LAQ #2

THE LUCKY ONE

General

 1. U.S Marine, Logan, finds a picture of a blonde women while in Iraq. He carried it with him as a good luck charm, after that he sets out to find the women to "thank her."

2. The theme of the book is that fate has its was of working out.

3.  The tone of the book is love with a lot of luck.

4. North Carolina is the setting.

Plot- Logan sets out to find Beth. The main character is Logan and supporting characters are Beth, Ellie, and Ben. Logan has a flashback of Beth's brother dying while crossing his path in their secret mission. The theme is your destiny is pre-determined.

Characterization

1. Direct Characterization is when the author states Logan was in the Marines with Beth's brother.

Another example of direct characterization is when Sparks' states that Beth loves that her son Ben loves Logan. Indirect Characterization is that Beth was divested when her brother died.

2. The author's syntax does not change as the focus changes to different characters.

3. I thought that Logan was a static character because he didn't change but Beth was a round character because she did change and the author did develop her.

4. I feel like I have met real people because the story seems very realistic and that it can happen to anyone if they are in the right time and place.

LAQ #1

THE HUNGER GAMES

GENERAL
1. The Hunger Games plot is on the day of the reaping Prim Rose Everdeen is chosen to participate in the Hunger Games. Her older sister, Katniss, volunteers so Prim won't have to. The Capitol holds the Hunger Games every year to remind the 12 Districts that the Capitol won the war. In the Hunger Games there only comes out one winner because it is a fight to the death. Peeta Mallark is also chosen for the games from Katniss' district and they help each other throughout the games. He hopelessly loves her and she thinks she's in love with him too. This novel fulfills the authors purpose because the characters thoughts and actions are detailed and easy to understand.
2. I think the theme of the Hunger Games is defiance. The districts don't want to be apart of the Capitol and don't like the rules so they defy them. For example, Katniss and Gale hunt illegally to defy the Captiol.
3. The tone of the story is mysterious. Katniss almost dies a few times but manages to survive, the other tributes in the games can be killed at any time, and you can't predict what is going to happen next.
4. Indirect Characterization helped me understand what Katniss was thinking during the games and it helped create more of a suspenseful mood. Direct Characterization also helped me understand why Katniss had an advantage in the games because she was skilled at hunting. The setting supported Katniss' hunting strength because is was the wilderness. The foreshadowing used at the beginning during the reaping helped me foretell that Prim was going to get chosen for the games because Katniss says that it was her first time being in the drawing and the author wouldn't have put that statement in the story if it wasn't important to the plot.

Characterization
1. Indirect characterization is where Peeta is training before the games and it shows that he isn't good at any physical activity. Direct characterization is when Katniss is hunting with Gale, this shows that she is a good hunter and she has good aim. Characterization helps the author get across what the characters are like and what they think.
2. The author changes her syntax when focusing on different characters because she is creating different moods for the different characters to emphasize what they are like.
3. Katniss is a dynamic character because in the beginning she was independent and toward the end she knew that she needed Peeta to help her.
4. After reading The Hunger Games I feel like I did know Katniss because the author really created her characters well and made them seem modern and relatable for the situation they were in.

Fall Final Project

Whoever is in my group, I would want to do a Prezi to show what we have learned this semester.

Mind Maps

https://bubbl.us/
http://mind42.com/

I chose these mind maps because they seem simple to use and are free. I am excited to use mind maps because I have never used them before even tough they seem confusing. I like how you can add other links into your mind map.

My Claim on "My 6,128 Favorite Books"

Staking my claim on "6,128 Books"
http://drprestonsrhsamlit12.blogspot.com/2012/11/november-15.html?m=1

Words I looked up:
Roving- travel constantly without a fixed location
Seige- a military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building cutting of essential supplies; with the aim of compelling the surrender of those inside
Visceral- relating to deep inward feeling
rather than to the intellect

I thought Queenan had good points on books and that people should read more and some people read to much. He was right saying technology is changing, some people aren't changing how they read books and are reading books traditional paper or hard copy. I was confused when he was talking about a person in the different colored collared shirt, the point he was trying to make didn't connect with me. Overall I thought that this was a good article and I found it interesting.

Big Question

Why are some people attracted to certain people and not to others?

Vocabulary Fall List #10

Pedagogue: A teacher or instructor, specifically one that is very strict or straight-laced.
-In celebration of Halloween, the pedagogue decorated her classroom with scarecrows, bats, and pumpkins.

Cavernous: Referring to a cave in shape, size, or atmosphere.
-The interior of the medieval cathedral was positively cavernous in its size and stone ornamentation.

Coquettish: Continually flirtatious, usually in a lighthearted and teasing manner.
-Because she was not married , she was a bit coquettish around men.

Tete-a-tete: A private conversation
-My mom was having a tete-a-tete with my friends mom.

Suffice: To be enough or adequate
-"1,500$ would suffice the cost of the damages," said the Judge.

Amorous: Showing feeling; in love
-His amorous feelings for the girl made him do some crazy things.

Vocabulary Fall List #9

Bosom-The intimate center


Prudently-Conservative


Inveterate-Probitualy


Propensity-Likelihood

Legend of Sleepy Hollow

My initial impression of the story was that it isn't that scary as I was anticipating. Also, I thought it was hard to follow in the beginning. I'm glad we read the first few paragraphs together to understand the story better.

Vocabulary:

Vocabulary Fall List #8

Vocabulary Remixed

Flout- Openly disregard (a rule, law or convention)


Caveat- a qualifying exception




Blazon- to adorn


Filch- Pilfer or steal (something, esp. a thing of small value) in a casual way


Fractious- Easily irritated; bad-tempered


Equitable- Fair and impartial


Autonomy- Independence/ freedom


Addendum- An item of additional material, typically omissions, added at the end of a book or other publication


Amnesty- An official pardon for people who have been convicted of political offenses


Axiomatic- Self-evident or unquestionable


Extricate- Free (someone or something) from a constraint or difficulty


Soporific- Tending to induce drowsiness or sleep


Scathing- Witheringly scornful; severely critical


Unwieldy- Difficult to carry or move because of its size, shape, or weight


Vapid- Dull, flat


Prognosticate- Foretell or prophesy (an event in the future)


Sepulchral- Tomb like; gloomy, dismal


Salutary-  Producing good effects; beneficial.


Straitlaced- Excessively strict in behavior, morality, or opinions


Scourge- A whip used as an instrument of punishment.


Precept- A general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought.


Transient- Lasting only for a short time; impermanent

*none of the pictures are mine, they are all off of Google.

Self-Reliance Remix!!

I feel that this picture summarizes self reliance. Self reliance talks about individualism and Emerson wrote his essay during the Romanticism Era which includes nature.

Logical Fallacies in the Presidential Debate

Slippery Slope: They were talking about weapons in Syria.

Ad Nauseam: Obama and Romney both were repeating themselves the whole time to get their different points across.

Ad Hominem: Romney attacked Obama saying that he didn't travel to Israel when he visited the Middle East which I thought was irrelevant to what Obama was saying

Ad Numeron: Obama and Romney both kept referring to numbers to support their points.

Circular in Demonstrando: In the beginning of the debate Obama and Romney kept going back and forth discussing Iraq.

I thought Obama won the debate because I noticed a lot Romney was saying what Obama was doing wrong and not arguing his point correctly.

I am in a group with; Connor Albright, Ethan Clardy, Eli Esparza, and Whitney Houg.

David Guetta Movie

Ricky and Uriel's connection of David Guetta's movie and what we are discussing in class made sense after they explained it. David Guetta didn't stop at any point (and isn't stopping) until he gets to the top. David Guetta is doing something that no one else has heard of before and keep pushing his idea of music and people are catching on. Great job finding that connection Ricky and Uriel.

Self- Reliance

Notes from English class on Emerson's Self- Reliance essay.

1) Discuss the meaning of the verse preceeding the essay.
- Everyman has their own thoughts. It talks about nature (romantic). The verse shows that Emerson has a positive view of human natures. This verse sets the stage with two ideas: you are an individual and in your natural state you are good.

2) Looking at the entire essay what does Emerson mean by self- reliance? Summarize his major points.
- Self- reliance is using your own mind and not taking other people thoughts/ideas. Think your own thoughts. Being an individual is taking other opinions in and concluding your thoughts with your best thinking. "your voice is as great as the greatest voices in history." "We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents."

3) Interpret the first sentence. What does every preson realize at some moment of his/her education?
- In every person education they learn that some people are original and not everything is ordinary. Not everyone conforms.

4) "The eye was placed where one ray should fall, that it might testify of that particular ray." What does it mean?
- We are powerful where we put our focus.

5) What does Emerson mean by "The divine idea which each of us represent."?
- Each of us as individuals representing a whole.

6) Explain the significance of the iron string. Why do you think he used iron and not silk, gold, or silver string?
- (Trust thyself <- iron bond, you have to know yourself to trust yourself) Iron is strong and functional. Silk, gold, and silver is just about looks. 

7) Define transcendentalism.
- In literature transcendentalism means rising above from being told what to do and how to do it (Colonial Literature).

8) Interpret the following quote:
"Society everywhere is in-conspiracy against the manhood of everyone of its members."
- Even thought we are whole and are connected we still break each other down.

9) Interpret this quote:
"The virtue in most request is conformity, self-reliance is its aversion."
-SOme requests are to much to ask.

10) Interpret the metaphor, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adoored by little statesmen, and philosophers, and devines."
- Foolish consistency is simple/easy and it foold people who don't think deeply which gets to all of us like habits.

11) Discuss the use of the simile:
" Words as hard as cannonballs."
-Words can make a big impact and words can be dense and heavy.

12) Respond to the essay. Write a paragraph stating your thoughts on the essay as a whole.
- I thought the essay was very interesting. It was hard to understand because of what era it was written in and the length of it. Now I more clearly understand the essay because of what we discussed in class. Emerson had great ideas that showed in this essay that are not new today but are not used daily. I think Emerson's essay has made me open my eyes to what my self-reliance is.

Ad Hominem

Great website that helped me understand the definition of what an ad hominem argument is: http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/ad-hominem.html

An example of  an ad hominem argument: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXLTQi7vVsI (go to 4:23 it gives an example and an explanation of why it is ad hominem.)

Fall Vocabulary List #7

Special thanks to -http://www.blogger.com/profile/09983739127209221528 (Miyah Velazquez) for great definitions and sentences :)

1)ad infinitum-endless, without limit

Space is ad infintium.

2)apportion-to distribute proportionaly

The apportion of the cookies is unfair.

3)bona fide-made, done, presented, true

I have bona fide my homework this evening.

4)buoyant-tending to float

The boat is bouyant to the water.

5)clique-a small exclusive group of people

My clique only consists of my good friends.

6)concede-to acknowledge as true

I concede that their will be a zombie apocalypse on December 26, 2012. Beware!!!!!!

7)congenial-agreeable, suitable, pleasing in nature or character

Are you congenial to the fact that there will be a zombie apocalypse?

8)lofty-extended high in the air

I hope to be in a plane because it is very important to be lofty during the zombie apocalypse.

9)migration-the process or act of migrating

The migration of the zombies will sweep across the US on December 26, 2012.

10)perceive-to recognize, envision, or understand

I percieve that i will not survive the zombie apocalypse.

11)perverse-intentionally determined

I will be preverse to survive as long as I can from being bit or torn to pieces by a zombie.

12)prelude-to go forward in an act of action

I dont want to prelude a hoard of zombies... because they will eat me.

13)rancid-having an unpleasant smell or taste.

The zombies have rancid breath.

14)rustic-unsophisticated, rude, and artless

The zombie I will meet will most likely be very rustic due to their soulless lives.

15)sever-to seperate from the whole

I predict that the zombies will sever many of our body parts.

16)sordid-dirty, filthy, and meanly selfish

Zombies will be sordid because they are walkers that dont take baths.

17)untenable-incapable of being defended.

I hope to not be untenable if their is a herd of zombies coming towards me.

18)versatile-having or capable of many uses

When the zombie appocalipse happens you will need to be versatile with many differnt weapons.

19)vindicate-to upload or justify by argument.

If anyone reading this wants to vinicate my zombie apocalypse prediction I dont want to hear it.

20)wane-a gradual decrease or decline in strength

Hopefully zombies will be wane because they will have decayed underground.

From Thoreau's Walden (paraphrasing with vocabulary)

I went to the forest so I can live for a purpose, to face the important things in life, and see if life could teach me, so I don't die without understanding my life. I don"t want a largesse from life if I don't deserve it because life is potent, also I don't want to be contumacious, unless I have to. I don't want to live superficial and protrude from life's necessities, to not live to ascetically but live with the bare necessities and meritorious attitude, to make a wide path and cut life close, into a corner, and live on the lowest terms, and, if it proved stupid why would I get the uniqueness of it and publish that to the world; or if it was greater than anything, I would let you know about my experience, my journey. It appears most people are curious but scared of life, is it evil, blessed, sinful, or holy, I am going to figure it out on my own.

Still we live with no meaning in our lives and have no idea what our life means. We need to transcend our lives and find the errors. An exemplary man doesn't waste his time on meticulous work but just does the minimum to get by.

Vocabulary Midterm Study Strategy

My study strategy is to make Flashcards for all the words and to review the words in sets for 30 minutes to an hour everyday ( http://shennickrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/2012/10/midterm-preparation.html?m=1 )
I am going to quiz Whitney Houg over text message asking her to give me the definition for a word, use a word in a sentence or give me a definition (mini pop quiz). There were other blogs that I looked at that share the same ideas I have for studying.

A Walk by Myself

When I first started walking I thought about how long I am going to walk for, I decided on 10 minutes since I had to start on homework and ice my knee. I observed that even though it is fall and the weather is suppose to be cooling down that it was hot outside (California weather.) I thought about my soccer games this weekend and how I played and what I need to work on. I heard the birds chirping which made me think about homecoming (random) and how my sister is looking for a dress and a lot of my friends are excited to go. Right before I got back home I felt really calm and at ease with the world and my head felt light and stress free.

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

http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/hum_303/romanticism.html

http://www.uh.edu/engines/romanticism/introduction.html


Based off of the websites above my thoughts from my walk qualify as Romanticism because I discuss nature, the word "I" is used, and there is the author (my) personal thoughts/feelings.

A Dream Within A Dream

Edgar Allan Poe wrote the poem "A Dream Within A Dream" and it is very different from all his other literary work. This Romanticism poem has imagery, "And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand-" and it hints at his feelings of losing someone "O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?" I think Poe is not wanting someone/something change but he knows it won't stay the same forever. This shows Romanticism because it leaves interpretation up to the reader, the I's have it, and there is the authors personal feelings.

Vocabulary: Fall List #6

Adroit-Clever or skillful
Exemplary students are adroit in their work.

Amicable-Having a spirit of friendliness
Puppies are very amicable.

Averse-Strong dislike
I have an averse for slow hallway walkers.

Belligerent-Hostile or aggressive
The criminal held people belligerent until the police came and arrested him.

Benevolent-Kindly
Being benevolent to others will make you a well liked individual.

Cursory-Not thorough or detailed
If descriptions of characters are cursory then the book probably isn't well written.

Duplicity-Deceitfulness in speech
Having duplicity makes you a good public speaker.

Extol-To praise enthusiastically
Babies and dogs are extolled when they did something good.

Feasible- Easy
Her life was feasible because her never made her work for anything.

Grimace-A twisted expression on someones face
When someone is lying they have a grimace and are trying to hide it.

Holocaust-The mass murder of Jews
The holocaust is a sad subject in the world's history.

Impervious-Not allowing
Rules are impervious to kids having fun.

Impetus-The force of energy
The impetus of her falling left a bruise on her leg.

Jeopardy-Danger or loss
Endangered animals are in jeopardy of going extinct.

Meticulous-Showing great attention or detail
When working on artistic projects my meticulous side kicks in.

Nostalgia-Sentimental longing for the past
Nostalgia can hold you back from moving on.

Quintessence-The most perfect or typical example.
The math book always had quintessence of how to do a problem.

Retrogress-To go back to an earlier state
In US history we learn about retrogress of our country.

Scrutinize-Examine or express closely
The teacher scrutinizes the students work.

Tepid-Showing little enthusiasm
She acts tepid when she has to visit her family.

Vocabulary Fall List #5

Allude-to refer to something the author thinks you should know

- He made no intimation at the time of the proposition, nor did he in hisreply allude at all to that suggestion of mine. 

Clairvoyant- able to read mind
- Unless you were a clairvoyant you would have to guess at the future price of the bond.

Conclusive- final or decisive. to conclude
- Even without conclusive evidence that it can, heated questions are being raised.

Disreputable- of a poor reputation
- And he was not only a commoner, he was a commoner in a slightly disreputable profession.

Endemic- native to an environment
- Endemic animals are special because they are found in only one location on the planet, and nowhere else.

Exemplary-Serving as a desirable model; representing the best of its kind
-  Teachers, impressed by her exemplary behavior, took a liking to her.

Fathom- nautical measure of depth. to understand
- He could not understand the temptation that had come to him nor could he fathom the reason for its coming.

Guile-trick
- Marks lack of guile has characterized his service here, where political calculating is an accepted reality.

Integrity- integrating thought, word, and action
- Your ignorance is almost outweighed by your lack of integrity.

Itinerary-trip schedule or plan
- Buy travel guides that cover points along your itinerary and keep them with you on the trip.

Misconstrue-to misunderstand 
- To suggest that an operator must comply with this oversight process is to misconstrue the intent of the system.

Obnoxious-rude, loud. abrasive
- So, please be sure not to commit their mistake and form a negative picture of a large number of people based on an obnoxious few.

Placate- to calm down or satisfy
- Whoever the next president is, he will have to placate several groups with contradictory desires.

Placid-calm
- And the placid beasts still gazing with their mild eyes full of loving.

Plagiarism-taking someones writing without permission
- Plagiarism is committed everywhere in the world almost every day.

Potent-powerful
- Other species, which use the venom as a defense, retain potent stinging power and are responsible for human deaths each year.

Pretext- an excuse. text before the text
- In other words, appellant argues that the stop of his vehicle was a pretext to conduct an illegal search for contraband.

Protrude-to speak-out
- Many people have disks that bulge or protrude and do not suffer back pain.

Stark-easy to see
- People in cities can sometimes forget that the class divide in places like the highlands can appear even more stark than in the cities.

Superficial-shallow

- The target audience is likely to have an interest in superficial knowledge of a widely diverse array of topics.

Revision Strategy for Essay

In our in class essay on the short story "Young Goodman Brown" I didn't do as well as I know I could have. My plan for revision is we do get a chance to improve is; look over notes taken day before, skim over story, and be prepared to write a well written essay!

Your Life is Your Life

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KT16DcHcjRA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

^^^^^^^
Levi's Go Forth Commercial
(Poem: "The Laughing Heart" by Charles Bukowski)

Vocabulary Fall List #4

melancholy- a gloomy state of mind

exemplary- worthy of imitation

peculiar- strange; queer; odd


dread- to fear greatly

AHA Moment

My "AHA" moment was during a discussion today on Meanings, Signs, and Symbols. What made me "AHA" was when our class reread part 3 of the article and I understood it better. Our teacher discussed the difference between a sign and a symbol and then it really clicked in my head. The difference is a sign is any representation of something else, a symbol is a specific kind of sign, one that is arbitrarily chosen.

Vocabulary: Fall List #3

 encomium-  a formal expression of high praise; eulogy
An encomium by the President greeted the returning hero.

 coherent-  logically connected; consistent
His older sister and him were having a coherent argument.

 belabor-  to explain, worry about, or work at (something) repeatedlyor more than is necessary
He kept belaboring the point longafter we had agreed.

Young Goodman Brown Symbols

1) Faith's pink ribbons stand for her innocence and being young and naive. When they talk about the pink ribbons you thought of a child that could do no harm.
2) The staff symbolizes a serpent and the serpent in the bible leads people down evil paths.
3) The trees represent a community of people that pressure Goodman Brown to keep going on the dark path.
4) The old man that looks like Goodman Brown symbolizes the devil he tries to lead him to hell.
5) Cloud in the story symbolizes hopelessness and doubt. Goodman Brown was going to pray but the cloud got in his way and he was hopeless and doubtful.
6) The priest symbolizes that everyone sins.
7) Forest represents the evil world that everyone lives in.
8) The fire symbolizes temptation and how people are drawn to evil.
9) The unhallowed alter symbolizes confusion and unholiness.
10) The path that Young Goodman Brown is on symbolizes how hard it is to leave the devils presence.

Vocabulary: Fall List #2

intercede- to plead on behalf of someone else, to serve as a third party or go-to between a disagreement
She will intercede in the dispute between the two children as soon as they will be playing happily again. 

 hackneyed- used so often as to lack in freshness or originality
The Great Gatsby tells a universal story about being marred by hackneyed prose.

 approbation- the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval
My broad hint that I had paid for the lessons myself brought smiles of approbation from all the judges at the piano recital.

 innuendo- a hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (often in a derogatory sense)
Those lacking the facts or afraid of reprisals often tarnish an enemy's reputation by use of innuendo.

 coalition- a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose
The various community organizations formed a coalition to lobby against parking laws.

 elicit-to draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person)
My attempt to elicit information over the phone was met with a barrage of irrelevant recordings.

 hiatus- a gap, opening, break (in the sense of having an element missing)
I was awakened not by a sudden sound but by a hiatus in the din f traffic

 assuage- to make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm; to put an end to, appease, satisfy, quench
Her eyes told me that more than a few well-chosen words would be needed to assuage her hurt feelings.

 decadence- decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay; excessive self indulgence
Some characterized her love of chocolate as decadence because she ate at least two candy bars a day.

 expostulate- to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning
Shakespeare's Hamlet finds it useless to expostulate with his mother for siding with his stepfather.

 simulate- to make a pretense o, imitate, to show the outer signs of
Some skilled actors can simulate emotions the might never have felt in life.

 jaded- wearied, worn-out, dulled (in the sense of being satiated by excessive indulgence)
The wilted handclasp and the fast-melting smile mark the jaded refugee from too many parties.

 umbrage-shade cast by trees, foliage giving shade; an overshadowing influence or power; offense; resentment; a vague suspicion
She hesitated to offer her opinion, fearing that they would take umbrage at her criticism.

 prerogative- a special right or privilege; a special quality, showing excellence
She seemed to feel that a snooze at her desk was not an annoying habit but the prerogative of a veteran employee.

 lurid- causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensation; pale or sallow in color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint
Bright, sensational, and often lurid some old-time movie posters make today's newspaper ads look lame.

 transcend- to rise above or beyond, exceed
A great wok of art may be said to transcend time, and it is remembered for decades, or even centuries.

 provincial-pertaining to an outlying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited and backward. of a simple, plan design that originated in the countryside, a person with a narrow point of view; a person from an outlying area, a soldier from a provence or colony
The banjo, once thought to be a provincial product of the Southern hills, actually came her from Africa.

 petulant- peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset
An overworked parent may be unlikely to indulge in the complaints of a petulant child.

 unctuous- excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety; fatty, oily, pliable
Her constant inquiring about the health of my family at first seemed friendly, later merely unctuous.

 meritorious- worthy, deserving recognition and praise
Many years of meritorious service could not dissuade him from feeling that he had not chosen work that he liked.

Young Goodman Brown Answers

1. I think Hawthorne's purpose for writing this story was to show how realistic our dreams can be and that even when we sleep our imagination is still going.
2. I agree that Faith was "aptly named' Faith because throughout the story she stayed faithful even though Brown wasn't faithful to her.
3. I believe the pink ribbons signify purity, youthfulness, and happiness. The color pink is associated with innocence  ribbons are associated with youthfulness, and I thought Faith was happy.
4. Everything brown witnessed was a dream. "it was a dream of evil omen for young Goodman Brown. A stern, a sad, a darkly meditative, a distrustful, if not a desperate man did he become from the night of that fearful dream."
5. I think the old man is really the devil or he represents the dark side of Brown. Clues that I picked up from the story was he said that the old man was like a serpent and that the old man could be Brown's father which creates a connection between them. They also live in Salem which has witchcraft.
6. I think the staff represent the voice inside his conscience telling him right from wrong. Like the good and bad figures in movies that show up on the shoulders of a character when they are faced with making a decision.
7. If Brown had not ventured into the forest he wouldn't be scarred by the event of going into the forest. If Brown would have stayed home he would still have Faith. He would definitely still trust his wife and townspeople because he wouldn't have reason to not trust them unless another traumatic event occurred.

Earth on Turtle's Back

Tone and Mood for Earth on Turtle's Back

The tone of this is hope that the wife will live when she falls through the clouds and the muskrat was determined enough to bring up the earth.

Mood is happy that the wife didn't die and the tiny muskrat saved the day.

Socratic Seminar Notes

Thread One:
•be opinion minded about other opinions
•you have the right to your opinion but shouldn't always state your opinion
•you can change your opinion
•respect other opinions
•everyone has a right to their opinion and still need to respect elders, teachers, government, etc.

Thread Two:
•the muskrat changed the other animals opinions
•you don't have to be the fastest or strongest to accomplish a goal

Thread Four:
•technology is dumbing us down
•world can end up like Wall-E
•technology can lead us to a world like the Hunger Games because lack of resources for large populations
•can see places with Google Earth
•people are bolder on the Internet
•saying anything you want online because they aren't physically threatened
•people are more opinionated online because they don't see direct reactions

Reflections on Week 1

1. There are no factors that should get in the way of my participation and experience in class.

2. I believe where I had the best learning experience was eighth grade history. My teacher really connected with me and she was the avid teacher so she was extremely organized. The way she taught the material made a lot of sense to me. I saw myself changing and improving in a subject that I am not the best in. I noticed because my grades were good and I payed attention in class. Ms. Wiberg (she is recently married) shared stories, relevant and irrelevant, to class that grasped my attention. Being in that class taught me that I am a oral learning and occasionally need a visual.

3. For this class I am most excited about using all the technology tools. I am concerned about socratic seminars and giving my two cents in class because I feel more comfortable listening and hearing  other opinions and comparing the way I approached a thought to someone else. I look forward to learning more about using the internet as a tool to improve my learning. This will make a practical difference in my life because this tool can help in college and a future career too.

Extra Credit

The one thing I want to improve with this course is my public speaking. I want to improve speaking in front of groups of people so I am more comfortable when it is necessary. I always get really nervous, my face gets hot and turns red and my hands shake. I think this class will help my public speaking and stage fright by the students having to recite poems, like "Richard Cory", in front of our peers.

Vocabulary Quiz #1 Redux

The end of the first week of school has come. A relaxing weekend is a complement to a rough week. My hopes for this course is to be an ascetic with my studying and keep my integrity. An expectation I have is for the contumacious and curmudgeon students to burgeon in class. No one should feel stupid in class and everyone should help each other. I hope Dr. Preston is not a didactic teacher, but I am looking forward to his class regardless. Outside of class a hope I have is not be beguiled by the internet while being on the course blog, the apotheosis is procrastinating and being on YouTube. I know in class we won't be making baubles but I hope class is still fun. The first week in this course was adumbrating the rest of the year.

Assignment #1

  I am taking this course because I took Honors English last year and didn't want to take AP Enlgish as a junior. I still wanted the advanced class atmoshpere and I know Dr. Preston is going to be a great teacher. I am excited and nervous for the class at the same time. I am excited because I like the way Dr. Preston approaches teaching. I am nervous because he treats it like an AP class, but I'm also excited about that.

  My goals for this course is to improve my writing skills on essays and understand how to write a good introduction paragraph. Another goal I have is be a better public speaker and be comfortable while speaking infront of the class.

   I expect my knowledge and thinking to improve by taking this course. I expect my ability to memorize, write and speak to improve.