPCAKES FOR ANYBODY WHO GETS AN 80% OR HIGHER :)

My Walk

Its funny, i walk through my neighborhood all the time so i can go to the store or get something to eat, but i never realized how beautiful it is. I'm always walking with someone or my music blasting through my ears so I've never noticed how credible the world around me really is. The warmth of the sun, the slight breeze and the faint yet crisp scent of flowers underneath my nose. It was all so beautiful and relaxing. It gave me time to think. Even though of what i was thinking was stressful the atmosphere kept me from feelings that way. I had a lot of fun on my walk and i think more people should take them. Its clears the mind and opens your mind to a wider perspective.

Romanticism

http://www.uh.edu/engines/romanticism/poets.html
 Romanticism Poets

http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5670
Romanticism Definitions

http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/rom.html

A dream within a dream

The first thing i thought after reading this was "Is he describing waking up from a good dream.?" because I know I've had some nights when my dreams are off the charts and then my alarm wakes me up when i can tell its getting to the best part and while I'm waking up I'm grasping onto the dream wishing i could stay asleep for just a few more minutes. But then i reread it and it sounded like he was reminiscing on something special.  Maybe even a precious memory of his and hes trying to hold onto it but he cant so he calls it a "dream within a dream" because hes dreaming of that memory but the memory was so real that it felt like he was dreaming. Its difficult to explain but its got me thinking. I cant wait to discuss what its really about in class tomorrow.

Vocab #6

Adroit: clever or skillful in using the hands or mind
            * My dad is very adroit, so he was able to add on to our house.

Amicable: Having a spirit of friendliness

*People find my little sister very amicable
 averse: Having a strong dislike or opposition to something
            *A lot of people have an averse opinion towards religion

Belligerent: hostile and aggressive
            * Many people become very belligerent when they’re drunk

 Benevolent: Well meaning and kindly
            * My moms advice is always benevolent.

 Cursory: Hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
            * Sometimes my work appears to be cursory when I’m in a rush

 Duplicity: deceitfulness         
                                                          * Many criminals go to jail for their duplicity          

 Extol: praise enthusiastically
            * People at my church begin to extol when the music starts.

 Feasible:  Conveniently
            * Groceries are feasible because I live by a grocery store

 Grimace: twisted expression on a person’s face
            * I grimaced as I watched the gory movie

 Holocaust: mass slaughter or destruction
            * The holocaust was a very tragic event in history

 Impervious: not allowing fluid to pass through

            *My water bottle is impervious so I can carry my water wherever I go.

Impetus: a moving force; impulse or stimulus
            *When someone’s hair is messed up I get an impetus to fix it.

 Jeopardy: danger of loss, harm, or failure
            *After losing a bet, his life savings was in jeopardy

 Meticulous: showing great attention to detail.
            *People with OCD tend to be meticulous with the way they do things.

 Nostalgia: a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past
            * She had a nostalgia to see her grandma one more time

 Quintessence: the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class
            *Royalty is known to be a quintessence.

 Retrogress: go back to an earlier state typically a worse one.
            *When she stopped using her medication her it caused her to retrogress back into depression.

 Scrutinize: examine or inspect closely and thoroughly
            * The manager has to scrutinize job applications

 Tepid: lukewarm

            *She prefers her coffee at a tepid temperature

YGB Essay

I got a C + !! for being absent i would say that's pretty good! :)
While discussing my essay with Dr. Preston i realized some keys to doing better on my next essay.

• Fully incorporate the prompt throughout the essay and cover everything it asks
• Don't ask so many questions!(My essay had its share of rhetorical questions)
• Organize my thoughts by creating an outline.

American Novel

Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
Honestly,  i know nothing about American Literature, but when i Google'd  for some a lot of people suggested this book, i know Sparknotes isn't the best way to look into a book but when i went on the website it had a 10 minute video description of the book. Though there were many scenes that i can see being inappropriate and difficult for some of the immature classmates to read, it actually sounded very interesting. I think the book would be interesting to read regardless of the mature content.

Vocab list #5

allude: suggest, call to attention indirectly, a hint.
ex:  some authors like to allude the themes throughout the stories
 clairvoyant: Ability to read minds
ex: Miss Cleo was known to be a clairvoyant psycic
 conclusive  decisive, final decision
ex: My moms answers to my questions are always very conclusive.
 disreputable: Poor reputation
ex: Hitler is known to be a very disreputable man in history
 endemic: Native to an environment
ex: The pilgrims were endemic when they came to America
 exemplary: serving as a warning
ex: clouds are a exemplary that it is about to rain
 fathom: to understand after much thought
ex: Most of the class began to fathom Young Goodman Brown after reflecting on it.
 guile: trick
ex: She was beguiled into cleaning her room
 integrity: moral principles
ex: My father is a man of integrity
 itinerary: a planned route or journey
ex: She followed the itinerary her father built for her trip to China.
 misconstrue: misinterpretation 
ex: Her explanation was misconstrued by the class.
 obnoxious: Abrasive, rude or loud
ex: My little sister is very obnoxious
 placate: Calm down
ex: We were only able to placate the child for a few minutes after we told him the bad news
 placid: calm and peaceful
ex: She is always very placid in high maintenance situations.
 plagiarism:  To take someone else's work and pass it as your own
ex: My friend thought it would be a good idea to plagiarize her report but the teacher caught her. 
potent: powerful
ex: Some cheese's have very potent smells
 pretext: a reason given for an action that is not the truth or and excuse
ex: The child decided to use a pretext to get out of trouble but was grounded in the end
 protrude: to stick out or extend
ex: The dolphins fin protruded past the surface
 stark: bare or obvious
ex: The teacher was stark mad when she caught the students cheating
 superficial: shallow surfaced
ex: A lot of teenagers these days are superficial.

The Laughing Heart

#1. The poem is called "The Laughing Heart" by Charles Bukowski
#2. This poem is ironic because the poem is about living life to the fullest but its a commercial about the clothing brand levis
#3. The poem doesn't really reflect the authors reputation but maybe his life as an adult. "There is light somewhere. It may not be much light but it beats the darkness", reading this line was kind of like him stating "My past wasn't an easy one but i chose to go forth with my life". His reputation became a good one because he decided to go forth in life so in a way it does reflect his reputation in a deeper way.
#4. I got the information on the poet by typing in the commercial name in the Google search engine. When i typed it in it showed the name of the poet and the poem. I then typed in Charles Bukowskis name and skimmed through a few different articles about him so i had enough information to answer the questions.

Vocabulary #4

melancholy: long lasting sadness or depression.
ex: Young Goodman Brown died of melancholy
exemplary: Serving as a model or warning
ex: Faiths dream appeared to be exemplary
peculiar: Uncommon or strange
ex: Young Goodman Brown found it peculiar to see Goodie Cloyse in the woods.
dread: to fear greatly
ex: Young Goodman Brown was filled with dread when he saw faith at the ceremony.
bough: a branch of a tree
ex: The old mans staff looked as if it was made from a bough
pious: Deeply religious, loyalty
ex: Goodman Brown was a pious man
communion: sharing thought or emotions
ex:  Most churches have communion to express their feelings for Christ.
auditor: Someone who checks or observes something
ex:: My cousin is a tax auditor.
multitude: a great number
ex: There were a multitude of people in the woods.
eloquence: Fluent or persuasive speaking or writing
ex: Hawthorne wrote with great eloquence when Goodman Brown entered the woods
despair : loss of hope or faith
ex: Goodman Brown was in despair when he saw Faith at the witch trials
hoary: Grayish white
ex: Faith's skin was very hoary at the witch trials

Hack to school night

1. What is the purpose of this class?
The purpose of this class is to help up make a difference by gaining different forms of knowledge that will later benefit our futures.

2.Describe something interesting you learned, read/or written in class.
Something interesting i learned in class is that we have the right to our own opinions as long as our opinions have a coherent background.

3. What is the easiest/hardest work you have done so far?
The easiest thing I've done so far is get to class, the hardest has to be all the work. I'm used to English classes with homework once a week, not daily assignments and weekend reading.

4. What is a Socratic seminar? What is a blog? What is 2.0 and how are you using it?
A Socratic seminar is a group discussion about a specific topic, a blog is an online site used to post work, notes, and even feelings. This blog is used to pots our assignments and communicate with out classmates. I have no idea what a 2.0 is :)

Aha!:)

YGB: Aha!!, i got nothing. . . i didnt read it and go "Oh snap! Theres a whole new meaning to this story". The only "Aha" moment i had was that i made it through the story and it actually made sense. The symbols were revealed and the meaning of the story became a little more clear. Though i had a different perspective on the theme, Matthew told me its about the struggle between good and evil, so that opened a new way to interpret the story for me.

MSS: AHA!! I now understood what DP(Dr. Preston) was discussing in class, though i was negligent when it came to reading the articles i brought myself to read it a few minutes ago. It wasnt really an "aha!" moment it was more of a "I just learned something" moment. When MSS stated how our words are symbols it kind of blew my mind. Because everything we say really is a symbol. MSS used the example of parents, the word "mom" is the interpretation and connection to a female parental figure making it a symbol. Which was pretty cool to me.

Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown

Honestly, i dont think this will be the most important thing i ever learn, but i do think it was a valuable lesson. Im not sure what the exact moral of the story is but according to Dr. Preston its a story about acquiring knowledge. I think people should always be open to learn, but i think there's a limit for everything. "Curiosity killed the cat", this quote is saying there are just something people shouldn't know. I personally don't think Goodman Brown should have gone in the forest because in the knowledge he gained it brought him nothing but depression and loathing. So yes and no, it was an important lesson, but i also think this story was a warning. After all, its called the "unknown" for a reason, dontcha think?

Vocabulary # 3

1. Encomium- A formal expression of high praise;eulogy.
2. Coherent- Logically connected; consistent.
3. Belabor- To explain,worry about, or work out repeatedly or more than necessary.
4. Eschew- To abstain or keep away from; shun; avoid.
5. Acquisitive- Tending or seeking to acquire and own, often greedily.
6. Emulate- To try to equal or excel.
7. Arrogate-To attribute or assign to another.
8. Banal- Devoid of freshness or originality.
9. Excoriation- To strip the skin of a human or an animal.
10. Congeal- To curdle; coagulate, as a fluid.
11. Carping- Characterized by fussy petulant faultfinding.
12. Substantiate- To establish by proof or oe competent evidence.
13. Temporize- To treat or parley so as to gain time.
14. Largesse- Generous bestowal of gifts.
15. Tenable- Capable of being held, maintained, or defended.
16. insatiable-Incapable of being satisfied or pleased.
17. Reconnaissance- The act of reconnoitering.
18. Germane- Obsolete. Closely related.
19. Ramify- To divide or spread out into branches.
20. Intransigent- Refusing to agree or compromise

Young Goodman Brown Symbols

There were many different symbols in the story, here are some that caught my attention

• Faiths Ribbons: Danny stated how her ribbons represented innocence and the irony in the ribbons when she was still wearing them even though she had lost her innocence at the witch trials
• The Staff: As soon as they mentioned a serpent it immediately reminded my of the devil in the garden of Eden. The staff was Goodman Browns temptation, just like the apple was temptation for Eve in the garden.
• The Forest: I had many different interpretations for the forest. Micheala stated how it reminded her of Hell but to me the forest is like the apple tree in the garden of Eden. It pertained the knowledge of reality, just as the apple tree did.
• The Old Man: Satan, hands down. He was sly, convincing and persuasive. Because of this it helped him trick Goodman Brown into attending the ceremony.

*Late* Online Security Notes

• Online security is very important when your constantly on the internet, Without it you can lose a lot of data and important information.
• It is very important to be secured when your on the internet because there are many different scams
• Scams sometimes look like advertisement, even scroll bars
• Do not click on any shortened URL's, they will infect your computer 
• Online security protects your computer and yourself if you have any important data stored on your PC

Meanings, Signs & Symbols Notes

• Because humans are able to perceive information it elevates them to the top of the food chain.
• When we are born we are capable of emotions and feelings but are without a thought process.
• A sign does not become a sign until it is interpreted by someone else.
• The purpose of interpretation is that meaning occurs in the mind of the interpreter.
• Interpretations cannot be made towards strange objects.

Vocabulary : Fall list #2

Intercede : to prevent on behalf on another

Hackneyed:  Unoriginal

Approbation: Approval

Innuendo:  Indirect Remarks

Coalition: An alliance for combined action

Elicit: To draw forth

Hiatus: A pause or gap in a sequence

Assuage: Unpleasant feeling; Satisfy

Decadence: Luxurious self-indulgence; Moral or Cultural Decline

Expostulate: Express strong disapproval or disagreement.

Simulate: Imitate or pretend

Jaded:  Lack of enthusiasm(typically after having to much of something)

Umbrage: Offense or annoyance; Shade or Shadow

Prerogative:  A right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class

Lurid: Very vivid or graphic

Transcend: Surpass or go beyond the range or limits

Provincial: Of concerning province of a country or empire; Regions outside of  the capital city of the country

Petulant: Childishly sulky or bad tempered.

Unctuous: Excessively flattering; having a greasy or soapy feel.

Meritorious: deserving reward or praise

Young Goodman Brown Questions

Reading and interpretting this story was difficult for me, i actually had to research and look into the story using various resources to actually understand it.
(Answers after the jump)

Young Goodman Brown

Wooooh!!! First lemme start of by saying that "Young Goodman Brown" was very, VERY, long. Now that i got that out of my system let me do the homework...

• Something i noticed reading this story was how Goodman brown agreed to go on the journey but as it went on he seemed to regret it and feel troubled. The only thing he had on his mind was to return to his wife faith because he seemed to fear that something would happen to her.
• This story had a lot of indirect characterization, the dialogue, the scenery. It all described what and who Goodman Brown was
• Question: So why was Goodman Brown so bothered and gloomy towards his wife? Was it a dream?

Personally, i thought it was a dream. You don't attend a witch trial and all of a sudden you wake up in the forrest and everyones acting like nothing happened. I also dont understand the ending, its a confusing story in my point of view.

Earth On Turtles Back

Thinking back on Earth On Turtles Back i never really got a specific tone, but after hearing people speak on it they managed to change my opinion on the story. The tone towards Earth On Turtles Back can be percieved in many different ways.  I got multiple tones from it after hearing people speak. The tone is set to be simple so its easy to understand but its also compassionate and determined. Thought i have no speific mood towards the story it gave me a bit of a "learning satisfaction", it made me feel as if i learned something.

Socratic Seminar Notes

Today we had a Socratic seminar on the article " The Right To Your Own Opinion". Sadly, not many people did participate, and though i was one of them  at the beginning, i regret not expressing my opinions on the article when i had the chance. I only got a few things down, but here's what i got:

• Arguing is meant to help you get closer to the truth.
• Respect peoples opinions as you want them to respect yours
• Always go into an argument with an open mind

 I wish i could've gotten more notes so my insight on the article would have improved, but now that the class has gotten to know what exactly a Socratic seminar is we can all improve on how to be prepared for the next one.

Reflections on Week 1

1. My family is definitely a positive influence on my school life, they all help with different parts and give me support when needed. They will definitely help me in this class. As for anything with a negative affect, the only thing that could possibly bring me down in this class is my own procrastination. I can do anything if i put my mind to it and i will try my best to make sure nothing brings me down.

2. The best learning experience i ever had? Well thats a hard one... id have to say when my family taught me not to let the words of others bother me and to be my own person. We were just hanging out like we normally do when they started talking about there high school life and why it was so fun for them. All of them said the same thing, "I just acted like myself and didn't let anyone else's opinion get in the way of that". Because of that im definitely stronger and more independent.

3. Im excited about going deeper into the year and seeing a different side of people on their blogs, but im really excited on to see how this class will affect my education. I think it will bring out new studying habits and prepare me for a bigger and better future.

Wanna here about my week?

My first week in Dr. Preston's class? Challenging. It was not your average English class, i had to get involved, make a blog and even start memorizing a poem on the first day but hey, its all for a reason right? At first i thought i just ended up with one of those "hard-working" teachers and considered dropping, but then i realized how much i love proving to people that i can handle the challenges life throws at me. I know this isnt going to be one of those easy classes i can breeze by and Ace the final without a second thought but i'm intrigued in what it has to offer my future. Yes, the work is challenging and you will have to step out of your comfort zone but i am confident that i will pass this class with a 90% and above. So to sum it up, this week was pretty damn interesting and i'm definitely gonna make sure i leave the rest of the year with a bang.

Vocab Quiz #1 redux

~ The first time i entered Dr.Preston's class it had a creative atmosphere that was intended to be didactic and grab the students attention. The walls were covered in different baubles and art that caught my eye as soon as i first stepped foot into the classroom, the graffiti wall complemented the room very well. When Dr. Preston first told us we would be having class blogs i thought it was some sort of was of way to beguile us into thinking this class would be fun, and to my my surprise it turned out to be the apotheosis of my day. So you could imagine my surprise when some of the senior students described him to have a curmudgeon personality who was always very ascetic, i guess they were the contumacious people in his previous class. I think Dr. Preston will really help us burgeon in life so we can obtain a bright future.

Vocabulary: fall list #1

Adumbrate: *To Report or represent an outline; Indicate faintly; Foreshadow or symbolize; Overshadow

Apotheosis: The highest point of something, Climax

Ascetic: Characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence.

Bauble: A small, showy trinket or decoration. Something of no importance or worth

Beguile: Charm or Enchant. Trick

Burgeon: To grow or increase rapidly

Complement: A thing that completes or brings to perfection

Contumacious: Stubbornly or willfully disobedient to authority

Curmudgeon: A bad-tempered or surly person

Didactic: Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.

Jasmine B