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